The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 129 - Are There Too Many MTB Videos? Interview w/ IFHT's Jason Lucas

 What video could I watch on repeat forever Pinkbike asks? Brandon Semenuk’s unReal, shot to something happening here by Buffalo Springfield.

 Apologies if this is covered in the podcast. Writing prior to listening. In my head it's more acceptable to spend 5 minutes of downtime at work reading an article than it is watching a video. Also videos require sound and are attention grabbing in a way a simple webpage isn't. So I'm sad at the profusion of videos that currently seems to be happening. I also think websites need to curate their content more as right now there's so many I ignore all of them which means that I probably miss some good amongst the mediocre.

 What? Watching a 35 year old out of shape ebike rider post a vid three times a week at their local blue trail talking about flow and progression? Or the how to install tubeless setups, or how to corner, Whatabout the training videos about the upcoming XC race, I think we are far from saturated.

 used to watch them all.... now I'm way more selective as a lot of them seem to be the same. You can only watch so many bike park vids

 The exact moment is up for debate, but in my opinion The Collective was when bike videos were elevated from stunt documentaries to art. Those first visually stunning bike films were really special back then, but now a lot of people are clearing that bar and the signal to noise ratio is too low. These days I basically just watch the videos my friends send me. If I had the free time to keep up with all the new edits I would spend it riding. Yes you'll see my username in the comments often, that's because reading and typing can be done a lot of times when watching a video isn't feasible. If there's anything I still want more of it's MTB writing. I will devour every word.

 Did Jason leave PB? If yes, was it of his own accord, or did Outside lay him off?

 Comedian, Hannibal Burress posited a similar question "Don't we have enough porn? Do we really need any more? I think we have enough"

 I used to watch everything 10-15 years ago. Now I will only watch my buddies' or locals' videos of them finally hitting that 1 meter drop or going down blue flow trails on their 180 mm bikes. I have nothing but respect for all those hella fast and jumpy people, but I've come to realise and accept that this is never going to be me. I have the most fun watching relatable, mediocre people riding.

 not too many riding videos, necessarily... there are too many goons desperately trying to turn MTB videos into a side hustle with a patreon and running clickbait so ppl can smash that like n subscribe.

and worst of all, because of internet culture, these videos are being recommended above and succeeding over the more genuine and high quality content. it's actually hard to dig around and find the better content. that shit should have stayed on television. hate to see it bleed into the smaller platforms, and turn those platforms into the same damn thing reality TV was... (glares in PB's general direction)

 Is there too much oxygen? I can't breathe it all in. What isn't there a firehose of today - comments here (self included w/ my garbage), opinions, bike companies, junkfoods and ads - blaring trumpets all of them. You can always ignore the Chads & Karens of bike vids and find the Loics & Camille's with ease.

When there are too few choices - we complain; too many choices - more complaints. Complaints and never-ending grievance - while sitting in the lap of total luxury & wealth in the modern world - is what there actually seems to be too much of. You don't have to ride a bike to live - a huge # of people aren't even eating today so too many vids is just more 1st world probs.

Sure there's a ton of junk out there - but you can filter thru that by watching vids here on PB (on your whim), Redbull, 50-to-1 and plenty of other reliable sources (and even then, there's Meh-quality stuff there too). We all know the BS amateur channels on youtube and how to pass right over them but even then - everyone starts somewhere, so let 'em make their crayola mtb vids and get better or stop.
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As Kaz said in the previous podcast "you don't have to watch all of them - it's OK to do other things". We're all lucky enough to have some of the best GD bikes every built so another option is to just go ride and leave the gopro behind. It's just f*cking bikes, not a lawsuit. Vids are not mandatory but riding is.

 I remember 10 years or so ago, I started to really get into mountainbiking. I watched every single video on youtube I could find about bike events, downhill races and pro riders. I had all the freetime and there was less content around than I wanted to watch. Now it is the opposite. Every mountainbiker does vlogs, because brands don't pay racers anymore if they don't generate a big following on social media. Youtube is flooded. I only watch very few of the vlogs (e.g. MoiMoiTV), some "must watch" videos on pinkbike and some raw videos of downhill races. But I don't care about all these joeys who can't even ride their bike well. Their vlogs are worthless to me.

 IFHT videos genuinely improve my day. The intro is classic, the production is impeccable, and the vibes are just right. I love that group doing what they do so I hope they are able to continue for a long time.

 I can only watch so many bros trying to style out on every little feature. Cue the lame music! Whip, scrub, manual, nose manual, drift, skid, drop, nose bonk of tree stump/bolder repeat... I cant do half of these things so no offense to anyones ego. Hate anyway its what the interwebs are for. I'm guilty!

 Too many go pro videos of trail riding for sure. I mean lets be real, most go pro footage is boring as hell. Go pro video even makes fun trails look lame.

 I am not going to judge old mate who wants to let out some creative energy and make an edit. However if those obscure edits, with only 10 views, start popping up on mytube; I start judging myself.

 I notice the more experienced I get the less appeal list videos have. Now it's harder to watch some guy on reddit case his way down a blue trail. The videos that still grab me are race POVs from riders who are way, way faster than me.

 I'm loving all the vlog content from the pros - Jack Moir, Bernard Kerr, Jesse Melamed etc. It has replaced all the 'lifestyle mountain biker' youtube content I used to watch, and that's a good thing.

 The thing about MTB videos is that they are all showing the same thing essentially. And that "thing" is levels of riding we have all seen before. If I'm going to watch a MTB video I want it to be something I haven't really seen. Whether its a progression in riding or maybe a progression in video style too. The riding progression aspect is the biggest though, I know that pro's are sick riders. I know they can hit huge jumps with no hands and do a bar spin, I know they can tear apart a berm and I know that they can ride super fast down technical trails. I already expect the highest level of riding, so when I new video comes out and it's just a pro doing regular pro things- I dont really care.

Jordie Lunn riding down that tree is definitely one of the most interesting things anybody had put in a MTB video in years. God rest his soul.

 My current favorite is the Skills With Phil video of Prevost. That’s some of the rowdiest gnarliest riding I’ve ever seen and one of the best self shot-self edited features ever.

My two all time classic favorites are the Peaty and Rey Iceland Traverse and the Athertons/Dan Atherton that ends with the nighttime jump sesh in the yard.

 I prefer long video with a good quality edit, a story telling, stunning scenery than short 2 or 3min video with just someone just shredding a trail somewhere. I will happily trade less short videos for better and longer one.

 I really dislike all the 15-30 sec hype clips leading up to video release, then the video is 1:30-2:00 long. You've seen the majority of the action by that point. If I watch riding videos they tend to be the longer ones. I wish there was more movies like there used to be too.

Also, has anybody every actually watched an entire YT release video?

 I'm addicted to PB podcasts, listen several times. Great odd couple type chemistry with Kaz and Levy. Have tried other podcasts, big disappointment compared to PB. Would enjoy more bike review roundtable like the field tests. Thanks guys

 Question for @jasonlucas : how do you feel about “bmx background” becoming a pb comment meme, in the company of “looks like a session” and “Norbs got robbed?”

(Please take this is the best possible light. This question was asked with love )

 @jasonlucas Mahalo My Dude and IFHT vids have shaped my 11 year old into the Mtn biker he is today. You put out a great perspective on the life. Thanks for family friendly good vibes!

 Yes

 theres way to many "edits" like cool, im watching some dude ride his bike just like everyone else.

 The evidence shows far too many people are either delusional as to how interesting a person they are, or it's that they think there's easy money to be made.

 @Chromagbikes do some really great videos of riders riding "normal" trails on hardtails. These are the type of videos I can relate to and make me want to go our and ride.

 Youtube got me to buy my first bike years ago but once I started riding I mostly lost interest in watching. Still do every now and then mostly to scout a new trail I want to ride.

 Also, there aren't enough PB podcasts in the week...I thinking there should be 5. I'm also now open to hearing @mikelevy wax about ufo's / aliens (ahem, humans on their very own planet with technology they don't actually understand), bigfoot, Chupacabra and whatever other BS conspiracy nutjob stuff he believes in. Just gimme something.

 Damn! Gonna miss Jason on PB. Freelance is the way though. Salaried jobs suck. I like both the PBA series and the legacy of the series too.

 Yes there are too many videos of the same riding but that is okay, I choose what I click on. There is only so much MTB news these days.

 Saturated! 50%straight to the comments. I generally like most of the PB original stuff, not so much the reposting of others crap.

 There are too many trashy videos on the internet..... Watches every Friday Fails video on repeat!

 What ever happened to the fantasy XC league? Did it get shut down along with Beta?

 DirtBurke edit for the win : www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB47rdeAPmg

 There is a literal firehose of generic MTB video content. It doesn't feel special or unique anymore.

 Hope Pro 4's ad by Adam Brayton!

 the pandemic created content now no one needs any more video tutorials and Ya there is never enough porn.

 Wasn’t there a Yeti car racer guy back in the 1990’s? Paul Tracy? This is back in the 3dv Grafton days.

 You guys should do a podcast with Reece Wallace or Logan peat

 Too many podcasts I reckon - eh Jason?

 A++. So good.

 Way too many YouTube crap of 35 year old losers riding blue flow trails. Not enough freeride