The Pinkbike Podcast: Enduro World Cup Racing, New Tech, & Will Bike Prices Go Back Down?

Jan 13, 2023
by Mike Levy  
Pinkbike Podcast
Art by Taj Mihelich


There's been plenty of change over the last twelve months and 2023 isn't looking any different, especially when it comes to racing. The Enduro World Series has transformed into the 'UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup' or EDR for short, and there are format tweaks and rule updates to boot, along with plenty of question marks. Today's episode sees us make some EDR predictions, go over all the new gear and bikes that might be released in the coming year, and talk about how supply chain issues and bike pricing might change.

Who's your money on for the overall EDR titles in 2023?




THE PINKBIKE PODCAST // EPISODE 161 - ENDURO WORLD CUP RACING, NEW TECH, & WILL BIKE PRICES GO BACK DOWN?
Jan 12th, 2022

Isn't EWC a better name?


Featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.

Subscribe to the podcast via your preferred service (Apple, Spotify, RSS, LibSyn, etc.), or visit the Pinkbike Podcast tag page for the complete list of episodes.

Posted In:
Podcasts The Pinkbike Podcast


Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Police Called to Scott Sports Headquarters as CEO Dispute Continues
63817 views
First Ride: Fox Releases New Grip X & Grip X2 Dampers
45789 views
Pinkbike Poll: Center Lock or 6-Bolt Brake Rotor Mounting?
42314 views
Tech Briefing: Fancy Suspension, Carbon Wheels, Spring Apparel & More
37081 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line for Round 1
33262 views
SRAM Patent Shows Compact Motor x Battery Unit
31371 views
Bike Check: Craig Evans' Airdrop Edit V5
30383 views
First Look: Fair Bicycle's Drop Best Offset Saddle Clamp is Universally Compatible
29071 views

76 Comments
  • 31 0
 Give us what want! #crotchwatch3000
  • 8 0
 @brianpark
  • 2 0
 @mikelevy: Given today's news you'll have to invite Lewis Buchanan to join you guys...
  • 20 1
 I know saying pricing won’t go down is the cynical and fun take, but truth is they will and have to. Companies wildly overproduced thinking for whatever reason the bike boom was going to sustain. They now have warehouses full and they don’t like that, so current bikes will go on sale to make room for the next year’s batch. Next years batch will be lower cost because bike brands aren’t paying overtime to the factories and exorbitant prices on shipping containers matched with lower demand and an over saturation of the used market will force prices back down. It’s going to be a tough road going forward out of this for the bike industry. But that means lower prices again.
  • 11 0
 You may be right about the current batch, and you might catch some good deals as they clear out current inventory. They might also delay new model years until they clear out what they have. That’s what I’m seeing with Kona. They’ve had the same models running for two years now, maybe introducing a second color way for some models.

In the future, these companies will just cut production, but keep prices the same. (How much of the 8 percent of the workforce cut at Specialized was production?) Inflation is rampant right now. It will affect everything, including the bike industry. I don’t see prices going down.
  • 4 0
 Big difference between a sale price and a reduced RRP.
  • 4 0
 Sadly these types of corrections you're describing take years to happen. For example your paying overtime point...inflation and wage pressure kill any gains (lowering of price) those forces may have.

I appreciate your optimism...and I agree...the next 6-12 months will be some of the best times to buy a bike (and house, used car, etc.) in many years...but once the overstock is gone its back to normal (current prices).
  • 20 0
 Prediction: Bike prices will never go down but be on “promotion” or “sale” for XX% off.
  • 7 0
 Prediction: Bike prices will never go down but be on “promotion” or “sale” for XX% off.

Marin Bikes says Hi.

PS they are great company. They GAVE away precious bikes to high school riders when nobody could buy one, and Marin could have sold them for $$$$
  • 3 0
 My LBS ran a New Year's sale where all bikes were 25% off, and literally everything else in the store was 40% off. They said they had a fantastic year but just still have too much inventory, with too much new stuff coming in.
  • 4 0
 @husstler

Correct.

I've been interested in a rare element, call it Canadian Unobtanium, for the past year. Last week a friend told me his LBS, across the country, had some 2022's in stock and on sale. A new 2023 (exact same spec) has an MSRP of $8500CDN, I snagged a 2022 for $5900CDN.
  • 1 0
 there's no win for consumers. never.
  • 14 1
 Bike prices go down? That toothpaste is out of the tube.
  • 5 0
 Agreed.
  • 1 0
 Hold tube right way up squeeze air out and then suck spilt toothpaste back up with vacuum effect.
  • 9 0
 www.easternstatescup.com/2023/01/13/ews-qualifier-update

in 2023 there will be ZERO races in North or South America that give riders points to be able to enter an EDR race...

The UCI has stripped race series, like the eastern states cup, of giving out qualifying points.

We knew the UCI would muck up the EWS... and they've begun immediately.
  • 4 0
 Horrible news... do I give a thumbs up or down?
  • 1 0
 the article says World Cup qualifying points are available at all official national championship races - they are just no longer available at random races like the ESC series. kinda makes sense to keep to competition / level consistent .
plus there is still the amateur EWS100 race option which don't have qualfication requirements. and you used to be able to collect points at the EWS100. not sure what the plan is for 2023
  • 2 0
 @DHracerUSA: that's B.S. because it vastly limits the races available in North and South America to find points. Meanwhile in Europe you have tons of places and times to try and race.

The ESC isn't some "random" race series... it's the premier series for the entire eastern United States...
  • 2 0
 @bonkmasterflex: Eastern States Cup might be the most established race series on the east coast - but it's hardly a "premier" series. It's mostly amateur local racers and not especially competitive. Looking at the Sugarloaf results from last summer ( which was an qualifier race), maybe 1% of the racers would actually have any business racing in the EWS World cup.
If riders want to race in the World Cup, it's not that unreasonable to expect them to race the USA nationals in Winter Park and measure themselves against the best american racers before taking on international races.
  • 4 0
 @DHracerUSA: having exactly one race to show your stuff is BS compared to people in Europe having 20 chances...

It's bad for racing worldwide and especially for US riders trying for the international stage.

There are plenty of fast people who race the ESC and it certainly won't help make it more competitive by removing the incentive of UCI points
  • 8 1
 I’d argue that bikes are better value than ever. Those of us who started riding in the early 2000s will be well-versed in breaking just about everything that wasn’t a DH or DJ bike.

The real problem is that whilst bike prices have risen fairly consistently with inflation, your wages (by accident or design, depending on how cynical you are) are broadly in line with what they were in 2008.

I’m one of the first to be skeptical about the bike industry often for good reason, but the anger and frustration is misplaced. Blame employers, major corporations and a series of governments (at all ends of the political spectrum) who are happy to allow rampant inflation on anything but wages.
  • 1 1
 And let’s not forget- the third planet from the sun suffered a major supply chain issue. Something has to give, and it’s gonna take years to find equilibrium.
Maybe this isn’t a popular view, but without inflation, we’d loose a lot more small businesses.
  • 9 0
 Levy, your audio is (still) terrible.
Stop recording these from the toilet, maybe?
  • 6 0
 Glad I am not the only one who things he's recording in his bathroom....bucket boys!
  • 1 0
 maybe he likes his bathroom, don't judge people
  • 9 0
 Anything where Henry and Levy are speaking off the cuff or from the heart is good.
  • 9 0
 How do you know if someone does CrossFit? They will tell you about it.
  • 5 1
 The exact opposite rules as Fight Club
  • 1 9
flag no-good-ideas FL (Jan 14, 2023 at 7:16) (Below Threshold)
 How do you know someone doesn’t workout much? They make this stupid CrossFit joke from 10 years ago.
  • 4 1
 You obviously have @no-good-ideas.
  • 3 0
 I'm a vegan single mither with a rescue dog who does crossfit.....
What do I tell people first?
  • 2 0
 *mother
  • 5 0
 Re: the shaking like a s*****g dog phrase. Get hold of Viz Profanisaurus and get working on a dedicated episode

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger%27s_Profanisaurus
  • 2 0
 2 questions. First, what is the practical difference between the flat top and standard style SRAM chains? I've seen a few people run flat tops on current gen sram mountain drivetrains because of parts availability during covid and it didn't seem to change any functionality. Second, why would the ability to fit the new SRAM levers through a 1.5 bearing mean that they are only compatible with certain bikes. The current ones don't fit through any bearings and work fine aside from being a pain in the ass for through headset routing. I would think the same would be true with the new lever design except that if you have a 1.5 bearing it is less of a pain. Right?
  • 2 0
 XC - Cross Country. Doesn’t have World Cup in its name.
DH - Down Hill. Doesn’t have World Cup in its name.
EDR - Enduro. Doesn’t have World Cup in its name.

I think the UCI sees these as categories under the World Cup banner, and labels them as such.
  • 1 0
 Excellent point
  • 3 2
 Levy better be careful in this economy and social environment of pseudoscience....Outside might end up throwing him in a glass box at the base of alice lake and charging quarters for his predictions like a Zoltar machine once the industry really starts to go belly up.
  • 4 0
 Prices will need to come down or the industry is in for some real pain over the next year and a half.
  • 3 0
 I think brians's main management qualification is calling @mikelevey on his nonsense. full time occupation.

which ironically means brian can also never let him leave
  • 2 0
 Agreed. How do I include this on my LinkedIn?
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: "senior experience in high-acuity human resource management" next to a snap of levy's face
  • 1 0
 Certainly stock is being cleared at good prices.I recently bought a brand new(old stock) Devinci Spartan 29 inch frame for AU$2100.Thats probably a cost or below cost price just for the shop to get rid.Am I bothered about having a 2020 frame?Not in the slightest!
  • 1 0
 Tried to listen to the podcast on utube but the sound was terrible. Half way through after a commercial the podcast repeated itself. Very weird. Couldn’t understand what Rob was saying. I’ll have to listen again on the Pinkbike webpage.
  • 1 0
 With all this talk of WC racing and racers and the increasing costs, serious question for people here: When buying a new bike, are you more concerned with who is riding your bike on the world cup, or the results of a field test review on Pinkbike?
  • 1 0
 Clearly some out there but I don't personally know a single person who owns a DH bike. Therefore DH racing doesn't inform my, or I presume their, decision. Flippin' love the DH racing though.

However, weirdly, once I've bought a bike I tend to lean my support towards riders of the same brand that I purchased - except for my favourite riders who I love to do well - but this comes after the decision/purchase.
  • 1 0
 I recently bought a bike that’s not raced on the World Cup and didn’t do well in its field test. ( I blame Pinkbike location: Squamish), it was discounted a good bit, most likely soon to be discontinued.

But, here’s the thing: It’s still a really good bike.

There are great deals on good bikes, but you have to be willing to look around a little and be patient.
  • 1 0
 I think that for enthusiasts offering framesets make a lot of sense. Most of the time complete bikes have sub-optimal parts, or they may be ok, but e.g. I want to have only Shimano or Sram brakes because I have other bikes and want to optimize servicing them. If you spend a bit time you can make custom build not much pricier then stock (or in case of SC it could be even cheaper).
For me the best brands are those offering deep customisation, when I can choose parts, buy them from bike manufacturer for a good price. I just hate buying bikes and then upgrading them, selling parts as soon as I get it.
  • 2 1
 Being that the DH is described as the F1 of MTB, why does everyone who scored a couple of UCI points somewhere get to race... there's only 20 F1 drivers in a given year.
Time to limit it to maybe 60M/40F for the season. Have feeder series with decent UCI points so a win in those gives the winner a good shot at displacing the bottom 20 or so world cup riders:
1 gives a good incentive for up & voming riders
2 you're only good enough for 60th in the WC overall? Move over & give an up & comer a go.

Ditto with EWC (or EDM or whatever it is now)... barely making the top 100? Maybe you shouldn't be there (factory rider Kelan Grant anyone?).

Limiting the number of riders gives a better chance of coverage for all riders - better coverage = more chance of sponsorship $$$
  • 1 0
 Things started to get really dark at about 38 minutes with the talk of a possible future of non-cross compatibility.

I am starting to feel justified in my retro-grouch-inspired opinions and standardizing on HG freehubs, 10/11 speed drive trains, and MT200 brakes for most of the bikes I need to maintain.
  • 1 0
 There's been a E-bike series as a part of GNCC offroad motorcycle racing now for quite a few years which in my opinion is one of the few examples of E-bike racing done right. Motorcycle trails, gnarly climbs, mud, roots, and rocks. Relatively flat terrain that still puts a focus on rider fitness and cardio, and best of all not a single MTB trail used. Seems like the holy grail for this type of machine but I've never seen any coverage on PB. Seems sorta odd considering how willing you guys are to put 15K e-bikes on the front page.
  • 1 0
 That is interesting - I honestly had no idea. Looking into this now.
  • 3 0
 When people are willing to pay top dollar ridiculous prices - where is the incentive for them to bring them down?
  • 2 0
 Mike and Henry should just remake Alex and Cedar's Sufferfest (youtu.be/eYBgMNDN-sM) but probably without the freesoloing and more gravel biking
  • 4 0
 Ours would have a bit less freesoloing haha That adventure was so good. Rowdy.
  • 2 0
 I did some Googling and found that British handbook of expressions about dogs that make Americans uncomfortable.

link
  • 3 0
 As soon as he said it I thought of the Alkaline Trio lyric “shakkkinngggg like a dog shittin razor blades…”
  • 2 0
 So, If the entire lever fits through the upper headset bearing, will all the people that hate headset routing hate it any less?
  • 1 0
 Works for me
  • 1 0
 I'm usually good for a good ole 3-4 min of planking during my workouts but tonight all that was in my head was "I was quivering like a shitting dog"......needless to say I may never plank again. Thanks Henry....thanks
  • 1 0
 I normally listen to this podcast whilst working out. Was on the bench press and had to stop. I was laughing at Henry too much for me to be safe. Shaking like a shitting dog. I mean, come on.
  • 1 0
 Specialized noticed the dislike for the new name for EERD. They decided, given that they refer to their e-bikes as "Turbo", they would step in and rename the category Turbo ERD or TERD for short.
  • 3 0
 Bike prices will likely never go down. They just won't grow as fast.
  • 2 0
 @mikelevy your mic sounds a bit like you're underwater or talking through a phone line.
  • 2 0
 I haven't bought a complete bike since 2010, and I hope I never have to again.
  • 2 0
 A good alloy bike with top shelf parts you say? How about a Knolly!
  • 1 0
 I remember frame & fork Combos
From TRANSITION BIKES in their very early years
2003-04 ish
  • 1 0
 Intense TazerMX has had a dual crown fork on it for years. There's your e downhill bike.
  • 1 0
 Not one person predicted wireless braking, pathetic.
  • 1 0
 Was this recorded on a potato or nah?
  • 1 0
 It’s time travel. The title says 2022
  • 1 0
 I'd love to listen to another bucketboys series with the #crotchwatch3000
  • 1 1
 I was really impressed with your first article for Breitbart Mike!
  • 1 1
 Thanks!
  • 1 0
 Link please....
  • 1 0
 #NOTANOTHERPARTSHANGER







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.047925
Mobile Version of Website