There aren't a lot of truly new and innovative mountain bike products out there, with most (hopefully) being improvements on already existing ideas. Episode #76 is all about mountain bike copycats; products, ideas, events, and other things that have been reproduced, duplicated, imitated, and just plain copied from the original. That word - copycat - definitely has a negative connotation to it, implying that maybe it came about via shady circumstances. But I also don’t think it’s entirely that simple in many instances, which we discuss on the podcast. After all, there's nothing new under the sun.
There are all sorts of complicated laws and rules about these things, of course, with long-winded explanations when copyrights, trademarks, and patents are involved with intellectual property, but the last thing we want to do on this podcast is to put you guys to sleep, so we’re not gonna go down those boring roads. Instead, we've come up with a bunch of examples of products that have been imitated over the years.
THE PINKBIKE PODCAST // EPISODE 76 - MTB ORIGINALS AND COPYCATS August 19th, 2021
Nothing's better than a Minion, not even a Minion that's been made better...
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.
No, they are just copying 26/24" combos that people ran in the early 2000's. Remember that, when we had the "benefits of both wheel sizes". That really lasted a long time didn't it...
I am just here because I have a podcast topic suggestion:
WAKIdesigns: The Angry Troll Dwelling in the PB Comments
Who is he? What factors molded him into the commenter he became? Where has he gone? Is he really gone, or has his spirit lived on through the pb comments, revealing himself through other snarky cynical commenters. Top WAKI comments of all time. (or most downvotes) Is WAKI the villain we all secretly love? Or love to hate?
There was a WAKI resurgence not that long ago...but then WAKI disappeared again into the mist again. Not sure if it was actually him, since he had a rebranded username, but the comments smelled WAKI-like. It would definitely be an interesting podcast to have him as a guest.
@mikelevy: Has he ever been seen in real life? You would think if an alien were to try to infiltrate and learn about our society, they may choose an inconspicuous mtb forum.
Alternatively, Whistler Intergalactic Edition is even better than ours and WAKI has come in search of new trails?
I commented on a BMXers instagram, some olympic post, Connor Fields who was injured. I think I made a comment about 'get well' and 'glad he's discussing his head injury' and Waki replied to my comment! I was so excited, I have no idea wtf he meant in the comment, it was confusing, but, I felt special that day. lol
@DoubleCrownAddict: You are such a f*ckwit. Stop poisoning the planet with your weird "everything is a political battle ground" warped USA world view. Keep that shit to your little patch please.
Like the original, a couple of rampage finalists who don't mind spending a month or so on the bus and some up and comers. I feel like with Fabio's Euroness, he's only doing it if the bus is a Rotel bus. Don't know who else would sign up for that.
Just to offer a different perspective- More backswept bars like the 16 degree sqlab have drawbacks. I'm 5'10" on a medium sb150 and while that bar felt great while seated climbing I literally couldn't hold on to it while descending. When I'm up and over the front of the bike while descending my elbows stick up and out causing my wrists to rotate in. I can feel my pinkys lifting up and off of the bar and I'm just left with a few fingers to hold on with. This position feels far better with a 8-10 degree backsweep despite a bit more wrist discomfort on the climb.
@fartymarty: their 12° bars are absolutely money for me. 12° is the standard backsweep on moto bars, and I often wonder why there aren’t more mtb options in the 10-12° range.
Speaking of which, is anyone aware of a carbon 35 clamp 12° bar?
I run Jones loop bars for Bikepacking and have clunked my rigid BP bike down a few local trails with the 45 deg. Jones bars on them. While they are awesome bars for bikepacking as they offer a number of different hand positions, the 45 degree position is comfortable for long rides, stable for that application, and they have lots of space to hang bags and tech off of- I'm not a huge fan of them on anything more technical or where I'm maintaining a strong position pushing forward against the bars like on steeps or quick technical moves. The Jones of course are an extreme example of sweep. Sweet bars though for the right task... I just don't think technical mountain biking is that task... or at least not for me. Trying to keep your elbows up as you rotate your hands from a flat to that 45 degree sweep you can feel them drop and less strength over the top of them... just try it now imagining you are rolling your hands over from a typical mtb position to a 45 degree while keeping your muscles tensed and feel the shift in how the muscles work. Way harder to stay over the front tire in an aggressive scenario.
@snl1200: Oh yeah, 45° is definitely way too much sweep for anything remotely technical. The most I'll even consider running on a mtb is 16° and that's for my bikepacking hardtail.
That sort of matches my impressions of riding my gravel bike (Salsa Fargo w/ Jones bar). Especially the comment about feeling the outboard part of my hands lose some effectiveness, and @snl1200 comment about feeling it sort of roll-over the top. Might still experiment with that SQs on my mountain bike though...
Regarding swat/carrying tools on your bike. Sarah mentions that “even the new Scalpel comes with that” . Remember that Cannondale had a tool in the steerer tube of their Lefty fork somewhere around 2008? It was easy for Cannondale, because they had 1.5 headtube, so lots of space, and no topcap because of the dual crown Lefty. So, it really was Specialized copying Cannonale, not the other way around.
Idea for Podcast: I have been riding a Ripmo for the past two years and just got the new Exie. I’d love to see an episode on the Joy of less. Less travel, less weight, for more fun. Ive noticed I’m actually faster and more connected to the trail. I can spin up faster in tight trails, it’s a revelation.
Loved Kazimer's reaction to people who look at the pictures without reading the articles. What do you think about doing a podcast on the process of writing?
Do each of you enjoy crafting words on a page? Did you enjoy it as a kid? Do you think of juicy sentences while riding...? or do they come to you by force in front of the keyboard?
I really enjoy the amount of personality that comes through in Pinkbike articles, especially Kazimer, Levy and Alicia's articles. (Sorry to pick favorites, they feel the most creative to me)
Thanks for resurfacing that sensation memory of the original powerbar, what a treat :/ I remember having to let a bite rest in my mouth to give saliva a chance to start breaking it down before I could manage to chew it
I also remembered seeing the original camelbacks being promoted at some race where as a silly event in the pits you could have your non-drive side crank clocked around to point in the same direction as the drive side making you pedal in a sort of 'humping' motion in a short sprint
Couple other OG's: -1994 Troy Lee makes the first detachable full face, aka, convertable, the "TL COMP"
-1995 Troy Lee makes the Daytona, first carbon fiber full face DH helmet-everyone wore it, even those sponsored by Bell, Giro, Protec, Headway, etc...
-Nineties, Troy Lee changed the entire industry again, but having graphics on helmets and colors on helmets, before that you just got a white cueball
-Nineties-Jeff Steber makes adjustable geo Intense bikes, all kinds of adjustments, original to me, but maybe others
-Nineties-Jeff Steber buys a chunk of stealth rubber, chops it up and uses heat gun to coat Kovarik's vans with stealth sticky rubber-an entire genre of MTB shoes was born
question for the next podcast
I remember a few shows ago Mike and Brian both said they lower their seat posts 1 inch to assault uphill tech climbs. I had never heard of this before and tried it. It works great! I'm now wondering if the crew has any other dropper post settings they use besides all the way up and slammed down. Thanks!! I love this podcast more than any other please keep it going.
MIPS. Nearly everyone adopted it, now there are a bunch of copycat slip-plane designs out there.
Whoever came out with the first helmet with big rectangle vents. I wanna say maybe POC? Finally our helmets didn’t look like vented skate helmets or road helmets with more coverage and a visor.
One product that may have been imitated is the Leatt Brace - see some other companies such as AlpineStars, EVS, and Atlas selling some similar products; or did mtb just copy this from moto? .....
Aren't we like four weeks overdue for a Podcast with the new owners? I went back to check, and Levy did indeed promise this in the comments section of the "Hey Outers!" episode.
Loved Kazimer's reaction to people who look at the pictures without reading the articles. What do you think about doing a podcast on the process of writing?
Do each of you enjoy crafting words on a page? Did you enjoy it as a kid? Do you think of juicy sentences while riding...? or do they come to you by force in front of the keyboard?
I really enjoy the amount of personality that comes through in Pinkbike articles, especially Kazimer, Levy and Alicia's articles. (Sorry to pick favorites, they feel the most creative to me)
I've recently given up the chamois. Arkansas Summer makes it like sitting on a wet sponge all day. I realized I didn't need it when I showed up to ride after work one day and realized I'd forgotten my chamois, the ride turned out to be much better than expected. If I was going to spend a lot of time sitting in the seat like on a long xc ride or gravel grinding, I'd probably still wear one but for most of today's style of riding, I'm barely sitting anyway. Well, except for post-ride beers.
Well, this podcast seams like it recycles thoughts and ideas from other bike-related podcasts. Not a bad thing, as the PB cast of characters generally improve on, add context, or otherwise take the same ideas out to left field (or at least Tim Hortons) in an entertaining way.
As the owner of a new Stumpjumper Evo, I can say the SWAT box is an amazing feature. I’d love to see more brands copy it. On longer rides I can take a Camelbak or lumbar pack. However for short (sub-2hours) rides and those relatively close I don’t wear anything. It feels great. On other bikes I absolutely would buy a frame bag.
I’m still trying to dial it in though. The tool on the water bottle cage is tiny (great) but lacks any chain tools. I need to figure out if I should carry a small chain break tool or even flat quick link pliers. Both??? My bike doesn’t have the head tube tool. I keep a small Cannondale tube at the bottom and the bag towards the top. I need to pack a small rag or towel in there to quiet the rattling. Regardless it is a great feature to have when you don’t want to carry stuff.
I've tried the no chamois thing, FOREVER, keep trying. For hour rides or less, absolutely, but these dudes saying it's better-must have some unique no nerves down 'there'. I think its a PNW/Bham thing, no liners.
@mikelevy: I was in park city with my missus a couple weeks ago, I did a long ride in the morning, solo then later in the afternoon leigh and I went for a 'quick pedal'...and I just wore boxers. It turned into a 2.5hr ride, and was miserable on me privates.
@yakimonti, it's all about picking a good saddle and wearing good underwear - leave the baggy cotton boxers at home. I'm running the Ergon SM Enduro saddle and Saxx or similar boxer briefs and I can ride for however long I want without issues.
I wore chamois for a while but ironically it was a season of 'XC' guiding in Whistler that stopped me. It was gross riding in the heat with a socially acceptable adult diaper. Within a month I ditched them, and 15 years later I've still not missed them. Like Mike K says above, just wear supportive underwear, not some dumb (literally....) floppy boxers from 1985.
@mikelevy: Didn't we get rid of those big gel seats to to reduce surface area and friction to our sensitive jiblets over time? I think the same is true with the chamois personally. Finding a low friction seat that works with your sit bones and allowing for a wear-in period while you adjust to a diaper-less ride has been the ticket for me. Way happier now not having a bulky, soggy, bacteria farm compressed to the undercarriage. I actually just did a gravel/dirt ride from here in Rossland to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry (850kmish?) in a little under a week sans cham-wow and was worried at first trying such a long ride without the security of the sham but worked out just fine... a little cream in the morning and good to go with better ventilation and less friction. I'm with @mikekazimer on this one.
I have a "Wake" branded ripoff of a Funnduro stem that I bought for £4.07 posted. I wanted to test out the length of stem and then I was going to change it out. Apart from some finishing detail I didn't have any problems with it, so I have been using it for 3 years.
IIRC Chris King marketed their o-ring alternative to the split ring aheadset style as being superior. But it seems the true story is they couldn’t get or didn’t want to license the patent because the minute it expired they came out with a split ring headset AND an upgrade kit for their own design.
Still, probably not quite as bad as printing out the geometry sheet from another manufacturer
I feel like all these no-chamois commenters are enduro bros or downhillers who are always shuttling or riding lifts and consider an hour or more of pedaling a "long" ride.
Is there actually anyone with an endurance background who doesn't wear chamois? I can't imagine it. Long-time XC/endurance rider here and I can't imagine doing a 4+ hour ride sans chamois, but these days my focus is more on gravity/trail/enduro style riding and anything over 2-hours is rare. I can see leaving the chamois at home for an hour ride. Any longer than that and my taint hurts just thinking about it.
I might do a park day, or a shuttle ride w/o it, but how much time are you actually spending sitting while pedaling in that style of riding?
See my comment above. I don't fit the profile you describe. I can understand the trepidation but think it is doable. I've been sans cham for a few years now and far prefer it and that includes some really big days in the saddle... like 100 plus k days.
Can you guys do some copycatting of Blister's podcast by having show notes?
Also - Per last week's podcast, when are you guys going to review bikes back to back with models from previous years from different manufacturers. Good example - Current Norco Sight and V1 Sentinel have very similar numbers in the medium size, but I've only seen comparisons to the V2 sentinel.
Old timer here - The first camelbak product was just a bladder and no backpack - I believe that was 1995. I purchased one, then purchased a backpack from a different company designed for mountain biking and for specifically holding the camelbak bladder. Held the camelbak and a tube, pump and tool, that was about it. The bag company only made the bag an didn't make a bladder and camelbak didn't make a backpack and only made the bladder...old times staying hydrated on my state of the art manitou 4.
i totally dig a chamois but could the manufacturers please design the men's version with a little more room up front? i can't be the only one who is getting crunched and squished in awkward and uncomfortable ways
@thinkbike: good to hear. I’ve had these on my ‘things to look into’ list for a while. I guess maybe it’s time to retire some older shorts and try some of these out
With the Powerbar flavors.
There was only Vanilla, Chocolate, and Berry. The apple crisp one was definitely later, and was the first one that was sorta edible.
Here's one. Specialized copying whoever they bought the horst link patent off. Another: Trek's suspension guru for copying specialized proprietary everything approach to suspension components.
Special mention to Cannondale for releasing 50 billion different bottom bracket standards, each one different and non compatible with the previous one. How's that for not copying something eh?
I'm now on team non chamois, i made the switch after i heard Kaz said he didn't use one earlier this year. I had never thought of such a thing before that
Powerbars... it was a badge of honor to be able to open one with one hand while riding.
Banana was where it's at! Just stay away from Chocolate.
Definitely enjoyed this cast a bit more than the waste of money one. LOL!
Agreed! That was definitely a skill. We all probably at least cracked a tooth on one of those baby’s The best use I ever made of 2 boxes of Powerbars was back in 1996. I put “It’s a Boy” stickers on them and handed them out to friends and coworkers at the shop after the birth of our first child. Figured it was a little healthier than cigars, but maybe I should factored in the potential dental costs.
I wear 'em. Came off the back of the bike once hit the rear tire, and as I crashed got stuck between the tire and the seat and my dude got pulled into the area between the tire and the brace of the frame above tire. End of the dude got shredded on the zipper of my pants, boxxers didn't really help. So I wear a chamois now. After a couple procedures, dude still works.
@toooldtodieyoung: The Simpsons practically raised me - I remember that episode like it was yesterday. I can also recite the entire Canyonero segment haha
I'll start thinking about wearing a chamois if i'm looking at over an hour on a bike. Any bike.
Much like sunburning the bottoms of my feet, chafing my undercarriage will absolutely not happen again. Ever. Chamois pads haven't failed me yet. Enhance the slide with chamois cream, make it menthol even? CMon it's heavenly
Hi Outcasts! On the subject of copi..., ahem, coincidences and #teamchamois. DirtBaggies introduced the first MTB specific pocketed chamois-liners with pro-tour quality padding in 2012. Somebody in Morgan Hill bought a size run of them during our first week of business, then a little over a year later SWAT bibs were introduced, the rest if the industry then followed suit, and bib-liners are now a standard item. It's quite a flattering coincidence.
@owl-X: It could have been a family or society of diversely sized individuals who just happened to live in Morgan Hill. They're the only non-dealer group to have made such a purchase.
Hi @owl-X: I see you noticed my way cooler project! The family or society of diversely sized individuals who just happen to live in Morgan Hill haven’t jumped in to buy a size run of this one yet
WAKIdesigns: The Angry Troll Dwelling in the PB Comments
Who is he?
What factors molded him into the commenter he became?
Where has he gone?
Is he really gone, or has his spirit lived on through the pb comments, revealing himself through other snarky cynical commenters.
Top WAKI comments of all time. (or most downvotes)
Is WAKI the villain we all secretly love? Or love to hate?
Find out in the next Pinkbike Podcast!
Was he in fact… Extra Terrestrial…?
@mikelevy
Alternatively, Whistler Intergalactic Edition is even better than ours and WAKI has come in search of new trails?
www.pinkbike.com/u/DoubleCrownAddict/blog/waki-came-back-and-it-was-wack.html
More than a bit weird…
Stop poisoning the planet with your weird "everything is a political battle ground" warped USA world view. Keep that shit to your little patch please.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrKbQg8DpaI
Speaking of which, is anyone aware of a carbon 35 clamp 12° bar?
So, it really was Specialized copying Cannonale, not the other way around.
I have been riding a Ripmo for the past two years and just got the new Exie. I’d love to see an episode on the Joy of less. Less travel, less weight, for more fun. Ive noticed I’m actually faster and more connected to the trail. I can spin up faster in tight trails, it’s a revelation.
Do each of you enjoy crafting words on a page? Did you enjoy it as a kid? Do you think of juicy sentences while riding...? or do they come to you by force in front of the keyboard?
I really enjoy the amount of personality that comes through in Pinkbike articles, especially Kazimer, Levy and Alicia's articles. (Sorry to pick favorites, they feel the most creative to me)
I also remembered seeing the original camelbacks being promoted at some race where as a silly event in the pits you could have your non-drive side crank clocked around to point in the same direction as the drive side making you pedal in a sort of 'humping' motion in a short sprint
-1994 Troy Lee makes the first detachable full face, aka, convertable, the "TL COMP"
-1995 Troy Lee makes the Daytona, first carbon fiber full face DH helmet-everyone wore it, even those sponsored by Bell, Giro, Protec, Headway, etc...
-Nineties, Troy Lee changed the entire industry again, but having graphics on helmets and colors on helmets, before that you just got a white cueball
-Nineties-Jeff Steber makes adjustable geo Intense bikes, all kinds of adjustments, original to me, but maybe others
-Nineties-Jeff Steber buys a chunk of stealth rubber, chops it up and uses heat gun to coat Kovarik's vans with stealth sticky rubber-an entire genre of MTB shoes was born
Whoever came out with the first helmet with big rectangle vents. I wanna say maybe POC? Finally our helmets didn’t look like vented skate helmets or road helmets with more coverage and a visor.
Do each of you enjoy crafting words on a page? Did you enjoy it as a kid? Do you think of juicy sentences while riding...? or do they come to you by force in front of the keyboard?
I really enjoy the amount of personality that comes through in Pinkbike articles, especially Kazimer, Levy and Alicia's articles. (Sorry to pick favorites, they feel the most creative to me)
I’m still trying to dial it in though. The tool on the water bottle cage is tiny (great) but lacks any chain tools. I need to figure out if I should carry a small chain break tool or even flat quick link pliers. Both??? My bike doesn’t have the head tube tool. I keep a small Cannondale tube at the bottom and the bag towards the top. I need to pack a small rag or towel in there to quiet the rattling.
Regardless it is a great feature to have when you don’t want to carry stuff.
I think its a PNW/Bham thing, no liners.
Taint of steel. I think that’s what’s required for the no chamois ride
Still, probably not quite as bad as printing out the geometry sheet from another manufacturer
Is there actually anyone with an endurance background who doesn't wear chamois? I can't imagine it. Long-time XC/endurance rider here and I can't imagine doing a 4+ hour ride sans chamois, but these days my focus is more on gravity/trail/enduro style riding and anything over 2-hours is rare. I can see leaving the chamois at home for an hour ride. Any longer than that and my taint hurts just thinking about it.
I might do a park day, or a shuttle ride w/o it, but how much time are you actually spending sitting while pedaling in that style of riding?
Also - Per last week's podcast, when are you guys going to review bikes back to back with models from previous years from different manufacturers. Good example - Current Norco Sight and V1 Sentinel have very similar numbers in the medium size, but I've only seen comparisons to the V2 sentinel.
www.patagonia.com/product/mens-nether-bike-liner-shorts-7-inch/24970.html?dwvar_24970_color=SMDB&cgid=sport-mountain-biking-mens-shorts-pants-liners
Another: Trek's suspension guru for copying specialized proprietary everything approach to suspension components.
I just don't prefer leather taint.
I haven't seen a chamois made from literal chamois for a while...
(youtu.be/whnms4CLJys - jump to 0:45, for folks who don't remember the episode)
I'll start thinking about wearing a chamois if i'm looking at over an hour on a bike. Any bike.
Much like sunburning the bottoms of my feet, chafing my undercarriage will absolutely not happen again. Ever. Chamois pads haven't failed me yet. Enhance the slide with chamois cream, make it menthol even? CMon it's heavenly
The down tube box came a year or two after that.
Watch this space... (the internet space, not this particular comment thread).
The family or society of diversely sized individuals who just happen to live in Morgan Hill haven’t jumped in to buy a size run of this one yet
pinkbike.com/news/first-look-the-digit-datum-has-shock-strut-suspension.html
Thank you.