The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 96 - PBA Contestant Israel Carrillo on Riding in Mexico and Why It's Not Always About Speed

 Haha! I was going to say the same thing, but also that this dude seems like a genuinely good dude, so I’m glad he’s enjoying the ride.

 Its about his love for the sport and uplifting cycling communities. Hard not to love israel and his heart. More people need to be like israel.

 It’s not about size…

 I resemble that comment...

 Hilarious that you think that, as if pay drivers aren't a thing. See: Nikita Mazepin for the worst example, Lance Stroll for the best case.

 @matadorCE: Lance Stroll is also sitting at 13 in points and Perez is sitting at 4. Maybe you can pay to get into the race, but you can't pay to win it. While we are at it, Mazepin is in dead last in points.

 @HB208: Both are in F1, are they not? Are there faster drivers in F2, F3 and other classes that can fill those seats? Most likely. Being the fastest isn't enough.

 @matadorCE: Right, and I am sure there are pros in mountain biking that kinda suck but have had a lot of financial backing from their parents. The point is that if you want to be racing at a high level, you need to be fast and Perez would not be racing in the F1 if he were not fast.

Yes, in F1 there are teams struggling financially that are willing to put a billionaire's son in a car in exchange for funding. No, those are not the drivers that are winning.

 @HB208: You just need to be fast enough

 F1 doesn’t have the faster drivers anymore. Beside Hamilton being the OG, they re just rich teenager playing video games. The cars, are high tech and obviously some of the fastest in racing, but not the drivers...

 @redmountaingoat: Do you want some memberberries? I don't think the drivers are that much younger than previous era drivers.

 @matadorCE: Meh, you know who was a pay driver? Schumacher for a while. Lauda. Senna. Anyway, Mazepin has had success in other formulas and is a very good driver, as is Stroll and almost anyone who's ever raced an F1 car. Grosjean and Kevin are fast AF, but that car is super inconsistent, difficult to drive, and made them look terrible as well. I've read that it's the rear-suspension pick-up points on the gearbox housing; as things get hot, the housing flexes and literally changes the ride-height of the car. A few millimeters of ride-height change can wreck an F1 car's handling, but I think they were locked into using that part this season because rules.

Mazepin and Stroll are obviously not the same caliber as some other guys, but they're still absolute wizards behind the wheel and I don't care how they got there or how much money their parents have. TV makes everything look easy. And I love that some cars are faster than others; there are plenty of great spec / controlled racing series out there if you're looking for that, including Indycar and all sorts of sports car stuff (I also follow the ELMS stuff pretty closely), but I love F1 for it's combination of technology and the best drivers. Should someone like Oscar Pastrami have a drive over Mazepin? Yeah, probably, but that's not how F1 works or how it'll ever work. And Pastrami is so good he'll end up somewhere anyway.

 @mikelevy: I think there is difference between paying to get in which like you've pointed out even the great ones have done, to the case of your dad bankrolling the entire team as is the case of Stroll and whatever financial backing Mazepin has as well as Kvyat.

 @matadorCE: Entire teams have been bankrolled around a single driver since day one, regardless of how good or not they were. Questionable drivers have been funded by governments, wealthy individuals, and even corrupt politicians. I know that doesn't seem right, but it's just how F1 has always worked and hopefully always will.

I think what bothers me most is the assumption that guys like Mazepin, Stroll, etc don't belong there, but that's exactly how this sport has always worked. Hope it never changes tbh

 @matadorCE: Its not super surprising that a sport that costs tens of millions if not hundreds of millions a year ends up getting bankrolled by billionaires that want their kids to participate.

Its not that much different from mountain biking in a way. To actually grow up mountain biking, your parents need to be upper middle class or middle class and sacrifice a ton. Bikes are expensive. Travel is expensive. Etc. You also need to live somewhere with access to mountains, which is expensive for the most part.

 @mikelevy: u been watching micheal fassbender road to Le Mans? Second best thing on YouTube, imo.

 @notsoogood: I have! It's amazing. Sportscar racing can be so confusing but they cover it so well. Some of those POV shots in that RSR are ridiculous.

 F1 banter on PB made my day. Love it.

 I've heard far worse, Levy! :-) Guanajuato is an awesome place by the way - get yourself there for the urban DH next year. I raced it in 2012 but haven't had the chance to go back since. ¡¡Vientos, Isra, saludos!!

 Keep working on your "stanchions."

 @krka73: I've got that one on lock

 Thanks man. I really appreciate you sharing my comment. Of course, I would be happy to see those or similar changes, but I’m happy simply to have been heard. Cheers!

 Why so much love for Israel and Tori and not Cody?

 @kingbike2: More coming! Just catching up.

 You are right there Man, let's make that happen, no kidding

 Jamaal!!! Have you been at big white? I found my self so comfortable on two of the trails at big white cause the grip was so damn similar to Mexico on general this where "ace of spades" and "rock hammer" ... But we'll the main difference it's at big white's flow trails the top speed it's ridiculously high against anything at Mexico, and at Mexico when you find a technical line that line it's going to be with more exposure or the easiest lines at Mexico takes more time as a penalty if you're taking those.... Sorry for the crappy redaction.

 Should be fixed now!

 @mikelevy: nope still not working for me. Don't want to miss my dose.

I didn't think it could get any funnier but then there was the addition of Henry, Looking forward to #100.

 Don't tell Frank haha