The Pinkbike Podcast: Randemonium #2 - Hanging Out With SRAM's Chris Mandell

Jul 6, 2023
by Henry Quinney  
photo
Art by Taj Mihelich

Sometimes, we just like hanging out. Our friend Chris Mandell, who works for SRAM, was up in Whistler at the same time as us and I thought it would be fun to have him on, ask him some questions he probably isn't meant to answer and have a sprawling conversation alongside with Dario and Kaz.


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.

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Podcasts The Pinkbike Podcast SRAM Chris Mandell Dario DiGiulio Mike Kazimer


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Member since Jun 3, 2014
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38 Comments
  • 22 2
 Digging the energy with Dario, Henry and Kaz on the show lately. Keep ‘em coming!
  • 15 0
 Still waiting on the almighty semicolon to make an appearance.
  • 12 0
 Soon!
  • 3 0
 @henryquinney: what did you have to say to Brian to not have mod status in the comments? Should we be scared?
  • 1 0
 @Grady-Harris: idk, I messaged about that a few weeks ago- there are several PB employees that regularly post and comment but aren't mods. Even if they don't want to be mods, a different tag would be beneficial to show them more clearly.
  • 2 0
 Pretty sure Henry said last week he only uses dashes; he'll come around. And surely I just used that semicolon wrong.
  • 4 0
 @dantecusolito @Grady-Harris - I will have an ask, and see if I can complete the seven impossible trials of virtue and chivalry needed to get the tag.
  • 1 0
 @henryquinney: please keep me updated on these endeavors
  • 6 0
 @Grady-Harris: It's happened!
  • 2 0
 @henryquinney: I’m so proud of you! Your moving up in the world
  • 2 0
 You’re, sorry
  • 2 0
 @dantecusolito: Wow look at the power you wield around here. Ask them to turn off default auto play on videos next!
  • 7 5
 Totally unrelated but I can't seem to get any traction elsewhere - @brianpark @mikekazimer @henryquinney - how about a steel bike (trail/duro and dare I say DH?) field test? Trying here b/c I tagged you in a previous steel bike article w/ zero reply.

I tried looking it up here and couldn't find anything that PB has produced but...maybe that's too fringe or just impossible to pull off. In a recent steel-bike aricle here (Anna Newkirks rig?) there was a lot of bickering about steel being automatcially "softer" and more compliant but then "noooo, its how i'ts engineered" which got poopoo'd right back. Being someone that sees steel and instantly thinks "that looks weak" (sorry but I do and it does) - I'm still interested to learn about 'em - hence the request. Maybe the are better than alloy...but I can say for sure a field test w/ steel bikes would likely be received well.

Sorry: this zero to do w/ SRAM but I didn't know where else to ply about it. Just a comment.
  • 4 1
 I like the idea of a head-to-head test, but they have done some reviews fairly recently:
www.pinkbike.com/news/field-test-contra-mc-the-steel-steamroller.html
www.pinkbike.com/news/review-cotic-rocketmax-gen4-stealthy-steel-and-simple.html
www.pinkbike.com/news/review-starling-spur-no-derailleur-no-worries.html
It would be great to have those three up against the Reeb Steezl and Chromag LowDown!
  • 2 1
 @Lostrodamus: word thx. Totally missed these in searching for a field test comparison but this'll do. I'm assuming its prob a mega-hassle to arrange a steel bike field test though. Are you a steel bike rider and/or interested? Any thoughts?
  • 4 0
 If you compare steel bikes only to other steel bikes, doesn't the fact they are steel become meaningless?
  • 2 0
 @parallaxid: Dunno - I've only ridden a buds bike a couple times (once). You'd have to ask the same question about carbon & alloy or Ti, not just steel though. According to the PB members who were going back & forth about it on Anna Newkirks article - its not just materials but engeineering (etc - leverage ratio, geo, etc). I dunno but PB has never done a steel bikes field test (that I know of) so it seems a logical question to ask.
  • 2 0
 @parallaxid: I mean, you're not totally wrong about that. However, PB has had the Contra in their enduro bike field test, other sites have done the same with steel bikes from time to time.
more importantly, though, is how different these bikes can be using similar tubing material.
One thing that I find really interesting is the back to back testing Neko Mulally and crew have been doing with their aluminum and steel Frameworks DH bikes:
youtu.be/pMeOHsDlyOc
youtu.be/1h_2wiZxnYQ
  • 1 0
 @Mtn-Goat-13: I rode steel hardtails until 2020, everything from custom singlespeeds to my last one, a Chromag Rootdown with a 160mm fork. I'm very interested in the new crop of steel long travel frames. Having worked with custom frame builders and learning the amount of flex/stiffness that can be crafted, I'm intrigued.
I replied to @parallaxid with a couple of YouTube links for Neko Mulally's project that might be of interest.
  • 2 0
 @Lostrodamus: Word on all that and yeah - Nekos a local rider around here (tho we're not buds) - that frameworks gig is badass but I've not actually watched the entire series. Ive heard a bunch of this via Downtime & MTB Podcast (others) but am blanking on steel...musta just shut it outta my head! Thx for the inut...
  • 2 0
 @Lostrodamus: Word..haven't ridden ss or hardtails in 20 yrs (?) - once full sus hit and in my area, I never looked back. Seems like a spinal tap for sure. All super interesting stuff - will def look into all this.
  • 5 0
 We need to see the pinkbike combine! I got my money on the young gun Dario.
  • 2 0
 Geometry is finally too long in the reach. Too bad most humans are not Chris's size lol. The average human height is 66.5" or 168.5cm.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer, what electric chainsaw do you have? I recently borrowed a Husqvarna T535i XP and that thing is amazing! Spending way too much time on Youtube looking at T540i XP reveiws...
  • 1 0
 @hheunis, I've got an Ego Power+ with an 18" bar. I've been really happy with it, and it takes the same battery as my lawn mower.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Thanks, looks like a nice chainsaw.
  • 2 0
 Yes, Where is @mikelevey? I need some more of Mike and Henry's half assed F1 content. The half assedness of it, is what makes it so great
  • 3 0
 Weird the graphic still has Levy...
  • 7 0
 Where is @mikelevy?
  • 1 0
 I know a LOT of tall product managers. Most bikes are designed around 6ft tall men and just scaled down without any rider feedback unfortunately.
  • 2 0
 Henry is an agent of chaos. Out there raw dogging the tires without sealant, just living on a prayer.
  • 4 0
 Where is @mikelevy????
  • 2 0
 they mentioned Levy!!
  • 2 2
 Mandell is the worst test rider ever, never buy anything he is involved with! he did knoa no favors!
  • 1 0
 How do you mean?
Those iconic Process bikes were great in a lot of ways, but pedaled like shit IME.
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