The Pinkbike Podcast: Randomonium - Paragliding, Chairlift Riding, DH Bikes, & AI

Apr 28, 2023
by Mike Kazimer  
photo
Art by Taj Mihelich

Enjoy a wide ranging conversation with Alicia Leggett, Mike Kazimer, Dario DiGiulio, and Henry Quinney. The topics of this week's podcast include everything from paragliding lessons, downhill bikes, bike testing, and Henry's fear that AI will take our jobs and end the world as we know it.






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, Megaphone, etc.), or visit the Pinkbike Podcast tag page for the complete list of episodes.


Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,721 articles

30 Comments
  • 16 1
 Regarding the bar: In europe chances are, that they will stop the chairlift if they see that you don't put it down in a reasonable time after getting seated.
The bar is not there for style points - it's there for safety!
  • 3 3
 Honest question: where have you experienced this? Been riding lifts all over N.America & fair part of Europe for 40 years, and never encountered a resort that where bars aren't optional.
  • 1 0
 @DustOnCrust: Austria - have bars that automatically lower AND lock. Serfaus Fiss Ladis, Kitzbuhel, Zell am See just off the top of my head.
  • 1 0
 @boater-rich: must be a newer development I didn't experience when I skied Kitz & Zell in 90s. I find the impulse to lock people down utterly hilarious actually: here in California, where we have more lawyers per capita than anywhere on earth, no one thinks to reduce exposure by locking skiers & riders down against their will, but in Austria, where descending on bulletproof snow at 90mph is the national past-time, it's uphill safety at all costs! Thanks, that made my day.
  • 10 0
 The bar for me is more the conveniance that you can rest your arms and feet on it. I know some people think it's a wuss thing to do, but come on ... we're all mountain biking already doing dangerous stuff.
  • 7 1
 Is this a regional thing? I've been skiing/snowboarding for ~30 years, mostly in CA but w/ occasional trips elsewhere (UT/CO/Europe/Whistler) and almost always put the bar down. I've never heard anyone complain about it. I like having a perch to rest my board on rather than having it hang uncomfortably off my foot for the duration of the chair ride. On chairs w/o a foot-rest, it's still nice to have something to lean on.

Haven't done enough lift-served park riding, to say whether the attitude is different amongst mountain bikers.
  • 6 0
 On a pow day when I'm shredding hard my feet are SCREAMING at me by the time I get back on the lift, despite having well-fitted boots I still crank them down for high-consequence lines. The little footrest bar is crucial to give them a rest on the way back up. It's also easier to pull beers out of your pockets when you can lean on the bar
  • 4 16
flag plustiresaintdead (Apr 28, 2023 at 11:40) (Below Threshold)
 @SoCalTrev: Sorry, everyone else on the lift just thought you were a kook and never mentioned it. I just hate it when people slam it down without saying anything. When I realize that someone is doing this I usually just scream BAR!! as loud as I can to make people uncomfortable. This is for skiing only, I really don't care in the summer.
  • 2 0
 I don't put the bar down. I'm not worried about falling out. I'm afraid of heights and I'm still not worried about it. If someone else jumps on the lift with me and they want it down, then whatever. It doesn't hurt me either way. Just not a concern in the least. I don't do show sports though.
  • 2 0
 @SoCalTrev: having skied better part of US & Europe over last 40 years, most skiers expect parents w/ young kids and snowboarders to want bar down (because one leg) and the only time I've ever complained is when some Jerry yanks the bar into the back of my skull without warning (note to newbies: anyone over 6ft tall *will* get hit in the head if you don't let them know the bar is coming so they can lean back & avoid it). At resorts that have footrests attached to bars, most two-plankers don't mind resting their legs with you, even if it isn't a pressing need like it is for you with one boot out. As for safety, I'll pull down the bar if it is crazy windy, particularly on an old-school chair that is routed more than 60ft off the ground. I have yet to be injured by falling from a lift, or even getting on or off, but I've had more nasty blows to the head from the "safety" bar than I can count (yes I wear a helmet, & no it doesn't need more scuffs or dings due to poor communication). No one cares about signaling how cool, tough, or captain-safety you are by wanting bar up or down: just exercise common sense/courtesy & let people know if it is coming down!
  • 15 8
 Never understood the whole "cool guys leave the bar up" Yea until your dumb a$$ falls off cuz you're too busy looking at your phone. I also see stupid dads leaving the bar up with their kids with them... how tarded are you??! PUT THE DAMN BAR DOWN!
  • 12 2
 I hope levy is back soon.
  • 8 0
 what the heck happened to levy?
  • 5 1
 AI got him
  • 2 0
 @slowandcontrolled: at least it wasnt a ufo
  • 3 0
 Alicia, I have just crawled out from under a rock. As so sorry to hear about your struggles. I had been wondering where the hell you had got to. Hope you have a great summer and that all goes well. PS My 2 boys are starting paragliding this summer. What with the lack of snow year after year, skiers are turning to "wings" to avoid long walks out. Hope to see you back in front of the camera when you are good and ready
  • 1 0
 I've changed my tune to put the bar down every time due to the Utah Ski Patroller in January getting bounced off the lift to his death due to the tree falling on the cable and bouncing him. RIP
  • 4 2
 What happened to the Formula 1 podcast episodes? I really enjoyed them.
  • 4 1
 Where is Mike Levy?
  • 3 2
 AI is going to end us all
  • 10 2
 Humans: Is there a god?
AI: There is now.
  • 4 4
 Bar down! c'mon you are sitting in a chair.
  • 12 0
 I’m going to state the obvious. The chair is high enough off the ground that a fall would be bad.

Kinda like sitting in chairs in a car and not wearing seatbelts.
  • 1 0
 What ?
  • 15 16
 downvote this!
  • 11 4
 I upvoted this. Don't tell me what to do.
  • 1 4
 ..
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.041105
Mobile Version of Website