aener

I don't know for sure as I've not been in the market for a freewheel for a while now, but I've heard go for the new Echo TR rather than the SL. Exactly the same, but made of a heavier, stronger material, making it more robust but having the same mechanical properties. Don't know this for a fact, but thought I'd put it out there so people can confirm/dismiss/debate the idea.

Same God damn bumpers

Goodness gracious! He can certainly handle a bike. I hope to be that good one day. ...And also to go to wherever that is. Looks amazing.

http://vimeo.com/28982743 Should be available in about 90 minutes. Converting etc.

In which case I retract my hostile attitude. This isn't a "proper" video. Just some filming that was mostly done to get some energy back in to us, that turned in to quite a fun-to-watch video.

No... Don't back down Kyle. It's NOT fair play. Even I can barspin a BMX. Doing it on Ben's bike is approximately a million times more difficult, AND it was at the end of two consecutive nine hour rides. Perhaps I'm wrong, and Wigan is indeed a barspin deity, but that'd be like Damon Watson calling YOU out because you can't even sidehop 58". I mean - damn... that 50" one the other day was sketchy as hell, that's shit man. Don't want to start a riot - but Ben's riding does NOT warrant comments like that. Rather the contrary.

I got home at about 23:30, but had a couple of stops, so I reckon I left at 20:30.

That was supersweet Ben. I WANT your camera. Front wheel sliding out looks even more horrible on a bigger screen My arms hurt today.

Unsponsored? Really love his riding. 4th is insane!

Crikey! Wish I could fly Is it me or are those wheelbases REALLY long?

I don't know who they are - but Monster's marketing team need some SERIOUS medals for however they managed to make it "cool" for people to do their jobs for them. I would put money on Monster being owned by Steve Jobs

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. The fully matte black was THE nicest look! Still nice though. Paul's gonna be angry if they're disc-only.

What I'm getting at is that, whilst it is not "not permitted", the standard TGS video does not include such things. What is referred to as a TGS video features taps, gaps and sidehops by definition, usually with the inclusion of some front wheel stuff. What you're saying is a bit... "All sidehops are T-G-Sidehops, this rider does sidehops, therefore this rider is TGS." That's just not true. CLS and Tunnicliffe are the best examples of TGS. Whilst there is some creative flair, it was a common point of distaste at the sheer lack of it - concentrating almost solely on going big. There's a few clips of Danny Mac doing sidehops and taps. Gee, y'know - I think I've seen him do a gap or two, as well. He must be a TGS rider after all.

Good grief. What a brilliant post! I whole-heartedly agree. Stupid fast run, especially considering the conditions.

I don't understand how you can possibly be that smooth whilst still going that big. I realize some clips were pretty heavy - but the rest of them... Jeez. If Bigman gets back in to bikes (or if he already has, for all I know) he's got some serious competition!

...Excuse me? In no way am I saying that was street riding, but what the f**k are you talking about? The TGS standard? Did we watch the same video? The Kenny Belay one, right?

Nope. I HAVE considered taking up steel though. Waiting to hear back from WIP, but if they're much expense I'm probably going Marino.

Can't weld aluminium and return it to it's normal state. Don't know the ins and outs of it, but welding it softens it, and even if you COULD heat treat that localized area and not the whole thing, it'd deconstruct the effect of the first time it was heat-treated in the rest of the frame. Thanks for the offer but I really don't like the geo's of old Deng frames anymore, and as you've heard and decided to try and shine a negative light on, it's not my frame to be swapping out anyway.

Superb. Massive riding!

So basically he offered me his cracked frame saying he no longer wanted it as he's no intention of using it again, fully understanding that I'm a f**king basher seeing as I put five cracks in an Echo Lite three months from brand new. I haven't just taken his frame with the intention of destroying it. Ask him, you'll find that I was most hesitant in taking the offer up purely BECAUSE I was pretty confident I'd break it, and only took it up at all as I have very limited other choice.

Maybe so, but it's "still going" beneath the weight of me now, so it'll only be about a week before it's gone.

Tell me now, 'cause it's hard to tell from all these thousands of miles away... Is there actually such a thing as a Canadian rider that is not really really good at riding? I have yet to see evidence of one. All of you are just amazing.

And does it handle much differently? I imagine it's a little different - but it's still the same geometry, so can't be too much.

Woops... Accident.

Thank yoooooou I wrote that kind of badly. What I meant to say was more along the lines of "I'm too scared at the moment, but it's going to become my next mid/long-term project. I can feel so much potential in hooks, but I ploughed in to the side of one shortly after first trying, and now I'm terrified. I WILL do it though. Also thought the same for quite some time now - especially concerning spins. Just so far over the front - but I'd rather spin like a douche and still be able to gap/sidehop etc.