General Cycling Discussion - Freeriding and the Tour

Some of you may have already heard but on one of the stages of the tour jumped the back of the peleton. While I do consider myself a freerider and push my limits of riding constantly I find this disturbing to say the least. For several reasons

1 - the danger to himself meant nothing to me. It is 'only' a 45 ft gap and in reality that is a risk he takes often. The real risk was to the riders. He bucked the jump were made him come up short. Too big a risk to try.
2 - I am not a roadie and in fact hold no nostalgia towards road racing. But the tour is history. This was a slap in the face of something much bigger than 'exposure' for freeriding.

I feel this is really a big step back for freeriding in general (I know some of you don't even take it into consideration now) and I feel we will now be looked upon with the same disgust skateboarders received for 30 years (little irratating punks). I guess I am just looking for some feedback considering I have been reading many a thread on all of the mountain bike boards about this.

Here is the reference
http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/4606.0.html

Cheers

Maelstrom,

I agree with you. This guy wanted to "bring freeriding to the masses," but he's got to understand that there are effective and detrimental ways to bring people's attention to the sport. I'm sure that this stunt didn't change anyone's negative opinion about freeriders to a postive one. His comment about putting only himself at danger was rediculous. He estimated he jumped over about 15 riders. What if he had screwed up off the jump and gone right over into the riders? I know he's got experience in jumping, but you never know. What if he didn't make the landing and came into the road? There are team cars that follow the riders. I didn't see a video of the jump, so I don't know what the take -off and landing looked like.

Using the popular definition of "freerider," I wouldn't consider myself one. I ride and race XC and do some training on the road bike. I know that there are responsible "freeriders" out there and respect their rights to use the trails, but this guy certainly didn't do anything to help his cause.

-Moab

You're right to be concerned. It was a monumentally disrespectful act, and it's not the rider's call to decide whether he was "the only person in jeopardy" or not.

Kona should fire Watson and make every effort to disassociate themselves from his action.

IMO

RichC

Originally posted by moabrider47
I didn't see a video of the jump, so I don't know what the take -off and landing looked like.

And you won't the only people to have gotten video taping was the NWD crew for the movie New World Disorder 4.

Blah blah blah blah.........did you know it isnt true?

I feel we will now be looked upon with the same disgust skateboarders received for 30 years (little irratating punks)

As a former skateboarder of 15 years who has always been very respectful of others I take offense to that comment.

Originally posted by KleinMp99
Blah blah blah blah.........did you know it isnt true?

Is velon news lying? Did Dave Watsons announcement at the gravity festival mean it was false? If It is great....

Originally posted by MKRG
As a former skateboarder of 15 years who has always been very respectful of others I take offense to that comment.

Yep...I am glad you did...but that is the way the general public viewed skateboarding in general throughout my entire childhood...it hasn't been until recently that skateboarding has gotten any respect as a sport. That is the view I would like to see freeriding avoid.

BTW personally I have always loved skateboarding and even watched early 80's comps when they were illegal in Ontario. Just relating how my parents (and most parent) and the gov't viewed skaters.

Dave Watson is one hell of a skilled bike rider. I don't think he whould have pull this stunt off if he thought he was putting anyone in danger. This stunt was carfuly planed and caused the TDF riders less trouble the mass of agro fans who display them selves along every inch of the course. . not to mention the media motorbikes and cars that often come dangersly close to the riders. Kona fire him, ya right, the advertising will be more the worth it Cut Watson some slack. After all after he got out of the hospital he went to jail, briefly.

Originally posted by KleinMp99
Blah blah blah blah.........did you know it isnt true?

http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/slopestyle_07_03.php

Another confirmed report from a valid source. The planets must be in alignment or something strange because KleinMp99 knows all and is never wrong. :rolleyes:

Hey Klein, where exactly did you get your information that you are so positive it's false? I'm not completly sold on this information being true, but if you have rock solid evidence, could you point us to it? Or I got it, you must have been there right? Whipped over in your spare time and did the detective work yourself?

At first I thought you were talking about the female DH champ who used to be a guy!:lol:

Originally posted by Ernesto_Koba
Dave Watson is one hell of a skilled bike rider. I don't think he whould have pull this stunt off if he thought he was putting anyone in danger.

from one of the articles:
"His hesitation caused him to come up a little short and he was bucked."

So, he is so skilled he wrecked and had to go to the hospital. Suuurre there is absolutely no way he could have hit the riders. I call BS on that.

If somebody jumped over me without my permission you'd have to hold me back from beating his punk ass. You dont put other people at risk like that. I dont care wether he thought it was safe or not, it is up to everyone involved to agree, or its not kosher.

What an idiotic stunt, if Kona doesn't fire him I'll probably avoid their products.

peas,

Jester

The Tour seems to be becoming a magnet for whackos with an axe to grind, striking artists, freeriders, etc. I can't wait until PETA (all those poor slaughtered polyesters) and the militant ecologists (you just can't expect to go around throwing away waterbottles forever) get involved.

I'll tell you what: NASCAR certainly wouldn't put up with this kind of nonsense. :)

Dan

SWEEEEEEEEET http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=104987


Well...I thought he hit a jump........and if that pic isnt real then why is watson and bc painted on the road? It cant be photoshop....that is too good.

Originally posted by KleinMp99
Well...I thought he hit a jump........and if that pic isnt real then why is watson and bc painted on the road? It cant be photoshop....that is too good.

Well, I for one have to admit that the picture looks pretty cool.

... BUT...

I think it is horribly irresponsible for anyone to have committed such an act that involved people without their knowledge or endorsement.

I am now getting word that the picture is fake, even though it did look pretty real. Knowledge or endorsement? Come on.....

Originally posted by KleinMp99
Knowledge or endorsement? Come on.....

Okay... tell you what. I'll show up across the street from your house and practice shooting mortar shells over it. Trust me, I've done this hundreds and thousands of times. I'm sure you won't have a problem with that. Oh wait... why am I even letting you know I'll be doing this?

I'm not so sure about it being a fake. I haven't researched it or anything. It appears there are a couple folks looking up at the jumper from the side of the road.

Originally posted by MKRG
I'm not so sure about it being a fake. I haven't researched it or anything. It appears there are a couple folks looking up at the jumper from the side of the road.

Couldn't agree with you any more, there are about 3 people looking up at him while he is clearing them.....

one word IDIOT

If he really wanted to make a statement about freeriding and how much respect it should get he should have gone out and tried to race in the tour!! I mean that would impress me more than jumping over some guys.... A freerider in the tour.... imagine all the publicity over that!!!