Steps to the Top - Jack Moir

The facts and figures behind Mitch Ropelato’s last-minute bid for the King of Crankworx crown are staggering. But beyond the measurement of gate drops and vertical feet of descending, the number of high-fives and blasted berms, or even his Crankworx hair bleaching, you’ve got one solid common denominator—fun on a bicycle.

The sport of mountain biking has its epicenters of excellence — places where the word ‘progression’ really means something. The product engineering of mountain biking also has its hotspots. And few have a more interesting history and legacy than Schweinfurt, Germany. Located near-perfectly in the center of Germany, innovators from Schweinfurt are responsible for the first precision ball-bearing, the first ball-bearing hub, the first freewheel and, now, SRAM Eagle™, the SRAM 1x™ drivetrain...

The bicycle industry is almost entirely comprised of enthusiasts and dreamers, but the crew at the San Luis Obispo development facility takes it to a level of intensity that is simply a notch higher. The SLO team operates as a true competitive family—the kind in which you refuse to be one-upped by your sibling, but where you become the world’s loudest cheerleader when your sibling wins. This competitive family dynamic is abundantly evident in the SLO group’s newest creation, DUB. This is...

They say about great athletes that the body is quiet, that they waste no effort. Same as it is with great artists and musicians — their magic often strongest in what they omit than in adding another brush stroke or note. Watch Emil Johansson for a minute and you’ll see that same sort of economy of effort, a fun but edited riding style that is quiet, while at the same time projecting no small amount of genius. This stylish Swede is only 17 years old, but he already rides with a level of...

After the first three World Cups, it's time for our team to share a bit more about our lives. "Inside Line" is what we decided to call our new series. Our episodes are a behind the scenes look at COMMENCAL / VALLNORD DH Team. It's about both our best times and the worst. You'll see, it's about our passion. Why do we love racing so much? Why after injuries and tough days we are still here ready to compete? Why do we do what we do? Basically, MTB is the most important part our lives...

Just how much did it mean for Myriam Nicole to become the leader of the DH World Cup? What happened to the team during the last couple of weeks? This is the second episode of our Inside Line series, our behind the scenes look at what goes down on the COMMENCAL / VALLNORD bus. Crankworx Les Gets, Vallnord and Lenzerheide World Cups. Myriam Nicole took three back to back wins! This part of the season was completely dominated by her, and she's now leading the World Cup overall which is absolu...