Ride It or Glide It, Don't Slide It

It's 2021, Isn't It?

Beta is the new Bike. As you may remember, Bike had their annual Bible of Bike Tests. They had things set up for the latest installment of the Bible when Bike died. Beta resuscitated the Bible. They did so in Ely, Nevada.

Congrats to Beta on being alive and congrats on putting out a new Bible.

I have a little beef with them, though, as I have for years now (when they were Bike) on this particular issue. In the video below that Beta put out, at the 2:33 mark, you’ll see 3 riders sliding into a turn, kicking up dirt and rock. Come on. Really? Don’t we know by now, especially in the American West (fragile soils, e.g. crypto), that we should glide it or ride it and not slide it? It’s 2021, right?

Here’s the thing: when a publication like Beta puts this kind of film out there, it gives tacit approval of what many of us, individual riders and mountain biking organizations alike, now consider/know to be what you should NOT to do when coming into a turn.

Click it and see for yourself.

https://www.betamtb.com/travel/usa/ely-nevada-the-new-riding-boom-town/

Note: we cannot really see in the film the exact kind of trail/surface where the sliding takes place. Regardless, the context of the film leads us to think/believe that the riders are on a trail, likely single track. That kind of sliding is not acceptable anymore.

On a positive note, and the film is nearly all positive, it’s great to see remote/rural towns being welcoming of mountain bikers, at least as it’s portrayed. Let us remember we are visitors. Respect local/remote/rural peoples and their hometowns. You’re passing through.

(Steps down from soap box and says “peace out, ya’ll”)

Wait…email Beta and tell ‘em to stop publishing videos of riders sliding on trails. To do that, send the email here: DMCA@PocketOutdoorMedia.com

On Beta’s website under Contact Us, there is no direct email listed for Beta. Since they are with Pocket Outdoor Media, the email above will make its way to the media department. Yes, this will take a little effort, meaning sending an email. If this matters to you, 5 minutes isn’t much time in life. In the Subject line, put in this, if you want:

Attn: Beta — Stop Sliding into Turns

Then craft a few words and push send on that email.

I feel better now. Thanks!

James/Jim/Jimmy

P.S.—if you made it this far, here’s a cheers for/to you!

looking forward to the return of “Alpine” beer when McIlhenney Brewing Company gets up and running in the original/old location

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