Why Bike Mag went to Crankworx

Crankworx is many things to many people. It’s a competitive spectacle, the Olympics of mountain biking, where all the best riding from all the best gravity disciplines is showcased. Or it’s a tradeshow, an opportunity to network, put names to faces, and form connections. Or it’s a surprising sideshow to plenty of tourists on their mountain vacation. But mostly, Crankworx is a seething mass of humanity.

So. Many. People. Fast people in energy drink helmets, steezy people in Dickies work pants, dorky people like myself in apparel branded by the outlets we represent. And then a whole bunch of mountain bikers dressed in whatever they think mountain bikers should wear. It’s glorious, and a little overwhelming.

That’s why Bike Mag was there, to be overwhelmed. As we gain momentum it’s easy to get sucked into the individual experience of mountain biking. Most of our work is done over email, we ride bikes with small groups of friends, write about them, and go on with our lives. Crankworx is the exact opposite. Meet in person, grab a drink or a lap, ride the lift with strangers, and meet new folks at every turn. Shake hands, bump fists, hoot, heckle, and reminisce.

Mountain biking can be a collective experience, and Crankworx is an excellent reminder of that. So yes, we were stoked to cover events like Deep Summer , Whip Off , Dual Speed and Style , Joyride Slopestyle , and the first ever women’s field at Joyride . And we’ve written up a few new bikes, with a few more yet to come. We did the “bike media attends bike event” things. But we also rode a bunch, together and with other folks.

Bike Mag is ostensibly “about the ride” and Crankworx reiterated that. It’s exhilarating to be part of the madness, to experience the energy of that many mountain bikers all in the same place, at the same time focusing on the same thing. Sure, mountain biking is early starts and solo sunset laps and uncrowded singletrack. But it’s also the collective roar of thousands of riders watching women drop into the Joyride Slopestyle competition for the first time. It’s the lineup of groms lined up to get mullets from Devinci, or the slightly older lineup to get tattoos from Pinkbike.

It’s the gazillion phone clips shot on Top of the World, the autographs requested in the village, and the unending athlete signings. It’s the clumps of oblivious riders stopped in the middle of the trail, and it’s the trail builders watching the hordes of folks enjoy their handiwork. Mountain biking is small and personal and intimate, but it’s also huge and loud and brash. Mountain biking is single speeds and rigid forks, and DH bikes with electronic suspension. And Crankworx gives us an opportunity to experience that spectrum. Same time next year?!