Weekday Diversions #20: Baby Hippos, A Bike Ride Around the Globe, and A Promotional Video for Kubota?

It’s Wednesday, you’ve (almost) made it! The work week is halfway done, and the prospect of big weekend rides is beckoning. Until then, here’s a roundup of the best mountain bike (and non-bike) content that’s caught our interest this week.

Deven McCoy - Staff Writer

Squamish Raw from Cannondale Bike

This video has a lot going for it, and I’ll admit that the Cannondale marketing team kind of crushed it—a mix of acoustic and e-bikes, raw audio, very organic riding, and cinematography is a simple equation on paper. Execution is a little more complex, and Cannondale nailed it with this. It’s always interesting to see brands as illustrious as Cannondale adapt and grow with the culture. British Columbia local Colby Pringle and Cannondale’s Iago Garay ride some Squamish classics on the Jekyll and new Moterra SL, Cannondale’s lightweight full-suspension e-bike.

Edgar Briole just hanging out

This is short but glorious, and I’ve got my calendar market. If you aren't familiar with Edgar Briole, you should probably do some learning to see what this 19-year-old is up to. He’s nice with it. Dirt, Speed and Style, Red Bull Hardline, French Cups, and even a few DH World Cups, nothing is out of the question. Edgar might be one of my favorite mountain bike talents to watch at the moment.

A baby pygmy hippo to brighten your day?

Are you on the Moo-Deng train? This adorable addition to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in eastern Thailand is this sassy two-month-old pygmy hippo, and she’s taking the world by storm. There are fan-art accounts dedicated to her, coffee drinks in her likeness, and who knows what else, and I see why Moo-Deng has garnered so much attention. I’ll be following this story closely as it progresses.

Ariel Kazunas - Staff Writer

Lael Wilcox rode a bike around the whole damn world and I just… wow. Just when I thought my biker crush on her couldn’t level up… it leveled up.

Rampage is sold out but Wild Rye is offering folks a chance to win a trip for two to see the historic event (ahem *the gals are dropping in this year!* ahem) with my favorite unhinged leisure athlete, Katie Burrell - who, as this recent clip demonstrates, might be getting too sick to be relatable.

Some people line up for the first PSL of the year, others get the decorative gourds out on the front stoop… I, however, re-watch this clip from Guido Anderwert every September to get myself into the fall spirit.

Dylan Russell - Social Media Manager

Buy a Kubota, and you, too, can build like Remy?

Putting aside the fact it’s kind of a promotional video for Kubota, it gives some insight into Remy’s mind blowing X-Games build. It’s a pleasure to see such a master at work, finishing the features to almost 100% with the machine. Figuring out the right balance of scarring the hill and leaving its natural beauty.

Eddie Reynolds for Deity

Eddie Reynolds, Clay Porter, Rupert Walker and Satchel Cronk…Deity assembling the A-Team for their newest pedal launch. Eddie takes care of the style, throwing that downhill bike around like it’s a BMX. While Clay, Rupert and Satchel catch all the angles, producing a masterpiece for your eyes.