6 THINGS THAT WON’T HAPPEN IN 2019
1. THE DEATH OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The day mountain bikers started putting the word “influencer” in their Instagram bios I thought would be the day we would say a collectively F&^K you to social media. How wrong I was. I can’t wait to see how many more “influencers” hide themselves under the term “athlete” for the new year, but it does look to be the hot prospect of 2019. With our sports’ growth intertwined with social media there are many fall backs should people start to pay more attention with what’s happening at their local trails than worry about followers. But not to worry, it doesn’t seem like social media is going anywhere soon.
2. EMTBS BECOME UN-COOL
Who knew that putting a motor on a push bike would be so much fun? Believe me there is zero chance that eMTBs will stop their inevitable takeover of the world. It’s hard not to love them. They make life easier, more enjoyable, allow more actual riding time during rides (you don’t stop to catch your breath every 15 minutes) and they stop the need to organise shuttle cars to take you and your mates to the top every weekend to get that short 5-minute fix of descending.
3. CROSS-COUNTRY RACING PARTICIPATION BECOMES POPULAR
Look to be honest, Cross-Country is hugely popular in mounting biking, just not in racing circles. If everyone that rode an XC bike turned up to the races it would be bigger than the Boxing Day test match. The problem is in Australia doing anything for more than 90 minutes or more is just not an option. I can’t think of a scenario where Australians don’t at least have one smoko break during that time. As much as I want to see it happen, don’t be looking for big rider turn out at XC races in 2019.
4. BIKE SHOPS SELL TUBES FOR LESSTHAN$10
This one really pisses me off. What bike shop is trying to make money on tube sales? How likely are you to return to a new bike shop if they are heavily marking up tube prices? From someone who regularly gets stuck needing the odd tube here and there, when I get to the counter and see I’m paying $25 for a tube I would rather sacrifice my whole wheel than pay an inflated price for a tube.
5. INSTAGRAM BANNING SCHRALP VIDEOS
What is a schralp you ask? Generally, when a rider is exceeding the limitations of a given tyre, the tyre itself folds and the sound of it rubbing together, or against your frame gives off a schralp sound. Normally this sound is associated with above average speeds and skills. Recently it has become another thing thanks to social media. Air gets voluntarily let out of tyres pre-turn by the rider, and then an awkward hip shift during the turn results in enough movement through the turn to simulate the schralp sound. Emulating a skilled rider. Often these are done by the same people who speed up their Instagram videos. Something to look forward to in 2019 then…
6. TASMANIA HOLDING A DRY EWS ROUND
Okay everyone, cross every appendage you have. Australia is again set to host one of the major EWS events for 2019. Back in April 2017 it poured with rain in Derby and yet still nearly everyone had a massive smile on their face after the race on Sunday evening. Derby is set to again hold round two of the EWS for this year, and if I was a betting man (which I’m not) it would be hard not to put a few pennies on there being a river of water flowing down the main street of derby on the 31st of March.