Welcome back to RECON, the weekly email keeping you up to date on MTB in 5 min.

This week, Cam Zink and Kyle Strait hopped on the “Gypsy Tales” podcast and analyzed every single Rampage run line by line.

Responding to the judging controversy, both legends proposed new guidelines, like pre-scoring lines to give judges a baseline and transparency around scoring categories.

One thing both athletes felt hasn’t been talked about enough?

How insane Tom van Steenbergen's record-breaking front flip was.

In today’s issue:

• 🚫 Cancelled: Torquato Testa’s controversial video

• 🚲 The Return: Jackson Goldstone Just Won A DH Race

• 🛠 Business Moves: Canyon Inks Maintenance Deal With REI

📸 Pic Of The Week: Frenchman Ken Desmazeau hits a 360 in Virgin, UT

😹 Meme: Your wallet is cringing

NEWS

🤦‍♂️ Torquato Testa Tests His Luck

Just when you thought pro mountain bikers were crazy enough…

Earlier this week, pro freerider and former Red Bull Joyride athlete Torquato Testa dropped a video to his 424,000 YouTube subscribers ranking this year’s female Rampage competitors.

But Testa’s video didn’t contain the kind of rankings you might expect.

The Italian rider and his co-host Daniel Valperta rated the physical attractiveness of each female athlete, not the quality of their runs or the bravery they showed when attacking the steeps of Virgin for the first time in history.

After being released, the video quickly amassed over 30,000 views, and drew instant outrage, not only from Testa’s Italian audience but also directly from the women targeted in the video and the larger MTB community as a whole.

While Testa deleted the video after the outpouring of condemnation, the consequences are likely more permanent.

• Industry Nine, which sponsors several of this years women’s Rampage riders, terminated its 7-year contract with Testa

• NS Bikes, the team supporting Testa, didn’t specify to PinkBike whether they would continue their collaboration

Our Take: Mountain biking has always been a male dominated sport and for it to grow into a larger, more global one, it’s vital that women feel welcomed. This year’s Red Bull Rampage was historic for its inclusion and received national news coverage from outlets like The New York Times. Typically when female divisions are added to sports, its a sign they are growing and becoming more mainstream. With exploding popularity for women’s sports leagues like the WNBA, female competition is rising all boats in professional athletics. Torquato Testa was rightfully condemned for his actions.

RACING

⚡️ Boy Wonder Is Back.

Hide your kids and hide your wife.

Mountain biking prodigy Jackson Goldstone is back and better than ever.

This past weekend, Squamish hosted its first-ever Downhill race and the locals loved it.

Despite gnarly conditions—pouring rain, a brutally tough track, and slippery roots—over 80 racers turned up to battle it out on the course. Among them was none other than Squamish’s very own Jackson Goldstone, making his long-awaited return to racing after his injury earlier this year in Tasmania.

Goldstone didn’t just show up; he dominated, winning by a staggering 16 seconds and showing the crowd that he’s back and ready to shred. His performance was a highlight, reminding everyone why he’s one of the world’s top downhill talents. The event also showcased the strength of the Canadian downhill scene, with talented riders, a strong local turnout, and great community vibes.

Excellent work by the trail builders, SORCA (Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association), and OneUp Components for making this groundbreaking event happen. Downhill is alive and thriving in Canada, and it’s events like these that keep the spirit strong!

BUSINESS

🤝 REI & Canyon Are A Dynamic Duo

Canyon has broken rule after rule as one of the most disruptive bike companies.

First it cut out local bike shops by focusing exclusively on direct-to-consumer sales and offered the end customer a lower price in return.

While offering cheaper bikes, Canyon also managed to maintain an exciting brand image and inked sponsorship deals with the likes of global icons in and outside the industry like Fabio Wibmer and Lebron James.

The con to all this has been the difficulty in the company serving Canyon owners with maintenance and warranty claims that need to occur physically. Many bike shops refuse to work on bikes that are sold strictly DTC.

To solve this, Canyon has announced a maintenance partnership with REI Co-Op offering:

• Service

• Warranty Claims

• Crash Replacements

• Discounts to REI members

Why it matters: Canyon became successful as a manufacturer by reducing the friction around buying a bike which attracted new customers to the industry. By partnering with REI, Canyon is reducing that friction even more, integrating with a brand many outdoor-oriented consumers already know and are comfortable going to.

Whether or not you ride a Canyon, this deal could have positive downstream effects. REI has indicated a larger push into the bike industry and being able to find bike parts and accessories quickly and at good prices could be a positive for all us riders.

Riding Tips

💧 Quit Washing Out

We’ve all been there—ripping through a corner, feeling like a pro, then you eat sh**.

Your bike slides out, leaving you covered in mud. First reaction? Blame the bike, the weather, or the trail builder.

In mountain biking, a "washout" happens when your tires lose grip mid-turn, causing them to slide out. When you lean into a turn, centripetal force kicks in, creating friction that keeps your tires planted.

But if the grip isn’t strong enough—whether due to a sharp turn, speed, or a slippery surface like wet roots or loose gravel—your tires can’t hold, and you’ll wash out. Surface conditions, turn angle, and bike setup all play a part in this delicate dance of traction.

Here’s what you can do to stay upright next time around.

1. Choose the Optimal Line

   • Seek sections with positive camber, where the trail slopes inward to boost your stability through turns; avoid outward-sloping areas that can compromise grip.

   • Keep your gaze moving ahead to identify high-traction spots early, allowing you to adjust smoothly for any slick patches.

2. Fine-Tune Your Tires and Setup

   • Select tires with suitable tread and compound for the terrain to enhance grip.

   • Adjust tire pressure for maximum surface contact, improving control.

   • Calibrate your suspension to help stabilize the bike and keep tires firmly grounded.

3. Perfect Your Braking

   • Brake gradually before entering a turn, and ease off before the tightest part to maintain traction. Control your speed gently through turns for stability.

4. Enhance Body Positioning

   • Distribute weight evenly between front and rear tires for balanced traction.

   • Apply pressure to the bars as you lean into the turn to help the front tire grip effectively.

BIKES

🎥 Banger Of The Week:

Ludo May pushes the limit in the alps.

👂 Ear Candy:

Bike industry veteran and World Cup photographer Sven Martin dives into the evolving landscape of downhill and enduro racing. He shares his insights on why recent changes are essential for reaching a broader audience and elevating the sport, even if they shake things up for some in the community.

🌎 Headlines and Hitters

• Hope Releases 135mm Evo Crank

• 18-year-old builds app where pros teach you to ride

• This German kid sent Brendog’s rampage line on $500 bike

• Crankbrothers drops one of one Halloween themed pedal set

• The best deals on mountain bikes right now

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