Ride to Live, Skate or Die. This episode is about how bikes continue to evolve and change mostly for the better, sometimes for the worse, but skateboards remain the same. What gives? Why does it matter? We mostly don’t figure it out, but you’re used to that by now.
Music pick of the week.
Robot – AC Newman – The Slow Wonder
Stevil – The Descendents – 9th and Walnut
Podcast (revolting): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:34 — 55.4MB)
Ian MacKaye nailed it with this quote: “Skateboarding is not a hobby. And it’s not a sport. Skateboarding is a way of learning how to redefine the world around you. It’s a way of getting out of house, connecting with other people, and looking at the world through different sets of eyes.” Skate contests are more of an artistic expression versus what a clock says or who crossed the finish line first. IMHO, only the Red Bull Rampage has similarities to skate contests. As Stevil says skateboards are simple machines that simply work and I may add that no one is racing on them. No need to evolve them further. In contrast, it is possible to “buy” speed/performance when it comes to bikes and so companies are always looking to make incremental improvements so their athletes can excel.
I love that the frontman of two really freakin great bands was brought into this discussion. I think Stevil and Robot get there during their discussion, but the true gist was this: Biking innovation is all about the bike. Skating innovation is all about the human.
Kent, I think you’re right. I do sorta wish more bike riders focused energy on bike handling and a little less on wattage. I think they’d enjoy riding more.
That’s an opinion though…