Black Diamond???

I read Mountainbike Action on a regular basis, but I think they went just a tad to far. Such
arrogance.

"Xtc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I read Mountainbike Action on a regular basis, but I think they went just

a

Quoted message said:

tad to far. Such arrogance.

What? Have I missed something?
--
Westie

Critic said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action have been replaced
with the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal correctness
at its worst.

For those of us who dont read MBA. Why did they do that?

--
Matt

Fear of a flat planet

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action

have

Quoted message said:

been replaced with the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal
correctness at its worst.

I am one of MBAs readers to, but have bot read the last issue, could you please explain what the
black diamond is? I think its a nice mag without lots of [censored] stories and freaky layout like
"bike", so if they have become a tad to far out, i would like to know in which ways :-) Im from
Denmark, so maybe i dont see things the way you do, so please cut it out for me :-)

Peet

Ok, here goes, quote from MountainBike Action's August 03 issue on page 17. " You'll notice in this
issue that we've begun to use a new term to describe a bike and a type of riding. The term is black
diamond. When referring to bikes, it means those with over five inches of travel or that have two or
less chainrings. Black-diamond riding refers to extreme riding (like the Red Bull Rampage) and
down-hilling. It replaces the term freeriding because that word has come to incorrectly conjure
images of mountain bikers riding off established trails. Freeriding is sometimes confused with epic
or all-mountain riding (long rides on singletrack, dirt roads and jeep trails).

Xtc said:

Ok, here goes, quote from MountainBike Action's August 03 issue on page
17. " You'll notice in this issue that we've begun to use a new term to describe a bike and a type
of riding. The term is black diamond. When referring to bikes, it means those with over five
inches of travel or that have two or less chainrings. Black-diamond riding refers to extreme
riding (like the Red Bull Rampage) and down-hilling. It replaces the term freeriding because
that word has come to incorrectly conjure images of mountain bikers riding off established
trails. Freeriding is sometimes confused with epic or all-mountain riding (long rides on
singletrack, dirt roads and jeep trails).

My god. What the hell does it matter what its called. Just ride the damned thing. One chainring, 3
chainrings. 3 inches or 8 inches. Who cares!

--
Matt

Fear of a being labelled

Matthew Paterson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Critic said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action have been replaced with
the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal correctness at its
worst.

For those of us who dont read MBA. Why did they do that?

They are using the new term in place of Freeriding, which they state incorrectly conjers images of
off trail riding.

"Xtc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, here goes, quote from MountainBike Action's August 03 issue on page

17.

Quoted message said:

" You'll notice in this issue that we've begun to use a new term to

describe

Quoted message said:

a bike and a type of riding. The term is black diamond. When referring to bikes, it means those
with over five inches of travel or that have two or less chainrings.

hee hee hee singlespeeders are now extreme "black diamond" riders

Steve E.

Matthew Paterson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

3 inches or 8 inches. Who cares!

Your girl?

Quoted message said:

--
Matt

Fear of a being unable to satisfy.

Shaun aRe

Stephen Baker thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

MTBScottie says:

Quoted message said:

They are using the new term in place of Freeriding, which they state incorrectly conjers images
of off trail riding.

I don't see what is so incorrect about that....

BTW, it's "conjures" ;-)

Steve

I have seen a more appropriate use of the diamond marking system on trail maps. Green circle,
blue square, black diamond. I've got one map for bikes ( Nelson, BC ) that even has triple
diamonds on it.

Penny

Quoted message said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action have been replaced
with the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal correctness
at its worst.

PC has gone way too far , to the point of censorship , masking the
truth and abusing the truth , and offending to those who desire the
truth . In a few cases PC can be a good thing , such as removing the
cultural , religious , ethnic , and racial stereotypes and stigmas
that have been part of this country's dark past as well as the stigma
we have placed on the disabled , physically ,mentally ,and visually
challenged . I , personally avoid people who are too PC to tolerate .

M&M

Penny S. said:

Stephen Baker thoughtfully penned:

Quoted message said:

MTBScottie says:

Quoted message said:

They are using the new term in place of Freeriding, which they state incorrectly conjers images
of off trail riding.

I don't see what is so incorrect about that....

BTW, it's "conjures" ;-)

Steve

I have seen a more appropriate use of the diamond marking system on trail maps. Green circle,
blue square, black diamond. I've got one map for bikes ( Nelson, BC ) that even has triple
diamonds on it.

Penny

They have the same rating system for the trails in Vancouver and Victoria. I can tell thier rating
system has some leeway in it. The black diamonds of Victoria where easier than the Black Diamonds of
the North Shore.

However the use of Black Diamond for freeriding (or any other flavor of Moutainbiking styles) just
does not seem right. The circle, square, diamond rating system basically tells you what skill level
is required (with your basic rig) and the danger that is to be expected on the trail. IMHO keep the
diamonds associated with trails not bikes. Geez give me a full body armor suit, full face helmet and
super squizzy long legged bike and I'll be more extreme. It does not me I'm any more skillful.

If the behavior of the riders has given freeride bikes a bad name then changing the name of the
bikes is not going to anything but buy them a couple of months before the Black Diamond name is
trashed. You might as well start a Bike Name of the Month club.

Bill Porter www.mountainbikebill.com

"Peter Tønnesen" <peto@***privat.dk> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action

have

Quoted message said:

been replaced with the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal
correctness at its worst.

I am one of MBAs readers to, but have bot read the last issue, could you please explain what the
black diamond is? I think its a nice mag without lots of [censored] stories and freaky layout like
"bike", so if they have become a tad to far out, i would like to know in which ways :-) Im from
Denmark, so maybe i dont see things the way you do, so please cut it out for me :-)

Peet

It's in the August issue Peet, it just came out. I checked their website, and it's not updated yet,
but it should be soon, featuring that small blurb we are all speaking of.

MBA is one of my favorites too, along with Dirt Rag. You are right about "Bike"; I went into Barnes
and Noble yesterday and picked it up and it's not even worth buying.

I don't think the article is arrogant, I just think maybe they should leave all this damn
terminology alone.

Xtc said:

Ok, here goes, quote from MountainBike Action's August 03 issue on page 17. " You'll notice in
this issue that we've begun to use a new term to describe a bike and a type of riding. The term is
black diamond. When referring to bikes, it means those with over five inches of travel or that
have two or less chainrings. Black-diamond riding refers to extreme riding (like the Red Bull
Rampage) and down-hilling. It replaces the term freeriding because that word has come to
incorrectly conjure images of mountain bikers riding off established trails. Freeriding is
sometimes confused with epic or all-mountain riding (long rides on singletrack, dirt roads and
jeep trails).

I've decided to boycott MBA. I rode mountain bikes mid 80's to early 90's back before FS was all
the rage. Hell even before front shocks were the rage. I pick up MBA and I get the impression that
you aren't [censored] unless you're riding some $5000 FS rig and it's all about extreme. To me, some of
the downhill bikes look like motorcycle chassis' without the engine. Whatever happened to 50 mph
on some single track fire road in the middle of nowhere with NO suspension, hite rite on the
seatpost, biopace sprocket, and my Panaracer Smokes? Oh..remember the Farmer John tires?
Jebus...Just get out and ride.
--
treelimb.orgtreelimb.orgOpen ↗ A blogunity

On Fri, 04 Jul 2003 04:27:50 GMT, "Critic"

Quoted message said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action have been replaced with the
term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal correctness at its worst.

Isn't "Freeriding" a term copyrighted by Cannondale?

Maybe MA won't pay to use the term. <G>

Barry

"spademan o---[) *" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Xtc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, here goes, quote from MountainBike Action's August 03 issue on page

17.

Quoted message said:

" You'll notice in this issue that we've begun to use a new term to

describe

Quoted message said:

a bike and a type of riding. The term is black diamond. When referring

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bikes, it means those with over five inches of travel or that have two

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

less chainrings.

hee hee hee singlespeeders are now extreme "black diamond" riders

Steve E.

does a bashguard count as a chainring??

Cam

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All references to freeriding in the latest issue of Mountainbike Action

have

Quoted message said:

been replaced with the term "black diamond". Even readers' letters have been editted. Politcal
correctness at its worst.

Pretty sad, this sorta discision could have only been made by a bunch of desk riden lawyers. A bunch
of marketting geniouses... So funny how hard some people/companies try to "brand" certian
things....Freeriding was a name givin to the sport by the people who particapate. It wasnt a group
decision. It wasnt thought about. There was no meeting. It doesnt need approval. Its what people
called it. To try and change it, is like trying to change your own nickname. Sure there was the
issue of Freeriding and Cannondale, and why the Rocky Mountain Froriders and called what they're
called. Hopefully this isnt about Cannondale!!

As for the whole Black Diamond Issue. You shouldnt have to be too experienced in the backcountry to
understand that certian major trail associations use Black Diamonds for trial identifaction
purposes. simply check out a ski-map ie. cross-country or downhill, and you will see plenty of black
diamonds. Theres also a very big differenece between the ones on the XC vs the ski-hills.

At first while i was reading the magazine i was wondering, did they already label the dudes riding
on the ski-hills as Black Diamond Riders. I really dont have a problem with that. I'm quite sure
that the Ski Resorts that are rapidly opening the chairlift access to the mtn bikers dont really
want a "freeriding" atmosphere. They want designated trails and i support this.

Freeriding DOES mean what it says... ride where i want, when i want. No trail Needed....
wrong or right

Black Diamond riding is available at Sunpeaks Resort
sunpeaksresort.comsummerOpen ↗ sunpeaksresort.comsunpeaksresort.comOpen ↗

Black Diamond Riders....hahahaha sounds so scary.

Peter Tønnesen said:

Im from Denmark, so maybe i dont see things the way you do, so please cut it out for me :-)

Cool, and I thought I was the only dane in here:-)

Med venlig hilsen*

Bruno

*That's "Kind regards" in danish.