Fails of the Month - February

Mar 6, 2017
by EVOC Sports GmbH  
Evoc

We've all been there: It's the rock roll you've done a thousand times before, that one off-camber root section, or maybe it's your first time hitting a brand new drop - you crash. Accidentally crashes are part of our sports. EVOC certainly don’t want you to provoke crashes for this competition but they would like to keep you safe on your next adventure by dishing out prizing for the best fail of each month. Here are our picks for February.

#1 - Vernon, USA

Mountain Creek Full Send Fail

by williamsherman
Views: 54,639    Faves: 62    Comments: 32


#2 - Montpellier, France

Almost There

by jseranne
Views: 73,981    Faves: 11    Comments: 9


#3 - Seatac, USA

2Sideways2Handle- fail of the month

by antiglobeguy42
Views: 41,850    Faves: 50    Comments: 23


#4 - Ottignies, Belgium

They see me rollin'

by bressti
Views: 52,536    Faves: 37    Comments: 16


#5 - Whistler, Canada

Whistler Crash

by juandiegotaylor
Views: 33,573    Faves: 23    Comments: 4


#6 - Vista, USA

fail of the month

by NorthcountyAM
Views: 82,035    Faves: 266    Comments: 50


#7 - Fall City, USA

Epic-ish OTB crash on Lower Predator

by lukehumphrey
Views: 34,271    Faves: 24    Comments: 13


#8 - Bakersfield, USA

Woodward Step up flip fail

by Mister-jib-jab
Views: 95,842    Faves: 304    Comments: 49


EVOC will retire to their viewing room to pick their favourite fail for the month, the winner will be announced in the next article and take home some sweet EVOC product.

January Winner: Andy-Grant

Wasted

by Andy-Grant
Views: 61,176    Faves: 35    Comments: 21


Got a submission? Inbox EVOC.
A split of a second before a disaster struck Mike Jones shoulder. He had a massive crash causing broken bones...

MENTIONS: @evocsports


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199 Comments
  • 388 26
 Well, looks like I'm never buying an Intense.
  • 90 35
 Well considering it's been posted several times that he fed up the landing a bunch of times and kept trying it. Here's a perfect example of a video not telling the entire story.
  • 98 6
 That's an expensive bike on a small jump in my opinion. I'd be pretty unhappy. It's strange the discrepancies in frame strength, because you see guys doing absolutely massive drops on similar bikes no problem.
  • 28 2
 Shred Tube
  • 179 4
 It appears that a glued on badge was all that was holding that thing together
  • 35 5
 @Kramz: just because it's $$ does not mean it's good
  • 11 132
flag FrozenTreads56 (Mar 6, 2017 at 16:34) (Below Threshold)
 its also an AM bike doing dirt jumps
  • 12 0
 right? was that duct taped inside a hollowed out head tube? Holy crap Ive landed harder than that!
  • 134 1
 hahahahaha watched that woodward one sooo many times
  • 24 3
 @Kramz: The way the bike lands is pretty brutal on it. I don't know if the Intense is weaker than any another bike but there was a lot of force going through it in a direction it's not designed to take - I suspect most bikes would suffer in some way from that?

I hope the guy got sorted out on his replacement - I'd be crying if that was my bike!
  • 77 6
 First off that dude had been casing that jump all day, and Intense hooked that dude up afterwards, because they stand by their product and support their customers
  • 15 23
flag FunctionalMayhem (Mar 6, 2017 at 18:13) (Below Threshold)
 Sales for Intense will definatly be down this month! Maybe PB should have a shoot out on carbon frames stressed doing that exact non jump...be fun to see.
  • 30 6
 I was there when it happened and it is way bigger/harsher in person. There is no doubt any other bike would have been either cracked or broken by the time this one broke.
  • 38 1
 And yes they replaced the frame even after seeing the video
  • 44 3
 Am I the only one who looked at the still before hitting "play", thinking "how the hell is the stem still clamped to the intact steerer, outside the frame?" The head tube split and then snapped back and 'looks' intact. Nuts.
  • 55 4
 i filmed it and can validate @salespunk. Yes, he did several times before with similar cases. I did it twice, greased it the first time, got smoked the second time. It's a decent size jump and the set up kind of sucks.

The rider is fine, intense took great care of him. IT WOULD OF HAPPENED TO ANY BIKE (including aluminum) with the level of force and repetition.

Glad you savages are having fun with it, we all sure did!
  • 1 1
 sad end..
  • 4 3
 If Zeke doesn't hit a jump right, he won't stop trying until he makes it or something breaks. Usually he makes it. This time the other shoe dropped.
  • 19 3
 The forces on the Intense(well, moment), is in the opposite direction than the primary direction that bikes are designed to deal with. It failed very predictably(initiation of failure at the front-lower end of the HT). I think any frame would fail if you applied that level of force to it in that manner, notice how the fork does not compress and the frame takes the entire load? Really impressive on Intense's part actually for taking care of the rider. I think if anything this is a selling point that even if you joey the crap out of a jump, they'll be there for you!!
  • 11 7
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: for most purposes CF composites have pretty insane fatigue properties, it wouldn't have failed unless there was already a flaw
  • 1 0
 @MickB: winner!
  • 1 0
 @Kramz: but he f*cked it up so hard hahah
  • 2 4
 @slimboyjim: exactly, way too much shear force. riders fault
  • 5 0
 IT BROKE!!!Wink
  • 6 2
 It was a pretty intense crash
  • 2 0
 I don't think it is designed for backward pressure on the head tube.
  • 3 0
 Norbraten rode a Tazer in his younger days and he turned out fine.

Source: We went to school together
  • 9 0
 Gotta agree with @mdhorner here. That's literally the worst possible way you could stress a frame - the force was 100% perpendicular to the fork (you can tell because it doesn't compress AT ALL), at the maximum distance from the headtube, making it a super long lever arm. And the edge of the jump was basically acting like a wedge, driving the front wheel away from the rest of the frame and multiplying the force of the impact vs what it would be on flatter ground. I'd be shocked if something didn't snap or bend. Everything about this was mechanically awful.

If a normal case is like pliers, this was like vise-grips.
  • 4 0
 Of course Intense replaced the frame, this video has been everywhere. They'd be crucified if they didn't. However, here's my 2 cents. I had 4 or 5 (I lost track!) warranty issues with my Intense within 15 months. Every one of them took numerous phone calls to get addressed. I was off my bike 3 full months out of a year dealing with them. No more Intense for me.
  • 8 1
 After seeing a friend buckle the downtube of a carbon spider, I can say with certainty that intense bikes are not all they're cracked up to be.

I'm not very punny, ever, but I sorta made myself giggle. But true, I've seen one intense crack in person when the riding was super casual. And the bike was like 3 rides old.

With all due respect that wasn't a crazy case. Personally I don't think it should have failed. One of the big selling points of carbon is that it should have a greater fatigue life than alloy, no? That's what is preached.

Aluminum, all day long, for me.
  • 8 0
 Okay. Watched a few more times.
Yeah....on second though that was a pretty stressful landing.
Still...I'm on the side of "it shouldn't have ripped though the head tube like a cheese cutting string".
  • 2 0
 @mdhorner: well said and completely agree!
  • 1 0
 Leave recklessness to professionals people.
  • 130 2
 #8 so much violence...
  • 53 1
 dude went straight rag doll....
  • 10 1
 yeah, what happened there?
  • 14 1
 He was pulling for a backflip, got himself caught in the wheel?
  • 40 1
 @rbbrandon23: its like the flying fish manoeuvre?
  • 9 0
 TKO
  • 123 1
 #8 all day - SAVAGE. Instant ragdoll. Can almost give him builder credits by packing down the step-up with his jaw.
  • 11 0
 He got absolutely bodied
  • 2 2
 lol
  • 53 1
 I actually kept backing it up to see where the splice was. I honestly thought that was a spoof. It looked like someone just chucked a dummy. Does anyone remember watching Super Dave Osborne as a kid. His stunt fails looked more real than this!!
  • 5 0
 @NYShred: ahahaha this has me in fits of laughter, so harsh man
  • 11 0
 I dont understand the physics
  • 9 2
 #1 So much pretend violence. "UUGHHUAGHHHHH!!!!! (1 second later) "Nah I'm okay! It really took the wind outta me which is why I'm able to be completely normal 1 second later! That was so friggen gnar!"


It sounded like the finish to a really bad porno... friggen Jersey.
  • 1 0
 Yeah really. WTW?
  • 11 0
 @rbbrandon23: Never go full rag doll.
  • 3 0
 I had to replay this a more than a few times it's so epic
  • 4 0
 @aharvey: superdave rocked.
  • 4 0
 @scott-townes: I found it odd he was able to speak that quickly if he got winded. I know it takes me a good 20-30 seconds before I start talking at any level after getting winded.

All the same, that was a nasty enough bail to send his shoe a good 30ft from impact.
  • 1 1
 No doubt THE FAIL of the month. Maybe the year, heck maybe the decade.
  • 11 1
 Close the polls now. #8 wins for sure.
  • 4 1
 @anyexcusetoride: I try not to laugh from guy in 8 video ( its hard ) but looks like someone flipping bag of potato. Ouch !
  • 4 1
 #8 was my winner for sure.
  • 2 0
 man, it seriously compete against the hospital gap on pinkbike. I tough it was the king of all crash for ever.
  • 2 0
 @NYShred: ha ha, hurt myself almost as much as the rider laughing at that comment, brilliant!!
  • 3 0
 @NYShred: Gotta be 8.
  • 2 0
 Looked like one of those bike thief sting videos with the bike on an invisible rope - yoink!
  • 100 3
 #1 you were literally yelling the whole time, it did NOT take the wind out of you.
  • 7 0
 Second that!
  • 2 0
 #1
  • 4 0
 Haha his gopro protected him
  • 26 0
 he lost a shoe though. from years of watching cartoons, he should be dead.
  • 6 0
 hyped as fuck while crashing..
  • 66 2
 Number 4 - So much velocity on the flip after so little velocity coming into that drop. I am amazed at just how bad of a crash that was since it looked like he was going about 2 miles an hour.
  • 31 2
 Looks like a great candidate for one of those spicy diving memes with the 'Shooting Stars' soundtrack
  • 8 1
 I was expecting it to turn into one of the Shooting Stars meme videos...
  • 8 2
 he's just catapulted off out the camera shot, out of the forest and into outer space with that speed boost on the drop!
  • 3 2
 I know right? That was insane. Possible explanations: 1) The fork stored up the impact and shot him like a bullet. 2) It's steeper than it looks in that video and gravity was pulling him down. 3) Camera angle made it look even more insane.
  • 4 1
 He was going for a Macaskill fronty. Could've fooled me.
  • 6 1
 The double fail of a weak crash and filming in portrait...
  • 11 0
 Portrait mode - Instant disqualification.
  • 57 4
 Some of those made me sad inside. I'm far from the greatest rider on earth but I had to learn on a bmx and a rigid mtb. There seems to be a lack of basic technique in many mtbers these days because they pick up a highly capable bike the instant they pick up the sport. If you can't do a slow drop to flat or bunny hop in flats then keep your wheels on the ground - suspension has a threshold that only skill can overcome.
  • 9 0
 So very true. A hardtail or BMX makes a lot of difference, I've seen.
  • 8 0
 Agreed. #1 was a good example of that. Dude probably had no clue how to jump.
  • 7 0
 Looks like a few of these were running too little rebound damping too. Especially #7 with the way his bike bucks off that little bump.
  • 37 0
 wtf belgium, did the jump have a mario kart speed boost on the lip?
  • 6 0
 hahahahaha this made me laugh!!! I was thinking the same where did that warp speed just come from outta fkn nowhere?!
  • 21 0
 It looks like the dude's speed tripled after he went otb on #4.
  • 19 1
 Fails of the month help me remember to bring my pads to each ride. Thanks PB.
  • 17 1
 #1 nasty crash! Got up real quick tho
#4 had me laughing the most! Nice tomahawking!
#5 was brutaaal
#6 uuuuhh... $$$$$$
#8 I can't understand what happened there!!

GREAT month all in all Smile
  • 5 1
 #8 he went for a backflip, hiss bum got stuck between the rear tyre and frame, effectively acting as a brake which sent him into a horrific flont flip! absolutley nuts!
  • 12 1
 #8 also looks like he died while in the air, I mean look at that 'landing'... he never tries to lessen the impact by putting down a hand or a foot first, or is it just me not seeing any of it?
  • 3 0
 Going limp lessens the impact. Lets your entire body absorb and distribute the impact rather than just a single spot like your hand or foot. Good way to break a wrist or an ankle when all the force is directed into a single joint.
  • 25 0
 @Slie: I don't think he went limp as much as regressed to a fetal state, looking for the warmth and safety of the womb. That guy looks like a video game rag doll...
  • 3 0
 @Slie: aye, didn't mean it like literally one leg or arm - more like how weird it is not to see any involuntary movements, like trying to cover the face or something similar. He's in the air for quite some time to realise that this landing ain't gonna be perfect...
  • 3 0
 @plyawn: LOL. Oh man, fetal state is spot on.
  • 3 0
 @noisette: Agreed, not sure if he passed out right before impact or just became disoriented and didn't know which way was down.
  • 2 0
 1-Classic 2-Almost there 3-What could have been 4-Hilarious 5-There goes my front wheel 6-It broke ! Lol 7-High expectations 8-Brutal unexplained auto eject
  • 1 0
 @Slie: Trades in a broken wrist for a broken collarbone, arm, 'something with his neck', and concussion. He sure did share around that impact lol.

I thought he just suffered a g-force blackout after launch preventing any self-preservation.
  • 1 0
 @plyawn: this is literally the best comment of the year on pink bike. i am in tears.
  • 17 0
 That time when you realized your brake cables are stronger than your carbon headtube...
  • 15 0
 Not sure whether it's the joey gear, loud overreaction, terrible jumping form, or the shoe flying off at the end but #1 just makes me mad haha
  • 9 0
 It works better if you pretend it's Chris Farley.
  • 13 2
 #8 is bad situation.

#6 I cant figure out. Did the fork tube blow out the side of the headtube? WTF? I dont want to ride an Intense now...
  • 4 0
 Yes than took its form back
  • 3 0
 @happychucky: ... so he can apparently fix it again with some more tape and a new head badge.
  • 1 0
 Fork ripped out of the middle of the head up. Carbon just payed back in place right after. Litterslly look like it was unzipped.
  • 9 0
 #1 This is the guy who rode the bike you're about to rent right before you.

MC's demos with Rux's out front are pretty nice when the fork isn't bent
  • 11 0
 Really some intense crashes this month!
  • 3 0
 This month really was a break through!
  • 12 3
 calling @intensecyclesusa we want an explanation
  • 5 1
 I was there for it (you can see me on the other side of the jump). This hit was way harder in person and it was his sixth or seventh time landing like that. I doubt that any other bike would have survived it either.
  • 8 1
 The last one. It may have been the shortest, but made me cringe the most.
  • 5 1
 Okay, number 1 is definitely a good one but...

Number 6! For obliterating his intense, and for the best reaction ever "it broke" with dirt all over his face... Omg so funny! Hope the dude was okay though.

Seriously though... Number 8, was he going for the best ragdoll slam ever?! So confused by that crash.
  • 1 0
 He was fine and intense took care of him.
  • 2 0
 @NorthcountyAM: that's good on intense... Honestly most bikes wouldn't survive a landing like that.
  • 8 1
 8 the crash test dummy. That was ugly.
  • 7 1
 Haha I had to watch #8 multiple times,too good!
  • 6 1
 After re-watching, #8 looks almost unreal. Vasovagal mid air? Body looks limp before impact.
  • 3 0
 I think you're right. The limp body before impact makes me feel sick. It's like seeing fighters or football players and you know they are KO'ed before they hit the ground. If the (verified) rider let's us know below exactly what happened I'll buy him an EVOC backpack or knee pads or whatever it is they make.
  • 2 0
 There was some really good ones in there, but definitely Mr. Jib-Jab for the win. I replayed that thing several times, yet still can't figure out how the heck that happened. I initially thought they cut the vid right at the moment of rotation, then spliced in a dummy based on how the dude face-planted into the dirt. I still can't figure out how dude went from leaning backwards with his front end pointing skyward, to immediately going into a front flip, face-plant. That was wicked to say the least
  • 6 1
 No 8 all day long! Did he faint mid air???
  • 4 0
 This is the best fails of the month I have ever seen!
  • 4 0
 #1 by far was the funniest.
  • 2 0
 That section of lower predator is such a pain in the ass. I've narrowly avoided crashes in that exact spot on more than one occasion.
  • 3 1
 was gonna say number 1 deserves the win for his his bro'd out overreaction, but watching number 8 ragdoll end over end takes the cake.
  • 4 1
 Can't state this enough, MTB Industry: steel bends, aluminum snaps, carbon fiber EXPLODES.
  • 4 0
 #4 went from doddling to lightspeed in 0.01 seconds.
  • 2 0
 #8...he ejected like a BOSS. Seriously, I thought I was at a cirque du soleil show but damn the sound of when he hit the mound was just oh so brutal.
  • 3 0
 Why am I laughing at #8! It's so bad! Hope he was ok, that was harsh,
  • 4 0
 Absolutely brutal month!
  • 5 1
 8 was crazy!
  • 2 0
 #6 Doesn't make any sense to me - can anybody elaborate? Where did the fork tube blow out of the headtube? So confused...
  • 2 0
 it kinda looks like it 'ripped' out and the carbon split then folded back together?? Can it even do that?
  • 2 0
 @anyexcusetoride: The correct term would be "zippered" and, with what sounds like 6-7 similar 50-50 landings like that, it makes much more sense. That head-tube was getting exposed to forces it wasn't designed to withstand, so the proverbial dam burst but it was a thin seam that finally released. The surrounding material was still intact so it basically snapped back into place.

The moral of the story?

Stick the landing!!! Wink
  • 2 0
 @Pininator: I really wonder if an ALU bike would have an ovalized head tube after that.
  • 1 0
 @WaterBear: Probably...after several hits like that, no material would be the same. With AL, if the headtube didn't ovalize it would likely shear the headtube weld or bend the top/down tubes...or all the above. If the frame somehow survived, the fork would have splintered.
  • 2 1
 Number # 8 takes the cake, absolutely brutal!! when his body his the ground it sounds like when a bat hits the baseball on the sweet spot!!!! hope he was ok..
  • 3 1
 #8 looked like a mid jump sniper headshot
#4 looked like he got ejected by his dropper seat post
  • 1 1
 def need to add #8 that to the Chuck Norris sniper video.
  • 2 0
 #1 Cause we all have that one indestructible friend out there... I am literally crying its so funny!
  • 1 0
 After watching the first 7 I was thinking this was a good month for fails. Then #8 happened....about 20 times. I can't stop laughing at that sound.
  • 5 2
 #8 for sure... brutal!
  • 1 0
 haha...looked like a stunt dummy being ejected.
  • 2 0
 #1's rebound wasn't set properly.......that's a rough landing.
  • 2 0
 Maybe that's why intense are releasing their new tracer. lol
  • 1 0
 At creek on a fucking rental bike. Then they try and sell them at the end of the season...nice..
  • 4 1
 #7 because...PREDATOR.
  • 3 1
 #8 is probably the worst i've seen in quite awhile here
  • 2 0
 he totally said "hold my beer" for that last clip
  • 2 1
 #8 looks like he combined mountain biking, olympic diving and long jump into one event. Gets the gold medal vote from me.
  • 3 1
 #8, it was the only one I had to replay a few times.
  • 1 1
 I have to vote for #4 because I couldn't stop watching it.

Usually it's an easier decision. Good job failing this month, Pinkbike.
  • 4 1
 #8 ftw
  • 3 1
 #8 Was just f*cking brutal. No-one should ever have to endure that.
  • 2 1
 8 was brutal - took the wind out of me sitting in my seat watching that!!! OOOFFFFTTT!!
  • 2 0
 I cant stop watching #6 hahah but 1 takes the cake for me
  • 1 0
 #1 in my book! He not only failed on the jump, but then failed on his self-diagnosis of the wind being knocked out of him!
  • 2 0
 #8 Flying salmonboy is back!
  • 2 0
 I can't stop laughing at #1. Man that dude is so loud.
  • 1 0
 Intense = Snap, crackle , pop! At my LBS Intense frames show up broken weekly.
  • 1 0
 #4 for the massive acceleration.

That damn Little Rock drop on 7 always gets in my head too. That didn't help.
  • 1 0
 number 8... but...honorable mention to ENDURO BIKES --->they make awsome crashes!!!!!
  • 1 0
 I've ridden #4 Belgium loads of times. It's a small drop and has no kicker at all. No idea how tf that happened!?!?!
  • 1 0
 what exactly broke on that intense...cant really see
  • 2 0
 The fork tore straight through the front of the headtube. According to other comments the guy had been casing the jump all day long and Intense sorted him out.
  • 1 0
 @Patrick9-32: kinda strange, because as far as i can see, the headtube looks not damaged, as does the steerer tube of the fork etc
would be interesting to see some photos of that damaged frame and fork
  • 1 0
 @der-vergolder: You can see it happening on the slow mo. If you refresh the page the thumbnail of the video before you hit play shows the jagged cracked line too.
  • 1 0
 #4 just rolled through my neighbourhood yesterday...
  • 1 0
 #8: Shame on me for laughing
  • 1 0
 #8 Is that guy ok? That was crazy!
  • 3 1
 DAFUUUUUQ #8
  • 2 1
 Video #4

What in hell?? Lol
  • 2 0
 Where's the rest of that clip?! Did he just carry on? best wheel drop front flip I've seen!
  • 1 0
 Nose wheelie king in video #3. That groan says it all.
  • 3 1
 #8! for defying physics!
  • 1 0
 the body flop was the only good one.... flop!
  • 3 1
 #8 was brutal.
  • 2 1
 #8 is definitely nightmare stuff.
  • 2 1
 #6 cos they proved it was'nt faked. Or #8 just for pure dumbf*ckery
  • 1 0
 Damn man that Woodward vid is brutal.
  • 2 1
 #4 LEGIT GETTING BODIED BY HIS OWN SUSPENSION..IT ROCKETS HIM
  • 1 1
 That step up fail flip gone wrong was mental couldn't help laughing at the rag doll impact but hope he was ok.
  • 2 1
 #8 looked like a crash dummy ;D
  • 2 0
 #8 foesho Smile
  • 1 0
 #1 there you have renthal bikes
  • 1 0
 .....And number 4 was never seen again.....
  • 1 0
 #8...He got pitched big time...then knocked out!!
  • 1 0
 Aaaand that's why intense bikes are always on sale.
  • 2 0
 #8, hands down.
  • 1 0
 They should show #4 to a physics class, he is defying that shit.
  • 1 0
 Intense takes the cake. That guy face clamming the slope was mad though
  • 1 0
 #8 the trout and the death slap, love it
  • 1 0
 Had the bike not broke all the force would have been transferred to him.
  • 1 1
 #6 - life's better buzzed! @salespunk
  • 1 0
 No doubt!
  • 1 0
 Too funny!
  • 1 1
 #3 username and clip are ironically perfect
  • 2 1
 lol intense
  • 1 0
 #6 was Intense!
  • 1 1
 #4 He speed up so quickly! Hahaha
  • 1 1
 once again the monthly fail is vertical filming
  • 1 0
 1,6 or 8
  • 1 0
 I think #3 got the W
  • 1 0
 No. 8 - fuuuuuuuu.......







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