Daniel Sapp
Verified- Editorial Director, Berm Peak
- Managing Partner, The Backslope
- President, Pisgah Area SORBA
- Writer, Berm Peak
Brevard
As seen in:
Berm Peak,
Runner's World,
MarketingProfs,
Pinkbike,
Bicycling Magazine,
Smoky Mountain Living
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Articles by Daniel Sapp
Seth Speaks about E-Bikes and Regulations on WBUR’s ‘On Point’
A couple of weeks ago, Seth appeared live on WBUR, the Boston affiliate of NPR, to discuss e-bikes and regulations. You can listen to the show and read more about it here, on WBUR. The timing is uncanny and exceptionally relevant, with a lot of additional exposure that surrounds e-bikes and regulation…or the lack thereof. This week’s video is a ‘Stern Peak’ and dives even deeper into all of that.
Stop Dressing Like This In The Forest
Video: Seth // Edit: Curtis // Words Below: Daniel I started riding in Pisgah National Forest years before I was old enough to drive a car on a $600 hardtail with vee brakes and an elastomer fork. I couldn’t climb everything, so I walked. A lot of it. I couldn’t descend everything either, so I walked that too. A lot of that. I didn’t know how to read a map, so I rode with someone who did.
Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early. Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early.
We Called Them Internet Panhandlers
I’ll preface this by saying that you should watch the video before reading if you can. It explains more than I ever could, and the context that Seth gives is from his perspective. The words below are mine. Seth says old mountain bike YouTube is dead. He’s right. And, I watched…
We Need To Talk About The Backyard Trails
I still vividly remember the first time I saw Seth’s yard, also known as Berm Peak. It was a handful of years ago, before either of us had kids, when we both rode quite a bit on a very regular basis, and before multiple injuries from riding and getting older in life. I was, at the time, well-seasoned. Still trave…
The Problem With 32" Wheels
Video: Seth // Edit: Curtis // Words Below: Daniel I was a slow adopter of 29” wheels when the first large wave of bikes hit the market in full force about 15 years ago. It wasn’t a matter of being able to buy the bike - I had any bike that Specialized made at my disposal as I worked for Big Red at the time. The bikes were just, in my opinion, terrible.
My Winning Streak Is Over
Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early. Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early.
A Scammer Used My Name To Steal Tens of Thousands of Dollars In Bikes - We Caught Him
Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early. Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early.
Saved From The Landfill-Jailbreaking Another Rental Bike
Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early. Everything from Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express, without ads and two weeks early.
America's Largest Paved Bike Park Is Real-I Rode It!
The Story Behind Beacon Park and the Rebirth of Swannanoa A little over a year after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, something new is taking shape in the Swannanoa Valley, just east of Asheville. Beacon Park is coming to life on the site of the former Beacon Blanket Mill, and with it, a new idea of what recovery can look like. Recovery from both Hurricane Helene and from the loss of manufacturing from the US to overseas…a story all too familiar to much of Appalachia.
After the Storm: A Year Since Helene
One Year Later: How Pisgah's Communities are Still Battling the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene The challenges continue, and the fatigue is real in Western NC, but amidst complex problems lie hope, community, and trails. Words: Daniel Sapp // Photos: Daniel Sapp & Kristian Jackson // Video: Tommy Penick It’s been a year since the remnants of Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic devastation to Western North Carolina (WNC).
The Future of Robotics Rides on Bikes
Earlier this year, I received a somewhat vague and cryptic email: “Have you seen the video of our jumping robot bike called the ultra mobility vehicle? Eagle-eyed viewers may note it's built on top of a Specialized Hotwalk carbon. It was your review of the Hotwalk Carbon that turned us on to it as the perfect prototyping platform, and it has proven more durable than anybody anticipated.
Video: Flying Cars and Malls You Can Bike In
This is just too good not to share - our good buddy Aaron Lutze, who runs the Super Rider YouTube channel and Second Nature Podcast, among other things, recently took a trip over to Shenzhen, China. While I knew the trip was going to be interesting, once I started receiving texts with photos and videos from Aaron, I was left a bit in awe of how advanced some of the technology he was experiencing was. Check out his video above! The Berm Peak Substack is reader-supported.
Video: After the Storm
As many of you know, I’m heavily involved in trail advocacy across NC, but especially near where Seth and I live in Western NC. Last September, when the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit our area, leaving region-wide catastrophic damage, lives lost, and everything as we knew it turned upside down, the response and help we received was immense.
Eric Porter's Big Dumb Ride
Whenever Seth and I go on a trip, we try to drag along some friends, especially now that our travel time is far more limited than it was in years past. Good buddy Eric Porter is one of the usual suspects who often joins, so when we planned to be in Crested Butte last September, he was an easy one to bring along. Unlike Seth and me, who are recovering from the first few years of parenthood, Porter has somehow been able to maintain peak physical fitness for his entire life.
Buying Back a Brand from Venture Capital and Bankruptcy - Revel Bikes
Story: Daniel // Podcast: Aaron Lutze Back in 2019, after a few phone calls and my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone anything until the launch date, a bike from a then-unknown brand showed up at my house. I taped over all of the logos, was selective about when and where I rode, and did my best to keep this “ghost” bike away from cameras.
Pinkbike Podcast - The Grim Donut, The State of Media, and More
It’s always a good time to catch up with old friends. I worked on the editorial team at Pinkbike a while back, so it only made sense for the four of us to get together and talk about all that’s been happening. Hopefully we can make it a more regular occurrence! Thanks for having us! You can find the audio version of the podcast here:
Breaking Down The Line Podcast With Rémy Métailler
@remymetailler is one of the most talented mountain bikers in the world and one of our favorite people to hang out with. When Seth was in Squamish a couple of weeks ago, he had the chance to catch up with Remy for a ride on his home trails and a sit-down on his podcast, Breaking Down The Line. You can listen to it here.
Help Build a Mystery Box for Seth!
I often order random products for Seth to review, and I usually give him a heads-up. At the very least, I have a good idea of what he would want to review and what would work well in a video. There’s time to unbox, check things out, use them, and then plan how the video will be laid out. For this upcoming video, we want to involve our Substack community by having you help select products that Seth will review…sight unseen.
Creating Trails and Greenways for All
Creating Trails and Greenways for All By Year of the Trail Honorary Committee member Mitchell J Silver, FAICP, Hon. ASLA Mitchell Silver is no stranger to trails and greenways. He has spent much of his lifetime planning, designing, and developing public policy surrounding them.
The 3 Best Steerer Tube Tools Ridden & Rated - OneUp EDC vs Specialized SWAT vs Bontrager BITS
More and more riders are leaving the backpack or hip pack at home, and over the last several years there has been an influx of on-the-bike tool storage systems. We've seen tools mounted on the frame, below the bottle cage, in axles, handlebars, integrated into seats, and strapped just about anywhere else you could imagine. We're partial to tools stashed for quick access is in the steerer tube.
Ridden & Rated: 13 of the Best Dropper Posts
Jul 15, 2020 A Host of Posts Dropper post have become standard equipment on most mid-level and higher mountain bikes, and there are now posts that will work for just about anyone and a wide range of budgets. Sorting through all of the options can be confusing, though, especially given the wide range of travel amounts and post dimensions.
Video: Specialized Epic vs. Viathon M1 - Hardtail Head-to-Head
Specialized Epic Hardtail vs. Viathon M1 Specialized's $9,500 S-Works Epic vs. Viathon's $6,500 M1 Words by Daniel Sapp, Video by Michael McQueen Two SRAM AXS Equipped Hardtails Last year, we received a press kit for a new bike brand, Viathon. Now, we don't really spend a ton of time reviewing cross-country hardtails here at Pinkbike, but when we realized that Viathon was owned by Walmart Stores, Inc., our interest in this particular bike grew.
First Ride: 2020 Specialized Epic HT - The World's Lightest Production Hardtail
For 2020, Specialized have given their World Cup XC race hardtail, the Epic, a makeover. With a frame-only weight of 790 grams (including paint) for a size medium, Specialized claim it's the lightest production hardtail frame in existence. The new Epic is designed to be more capable and comfortable than the previous model, and while the bike was designed with the fastest racers in mind, it has handling that non-superhuman riders will be able to appreciate.
The Mountain Ride Comes to Brevard
Brevard, North Carolina, has been chosen as the host city for Cycle North Carolina’s 2019 Mountain Ride. The Mountain Ride is one of three bicycle rides hosted each year by Cycle North Carolina. The events—the Coast Ride, the Mountains to Coast Ride, and the Mountain Ride—visit communities across the state each year, introducing scores of riders to regional towns while exploring the scenic beauty of the state.
First Ride: Revel Rail
Feb 28, 2019 Revel Bikes launched today with two bikes in their line up - the 130mm travel Rascal with 29" wheels and the 165mm travel, 27.5" wheeled Rail, both of which feature Canfield's CBF (Canfield Balance Formula) suspension platform. I've had the Rail in my possession for several weeks now and in that time, I've had the opportunity to put a number of miles in on it in varying terrain. Enough time to report a solid first impression.
Fire on the Mountain
Cherokee’s new uber accessible mountain bike trail system provides recreation options for riders and hikers of all skill levels in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. The sport of mountain biking has been fast growing around the world. The southeast United States—and North Carolina in particular—have long had some of the more revered trail systems for both enthusiasts and the hardcore alike.
Pinkbike's Editors Choose Their Ideal Geometry Numbers - Vote For Your Favorite
Jan 4, 2019 What if you were given free rein to design your dream bike from scratch. What would the geometry numbers look like? Would you create the longest and slackest beast imaginable, or would you create something a little more conservative, a bike that doesn't need to be ridden as fast as possible to come alive? Pinkbike's editors answered those questions, and the results are below.
Field Test: Yeti SB130
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST Yeti SB130 We see a lot of bikes come and go but the SB130 has become the "go-to" for aggressive trail riding. Its all around prowess in both ascending and descending technical terrain keep it as a top choice for a variety of riding. Words by Daniel Sapp, photography by Trevor Lyden The SB130 is Yeti's latest all-rounder, with 29" wheels, 130mm of rear travel, and a 150mm fork up front.
Field Test: Giant Trance Advanced 29
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST Giant Trance Advanced 29 115mm of travel coupled with a progressive geometry and aggressive component spec. Words by Daniel Sapp, photography by Trevor Lyden Now in its seventh generation, the Giant Trance has been reimagined with less travel, 29" wheels, and much more progressive geometry than the prior version.
Review: NX Eagle - SRAM's New Affordable 12-Speed Drivetrain
GX Eagle was half the price of the XX1 Eagle and had similar performance. Priced at only $375 USD, (shifter, derailleur, cassette, cranks, chainring, and chain), the new NX Eagle system is even easier on the wallet and it still performs incredibly well. It does come with a weight increase 202 grams, but the functionality of the group will be difficult to tell apart. The big story with NX is the cassette.
Specialized’s New Stumpjumper Is an Updated Classic
Price: $9,500 (S-Works), $3,200 (S-Works frame), $5,500 (Expert), $4,200 (Comp Carbon), $3,600 (Comp EVO), $3,000 (Comp), $1,850 (ST base model, available only in short-travel configuration) Style: Trail, all-mountain Wheel size: 29 in., 27.5 in. Travel: 140/150mm (29-in. Stumpjumper), 150/150mm (27.5-inch Stumpjumper), 120/130mm (29-in. Stumpjumper ST), 130/130mm (27.5-in. Stumpjumper ST) The Stumpjumper has a long history in the Specialized family.
Best Mountain Bikes: Kona Process 153 CR 27.5
2. Accommodates longer droppers. More standover and a short seat tube with a slightly steeper angle mean you can fit a longer dropper post (150mm on a size medium) on the frame and still achieve the right seat height. 3. Still a crowd pleaser. Devoted fans of the Process 153 love it for its low standover, progressive geometry, nimble ride, and ability to rip gnarly descents—none of this has changed in the G2. 4. Room for water. It’s not a mirage.
5 Ways to Reach Stoke-Level Max on the Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70
1. Huck into a rocky chute at breakneck speed. The Instinct’s 140mm suspension feels lively and smooth, soaking up big and small impacts without hesitation. It tackles the most aggressive root- and rock-strewn trails with finesse, floats almost effortlessly off ledges, and stays glued to the ground through rock gardens. 2. Rage buff singletrack with friends. The Instinct can also hang on faster and flowier trails without feeling like too much bike.
Could NASCAR Drivers be Cycling’s Best Safety Advocates?
Historically, you might imagine the fan bases of cycling and NASCAR would mix like oil and water. But to race at 200-plus mph for hours on end, drivers must maintain peak fitness, so many have turned to cycling for its endurance benefits. And they really, really like it. In recent years cycling has become something of a subculture within the driving world, with some drivers even leveraging their reach as public figures to advocate for better safety and awareness of cyclists on the road.
Ottolock Zip Tie Bike Lock - Secure Lightweight Locks
Built like an oversized zip-tie with a combination opening, the 18mm wide Ottolock has a three-layer stainless steel core, covered with four layers of reinforced kevlar, and coated in Santoprene plastic to avoid dinging your frame. It coils up nice and tight to fit in a jersey pocket, seat bag, around your frame, or anywhere else you can think to stash it. Conveniently, the Ottolock can also be mounted to your bike with Otto’s mount.
Castelli ROS Cycling Jersey - Winter Cycling Clothes
The Gore Windstopper front and sleeves of the jersey cut the chill of the morning air, while the stretchy, breathable fabric on the back allows the jersey to vent, avoiding that “wearing a trashbag” feeling many heavier jerseys or jackets tend to produce. The jersey’s large waterproof zipper is easy to open with gloves on, and has a fuzzy flap to keep it from rubbing or catching your neck.
Campagnolo Used to Make One of the Best Car Wheels in History
Though the company put out various car wheels over the next few decades, the 40802 stands out as Campagnolo’s crowning achievement in the automotive field. Jalopnik, the car enthusiast site, recently posited that it “might be the coolest wheel in history.” “This is a simple multi-spoke wheel with a beefy-looking center hub and outer rim,” Jalopnik's Bradley Brownell wrote.
Industry Nine Launches Further Into Road With I9-Series Disc Wheels
The team at I9 says they have been working on the design of the wheels for over two years at the brand's Asheville, North Carolina, headquarters. The three rim shapes were designed in house by I9, and are manufactured by Reynolds. The new rims have relatively wide inner widths and a more compliant construction to deliver what the company hopes is the best ride possible with wider tires.
6 Best Bike Bags to Organize All Your Cycling Gear
A good rucksack holds just enough of what you need, but not so much that it weighs you down. The roomy main compartment of the Chrome Urban EX Daypack easily holds my riding kit and lunch, and the interior sleeve keeps my laptop (up to a 13-inch) from getting bashed around. I use the small exterior pocket to stash a notebook and wallet, with plenty of room left over for a mobile phone or small camera. Exterior web straps work as a spot to clip blinky lights or carry a u-lock.
6 Best Bike Bags to Organize All Your Cycling Gear
Typically, you don’t need as much gear in the gym as you do for a ride. That said, the lightweight Oakley Holbrook 30L Duffel is so roomy you’ll be tempted to cram it full of stuff you’d rather have and not need than need and not have. An inner mesh pocket secures smaller items, while an exterior one holds the things you want at your fingertips. A side pocket that expands into the main compartment when filled keeps kicks separate from clothes without adding volume to the bag.
7 Trainers and Rollers We Love (and You Will Too)
A good trainer or set of rollers isn’t just for the when the weather forces us indoors—indoor riding can be great for the time-crunched cyclist, urban riders with limited route options, or anyone recovering from an injury. Even the most weather-hardened winter riders sometimes like to control the environment they're riding in. RELATED: How to Fuel Your Trainer Ride A trainer, which lifts the back wheel and fixes it in place, works by applying resistance to the wheel to create a ride-like feel.
Tested: Industry Nine's Tougher Trail270 Wheels
To increase strength, I9 built the Trail270 with some of the features of I9’s more gravity-oriented Enduro305 and Grade300 rims. Like those models, this one has a profile that is thicker on the bottom, where impacts from rocks and other obstacles occur, to prevent denting and flat spots. The Trail270 rims were also made 2.5mm wider than the previous generation (for a total inner width of 27mm), to accommodate wider tires run at lower pressures.
Castelli's New Boa Gloves Are Easy to Adjust on the Go
Rather than using cinch cords or a gauntlet-style cuff, Castelli incorporated a Boa dial on the top of the glove, which tightens all the way down the long cuff. It cinches the long wrist of the gloves down nicely, helping them layer well under the sleeve of your jacket to effectively seal out the elements. Plus, when you need to remove your gloves, the Boa opens up with one easy pop, which is extra helpful for when the temperature drops and your fingers start to get numb.
First Look: Pinarello’s NYTRO E-Road Bike
The T700 carbon frame does a great job of integrating and concealing the battery and motor (both fit together in the down tube), and there are three levels of power: breeze (75 percent more support); river (150 percent); and rocket (240 percent); all controlled by a small unit on the handlebar. The NYTRO weighs in at a claimed 13 kilograms (29 pounds), but by keeping the weight of the motor low, it still manages to handle very much like a standard road bike.
The best bike pumps for cyclists
Every cyclist needs at least two bike pumps: a good floor pump for home or in the car to keep your tyres inflated consistently; and a mini-pump or CO2 inflator to get you home in the case of a mid-ride flat. Choosing the best bike pump may seem like a simple task until you realise that there are hundreds of pumps with different features, options, and prices. Is a metal base and large air chamber really necessary? What makes the $120 floor pump better than the one that costs $20?
The 13 Best Bike Pumps for Cyclists
Every cyclist needs at least two bike pumps: a good floor pump for home or in the car to keep your tires inflated consistently; and a mini-pump or CO2 inflator to get you home in the case of a mid-ride flat. Choosing the best bike pump may seem like a simple task until you realize that there are hundreds of pumps with different features, options, and prices. Is a metal base and large air chamber really necessary? What makes the $75 floor pump better than the one that costs $15?
Three things you need to know about bike tyres
Whether you’re riding once a week or racing every weekend, having a good set of tyres on your bike can make the difference in having a great ride or ending up on the ground. Tyres are (ideally) the only part of your bike that comes in contact with the surface that you are riding on, so it’s important to make sure they’re in good shape. And while tyres might seem like one of the simpler parts on your bike, there’s actually a lot of technology that goes into making them roll how you want them to.
Three Things You Need to Know About Bike Tires
And while tires might seem like one of the simpler parts on your bike, there’s actually a lot of technology that goes into making them roll how you want them to. Kenda is one of several major tire manufacturers out there, and they’ve been refining their process since 1962. Recently they took us behind the scenes at their super high-tech North American Research and Development facility near Akron, Ohio to show us how they test and develop tires.
Strava’s new expanded “Posts” feature will completely change your feed
Starting this week, Strava is expanding its place in social media by introducing their “posts” feature for all community members. The newly expanded feature allows users to post stories, training ideas, and photos to their feed alongside ride activities so that no epic tale needs to go untold.
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