Ask Ping!
Friday, February 25, 2011 | 10:45 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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Hi Ping,
I’m sure you are the only person who can settle this. I’ll admit it: I’m one of the many girls that have fallen in love with Ryan Dungey. I have always thought he was cool and a nice guy. But this year he has really changed in my eyes. Even though he is not winning he still has a huge smile and says the right things. I met him at a dealer signing and he was super sweet and has amazing blue eyes.
The guys around me call it the “Justin Bieber effect;” girls love him and the guys just don’t understand.
I think it’s great for the sport. The girls that have to go to supercross with their brothers and dads now have a great reason to watch.
What do you think of all this?
Joss
Well, Joss, I’m not sure what you’re asking me here. What do I think about you being in love with Ryan Dungey? I think that’s fantastic. I mean, what’s not to love? He’s got amazing blue eyes, a pearly white smile and he smells terrific. Good for you; I’m happy you’ve found the right guy. I get it. But I also dream of having a moppy, comb-over hairdo and walk around singing One Less Lonely Girl when nobody is around. So, you know, I gots me some Beiber fever. I like Dungey. I like Beiber. And I like more girls at the races. Hope this makes you feel better about your crush.
PING
Hey Ping,
I just watched two videos back to back. The first one was about Off-Road riders
in Wisconsin, the second was Weege and RC in Oakland. The riders in Wisconsin were talking about a lifetime of riding and racing with their families and friends,
about how it's in their blood etc, etc. RC was talking about how his riding days
were over. Now I understand that these ex-pros don't want to show up at some
local event and bash bars with the vets, but don't they miss just hanging with
their buddies and riding? Or are they so burnt out from being immersed in the
sport for so long they just lost interest and it's not fun anymore?
Sean
Some of these guys still ride.
I’m always surprised to hear that some heroes of the sport very rarely throw a leg over a bike anymore. You would think that they would go out and enjoy riding for fun, like they did when they were kids. But for many of them, their own competitive nature ruins it for them. Johnny O’Mara told me a couple years ago that he just gets mad because he knows how fast he should be able to go and if he can’t do it then he would rather not ride at all. Some guys want to be remembered as they were in their heyday, and showing up at a track with love handles, arm pump and intermediate speed would spoil that. I don’t know what the big deal is…that’s just any old day at the track for me. But there are still a few guys that love the sport and will always ride. McGrath, Wardy, RJ, Lechien, Mike Bell and Danny LaPorte are just a few off the top of my head that always show up at fun events and races. What about Malcolm Smith? That dude is getting old and he still shows up and rips. I love it. Something tells me that RC still fires up his old 2-stroke 250 and burns a few laps back in the woods with his buddies in Tallahassee. Something also tells me that he’s been following that up with a huge meal at Sonny’s Pit Barbeque on a regular basis. I know the camera adds ten pounds but, come on…how many cameras were on him during the last SPEED broadcast?
PING
Have a question for Ping? Email him at [email protected]
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Ping - RC's not gonna like that comment. He might waddle over and smack you one! HEHEHEHEHE
HOLESHOT!!!!
I remember racing with some ol timers at LACR...Kehoe, AJ Whiting, Kiedrowski ...all after their prime....was still awesome to share the track with those guys!!
ahhh dam, 2nd!!!.. DJ got me coming out of the corner......
I know how O'Mara feels. I stopped racing about 10 years ago. I wasn't a pro but I was a pretty decent top 5 intermediate. I loved being fast. As I started working more and more and had zero ability to practice I started getting slower and slower. One day on the starting line, while yawning, I looked over and some 18yo was jumping up and down while his Dad was prepping his bike. It was obvious that he did nothing all week but get ride and get ready to go to the races. I decided right then and there that that was going to be the last year for me.
I bought a street bike. You know what? Cops are not fond of 3 gear wheelies. So I bought a Porsche. You know what? They aren't fond of 125mph runs to the store.
I'm now thinking of trail riding. That's what got me hooked when I was 6yo anyway.
Thats just wrong Ping, I noticed it too but if we cant turn a polite blind eye for the goat than nothing is sacred. Whats next tell erin bates to take of that stupid oversized jacket because no one takes her seriously anyway shes just another umbrella girl?!
rg807 - I know how you feel. My peak performance was top 10 the Intermediate class at Mammoth Mountain MX.. Then I reached that point where I moved out of the parents, got a girlfriend and started working the 9 to 5 to pay the bills and things just slowed down, including me. You just have to get that "racer" feeling out of you head and just ride....I have not raced in years and recently rode for the first time after 4 years of not riding at all....I still like to go fast, but its a blast to just go to a track and have fun....no motos,,,,just some fun laps....
only two questions this week? geeze ping, i knew taking over as President of the Beiber Fever Fan Club was going to cut into your schedule, but come on, man.
Erin Bates' chest (above the bolt on's) and neck look like a catchers mit......time for some new "talent" on the floor.....
I'm right there with ya RG807. I've been riding for 35 years. I've never gotten tired of it. But I never trained and made it my life like the top pros have to. Now my son races. I have my own practice track on my property. I don't race anymore but still love to go rip around my track...alot slower these days though! I don't care how much RC weighs because it was awesome to watch him race. Can you imagine how cool it would be to go ride with him or Chad or Dungey for a day?
Just two questions!!!??? We got jipped this session! LOL. Good stuff Ping!
ping,as a vet rider i still love to ride and race .its super cool to see some of you x's and the races.weather its to b.s a little or to run a few laps.as far as r.c.im also of the same height and build.we look at food and we put on the pounds it just not right.ricky also said the reason he did not live it up was because that there would be plenty of time for that after he was done.plus he has to meet the minmun weight for nascar.lol
RC always had a fondness for the sweets ( and burgers,etc) but for 8 years he buckled down (his first 2 years pro he was kinda chunky), stepped away from the junk food and became the most fit athlete in our sport. He deserves to snack all he wants now, but don't expect Ping to cut any slack.
Haha! Don't know why, but that RC joke litterally made me laugh out loud at my screen. I'm a fairly quiet guy too! Thank you, I needed that. Of course RC no disrespect.
I felt the same way as RG807 when I was in my late 20s and got out of the sport. But then I picked up a CR 450 "just for fun" when I was 33, and found the magic of the Vet class! Suddenly I was racing with guys my own age, who also had jobs, families, and would rather live to ride another week than kill themselves trying to win. I've had more fun in vet class over the past five years than I had in a long, long time before that.
If Johnny O gave racing another shot and lined up against a bunch of guys his own age, he might not feel so frustrated! It's unrealistic to expect to keep your speed forever, unless you're John Dowd.
I don't think RC means that his days of riding just for fun are behind him, just his days national level competition.
RG807's comment probably made a lot of 30-something and older riders pause and smile.
Good stuff Ping-a-ling! I know I will never be as fast as I think I once was, but at 44, I still love the rush of blasting out of the gate. Being first or last doesn't even matter any more, it is the thrill of participating.
I've played a couple of rounds of golf with RC the past couple of years. With the few extra pounds he hits a mean ball!
Beiber Really ping....I'm Canadian and well I'm ashamed to call Beiber Canadian you guys can have em!! Him and Sanjai from American Idol will have a nice life together I'm sure with Ping as what there Man (emmm Whatever they will call him) friend....
About the riding later on in life thing ...... I was without a bike for a long time, 10 years or more. And I longed and lusted for the good old days and to just go riding again. I just couldn't, no money to do it with and no good circumstances to fit it into. I told my kids stories about riding and racing, we watched the races on TV and went to some Nationals. Well, they were hooked even without a bike. Then one day a couple years ago in early summer my daughter called me up at work on a Saturday (go figure) and tells me about this bike for sale and can I come look at it with her. So ......... we go check it out and test ride it, pray about it and gather up the money and go back and buy it. We rode it home together. It was pretty cool. Now we ride when we can (the bike was down for quite a while - I drowned it in a river, "Thanks, Dad ..... way to go") and it's a great way to be together, just like me and my Dad and other friends when I was growing up.
Glad for the girl with the crush on Dungy just glad he deos not make my petter tweeter lol... Anyhoooo I miss racing my body gave out when I was 38 raced since 72 started riding in 68. Now waiting on a hip replacement so I can at least ride my Harleys again..... Yes I agree with O'Mara ilt was hard to race when my brain said to go faster but my body told it no no no. I miss racing that is why we have Racer X and ping to make us laugh.
Holy shredded knobbies, gentlemen, take it easy on Erin Bates. I don't think she's supposed to be another big-boobed bimbo, she is part of the media, not a pit ho. yep, she happens to be female, but it seems like she actually knows a thing or two...
Yup it stucks when ya know ya should be going faster or clearing that jump....pluse when ya race for a long time I find it VERY hard to just ride for fun now, as soon as someone gets near ya it alreight lets go!!
First of all Erin Bates is hot as hell and does know what she is talkin about and yes her "bolt ons" look great so I agree that she needs to loose the jacket maybe a Speed tank top or at least a nice tight low cut shirt should be in order.
As far as the G.O.A.T goes I say let the eat and get fat he deserves it after all he is the G.O.A.T
RC=Real Chunky.. LOL could not help it. Let the guy do what ever he want. I bet he is still in better shape than the other drivers.
Bates didnt have those bolt on a few years ago..she got the job for cause of her looks because we all know she is horrible at what she does.....take a close look at her man hands next time you see her on TV.....yuck!!!
agree with the manhands and i think seabiscut wants it's teeth back.
Redbeard has it right, Bates is a train wreck. No way does she have a clue what's going on. Heck, Emig even had to correct her on air this season and that's almost taboo in the broadcast world. She got the job because of her looks not her brain.
i am tellin ya,.....
get fro to replace bates on the floor, let rc take over color, get k-dub in for sheheen, and maybe let sheheen research stats and do the voice overs.
thats a legit broadcast crew.2012 steez?
we got the monster girls for eye candy. bates is an old rubber boot.
RC has earned the right to finally do whatever he wants. He absolutely ruled moto for 10 years. and that lifestyle ruled his life too. So I hope he is enjoying it and could care less what a bunch of keyboard jockeys say about his weight.. I knew my racing days where over when I couldnt beat my own kids anymore. they just have no fear at all. And they dont have to get upand go to work on Monday either. I think that realization slowed me down. I nailed a tree hard one day, didnt get hurt, went over the bars, nailed my leg on the tree but had knee protection on. that told me to quit riding over my head. Feed ing my family was more important than catching the rider in front of me.
An old boot..... CLASSIC!! I wonder what reading posts like this does for your self esteem??? I would love to see Fro's face with some of the comments Ralphie makes....Fro isnt the best, but atleast he knows what he is talking about....Ralphie must frustrate the hell out of him.....its not like Ralphie does play by play commentary...he just bullshits until he can say " STEWART IS DOWWWWN!....he must practice that because it sounds the same every time...
Ping is always funny. im pretty sure that he tries really hard but then I wonder if it just slips out all the time.
Go ping
P.S. when do we get to see David pingree in a supercross.
"STEWART IS DOWWWWN!" "DOWN HARD!"
I hate it haha every time i watch bubbas world we mimic it at the exact time LOL
Cool stuff today (the replies, I mean.)
Sort of makes me teary-eyed.
I have big babies, medium babies, and little babies all on my back, still ride a lot, but s e l d o m ever get to go to the track tho---that takes a whole day of free time, which ain't happening nowadays.
But, that may be for the best, b/c it is irritating to have to constantly remind myself to slow down. Everything seems to turn into a race, even if I have the track to myself. It is indeed strange how that MOST of the time you are as fast as u ever were, but then every once in a while it's "---whoa man, that was CLOSE!" LoL
kevin18p, quite possibly the most hilarious evil comment I have heard in 12mos.
Dang, you all are hard on the poor chic. Or maybe that's IT with the man-hands---quick, somebody check the lengths of her fingers.
If they REALLY wanted riders to spill their guts and get some golden quotes, they should hire either Miss AMA Motocross or that habenero-hot little miss meskin lowrider covergirl, Mercedes. I would be wont to open up to either of them, mesself.
And on a crual side note, Miss Supercross has a nasty potbelly and patriotic face...not to mention a bit too much beer flab...
(For all you youngsters out there, "patriotic face" means one that you marry out of compassion, wrap in a flag and do for your country.)
I am sure that the professional broadcasters earning a living on TV don't worry about the Highschool Bashing they get from wannabe journalists who can't get away from behind their computers long enough to do something positive with their lives. It is a small person who tries to build their own ego by beating others down. A freak injury riding these days 25 years after calling it a career in Racing would simply complicate running my business I have now. Living vicariously through today's pros is much safer.
i wrote three, guys. third one must have been too "controversial." Good work wasted, is what I say.
Erin Bates knows a lot more about moto than Ralph sheheen. And shes a lot better lookin too.
i'd sooner hump sheheen than bates.
he's got smaller hands.
RC is the man and always will be, Erin is hot slowdown little squid go home to mommy.
Mmmmmm, Sonny's BBQ. Too bad they don't exist up north!
Ping Ping Piing,
You bagging on RC's post career physique is like Jlaw doggin Hansens ability to speak clearly.
Dirt
Whats wrong with bib boobed bimbos TD ? You must be on the wrong site !
At least Erin quit the ambulance chasing !
Jim
Carlsbad
My good friend runs clear channel and I pretty much went everywhere I wanted at the supercrosses. I ran in to Erin on several occasions and was speechless every time. She's so super hot in person, has the nicest personality i think i've ever known and has a sweet job, she's pretty much my dream girl. You young kids in here will figure all of that out one day. Whoever is hating on her I would love to see what you got for a chic in comparison. Erin if you ever need a man who will treat you like a goddess you are, let me know.
My good friend runs clear channel and I pretty much went everywhere I wanted at the supercrosses. I ran in to Erin on several occasions and was speechless every time. She's sooo dam hot in person, she has the nicest personality i think i've ever known and has a sweet job, she's pretty much my dream girl. You young kids in here will figure all of that out one day. Whoever is hating on her I would love to see what you got for a chic in comparison. Erin if you ever need a man who will treat you like a goddess you are, let me know.
I think the best TV crew to ever call the races was David Bailey, Art Eckman, and Davey Coombs trackside. They all knew what they were talking about, and Eckman had that great TV voice. He coined the phrase
"Bar to Bar"!
I wondered about the pro racres losing interest and why once, Donny Schmit and i were together after he retired and I asked him about it. He said he didn't even want to see a bike again, was so tired of the routine and pressure - it was his job and career. So I didn't push it we went fishing, hunting camping and all the other things he felt he missed out on. But I wanted to ride! so one day I had 2 bikes in my garage with ice tires ready to rip. I invited him over but didn't tell him what was up. When he saw the bikes he was like ok let's do this. We burned 2 full tanks and ripped on a frozen lake for hours! it was a blast. He later thanked me up and down and told me after riding again he knew how much he really missed it.
I think pressure can burn you out but also when you have raw talent - you never get slow. Donny F-N ripped!
Great story about Donny. I think a lot of old pros that "burn out" just forgot how much fun it is to just go ride... no pressure. And I have to agree with Mr. Knowitall above... Erin is a pretty girl and one of the coolest chicks you'll meet. Go easy, fellas.
I can relate to job burnout,,doesnt matter what you do the time comes when passion is gone,,however I have allways kept a bike in my garage,,honda or a harley..gotta have the 2 wheels to escape if only around the block or even just to smell the fuel when shes idlin...now with SX on LIVE tv I can safely get my fix,,oh yea and little davys perils of wizdom help too thanx dudes at RX oops allmost fergot,,,you kids are plain silly,,erin is hot...someone please steal her coat so we can see them cans..hahaha
Man, what a tough crowd. I think Erin does a good job. Next time you guys get a chance grab a microphone and step in front of a live camera broadcast. Besides, a lot of you guys don't even know how to spell let alone think and talk at the same time. Get a life.
If you think Erin Bates is ugly, then you must be gay.
I have written it on here a few times how cool Erin Bates is. And idiots on here who will never be happy about anything will bag on her anyway. I have met her, so has my wife, and Erin is real cool in person. So quit being spoiled little babies about every question she asks on the show, and enjoy the telecast.
I MISS YOU RACEING OUT OF THE SUZUKI BOX TUCK. WHAT WE CALL RUFFING IT NOW LOL... THE GOOD DAYS