It’s a new year and there are a number of new things going on with this YouTube channel.
So today, I’ll bring you up to speed so you know what to expect in 2020.
The first thing is a huge, long term project that part of this audience already knows about.
That is, a free public bike park that my Patrons and I are spearheading.
To be clear, this is something entirely different than berm peak.
Let’s start from the beginning.
Some of you are familiar with Patreon, which is a site where fans can support creators.
I was charging $2 per month on my Patreon in exchange for bonus content and podcasts,
and people really seemed to enjoy it.
But then last Spring in a moment of insanity, I decided to put all of that monthly revenue
towards building a free public bike park—eventually.
So until we can do that, the Patreon money is going to continue accumulating.
Since last Spring that total has grown to $25,000.
A single patron even pledged another $25,000 himself, and a few companies have expressed
serious interest in helping with the project as well.
So, we’re well on our way to solving the most difficult part of the puzzle, the money.
But the location, the plans, the details, and the city we’re working with is all still
in the works.
Before I tell 1.6 million people anything, we have to get the details worked out.
So, I’ll answer what questions I can.
First of all, what do I mean by bike park?
I mean a family friendly progressive jump park much like Valmont in Boulder Colorado,
or The Railyard in Rogers Arkansas.
Parks like these only take up a few acres, and can be enjoyed by families and riders
of all skill levels.
Second question, where will it be?
It will be in the Asheville, metro area so that I can oversee and document the construction
on this YouTube channel.
Right now we have a site in mind which I’ve been showing clips of here, but until certain
things are set in stone I can’t say much more about it.
Which brings us to the third question…
When will we start to see videos about the Bike Park?
I’m aiming for Spring 2021.
By then the land should be ready to build on, and we should have accumulated enough
funds to actually get started on something.
If things go really smoothly and we can start sooner, then we’ll have a money problem
and I’ll need to put up the difference myself.
So, I welcome the delay to some degree.
Last question, what will the park be called?
We have yet to come up with a name, but for now we’ll code name it Vapor park, because
by the time this project gets rolling some will have given up hope.
But vapor park is most definitely not vapor, it’s gonna be made of dirt and wood.
Expect another update sometime before the end of Fall 2020.
Now, on to today’s sponsor, League of Dinosaurs for IOS and Android.
In this multiplayer strategy game, you’ll command a battalion of tankasaurs to fight
the evil galactic pterosaur cartel.—I’m just kidding.
Thanks to my actual sponsors, I don’t need to launch into league of dinosaurs ads mid
video.
Diamondback Bikes, Box Components, and Slime sealant have supported this channel for years
now, and they’ve been amazing partners.
But this year, I’m taking a step back.
This channel has always been about storytelling, and I’d like to think we’ve gone even
further in that direction with the story of Berm Peak.
Of course, all of these stories are bicycle themed and so it’s easy to incorporate a
bike sponsor into them.
But bicycle components present a challenge because in order to incorporate them into
a video, we need to get really specific and technical.
With a broader audience than ever, this it’s challenge to make this interesting.
Furthermore, the only time we do talk about components and accessories is during 10 product
reviews videos, in which I like to feature products based purely on their entertainment
value.
So at the time of this video, Diamondback Bicycles is this channel’s only sponsor.
This year we’re gonna tell the story of Berm Peak, go amazing places, and meet remarkable
people.
And just as we have for years now, we’re gonna do it aboard a Diamondback bicycle,
and that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
But parting with my old sponsors was not a decision I took lightly.
Box and Slime have been nothing but supportive partners, and although I’ve decided that
having fewer sponsors is the right decision for 2020, I’m very happy to have had the
privilege of working so closely with these two brands.
The last item today is my second youtube channel, it’s called Berm Peak Express.
A lot of things happen around Berm Peak that some of you might find interesting.
For example, we installed a winch on the Gator the very morning we started working on the
Snake Pit skinny.
We filmed that with no voiceover, script or storyboard, and my assistant producer was
still able to make it into a very entertaining video.
I’m not sure what this second channel will become, but for now we’re using Berm Peak
Express to experiment with new types of content.
One more quick item, thanks to all of you who bought merch during the holidays.
Not only does this help keep the channel running, but it’s also a morale booster to know that
so many of you want to rep Seth’s Bike Hacks and Berm Peak.
Thanks for hearing me out on these updates.
January has historically been a mudpocalypse around here so I’m using it as an opportunity
to get some things done off camera.
Expect a return to normal weekly videos soon.
Thanks for riding with me today and I’ll see you next time.