Once your reputation is ruined, it's a well-known fact that you can live carefree. When the well-decorated slopestyler Sam Pilgrim let himself be used by Haibike as an ambassador for its e-bikes, the freestyle community howled. After all, the Englishman jumped a flair with the e-bike and regained some respect.
Now the man with the signature gap in his teeth is proving in front of the camera, firstly, that even as a seasoned contest pro, he can put together a rideable bike from a jumble of parts. And secondly, that he is also a little Daniel Gyro Gearloose. He gives an estimated 25-year-old Specialized Hardrock frame a two-stroke engine. The throttle grip and clutch lever are attached to the handlebars and the tank is professionally fixed to the top tube with tape and cable ties. The petrol engine can also be pedaled, which will prove to be a major advantage.
Pilgrim rattles through the forest on the gas and tackles a rather weathered-looking jump ramp. You can see for yourself what happens next. Sam is delighted with his vehicle and is already making plans for a more powerful upgrade.