Welcome to Berm Peak’s Substack - What is this, Actually?

Our effort at a user-supported media platform. No ads, no sponsors, and a community.

Welcome to the Berm Peak Substack!

Our goal is to build a small community of thoughtful individuals who share a passion for mountain biking, learning, and insightful discussion. As you might already know, Berm Peak and Berm Peak Express videos will be posted here several weeks before they appear on YouTube. While we'll make exceptions for time-sensitive topics like embargoed products or current events, you can expect Substack to become the primary platform for our video content moving forward.

There are several reasons for this shift, which I'll explain shortly. But first, let me introduce our Editorial Director, Daniel Sapp.

Daniel has been the communications manager for Berm Peak for several years. This role might seem like it's all about managing social media interactions, but it's much more than that. He brings over 15 years of experience in the cycling industry, having worked with major bicycle companies and contributed to publications such as Freehub, Bicycling, and Pinkbike.

In his career, Daniel has traveled extensively in his journeys and has written about bikes and products, communities, people, and adventures, along with providing in-depth insights into the bike industry. Additionally, he’s heavily involved in trail advocacy as the President of Pisgah Area SORBA, the volunteer trail organization here in Western NC.

Over the past year, Daniel and I have brainstormed numerous ways to leverage our combined experiences to create something both significant and enjoyable. We aimed to blend his industry insights with my out-of-the-box ideas, forging a unique offering only possible on a user-supported platform.

Written Content

Many of you are already familiar with the extensive writing behind my work. From my earliest YouTube videos, I've utilized scripts to organize my thoughts. As I've become more comfortable on camera, my content has evolved to include more spontaneous dialogue, yet writing still takes up at least one full workday each week. Not all of my written content fits into video scripts, and I’ve been seeking an outlet for these extra thoughts for some time.

If you're an avid reader of any sort of media, you've likely come across commentaries predicting or even proclaiming, 'the end of journalism.’ While it’s argued that the incentive structure for journalism has never been poorer, this isn’t a universal truth. The cycling industry still boasts numerous dedicated and talented writers and incredible publications that amplify their voices. But where will we be in five years?

What if we invite racers, engineers, mechanics, and enthusiasts from around the world to write paid articles about topics they’re passionate about? What if we eliminate the negative incentives, the clickbait titles, and the unproductive comment sections? What if we share the stories of everyday people doing amazing things and provide insights to people you want to hear from? We're about to find out.

It might take a few weeks, or even longer, to gain momentum. Daniel and I will shoulder much of the written work here in the interim. Soon, you’ll see a continuous flow of written content in this Substack, along with plenty of other content that you’ll actually influence in us creating or sharing.

Discussions

In a 'real' discussion, like one you might have in a bike shop, at a trailhead, or over a beer post-ride, there’s usually a degree of consideration before someone voices their opinion. Face-to-face interactions carry the risk of making things uncomfortable or even the potential embarrassment of a public display of overconfident ignorance. Contrarily, these concerns are almost non-existent in online public discussions.

In a smaller community like ours, we have the opportunity for productive and engaging discussions in an environment where everyone is committed to meaningful dialogue. While Patreon provided this to some extent, its interface is limited. Here, we have various ways to share and discuss articles, videos, and topics, moderated by us or independently among our users. This isn't just enjoyable and intriguing; it's also influential. We plan to shape the content here based on the feedback we receive here, far more than on YouTube.

So, is YouTube now a secondary priority?

I owe my career and influence to my YouTube audience. Furthermore, there’s no better platform for creators of horizontal, long-form content. However, YouTube has undergone significant changes over the last year, making my future there increasingly uncertain. Two years ago, my advice for success on YouTube was simple: ‘just focus on making good videos’. While this remains somewhat true, the platform’s incentive structure has shifted towards prioritizing ‘minutes watched’ and catering to an algorithm more than ever.

Out of necessity, I need to adapt to YouTube’s evolving algorithm. Yet, moving towards a user-supported model at the same time seems prudent at this stage, especially considering the dedication of much of this audience. Meeting many of you on the trails and in the streets, it's clear we need to continue educating, inspiring, and creating. To achieve this, I need the freedom to produce content that my core audience wants to see, irrespective of its length, subject matter, or how it fits into the broader YouTube landscape.

I’m honored and humbled that you’ve chosen to join me on this journey. Daniel, myself, and the entire Berm Peak team extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you. Now, let’s get back to creating!