Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Jack Pittens is the co-founder 9point8, an Ontario-based bicycle component brand known for its dropper posts and other innovative products. How did 9point8 get its start? What is your background?For dropper posts, is there an advantage to using a sealed cartridge vs. one that's tunable, or another design? How do you make a dropper post lightweight? Do today's buyers even care about the weight of a dropper post? Why do you assemble 9point8 dropper posts in house vs. outsourcing production to Asia? How often should riders service their dropper posts? What does service involve?Do you think adding electronics to dropper posts is a good idea? What are the pros and cons?Why do two similar dropper post diameters — 30.9mm and 31.6mm exist? And why are 27.2mm diameter dropper posts so hard to find?Why are seatpost head designs so complicated?How did the 9point8 INVRS pedal design come about?  What else is 9point8 working on?Get more info at 9point8.ca. An automated transcript is provided at Singletracks.com.This episode is sponsored by Trailbot. Trailbot is the smarter way for trail managers to communicate updates without relying on social media. Don't let The Algorithm bury your posts—easily share conditions and closures to your web site, social media and the app all at once. Best of all, it's free.Trailbot is used by over 260 trail systems in 17 states and growing fast. Over 50,000 riders have installed the free iOS and Android apps to get official updates with optional push notifications, without having to see what their weird relative posted on social media. Learn more at trailbot.com.

Lee McCormack is a mountain bike skills instructor and coach, and he's the author of nearly a dozen books, including the NICA Skills Training Manual. He's written extensively on bike fitting and fitness training, and just last year he launched his own bike brand, Mistress Cycles.How have mountain biking techniques changed over the years?What's the difference between a good mountain bike racer, and a good mountain bike coach? Is pedal cadence important for mountain biking? How do you know if your cadence is too fast or too slow? How can you improve your cadence?Why are you such a fan of pump tracks. Why?How do Moto Cranx work on a pump track?Do you think mountain bikers tend to be overconfident, or underconfident in their skills?Do you think it's possible to be faster in your 40s or 50s than in your 20s by maintaining fitness and progressing your skills?How did Mistress Cycles come about? What is it about "modern" mountain bike geometry that you find frustrating?You've come out with some innovative products over the years, like the RipRow trainer and Moto Cranx. In addition to the bikes from Mistress Cycles, do you have any other projects in the works?You can keep up with the latest from Lee McCormack on Instagram @leelikesbikes, where you'll find links to all of the projects we talked about today.An automated transcript of our edited conversation is provided at singletracks.com. Click here for an unedited video of our conversation, where Lee illustrates many of the concepts discussed. Note: may contain brief language some readers find offensive.This podcast episode is sponsored by Backslope Tools.Backslope Tools designs and produces innovative lockable, stackable, and field-repairable tools for trail building, landscaping, and gardening. With 20 years of trailbuilding experience, Backslope is putting the right tools for the job into builders' hands, from individuals to full-on trail crews. Order online at backslopetools.com and save 15% on your order with code SingletracksPod. 

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we're going to be discussing some of the latest news and trends from the world of mountain bike trail development. We discuss:A recent meta-analysis of mountain bike tourism by IMBA and the Trust for Public LandThe use of private land for trail developmentThreats to existing trail systemsWhat's happening in ArkansasWhat to expect in 2025 and beyondVisit Singletracks.com for a complete transcript,--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

David Folch is the founder and CEO of Dirty Sixer, a boutique bike builder focused on fitting tall riders with big wheel bikes. The Dirty Sixer line currently features gravel, all-road, and electric bikes, and will soon include a mountain bike with 32" wheels.How did your brand Dirty Sixer get started?How tall do you have to be for a 32er to make sense?What are some of the MTB geometry challenges involved in designing around 32" wheels? Does anything get easier in terms of fitting tall riders thanks to the bigger wheels?Has tire availability limited the development of 32" wheel bikes up until this point?Are any current MTB forks designed to fit 32" wheels?You hinted that you're working on a full-suspension mountain bike with 32" wheels. What are the challenges involved in designing a bike like that?Will a 36er mountain bike ever be viable in terms of tire and fork availability? There are several comments on your Instagram posts from people who are against the idea of a mountain bike with 32" wheels, seemingly because this would represent another standard. Do you think 32" wheels will ever gain significant traction like 29er wheels did in the early 2000s?What's next for you in terms of big wheel mountain bike development?Visit dirtysixer.com to get more info about the bikes and tech discussed in this episode.--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Thomas Schoen is the CEO of First Journey Trails, a trail building company based in British Columbia. He's also the Director for the Williams Lake Cycling Club, the Aboriginal Youth Mountain Bike Program and is the President of the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium.How long have you been building mountain bike trails professionally? How did you get started?Which aspects of a trail build do you enjoy the most?Is everything on track to get the First Blood trail officially opened this season? What's left to be done?Are you seeing increasing demand for more technical trails? Do you think trails are too easy because our bikes are so good, or because bikers are getting better?Considering all the trails you and your team have built over the years, which one is your favorite trail to ride?What's the expected lifespan for a wooden bridge on a trail in BC?What do you think makes for a successful mountain bike destination?Tell us about your work with aboriginal youth First Nations trail builders.What's the next big thing for you and for trail development in BC?You can learn more and connect with Thomas and First Journey Trails at firstjourneytrails.com.An automated transcript of this episode is available at singletracks.com.--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Cory Wallace is the reigning, six-time World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Champion and the Head Organizer for the Rockies 24 race in Canmore, Alberta. His mountain bike adventures have taken him all over the world, inspiring riders and raising funds for various humanitarian causes along the way.  How did you get interested in endurance mountain bike racing, and 24 solo racing?  What happened to 24-hour racing? Is it making a comeback in terms of interest and participation? The race you organize, Rockies 24, started in 2022. Why did you decide to start up a new 24 Hour race at Canmore? How do prepare for a 24-hour solo race? Is it different than preparing for a stage race or an XC marathon race? Do you have a team at the race supporting you in terms of nutrition and bike repair? What is your strategy for such a long race? Is the strategy different for teams? Are you excited about pursuing a record-breaking seventh title this year? Where and when is the championship race being held? Which bike are you planning to ride? I saw that you were recently training in Nepal. What's the riding like there? As someone who has mountain biked all around the world, what is your favorite place to ride? What are some of the humanitarian projects you've supported through your rides and advocacy, and why did you choose them? Which projects and rides are you stoked for in 2025?You can follow Cory @wallacesworld on Instagram.An automated transcript of this episode is available at singletracks.com.--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Chris Canfield's company, Suspension Formulas, develops and licenses mountain bike suspension designs used by brands including Revel and Canfield Bikes. Now he's launching his own bike brand, Vampire Bikes while also continuing to race DH at the Masters level. In 2019 you won the UCI Masters World Championship at Mont St. Anne when you were in your 40s. What's allowed you to be so fast for so long? How much of DH racing is about equipment vs. rider?  Did you get involved in building bikes out of necessity, or was it something you really enjoyed from the beginning? Tell us about the Canfield Balance Formula suspension design. Is it primarily focused on pedal efficiency? What does "controlled braking" mean? Is designing suspension for a DH bike easier in some ways since you aren't as concerned about pedal efficiency? CF3 is a newer, patent pending suspension design. How is that different from CBF? With the expiration of the original DW Link patent, does this open opportunities for new designs and/or improvements? Is it difficult working with bike brands as a suspension designer? Does your design end up getting compromised in some ways? What does the Vampire Bikes customer look like? What do you make of recent news about athletes launching their own bike brands? What do you think is driving this? You can follow along with the launch of Vampire Bikes on Instagram @vampire_bikes and learn more about some of the suspension designs we discussed at suspension-formulas.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Miranda Miller is a downhill mountain bike World Champion and three time Canadian National downhill champion from Squamish, British Columbia. Her video series, Here, There, Everywhere regularly features inspiring riders and mountain bike destinations around the world as Miranda takes on new cycling challenges ranging from gravel biking to gravity racing. How did you get introduced to downhill mountain bike racing at such an early age? What was the biggest difference between racing DH and enduro for you? What are some favorite trails or mountain bike destinations you've ridden over the years? Do you do a lot of specific training or prep before big endurance rides like the 22-hour, 360km gravel ride and a 5-day bikepacking trip on the AZT you completed?  How involved are you in the creative side of the Here, There, Everywhere video series? Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Does the search for perfection ever cause problems for you? What do you make of the state of professional enduro racing today?  What's next for you, and for your video series? You can follow Miranda on Instagram @mirandamillermtb and catch up on Here, There, Everywhere on the @DVRGNTminds and SRAM YouTube channels. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Lance Canfield is a mechanical engineer and former professional mountain bike racer who drew his first mountain bike design in 1996. Today his bike brand, Canfield Bikes, sells mountain bikes and components designed and tested in Poncha Springs, Colorado.  What were downhill bikes like when you began racing in 1994? What did you want to improve about your bike? Your first bike design in 1999, the Big Fat Fatty Fat, had 12 inches of travel front and rear. How did that work? You competed on some of your own bikes in Red Bull Rampage, including at the first competition ever in 2001. What was it like? How did it compare to today's spectacle? Why do you think there aren't many (any?) dedicated freeride bikes on the market today? What makes the Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) suspension design different from others on the market? Is CBF better suited for certain applications or travel ranges? Why are you such a proponent of shorter cranks for mountain biking? How has Canfield been affected by industry supply fluctuations over the past few years? What's next for Canfield? Which mountain bike developments or trends have you excited about the future? Visit canfieldbikes.com to see the bikes and components discussed in this episode. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Riley Amos won overall Under 23 World Cup titles in both short track and cross-country this year and finished seventh in the Paris Olympics, the highest an American has ever placed in the event. He is a member of the Trek Factory Racing Team and lives and trains in Durango, Colorado. Going into the 2024 season did you expect to win the overall U23 titles in short track and cross-country? Do you plan to change your race training or strategy when you move up to Elite next year? How much do you focus on nutrition as a part of your training and racing? For the last World Cup XC race of the season you rode the Trek Top Fuel which is a FS bike with 120mm of travel front and rear. What made you choose the bike for that course? Were you running a dropper post? I read that you joined the Durango DEVO mountain bike program in second grade. Did you participate in any other sports? Do you think it's helpful for athletes to specialize in MTB from an early age? As a USA Cycling National Team member, have you done much training in Bentonville? How does the riding there compare to Durango?  Why did you decide to ride the Palisade Plunge as a loop? How did it go?  In addition to the World Cup circuit, are there other races you're targeting for 2025? Do you have any fun rides planned? Follow Riley @rj_amos on Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Lennard Zinn is a bike designer and frame builder based in Louisville, Colorado. His shop, Zinn Cycles, offers "a full line of semi-custom and off the shelf bikes for riders from very small to very tall and everyone in-between." He's also the author of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance, one of the world's best-selling guides to mountain bike repair. In this first-half of our podcast discussion, Zinn talks about drivetrain maintenance, focusing on chains and lubrication. Later in the show we talk about the benefits of big 32-, 36-inch, and 750d bike wheels and designing bikes for riders both tall and small. Understanding bike chain wear and elongation 0:00 Chain wear is caused by dirt and oil-based lubricant sticking to the chain, creating a grinding paste that wears down the rollers, bushings, and pins. Zinn describes how the chain's inner links are made. The chain's flexibility increases as the bushings and plates wear, affecting shifting performance. A chain's lateral stiffness is crucial for proper shifting, and a worn chain can cause skipping during shifting. Chain elongation and its effects 6:46 Zinn discusses how a chain's elongation affects its performance, particularly when the distance between rollers exceeds the half-inch standard. He explains that a worn chain can misshape the cassette's teeth, leading to skipping and poor shifting. Chain checkers can be used to ensure the chain's length is within spec to prevent cassette wear. Lubrication and its impact on chain wear 22:35 Zinn explains that a dry chain will wear faster due to friction, while lubrication helps reduce wear but can attract dirt. He discusses the differences between factory lube and other lubricants, noting that factory lube is designed for machinery, not for low friction on the bike. Zinn recommends using a cleaner to remove factory lube before applying chain lube. He introduces the concept of chain waxing, which involves immersing the chain in molten wax to create a low-friction, clean-running chain. Zinn shares the benefits of chain waxing, including reduced noise, lower friction, and longer chain life. Chain waxing process and benefits 35:43 Zinn describes the process of chain waxing, including the need for a clean jar of mineral spirits and denatured alcohol for cleaning the chain. He mentions the cost-effectiveness of chain waxing compared to replacing chains frequently. Wheel sizes and their applications 1:03:20 Zinn discusses the advantages of larger wheels for tall riders like 32-, 36-inch, and 750d wheels, noting that 32-inch wheels can make a bike look proportionally sized. He explains the challenges of using larger wheels, such as increased weight and the lack of suspension forks. Zinn mentions the development of new carbon rims and tires for larger wheels, which could improve their performance and weight. Barber asks about the feasibility of using suspension forks with larger wheels, and Zinn confirms that rigid forks are the only option. Challenges in designing bikes for small riders 1:16:58 Barber asks about the challenges of scaling bikes for smaller riders, and Zinn explains the limitations due to the need for certain components. Zinn highlights the importance of proportional design, where larger wheels can make a bike look more proportionate for tall riders. He discusses the ergonomic issues for small riders, such as wider Q-factors and shorter steerer tubes on forks. Zinn mentions the UCI's weight limit in road racing as an example of how smaller riders are often disadvantaged. Modern trends in bike design and their impact 1:18:46 Zinn highlights the shortening of steerer tubes on forks which can be a problem for taller riders. He discusses the trend of wider rear ends in modern bikes, which can be detrimental to smaller riders due to increased Q-factor. Find out more about the chain waxing service and bikes discussed in this episode at zinncycles.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Craig Calfee is an innovative bike builder and the founder of Calfee Design. Calfee was an early adopter of carbon fiber for bike frames in 1987, and brand's ​​Tetra road bike is said to have been in production longer than any other carbon bike. You might also recognize his work with Bamboo bike frames, which he began in 1995. How did you get your start building bikes? What did people think about the carbon bike frame you debuted at Interbike in 1989? Were there concerns that carbon frames were untested? Are you still doing carbon frame production in the US? How does carbon frame repair work? Your mountain bike, the Cephal, utilizes a system called Quick Tune Steering. What's the idea behind this feature? The Cephal is a hardtail with "leaf spring chain stays."  What are the benefits to having flexible chain stays? Were you surprised about your bamboo bike frame prototype? From a practical standpoint, is bamboo a good material for building bike frames? Why do you offer so many different tandem bikes? What are the challenges associated with building a tandem, particularly a mountain tandem?  How does your electric pedal assist retrofit service work? What kind of work have you done on adaptive bikes?  What's next on the horizon for Calfee Design? Connect with Calfee Design and learn more at calfeedesign.com. Visit singletracks.com for a complete transcript of this episode. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

in bike excursions and craft beer tastings, among other activities. The couple has lived on the road in an RV since 2018, sampling trails and beer not just in the US but around the world. They also host a podcast called Craft Beer Travel & Adventure. Why did you decide to move into your recreational vehicle and hit the road full time? Is RV life different from Van life? Is it difficult to find community while living on the road? How did Camp Carpe Diem get its start? What is Camp Carpe Diem? What is the average age of a Camp Carpe Diem camper? Is there a minimum age? Are kids allowed? How do you choose the locations for your camps? Was it difficult to start mountain biking in your 40s? What are the mountain bike destinations that you keep going back to visit? Where are the best trails with a campground attached? How did you get your reputation as "the beer guys"? What are some non-alcoholic beers you can recommend? Learn more about Camp Carpe Diem or sign up for an event at campcarpediem.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Wes Holland is the owner of Bullmoose Softgoods where he designs and produces one-of-a-kind bags for cycling and adventuring. Bullmoose is based in Summerville, Massachusetts and currently offers handlebar and frame bags plus hip packs and accessories. What came first for you: bikes or bags?  What kind of riding do you like to do? What is the riding scene like in Boston? There are a lot of hip packs and handlebar bags out there, so why make your own? What types of materials are you working with? What's your shop setup like? Your hip packs aren't cheap, with prices starting at $130. What makes bags like this so expensive? What's the trickiest part about making a bag for biking? How long does it take to make a frame bag, for example? Have you had any failures when testing new designs? With accessory mounts becoming more common across all types of bikes, does this make fitting or attaching bags easier for you as a bag maker? What's in your hip pack? Do you have new products or projects on the horizon? Check out Wes's work at bullmoosesoftgoods.com. An auto-edited summary of our conversation is available at Singletracks.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Greg Mazu is the self-described "Chief Dreamer" behind Backslope Tools, a company that designs and sells tools for trail building and forest maintenance. He's also the founder of Singletrack Trails, a trail building company that recently finished its last project after 20 years in the business. When did you build your first trail?  How did you get into professional trail building? What motivated you to start Tools for Trails, and later Backslope tools? Where are Backslope tools manufactured? If you could only have one tool to use for building a trail, what would it be? Some riders say they prefer natural trails to machine-built ones. Do you have a preference for riding machine- or hand-built trails? Can a machine-built trail be built to feel like a natural or hand-built trail, or vice versa? Singletrack trails was involved in some iconic projects over the years in places like 18 Road and Lunch Loops in Fruita, Black Mountain in North Carolina, Palisade Plunge in Colorado, and Handcut Hollow in Bentonville. Which trail building projects are you most proud of?  What are some favorite trails you weren't involved in building? What are some of the challenges the trail building industry is facing in meeting increased demand for trails? Have we reached a peak in terms of trail quality, or is there room for further growth and improvement? What are some of the latest, or upcoming innovations riders can look forward to? See the tools we talked about at backslopetools.com and follow @gregmazu on Instagram. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Hannah Otto recently became the fastest known woman to ride the 137-mile-long Kokopelli's trail from Moab, Utah to Loma, Colorado, besting the previous fastest known time by over an hour. In addition to racing gravel and mountain bikes, she's also a certified athletic trainer.  How do you feel now that you can finally talk about your accomplishment? Were you worried someone else would make an FKT attempt between then and now? In October you made your first attempt, but it didn't work out. What happened. What did you do differently the second time around? What was your bike setup? What did you eat? How do you pace yourself for a ride like this? Do you think this FKT rules that should be updated or clarified to allow film crews as long as they don't offer any assistance? How much of a role does luck play in mountain bike racing, versus skill and fitness? Do individual time trials also make you a faster racer in more traditional events, or is this a specialized skill set? What's next? Do you have any more FKT attempts on the horizon? View the Kokopelli Strong film on Youtube and follow @hannah_finchamp on Instagram. Photo credit: @mahkus.g. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Chuck Teixeira is a Senior Advanced Concept Engineer at Specialized where he's been involved in countless projects from mountain to road, and from bikes to components. Prior to joining Specialized in 2011, Chuck spent 28 years at Easton-Bell where he was the director of R&D. How did you end up in the bike industry? How does the Smartweld tech used on the new Specialized Chisel mountain bike frame work, and what makes it different from traditional aluminum frame welding? Why haven't we seen this on more Specialized mountain bikes?  Are mountain bikers still overlooking aluminum in favor of carbon frames? How did you and the Roval team come upon the anti pinch flat bead-wall design? When it comes to mountain bike rims, is there a clear winner when it comes to material choice, carbon vs. aluminum? What are some of your favorite mountain bike products or designs that you've been involved with over the years? How have you recovered from the Santa Cruz wildfire that claimed your house in 2020?  As someone who has lived and breathed bicycles since the 1980s, is there anything that surprises you today? What are you working on right now that has you stoked? --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Colin Ryan is a Senior Development Engineer at Norco and was involved in the design of the latest Norco Optic trail bike which features a high-pivot design. Prior to joining Norco he worked at General Kinetics testing and developing shock absorbers for military and construction equipment.  At a basic level, what problem does a high pivot design solve? Is there a certain type of riding that benefits from having a high pivot? What are the drawbacks to the design? Does a high pivot design improve longevity for certain components? With less chain wrap on the crank, are dropped chains an issue with a high pivot setup? How does the placement of the idler pulley affect performance? What about the number of teeth on the idler cog? Did moving from a traditional setup to high-pivot change the ride feel of the Norco Optic significantly? The decision to use a high pivot on a short, 125mm travel bike is a controversial one. Why do you think that is? The latest Optic is said to be lighter than the previous version. How much weight does the idler hardware add, and how did you manage to make the bike lighter overall? How is the intended use of the Optic different from the Fluid which has a very similar amount of travel (140/130mm)?  What's next for high pivot mountain bike designs? Cover photo: Matt Miller. See the Norco Optic and other high pivot bikes from the brand at norco.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Sara Hunter is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of North Carolina and a PMBIA Level 1 Mountain Bike Instructor. Her practice includes individual and couples counseling services plus mountain bike therapy and counseling for athletes and outdoor instructors. She's also a Specialized USA Ambassador. What led you to get into counseling? Does everyone benefit from spending time outdoors, or do you think some of us are just wired that way?  What is Adventure Therapy? What is the idea behind it? Is there such a thing as spending too much time outdoors? As someone who works to address conflicts between individuals, do you have any ideas about how people can share the trail? Sometimes I get frustrated on group rides when the rider in front of me gets in my way. Is there a way to re-frame this? Unsolicited advice — about how to ride, or fix a bike — generally comes from a good place of wanting to help, but is there a better approach?   What are some ways I can be more supportive of someone who is having a tough or bad ride?  How can counseling help riders recover after an injury? Do you have any tips for calming nerves on race day, or even before a challenging ride? Do you have tips for reducing the risk of loneliness for athletes or travelers living the van life?  What's the biggest benefit you get from mountain biking personally? Connect with Sara and her practice at sarahuntercounseling.com and find about upcoming workshops at her Instagram account, @mindfulmountainbike. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Alex Larson is a registered dietitian and multi-sport athlete who helps endurance athletes optimize nutrition and performance. She's written multiple nutrition guides and offers customized nutrition coaching services to athletes around the world. Do athleticism and nutrition go hand in hand? Are athletes generally healthy eaters by nature? What is a "flexible eating style"? Are restrictive diets sometimes harmful? How does pre-race fueling work?  Is nutrition drastically different for training vs. racing? Is it more challenging for athletes to maintain a healthy gut than non-athletes? What types of things can cause gut issues for athletes during a workout?  Are there signs that nutrition is holding us back from fitness gains? What have you learned about nutrition from your own training? With summer approaching, should athletes adjust their diet based on the season?  Does an individual's nutrition plan look different for different sports? Do you recommend an app for tracking daily nutrition or a food journal? If I eat the wrong thing after a race, is that going to have a big effect on my future performance? What's one simple step mountain bikers can take to improve their nutrition? For additional nutrition resources and to connect with Alex, visit alexlarsonnutrition.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Amanda Carey is the President of NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, a non-profit that develops mountain biking programs for student athletes across the United States. Prior to joining NICA, Amanda served as the executive director of Mountain Bike the Tetons and as a mountain bike coach. What drew you to mountain biking initially? What's kept you so engaged over the years?  What do you think has kept mountain biking from growing more than it has over the past couple of decades? How is NICA impacting mountain bike participation?  How can NICA teams attract new student athletes who don't have a family cycling background? Why choose mountain biking over another sport? How would you characterize the level of competition at NICA races? What is NICA doing to encourage trail building and maintenance? Is there a demand for a more gravity-oriented youth riding program?  What advice do you have for parents of NICA athletes? What are the biggest opportunities for NICA over the next five years? How can Singletracks listeners help support your mission? Learn more and find out how you can get involved at nationalmtb.org. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Sara Bresnick is a former professional mountain biker, cycling coach and founder of Pedal Power Training Solutions which offers customized training plans plus advice on nutrition, race strategy, and technique.   What are some fitness goals your clients have beyond racing? For example, does it make sense for a rider to work with a coach before a big weeklong mountain bike trip?  Do older athletes need more time to recover between intense workouts? What happens if you miss a day, or two, in a training schedule? How quickly do fitness gains disappear? How does an "off season" work for bike athletes? Should you still be biking some, or is it possible to do other activities instead?   Let's say I wanted to ride the Tour Divide in 2025, and my goal was to finish the ride in 45 days. Given a good level of base fitness, what's a realistic timeframe for training? In general, what would a training plan involve? What's the biggest challenge most people face when it comes to improving their fitness? As a trainer, what can you learn from a client's workout data?  How much of your job as a trainer is emotional support versus purely technical? What's one easy step everyone can take to start improving their fitness today? Learn more and connect with Sara at pedalpowercoaching.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Claudio Caluori is a seven-time Swiss National Champion and founder of Velosolutions, "a global network of professionals with profound knowledge in cycling, action sports, tourism and urban development." He's also a popular YouTube personality, delivering entertaining course previews and ride-alongs with top athletes. In addition to building pump tracks around the world, Velosolutions recently helped with construction of the XC race course for the 2024 Paris Olympics and is working on an ultra accurate timing app for pump track competition. How did you get into downhill mountain bike racing? How are you able to talk while riding fast in your Red Bull course preview and Bla Bla Run videos? Does talking mess you up sometimes? How is designing and building a race trail different from building a trail for the public? What's so great about pump tracks? Why do adult riders tend to avoid them? Tell us about Pump Tracks for Peace. Some riders seem to be against asphalt tracks. What's your take? Is trail building and funding easier in some parts of the world than in others? Which Velosolutions projects are you most proud of? Tell us about Velosolutions Farm. What's the vision? What are some projects Velosolutions is working on right now? Get more information about Velosolutions at velosolutions.com. Photo credit: Sternemann --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt and Jeff discuss the current trends around mountain bike weights. Are bikes too heavy, or are they where they should be given how durable and capable they are today? This discussion covers: Examples of specific bikes and their weights Why bike weights might be increasing The benefits to lightweight -- and heavy -- mountain bikes Areas where mountain bikes might be able to cut weight This is Matt's last episode with the Singletracks podcast so to start the show we talk about some of his most memorable stories from the past 6 years. We'll miss you Matt! Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America's coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at⁠⁠⁠ ExploreBrevard.com⁠⁠⁠. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Will Hart is Product Marketing Manager at Cane Creek, a western North Carolina based maker of suspension and bike components. Besides looking cool, what are some advantages of a coil shock? Are certain styles of riding better suited to a coil shock than others? What makes some FS mountain bikes coil compatible, and others not? How does compression damping work on a coil shock? Is there any air involved? Tell us about the Cane Creek Tigon. What's the idea behind combining a coil with an air spring? How are progressive and linear coil springs different? How do you set sag on a coil shock? What about other settings? Are coil shocks as tunable as air shocks? What does tightening the pre-load on a coil shock do? How does bottom-out work on a coil shock? Is it difficult for lighter riders to find an appropriate spring? How does the weight of a coil shock compare to an air shock? Will a coil feel different over time as the metal fatigues?  Are coil shocks lower maintenance than air shocks? What is your advice for mountain bikers who are coil curious? Find out about the Cane Creek Coil Curious program at canecreek.com. Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America's coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at⁠⁠ ExploreBrevard.com⁠⁠. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Sean Leader is the founder of Windrock Bike Park and Southern Gravity, a Tennessee-based company that builds ramps and shuttle vehicles for bike parks. Not only that, Southern Gravity recently released a prototype steel DH mountain bike that's being tested by top elite and junior DH riders. You've worn many hats in the mountain bike world. When was the moment you realized you could make a living in the sport? How did Windrock Bike Park get started?  What were some of the challenges you faced as a bike park operator? Why build your own DH bike? What are the advantages of a steel DH bike frame compared to other materials? Did the expiration of the DW-Link patent figure into your design plans? Tell us about the Southern Gravity Racing team. Who are the athletes on the team, and which races are you targeting? How would you describe the southern DH mountain bike scene today? How has it evolved? What do you say to folks who think the southeast doesn't have quality trails or challenging terrain? See the bike and connect with Sean at SouthernGravity.com. Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America's coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at⁠ExploreBrevard.com⁠. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Joel Smith is the Brand Leader for Reserve, a Santa Cruz, CA brand that designs and markets wheels for everything from downhill to road biking. Steel Wisdom-Wilhelmsson is engineering lab technician responsible for lab-conditions wheel testing.  In this episode we ask: How are MTB wheels assembled? For high-end wheels, is most of it done by hand? How does rim construction contribute to ride feel? Is a shallower rim better than a deep rim for ride feel? What are the advantages of a high engagement freehub? Is there a number that most riders will find meets their needs or is more always better? Are wheel sizes and standards continuing to evolve? What about rim widths?  Are today's carbon rims stronger and more durable than aluminum? How do the weights compare? What other advantages does carbon have over aluminum rims? How much stronger does a DH wheel need to be compared to a lightweight XC wheel? Front vs. rear?  What is the most common mode of failure when it comes to mountain bike wheels? What are your thoughts on tire inserts?  How have rim profiles changed over the years? What role does spoke lacing and the number of spokes play in a wheel's strength and ride feel?  Is a Super Boost wheel a better wheel? What's the deal with mountain bike wheel warranties? Generally speaking, do riders make many claims? What's your advice to mountain bikers when choosing a wheel upgrade? Check out reservewheels.com to learn more about the brand. This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America's coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more atExploreBrevard.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Carol Baldwin is the founder of Flownetic MTB Skills and is a PMBIA Level 3  certified mountain bike skills instructor. She's also a Singletracks contributor and product tester.  In this podcast we ask Carol: Have you alway mountain biked with flat pedals? Was it difficult to switch from clipless to flat pedals? Why? What are the advantages of flat pedals compared to clipless? What are the disadvantages of flats compared to clipless pedals? Are bigger and/or wider pedal platforms better? What's the right number of pins per side? What is your favorite shoe, or type of shoe for mountain biking? What is your favorite flat pedal? Are aluminum pedals better than composite? Are there certain types of rides that are better or worse for flat pedals? For people who have only used flats, is it worth giving clipless a try? Is riding on flats more fun? Learn more and connect with Carol at flowneticmtb.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Tom Prochazka is a co-founder and director at Gravity Logic, a bike park design and development company based in Whistler, British Columbia. He served as the manager of the Whistler Bike Park from 2001 to 2007 and designed the iconic Top of the World Trail which opened in 2011. Since then he's worked on bike parks all over the world from the western US to Europe and South America. In this podcast interview we ask Tom: How did you get involved in mountain bike trail building? What do you think makes Whistler such a special place? What drove the huge increase in Whistler visits between 2001 and 2007? How did Gravity Logic get its start? Tell us how the Top of the World Trail came together. How is it different from the other trails in the bike park? What's your definition for the term "bike park"? Are for-profit park operators able to get a decent return on investment on a bike-only, ground-up build? How much work is involved in keeping bike trails running during the season?  Does a trail ever work exactly as planned on paper? Do builders and designers need to make adjustments once they see how people are riding the trail? Are there many tradeoffs between safety and fun when it comes to mountain bike trail design? It seems like most bike park visitors prefer flowy, jumpy trails to raw, technical lines. Why do you think so many mountain bikers like to complain about flow trails?  What are some of the latest trends you're seeing in bike park design today? Do you have a favorite park or trail that you like to ride? More information: Whistlergravitylogic.com Cover photo provided by Tom Prochazka. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Rhett Jones is a high school mountain biker living in the Austin, Texas area. He's the founder of Station Bike Park, a new private park he developed on 150 acres of former ranchland northwest of Austin. Singletracks first shared Jones' story in a November feature article on our website; this interview adds more detail and dives into the economic and operational aspects of running a for-profit, private mountain bike park. How long have you been riding mountain bikes?  Tell us about the free bike, public bike park you built in 2022. How did that get started?   Are there many places to mountain bike in and around Austin, TX? What is the mountain bike scene like in the area? In the state? How much money did you raise, and how did you raise it? Were you able to stay on budget? Are bike parks good businesses? Were you able to use any successful bike parks as an example? How do most bike parks actually make money: tickets, rentals, repairs, or sales?  Was getting insurance a challenge?  Is there a benefit to being close to a more established bike park like Spider Mountain Bike Park? What are the economics of a fixed lift system? Is the cost feasible for the average bike park? What's your favorite part of owning a bike park? What are your plans for the bike park and for yourself in the future? Find out more at stationmountain.com. Photo provided by Rhett Jones. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Jeff and Matt look back at some of the best bikes and mountain bike gear tested in 2023, and talk about some of the most interesting new releases this year. Along the way we'll also hit on some of the trends we're following and highlight some of the reviews you might have missed. Listen to our conversation as a podcast, or read a tightly edited transcript and find photos at singletracks.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

John Calendrille has spent decades designing and patenting everything from derailleurs and shifters to dropper posts and brake levers. He's consulted for industry brands including TRP and Box, and now he's got his own company, Vivo, that sells a customizable 12-speed shifter, the Vivo F3. How did you first get into designing bike components? What are some of the limitations of existing mechanic mountain biker shifters? What makes the Vivo F3 an improvement? Have you found that many riders struggle with the ergonomics of off-the-shelf mechanical shifters? One of the patents you hold is for a combination brake/shifter lever, a design that's pretty much standard for gravel and road bikes today. Where did this idea come from? Are bike cockpits becoming cluttered again with all the controls riders need for dropper posts, motors, etc.?  With electronic drivetrains becoming more common, a lot of riders are wondering if mechanical systems will eventually go away. What's your take? Is there still room to improve mechanical derailleurs? Do you think moving away from front derailleurs has been a positive development? Is 12 (or 13) speeds enough? Are there technical issues that prevent us from going beyond 13 gears, or is it more of a practical consideration? What makes (or made) derailleur hangers necessary? Bikes have been around for more than 100 years and the basic form hasn't changed a lot. Aside from e-bikes, is the pace of innovation in the bike world slowing or accelerating? How important are patents in the bike industry?  You're manufacturing and assembling your Vivo F3 shifters in the USA. How's that going? Do you foresee challenges with scaling domestic production? What's next for Vivo? Learn more and connect with John at vivocycling.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Kurt Refsnider is a cycling coach and the founder of Bikepacking Roots, an organization that advocates for bikepacking and the environment. He's the only person to have won all three events in the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, and he recently became one of only a few people to have biked the entire Continental Divide Trail (CDT), a 3,300-mile route stretching from Canada to Mexico.   Are you glad to be off the trail after three months of riding? How is the Continental Divide Route different than the 2700-mile Great Divide Route that runs from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico? How is the CDT currently managed and administered? Are there groups working to connect the dots? What does it mean to be a responsible bikepacker?  How did you approach sections of the route that go through Wilderness areas where bikes aren't allowed?  Are there communities along the route that benefit from the CDT running through town? Is there much overlap with towns along the Great Divide Route? Which sections would you want to revisit to ride without all the gear on your bike? How will the Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act help trails like the CDT? What is the latest status of the legislation?  Were you surprised that it took three months to complete the trail? Why isn't the CDT more popular with mountain bikers? What does a trail assessment look like? What are you hoping to do with the info you collected on your CDT ride? How was your bike setup different for this ride compared to what you might use on the Great Divide route? Was going full suspension the right call for such a long ride? What's your next adventure? Connect with Kurt and learn more at ultramtb.net and bikepackingroots.org. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Matt Harvey is the co-founder of Enduro Bearings, a company dedicated to producing premium, high quality bearings for the bicycle industry. He's been working in bike shops starting as a teenager and later for industry brands like Gary Fisher and Bianchi. What was your 'aha' moment for forming Enduro Bearings? What makes bicycle bearings different from bearings used for other purposes? What are the challenges involved in designing high performance bicycle bearings? Which parts of a mountain bike will benefit the most from high quality bearings?  How do you know when your bearings are worn out, or need maintenance? Are bearings generally serviceable, or are home mechanics better off replacing them? What kind of grease should you use for bearings? What's the advantage of ceramic bearing balls? Where are most bearings products produced? Why do you think Pressfit bottom brackets have such a bad reputation? Aside from bottom brackets, it seems like the bearings in pedals tend to give riders problems over time. Why is that? What's next for Enduro Bearings? Is there still potential for innovation and improvement in bicycle bearings? Learn more at cycling.endurobearings.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

The patent for the acclaimed DW-Link suspension design recently expired, and we wanted to know: What does its expiration mean for the mountain bike industry? Matt and Jeff interviewed several industry experts, including those involved in licensing the DW-Link patent, to make sense of it all. Originally published online as an article, this audio version includes snippets from select conversations that were featured as quotes in the written version. Words by Jeff Barber and Matt Miller. Photo by Matt Miller. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Ben Plenge is a professional mountain bike coach and founder of The Strength Factory. He's trained pro riders and also hundreds of amateurs over the years both in person and online.  Why did you choose to focus on strength and fitness training for mountain bikers specifically? According to your website your most popular workout program is Bodyweight Strength. Is there a limit to the effectiveness of these simple exercises? What are some ways to improve riding fitness that don't take time away from "just for fun" rides? What's different about how pro athletes train versus amateurs? Are some riders born faster than others? What's different about MTB strength training in your 40s versus your 20s? Why do riders tend to experience more pain as we age? Does becoming a better climber make you a faster descender? (enduro, personal experience) Is there a certain body type that works best for certain types of riding? What's the #1 misconception mountain bikers have about strength and fitness training? Connect with Ben and learn more at thestrengthfactory.uk. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Dylan Johnson tells us why he believes his drop bar hardtail is the perfect bike for the Leadville 100 in this audio story. Written and narrated by Matt Miller. This story first appeared on Singletracks.com on August 29, 2023. Photo credit: Dylan Johnson The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Angi Weston is the founder of Radical Roots MTB, a group that provides "fun, safe, mountain bike skills progression" through various lessons, programs, events, and group rides. In addition to working with riders, Angi also trains MTB skills coaches and is based in Bellingham, WA. What led you to launch Radical Roots in 2018? What can riders learn from riding flats that they can't learn riding clipless pedals? Do you think it's better to learn skills on a hardtail than a FS bike? Are the junior riders you work with looking to develop different skills from the adults that attend your other camps?  How much does having a good mountain bike contribute to rider confidence, and perhaps even skill? How do you know if you need to upgrade your skills vs. your bike? What are the skills your students are most interested in learning? Is there a fundamental skill or skills everyone should learn first? What are the skills you're working on personally? Are there things you wish you could do better? What makes someone a successful MTB skills coach? Visit radicalrootsmtb.com to connect with Angi and find out about upcoming clinics. Photo: Katie Sox. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Nichole Dandrea-Russert is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the author of The Vegan Athlete's Nutrition Handbook. Her website Purely Planted offers tips for adding more plants to our diets, and she's based right here in Atlanta. How did you get interested in nutrition? Have you always been an athlete? For the vegan athletes you work with, is improving performance a primary reason for adopting a plant-based diet, or are other considerations that tend to come first? How does a plant-based diet help athletes with recovery and reducing inflammation? How does eating less saturated fats and cholesterol improve athletic performance? Is it helpful for endurance sports like cycling? How do you know if you are not getting enough fat? What are some good plant-based sources of protein? What are some other advantages of a plant-based diet for cyclists? Do you have any tips for keeping to a healthy diet while traveling? How big of a factor is diet in athletic performance?   Can mountain bikers get some of the advantages of a plant-based diet without giving up meat and dairy completely? The Vegan Athlete's Nutrition Handbook is out today and you can purchase it online or keep up with the latest at purelyplanted.com. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

In this episode, Matt and Jeff talk about the latest mountain bike drivetrain developments from electronic shifting to Eagle Transmission. What are the advantages of electronic shifting? What are the disadvantages? How does the new SRAM Eagle Transmission wireless electronic drivetrain compare to AXS? What's the deal with dropouts? Is UDH going to be the standard? How have consumers and readers responded to the Eagle Transmission news? How do you think Shimano will respond? We'll also recap some of the latest mountain bike trail and gear news at the top of the show. Let us know what you think! The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Yvonne Kraus is the executive director of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, a mountain bike organization dedicated to creating, maintaining, and protecting sustainable mountain biking opportunities in Washington. Evergreen, if you don't know,  is one of the largest, if not the largest, statewide mountain bike association in the US with 8 regional chapters and thousands of members. How did Evergreen get its start? How does Evergreen divide responsibilities between its chapters and the top-level organization? How have the challenges facing mountain bikers in Washington changed since the group was first formed? What are some of the most popular trail systems in the state? What does e-bike trail access look like in the state of Washington currently?  Do you have any new MTB trails in the planning stage, or currently under construction? Is there much of a push for mountain bike tourism in Washington? What are the primary funding sources for Evergreen? What's the biggest constraint that Evergreen faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What's next for Evergreen? Connect with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and find was to support the group at evergreenmtb.org. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Nate Zukas is a bike frame builder living in Augusta, GA. He's been building bikes since 2011 and works in steel, titanium, and aluminum. How'd you get started as a frame builder?  Is it unusual for a frame builder to work in both steel and aluminum? What's different about working with the two materials? As a frame builder, how much are you able to affect a bike's ride feel and performance? How do you do it? What do you look for in a project or a client? How much of a frame build is your vision versus the client's? In terms of what you bring to the build, how much of it is artistry versus practicality and experience? What trends are you seeing in terms of the types of frames buyers want? Which projects are you most proud of? Have you ever had a project that was a disaster, or one that surprised you in another way? Is Augusta a good place to be a frame builder? What's the riding community like there? What's your vision for the future of Zukas Cycles? Is expansion a goal for you? Website: zukascycles.com. Instagram: @natezukas. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Lachlan Morton is a professional cyclist and mountain biker from Australia, currently riding for  UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost. He's notched podium finishes at the Leadville 100, rode the Fastest Known Time for Kokopelli's Trail in 2020,  and set the Everesting cycling world record in 2020. He also completed the Alt Tour in 2021, cycling the entire Tour de France route unsupported, beating the peloton by five days. In this interview we ask: Congrats on your podium finish at Unbound earlier this month. Were you thinking there might be such a close finish from the beginning of the race? How did you get into cycling competition initially? Has your motivation for racing changed? What did you learn while riding and filming Thereabouts in 2014?  We've heard that you're hoping to make a run at the record for circumnavigating the world by bike. Is an attempt still on your radar? Have you mapped out a potential route? How long do you think it would take? Is it risky to publicize an FKT attempt before you make it? It seems like a lot of your adventures are tied to fundraising for various non-profits. Which causes are near and dear to your heart? Are you someone who learns by reading books and listening to others, or are you more of an experiential learner? How is EF a good sponsorship fit for you? In Thereabouts you mention riding a frankenbike as a kid that didn't have brakes. What did that teach you about riding? About life? Is there a pressure on professional athletes to have a strong social media presence today? How does that compare to 5-10 years ago? How can the sport support pro athletes better, and how can athletes better support the sport? In the video of your Kokopelli FKT run you look super calm and collected. Is that an accurate reflection of how you were feeling? Do you think you could have done it faster? What do you want your legacy to be? Keep up with Lachlan @lachlanmorton and EF Education-EasyPost @efprocycling Photo credit: EF Education-EasyPost. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Travis Tomczak is the Global Marketing Director at Forge + Bond. The company manufactures bike wheels and accessories using a lightweight material known as FusionFiber. How does carbon fiber rim manufacturing generally work?  What are some of the challenges associated with carbon fiber manufacturing? Are there limitations in terms of how the material can be used, or how it performs? How is FusionFiber different from carbon fiber in terms of the materials used and the manufacturing process? How are sheets of FusionFiber manufactured? How is a sheet of FusionFiber shaped into a product at Forge+Bond, for example a rim? Are there any performance advantages of FusionFiber over traditional carbon fiber? Is it more expensive to manufacture rims from FusionFiber than carbon fiber?  Is FusionFiber infinitely recyclable, or does the material degrade each time it's recycled? Can the scraps or recycled rims, for example, be used to create new rims? Where can consumers recycle their FusionFiber rims? With so many different polymer choices and layups available, could a particular blend of FusionFiber make sense for handlebars or even bike frames?  What is Forge+Bond's connection to CSS Composites, the company that produces FusionFiber rims for brands like Evil and Revel? With such a new material and technology, what sort of product testing has Forge+Bond done? How do you handle product warranty claims? What's next for Forge+Bond? The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Chris Mandell is the North American Public Relations Manager for SRAM where he's worked for the past 8 years. He currently lives and rides in Bellingham, Washington.  Is mountain biking suspension harder to design than say suspension for cars or motorcycles? What's different? How much of RockShox testing is real world vs. lab based? Is shock heat management important for the average rider? What is the advantage of larger diameter fork stanchions? What's the idea behind the electronic suspension controls in SRAM Flight Attendant? Why aren't there more inverted fork designs? What are some common misunderstandings about mountain bike suspension? Are suspension designers as focused on reducing weight as they have been in the past? By loosening weight requirements, what improvements can be made? What's your method for setting up a new fork? Which suspension innovations are you most stoked about? A full, edited transcript is available at singletracks.com. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Ernie Rodriguez is the president of MORE, the Mid Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts. MORE has been around since 1992 and the group maintains and advocates for trails in Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, DC area. Why and how did MORE get its start? Did it start as more of a social club, or were there advocacy concerns in the early 1990s? How is MORE organized? How did you become the president of MORE?  How is MORE funded?  What is the relationship between MORE and IMBA? What are some of the more popular trails your group supports? Which trail projects are you the most proud to have helped support? Is there any opposition to mountain bike trail access in the region? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for MORE? What's the biggest constraint MORE faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What's next for MORE in 2023 and beyond? Connect with MORE at more-mtb.org. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Sam Anderson is the Brand Manager for Cane Creek Cycling Components based in Fletcher, NC just outside Pisgah National Forest. Cane Creek designs and markets their own line of shocks and suspension forks and assembles many items by hand at their factory in Western North Carolina. What is suspension compression? What is rebound? What do you see people typically getting wrong when it comes to suspension setup? What is meant by a linear or progressive suspension curve as it relates to full suspension mountain bikes? What are the differences between a coil and air shock? Is it possible to perfectly tune suspension to ignore pedal inputs while remaining responsive to the trail? What is stiction, and how important is minimizing it? How do you know when your fork/shock needs a rebuild or service? What are some of the latest innovations in suspension design? Will tomorrow's shocks and forks look like the ones we have today? Check out suspension products from canecreek.com. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

The Downcountry category has been around for a few years now, and by this point most mountain bike brands have a bike in their lineup that fits the description. Not only that, there are downcountry tires and shoes available now. But what does downcountry even mean? In this episode, Matt and Jeff take a stab at defining downcountry, taking into account geometry, suspension travel, weight, and components. Other questions addressed include: How do downcountry bikes differ from cross-country and trail bikes? What were some of the earliest downcountry bikes? Which popular mountain bikes today can be considered downcountry? Are certain trail types or race disciplines well suited to downcountry bikes? What are your impressions of the downcountry bikes you have tested over the past few years? Where does the downcountry category go from here into the future? The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

ddie O'Dea is an ultra endurance athlete and member of the board at the Georgia Cycling Association. Last summer he became the first person to complete the 5,900-mile Eastern Divide bikepacking route over the course of 78 days and 10 hours. Why did you decide to attempt ride the full Eastern Divide Route? Tell us about the start of the ride. It seems like you ran into some snags even before you go rolling. Which sections were your favorites? Did you get to hang out in any interesting towns along the way? Are there any changes you would make to the Eastern Divide Route? As a member of the Georgia Cycling Association board, what do the high school athletes think about your achievement? How did your bike and equipment hold up? Was there any point where you wanted to give up? How did you keep going?  How long before you think someone else completes the route in one go? Will there ever be enough demand for a Grand Depart? How did it feel to finish the ride? Would you do it again? How does the Eastern Divide compare to the Great Divide? What was the final mileage that you covered? Does completing a big ride change you as a person? Connect with Eddie at cycletechniques.com and @eddieodea. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Nick Bennette is the Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, a position he's held for a little over two years. The group recently put together a 5-year Strategic Plan to "ensure the sustainability of mountain biking in Vermont and thoughtfully promote exceptional riding experiences for all through advocacy, education, and community-driven stewardship." How did your experience as a consultant help you craft the VMBA 5-year Strategic Plan?   Vermont was an early adopter of a state advocacy model apart from IMBA. How has the VMBA Chapter model evolved since it was first launched? How does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion fit with trail advocacy? Aside from being the right thing to do, how does it benefit the MTB community? Is e-bike access a hot topic in Vermont? Do you think it's been framed properly in the past? How did VMBA get to 10,000 dues paying members? Is advocating for trails easier today than it has been in the past? Are there additional considerations involved when public trails are located on private property? Is relying on volunteers to help build and maintain trails viable in a state like Vermont where so many trail users live out of state? What's so great about mountain biking on the east coast of the US? Why is there a perception that the trails are better out west? Learn more about the Vermont Mountain Bike Association at vmba.org and view their strategic plan here. Photo credit: Mark Clement. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Ryan Gaul is the Trek Factory Racing DH team manager and technical director. He's been at Trek for about 10 years and is based in Madison, WI. How close to stock do DH and enduro riders run their bikes? Which aspects of a bike are modified to suit track conditions, and what stays the same for every race? Do World Cup racers take many risks when it comes to equipment, or are they pretty conservative? Is it common to run test parts, or prototypes in races? Is it difficult to convince athletes to try new components on their bikes? What type of race information is useful for product designers at the brand? How do you collect and communicate that information? How many spare parts/bikes do you bring to a World Cup race for each athlete? Are most athletes pretty involved in working on their own bikes? What's the most stressful part of a World Cup weekend for you? Keep up with the Trek Factory Racing team at racing.trekbikes.com. The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC -- The Pro's Closet. Spring is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit ⁠tpc.bike/singletracks⁠ and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support