Podcast appearances and mentions of rachel atherton

This episode has serious old school TRC vibes! In this episode of The Ride Companion, Olly and Davi discuss everything you need to know heading into the 2025 downhill World Cup season. Including team moves, breakout picks, fantasy tips, and some insights from the inside. We also announce ourselves as the unofficial World Cup podium sponsor... we're Increasing World Cup Prize Money by 30% by giving an extra £1,000 to any rider who shouts out The Ride Companion on the podium... will anybody do it? During the episode we also discuss Bernard Kerr's pre-season crash and what it means for his year, why have Gates offered up the $100,000 prize?, Our top fantasy MTB picks for round one, Rachel Atherton rumours, finding passions, Olly's Slovenia trip, is MTB too expensive and loads more! Don't forget https://www.theracecompanion.com is now live! You can sign up and play for FREE to win epic prizes, create leagues with your mates and take your downhill fandom to the next level! BIG thanks to this episode's sponsors: - Get 30 days of free cover on us when you sign-up to Laka with code RIDECOMPANION30 at https://my.laka.co/the-ride-companion. T&Cs Apply.  - Everybody needs a WORX Hydroshot and some power tools, right? Get 15% off all WORX tools at uk.worx.com when you use code THERIDECOMPANION - Health is wealth folks so why not get optimised, cover your nutritional bases and probably ride better with AG1. Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D + 5 FREE travel packs at https://drinkag1.com/RIDECOMPANION Support our long term partners: - Marin Bikes: marinbikes.com/gb - Focus Bikes: focus-bikes.com - HUEL: Get 15% OFF with code 'RIDE' at huel.com/ - Hiplok: https://hiplok.com/the-ride-companion  - Nissan Vans: nissan.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/primastar.html - Play Fantasy Downhill at The Race Companion: theracecompanion.com instagram.com/theracecompanion - Get 10% off Troy Lee Designs with code 'theridecompanion' at saddleback.avln.me/c/OzduCWvjtcOr - Athletic Greens: Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs at athleticgreens.com/RIDECOMPANION - Compex: Get 20% off with code ‘THERIDECOMPANION' at compex.com/uk/ - Worx: Get 15% off with code ‘THERIDECOMPANION' at worx.com - LAKA: Get 30 days of FREE insurance with code ‘RIDECOMPANION30' at laka.co - HKT Products: Use code ‘PODCAST' for 10% off the entire site. Follow Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk

This week we have something a bit different for you. At Downtime we're all about the gravity side of things, but if you've ever fancied dipping your toe into the waters of other cycling disciplines then I've got a podcast recommendation for you, that's hosted by none other than Eliot Jackson and Rob Warner. Just Ride from Red Bull sees Eliot and Rob jump into the worlds of BMX, gravel, road racing... they've even spoken to someone who circumnavigated the globe on a penny farthing! In each episode, Rob and Eliot are joined by a different guest from the world of cycling, to share crazy stories and compare notes about this incredible community. Of course, mountain biking also features, and this week I've got a short clip of a Just Ride episode with downhill superstar, Rachel Atherton to share with you. If you enjoy the clip and want to hear more, then search for Just Ride in your favourite podcast app or head here. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I'll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I've been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don't forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it's available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Red Bull Content Pool

Dans cet extrait, Sabrina Jonnier revient sur les raisons qui l'ont poussée à mettre fin à sa carrière.Pour retrouver l'intégralité de l'épisode, recherchez "#41 - Sabrina Jonnier - La dauphine devenue reine de la descente mondiale"-------En Roue Libre, c'est l'émission qui affute votre connaissance du monde du vélo.Chaque semaine, retrouvez une perspective unique et experte sur les dernières tendances, et innovations dans le monde du vélo et découvrez des histoires inspirantes lors d'entretiens avec des athlètes et des professionnels de l'industrie. Je suis Antoine Taillefer et vous êtes en roue libre.------La Timeline de l'épisode03:44 Salutations05:33 Comment es-tu arrivée dans le vélo ?09:30 Du BMX à la DH10:23 Premières expériences de compétition15:20 Le team Intense20:02 Le team Iron Horse23:20 Sam Hill30:50 Le manager d'Iron Horse, un peu macho34:03 L'entraînement et les routines de Sabrina35:00 La chute de 200439:49 La rencontre avec le yoga46:29 La relation avec Rachel Atherton et Tracy Moseley56:27 L'arrêt de la compétition01:09:16 La plus grande fierté dans sa carrière01:18:24 Qu'est-ce qui t'impressionne le plus chez les athlètes d'aujourd'hui ?01:31:45 La prise de risque, est-ce que ça va trop loin ?01:33:58 La place des femmes dans le vélo01:46:34 Le championnat du monde de snowbike01:56:27 L'actu de Sabrina Jonnier01:58:40 Les questions des auditeurs02:03:37 Conclusion——

Dans cet extrait, Sabrina Jonnier revient sur le team Iron Horse de descente et tout ce qui en faisait un team extraordinaire, et notamment Sam Hill.Pour retrouver l'intégralité de l'épisode, recherchez "#41 - Sabrina Jonnier - La dauphine devenue reine de la descente mondiale"-------En Roue Libre, c'est l'émission qui affute votre connaissance du monde du vélo.Chaque semaine, retrouvez une perspective unique et experte sur les dernières tendances, et innovations dans le monde du vélo et découvrez des histoires inspirantes lors d'entretiens avec des athlètes et des professionnels de l'industrie. Je suis Antoine Taillefer et vous êtes en roue libre.------La Timeline de l'épisode03:44 Salutations05:33 Comment es-tu arrivée dans le vélo ?09:30 Du BMX à la DH10:23 Premières expériences de compétition15:20 Le team Intense20:02 Le team Iron Horse23:20 Sam Hill30:50 Le manager d'Iron Horse, un peu macho34:03 L'entraînement et les routines de Sabrina35:00 La chute de 200439:49 La rencontre avec le yoga46:29 La relation avec Rachel Atherton et Tracy Moseley56:27 L'arrêt de la compétition01:09:16 La plus grande fierté dans sa carrière01:18:24 Qu'est-ce qui t'impressionne le plus chez les athlètes d'aujourd'hui ?01:31:45 La prise de risque, est-ce que ça va trop loin ?01:33:58 La place des femmes dans le vélo01:46:34 Le championnat du monde de snowbike01:56:27 L'actu de Sabrina Jonnier01:58:40 Les questions des auditeurs02:03:37 Conclusion——

Sabrina Jonnier est triple championne du Monde de descente, 4X championne de France, 16 X vaiqueure d'étapes de la coupe du Monde, 5X vainqueure du général de la coupe du Monde.Inspirée par la carrière d'Anne-Caroline Chausson, Sabrina est longtemps restée dans son ombre avant de briller sur la plus haute marche du podium.S'en est suivi une carrière impressionnante qui en a fait rêver plus d'un et plus d'une.Car Sabrina est passée dans les plus beaux teams, Sunn, GT,  Intense et Iron Horse, aux côtés de Sam Hill à sa grande époque.Pendant sa carrière, elle a vécu les hauts avec les victoires et les bas avec les blessures, notamment celle qui l'a poussée à mettre fin à sa carrière.Préparez-vous à faire un saut dans le passé et à vous remémorer des moments mythiques de la descente des années 2000Dans cet épisode passionnant, on a parlé de :•⁠  ⁠Comment Sabrina est arrivée au sommet de sa discipline•⁠  ⁠Comment elle s'est retrouvée dans les plus beaux teams, en ayant parfois le sentiment de ne pas être à sa place•⁠  ⁠Comment elle est devenue championne du Monde en 2007 après une blessure qui aurait pu être mortelle•⁠  ⁠Les rivalités entre pilotes, notamment avec Rachel Atherton•⁠  ⁠Son avis sur le sport aujourd'hui, et sur la place et le rôle des femmesEt bien plus encore———

Rachel Atherton is a certified mountain bike hall of famer and if Rob and Eliot listed out her entire list of achievements then we wouldn't have time for anything else on this week's Just Ride.The queen of downhill, Rachel made headlines in 2023 for returning to the World Cup scene after overcoming a long-term achilles injury and becoming a mother for the first time. Not only did she compete in Lenzerheide but, in typical Rachel fashion, she won.That was her 40th World Cup win, a remarkable 17 years after her first.As you might expect, this turned into one of Rob and Eliot's longest-ever Just Ride chats. History books, retirement, Red Bull Hardline, motherhood… there was so much to discuss with the incredible Rachel and the guys got stuck in.If you want to watch this full-length episode with Rachel, Eliot and Rob then you can find it on Red Bull TV, and if you want to email the show then please hit us up at podcast@redbull.com.We'll see you in two weeks for our third episode of season two.

YT Industries saw promise in Vali Höll before she even started racing on the World Cup circuit, signing her on a six-year contract when she was just 13 years old. The Austrian then went on to win two Junior World Cup overall titles as well as two World Championship titles on the YT Tues before moving up to the Elite category. A nasty crash sidelined her for her first Elite World Championships in 2020, but she came back swinging in 2021 as a part of the newly formed RockShox Trek Race Team, winning the overall title in what was her first full year racing in the Elite category. In her three years with the team, she's racked up eight World Cup wins, two overall titles, and two World Championship titles. Now, in what feels like a homecoming, the 22-year-old Austrian has signed with The YT Mob. You can read the official YT Mob press release here. We talk about why Höll signed with the German brand really early in the 2023 season, what she's most looking forward to with the new team, learning to deal with disappointment, what it was like to finally race against Rachel Atherton last season, and more. The podcast is above if you'd like to listen to our conversation. Alternatively, a transcript is below.

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineThe 2023 season is over! What a season. Eight races, seven winners, five first-time winners, and 22 points-paying races (if you include qualifying, semi-finals, and finals). Rachel Atherton made her return to DH and won another World Cup; Vali Holl became the first female to win Worlds and the World Cup Overall since Rachel in 2018; Loic Bruni took his third World Cup overall title; Ryan Pinkerton won the Junior Mens overall for U.S.A; Valentina Roa Sanchez became the first South American to win a UCI World Cup overall; and our boy Dak added two more podiums to his name. Arguably one of the most exciting World Cup seasons to date, it also brought a lot of change with Warner Bros/Discovery taking over the broadcasting, the addition of semi-finals, fewer riders in finals, and a bit of unknown looking towards the future of downhill. In this episode, the crew reflects on the good and bad from the 2023 season, Dakotah breaks down his best World Cup season yet, we speculate on what is really underneath the Specialized diaper that they are trying to hide, the conclusion of Vital's Shorts Bounty, Takis banners in the rock garden, why MSA is still the sickest track on the circuit, overall standings, break out rides by Gaetan Vige and Ethan Craik, how the hell Jackson goes so fast, and finish thing off with plans for the podcast going into the offseason.Thank you for listening all season long, and we will be back for some off-season podcasts, so stay tuned!

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Industry Nine | Burgtec​The B Practice Podcast is back! After some unfortunate technical difficulties last week that saw our post-Lenzerheide show evaporate from existence, the powers that be allowed our post-Leogang show to happen. Only two rounds into the UCI Downhill World Cup season, and we've been treated to tons of epic racing. We don't know if there has ever been a season with as close of racing and so many potential winners. As always, Dakotah Norton brings you between the tape with his trackside insights and breaks down the excitement from Lenzerheide and Leogang with Tanner Stephens and Jason Schroeder. In this episode, the crew discusses initial impressions of the new race format, thoughts on the new broadcasting, the impressive crop of talent spread across each category, first-time category winners, Rachel Atherton's legend status, and Loic Bruni's futuristic gear. Thank you so much for listening, and we will see everybody after Val di Sole in a few weeks! Enjoy!

We are back in the Mountain Bike Media Pit with Elisabeth, Zach and Bill to talk about Nino Schurter's historic day, Rachel Atherton's incredible return to downhill and all of the other short track, XCO and DH action from the Lenzerheide MTB World Cup that took place in Switzerland.  Cyclocross Radio is sponsored by Hammerhead and the Karoo 2. For a limited time, our listeners can get a free heart-rate monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code CXRADIO at checkout to get yours today. Cyclocross Radio is part of the Wide Angle Podium podcast network. Support independent cycling media by joining the Wide Angle Podium at wideanglepodium.com/donate. Also, check out The CXHAIRS Bulletin from Zach and Bill at https://cxhairs.substack.com/. Download the Substack app and join in on the CXHAIRS Bulletin chats. Follow Elisabeth on Twitter at @egrindcore. Follow Zach on Twitter at @theshoestar and Instagram at @zacharyschuster and at  @cxhairsbulletin. Follow Bill (@cxhairs) on  Twitter and  Instagram. Watch Cyclocross Television and subscribe to the Wide Angle Podium YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/wideanglepodium. Check out The CXHAIRS Bulletin from Zach and Bill at https://cxhairs.substack.com/. You can find Cyclocross Radio, and all of the Wide Angle Podium shows on Apple Podcasts if that's how you consume podcasts. Also, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, even if it's not the way you consume podcasts. Have a question, comment, complaint, or general inquiry? Hit us up at feedback@cxhairs.com, And don't hesitate to call the helpline: 405-CXHAIRS (405-294-2477).

Introducing the TRC Post Race Show! The 2023 downhill season kicked off with a bang this past weekend in Lenzerheide so, we're rolling out our new post race show with former World Cup mechanic, mountain bike super fan and TRC colour analyst (a totally fictionally role we made up) Dave Valler.  During the show, Dave talks about working as a world cup mechanic for Brendan Fairclough, the lads discuss the Pivot, Specialized and Mondraker secret bikes, DV's pit bits, Troy Brosnan's steering stabilizer, Jordan Williams and Rachel Atherton's epic wins, the new broadcast, MVP's, lit kit's and much more... Please let us know what you think of the post race show format and what else you'd like to see/hear!  LIMITED EDITION TRC HATS! Support this episode's sponsors   DU/ER make stretch performance denim and lifestyle apparel crafted from plants and recycled materials. Designed for “doers” to move comfortably from the dirt jumps to the boardroom to an evening out, all in a single pair of pants. Head to futureproof.life and use code THERIDECOMPANION for 15% off!! WORX: FINALLY we have a discount code for the incredible WORX Hydroshot and the full range of WORX! Get a massive 15% off at worx.com with code 'THERIDECOMPANION' Support our long term partners Athletic Greens: Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs at athleticgreens.com/RIDECOMPANION - Compex: Get 20% off with code ‘THERIDECOMPANION' at compex.com/uk/ - Peak Supps: Get 10% off the TRC bundle and everything on site with code ‘theridecompanion' at  peaksupps.co.uk - Caldera Lab: Get 20% off with code ‘THERIDECOMPANION' at calderalab.com - Worx: Get 15% off with code ‘THERIDECOMPANION' at worx.com - DU/ER: Visit https://shopduer.com/ to learn more - LAKA: Get 30 days of FREE insurance with code ‘RIDECOMPANION30' at laka.co - HKT Products: Use code ‘PODCAST' for 10% off the entire site. Follow & Engage Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk

The World Cup Downhill season has started and what a race it was! Your favourite podcast is back to wrap up the action with KB & Red Dog joined in studio by regular co-hosts Lester and Chris to break down everything from the broadcast, the new racing format, prototype bikes, blacked out Maxxis tyres and of course the historic wins of Rachel Atherton and Jordon Williams! Don't forget to support our show partners, Smith Optics and Troy Lee Designs NZ! You can save 15% storewide at troyleedesigns.co.nz by using the code "otbpodcast" at check out!

Without a World Cup race under her belt, Austrian 19-year old Valentina "Vali" Höll is already being tipped to dominate downhill mountain biking. She comes from a family steeped in the sports' history and grew up idolising Rachel Atherton – so we thought why not see what the young rider can learn from her hero?The two of them joined a call ahead of Vali's home race at Leogang as the pair discussed their determination to win and why preparing to be lonely is vital to achieve success; why you need to avoid blinking as long as possible as you come out the gates; and after a year of racing with no crowds how to deal with the noise and enthusiasm of the fans and their famous cowbells.Make sure you watch the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup all season on Red Bull TV, starting this weekend in Austria, and see how Vali gets on in her debut elite season.

Tahnee Seagrave is a junior MTB Downhill World Champion and an elite World Cup winner. From racing against her idol and the goat of female downhill Rachel Atherton to becoming a race winner and a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.  Tahnee is coming of age and using things like social media as a tool as she grows in the sport. Hear from her about her early beginnings, injuries, riding for a family owned team and what drives her to keep growing and improving even though she is at the top of her sport. 

Bone fide legend alert! Yep, my guest this week is a proper icon, somebody who has achieved so much in their own discipline that they’ve crossed over into the mainstream realm as the personification of their chosen sport. Take a look at Rachel Atherton’s record and you’ll see why. Five world champion titles. 6 UCI World Cup titles. 39 World Cup events. The ‘double double’ in 2015 and 2016 - which was, also, the only perfect season ever. It is an absolutely extraordinary record of achievement by an athlete who has achieved genuine greatness. And yet, as I discovered during our conversation, it has also come at quite a physical and mental cost, as the lengthy list of injuries and setbacks that have complemented her victories attest. Now, as Rachel prepares to become a mum, we sat down to discuss her career so far and her plans for the future. I’ve met and chatted to Rachel a few times over the years and I’m always so impressed by her complete emotional honesty and levels of self-awareness. This is just a brilliantly revealing conversation with somebody at the absolute top of their field, full of peerless insights into the nature of success, competitiveness, and how to cope with failure. I really enjoyed this one, and I have to thank Rachel for opening up fully and bringing the full range of her experience, insights and extremely impressive levels of self awareness to the conversation. Hope you enjoy it. Enjoying the podcast? Want to keep it free and ad-free? Donate here: https://bit.ly/LSBuyPint Thanks to Matt Ward for the theme tune, and to my editor Fina Charleson.

Welcome Mountain Bikers, we’re stoked to start a new monthly feature with our best photo friend and trackside heckler, Sven Martin. A week ago, using Instagram, we challenged you to #AskSvenAnything. Sven has chosen a good handful of questions out of the many that came in and dives deep into the answers. Whether he’s giving a masterclass in his photographic process or trolling Rachel Atherton to race enduro, the insight and experience in his answers are priceless. If you’re listening in on our podcast channel, make sure you visit VitalMTB.com because Sven personally chose photos that correspond to some of the answers here…some classic photos that many of you may have never seen before. Listen to Sven Martin's The Inside Line podcastA big thanks to Santa Cruz Bicycles for getting behind this fun feature and thank you to everyone who participated in the first round of questions. Stay tuned to @VitalMTB on Instagram for round 2 in early January.Follow Sven on Instagram - @svenmartinphoto

Today we speak to Angela Barnes and Rachel Atherton from Napthens Solicitors about some of the issues facing businesses as we come to the Brexit switch on date. Broadcast on Lake District Radio on the 23rd November 2020

In this episode of the BikeJames Podcast I tell you why trying to use your ankles to absorb shock on your bike is a bad idea and actually makes it harder for your lower body to absorb shock properly. The notes for it also turned into an article, which you can read below if that works better for you... One of my biggest surprises with bringing the Catalyst Pedal and the mid-foot position it allowed to the MTB world was the push back I got from the skills training industry. It turns out that the vast majority of skills coaches and organizations have bought into the false logic of needing the be on the ball of the foot to move properly on the bike. The logic goes that you need your ankles to help absorb shock and that if you use the mid-foot position then it is like landing a vertical jump with flat feet, which is very jarring and obviously not the way to land a jump. The idea is that the range of motion of the ankle that is giving you the extra shock absorption that is making the difference in the two landings, which means that you need your ankles to absorb shock. The problem is that, once again, people are pointing to analogies from other sports/ activities that don’t reflect the context of being athletic on the bike, i.e. the feet don’t come off the pedals. When your feet come off the ground then you do need to use the ankles to help you land but even then they aren’t being used to absorb shock. In fact, MTB is the only sport where coaches are actively looking to put extra stress on the ankle joint. It is known as one of the most sensitive and easily injured joints in the body and the goal is usually to minimize stress in order to avoid injuries. The ankle joint is a small joint with a long lever arm, which magnifies stress being placed away from the ankle joint itself. It is not designed to absorb shock, it is designed to move itself (and the foot) into a neutral position to let the real shock absorbers do their work. The hips are surrounded by the largest muscles in the body and have amazing leverage for both producing and absorbing shock. They are the shock absorbers of the lower body. Most lower body movement problems stem from not being able to use the hips properly, which makes using them efficiently a top priority. But your foot has to be in a certain position and stabilized correctly to let the hips do their work in the most efficient way possible. If it isn’t then the hips can’t absorb as much shock, which places that stress on the knees and ankles. This means that being on the ball of the foot screws you in two ways… First, having the pressure point being so far away from the ankle joint increases the leverage and hence the force being placed on the ankle joint. This is why you’ll see people’s ankles buckle sometimes and in extreme cases Achilles tendon tears (ala Rachel Atherton a couple years back). This is why most DH riders actually run a more mid-foot position than you are led to believe. Second, by having nothing under your heel you leave that end of the arch unstable, which makes it much harder to recruit and use your hips. The back of the arch has to be able to create pressure into something so that the hope can work efficiently. This is why you are told to not come up on your toes when doing deadlifts or squats and to drive through the whole foot, including the heel.  Even OL coaches tell people to “stomp” their heels back down to the ground to get their whole foot stable before the weight starts to come back down and they have to absorb it. If you really needed your ankles to absorb shock then they would cue their athletes to wait until the weight started to come back down and then use the ankles to help catch the weight. And what about the vertical jump, which is the Holy Grail of analogies for this story? What you see during a vertical jump is the ankle moving to get the foot flat so that the hips can absorb the impact. Once again, it is not being used to absorb shock. Another thing that a lot of coaches don’t want to talk about is that vertical jumping is only one example of jumping, with the broad jump being another. However, it doesn’t conform to their logic as you see the heels hit first on a broad jump as this is the best way to get the foot flat while going along with the momentum. If you needed land on the ball of the foot for the ankle to absorb shock in all instances then this wouldn’t be the case. There are also a lot of examples where athletes absorb shock without using their ankles, including surfing, skiing, snowboarding and skateboarding. In the gym you see this with Swings, where you keep the foot flat on the ground because that is the best way to absorb shock in that context. When you look at analogies from sports and activities that have the same context as MTB you see a clear picture, which is that you need to have both ends of the arch supported so the foot spreads out the forces going into the ankles and it is easier to recruit the hips. Even the broad jump is closer to what you want to do on your bike, as the explosive movements we make are wanting to project energy forward, not straight up.  On a personal level for you, the rider reading this, this is why your ankles are stiff and you have plantar fasciitis, knee pain or low back pain - being on the ball of the foot creates a crappy situation for your lower body where it has to adapt by getting stiff in the ankles and spreading force meant for the hips over the other joints that aren’t meant for it. This is also why you have so much trouble moving properly when you stand up on your bike - your hips are locked up because of how unstable your feet are. It doesn’t matter how mobile you are off the bike, your ability to use it on the bike will always be compromised without the right foot position and support. And yes, there are a lot of good riders who use a ball of the foot position. That is a testament to their mental focus and the human body’s ability to adapt to just about anything, at least in the short term. What you don’t hear about is how much pain those same riders are in or how hard they have to work to keep it under control (massage, chiro, cryo, etc.) and how it adds up over the years. There is a difference between adapting for the now and creating sustainable movement habits. Just like the clipless pedal industry is still clinging to the “pull up on the backstroke” story to help the need to attach yourself to the pedals, we see a lot of well meaning skills coaches sticking with the “you need to use the ankle to absorb shock” story to sell the ball of the foot position.  And no, it isn’t a matter of “personal preference” or “what works for you might now work for everyone”. This is a nonsense argument that is used by people who can’t support their point of view. You should be able to give some sort of reason based in science, movement principles or context appropriate analogies or else you are just being what I call a “reality rager”, where you are mad at reality and refuse to deal with it. Basic human psychology tells us that once you’ve created a story and you have sold other people on that story it gets tough to go back and admit that you were wrong, even if a better idea is presented (it is called the Semmelweis Effect after the guy who figured out that washing hands could save lives but got thrown in an asylum for his “crazy” ideas). But at some point the MTB industry needs this to happen so we can move forward with finding the best ways to perform on our bikes.  Lastly, if you’re a skills coach then you owe it to yourself and the industry to do more in the areas of how to apply basic movement principles to the bike. At the end of the day you are a movement coach as you are trying to help people move better on their bike, so you first have to understand how to help someone move better in the first place. This will also help you spot the countless false analogies and faulty logic used in our sport to sell people on outdated concepts. Being on the ball of the foot to create or absorb energy is an old, outdated concept that we have to move past. Our sport isn’t very old and cycling as we know it is only around 150 years old so we have not had the time to work through the bad ideas like some other sports have. It is ok for us to have made a collective bad decision based on the best info we had at the time but it starts to become sad the longer we hang onto these ideas once they have been disproven and actually shown to work against us.  Until next time… Ride Strong, James Wilson

Alan Milway has reached the pinnacle of the mountain bike coaching world and has a holistic view. He has worked with the likes of Gee and Rachel Atherton , Danny Hart , Brendan Fairclough, myself and now Greg Minnaar to name just a few.  He shares such great insights into racing , physical and mental side that you can use to help to improve so many sides of your riding and life. 

With 5 elite world championships, and 6 world cup overall wins, Rachel Atherton has been at the very top of the sport for a long time now. We sit down for a chat about how... The post Rachel Atherton – What It Takes to Win appeared first on Downtime Podcast.

Today I’m speaking to Nick Grantham! Nick is a fitness expert and strength and conditioning coach with 21 years experience. We talk all things training for mountain biking, what it's like to ride and train with Rachel Atherton and tons more. He works with pro athletes and has authored his new book - the strength and conditioning bible. Perfect for us Mountain Bikers!  If you get chance, please leave a review and don't forget to subscribe! Find out more about Nick : Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Nick-Grantham/  Instagram : https://instagram.com/zer0226 Website : http://nickgrantham.com To learn more about MTB Fitness :  Website : http://mtb.fitness/  Facebook : http://facebook.com/mtbfitnessuk Facebook Group : http://facebook.com/groups/mtbfitnessuk Instagram : http://instagram.com/mtbfitnessuk  Daily emails : http://mtb.fitness/pages/email-signup 

Ever wondered what it takes to keep one of the most successful riders on the planet rolling? Well Joe Krejbich, mechanic to Rachel Atherton, joins us for this episode of the podcast. We sit down... The post Keeping Rachel Atherton Rolling – Joe Krejbich appeared first on Downtime Podcast.

Sven Martin, @maddogboris and Dan Hearn interview the World Cup downhill racers after the event in La Bresse, France. Martin Maes, Rachel Atherton, Amaury Pierron, Gee Atherton and so many more discuss the race weekend, the end of the long season and World Championships to come in two weeks. View the complete race action slideshow on www.vitalmtb.com to see photos from the event. #MBWorldCup

Go deep with interviews of downhill racers as they arrive in La Bresse, France, for the final stop of the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Sven Martin and @maddogboris with the goods. Interviews subjects in order Aaron Gwin on his thumb injury and riding a new 29er Amaury Pierron on clinching the overall and having no pressure Brendan Fairclough on Freeracing Brook MacDonald on the details of the La Bresse DH track Eddie Masters, Bernard Kerr - track first impressions Gee Atherton on a fresh, new track where a large amount of small decisions add up Giant Factory Off-Road mechanic, Grant Sides, on packing for the World Cup Greg Minnaar on recovering, the track and the old-guy-are-you-retiring-soon question Loic on racing in France, thoughts on the DH course and how La Bresse was his first-ever World Cup as a Junior Martin Maes on minimizing risk for his EWS battles, using La Bresse as a warm-up for World Champs and his EWS in Whistler Marshy, Syndicate mechanic, on why he does track walk Steve Peat on racing La Bresse before and epic battles in France with Nico and others. Rachel Atherton on being stuck in airports for days, the course and padding her handlebars with a fuzzy slipper in case she head slaps on the big double Tahnee Seagrave on points, the course, training and how sports psychology could give her an advantage Troy Brosnan heckling the keyboard warriors while discussing the course Vote for you think who will win the race in our forum on www.vitalmtb.com

Enjoy some post-training interviews from the Val di Sole World Cup Downhill. The course is steep, rough and sketchy in the dry. Throw in some rain, like what happened during the timed training session, and all bets on survival are off. Sven Martin and @maddogboris interview Danny Hart, Aaron Gwin, Amaury Pierron, Rachel Atherton, Luca Shaw, Troy Brosnan, Myriam Nicole, Vali Holl, Finn Iles, Loic Bruni and Jack Moir in today's broadcast. Stay tuned to www.vitalmtb.com for the Vital RAW and the slideshow later today.

Join us for the third episode of 'Behind The Scenes' from Crankworx in Les Gets,France. Today we chat with athletes Bernard Kerr, Keegan Wright, Loic Bruni and Rachel Atherton. We then caught up with Santa Cruz Syndicate mechanic Jason Marsh.   Huge thanks to our sponsors SAXX for supporting the podcast.  For event information, results, standings and live stream times head to www.crankworx.com / www.lesgets.com and follow Crankworx on these channels, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.  You can also follow the podcast on  www.hktproducts.co.uk Instagram, Facebook, Twitter  Join the closed Facebook group HERE! Enjoy. Share. Ride. #hktpodcast #listentothehktpodcast

Sven Martin and Boris Beyer talk with the racers at the Fort William World Cup DH today where Amaury Pierron, Tahnee Seagrave, Kye A'hern and Vali Holl took victories. Also interviewed are riders like Aaron Gwin, Loris Vergier, Rachel Atherton, Greg Minnaar, Troy Brosnan, Martin Maes, Reece Wilson and Loic Bruni. Martin Whiteley wraps up the interviews with some exciting news about potential future World Cup DH venues.

Episode 171: Take the Cannoli: How Mafia (the game) Can Serve As a Model for Video Game Design (Click to download, or find us on iTunes, BlogTalk Radio, Stitcher, Google Play, or TuneIn).  This week we have a conversation with Alisha Karabinus and Rachel Atherton (@wrathertweets) about their research on how analog games, like the forum based social deception game […]

Jill Kintner is a badass on a bike and has been for more than half of her life.  Regardless of the discipline, she had a drive to be the best on her bike and that drive was first instilled by her dad.  Her story is a rollercoaster of emotions dominated by a lot of wins and one huge loss, it’s worthy of its own afterschool special.  Jill tells her story, from the NW, to the Olympics, and beyond. Jill Kintner Show Notes:  1:30:  Winning the US Open and dealing with the conditions 5:00:  Born in Seattle and chasing around her brother 7:00:  Riding transitions and other sports and what she sucks at 9:26:  Were there any girls to look up to when she was a kid?     11:07:  Leading into my sponsors, Jill talks about hers and what they do for her.  Red Bull, Norco Bikes, Shimano  Maxxis Tires, Sombrio Clothing,  Smith Optics, Fabric Saddles 12:38:  Being a privateer and how her life is different than teammate Rachel Atherton. 15:38:  Why is she not racing on the World Cup anymore? 18:08:  Evo (listen for special offer) and Diecutstickers.com (Listen for 10% off your first order with DCS 15)  20:10:  Becoming pro at 14 and traveling on her mom buddy passes and the support of her parents. 24:00:  Keeping her success quiet because she was shy and how she did in school 26:00:  Having a social life in high school. 28:21:  Hitting a wall with BMX and going to design school at RIT and then school in SF 30:44:  BMX is going to be part of the Olympics and then losing her dad 34:50:  Hurting her knee twice.  Once right before the games and the drama of almost not making the team 38:16:  The pressure on the top dawgs at the Olympics and her Olympic run 39:42:  The emotions of winning a medal for her Dad and with her family and then the media tour 41:20:  Win a medal get dropped from your sponsor and how the medal separates her from the rest of the bikers out there 42:52:  Re-defining herself after the Olympics and focusing on downhill. 43:58:  Her life in Bellingham and the pump track that she lobbied to have built.