Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Ron Bergin is the Executive Director of the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, also known as CAMBA, located in northern Wisconsin. The club is known for maintaining a well known network of mountain bike trails which host popular races and events including the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival and the Borah Epic. CAMBA recently worked with River Falls Research Center on a study linking trail visits to $7.8 million in economic impact within two surrounding counties. We learn how the CAMBA trail usage and economic impact study was conducted, and what the results mean for future trail building and maintenance. Are events big economic drivers, or are trails alone enough to make an impact? Is it tough to find enough local volunteers to maintain trails used primarily by tourists? Do groomed fat bike trails draw winter visitors? Ron answers all these questions and more. Read the full report here (https://cambatrails.org/about/economic-impact-studies/) and learn more about the group at cambatrails.org. --Ke

Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He’s joined us a couple of times on the Singletracks podcast in the past, and we’re stoked to have him back to talk about strength and fitness training in the time of Covid. Pro and amateur cycling athletes alike have seen their 2020 race and training schedules disrupted, so we dig into the ways athletes are adapting. While our discussion is centered around the effects of the current pandemic, many of the takeaways are applicable to anyone who is facing fitness or training challenges due to unexpected events. We discuss mental tricks for staying focused, the effect of competition on performance, and the positive things some have learned amid forced downtime. The current pandemic is accelerating training technology adoption so we discuss which changes will stick around. Connect with Ben at theendurancecollective.com This podcast is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almos

In this week’s episode, Gerow, Jeff, and Matt sit down to discuss the latest mountain bike news, starting with a question that seems to come up every few years: is this the golden age of mountain biking? We’ll talk about interesting new products including a linkage upgrade and a shippable, cardboard pump track template, plus we take a look at the short 2020 professional mountain bike race season. There’s also much to talk about in the world of e-bikes, from trail access to the latest take on lightweight eMTBs from Orbea. Listen in as we answer the question: what’s been your best and worst ride lately? This podcast is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain bikers in New Zealand, and today the company offers some of the most customizable, highest quality bike lights on the market. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3400 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the G

Chris Currie is a bike industry veteran with decades of experience in everything from retail and marketing to product design. His patented mountain bike suspension design, dubbed 3VO, is well regarded and is currently being used by Jamis Bikes in their full suspension bike line. Chris fills us in on what it takes to design and patent a brand new mountain bike suspension setup, and talks about what makes his approach unique. We also ask Chris to explain confusing but important terms like instant center and axle path. What’s the most annoying thing about mountain bikes at the moment? Listen in to find out how Chris answers. This podcast is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain bikers in New Zealand, and today the company offers some of the most customizable, highest quality bike lights on the market. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3400 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all

The Singletracks staff has tested a ton of gear this year, and this week we’re looking back at some of our favorites. Listen in to hear what impressed us about each of these items, from clothing and accessories to complete bikes. Some of the products covered in this episode: MTB components * TRP G-Spec brakes* Teravail Honcho tires * Schwalbe Magic Mary tires* Formula Selva R fork * Hope Fortus 30 wheels * Versus tires* MRP Raven fork * Ohlins TTXAir shock * And four more favorite tires tested in 2020 MTB accessories * Topeak Burrito seat pack * Thule Roundtrip duffel bag * Garmin Forerunner 235 watch * Polar Grit X watch * Topeak Tubi 18 mini tool * Topeak DA mountain pump * Fidlock bottles * Camelbak Chase hydration vest * Topeak Prepstand Pro work stand Clothing and wearables * Pactimo Ridgeline hoodie * Gore C5 All-mountain shorts * Tasco gloves * Giro Ventana shoes * Endura MT500 jacket * Fox Speedframe helmet --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletra

Dr. Chris Leatt is the founder of the eponymous bike and moto protection brand based in South Africa. The company’s bike product line has expanded over the years to include helmets, pads, goggles, and even hydration packs, all designed with a focus on safety and protection. We find out how the Leatt company got its start, and what the brand is doing to help athletes stay safe. Dr. Leatt explains how everything from neck braces to helmets and body armor are designed to work, and offers tips for reducing risk on the bike trail. This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the contiguous United States, no purchase necessary. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singlet

Mike Bush is the President of Stans, a brand whose founder Stan Koziatek pioneered the use of tubeless tires in mountain biking. Today the Stans brand designs and markets its own line of popular wheels and tubeless tire accessories to keep mountain bikers rolling. For most mountain bikers, tubeless tire sealant is basically magic, and Mike gives us one of the best explanations we’ve heard for how the stuff actually works. Of course tire sealant is just one piece of the inflation puzzle, so we spend a lot of time talking about rims and also tires. Is carbon a better material for building rims than aluminum? Are 30mm-wide rims becoming the standard? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and more. There’s also additional info about the Stans brand at NoTubes.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Vittorio Platania is the marketing manager for the Formula group based in Italy, and he’s here to fill us in on everything we need to know about mountain bike brakes. We’ll discuss how hydraulic disc brakes work, and the factors that going into making a more powerful brake. Vittorio explains why brakes need to be bled, how hose selection plays into the overall system, and how rotor and pad selection can affect the feel of a brake. We’ll also get tips for braking and talk about potential areas of improvement for modern mountain bike disc brakes. Info about Formula brakes at rideformula.com This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the contiguous United States, no purchase necessary. --Keep up with the latest

David Juarez, known to mountain bikers around the world as Tinker, is a 2-time Olympian, 4-time 24 Hour Solo series champ, and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer from California. Long-sponsored by Cannondale, he’s been racing mountain bikes professionally for 31 years and continues to compete in ultra endurance racing at the highest level. Tinker talks about his BMX background, growing up in southern California, and his transition to cross country and later ultra endurance mountain biking. We ask whether winning races is more about physical or mental strength, and get Tinker’s tips for staying fit and fast at 59 years old. Tinker also shares his most difficult races, and reflects on the 24 Hour race scene. Find out more about the Tinker Classic race at gropromotions.com/tinker-classic/ This episode is sponsored by Backcountry.com, an online outdoor gear & apparel retailer carrying thousands of brands and products for mountain biking and your everyday outdoor lifestyle. Not only does Backcountry hav

Alastair Beckett is a mechanical engineer and bike race mechanic based in the United Kingdom. His firm Redburn Design helps small bike brands expand “their product range through innovative and award winning product development and manufacturing process refinement.” Listeners may be familiar with one of Alastair’s most recent design projects, the new 161 enduro bike from the Privateer brand. We learn how frame designers like Alastair work with bike brands to create unique mountain bike designs, and talk about the constraints and tradeoffs that need to be made along the way. Alastair also weighs in on the limits of “long, low, slack” geometry and the convergence of enduro and DH geometry. Connect with Alastair at redburndesign.com. This episode is sponsored by Backcountry.com, an online outdoor gear & apparel retailer carrying thousands of brands and products for mountain biking and your everyday outdoor lifestyle. Not only does Backcountry have the widest assortment of gear and apparel, but t

In this episode we share an interview Singletracks podcast host and editor-in-chief Jeff Barber recorded with Gareth Beckett from the MTB Tribe podcast. Gareth and Jeff chat about the mountain bike industry, swap notes about how trail access works in the US compared to parts of Europe, and discuss general mountain bike culture. Be sure to check out the MTB Tribe podcast on iTunes and Spotify, or visit the website at mtb-tribe.com. This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the contiguous United States, no purchase necessary. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Harry Molloy is the brains behind the Flow Style World Cup DH racing team, and runs the Flow Style riding apparel brand. He has been racing top level downhill for over ten years. In this episode, we find out what it takes to put together a professional mountain bike team racing at the World Cup level. Harry shares the strategies involved in competition and how race teams like Flow Style are financed. We discuss how Covid-19 is affecting the current downhill race season and the athletes on his team. This episode is sponsored by Backcountry.com, an online outdoor gear & apparel retailer carrying thousands of brands and products for mountain biking and your everyday outdoor lifestyle. Not only does Backcountry have the widest assortment of gear and apparel, but the heart and soul of the company lies with their Backcountry Gearheads. These Gearheads are former pro-athletes, Olympians, and all-around experts that are available 24/7 by phone/email/chat for one-on-one service, product reco

In this episode, the Singletracks staff talks about the process we use to the evaluate the mountain bikes and gear we review regularly. * What are some things to consider when testing a piece of gear?* How are bike reviews different from component or accessory reviews?* Are there questions that can’t be answered in the review process?* What happens if a sample breaks, and how do press camps work? For a sampling of reviews, browse our mountain bike review and gear article archives. This episode is sponsored by Backcountry, an online outdoor gear & apparel retailer carrying thousands of brands and products for mountain biking and your everyday outdoor lifestyle. Not only does Backcountry have the widest assortment of gear and apparel, but the heart and soul of the company lies with their Backcountry Gearheads. These Gearheads are former pro-athletes, Olympians, and all-around experts that are available 24/7 by phone/email/chat for one-on-one service, product recommendations, and to e

Jason Finnell is a mountain biker who works with the The Schejola Foundation and PedalUp, an organization that is working with Boys and Girls Club locations to start onsite mountain bike programs. We talk about how the program got started, and how it’s using pump tracks and funding for bikes to empower disadvantaged kids. The group is currently reviewing applications from Boys and Girls clubs around the USA to fund more programs like the ones already in place in locations all around the southeast. Jason also gives us an update on the mountain bike scene in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee and in Dalton, Georgia, home of the Snake Creek Gap time trial. This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the cont

Hannah Bergemann has been busy making a name for herself in the enduro and freeride scene over the past few years. We caught up the rising freeride star and talked to her about how she got started, her life in Bellingham, Washington, the women’s freeride scene, and how she shot her segment for the new Teton Gravity Research MTB movie, Accomplice. To hear more from Hannah, check out this March 2019 interview on Singletracks. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Scott Nydam is a longtime bike racer who has been inspired to start a NICA program for youth in Gallup, New Mexico. The city borders the Navajo reservation, and Nydam hopes to create numerous opportunities for native kids, both in Gallup and on the reservation. Vincent Salabye is the Diné comp NICA team head coach and board president of Silver Stallion bicycle and coffee works.  He’s also a father of two kids and lives on the Navajo reservation. The nonprofit Scott and Vincent support recently received a grant from the Outride Fund. In this episode we talk about the challenges facing folks living on the reservation and how mountain biking fits in with efforts to serve the community. For more information visit bicyclecoffee.org and the Diné NICA team’s fundraising page here. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Lindsey Richter founded Ladies AllRide as “a movement dedicated to growing the community of female mountain bikers across the globe.” She’s a former professional mountain bike racer and was a contestant on the reality television show Survivor. Singletracks talks with Lindsey about why she’s so passionate about mountain biking, and how she and others use the sport to build confidence and self esteem. Lindsey tells us why she thinks more women aren’t riding (yet) and shares tips all mountain bikers can use to improve their skills. We ask Lindsey what she’s learned since starring on Survivor, and who is inspiring her to be her best self. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

The Singletracks staff kicks off a busy summer mountain bike testing season! In this episode we share our impressions of the mountain bikes we’ve recently tested, and those we are just getting to know. If you’re considering a new bike this year, from gravel to enduro, and from expensive to cheap, we have you covered. Settle in, this is going to be a long one. Recently tested: * Guerrilla Gravity Smash and Gnarvana* YT Jeffsy* Ibis Ripmo* Transition Scout* Pivot Switchblade* Niner RIP 9* Spot Ryve 115* Specialized Epic S-Works* Schwinn Axum* Viathon G1 Currently testing: * Santa Cruz Megatower* Canyon Spectral* Mondraker Foxy* Orbea Occam* Revel Rascal (bike build)* Trek Fuel EX * Norco Torrent (bike build)* Surly Karate Monkey (bike build) Compare pricing and availability for these and other mountain bikes at singletracks.com/deals --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Lael Wilcox started biking in 2008 at age 20 with an around the world bike trip that took her through more than 30 countries. In 2015, essentially her first year of racing, she won the Tour Divide and smashed the women’s record by more than 2 days. The next year  she won the 4,400 mile Trans Am Bike Race, and set the overall record for both men and women on the Baja Divide route in 2017. Today Lael continues to race and co-leads a mentorship program for middle school girls called Anchorage GRIT in her hometown. We ask Lael to share her tips and tricks for bikepacking and mental toughness, and talk about the role gender plays in ultra endurance competition. Lael fills us in on how her plans have changed for 2020, her take on documenting and filming her adventures, and finding nutritious food to eat during races. Follow and connect with Lael on Instagram @laelwilcox --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor

Brad Copeland worked his way up the bike tuning chain, from shop mechanic to a full-time position at Specialized Bicycles, and eventually landed a spot wrenching for the brand’s domestic teams. His racing and career interests laid deep in the dirt side of cycling, and when asked to travel with the Specialized World Cup XC athletes to a few events, he excitedly accepted. Copeland developed lasting friendships with several riders, eventually becoming the primary traveling wrench for Kate Courtney, who would then go on to win both a rainbow jersey and a World Cup overall title.  When Courtney switched to the Scott-SRAM MTB Racing team she was able to bring Copeland with her, which doesn’t happen in XC as often as it does in downhill racing. The pair are working hard to prepare for what the 2020 season holds, and we recently chatted with Copeland to get the story from his side of the pits. This discussion wasn’t originally intended to be a podcast, but given Copeland’s passionate descriptions, we