Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Enrico Guala is the founder of Italy’s Superenduro series and an Enduro World Series board member. He also owns 4Guimp, a bicycle distribution company based in Italy. We talk about the history of enduro mountain bike racing, along with the challenges race promotors face. Enrico shares his thoughts on recent doping cases in the sport, and how e-bikes fit into enduro. Finally, we ask Enrico if he thinks courses will become more difficult as riders’ skills progress. Find more at superenduromtb.com and 4guimp.it. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Wendy Engelberg is the founder of Girlz Gone Riding, a mountain bike group working to get more women riding and enjoying the experience. Club rides routinely see up to 100 mountain bikers, and the group counts thousands of members spread across California and Arizona. We talk with Wendy about the challenges women face when it comes to getting started in mountain biking and finding others to ride with. Based on years of experience, Wendy shares her tips for leading a successful and accessible group ride for mountain bikers of all abilities. Later, we discuss the brands and women in the mountain bike industry that are setting an example when it comes to diversifying participation. For more information go to girlzgoneriding.com View the latest hand-selected deals on mountain bikes and gear 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

Alex Gardner, Nick Gibson, and Tommy Magrath started the Trans Cascadia 4-day enduro race five years ago as a way to allow riders to experience forgotten trails and incredible riding in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years they’ve forged relationships with the Forest Service and other trail user groups like the Backcountry Horsemen and have used the race as a way to give back to the trails. Despite the steep entry fee, Trans Cascadia routinely sells out from year to year as riders have come to appreciate the incredible trails, delicious meals, and a party-like atmosphere in between racing. Alex, Nick, and Tommy share their tips for bike selection and preparation for a multi-day enduro race and talk about how their model for giving back and putting on a great event could work for other locations. Editor’s note: The audio quality isn’t great for portions of this episode, but it’s definitely worth the listen! The guys were gracious enough to make time to record while in Wenatchee, Washington following a meeti

The Singletracks team traveled far and wide to cover the world of mountain biking this year. From fat biking during the Polar Votex in Wisconsin to racing across BC and Croatia, we saw a lot of trails in 2019. Listen in as we talk about our favorite mountain bike destinations, including St. George, Utah; Whistler, British Columbia; Czech Republic; Indonesia; Slovenia; Bellingham, Washington; Palisade, Colorado; Santa Cruz, California; Greece; Denmark; and Croatia. 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.  glowormlites.co.nz Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2020. Shop for lights here: https://www.glowormlites.co.nz/product-

Ryan Leech is a mountain bike trials riders who has starred in many mountain bike films over the years and has performed live in front of audiences around the world. He’s also a mountain bike skills coach and trainer, offering online programs covering topics like wheelies, cornering, and jumping. In this interview, Ryan opens up about the mental stress of performing mountain bike tricks, and also the physical toll it’s taken over the years. He fills us in on how yoga has helped heal both the mind and body, and how community makes his online mountain bike skills training and coaching program, the Ryan Leech Connection, unique. We also find out what it was like to perform in Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba show and how he came to launch a motivational speaking tour for teenagers call The Trials of Life. Connect with Ryan and learn more about his training program at ryanleech.com. This podcast is sponsored by Gloworm Lites.  Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain b

Enduro World Series founding board member Chris Ball talks about how he get into mountain biking, and the motivation for creating a race series outside of XC and DH competition. We find out how the first year of the UCI partnership went, and talk about EWS Travel, a program that lets riders experience iconic EWS destinations around the world. Chris shares the thinking behind adding the new e-bike race format to the EWS, the future of team competitions like the Trophy of Nations, and mountain bike safety. We also get Chris’s take on the best bike for enduro racing and his own personal favorite places to ride. 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.  glowormlites.co.nz Save 1

Sometimes, you just gotta vent.  Matt, Gerow, and Jeff talk about the mountain bike stuff that has us stoked right now, and the things that are bumming us out. From gear to trail access, we cover it all including e-bikes, flow trails, stage racing, slopestyle mountain biking, and even health insurance. With so many topics on the table, every listener is bound to agree and disagree with our staff writers on at least one item! 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 Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2020. Shop for lights at https://www.glowormlites.co.nz/ --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and o

Rémy Métailler is a professional mountain bike racer who competes in both DH and freeride competitions around the world. He also posts skills videos and ride reports regularly on his popular YouTube Channel. We ask Rémy about how he got started in mountain biking, downhill and freeride competition, and what it’s like to ride in an urban DH race. Rémy shares his thoughts on the new Redbull Rampage qualifier format, Whistler Bike Park, and YouTube and social media. Connect with Remy at youtube.com/c/remymetailler and on Instagram @remymetailler. 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 20% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS19.

Darren Kinnaird is the general manager for the Crankworx World Tour and a board member of both the Enduro World Series and the Freeride Mountain Bike Association. We ask Darren about how Whistler has changed over the past decade, and how Crankworx has become a part of international mountain bike culture. In this episode we also talk about the possibility of slopestyle mountain biking becoming an Olympic sport, how freeride is getting more women into riding, and additional Crankworx stops in the future. For more information about Crankworx, visit crankworx.com. To get exclusive online retailer coupons and to find deals on your favorite mountain bike products, go to 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

Jenny Corso is a cyclist and R&D Scientist who has studied exercise nutrition and physiology through various undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs. She’s also a licensed USA Cycling coach, and has written many articles for Singletracks on topics including fitness, nutrition, and travel. Topics Discussed: How is exercise metabolism separate from just everyday metabolism? How are nutritional needs different for athletes? How do you look at studies regarding the health of certain foods, which are often contradictory, and what’s the best way to take this into account when making decisions about what to eat? Is gluten bad for athletes, or people in general? Nutrition and exercise clearly go hand in hand in terms of health. But does one win out over the other in terms of outcomes? Is intermittent fasting good for athletes? Why do you think nutrition is so difficult for many people to get right? Connect with Jenny for coaching and consultation through her website, truphys.com where she delivers objective inf

Cam McCaul is a legendary slopestyle mountain biker who has helped grow and shape the sport for amost twenty years. He’s won numerous freeride competitions including Crankworx Colorado and the Bearclaw Invitational. He’s also been featured in some of the biggest mountain bike films and is a regular announcer at Red Bull mountain bike competitions. We talk with Cam about the history of freeride, his career, and his newest sponsor, PlusCBD Oil. In addition to sharing his sense of humor and how he looks at risk, Cam also opens up about dealing with bike-related injuries and navigating health insurance choices as a professional mountain biker. We even get his take on building challenging mountain bike trail features. Follow Cam McCaul on Instagram @cammcaul and check out his latest videos on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/camwmccaul --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Most, if not all mountain bikers are nature lovers too. For many of us, it’s the main reason we ride off road. This week, we want to share our stoke for nature and perhaps inspire others. Topics Discussed How important is the natural aspect of mountain biking to you? Has your interest in nature grown since you started riding? What do you find most interesting on the trail — trees, plants, vistas, rocks, wildlife, or something else? What is your favorite type of ecosystem for mountain biking? What are some places you’ve ridden where the natural beauty surrounding the trail really stands out? What are some natural highlights you’ve experienced on the trail? Do you see any tension between having a love and respect for nature and riding or building trails? Do you think there are ways mountain bikers can be better natural stewards? What do you think about the fight between various recreation groups over land access? Is there at least common ground we can recognize? Sponsored by TripOutside.com which makes fi

Darcy Wittenburg is a partner, director, producer, and cinematographer at Anthill films. Anthill has produced some of the most iconic mountain bike films in recent memory, including Return to Earth, Unreal, and Strength in Numbers. I ask Darcy what is it about mountain biking that he finds interesting, and how all the movie pieces of a major film like Return to Earth comes together. We talk about the challenges and the most exciting moments of making a mountain bike movie, and how much risk athletes take to nail their tricks. What are some tricks of the trade? What make a mountain bike film a success? What other projects is Anthill working on this year? Listen in to find out!  To learn more, go to Anthillfilms.com. Look for Return to Earth on AppleTV, Google Play, and Amazon.com. Sponsored by TripOutside.com which makes finding, comparing, and booking rental gear quick and easy. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podc

Sonya Looney is a four time, national collegiate 24 hour racing champion, and was crowned the 24 hour world champion in 2015. She’s also notched wins at big endurance races like the Breck Epic (twice), Trans Andes, Brasil Ride, and La Leyenda Del Dorado in Columbia. She hosts her own podcast, called the Sonya Looney Show, where she talks about psychology, nutrition, and physiology. We talk about how Sonya got into mountain biking and how she was able to make time to train for ultra endurance races as a student and later as an engineer working full time. Sonya gives tips for gaining confidence and taking risks, and discusses what she’s learned about nutrition and plant-based diets over the past few years. Sponsored by TripOutside.com which makes finding, comparing, and booking rental gear quick and easy. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we share our experiences and tips for choosing your next (or your first) mountain bike. Where do you start? How do you know when it’s time for a new mountain bike? Is buying a used bike a good idea? Is it better to buy an expensive bike, or a cheap one to upgrade down the line? How do you decide to pull the trigger? Sponsored by TripOutside.com which makes finding, comparing, and booking rental gear quick and easy. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Greg Jacob is a self-described “regular” guy who decided to attempt the Navad 1000, a 621-mile, single-stage mountain bike race across Switzerland with more than 100,000ft. of climbing along the way. He’s here to talk about how he went from basically zero mountain bike experience to completing a grueling race in just a short time. In this episode, Greg shares: His background in terms of fitness and spending time outdoors His inspiration for signing up for the Navad 1000  How he prepared himself for the race. The biggest challenges he faced in his training. What surprised him about mountain biking relative to other sports he’s more familiar with, like road cycling. How turning 40 this year puts him at a disadvantage for adventures like this, but also gives him some advantages. Plans for mountain bike adventures in the future. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Matt, Gerow, and Jeff talk about the link between mental wellness and mountain biking. Mountain bikers are using the sport to deal with depression, PTSD, learning disabilities, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and lack of confidence in inspiring ways, and we look at how this might work. We also discuss some specific programs that use mountain biking to address learning disabilities and improve mental wellness. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Gerow, Matt, and Jeff share updates and impressions from recent and upcoming mountain bike tests, from gravel and XC to trail and enduro bikes. Plus, we preview other bikes we’ll be testing and reviewing later this year. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

James Wilson has been helping mountain bikers all around the world get strong and fit since 2005 through his online training programs and podcast. He’s also designed his own flat mountain biking pedal called the Catalyst to help riders improve both power and comfort on the bike. In this episode, we ask James for mountain bike training tips, and talk about why flat pedals are better than clipless for many riders. Connect with James at bikejames.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Note: This episodes contains language some listeners may find offensive. Mark Weir is a legend in the mountain bike world, having won the Downieville Downhill eight times and making his mark at WTB as a demanding product tester over two decades. He even has a mountain bike tire named after him, the WeirWolf. In this wide-ranging interview, we talk about enduro racing, climbing a million vertical feet in a year, his near heart attack, trail advocacy, and electric bikes. Mark is an entertaining guest who could easily host his own podcast, so you won’t want to miss this one. It’s already one of our favorites! Here are some of the questions we asked. * How is downhill endurance racing different from the more traditional, UCI-style downhill mountain bike racing? * How does enduro racing connect with the ethos established in the early days of mountain biking? * How and when did riders like yourself bring the French enduro race format to the US? Was there a natural transition from races like the Downieville Classic