Front Lines MTB

The world is waking up to the benefits of Mountain Biking, and now communities are asking how they can become the next Mountain Bike town or destination. Caliente, Nevada is doing just that. With the local mine no longer operating, they’re looking to Mountain Biking as the reason to draw visitors into town. We’ll hear … Continue reading "Ep 48 – Creating New Mountain Bike C...

After our summer hiatus we’re back with some follow up on some past topics and joined by a few guests. First we’ll hear about the Vermont Outdoor Innovation Coalition from Tom Stuessy, Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association. Following that, we’ll get an update from Lance Pysher of the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists on their … Continue reading "Ep 47 &#...

This episode we explore two upcoming events. The first is the 2018 MTB State Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan; hosted by the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Michigan Mountain Bike Association and the Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association. Tom Stuessy of VMBA and Melissa Werkman of MMBA join me. And second, Jay Darby of IMBA Canada and Christine Reid … Continue reading "Ep 46 – Details...

Christine Reid of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA) discusses diversity and what it means to be a woman in Mountain Biking with guests: Cynthia Young of the NSMBA, Amanda Schulze, Brand Strategist and Founder of Lithia Effect and Danielle Baker, Freelance Writer and Communications Manager at BC Bike Race. https://podcasts-1.feedpress.co/16677/Ep%2045%20-%202018-07-05%2C%2015.22%20....

For the 3rd Panel Discussion of the Podcast we hear from four Adaptive Mountain Bikers: Jeremy McGhee of SportON USA and the UnPavement, Ethan Krueger of Adaptive MTB Trails, Andrew Liddawi of Break the Boundary  and past guest Tara Llanes of Tara Llanes Industries. We discuss aMTB rating systems, barriers on trails and off and … Continue reading "Ep 44 – Adaptive Mountain Biking Round...

As a follow up to the last episode we welcome back to the show, Patrick Lucas. He’s the founder of the Aboriginal Youth Mountain Bike Program and shares his “Best practices and guidelines for engaging and working with Indigenous Peoples on trails and outdoor recreation projects”. https://podcasts-1.feedpress.co/16677/Ep%2043%20-%202018-06-12%2C%2009.04%20.mp3 Show Notes & Lin...

This episode we here from Len Necefer, he’s a Navajo Mountaineer and CEO of NativesOutdoors. Using the Geo-tagging capabilities of Facebook and Instagram, Len has been returning traditional Indigenous names to popular recreation spots. Len also helps us understand the value and importance of those names and the effects of cultural appropriation on Indigenous communities. https://podcasts-1.f...

Diving further into youth programs we look into one particular high school race team’s effort to create trails for their NICA team. We’ll hear from Team Director and Chair  of the Stillwater Area Scholastic Cycling Advocates: Calvin Jones,  and Dirt Boss and Board Member: Hank Gray about how SASCA is creating trails in Stillwater, MN for it’s … Continue reading "Ep 41 &#821...

For the 40th episode of the podcast we go back to where we started with Episode 1 and focus on Kelowna, BC. We’ll hear about two programs and how they’re reducing the barriers for access in the sport of Mountain Biking. The first guest is Mike Greer, Executive Director of Elevation Outdoors. Second we’ll hear from Norm Vados … Continue reading "Ep 40 – Reducing Barrie...

For the finale of our eMTB conversation we’ll hear the second panel discussion of the podcast. Guests include: Joshua Rebennack of City MTB and the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew in Minnesota, Yvonne Kraus, Executive Director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance in Washington State, Jerry Greer, President of the SORBA Tri-Cities out in Tennessee, Wendy Sweet, … Continue reading "Ep...

This episode we hear from Morgan Lommele, eBike Campaigns Manager at the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association and the PeopleForBikes Coalition. Off the top of the episode we also hear from Joshua Rebennack of City MTB and the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew in Minnesota. We’ll also check in with our new correspondent, Rick Boles as he … Continue reading "Ep 38 – The eMTB Part 3:...

Last episode we heard from some industry representatives and for Part 2 of our look at the eMTB we’re going to hear from a number of guests. First, Will Niccolls, host of the AngryMountainBiker Podcast, shares his opinion. We’ll then look at what Land Managers are currently doing regarding Policy. Second guest of the episode … Continue reading "Ep 37 – The eMTB Part 2: Perc...

To get us up to speed on eMTBs we hear from founder of the Electric Bike Review, Court Rye. Court gives us a breakdown of the eBike Classifications and a brief history. The main guest of the episode is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Yamaha Bicycles, Drew Engelmann. eMTBs have been produced by mountain bike … Continue reading "Ep 36 – The eMTB Part 1: Interview with Drew Engelmann o...

In addition to revamping the Chapter Program, IMBA has added a Chapter President to the Executive Board. I chat with that representative: Ernest Rodriguez, President of the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts. We discuss how the new position is going,  how he got involved, and just how organizations can relay feedback to the IMBA Board. We … Continue reading "Ep 35 – Chapter Representati...

On December 14th of last year, IMBA announced their new IMBA Local Program. The revamped Chapter Program is very different, and so I spoke with the Program Manager and Chapter Liaison, Anthony Duncan. Anthony was formerly the Regional Director for the Mid-Atlantic and prior to that served as the President of SORBA Tri-cities for 4 years. … Continue reading "Ep 34 – IMBA Local: Intervie...

Director of Recreational Land for Minnesota Lands Trust and former IMBA Regional Director,  Hansi Johnson, lets us in on the secret of the midwest. We look at Duluth, MN and learn about where the community started, where it is now and how it got from Point A to Point B to become the mountain bike … Continue reading "Ep 33 – Planning for a Duluth, MN: Interview with Hansi Johnson"

We kick off the 2018 season with an episode about membership. Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Tom Stuessy shares why membership is up in Vermont. We’ll also learn why membership is so valuable to an organization, beyond simply funding. In addition we’ll hear from Bruce Schroeder of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance about what … Continue reading "Ep 32...

Before we bring in the New Year and another lineup of episode’s for 2018 we look back at the last year and the first 30 episode’s of the podcast. We’ll hear from Christine Reid of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association, Brannon Pack of the Ozark Off Road Cyclists and Jay Darby of the Mountain … Continue reading "Ep 31 – A Year In Review: Round Table with Jay Darby,...

As volunteers and mountain bikers we don’t always understand why elected officials aren’t breaking down the door to allow mountain bikers access and opening new trail networks. Bruce Alt joins us to share his Elected Officials Rulebook. These three rules can go much further then just Federal Government officials but all levels of government and help … Continue reading "Ep 30 &#82...

Continuing with the theme of Bikes in wilderness outside of the United States, we hear from Parks Canada and Mark Schmidt, he’s the Visitor Experience Infrastructure Advisor for Trails. Mark explains how Bikes are embraced in Parks Canada, how they’re managed and the varying types of rider experiences they offer. https://podcasts-1.feedpress.co/16677/Ep%2029%20-%202017-11-23%2C%2019.06...

Turning the focus to Mountain Biking in wilderness North of the US border, we look at how Tyax Adventures is ensuring Backcountry Mountain Biking can be sustainable in the South Chilcotin’s. Naheed Henderson tells us just what they’re focused on to make that happen. We’ll also hear from Bruce Alt about National Monuments; what they are, … Continue reading "Ep 28 – Sus...

The finale of our three part series on Bikes in US Wilderness Areas we hear from the Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC) President himself, Ted Stroll. Ted explains how the organization got started and dispels some of the myths of what the STC is trying to do. Ted also provides us with some additional back-story on … Continue reading "Ep 27 – Bikes in Wilderness Part 3: Interview with T...

As part two of our three parts series on bikes in Wilderness Areas in the US we hear from Eric Melson of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Eric’s new role is in Government Relations and he’ll give the background on the Boulder-Whiteclouds and explain the new Recreation Not Red Tape Act. Next episode we’ll … Continue reading "Ep 26 – Bikes in Wil...

As part one of a three part series about Mountain Bikes in US Wilderness Areas we begin with a history lesson. Starting from the beginning, in 1964 when the Wilderness Act was signed moving to how it’s effected local trail associations today. We’ll hear from Yvonne Kraus, Executive Director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance … Continue reading "Ep 25 – Bikes In Wilderness Part 1: Your I...

For the second part in our series looking at the relationship between the Advocacy world and the Cycling Industry we look at how Trail Organizations can create and grow partnerships. First we hear from Seb Kemp, Canadian Brand Manager of Santa Cruz and Juliana Bicycles. Then we dig into the North Shore Trail Adoption Plan … Continue reading "Ep 24 – Industry Influence Part 2: Creating...