Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

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&nb...

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 a...

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 improv...

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

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 clipl...

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 f...

I was recently a guest on the Curiosityness podcast  with Travis DeRose on the topic of getting started in mountain biking. If you’re listening to the Singletracks podcast, chances are you’re already a mountain biker, but you probably have friends and family members who are not (yet). So whether you’re looking for ways to convince your friends to join you, or you know someone who could benefi...

Dylan Renn is the lead coach at A Singletrack Mind where he teaches mountain bike skills to riders of all abilities. He’s been gravity racing since 1994 and has served as head coach for a two high school mountain bike teams. In this episode, Dylan shares his tips for descending on a mountain bike. Whether you’re interested in racing downhill or just want to gain some confidence, these are the skil...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Gerow, Jeff, and Matt discuss trail advocacy news from the North America and Europe, and share the results from recent trail etiquette surveys. * Riding wet trails * Pirate trails going legit * Who yields: climbers or descenders? * Is skidding still cool? * Trail terrorism * IMBA EU * Mountain bike impact review * New bikes in Wilderness legislation * N...

We’ve dedicated a couple Singletracks podcast episodes to mountain bike tires already, but things are changing fast! Based on popular demand, Matt and I talk about the latest in tire widths (is a 2.5″ tire mid-plus?), tread patterns, sealants, and tire inserts. Want more? Go back and listen to our show about choosing the best mountain bike tires for conditions and our interview with Bobby from Max...

Simon Lawton is the founder of Fluidride , a world-class mountain bike instructional school located in Seattle, WA. He’s helped riders all over the world in person and through his online videos. He’s also a tireless mountain bike trail building advocate and his nonprofit has helped disabled riders get back in the saddle. I ask Simon about his overall approach to mountain bike skills instruction an...

No other man is as well positioned to talk about where mountain biking has been, and where it’s going in the future, than Gary Fisher. From organizing the first mountain bike races at Repack, to building an eponymous mountain bike brand and his current role at Trek , Gary is an outspoken and enthusiastic advocate for biking. Listen in as Gary recounts the early days of mountain biking and weighs i...

Professional mountain bike racer Payson McElveen shares how he got started in the sport and talks about his favorite places to ride. His latest competitive projects involve establishing the fastest known times (FKTs) for iconic mountain bike routes like the White Rim Trail in Utah. We ask Payson for his training tips and how racing against the clock is different from racing the field. Follow Payso...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast I talk with Mike Brcic about the best ways to share the mountain bike experience with others, whether that’s leading a group ride or promoting mountain bike tourism in local communities. Plus, we talk about some of Mike’s favorite places to mountain bike around the world, including some up-and-coming spots to put on your radar. Mike is the founder of Sac...

In this episode, Gerow gives us the low down on some of the mountain bike trails he’s discovered in Italy so far. We talk about mountain bike culture in this part of Europe, and discuss some interesting European mountain bike brands that may not be familiar to US listeners. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Hans Rey is a mountain bike trials legend and global ambassador for the sport, exploring and documenting exotic locations around the world by bike. His non-profit, Wheels4Life, provides bicycles for transportation to folks in developing countries.  He was inducted in the mountain bike hall of fame in 1999, and is an IMBA honorary board member. I talk with Hans about how he got started in moun...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt, Gerow, and Jeff talk about recent, current, and future mountain bike review tests. We share impressions and thoughts on the following bikes: * GT Force * Ancillotti Scarab Evo 29 * Ibis Ripley * Salsa Spearfish * Orbea Rallon * Orange P7 * Fezzari Signal Peak * Cannondale Jekyll 29 * Diamondback SyncR carbon --Keep up with the latest in mountain b...

A National strategy for developing mountain biking in Scotland has been in place since 2010 and an updated comprehensive plan for the next 6 years is set to be released any day. We talk with Graeme McLean, project manager from Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), about how well the plan has worked so far, and what DMBinS has in store for the future. Any group looking to develop mountai...

Matt and Jeff recap all the new products and news from Sea Otter 2019 in Monterey, CA. We share impressions of the mountain bikes we tested, cover notable product releases, and talk about some of the wackier things we found. Sea Otter was bigger and better than ever before, so we discuss what that might mean for mountain bike culture. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.co...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt, Gerow, and Jeff talk about what enduro is, and why it matters to the sport of mountain biking. From athletes and races to bikes and gear, enduro is a reflection of how many of us approach riding. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Jeff Kendall-Weed is a mountain bike content creator on a mission to grow the sport and inspire others to get involved in mountain bike advocacy. His popular YouTube series, Local Loam, showcases rad trails, rad riding, and the rad people who make it all happen. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, I ask Jeff about his inspirations, favorite places to ride, skills progression, and how he m...

Chris Akrigg is known around the world for his incredible bike handling skills and his creative approach to riding on anything with two wheels. His latest series of videos, The Process, focuses on creating fun and challenging bike features out of natural surroundings. I talk with Chris about how he keeps his trials riding skills sharp and fresh, and what makes technical trail challenges so appeali...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Gerow, Matt, and Jeff share mountain bike race tips learned over many seasons of racing and watching the pros. We touch on training and preparation before the event, and offer advice for setting up your bike for the big day. Listen to avoid some of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen racers make, and also some of the smartest things we’ve observed. --Keep u...

Andrew Taylor is a professional freeride mountain biker who set out last year to ride his mountain bike in all 48 Continental US states. He’s still on the road with just a few more states to go and joins us to talk about his motivation for the trip and the equipment he’s using to make it happen. Andrew also shares some of his favorite mountain bike trails  and destinations so far, and the sur...

SRAM recently announced a wireless mountain bike drivetrain and dropper post, which got us thinking: What does going wireless and electronic mean for mountain biking? In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt and I discuss the various wireless, electronic controls for drivetrains, suspension, dropper posts, and even brakes. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com a...