Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Jake Pantone is the Vice President of Product and Consumer Experience at Enve , a Utah-based company that makes carbon fiber bike parts. We ask Jake where the name Enve comes from and why high-quality carbon mountain bike parts cost as much as they do. We also get an inside look at what it takes to be successful in the bike industry and talk about Jake’s favorite places to ride in Utah. --Keep up...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt and Jeff explain the pros and cons of different types of mountain bike pedals. We also offer tips for learning to ride with clipless pedals and discuss some of the performance considerations when choosing a mountain bike pedal type. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Mountain biking is riding a wave of popularity at the moment, and it’s a good time to be a rider. We’re seeing progression in everything from bikes and trails to racing, so we thought it would be helpful to give our take on some of the trends we’re tracking in 2019. Matt and Jeff discuss some of the positive trends we’re seeing, along with some of the potentially negative things that could affect...

Huw Oliver and Annie Lloyd-Evans are outdoor educators based in Scotland. The couple has raced and bikepacked all over the planet, and recently completed a winter fat bike expedition above the Arctic Circle in Sweden. The story of their adventure, Lemonade in Lapland, was recently published at Discover Interesting . Singletracks talks to Huw and Annie about their adventure, and what drives th...

Todd Branham lives, works, and plays in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina as a professional trail builder. He also directs the Pisgah Stage race , a 5-day, fully-supported mountain bike race that showcases 140 miles of the best singletrack in the forest. I ask Todd to share his tips for designing and building great trails and about what makes the mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt and Jeff talk about the most recent mountain bike advocacy news. * Mountain bike access in Wilderness Study Areas like the Bitterroots, Montana. * Updates on the bill to allow mountain bikes in select Wilderness areas. * The impact of forest fires in California on mountain bike trails. * A new(ish) state-level mountain bike advocacy model being use...

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Jeff and Matt share their experience with six long term bike reviews completed recently. Get inside info on how Singletracks conducts bike reviews, and hear our extended thoughts on the bikes listed below. * Pivot Firebird (29er enduro) * Norco Sight (29er trail bike) * Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt (alloy trail bike) * Cannondale Scalpel SE2 (aggressive X...

In this re-share from the Singletracks podcast, we talk with professional mountain bike instructor Richard La China from Ninja Mountain Bike Performance about the number one skill mountain bikers need help with, plus the biggest mistakes mountain bikers make when it comes to building technical skills. We also get the low down on how riders are able to progress from small jumps to nailing huge gaps...

In this podcast re-share, we talk about 1X vs. 2X mountain bike drivetrain configurations, gearing, and performance. Not only that, we talk about electronic shifting, oval chainrings, belt-driven drivetrains, and internally geared setups. We’ll be back in 2019 with a fresh slate of podcast interviews and mountain bike topics for the New Year, so Happy Trails until then! --Keep up with the latest i...

Mountain biking has a lot of momentum going into 2019, but if we’re honest there are things all of us can do to make our sport even better. Whether you’re new to the MTB community, or you’re comfortably established, we want to reflect on some ways to give back during this season of giving. If mountain biking had a wish list for Santa, these are the things that would be on it. In this episode, we’l...

We get inside the head of Ibis’ product designer, Roxy Lo, to find out what it takes to design iconic, high-performance mountain bikes like the Mojo, Ripmo, and new DV9. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Phil Kmetz is a 3-time Collegiate National mountain bike champ who has podiumed at several US National Championships and has competed in UCI World Cup events.  His popular YouTube channel, Skills with Phil , has more than a quarter of a million subscribers. In this episode, we talk with Phil about Youtube, mountain bike skills, urban downhill racing, and his vision for a mountain biking wonde...

Carl Decker is a five-time Downieville champion, a three-time US singlespeed champion, and in 2008 he won the World singlespeed championship. He’s currently part of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team and just recently helped put on the Singlespeed World Championship race in Bend, Oregon. In this episode, Carl talks about what it’s like to be a pro mountain biker and shares some of the competitive sec...

Chloe Woodruff is from Prescott, Arizona and owns and rides for the Stans / Pivot Pro Team presented by Maxxis.  She has raced the cross-country discipline on 10 World Championship teams as a junior, under 23 athlete, elite. She was also one of two women mountain bike racers who represented the United States in the 2016 Olympics. I met up with Chloe in Sedona at Roam Bike Fest, a women’s moun...

The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA.org) is a state-level group that supports grass-roots clubs building and maintaining trails, while also promoting tourism. Other states are taking note and considering how this model might work for them. We talk with Tom Stuessy about what the group has been able to accomplish thanks to the group’s unique configuration. Tom also gives us the lowdown on t...

Jeff Lenosky is a professional trials mountain biker who has traveled all over the world competing and starring in films. He’s also a dedicated product tester and bike event organizer with a popular YouTube channel where he’s known as the Trail Boss. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we ask Jeff for his climbing tips, and talk about the skills involved in mountain bike trials riding. Je...

Bonnie McDonald, co-founder of Backcountry Lifeline , talks about the group’s mission, which is to provide mountain bikers and event organizers with the tools and knowledge to make riding safer. We’ll cover some basic first aid tips and strategies for backcountry emergencies, and talk about the level of risk various types of mountain bike rides can pose. --Keep up with the latest in mountain bikin...

The #vanlife is trending, and many are following their outdoor passions by living on the road. Julie and Reet Singh have been on the road for nearly a year while building their outdoor equipment rental booking service, TripOutside . We talk about the pros and cons of living on the road, and get tips for those who might be thinking of making the plunge. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking...

Matt and Jeff recap all the news from Interbike 2018, from test rides at Northstar to new mountain bike products spotted in Reno. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

It’s universal: None of us feel like we get enough time to ride. Mountain biking is addictive and epic rides just leave us wanting more. Leah, Matt, and Jeff share dozens of ideas for unlocking more ride time for those facing family, work, and other time pressures. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

It’s been just one year since our last podcast episode about long travel 29ers, and a lot has changed since then! Matt and Jeff talk about some of the latest mountain bikes to go 29er, and speculate on what’s to come. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Rich Bernoulli, a bike frame building instructor at the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in Portland, Oregon, fills us in on how bike frames are fabricated. We discuss materials selection, welding techniques, and how professional bike builders hone their skills. Get more information about the frame building classes offered at UBI. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and...

Crankworx is more than just a festival, or a series of competitions, or a bike demo. It’s a part of mountain bike culture. Matt spent five days at Crankworx Whistler this year and fills us in on the new products, racing, trails, and athletes at Whistler in British Columbia. This episode is sponsored by RXBar. Listen to the podcast for an exclusive offer for 25% off your first order of RXBar for Si...

Tom Ritchey is credited as the first production mountain bike frame builder in the world, and has introduced countless bike designs and products over the years that are considered standard in the industry today. His company, Ritchey Design , where Tom is still actively involved, designs high performance bikes, handlebars, seatposts, grips, tires, and everything in between. Tom talks with Singletra...

Joe Breeze practically invented the mountain bike and has accomplished many firsts in our sport. In 1988 he was inducted into the mountain bike hall of fame, and today he’s the curator of the Marin Museum of Bicycling . In addition to talking about how mountain biking got started, Joe gives some insight into why people feel compelled to ride bikes off road. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the begi...