Singletracks Mountain Bike News

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 Maxxis about plus tires.

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 and he shares tips for cornering and manuals. We also talk about trail advocacy, favorite places to ride around the world, and how video is changing mountain bike skills instruction.

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 in on where our sport is headed today.

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 Payson on Instagram @paysonmcelveen and check out his podcast, The Adventure Stache, available in podcast apps and on his website.

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Gerow and Jeff share tips for making mountain bike repairs in an emergency. From packing the right supplies (duct tape!) to finding creative ways to get rolling again, you don’t want to miss this helpful episode.

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 Sacred Rides, one of the top providers of mountain bike tours around the world. He’s an educator with the Adventure Travel Association, and a Co-founder of Bikes without Borders, a non-profit dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through bike-related solutions. Mike’s latest venture, Mastermind Adventures, hosts small-group adventures for entrepreneurs in top outdoor destinations.

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.

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 mountain bike trials, and how trials riding is related to freeriding. Hans shares his secrets for staying strong on the bike after all these years, his favorite places to ride around the world, and why he’s such a big fan of flow trails. We also talk about the work his non-profit Wheels4Life is doing globally, and how mountain bike video production and distribution has changed since the VHS days.

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

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 mountain biking — whether it’s at the local or national level, for tourism, industry, or athlete development — can learn from what DMBinS has accomplished so far.

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.

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.

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 makes time for riding. Jeff also hosts a popular podcast called Kendall vs. Kendall, and his website is JeffKendallWeed.com.

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 appealing to him. Chris speaks about injuries over the years, and how he approaches recovery with the same competitive, can-do spirit as his riding. We also talk about taking risks, his favorite projects over the years, and what Chris has in store for the future. Watch Chris in action on his YouTube channel and on the Mongoose channel.

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.