Singletracks Mountain Bike News

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 secrets he’s picked up over the years. We also talk about what makes singlespeed mountain biking so dang attractive and addictive.

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 mountain bike festival, to talk about racing, the Olympics, and to learn about her approach to goal setting.

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 the best places to ride in Vermont beyond Kingdom Trails and Killington Resort.

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. Jeff tells us about his favorite places to ride, including some unexpected discoveries, plus he shares his tips for being successful on YouTube.

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.

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. Check out shots of their road home below, and follow the Singhs on Instagram @wherethewildsinghsare.

Matt and Jeff recap all the news from Interbike 2018, from test rides at Northstar to new mountain bike products spotted in Reno.

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.

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.

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.

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 Singletracks members! 

Cover photo: Tom Ritchey with his “first good bike.” Courtesy Tom Ritchey. 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 Singletracks about the history of mountain biking, wheel sizes, the pros and cons of industry standards, and even electric bikes. This episode is sponsored by Evo.com. Use code “SINGLETRACKS” to take 10% off your next order.

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 beginnings of our sport, how today’s MTB culture is influenced by those early days, and where mountain biking is headed in the future. This is the second interview in a series about the past, present, and future of mountain biking. Catch up by listening to our conversation with Charlie Kelly and look for interviews with Tom Ritchey, Gary Fisher, and others coming soon. This episode is sponsored by Evo.com. Use code “SINGLETRACKS” to take 10% off your next order.

Whether you’re getting in shape for mountain bike racing or just trying to hang with the group, we offer our tips for improving mountain bike fitness. This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by evo. evo is a leading action sports retailer with stores in Seattle, Portland, and Denver, along with their website evo.com. evo goes beyond just selling mountain bikes, they offer a full, immersive experience blending sports, culture, and lifestyle. Listen for an exclusive discount code to use in store and online at evo.com.

Eric Porter talks about how he was able to progress from XC racer to winning slopestyle mountain biker over his career as a professional rider. We ask Eric how he’s dealt with concussions and head injuries over the years, and what it takes to be a rad Dad to two young boys. Follow Eric on Instagram @portermtb. Thanks to Stio for sponsoring this episode. Go to stio.com/singletracks to check out their entire Pedal Collection of mountain bike shorts and jerseys.