Singletracks Mountain Bike News

For many of us, mountain biking is a lifelong sport. So that means a retirement to the coast of Florida just isn’t going to cut it. Back in 2016 Greg started a great discussion on the Singletracks forums about the best mountain bike retirement locations, and recently followed up with an in-depth article about truly affordable mountain bike towns. Today we’re going to discuss his findings, and talk about some challenges associated with keeping great MTB destinations affordable.

Great mountain bike trails exist wherever there are dedicated riders, and the Central USA is no exception. One could spend a lifetime exploring the excellent singletrack from Texas to Michigan so today we are going to highlight many of the trails and destinations that should not be missed. This episode is sponsored by the Keweenaw Adventure Company. Book your Copper Harbor trip at keweenawadventure.com today, use promo code singletracks for a discount!

‘ From the outside, it might seem like mountain bikers are living the wild life, but one of the reasons many of us ride is simply to catch a glimpse of the wildlife. We’re going to share some of our own experiences with wildlife on the trail and also talk about some extreme cases of wildlife encounters on the trail. We’ll also share tips for dealing with various animals on the trail.

What is the best way to keep mountain bikers engaged in the sport? Well, for starters, pizza never hurts! If you’re listening to this podcast episode, chances are you’re hooked on mountain biking. But not everyone sticks with mountain biking, and many riders eventually move on to other things, leaving their bikes to gather dust in the garage. What, if anything, can be done to prevent people from leaving the sport, and how can we reactivate those who are already gone? Today we’re going to talk about ways to keep mountain bikers engaged and active. If you have a friend who is losing the fire, or you even find yourself starting to ride less, this is the episode for you.

Despite being a relatively young sport, mountain biking has a rich history starting in the 1800s. Over the years, the sport has evolved and branched into different disciplines ranging from cross-country to downhill. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk about the origins of mountain biking and explain the various forms of mountain biking that exist today.

The frame is easily the most visible part of any bike build, and a well-built mountain bike frame can last for decades. Today we’re going to focus on the most common materials used in mountain bike frames, and discuss the pros and cons of each. A lot of our materials discussion will apply to bike parts–like handlebars and seatposts–as well.

Whether you’re planning a trip to mountain bike in the southeast, or you’re just curious about the scene, don’t miss this episode! Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss our favorite bike trails to ride in the southeastern USA, where mountain bikers will find big mountains and an off-season that never comes.

For those outside the sport, it might seem like mountain bikers speak another language. Even new riders may find themselves nodding along in a conversation, not knowing exactly what’s being said. Whether you’re a noob trying to break the code or an old-timer looking to brush up on the latest lingo, this podcast should get you up to speed.

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk about the signs of a bad bike fit, and discuss the benefits to getting the right fit. We’ll also talk about the things riders can adjust based on various types of pain they may be experiencing on the bike. Finally, we share resources and advice for getting a great bike fit.

All but the most diligent of us are guilty of this sometimes: putting off crucial mountain bike maintenance. Sure, maintaining a bike isn’t always fun, but the benefits are clear. In this episode, we share tips for getting in the habit of keeping mountain bikes running smoothly, with specific tasks you can start adding to your routine today.

There has been a lot of debate recently about the ban on mountain bikes in wilderness areas. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we recap the latest developments in the push for bike access in certain wilderness areas, and talk about the long term effects this could have on mountain biking.

Mountain bike suspension can be confusing, what with all the dials, settings, and moving parts. In this episode, we go over the basic parts of any suspension system and talk about how suspension works. From here, we talk about what specific bike suspension settings do, and how to dial everything in for your own bike. We even touch on the history of mountain bike shocks and suspension. ★ If you’re enjoying the Singletracks podcast, please leave a quick review on iTunes. And if you’re not enjoying it, we’d love to hear why!

Singletracks is celebrating our 150th podcast episode by talking about our favorite shows so far. We discuss some of the most popular topics according to our listeners, and also preview what’s to come in 2018. If you’re a regular listener, you don’t want to miss this episode. And if you’re just joining us, this is the perfect way to get caught up! Not only have we recorded 150 episodes, but the Singletracks podcast also recently clocked 1,000,000 downloads! Thanks to all our listeners for making the show such a success. We’re have a blast and we hope you are too. ★ If you’re enjoying the Singletracks podcast, please leave a quick review on iTunes. And if you’re not enjoying it, we’d love to hear why!

Great ready, because in this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we’re talking about all the mountain bike stuff that blew our minds in 2017. We gather the sickest, most jaw-dropping bikes and trail discoveries on the planet, plus all the breaking news and trending trends into a single show that would leave less professional podcasters at a loss for words. Warning: make sure you’re sitting down before you listen in! ★ If you’re enjoying the Singletracks podcast, please leave a quick review on iTunes. And if you’re not enjoying it, we’d love to hear why!

Nearly every mountain bike update this year has boasted geometry that is longer, lower, and slacker than before. But what does this even mean? In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we define long, low, and slack as they pertain to mountain bike geometry. We discuss what’s driving this shift, the tradeoffs involved, and what this means for current mountain bike owners. ★ If you’re enjoying the Singletracks podcast, please leave a quick review on iTunes. And if you’re not enjoying it, we’d love to hear why!