Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Informações:

Synopsis

Mountain bike news, trails, travels, and dirt.

Episodes

  • Bike Builds: Why the Cheapest Bikes Come with Front Derailleurs and the #1 Upgrade to Make

    30/05/2022 Duration: 01h11min

    Aaron Abrams is Director of Product for Marin Bicycles and is currently based in Taiwan. The Marin bike brand has been around since 1986 and the company’s slogan says their bikes are “Made For Fun.” In this episode we talk about how mountain bikes are specced, and how product managers make decisions about which parts to include. When planning out the builds for a bike like the Marin Rift Zone 29 (three options, priced between $2,000 and $3,000), do you start with a set of say 3 price targets and choose the best parts that make those prices work? How important is overall bike weight when it comes to build specs? What is the purpose of speccing house-brand components like bars, saddles, and stems on bike builds? Is there a lot of cost savings by going this route? Why did Marin recently start selling branded aftermarket grips, bars, and stems? We rarely see full suspension builds that mix and match forks and shocks from different brands. Why is that? How do you know if consumers are going to like a pa

  • This Santa Cruz Group is Working to Unite Trail Users and Share Trail Impact Studies

    16/05/2022 Duration: 37min

    Matt De Young is the executive director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, a non-profit that “builds and maintains great trails for everyone, and connects communities to nature through responsible outdoor recreation.” In this episode we ask: How is the SCMTS organized? How many miles of bike trails does SCMTS support? When and why did the SCMTS get its start? Why the name change from Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz to Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship? Are trail user conflicts a big issue in the Santa Cruz area? The SCMTS is one of the most vocal groups that’s promoting scientific studies showing the environmental impacts of mountain biking. How did the Mountain Biking Impact Review report come together? Tell us a bit about your professional trail building team. What types of projects do they work on, and how does that support the overall mission? What are some of the most popular trails your group helps support? Are any of the trails particularly popular with MTB tourists, or ar

  • This MTB Group is Building Trails and Having Fun on Their Own Terms

    09/05/2022 Duration: 01h14s

    Dale Boyd and Drew Hall are mountain bikers and trail builders living in Mobile, Alabama. They’re part of a group called Ride the Rebellion that posts videos and podcasts about their efforts to build and ride trails in a part of the US that isn’t traditionally known for mountain biking. In this episode we ask: What was the local mountain bike scene like when you first got into the sport? How did you come up with the name Ride the Rebellion for your group? How many folks are a part of the group? Is there an official membership process? What are some ways you’ve found to make flat terrain more fun to ride? How did you learn to build trails and trail features? How do you come up with names for trails and trail features? What is the status of the land where you build trails? How did you get permission to build and ride there? What is your agreement like with the landowner in terms of what you can, and can’t, do? Can anyone ride the trail whenever they like, or is

  • MTB Pioneer Wende Cragg on the Early Days of Trail Riding

    02/05/2022 Duration: 56min

    Wende Cragg has been a part of mountain biking since the beginning of the sport in California in the 1970s, racing and photographing the early Repack races down Mt. Tam. She was inducted into the mountain bike hall of fame in 1989 and curates the Rolling Dinosaur Archive which chronicles the birth of mountain biking. Tell us a bit about your introduction to mountain biking. Was it love at first ride? Which aspects of riding a bicycle off road were most appealing to you? How would you describe the feeling of those first rides? What was your motivation for taking photographs in the early days of mountain biking? What was it like connecting with riders in Crested Butte who were sorta discovering mountain biking in parallel with you and your friends in the Bay Area?How was their idea of mountain biking different from the one being developed in California? Were you surprised to see mountain bikers banned from riding on Mt. Tam in the early 80s? How did you react? Did you get frustrated with the early bi

  • Should Mountain Bikers Care About Fitness Metrics Like VO2 Max?

    25/04/2022 Duration: 49min

    Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He’s a former professional mountain bike racer and current USA Cycling coach working with both pro and amateur athletes alike. In this episode we ask: How did your first enduro race go? What type of training did you do to prepare? What does VO2 max measure?How is it measured? Is using heart rate data to estimate VO2 max fairly accurate? Are there specific types of training that are effective in raising VO2 max? How important is VO2 max for predicting performance? What is lactate threshold?What does it measure? How is it measured? Is lactate threshold directly related to power? Are there other similar fitness metrics that riders can or should pay attention to? Is there a difference between mountain bikers and road bikers when it comes to the importance of certain metrics? Is it possible to get the same quality workout on the trail vs. on the trainer?Is gravel riding a good substitute for road rid

  • IMBA Gets Local, and It's Paying Off

    18/04/2022 Duration: 01h07min

    Anthony Duncan is the Director of Local Programs at IMBA and is based out of Johnson City, Tennessee. The IMBA Local program is designed to support grassroots mountain bike organizations through services, education and mentorship programs. In this episode we ask Anthony: How long have you been at IMBA? What were you doing before joining? The IMBA local program was launched at the end of 2017 which represented a huge change for the organization. What was happening back then that led to the formation of Local? There are two IMBA Local support service options: Chapter services and Affiliate services. What does Affiliate services include? What kinds of services does Chapter support add? Does IMBA directly help groups advocate at the local level, or do you provide education and resources so groups can advocate for themselves instead? What are some of the biggest challenges local trail groups are facing? Have you seen an uptick in new local groups forming since the pandemic began? It seems like latel

  • This Mountain Bike Organization Has 1,000 Miles of New Trails in Various Stages of Planning

    11/04/2022 Duration: 40min

    Terry Palmeri is the Executive Director of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). The organization has been around since 1989 and today SORBA is made up of 48 chapters spread across seven states. In this conversation we ask: Why and how did SORBA get its start? What sorts of issues were southern mountain bikers struggling with in the late 1980s? How is SORBA organized? How many miles of singletrack trails do SORBA chapters support? How many individuals belong to a SORBA club? How do you think that number compares to the number of active mountain bikers living in the southeast? How is SORBA funded? What is the relationship between SORBA and IMBA? What are some of the bigger trail projects that are currently in the works? Are there any unique challenges to trail building in the southeast? Is there much opposition to mountain bike trail access in the region? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for SORBA? What’s the biggest constraint SORBA faces

  • Don't Call Them Hardcore: Hardtail Design with Kona

    28/03/2022 Duration: 51min

    Pat White is a longtime product manager for Kona Bicycles and Doug Lafavor aka Dr. Dew has been designing bikes at Kona for decades. In this episode we ask: Which factors make a hardtail 'hardcore' or more aggressive compared to say an XC or entry-level hardtail?  What are aggressive hardtails good for in terms of riding style or trails? What are the limits? How important is frame material when it comes to designing a hardtail? Is there one material that’s generally superior to the others? Are there higher costs involved in building hardtails from steel than aluminum? Where does the compliance in a hardtail frame come from? Do you look at component selection differently for a hardtail vs. a full suspension bike? If so, what are the key areas where the builds differ? Is there any lingering debate about wheel size when it comes to hardtails? Are sliding dropouts an important selling point? What do you think about Internal cable routing on hardtails?

  • The SDMBA in San Diego is Advocating for Trails and Riders in California's Second-Most Populated County

    21/03/2022 Duration: 55min

    Susie Murphy is the executive director of the San Diego Mountain Bike Association and is also a board member with the California Mountain Biking Coalition. What is the San Diego Mountain Bike Association's mission, and how are you organized? When and why did the SDMBA get its start? How long have you been with the SDMBA, and how did you get involved? Did the recent boom in mountain bike participation translate into SDMBA membership growth? What are some of the most popular trails your group helps support? Are there many opportunities for new trail builds in and around San Diego? Several years ago the chapter was pretty vocal about the bikes in wilderness issue. Why is or was that so important in your area, and where are we now? Do you think protesting can be an effective tool for mountain bike advocates? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for SDMBA? What’s the biggest constraint SDMBA faces in carrying out and growing the mission? I How does SDMBA work w

  • Former DH World Champ Manon Carpenter is Now Racing to Save the Environment, and our Trails

    14/03/2022 Duration: 37min

    Manon Carpenter is a downhill mountain bike world champion and advocate for the environment living in Caerphilly, Wales . She recently premiered a documentary film titled Trails on Trial that explores how trails connect the land with communities and various stakeholders. In this interview we ask: When did you first get interested in the idea of environmental protection? Was the connection between biking and the environment always pretty clear to you, even as a professional racer? What are your local trails like? Who builds and maintains them? Why do you think mountain bikers have a bad reputation among some environmental groups? What can we do to change that? If "trails come and go," what does that mean for us as mountain bikers? Where are some of your favorite places to ride around the world? Should we be concerned about the potential impact over-tourism might have on places? How can this be mitigated or offset? Do you see a connection between climate change and trail conditions? Check out some

  • How the New England Mountain Bike Association Gets Things Done

    07/03/2022 Duration: 56min

    Travis Counsell is the executive director of the new England Mountain Bike Association, also known as NEMBA. He’s currently based out of Vermont. Tell us a bit about NEMBA. What’s the organization’s mission and how large is your membership? How is NEMBA organized? How many miles of singletrack do NEMBA clubs support? When and why did NEMBA get its start? What were you doing before joining NEMBA? NEMBAfest is back for 2022. What will the festival look like this year? Did the recent boom in mountain bike participation translate into NEMBA membership growth? Given population density, are there many opportunities for new trail builds in the northeast? What are some ways you’ve been successful in countering folks who are against MTB trail access? How popular is fat biking in New England? Is fat bike grooming something that chapters devote a lot of resources to in the winter? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for NEMBA? What’s the biggest

  • Real Talk About Bikepacking Florida

    28/02/2022 Duration: 01h33s

    In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt interviews Jeff about bikepacking the Huracan 300 in Central Florida. This was Jeff's first big bikepacking trip and there was much to be learned over three days of seemingly non-stop riding. Matt asks: Why did you decide to ride the Huracan? How did the trip unfold? What were the biggest surprises? What did you learn that will be helpful for next time, if there is a next time? --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

  • US Manufacturing and Investing in Bike Businesses, with Matt Lyon of Hydrapak

    21/02/2022 Duration: 01h08min

    Matt Lyon is the President and CEO of Hydrapak. He’s worked in the outdoor industry for decades and serves as the Board Chair of the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership. In this episode we ask Matt: How did Hydrapak get started? How many leaky reservoir prototypes did you go through? What’s the hardest part of the pack to reliably seal? Do you have any tips for cleaning and caring for hydration reservoirs? When you go out for a ride, do you prefer bottles or a hydration pack? What are the challenges when it comes to making environmentally friendly products? How big of an impact does using recycled materials make versus creating long-lasting products that need to be replaced less often? Aside from supply chain issues, has the pandemic caused you to rethink your businesses in any significant ways? What are the advantages of building products in the US using US-sourced materials? Do you think this plays a big role in consumer purchasing decisions? What are some of the things the California Out

  • The Current⚡️State of Electric Mountain Bike Trail Access in the US

    31/01/2022 Duration: 45min

    Rachel Fussell is the electric mountain bike Policy and Program Manager at People for Bikes. The group’s stated mission is to change the world through bikes by focusing on empowering cities, creating connections, and supporting the bike industry. In this episode we ask: What are the current regulations at the federal, state, and local level regarding eMTB trail access? What types of conflicts exist where electric mountain bikes and regular mountain bikes share the trail?  Does basic trail etiquette cover eMTBs, or do we need to update and/or add new rules of the trail? Where and how are e-bikes gaining additional trail access? What do land managers generally think about e-bikes on trails? What are their concerns? How big of a role do studies and unbiased reports play into eMTB advocacy? Do opinions play into the discussion as well? Is there a risk that advocating for e-bike access could hurt traditional mountain bike trail access? What do you think about registration program

  • Mountain Bike Trends: Riding High and Coming Soon

    24/01/2022 Duration: 01h12min

    In this episode of the Singletracks podcast Gerow, Jeff, and Matt discuss current and future mountain bike trends, starting with a recap of what's been trending over the past couple of seasons. Mixed wheel mountain bikes More great trails in more places High pivot mountain bikes Electronic bits and baubles, from drivetrains to droppers Next, we move on to the trends we see shaping up for 2022. Longer travel dropper posts and fatter seat tubes Large scale trail projects with unique funding sources New mountain bike destinations and trails opening as a response to overcrowded ones Bikes and parts supply improvements High pivots on shorter-travel bikes MTB geometry stabilization Finally, we discuss some of the trends we'd like to see happen sooner rather than later. More customizable bike builds DH or enduro as an Olympic sport Athletes receiving a more livable wage This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Professional mountain biker Adam Craig says

  • Singletracks Staff Looks Forward to Mountain Biking in 2022

    10/01/2022 Duration: 47min

    Singletracks editors Gerow, Jeff, and Matt look forward to more mountain biking adventures in 2022!  In this episode we talk about the MTB stories that are on our 2022 editorial calendar in the areas of trails, gear, progression, and community. We also share our personal goals for skills, fitness, racing, travel, event coverage, repair skills, and trail building. This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Professional mountain biker Adam Craig says it’s one of the top three places in the universe he’s ever ridden. Where is this magical mountain biking nirvana? It’s none other than Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont Recreational Forest. The area boasts over 300 miles of peerless singletrack, not to mention hundreds of miles of gravel roads, creating a near endless array of routes, terrains, and challenges to explore. Four vibrant bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need gear, service, or a top notch rental. Top it off with an array of

  • Pro Mountain Biker Rab Wardell on Continuing to Chase the Dream

    03/01/2022 Duration: 01h05min

    Rab Wardell is a mountain bike athlete and coach living in Glasgow, Scotland. He recently launched a new video series with Wahoo Fitness called Old Enough to Know Better. In this episode, we ask Rab: How did a big early race loss affect your outlook on your career as an athlete? What was it like to essentially retire in your early 20s? What did you decide to do instead? What are some of the biggest mistakes that stand out as being the ones where you learned the most? As an athlete, are there ways to learn beyond just personal experience? What risks are involved in becoming a professional athlete? What types of normal, everyday things have you decided to cut out of your life to focus on racing? How much of it feels like a sacrifice? Were there any times when friends or family members suggested you grow up and get a “real job”? What competitive advantages do you have at your age? Why is play important? Are there ways you’ve found to incorporate play into your training? What do you hope to be doin

  • Our Favorite Moments from the Singletracks MTB Podcast in 2021

    27/12/2021 Duration: 01h01min

    This year we interviewed dozens of professional mountain bike athletes, skills and fitness coaches, and industry leaders including product designers and CEOs. Here are a few of our favorite moments from more than 50 hours of programming in 2021. If you enjoy what we do on the Singletracks podcast, please consider becoming a Pro Supporter (https://www.singletracks.com/support/). --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

  • The Best Singletracks Trail Conversations of 2021

    20/12/2021 Duration: 01h02min

    This week we revisit some of our favorite conversations on the Singletracks podcast in 2021. On the topic of mountain bike trails we speak with trail builders, advocates, environmentalists, and local riders to learn more about the places we ride. If you enjoy what we do on the Singletracks podcast, please consider becoming a Pro Supporter (https://www.singletracks.com/support/). --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

  • How to Know if You're Overtraining with Coach Dee Tidwell

    13/12/2021 Duration: 01h04min

    Dee Tidwell is a professional coach and the founder of Train to Ride which provides cycling-specific training programs and plans for mountain biking, road, gravel, and moto riding. He’s also a two time Big Mountain Enduro Master’s Champ and has worked with countless professional athletes including members of the Yeti/Fox Factory professional EWS race team. What is the Performance Pyramid, and how does it work? Walk us through each level. Is it OK to skip some of the lower levels and jump right to the top? How electric mountain bike riding and racing this differ from more traditional mountain bike training? Do you find that people really hate cardio so much that they avoid training altogether? Is equipment cost an excuse people use for not working on getting stronger? Is soft tissue therapy something folks can work on at home with foam rollers and massage guns, or is this one area where working with a physical or massage therapist in person is beneficial?   Have you seen a shift in the mix of y

page 4 from 20