Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Chris Smith is the USA Marketing Manager for Lazer Sport (lazersport.com) where he’s worked for more than 7 years. In this episode, we ask: What’s the purpose of the helmet shell? What is it typically made of? What is EPS? What makes it such a good material for helmet construction? Where are most helmets produced? How do retention systems work? What is the purpose of a chin strap? Do you have any tips for testing helmet fit? How does sizing work? What are the main safety standards that cover bicycle helmets?  What kinds of tests are done on mountain bike helmets? Are there any common misperceptions when it comes to bike helmets? What is the advantage of extended rear coverage on a half shell helmet? How do rotational impact protection systems like MIPS work, and why is this type of protection important? Why do all mountain bike helmets have visors, unlike road helmets? Are you seeing more mountain bikers choosing full face helmets for trail and enduro rides? What are your thought

Jon Yazzie and Nadine Johnson own Dzil Ta’ah Adventures, an adventure travel company based in Arizona. A full-blooded Diné, Jon and his team run bike trips on Navajo land, and use the proceeds to help fund a local youth cycling program. What makes land in the Navajo Nation so special and unique? What is the riding like there? Why did it take so long to receive permits for conducting bike tours on Navajo land? How were you able to adapt your tour business in the time of Covid-19? What is bikerafting, and is it different from bikepacking? Do you combine the two on your trips? How are your trips set up? What is the cost? Do you provide history and context to the landscape as a part of your tours?  In addition to yourself, do you employ others as bike guides?  What role do you think tourism can play in terms of boosting the local economy? What is the goal for the Navajo-youth bike program you are supporting? Is there one thing you wish more people could understand or know about the Na

Mike Bush is the President of Stans, a brand whose founder Stan Koziatek pioneered the use of tubeless tires in mountain biking. Today the Stans brand® designs and markets its own line of popular wheels and tubeless tire accessories to keep mountain bikers rolling. In this episode we ask: Why did it take so long for tubeless tire tech to become widely-adopted for mountain biking? How does tubeless tire sealant work? Has the Stans sealant formulation changed much over the years to improve performance or to make it more environmentally friendly? What are the tradeoffs involved in designing a tire sealant? Have tire companies had to adjust their formulations and manufacturing processes to improve tubeless performance, to prevent weeping for example? What’s your take on mountain bike tire inserts? Is there another way to address the remaining shortcomings of tires and rims that doesn’t involve inserts? How have rim designs evolved over the past several seasons? Do you

Penny Deck is the Operations Manager for the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association in British Columbia. She’s worked as a volunteer trail builder with the North Shore Mountain Bike Association for over 8 years and led the NSMBA Trail Academy. In this episode, we ask Penny: Most mountain bikers have probably heard of the North Shore but may not be familiar with the area. Where is the North Shore? What makes the NS so unique and special for mountain biking? Is the NS a big draw for mountain bike tourists outside of Vancouver and surrounding areas, or are the majority of the riders locals? How are the trails organized in the North Shore? Are there a few key riding areas? Are there many family-friendly trails in the North Shore? Which rides are the most challenging? What are some lesser-known trails where riders can get farther away from town? Who builds and maintains the trails in the area? Are there tour operators or clubs visitors can connect with if they want to ride with locals? Where

Tinker Juarez has been a professional mountain biker for more than 30 years. In that time he's competed in the Olympics twice, was crowned the 24-Hour Solo world champ four times, and was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. This year Tinker turns 60 years old, and he's still racing strong. In this episode we ask: What was the local biking scene like in California in the 1960s and 70s when you were getting started? Why did you make the switch from BMX to cross country mountain biking? What was it like racing in the 1996 Olympics, the first year that mountain biking was added to the competition? Are you able to use the fact that you're such a well-known pro to your advantage, or are there drawbacks? Does winning big mountain bike races take more physical or mental strength? Do you think you excel at one more than the other? What’s the most difficult mountain bike race you’ve competed in? Do you miss the 24 Hour race scene? How do you train for ultra endurance races like La Ruuta, RAAM,

Julian Tyo has lived in the Wood River valley for over a decade where he started the Ketchum bike park and managed the development of gravity trails on Bald Mountain and at Sun Valley Resort. Today he’s on the board of the Wood River Trails Coalition and also serves as the Community Recreation Supervisor & Events Manager for the city of Ketchum. In this episode, we ask Julian: How did you end up in Sun Valley? What makes Sun Valley stand out among mountain bike destinations? Who builds and maintains the trails in your area? What are some of the challenges the Wood River Valley faces as a popular recreation destination? For someone visiting for the first time, what are 2 or 3 must ride trails or trail systems? What are the family-friendly rides, and which ones are the most challenging? What are some lesser-known trails where riders can get away from the crowds? Who are the tour operators or clubs visitors can connect with if they want to ride with locals? Where do people hang out after the

Dr. Kate Leeming is an explorer and adventurer who has biked tens of thousands of miles around the world, including 15,000 miles around the Australian continent in 2004 and 2005 and 22,000km across Africa from Senegal to Somalia. In 2019 she became the first person to cycle 1600km through the sands of the Namibian coast and is working toward the first-ever Antarctic bicycle crossing via the South Pole for her educational outreach organization, Breaking the Cycle. In this episode, we ask Kate: What is your first memory of going on an adventure? Were you a good student in school? Did you enjoy learning? Have you always considered yourself an explorer? How does Breaking the Cycle: Education connect with your expeditions? What is the goal? What got you interested in the traversing the Skeleton Coast in Namibia by bike? Tell us about the all-wheel-drive fat bike you used. Was this a custom set up, or something you were able to find off the shelf? How did the bike perform? Were there any surprises alon

Anya Bruhin is a Northwest Arkansas local who has lived and worked in Fayetteville and Bentonville for 25 years. She’s also the education program manager for Bike NWA. In this episode we ask Anya: What makes Northwest Arkansas stand out among mountain bike destinations? For someone visiting for the first time, what are 2 or 3 must ride trails or trail systems? What are some family-friendly rides? Which rides are the most challenging? What are some lesser-known mountain bike trails? Who builds and maintains the trails in Northwest Arkansas? What are some ways visitors can connect with local mountain bikers? Where do people hang out after the ride? Are there any bars or breweries that tend to attract mountain bikers? What is the best time of year to visit? Are there any festivals or races visitors can plan to attend? Are there plans to expand or improve trails in the area? Is there anything else mountain bikers need to know before visiting Northwest Arkansas? For more information and resou

Cimarron Chacon is the president and race director at GRO Promotions, which offers mountain bike event and trail development services in and around St. George, Utah. She also founded the Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association which is now known as the Trail Alliance of Southern Utah. We ask Cimarron: What makes St. George stand out among mountain bike destinations? For someone visiting for the first time, what are 2 or 3 must ride trails or trail systems? Which trails are family-friendly, and which ones are the most challenging? What are some lesser-known trails where riders can get away from the crowds? Who builds and maintains the trails in the area? Where do people hang out after the ride? Are there any bars or breweries that tend to attract mountain bikers? What are some of the mountain bike races or events visitors can plan to attend (or avoid)?  Are there plans to expand or improve trails in the area? Learn more about mountain biking in St. George at tasutah.org and gropromotions.co

Kevin Adams is a board member for the Verde Valley Cyclist Coalition, a nonprofit group working to promote cycling in the Verde Valley, including the town of Sedona, Arizona. Kevin also is the President of the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund that raises money for the maintenance and enhancement of the non-motorized trails near Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. In his spare time, he’s the Chair of the Arizona State Committee on Trails. Of course he’s a mountain biker too, and he’s been connected to the local scene for almost a decade. There are massive plans for new mountain bike trails in the Verde Valley, and Kevin fills us in on the details. In this episode, we also ask: What makes Sedona and the Verde Valley stand out among mountain bike destinations? What are 2 or 3 must ride trails or trail systems? Which trails are family-friendly, and which ones are the most challenging? Are there any lesser-known trails where riders can get away from the crowds? Who builds and maintains the trails in Sedona? Ar

Dr. Adam Phaneuf is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a degree in Exercise Science based in Bellingham, WA. He's also a bike fitter and has studied bicycle biomechanics. In this episode we ask: How important is bike fit to mountain bikers compared to say road or gravel riders? Even within MTB, is fit more important for XC than gravity riders? What are some signs that a rider needs a better bike fit? What types of improvements can mountain bikers expect to see? How does a bike fit work? How much does a bike fit generally cost? Can non-racers benefit from a bike fit in terms of comfort or other factors? What are some key component swaps that can be done as part of a bike fit, and why? How can you tell if your bars are too wide? Do you have a rule of thumb for setting seat height for mountain biking? Do droppers make seat height settings easier, or more complicated? What's the best way to figure out the proper bike frame size? Are there certain key measurements buyers should consider? What are the

David Billstrom is the CEO of Kitsbow, a North Carolina based cycling apparel company known for producing high-quality products. The company utilizes a made-to-order model for many of the items in their catalog to reduce waste, cut lead times, and support the local economy. In this episode we ask: What is lean manufacturing? How does it work specifically for an apparel company like Kitsbow? How significant are transportation costs associated with manufacturing your products overseas? Has it been difficult to find manufacturing workers in Old Fort, North Carolina? Is hiring a bottleneck in terms of expanding domestic production? How much waste is due to forecasting errors on sizing, styles, etc.? Does lean manufacturing eliminate most of this? What are some of the things you’ve learned from your customers or been able to improve about your products? What does the future of cycling apparel look like for Kitsbow? Learn more at Kitsbow.com. This episode is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Picture yo

Ashley Korenblat is the CEO of Western Spirit Cycling Adventures and founder of Outerbike, as well as the Managing Director of Public Land Solutions, a non-profit dedicated to “providing comprehensive recreation planning and stakeholder coordination to support effective and sustainable public land solutions.” She also previously served as IMBA Board chair. In this episode we ask Ashley: What is a “recreational asset?” Is this considered in strictly monetary terms, or are intrinsic values considered as well? How does PLS identify recreational assets and what does a typical plan look like? How significant is the Land and Water Conservation Fund in terms of recreation project funding in the US?  Is there an opportunity to work with energy development companies on recreation plans? What are some of the ways trail advocacy groups could improve on their current land management and access strategies? What is the PLS stance on MTB Wilderness access?   How does your advocacy background inform an

Josie Fouts is a two-time National Paralympics Road and Track Cycling Champion with plans to compete at the 2021 Games in Tokyo. She's also working to make mountain biking a Paralympic sport and stars in a new short film called Go Josie. In this episode, we ask Josie: Have you found being stubborn is a strength? Does it ever get you in trouble? Are you able to use your formal education in nutrition and nutritional immunology as a part of your own training?  What is the level of competition like at the US National Paralympics? Were you surprised the first time you competed? How difficult is it to find off-the-shelf products that work for para athletes? Have you found gear manufacturers are willing to work with you to find solutions? What’s it been like working with a gear sponsor like Swiftwick?  Are there things the bike industry could be doing to make equipment more para-friendly?  Why do you think mountain biking is not a part of the Paralympics? What do you do to keep your wor

Renee Hutchens is a mountain biker, storyteller, and artist living in Colorado. As a member of the Diné Nation, Renee is an advocate for both Indigenous people and the lands they call home. In this episode we discuss what it means to have a respectful and consensual relationship with the lands where we ride. Renee explains the meaning of the phrase environmental justice and talks about the mission of the Ute Land Trust. We talk about how words and naming in the bike industry can be hurtful to indigenous communities and why land acknowledgements at races are important. Follow Renee on Instagram @renay.h and view her work at linktr.ee. Editor's note: We reached out to Handup for comment about the "savage" glove mentioned in this interview and received the following reply: "We stopped selling these gloves in June 2020 after this came to our attention. Since then, we've changed gears to highlight 'Gloves that Give' in order for us to be able to give back to underrepresented community members of the mountain bike

Matt Martinez is the executive director of Dream Bikes, a non-profit organization that strategically places used bicycle stores in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods to provide hands-on, paid job training to teens. Dream Bikes has refurbished and returned more than 10,000 bikes to service, and operates two shops in Wisconsin. We ask Matt: Is there a lot of demand for bike mechanics? How does the pay for professional mechanics compare to other jobs? What kind of impact can access to affordable bikes have on communities? Are you seeing increased demand for bikes during the pandemic?  Beyond providing repairs and selling bikes, how does a thriving local bike shop impact neighborhoods? Is there an environmental aspect to your mission? Beyond the training your group provides, what is the value of a more formal bike repair education? Does a lack of infrastructure like bike lanes or even trails limit the reach or utility of the program in the communities where you operate? What are some ways mo

No, this isn't a sponsored episode; we just wanted to geek out on a topic that most of us take for granted!  Rob Martin is the managing director at Outdoor Sports Insurance, a Horizon Agency program dedicated to working with sports equipment manufacturers and retailers. Tori Hoeschler is senior vice president at Horizon Agency and works with all aspects of the Outdoor Sports Insurance Program. Like us, you may have wondered: Are bike shops liable for faulty repairs? Are more bike shops starting to offer rentals? What should consumers know about signing equipment rental or guide service waivers?  With such a high demand for bikes currently, are your retail clients seeing an increase in theft? How does product liability coverage work? How is that related to product recalls and warranty issues? How much of the cost of a bike product, or a service like a bike park lift ticket, typically goes toward covering insurance? More information at outdoorsportsins.com. --Keep up with the latest in mou

This is part two of our interview with pioneering mountain bike skills coach Gene Hamilton. If you missed part one, be sure to load it up in your podcast app and listen! In this episode, we ask: Is it possible for mountain biking to be bad for our health? What’s a mountain bike skill that separates pros from those who would consider themselves advanced or even expert riders? Are some bike tires better at cornering than others? Which ones?  How has mountain bike skills training changed over the past two decades, in terms of the techniques and the skills you’re teaching? As someone who has won Masters-level DH competitions, what tips do you have for staying fast and fit at your age? Do you think today’s bikes make it easier for riders to go faster, or to have more fun? How much of performance comes down to the bike, and how much to the rider? Connect with Gene and his team at Betterride.net. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Sup

Gene Hamilton is a former pro downhill racer who created one of the first mountain bike skills courses in the late 1990s. Today Better Ride holds clinics around the US, teaching regular riders and pros alike how to ride fast. In the first half of our conversation, Gene answers: How did you get into mountain biking racing? Once you realized that you had hit a wall in terms of your own skills development, how did you go about researching proper mountain bike skills? Were there any surprises based on your early research, or any “aha” moments that stuck out? How can riders take advantage of momentum to go faster on the trail without putting in extra effort? And we're just getting started! Tune in next week for part two of our conversation where Gene shares the skills that separate the pros from advanced riders, his favorite tires for cornering, and how our understanding of bike skills has evolved over the years. Connect with Gene and his team at Betterride.net. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking a

Rick Reed is the Brand Manager for Ride Concepts, a mountain bike footwear company based in Reno, Nevada. Before joining Ride Concepts, he was a sales director at Five Ten. In this episode we ask Rick: Why are mountain bike shoes more expensive than “regular” shoes? Is there really an advantage to wearing something made specifically for biking? How does pedal grip translate to trail grip when it’s time to hike-a-bike? Is there a sweet spot when it comes to sole stiffness? Is stiffer always better, at least when you’re on the pedals? What do you think about the trend toward moving cleat positions back toward the mid foot? Are there advantages to using traditional laces instead of Velcro or something like a Boa, or is that just for aesthetics?   What types of features can be built into a shoe to provide protection against injury? What are the biggest constraints when it comes to designing a good bike shoe? How is the environmental footprint factored in when designing a pair of shoes? Are there