Embracing Fun Over Optimization

The first live recorded show of Mind the Track was at last weekend’s grand opening of the brand new Start Haus bike and ski shop in Truckee next to the “mouse hole” on Highway 89, the only shop Pow Bot will take his splitboard. Considered by many to be the best bike and ski shop in Tahoe, Start Haus has a core lord crew of ace mechanics, including one of today’s guests, co-owner Gregg “Stubby” Stone, a recovering singlespeeder who can fix your bike almost as fast as a rides downhill. The boys also chat with OG mountain bike legend Scot Nicol, the founder of Ibis Cycles. Born in 1981 at the dawn of mountain biking, Ibis is the only original mountain bike brand left that is still part owned by its founder. At the ripe young age of 70, Nicol still rips the legs off people half his age. He shares a bit of wisdom about staying young and healthy, a bit about mountain bike history and bike innovation. The boys also chat about California State Park’s recent decision to limb up a Lake Tahoe tree that was the granddaddy of all rope swings, and why social media and “influencers” are squarely to blame for its demise.

3:30 – Recording live at the Start Haus grand opening in Truckee.

6:10 – Optimization culture – forget that. Optimize having fun. That’s most important.

8:00 – We are down to our last 10 Deso Supply hats…so get on it and order yours!

9:20 – Pow Bot’s story about riding the Amtrak from Chicago to Colorado to go skiing.

11:40 – Listener shout outs to Amiel, Clark and John B.

14:55 – A little bit about today’s guests, Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis Cycles and Gregg Stone, co-owner of Start Haus.

20:16 – NEWS THAT MATTERS – California State Parks cut down the tree limbs of an iconic rope swing on the West Shore. Social media blew up the spot and ruined everything.

34:08 – Former Truckee mayor, Dave Polivy, makes cameo appearance.

37:00 – DOPE OR DERP – Bar Down. Liability risk in skiing in the US compared to Europe.

45:15 – Euro Carver and Fritz Schmitz talk about difference between Smoke Shack and Start Haus.

50:50 – Interview with Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis Cycles.

54:40 – The transition from a one-man custom steel frame builder to a 50-person company making composite bikes.

58:00 – What innovations have changed mountain biking the most? Suspension. Tubeless.

1:01:10 – Why has nobody figured out a 21st Century solution to the Presta valve?

1:04:45 – If Scot were to buy a custom hardtail, what would he buy? No. 22 Bicycle Company.

1:07:25 – DOPE or DERP – Hardtail mountain bikes.

1:10:00 – Staying young and healthy at 70 years old. The key is a life of bikes, avoiding stress and eating healthy.

1:15:45 – What is your best day outside North America and inside North America? Slovenia and Lake Tahoe.

1:18:50 – What is the Ibis Migration event in Mendocino and La Ventana, Baja Mexico?

1:24:53 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:26:35 – Interview with Gregg Stone – co-owner of Start Haus.

1:27:45 – Where did Gregg get his nickname “Stubby”?

1:29:20 – How did Gregg go from being a mobile bike mechanic to being a big bike shop owner?

1:34:06 – Start Haus has a great YouTube series with easy to understand tech tips.

1:37:00 – How did Start Haus manage to purchase a piece of land and build a brand new building on Highway 89 in Truckee?

1:41:45 – What is the best way to get in and out of the parking lot at Start Haus?

1:44:10 – What’s the most bizarre bike you’ve ever worked on? Pennyfarthing aka high wheeler.

1:48:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:50:00 – Singlespeed mountain biking and SInglespeed World Championships in Bend, Oregon.