At age 55, Lee McCormack is still getting faster, and helping other riders do the same

10 snips

Apr 29, 2025

Lee McCormack, a seasoned mountain bike skills instructor and author, dives into the evolution of biking techniques and coaching styles. He discusses the significance of mastering pedal cadence and how joy should trump metrics in biking. Lee shares insights on pump tracks as community hubs and introduces innovations like Moto Cranks, enhancing balance for shorter riders. He encourages bikers to build confidence through playful experimentation and explains how age can be an advantage in improving speed and skills on the trails. Plus, he reveals the inspiration behind his bike brand, Mistress Cycles.

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ANECDOTE

Pedal Cadence Effects Explained

Lee McCormack explains how pedal cadence affects muscle and cardiovascular stress differently.
He shares how higher cadence demands more cardiovascular effort, while lower cadence stresses muscles more.

ADVICE

Improve Cadence with Timed Sessions

Count your pedal revolutions for a minute to gauge your cadence and find a smooth rhythm.
Practice at 80-90 RPM smoothly, then apply that technique at lower cadences.

ANECDOTE

Moto Cranks Born From Injury

Lee developed Moto Cranks after noticing traditional long cranks strain riders and disrupt bike balance.
After a severe hamstring injury, Moto Cranks allowed him to continue riding and rehab by reducing hinge strain.

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Lee McCormack is a mountain bike skills instructor and coach, and he's the author of nearly a dozen books, including the NICA Skills Training Manual. He's written extensively on bike fitting and fitness training, and just last year he launched his own bike brand, Mistress Cycles.

How have mountain biking techniques changed over the years?
What's the difference between a good mountain bike racer, and a good mountain bike coach?
Is pedal cadence important for mountain biking? How do you know if your cadence is too fast or too slow? How can you improve your cadence?
Why are you such a fan of pump tracks. Why?
How do Moto Cranx work on a pump track?
Do you think mountain bikers tend to be overconfident, or underconfident in their skills?
Do you think it's possible to be faster in your 40s or 50s than in your 20s by maintaining fitness and progressing your skills?
How did Mistress Cycles come about? What is it about "modern" mountain bike geometry that you find frustrating?
You've come out with some innovative products over the years, like the RipRow trainer and Moto Cranx. In addition to the bikes from Mistress Cycles, do you have any other projects in the works?

You can keep up with the latest from Lee McCormack on Instagram @leelikesbikes, where you'll find links to all of the projects we talked about today.

An automated transcript of our edited conversation is provided at singletracks.com. Click here for an unedited video of our conversation, where Lee illustrates many of the concepts discussed. Note: may contain brief language some readers find offensive.

This podcast episode is sponsored by Backslope Tools.

Backslope Tools designs and produces innovative lockable, stackable, and field-repairable tools for trail building, landscaping, and gardening. With 20 years of trailbuilding experience, Backslope is putting the right tools for the job into builders' hands, from individuals to full-on trail crews. Order online at backslopetools.com and save 15% on your order with code SingletracksPod.