They Don't Just Look Cool; Steel Enduro Bikes Can Rip Too

Joe McEwan is a career aerospace engineer and carbon composites expert who founded Starling Cycles in 2014. The brand’s bikes are developed, engineered and handmade for the demands of UK trails, and the bikes have been well received among both the media and athletes.

In this episode we ask:

• What first piqued your interest in building steel bikes? Have you tried building bikes with other materials?
• Is it true that that steel absorbs road and trail vibration better than other materials, and if so, can the average rider feel a difference? Do fat tires and suspension have more of an affect on ride feel than frame material?
• How do you go about making a steel tube stiffer in one direction than the other?
• Are there any design considerations that are unique to steel full-suspension frames?
• Why are most steel frames single-pivot?
• Why do some bikes like the Murmur Trail need a brace between the top tube and seat tube?
• Some Starling products are made in the UK, while others are welded in Taiwan. How do you decide which bikes to build in house, and which ones to outsource?
• Are there advantages to a gearbox over an external drivetrain that go beyond broken derailleurs?
• What are your thoughts on the rising popularity of mixed-wheel bikes?
• What’s next for Starling Cycles? Are there any steel ebikes in the future?

Check out the full suspension steel mountain bikes at starlingcycles.com.

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 craft breweries, cafes and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of the best small towns in America in 2021. It all adds up to a premier mountain biking destination you’ll want to experience for yourself. Find out more at ExploreBrevard.com.

✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available at singletracks.com.

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