Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Singletracks tested dozens of mountain bikes in 2021 and three of our editors share their favorites in this special episode. From kids mountain bikes to enduro, and from electric to hardtail, we share the ones we liked best. In addition to sharing our favorites, we'll also talk about our runners up and some of the more unique and unusual bikes we reviewed in 2021. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This year Christopher Blevins became the first American man to win a World Cup race since 1994, taking first in the final XCO race of the season at Snowshoe, West Virginia. He’s also the reigning short track world champion, and has notched numerous podium finishes at national and international mountain, cyclocross, and road races. This month he’s got a short documentary film titled “The Long Traverse” that will be premiering online. How did the Durango DEVO community-based cycling program shape who you are as a rider? What is it about Durango that produces so many talented riders? Is it the elevation, or the terrain, or something else? How does being a playful rider translate on the race course? How did you get interested in spoken word poetry? What did you learn through the process of preparing for and then racing your FKT attempt along the Los Padres route? Which do you find more challenging: FKTs or World Cup racing? How are they different or the same? As a professional athlete, what do you see as your role in important issues like climate change? How can we balance the positives that tourism can bring to an area with the impact that it has in terms of the carbon footprint of travel and the strain on local resources? Why did you decide to join the Trinity Racing team? Were you thinking about becoming the first US male to win a World Cup race in 27 years at the start of the Snowshoe XC event this year? Who are some entrepreneurs you admire? Do you see yourself becoming an entrepreneur in the traditional business sense, or is entrepreneurship applicable to making a career as an athlete? What’s next for you? Watch "The Long Traverse" and learn more at stilspoke.com This episode is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain bikers in New Zealand, and today the company offers some of the highest quality bike lights on the market – Including Bluetooth control and complete customisation through their app. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3600 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2021. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Explore the must-visit mountain biking trails in Pisgah National Forest, along with insights on challenges and regulations. Discover tour operators, clubs, and shuttle rides in the area, as well as the best times to visit and popular mountain bike races. Learn about the evolution of trail building in the forest and the rejuvenation of Old Fort with new trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tyson Swasey is a mountain biker and trail builder who has lived in Moab, Utah for his whole life. He’s currently the Operations Coordinator for Grand County, Utah Active Transportation and Trails. In this episode we ask Tyson: Has Moab always been a tourist destination? Why was the town founded?  It seems like Moab was a mountain bike destination before there were mountain bike destinations.  What makes the area so great for mountain biking? How did the first trails get built? Which trails are the oldest? Are there any family-friendly rides or trails? Which trails 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 Moab? What type of bike do most people ride in Moab? Do a lot of people rent bikes when they visit? What are some of the more popular guided or shuttled tour routes in the area? Are there any regular group rides for locals that are visitor-friendly? Where do people hang out after the ride? What is the best time of year to visit? Are there any festivals or races visitors can plan to attend?  Is there much camping available in the immediate area? Does lodging tend to fill up around certain events, or at certain times of the year? Are there plans to expand or improve trails in the area? Is there anything else mountain bikers need to know before visiting Moab for the first time, or maybe for the first time in a while? Get more information at discovermoab.com and moabtrailmix.com.  This episode is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain bikers in New Zealand, and today the company offers some of the highest quality bike lights on the market – Including Bluetooth control and complete customisation through their app. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3600 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2021. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Ryan Standish is a professional mountain bike racer from Australia who is currently living in the US. In addition to competing in top level mountain bike and gravel races, he’s also working to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. In this episode, we ask: How long have you been riding mountain bikes? How old were you when you realized you were fast? How did you end up in the US after growing up in Alice Springs, Australia? How did you qualify for the World Cup XC and short track races in West Virginia this year?  Why did you decide to wear jorts in the races? What is it like to race in the World Cup? How is it different from the other races you’ve competed in? What type of race or ride do you like the most? Do you prefer sprint formats like short track, or longer races like gravel grinders and stage races? How are you able to recover with so many back-to-back races? How did you get involved in raising awareness for MS? What’s your favorite place to ride? Do you have a favorite trail? Are you a good cook? Do you tend to eat healthy during the race season? What’s next on your 2021 race calendar? What are your goals outside of racing? Follow Ryan on Instagram @ryanstandwich and keep up with him online at RyanStandish.com. This episode is sponsored by Gloworm Lites. Gloworm is a mountain bike light brand founded almost a decade ago by two mountain bikers in New Zealand, and today the company offers some of the highest quality bike lights on the market – Including Bluetooth control and complete customisation through their app. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3600 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2021. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Casey Coughlin teaches bicycle repair at Minneapolis College in Minnesota, one of only two colleges to offer a certificate program in the subject. While applying to graduate school she worked as a bike repair tech and later as a manager at Erik's Bikes in Rochester. We ask Casey: What are some of the ways professional bike mechanics learn the trade?  What’s the most common path to getting a job in a bike shop? Why do you think the demand for bike mechanics is projected to increase over the next few years? Is this related to the Covid bike boom? When learning to become a bike mechanic, what is the first repair you start with? Why? Is problem solving something you can teach bike mechanics? What does your prospective student look like?  Is there any sort of continuing education for bike mechanics? Do today’s bike mechanics need additional skill sets to deal with more complicated systems like e-bikes? Beyond being able to work on bikes, what sorts of skills do shop employees and future managers need to develop? Are there certain repairs that are more fun, or satisfying than others? Are there jobs no one wants to do in the shop? What makes working in a bike shop, or in the bike industry, a good career? Learn more about the Bicycle Assembly and Repair Technician Certificate at the Minneapolis College website. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Neko Mulally is a professional downhill mountain bike racer and three time US National Champion.  He’s also the co-founder of Windrock Bike Park in Tennessee and is currently part of the Intense DH Factory Racing team. In this conversation, we ask Neko: How did you find your passion for mountain biking at such an early age? What’s it like racing the World Cup on familiar trails at Snowshoe, West Virginia? What have you learned through the experience of building and operating Windrock Bike park? When you’re not riding park, where do you like to ride? Do you have a favorite trail? Why do you think people are so interested in how much money professional mountain bikers earn? Did money play into your decision to pursue a career in racing? Do today’s young mountain bike athletes have advantages or opportunities you didn’t have growing up?  Do you have to live at the base of a mountain resort to become a pro downhiller? How do you feel about crashing? Is it true that if you’re not crashing, you’re not learning? Do you have any tips for avoiding serious injury when you do fall? What does your preparation for the World Cup season look like?  How do strength and endurance training play into getting ready for competition? What’s are the best and worst parts about traveling the world to race mountain bikes? Visit NekoMulally.com to purchase this year’s Bike Giveaway Fundraiser Poster and follow Neko on Instagram @nekomulally. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks Photo courtesy Neko Mulally.

Fabio Wibmer is an Austrian trials rider and mountain biker with almost 7 million YouTube subscribers and his videos have been viewed more than 1.2 billion times. He’s known for starring in videos like Wibmer’s Law, Fabiolous Escape 1 and 2, and most recently, Home Office. In addition to trials riding, Fabio is also a winning downhill and freeride mountain biker. How are you feeling following your dirt bike crash in November? Do you have any tips or tricks for recovering from injury? How do you fill your time off the bike? Are dirt bikes just a hobby for you, or is it something you use to get better on the mountain bike? Like a lot of people, I imagine you started riding bikes as a kid. When did you realize that you were more talented, or maybe just more passionate, than the other kids? Who were the riders who inspired you as you were growing up? Are there any tricks you really wanted to include in a video like Home Office, but weren’t able to complete? How do you know when it’s time to give up on a trick and move on? Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Where do you get your confidence? Which video project are you the most proud of? What are some of the skills that cross over between trials and freeride mountain biking? What’s the secret to pulling off a really good tail whip? What are some of the best mountain bike trails you have ridden around the world? What do you have to say to younger riders who look up to you? If you weren’t a trials rider and Red Bull athlete, what would you be doing instead? Photo: Hannes Berger / Red Bull Content Pool This episode first aired on January 11, 2021. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Today we’re wrapping up our mid-travel, trail bike mashup with our bike testers, Chris, Gerow, and Matt. We’ll meet the testers, discuss how the bikes were selected, and find out how the test rides were conducted. Then the team will share which bikes were their favorites, and talk about some of the surprises along the way. As a part of this roundtable discussion, Chris, Gerow, and Matt also talk about which bikes offer the best value, and offer advice for mountain bikers looking to purchase a new trail bike. Finally, we hear which bikes the team wants to text next! Read the written reviews at singletracks.com/MTM and watch video reviews at youtube.com/singletracksmtb.  --This episode is sponsored by Jamis Bikes.  Jamis has been designing and building quality bikes since 1979, and they were among the first to produce mountain bikes beginning in 1982. Check out the entire lineup of Jamis high performance mountain bikes at www.jamisbikes.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Arrie Rossouw is the co-founder and CEO of LuvTRAILS, an online and mobile platform helping groups raise funds for trail building and maintenance.  Jeremiah Bishop is a professional cyclist with countless major wins in short track, marathon, and ultra endurance racing. He’s also a leading advocate for cycling.  We ask Arrie and Jeremiah: How did Luv Trails come about? How is it connected to Trail Care? Jeremiah, what is your involvement with Trail Care and Luv Trails?  What does the Luv Trails app do? How do mountain bike clubs get included on the Trail Care website and in the Luv Trails app? Where do the donations go? How much of the money goes to the club vs. paying credit card fees and overhead? Why are monetary donations so important to trail groups?  How do riders connect their Stava account to Trail.care? What is the average donation per mile ridden? Do people tend to ride the same local trails over and over, or are you seeing people travel outside their area and supporting other clubs? Are clubs seeing meaningful revenue yet? How does this compare to the old-fashioned trailhead donation box? How do you convince riders to sign up or to make a one time donation? Once people sign up, do they tend to stick around and keep donating? What does the future hold for Luv Trails and Trail Care? Find the Luv Trails app in the Apple and Android app stores, or visit trail.care. --This episode is sponsored by Jamis Bikes.  Jamis has been designing and building quality bikes since 1979, and they were among the first to produce mountain bikes beginning in 1982. Check out the entire lineup of Jamis high performance mountain bikes at www.jamisbikes.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks