Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Sean Madsen is WTB’s Saddle Category Manager and is an expert in cycling biomechanics with more than 24 years of experience. Over his career he's studied and taught bike fitting to thousands worldwide, and he's helped create many innovative saddle concepts while working with top athletes. In this episode, we ask Sean common questions about bike saddles including: How are bike saddles constructed? What are some of the different materials that are used for padding? Are there advantages to using materials like gel? What is the purpose of titanium or carbon saddle rails? How does bike saddle sizing work? Are more expensive saddles more comfortable? What’s the idea behind saddle cutouts? Why do you think the Volt is one of WTB's best selling saddles? Do men and women need different bike saddles? Are saddles generally designed under the assumption that riders will be wearing a chamois? Are mountain bike saddles different from road bike saddles? How have saddle designs changed over the past few seasons? What’s driving the changes? What are some signs that it’s time for a new or a different saddle? Find out more about saddles and WTB designs at wtb.com. --To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Rocky Mountain is giving Singletracks listeners a chance to win one of five limited edition prize packs. Visit singletracks.com/rockymountain40 by August 31, 2021 and enter your name and a valid email address to be considered. One entry per person, no purchase necessary, void where prohibited. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Rocky Mountain Bicycles officially got its start in 1981, and this year the innovative brand is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In that time Rocky Mountain has produced countless innovations and firsts, and their sponsored athletes have won races on all of the world’s biggest stages. Today Dre Hestler and Stephen Matthews are joining me to talk about the brand’s history, and to look to the future. In this episode we learn: How Rocky Mountain got its start Why the brand's first production model in 1982, the Sherpa, was so special What it's like working at Rocky Mountain, and how the company's operations in BC and Quebec influence product design Which Rocky Mountain athletes and races stand out over the years How the brand partnered with freeriders Richie Schley, Wade Simmons and Brett Tippie at the dawn of the sport Where 27.5" mountain bikes came from, and where they currently fit in Which bikes Dre and Stephen are most proud of How DynaMe is different from other e-bike drive systems on the market What the future looks like for Rocky Mountain To celebrate the anniversary, Rocky Mountain is giving Singletracks listeners a chance to win one of five limited edition prize packs. Visit singletracks.com/rockymountain40 by August 31, 2021 and enter your name and a valid email address to be considered. One entry per person, no purchase necessary, void where prohibited. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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 thoughts on mounting a camera or light to a bike helmet? What does the future of bicycle helmet tech look like? If there is one thing everyone should know about wearing a bike helmet, what is it? --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

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 Navajo culture?  Learn more and  get in touch at dziltaahadventures.com, and follow them on Instagram @dziltaahadventures. --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

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 do people hang out after the ride? Are there any bars or breweries that tend to attract mountain bikers? Where is the best area to find lodging for a North Shore MTB trip? What is the best time of year to visit? Are there plans to expand or improve trails in the area? Is there anything else mountain bikers need to know before visiting the North Shore? For more information visit nsmba.ca. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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, and 24 Hour Solo races? Your race calendar tends to be very full every year, so what’s your recovery routine look like? What’s the secret to staying fast on the bike and continuing to beat riders who are half your age? What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were competing in your 20s? You’ve raced bikes all over the world; where are your favorite places to ride for fun? Find out more about the Tinker Classic race at gropromotions.com/tinker-classic/ --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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 ride? Are there any bars or breweries that tend to attract mountain bikers? Is there camping available in the area? Are there bike-friendly hotels in town? 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 Sun Valley? For more information, and to support mountain biking in the Wood River Valley, visit woodrivertrailscoalition.org --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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 along the way? How do you prepare for such massive expeditions, especially ones that no one else has completed before? How much of the preparation involves physical training versus research and logistics? How do you prepare yourself mentally? What are the challenges that women continue to face in the world of adventuring and exploring today? Are there ways we can be “explorers” in our day-to-day lives? What is the value of staying curious? Learn more and connect with Kate at KateLeeming.com and BreakingTheCycle.Education. Diamonds in the Sand will air on Outside TV this summer. Cover photo: Simon Wearne.

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 resources visit bikenwa.org.

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.com. This episode is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Picture yourself in the middle of 100,000 acres of public lands and over 300 shredable miles of single track. A place often referred to as one of the top mountain biking towns in the country. Brevard, North Carolina has countless epic adventures for every kind of rider on tap. Whether you love rocky, rooty technical lines in Pisgah, or flowy lines in Dupont State Recreational Forest, or something in-between – Brevard has it all…in spades. Come discover the place often referred to as the Cycling Capital of the South. Start planning your trip at ExploreBrevard.com --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks