Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Chip Hawkins is the founder and chairman of the board at Wahoo Fitness (wahoofitness.com). The company’s stated mission is to “create innovative solutions to make hard fought goals attainable and lives better,” through products like smart trainers, bike computers, watches, and heart rate monitors. We ask Chip: Why did you start Wahoo Fitness? What were the limitations of existing fitness sensors at the time? Before smartphones and GPS units, were you big on tracking your own fitness data? What are the advantages of using a dedicated fitness head unit over the smartphone everyone is already carrying in their pockets? Why do we need another device? How important are accuracy and precision when it comes to fitness data tracking? Do you think the existing fitness software that’s available to athletes does a good job analyzing workout data? Are today’s algorithms helping riders make significant gains? Is tracking power output better suited to road training, or is it useful to look at it for trail rides too? Can sensors help with nutrition tracking? What can mountain bikers gain from riding a smart trainer? Does tech make the experience any less terrible? How do products like smart bikes and smart trainers play into the evolution of sport and competition? What’s next in the fitness tracking arms race? If everyone has access to the same tools, how can individual athletes use tech to gain an edge over competitors? --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

Jeremiah Stone is a mountain bike skill instructor who has taught hundreds of riders across the western USA with Ninja Mountain Bike Performance and the Sedona Mountain Bike Academy. He’s also a freelance trail builder and machine operator in addition to being a skilled rider. In this interview, we ask: How did you develop your own mountain bike skills? Did you have a coach? Do you think today’s mountain bikes make it easier to be a good biker, compared to the equipment that was available in the old days? Timing seems to be a big factor when it comes to landing jumps or clearing doubles. How can riders develop a good sense of timing and speed? Why is it easier to ride a technical feature once you’ve seen someone else ride it first? What are some common bad habits when it comes to technical trail descending? Beyond improving physical fitness, are there skills that can make climbing on the bike more tolerable? Do you have any tips for helping riders overcome their fear of trying something new? How does that advice change for someone recovering from a traumatic crash? This episode first aired on February 22, 2021. Connect with Jeremiah on Instagram @vitabrevis and learn more at ridelikeaninja.com. --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

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. Find out why Joe thinks carbon fiber is almost the McDonalds of bikes, and also: What first piqued your interest in building steel bikes? Have you tried building bikes with other materials? Can the average rider feel a difference between a steel frame and say carbon fiber or aluminum? Do fat tires and suspension limit the effect when it comes to mountain bikes? How does tube shape and bracing affect ride feel? Why do you use Reynolds over tube stock from other suppliers? How is the tubing sized in terms of lengths? What is the cost of raw tubing? 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 FS frames single-pivot? What are some design considerations around the headtube junction? How do you make that area stiff enough to hold a slack fork while keeping the bike’s weight low? Why do larger bike sizes need a brace between the top tube and seat tube? What can you do to dial in BB stiffness when building with steel? Has the recent shipping dilemma affected your frame business? How about components? What are you hearing from owners and fans of the gearbox driven Starling Spur? 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 e-bikes in the future? View photos and learn more about the bikes mentioned in this episode at StarlingCycles.com. --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

Gene Hamilton, mountain bike skills coach and founder of Better Ride, shares tips on mountain bike skills, the importance of momentum, the impact of bikes on performance, and the evolution of mountain bike skills training. They also discuss tire choice and cornering, staying fit as you age, and the significance of help and support in the sport.

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