
Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast
Podcast host Jeff Barber, Editor-in-Chief at Singletracks.com, aims to inform and inspire with topics and interviews from the mountain bike world. Since 2015, we have been sharing weekly stories from under the helmets of the most inspiring and influential mountain bikers.
Join us as we learn from top athletes, product designers, trail builders, coaches, mechanics, artists, and leaders in the mountain biking community.
Latest episodes

Dec 14, 2020 • 39min
Dirt Lab: Creating a Grassroots Skills Park and Trail Building Playground
Mat Stanke is a trail builder and board member of the Clinch Valley Trail Alliance in Oak Ridge, Tennessee outside of Knoxville. He and his club recently opened a new skills park called the Dirt Lab through a grassroots effort involving local businesses and community members.
We talk about the vision behind creating the Dirt Lab bike park and how it differs from the natural singletrack trails that were already available to riders in the area. Mat walks us through approvals, funding, and construction, offering insight into the process for others who might be considering the same for their local community. More than just a place for riders to progress their skills, the Dirt Lab offers builders an opportunity to hone their trail feature building skills for future projects as well.
Tune in to hear about the mistakes the group made along the way as Mat speaks candidly about some of the challenges the project faced.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Nov 23, 2020 • 46min
A Case Study in MTB Tourism, with CAMBA in Wisconsin
Ron Bergin is the Executive Director of the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association, also known as CAMBA, located in northern Wisconsin. The club is known for maintaining a well known network of mountain bike trails which host popular races and events including the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival and the Borah Epic. CAMBA recently worked with River Falls Research Center on a study linking trail visits to $7.8 million in economic impact within two surrounding counties.
We learn how the CAMBA trail usage and economic impact study was conducted, and what the results mean for future trail building and maintenance. Are events big economic drivers, or are trails alone enough to make an impact? Is it tough to find enough local volunteers to maintain trails used primarily by tourists? Do groomed fat bike trails draw winter visitors? Ron answers all these questions and more.
Read the full report here (https://cambatrails.org/about/economic-impact-studies/) and learn more about the group at cambatrails.org.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Nov 9, 2020 • 43min
Mountain Bike Training in the Time of Covid
Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He’s joined us a couple of times on the Singletracks podcast in the past, and we’re stoked to have him back to talk about strength and fitness training in the time of Covid.
Pro and amateur cycling athletes alike have seen their 2020 race and training schedules disrupted, so we dig into the ways athletes are adapting. While our discussion is centered around the effects of the current pandemic, many of the takeaways are applicable to anyone who is facing fitness or training challenges due to unexpected events.
We discuss mental tricks for staying focused, the effect of competition on performance, and the positive things some have learned amid forced downtime. The current pandemic is accelerating training technology adoption so we discuss which changes will stick around.
Connect with Ben at theendurancecollective.com
This podcast 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 most customizable, highest quality bike lights on the market. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3400 lumens, all at reasonable prices.
Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2020. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 16min
Fresh Gear and eMTB Advocacy News
In this week’s episode, Gerow, Jeff, and Matt sit down to discuss the latest mountain bike news, starting with a question that seems to come up every few years: is this the golden age of mountain biking? We’ll talk about interesting new products including a linkage upgrade and a shippable, cardboard pump track template, plus we take a look at the short 2020 professional mountain bike race season.
There’s also much to talk about in the world of e-bikes, from trail access to the latest take on lightweight eMTBs from Orbea. Listen in as we answer the question: what’s been your best and worst ride lately?
This podcast 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 most customizable, highest quality bike lights on the market. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3400 lumens, all at reasonable prices.
Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2020. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Oct 26, 2020 • 57min
Chris Currie on Mountain Bike Suspension Design
Chris Currie is a bike industry veteran with decades of experience in everything from retail and marketing to product design. His patented mountain bike suspension design, dubbed 3VO, is well regarded and is currently being used by Jamis Bikes in their full suspension bike line.
Chris fills us in on what it takes to design and patent a brand new mountain bike suspension setup, and talks about what makes his approach unique. We also ask Chris to explain confusing but important terms like instant center and axle path. What’s the most annoying thing about mountain bikes at the moment? Listen in to find out how Chris answers.
This podcast 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 most customizable, highest quality bike lights on the market. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3400 lumens, all at reasonable prices.
Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2020. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Oct 19, 2020 • 1h 18min
Our Favorite Mountain Bikes and Gear of 2020
The Singletracks staff has tested a ton of gear this year, and this week we’re looking back at some of our favorites. Listen in to hear what impressed us about each of these items, from clothing and accessories to complete bikes.
Some of the products covered in this episode:
MTB components
* TRP G-Spec brakes* Teravail Honcho tires * Schwalbe Magic Mary tires* Formula Selva R fork * Hope Fortus 30 wheels * Versus tires* MRP Raven fork * Ohlins TTXAir shock * And four more favorite tires tested in 2020
MTB accessories
* Topeak Burrito seat pack * Thule Roundtrip duffel bag * Garmin Forerunner 235 watch * Polar Grit X watch * Topeak Tubi 18 mini tool * Topeak DA mountain pump * Fidlock bottles * Camelbak Chase hydration vest * Topeak Prepstand Pro work stand
Clothing and wearables
* Pactimo Ridgeline hoodie * Gore C5 All-mountain shorts * Tasco gloves * Giro Ventana shoes * Endura MT500 jacket * Fox Speedframe helmet
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Oct 12, 2020 • 44min
How MTB Protection Works, with Dr. Chris Leatt
Dr. Chris Leatt is the founder of the eponymous bike and moto protection brand based in South Africa. The company’s bike product line has expanded over the years to include helmets, pads, goggles, and even hydration packs, all designed with a focus on safety and protection.
We find out how the Leatt company got its start, and what the brand is doing to help athletes stay safe. Dr. Leatt explains how everything from neck braces to helmets and body armor are designed to work, and offers tips for reducing risk on the bike trail.
This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the contiguous United States, no purchase necessary.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Oct 1, 2020 • 50min
How Tubeless Tires Work, with Stans President Mike Bush
Mike Bush is the President of Stans, a brand whose founder Stan Koziatek pioneered the use of tubeless tires in mountain biking. Today the Stans brand designs and markets its own line of popular wheels and tubeless tire accessories to keep mountain bikers rolling.
For most mountain bikers, tubeless tire sealant is basically magic, and Mike gives us one of the best explanations we’ve heard for how the stuff actually works. Of course tire sealant is just one piece of the inflation puzzle, so we spend a lot of time talking about rims and also tires.
Is carbon a better material for building rims than aluminum? Are 30mm-wide rims becoming the standard? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and more. There’s also additional info about the Stans brand at NoTubes.com.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Sep 23, 2020 • 1h 4min
Almost Everything you Need to Know About MTB Brakes
Vittorio Platania is the marketing manager for the Formula group based in Italy, and he’s here to fill us in on everything we need to know about mountain bike brakes.
We’ll discuss how hydraulic disc brakes work, and the factors that going into making a more powerful brake. Vittorio explains why brakes need to be bled, how hose selection plays into the overall system, and how rotor and pad selection can affect the feel of a brake. We’ll also get tips for braking and talk about potential areas of improvement for modern mountain bike disc brakes.
Info about Formula brakes at rideformula.com
This episode is sponsored by Boeshield (boeshield.com), makers of Boeshield T-9, a lube designed to waterproof your bike chain, lubricate cables, and prevent rust with its unique and effective all-in-one formula. This month Boeshield is giving away a free prize pack to a lucky listener! Visit singletracks.com/Boeshield to enter — open to anyone the contiguous United States, no purchase necessary.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Sep 15, 2020 • 53min
Tinker Juarez Shares his Secret for Beating Mountain Bikers Half his Age
David Juarez, known to mountain bikers around the world as Tinker, is a 2-time Olympian, 4-time 24 Hour Solo series champ, and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer from California. Long-sponsored by Cannondale, he’s been racing mountain bikes professionally for 31 years and continues to compete in ultra endurance racing at the highest level.
Tinker talks about his BMX background, growing up in southern California, and his transition to cross country and later ultra endurance mountain biking. We ask whether winning races is more about physical or mental strength, and get Tinker’s tips for staying fit and fast at 59 years old. Tinker also shares his most difficult races, and reflects on the 24 Hour race scene.
Find out more about the Tinker Classic race at gropromotions.com/tinker-classic/
This episode is sponsored by Backcountry.com, an online outdoor gear & apparel retailer carrying thousands of brands and products for mountain biking and your everyday outdoor lifestyle.
Not only does Backcountry have the widest assortment of gear and apparel, but the heart and soul of the company lies with their Backcountry Gearheads. These Gearheads are former pro-athletes, Olympians, and all-around experts that are available 24/7 by phone/email/chat for one-on-one service, product recommendations, and to ensure you have everything you need for your next outdoor adventure.
For the entire month of August, Backcountry is running their Semi-Annual Sale, which only happens twice a year. Take advantage of the final days of summer and save up to 50% off on huge brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Arc’teryx and more.
Go to www.backcountry.com/singletracks and use the code SINGLETRACKS15 to get 15% off your first purchase (some exclusions apply).
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks