Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

For some of us, endurance training means gearing up for a 6 or 12 hour race or a multi-day stage race. For others, it simply means hanging on at the back of the pack for a 2-hour ride. For everyone, mountain bike endurance looks different, but for anyone who has a goal to get fit, our guest has some great advice for success. Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He coaches the Duke University Cycling team as well as a number of mountain bike athletes including Travis Livermon. Ben is helping Travis prepare for the 2020 Olympics to compete in cross-country mountain biking. In this episode, Ben shares his tips for endurance training, talks about the tools of the trade, and shares his philosophy for coaching elite mountain bike athletes. To connect with Ben and to learn more about the Endurance Collective, go to theendurancecollective.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Neil Beltchenko holds the record for both the Colorado Trail Race and the Arizona Trail 750, and is a contributor at Bikepacking.com. Neil recently won the Iditarod 350 bikepacking race in Alaska, and is hosting the second annual Bikepacking Summit in Gunnison, Colorado this September. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, I talk with Neil about bikepacking in Alaska, and the fundamental skills necessary to be a successful bikepack racer. Don’t miss this great interview! --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

For many of us, mountain biking is a lifelong sport. So that means a retirement to the coast of Florida just isn’t going to cut it. Back in 2016 Greg started a great discussion on the Singletracks forums about the best mountain bike retirement locations, and recently followed up with an in-depth article about truly affordable mountain bike towns. Today we’re going to discuss his findings, and talk about some challenges associated with keeping great MTB destinations affordable.

Great mountain bike trails exist wherever there are dedicated riders, and the Central USA is no exception. One could spend a lifetime exploring the excellent singletrack from Texas to Michigan so today we are going to highlight many of the trails and destinations that should not be missed. This episode is sponsored by the Keweenaw Adventure Company. Book your Copper Harbor trip at keweenawadventure.com today, use promo code singletracks for a discount! --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

From the outside, it might seem like mountain bikers are living the wild life, but one of the reasons many of us ride is simply to catch a glimpse of the wildlife. We’re going to share some of our own experiences with wildlife on the trail and also talk about some extreme cases of wildlife encounters on the trail. We’ll also share tips for dealing with various animals on the trail.

What is the best way to keep mountain bikers engaged in the sport? Well, for starters, pizza never hurts! If you’re listening to this podcast episode, chances are you’re hooked on mountain biking. But not everyone sticks with mountain biking, and many riders eventually move on to other things, leaving their bikes to gather dust in the garage. What, if anything, can be done to prevent people from leaving the sport, and how can we reactivate those who are already gone? Today we’re going to talk about ways to keep mountain bikers engaged and active. If you have a friend who is losing the fire, or you even find yourself starting to ride less, this is the episode for you. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Despite being a relatively young sport, mountain biking has a rich history starting in the 1800s. Over the years, the sport has evolved and branched into different disciplines ranging from cross-country to downhill. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk about the origins of mountain biking and explain the various forms of mountain biking that exist today. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

The frame is easily the most visible part of any bike build, and a well-built mountain bike frame can last for decades. Today we’re going to focus on the most common materials used in mountain bike frames, and discuss the pros and cons of each. A lot of our materials discussion will apply to bike parts–like handlebars and seatposts–as well. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Whether you’re planning a trip to mountain bike in the southeast, or you’re just curious about the scene, don’t miss this episode! Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss our favorite bike trails to ride in the southeastern USA, where mountain bikers will find big mountains and an off-season that never comes. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

For those outside the sport, it might seem like mountain bikers speak another language. Even new riders may find themselves nodding along in a conversation, not knowing exactly what’s being said. Whether you’re a noob trying to break the code or an old-timer looking to brush up on the latest lingo, this podcast should get you up to speed. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks