Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favorite podcast episodes, and we’ll be back next week with an all-new show. 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. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Emmy Andrews is the Executive Director of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, also known as COTA. The group's mission is to "develop, protect, and enhance the Central Oregon mountain bike experience through trail stewardship, advocacy, collaboration, and education." Tell us a bit about COTA. What’s the organization’s mission and how large is your membership? When and why did COTA get its start? How long have you been with COTA, and how did you get involved? How is COTA organized? How many miles of singletrack does your group support? What are some of the most popular trails COTA helps support? Is there currently a good mix of trails in Bend for riders of all skill levels? Who are the land management agencies COTA works with? Do you see a lot of riders coming from out of town to ride in Bend, and some of the other areas COTA supports? What’s the best time of year to ride in Central Oregon? Tell us about the mountain bike community in Bend. Are there standing group rides, or businesses that are particularly MTB-friendly? Are there some under the radar trails that visitors might want to consider riding? Is there growing demand for e-bike trail access in Central Oregon? Do you have any new MTB trails in the planning stage, or currently under construction? How is COTA funded? What’s the biggest constraint or challenge that COTA faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What’s next for COTA? Learn more and support the Central Oregon Trail Alliance at cotamtb.com. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favorite podcast episodes, and we’ll be back next week with an all-new show. Last 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 2021 short track world champion, and has notched numerous podium finishes at national and international mountain, cyclocross, and road races. This past weekend Blevins crashed during the short track race (XCC) at Les Gets but still managed a top-20 finish. In the cross country race on Sunday he was not feeling well due to injuries suffered in the XCC race and pulled out of the competition. In this interview we ask: 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 last 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? ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

In this episode Chris, Jeff, and Matt talk about the 12 best mountain bike destinations in the United States that was recently shared on Singletracks. We'll go over the criteria we consider when choosing our favorite mountain bike destinations and go through the list and share more about the best spots to visit. Moab, Utah Sedona, Arizona Bentonville, Arkansas Grand Valley, Colorado (Fruita / Grand Junction / Palisade) Crested Butte, Colorado and the Gunnison Valley Park City, Utah Pisgah, North Carolina (Brevard / Asheville / Old Fort) Lake Tahoe Copper Harbor, Michigan Kingdom Trails, Vermont Durango, Colorado Bellingham, Washington Cover photo: Matt Miller ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favorite podcast episodes, and we’ll be back next week with an all-new show. Pat White is a longtime product manager for Kona Bicycles and Doug Lafavor aka Dr. Dew has been designing bikes at Kona for decades. In this episode we ask: Which factors make a hardtail ‘hardcore’ or more aggressive compared to say an XC or entry-level hardtail? What are aggressive hardtails good for in terms of riding style or trails? What are the limits? How important is frame material when it comes to designing a hardtail? Is there one material that’s generally superior to the others? Are there higher costs involved in building hardtails from steel than aluminum? Where does the compliance in a hardtail frame come from? Do you look at component selection differently for a hardtail vs. a full suspension bike? If so, what are the key areas where the builds differ? Is there any lingering debate about wheel size when it comes to hardtails? Are sliding dropouts an important selling point? What do you think about Internal cable routing on hardtails? There seems to be a focus on making seat angles steeper lately. How do you approach seat tube angles for hardtails compared to FS bikes? Are there things you’re able to do with hardtail geometry that just aren’t feasible with a FS design? How is the balance between chainstays and reach considered on a hardtail? For a lot of riders cost can be a factor in deciding to go with a hardtail. What does the typical hardtail rider look like? Do you own a hardtail mountain bike? How often do you ride it? What are some tips for riders to get the most out of a hardtail mountain bike? Do we need to modify our riding style, or reconsider preferences for things like tire and fork pressure? ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Mike Giese is an industrial designer based in Salt Lake City who has designed products for bike brands like Revel, Trust, and most recently, Evil Bikes. Evil just announced their first electric mountain bike, and we’re curious to learn about some of the design challenges that were involved. In this episode we ask: How do industrial designers and engineers work together? Does one usually take the lead on starting a new bike project, or are you working in parallel from the beginning? Is it beneficial, or even possible, to simply take an existing mountain bike design and electrify it? Or is it better to start from scratch? Why? Evil is using a Shimano e-drive system in the new Epocalypse. Is choosing the drive system one of the first steps? Why choose Shimano for this bike? What are the challenges involved in designing a frame to accommodate a motor and battery? Are there any unique challenges with wiring, or is it pretty similar to internal cable and hose routing? How do build kit considerations differ for an e-bike vs. a traditional mountain bike? We’re seeing e-bike innovations, particularly in components like tires and brakes, trickling down to traditional bikes. Are there similar opportunities when it comes to frames? Was the goal to give the e-bike a similar ride feel to other bikes in the Evil lineup, or did you see this as an opportunity to deliver something unique? How do you make decisions about touch points and usability for things like power switches and charging ports? Do you think e-bikes are closer in spirit to motorcycles or bicycles? Who do you see as the target customer for electric mountain bikes like this one? Is it geared toward more experienced riders, or do you think it will appeal more to folks who are new to the sport? Check out some of Mike’s work at mikegiese.com, and see the new Evil bike at evil-bikes.com. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favorite podcast episodes, and we’ll be back next week with an all-new show. Dee Tidwell is a professional coach and the founder of Train to Ride which provides cycling-specific training programs and plans for mountain biking, road, gravel, and moto riding. He’s also a two time Big Mountain Enduro Master’s Champ and has worked with countless professional athletes including members of the Yeti/Fox Factory professional EWS race team. We ask Dee: What is the Performance Pyramid, and how does it work? Walk us through each level. Is it OK to skip some of the lower levels and jump right to the top? How electric mountain bike riding and racing this differ from more traditional mountain bike training? Do you find that people really hate cardio so much that they avoid training altogether? Is equipment cost an excuse people use for not working on getting stronger? Is soft tissue therapy something folks can work on at home with foam rollers and massage guns, or is this one area where working with a physical or massage therapist in person is beneficial? Have you seen a shift in the mix of your clients over the years between racers and folks who just want to ride for fun? What are the risks associated with over training? How do you know if you’re over training? Why is full body strength so important for mountain biking? How are golf and cycling related in terms of fitness and mobility? Is it true that mountain biking is the new golf? How can riders deal with pain and fatigue on long rides? How does a lack of strength or fitness contribute to our risk for injury? What can we do to have more fun on the mountain bike next season? Find more information about Dee and learn about training programs at TrainToRide.com. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Gary Moore is the executive director of the Colorado Mountain Bike Association, COMBA. The group is dedicated to the interests of the Front Range mountain biking community in and around Denver. In this episode we ask: What is the Colorado Mountain Bike Association's mission and how large is your membership? How many miles of singletrack does COMBA help support? When and why did COMBA get its start? How long have you been with COMBA, and how did you get involved? Did the recent boom in mountain bike participation translate into COMBA membership growth? What is the biggest misconception the community tends to have about their local advocacy groups? What are some of the most popular trails your group helps support? Are some Front Range trails particularly popular with MTB tourists? Are there many opportunities for new trail builds on the Front Range? Can trail growth keep up with demand from new residents, and new riders? How do you decide which trails projects to pursue? Is unauthorized trail building a problem in the Denver metro area? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for COMBA, especially when it comes to city and county trails along the Front Range? What’s the biggest constraint or major challenge COMBA faces in carrying out and achieving the mission? What’s next for COMBA? To get involved or learn more, visit COMBA.org. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favorite podcast episodes, and we’ll be back next week with an all-new show. Dr. Adam Phaneuf is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a degree in Exercise Science based in Bellingham, WA. He’s also a bike fitter and has studied bicycle biomechanics. In this interview we ask Adam: Is it true that cycling is lower impact than other activities like jogging? Do you think mountain biking is higher impact than road cycling? What are some of the most common ride-related issues folks tend to have? Are certain muscles, or body parts, more prone to injury or pain for mountain bikers? Do oval chain rings work for reducing pain? Are there any biomechanical advantages to them that riders can benefit from? How can riders know if it’s their form that needs to be changed, or if it’s something about the bike fit that’s wrong? What is arm pump, and what causes it? Can vibration on the bike lead to any health or pain issues? Can things like suspension stems or seat posts be helpful for some people? How does bike fit change, if at all, based on the type or length of ride we’re doing? What is the ideal saddle tilt for mountain biking? How do you dial that in correctly? Are there pros and cons to trying a more rearward cleat placement for mountain biking? What do you think about the idea of video/online bike fitting? To learn more or connect with Adam and his team visit apexchirobellingham.com or on Instagram @apexbellingham. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Craig Durkin is the founder of Wandrer.earth, an exploration game that encourages people to explore new places by bike and by foot. He and his wife Pearl are also good friends, and we’ve been riding together regularly for a few years now. In this episode we ask Craig: Are you still biking abandoned railroad tracks with this contraption? Why did you first get into mountain biking? What is Wandrer and how does it work? What are some of the interesting things you’ve see on your rides? Are there plans to create specific challenges for mountain biking, and MTB trails? Who would you say is the best MTB trials rider of all time? Learn more and sign up for a free account at Wandrer.earth. ✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks