Anthony Duncan is the Director of Local Programs at IMBA and is based out of Johnson City, Tennessee. The IMBA Local program is designed to support grassroots mountain bike organizations through services, education and mentorship programs. In this episode we ask Anthony: How long have you been at IMBA? What were you doing before joining? The IMBA local program was launched at the end of 2017 which represented a huge change for the organization. What was happening back then that led to the formation of Local? There are two IMBA Local support service options: Chapter services and Affiliate services. What does Affiliate services include? What kinds of services does Chapter support add? Does IMBA directly help groups advocate at the local level, or do you provide education and resources so groups can advocate for themselves instead? What are some of the biggest challenges local trail groups are facing? Have you seen an uptick in new local groups forming since the pandemic began? It seems like lately some of the groups that decided to drop their IMBA association are coming back as Local affiliates. What do you think is driving that? Do you think state-level groups like those forming in Vermont and California are a natural evolution in MTB advocacy?How do IMBA Regions fit this model? Is this a good time to be a mountain bike advocate? Are economic arguments increasingly effective in trail project approvals? What’s next for IMBA Local? Learn more about IMBA Local at IMBA.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Terry Palmeri is the Executive Director of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). The organization has been around since 1989 and today SORBA is made up of 48 chapters spread across seven states. In this conversation we ask: Why and how did SORBA get its start? What sorts of issues were southern mountain bikers struggling with in the late 1980s? How is SORBA organized? How many miles of singletrack trails do SORBA chapters support? How many individuals belong to a SORBA club? How do you think that number compares to the number of active mountain bikers living in the southeast? How is SORBA funded? What is the relationship between SORBA and IMBA? What are some of the bigger trail projects that are currently in the works? Are there any unique challenges to trail building in the southeast? Is there much opposition to mountain bike trail access in the region? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for SORBA? What’s the biggest constraint SORBA faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What’s next for SORBA in 2022 and beyond? For more information about SORBA or to make a donation, visit SORBA.org.

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? Photo credit: Kona --Support future episodes of the Singletracks podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Susie Murphy is the executive director of the San Diego Mountain Bike Association and is also a board member with the California Mountain Biking Coalition. What is the San Diego Mountain Bike Association's mission, and how are you organized? When and why did the SDMBA get its start? How long have you been with the SDMBA, and how did you get involved? Did the recent boom in mountain bike participation translate into SDMBA membership growth? What are some of the most popular trails your group helps support? Are there many opportunities for new trail builds in and around San Diego? Several years ago the chapter was pretty vocal about the bikes in wilderness issue. Why is or was that so important in your area, and where are we now? Do you think protesting can be an effective tool for mountain bike advocates? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for SDMBA? What’s the biggest constraint SDMBA faces in carrying out and growing the mission? I How does SDMBA work with the newly formed CA Mountain Biking Coalition? Do you think legislative lobbying is an effective way to increase MTB access? What’s next for SDMBA? Learn more about the San Diego Mountain Bike Association at sdmba.com and the California Mountain Bike Coalition at camtb.org. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Manon Carpenter is a downhill mountain bike world champion and advocate for the environment living in Caerphilly, Wales . She recently premiered a documentary film titled Trails on Trial that explores how trails connect the land with communities and various stakeholders. In this interview we ask: When did you first get interested in the idea of environmental protection? Was the connection between biking and the environment always pretty clear to you, even as a professional racer? What are your local trails like? Who builds and maintains them? Why do you think mountain bikers have a bad reputation among some environmental groups? What can we do to change that? If "trails come and go," what does that mean for us as mountain bikers? Where are some of your favorite places to ride around the world? Should we be concerned about the potential impact over-tourism might have on places? How can this be mitigated or offset? Do you see a connection between climate change and trail conditions? Check out some of Manon's videos, including Trails on Trial, on this Youtube playlist. You can follow her on Instagram @manoncarpenter. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Travis Counsell is the executive director of the new England Mountain Bike Association, also known as NEMBA. He’s currently based out of Vermont. Tell us a bit about NEMBA. What’s the organization’s mission and how large is your membership? How is NEMBA organized? How many miles of singletrack do NEMBA clubs support? When and why did NEMBA get its start? What were you doing before joining NEMBA? NEMBAfest is back for 2022. What will the festival look like this year? Did the recent boom in mountain bike participation translate into NEMBA membership growth? Given population density, are there many opportunities for new trail builds in the northeast? What are some ways you’ve been successful in countering folks who are against MTB trail access? How popular is fat biking in New England? Is fat bike grooming something that chapters devote a lot of resources to in the winter? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for NEMBA? What’s the biggest constraint NEMBA faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What’s next for NEMBA in 2022 and beyond? Connect with NEMBA and learn more at nemba.org. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt interviews Jeff about bikepacking the Huracan 300 in Central Florida. This was Jeff's first big bikepacking trip and there was much to be learned over three days of seemingly non-stop riding. Matt asks: Why did you decide to ride the Huracan? How did the trip unfold? What were the biggest surprises? What did you learn that will be helpful for next time, if there is a next time? --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Matt Lyon is the President and CEO of Hydrapak. He’s worked in the outdoor industry for decades and serves as the Board Chair of the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership. In this episode we ask Matt: How did Hydrapak get started? How many leaky reservoir prototypes did you go through? What’s the hardest part of the pack to reliably seal? Do you have any tips for cleaning and caring for hydration reservoirs? When you go out for a ride, do you prefer bottles or a hydration pack? What are the challenges when it comes to making environmentally friendly products? How big of an impact does using recycled materials make versus creating long-lasting products that need to be replaced less often? Aside from supply chain issues, has the pandemic caused you to rethink your businesses in any significant ways? What are the advantages of building products in the US using US-sourced materials? Do you think this plays a big role in consumer purchasing decisions? What are some of the things the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership is currently advocating for at the state level? As a registered investment advisor, is the bike industry a good place for individuals to invest their savings and for retirement? As someone who has studied mechanical engineering, what frustrates you about the biking experience today? --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Rachel Fussell is the electric mountain bike Policy and Program Manager at People for Bikes. The group’s stated mission is to change the world through bikes by focusing on empowering cities, creating connections, and supporting the bike industry. In this episode we ask: What are the current regulations at the federal, state, and local level regarding eMTB trail access? What types of conflicts exist where electric mountain bikes and regular mountain bikes share the trail?  Does basic trail etiquette cover eMTBs, or do we need to update and/or add new rules of the trail? Where and how are e-bikes gaining additional trail access? What do land managers generally think about e-bikes on trails? What are their concerns? How big of a role do studies and unbiased reports play into eMTB advocacy? Do opinions play into the discussion as well? Is there a risk that advocating for e-bike access could hurt traditional mountain bike trail access? What do you think about registration programs for e-bikes that are needs-based? Aside from PFB, who else is advocating for eMTBs? Do we need separate eMTB advocacy groups, or is this something that can fit into existing groups like IMBA and local clubs? Why should other mountain bikers care about e-bike access? Learn more about People for Bikes and eMTB policy at: peopleforbikes.org/topics/electric-bikes This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Professional mountain biker Adam Craig says it’s one of the top three places in the universe he’s ever ridden. Where is this magical mountain biking nirvana? It’s none other than Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont Recreational Forest. The area boasts over 300 miles of peerless singletrack, not to mention hundreds of miles of gravel roads, creating a near endless array of routes, terrains, and challenges to explore. Four vibrant bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need gear, service, or a top notch rental. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of the best small towns in America in 2021. It all adds up to a premier mountain biking destination you’ll want to experience for yourself. Find out more at ExploreBrevard.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast Gerow, Jeff, and Matt discuss current and future mountain bike trends, starting with a recap of what's been trending over the past couple of seasons. Mixed wheel mountain bikes More great trails in more places High pivot mountain bikes Electronic bits and baubles, from drivetrains to droppers Next, we move on to the trends we see shaping up for 2022. Longer travel dropper posts and fatter seat tubes Large scale trail projects with unique funding sources New mountain bike destinations and trails opening as a response to overcrowded ones Bikes and parts supply improvements High pivots on shorter-travel bikes MTB geometry stabilization Finally, we discuss some of the trends we'd like to see happen sooner rather than later. More customizable bike builds DH or enduro as an Olympic sport Athletes receiving a more livable wage This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard. Professional mountain biker Adam Craig says it’s one of the top three places in the universe he’s ever ridden. Where is this magical mountain biking nirvana? It’s none other than Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont Recreational Forest. The area boasts over 300 miles of peerless singletrack, not to mention hundreds of miles of gravel roads, creating a near endless array of routes, terrains, and challenges to explore. Four vibrant bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need gear, service, or a top notch rental. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of the best small towns in America in 2021. It all adds up to a premier mountain biking destination you’ll want to experience for yourself. Find out more at ExploreBrevard.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks