Singletracks editors Gerow, Jeff, and Matt look forward to more mountain biking adventures in 2022!  In this episode we talk about the MTB stories that are on our 2022 editorial calendar in the areas of trails, gear, progression, and community. We also share our personal goals for skills, fitness, racing, travel, event coverage, repair skills, and trail building. 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. Are you a Singletracks supporter? Create an account at Singletracks.com to get our newsletter and to show your support financially. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Rab Wardell is a mountain bike athlete and coach living in Glasgow, Scotland. He recently launched a new video series with Wahoo Fitness called Old Enough to Know Better. In this episode, we ask Rab: How did a big early race loss affect your outlook on your career as an athlete? What was it like to essentially retire in your early 20s? What did you decide to do instead? What are some of the biggest mistakes that stand out as being the ones where you learned the most? As an athlete, are there ways to learn beyond just personal experience? What risks are involved in becoming a professional athlete? What types of normal, everyday things have you decided to cut out of your life to focus on racing? How much of it feels like a sacrifice? Were there any times when friends or family members suggested you grow up and get a “real job”? What competitive advantages do you have at your age? Why is play important? Are there ways you’ve found to incorporate play into your training? What do you hope to be doing on the bike at age 50, or even 70? At 36, are there things you still have left to learn and experience? Watch the Old Enough to Know Better series on YouTube and connect with Rab on Instagram @rabwardell 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

This year we interviewed dozens of professional mountain bike athletes, skills and fitness coaches, and industry leaders including product designers and CEOs. Here are a few of our favorite moments from more than 50 hours of programming in 2021. If you enjoy what we do on the Singletracks podcast, please consider becoming a Pro Supporter (https://www.singletracks.com/support/). --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This week we revisit some of our favorite conversations on the Singletracks podcast in 2021. On the topic of mountain bike trails we speak with trail builders, advocates, environmentalists, and local riders to learn more about the places we ride. If you enjoy what we do on the Singletracks podcast, please consider becoming a Pro Supporter (https://www.singletracks.com/support/). --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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. 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. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

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 episode 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. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Singletracks tested dozens of mountain bikes in 2021 and three of our editors share their favorites in this special episode. From kids mountain bikes to enduro, and from electric to hardtail, we share the ones we liked best. In addition to sharing our favorites, we'll also talk about our runners up and some of the more unique and unusual bikes we reviewed in 2021. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

This 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 reigning short track world champion, and has notched numerous podium finishes at national and international mountain, cyclocross, and road races. This month he’s got a short documentary film titled “The Long Traverse” that will be premiering online. 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 this 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? Watch "The Long Traverse" and learn more at stilspoke.com This episode 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 highest quality bike lights on the market – Including Bluetooth control and complete customisation through their app. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3600 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2021. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Explore the must-visit mountain biking trails in Pisgah National Forest, along with insights on challenges and regulations. Discover tour operators, clubs, and shuttle rides in the area, as well as the best times to visit and popular mountain bike races. Learn about the evolution of trail building in the forest and the rejuvenation of Old Fort with new trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tyson Swasey is a mountain biker and trail builder who has lived in Moab, Utah for his whole life. He’s currently the Operations Coordinator for Grand County, Utah Active Transportation and Trails. In this episode we ask Tyson: Has Moab always been a tourist destination? Why was the town founded?  It seems like Moab was a mountain bike destination before there were mountain bike destinations.  What makes the area so great for mountain biking? How did the first trails get built? Which trails are the oldest? Are there any family-friendly rides or trails? Which trails are the most challenging? What are some lesser-known trails where riders can get away from the crowds? Who builds and maintains the trails in Moab? What type of bike do most people ride in Moab? Do a lot of people rent bikes when they visit? What are some of the more popular guided or shuttled tour routes in the area? Are there any regular group rides for locals that are visitor-friendly? Where do people hang out after the ride? What is the best time of year to visit? Are there any festivals or races visitors can plan to attend?  Is there much camping available in the immediate area? Does lodging tend to fill up around certain events, or at certain times of the year? Are there plans to expand or improve trails in the area? Is there anything else mountain bikers need to know before visiting Moab for the first time, or maybe for the first time in a while? Get more information at discovermoab.com and moabtrailmix.com.  This episode 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 highest quality bike lights on the market – Including Bluetooth control and complete customisation through their app. Gloworm’s complete line of lights start at 1200 lumens and range up to a blinding 3600 lumens, all at reasonable prices. Save 15% off all light systems on the Gloworm website with the coupon code SINGLETRACKS2021. Shop for lights at glowormlites.co.nz --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks