Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Aaron Abrams is Director of Product for Marin Bicycles and is currently based in Taiwan. The Marin bike brand has been around since 1986 and the company’s slogan says their bikes are “Made For Fun.” In this episode we talk about how mountain bikes are specced, and how product managers make decisions about which parts to include. When planning out the builds for a bike like the Marin Rift Zone 29 (three options, priced between $2,000 and $3,000), do you start with a set of say 3 price targets and choose the best parts that make those prices work? How important is overall bike weight when it comes to build specs? What is the purpose of speccing house-brand components like bars, saddles, and stems on bike builds? Is there a lot of cost savings by going this route? Why did Marin recently start selling branded aftermarket grips, bars, and stems? We rarely see full suspension builds that mix and match forks and shocks from different brands. Why is that? How do you know if consumers are going to like a part, say a particular tire model, or if it’s going to perform as well as another competing part choice? Why do so many entry-level, budget bikes include front derailleurs? Is it because no one is making a cheap 1-by drivetrain, or because buyers at this price point think they want a lot of gears? What is the first component you would personally upgrade when buying an entry-level mountain bike? Why can't customers choose from a menu of parts when ordering a mountain bike? Why are we still, for the most part, limited to just a few set choices when it comes to builds? Have pandemic-related supply chain issues altered the way brands are thinking about bike builds going forward? Do the athletes you work with weigh in on component choices and build specs for the models they ride? Do outside sponsorships make this tricky? Where do customers tend to get the best value when it comes to buying a complete bike: at the low end, or the high end? To get a better sense of some of the parts and builds discussed check out marinbikes.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

Matt De Young is the executive director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, a non-profit that “builds and maintains great trails for everyone, and connects communities to nature through responsible outdoor recreation.” In this episode we ask: How is the SCMTS organized? How many miles of bike trails does SCMTS support? When and why did the SCMTS get its start? Why the name change from Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz to Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship? Are trail user conflicts a big issue in the Santa Cruz area? The SCMTS is one of the most vocal groups that’s promoting scientific studies showing the environmental impacts of mountain biking. How did the Mountain Biking Impact Review report come together? Tell us a bit about your professional trail building team. What types of projects do they work on, and how does that support the overall mission? What are some of the most popular trails your group helps support? Are any of the trails particularly popular with MTB tourists, or are most riders local residents? With big bike brands like Santa Cruz and Ibis located in the area, is your group able to benefit from corporate sponsorships? What’s the relationship like with UCSC? Are there many opportunities for new trail builds in Santa Cruz county? What does the current discussion around e-bike trail access look like for SCMTS? What’s the biggest constraint SCMTS faces in carrying out and growing the mission? What’s next for SCMTS in 2022 and beyond? Connect with SCMTS at santacruztrails.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

Dale Boyd and Drew Hall are mountain bikers and trail builders living in Mobile, Alabama. They’re part of a group called Ride the Rebellion that posts videos and podcasts about their efforts to build and ride trails in a part of the US that isn’t traditionally known for mountain biking. In this episode we ask: What was the local mountain bike scene like when you first got into the sport? How did you come up with the name Ride the Rebellion for your group? How many folks are a part of the group? Is there an official membership process? What are some ways you’ve found to make flat terrain more fun to ride? How did you learn to build trails and trail features? How do you come up with names for trails and trail features? What is the status of the land where you build trails? How did you get permission to build and ride there? What is your agreement like with the landowner in terms of what you can, and can’t, do? Can anyone ride the trail whenever they like, or is it a members-only situation? What is the role of video and podcasting in building your real-life MTB community? Do you travel outside Alabama to mountain bike? What are some of your favorite places to ride outside your local area? What have you learned along the way that might be helpful to others in a similar situation? Find Ride the Rebellion video channel on YouTube and their podcast on Spotify. ✏️ 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

Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He’s a former professional mountain bike racer and current USA Cycling coach working with both pro and amateur athletes alike. In this episode we ask: How did your first enduro race go? What type of training did you do to prepare? What does VO2 max measure?How is it measured? Is using heart rate data to estimate VO2 max fairly accurate? Are there specific types of training that are effective in raising VO2 max? How important is VO2 max for predicting performance? What is lactate threshold?What does it measure? How is it measured? Is lactate threshold directly related to power? Are there other similar fitness metrics that riders can or should pay attention to? Is there a difference between mountain bikers and road bikers when it comes to the importance of certain metrics? Is it possible to get the same quality workout on the trail vs. on the trainer?Is gravel riding a good substitute for road riding in terms of the training benefits? How do you know if you’re under- or over-fueled on longer rides? Learn more or connect with Ben and the Endurance Collective on their website (theendurancecollective.com) and YouTube channel. ✏️ 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

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