Singletracks Mountain Bike News

In this episode, we talk about our personal pet peeves when it comes to preventable mountain bike trail damage. How do you determine if a trail is too wet to ride? Is skidding ok? Plus, we let you in on the secret behind some of the amazing skids and sprays of brown pow you see in online MTB videos. Hint: it’s not always real and there’s a way to tell whether flying dirt is a result of pinned riding vs. lazy skidding. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

It’s time to start planning your epic mountain bike trips for 2016 so we thought we’d share some tips we’ve learned over the years. We try to answer questions like, what to do when it rains on a trip you’ve spent all year dreaming about? We also share tips for dirt bag bikers who are looking to take a mountain bike vacation on the cheap. Like, only-the-cost-of-gas cheap. Listen in! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

This is the time of year when mountain bikers plan to do epic shit and building endurance is often the first step to making things happen. In this episode we talk about why endurance training is important, discuss some methods we’ve used successfully, and cover some of the challenges riders will face in building endurance. How far do you plan to push yourself in 2016? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this short episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss their personal mountain biking goals for 2016 and talk about what’s in store for Singletracks next year. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we discuss who is buying really, really expensive mountain bikes and what they mean for the industry and for our sport as a whole. What’s it like to ride one of these magical, knobby-tired unicorns? Listen in to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about the top stories on Singletracks this year and the trends that have shaped the MTB news in 2015. We cover plus-size bikes, weird product reviews, destination and travel features, and the mountain bike lifestyle. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we try to answer the question: Are fat bikes the biggest MTB innovation since full suspension was introduced in the early 1990s? We also discuss some of the common misconceptions around fat bikes and offer our predictions for where things are heading in the future. Plus–what’s grinding our gears and stoking our spokes this week. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Listen to part two of Greg’s interview with Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC) founders Ted Stroll and Jackson Ratcliffe as they discuss why certain trail groups oppose bikes in wilderness and what will happen if the STC’s legislation fails. Plus, we hear where Ted and Jackson would ride their bikes if the wilderness ban was lifted. “The number of people screaming against mountain biking [in wilderness areas] under the age of 50 is zero.” -Jackson Ratcliffe. If you missed it, click here to listen to Part 1 of this podcast. Update 07/14/16: The Sustainable Trails Coalition’s Bill Has Been Introduced in Congress --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Greg talks with Ted Stroll and Jackson Ratcliffe of the Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC) about their plan to lobby for mountain bike access in US Wilderness areas. In part one of this two-part podcast, Ted and Jackson talk about what the STC is trying to accomplish and why now is a good time for mountain bikers to act. “Ultimately one of my goals is to get rid of the stigma that mountain biking is somehow less environmental, less natural, less good than riding a horse or hiking.” -Jackson Ratcliffe, STC Board Member Click here to listen to Part 2 of this podcast. Update 07/14/16: The Sustainable Trails Coalition’s Bill Has Been Introduced in Congress --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of buying a mountain bike online. We talk strategies for test riding bikes and share our experiences with assembling bikes delivered directly. Also, we touch on the idea of fully custom bike builds and the risks of buying mountain bikes through crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we talk with Dustin at Southern Wheelworks about the advantages of Boost 148 and why hub standards are continuing to evolve. Dustin also fills us in on some of the techniques pro wheel builders use and talks about ways to save weight (and $$) on your next build. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

Happy Turkey Day! This is probably one of those podcasts where Aaron, Greg, and I will listen again in 20 years and think, “man, we didn’t know anything back then!” Why? Because we’re talking about mountain biking into old age, and all of us are under 40. Still, it was a fun conversation and hopefully an enlightening one where we talk about some of the things we’ve learned from mountain bikers much older and wiser than we are. We also touch on Greg’s follow-up review of the Santa Cruz Bronson plus the things that are grinding our gears and stoking our spokes this week. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

It seems as if mountain bikers have a love-hate relationship with flow trails and in this episode, we discuss some of the pros and cons of the flow trail. Jim Hodgson joins us and talks about how dissing on flow trails is analogous to enjoying a nice cold IPA. “If you don’t enjoy the most technical trails in the world, then you’re not a true mountain biker.” Listen in to our full conversation to hear this plus a rundown of some of the best flow trails we’ve ridden. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we talk to Vince from Chumba USA about fat bike designs, adventure biking, and why designing short chainstays on steel bikes is more challenging than it is with carbon. Also, will we ever see 6-inch fat bike tires? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we talk about illegal-ish mountain bike trails, or as Greg wanted to call it, “50 Shades of Gray Trails.” We’ll define the concept of gray trails and talk about some of the issues surrounding building and using unauthorized mountain bike trails. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this podcast we talk with healthcare professional and Singletracks writer Chris Daniels about eliminating pain on the bike through bike fit and other techniques. We also discuss the things that are grinding our gears including 27.5+ wheels, horse crap on the trail, and more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this podcast Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss mountain biking at night. We talk about the reasons we ride at night, provide recommendations for lights, and strategies for getting the most out of your light system. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode we talk with Maxxis bike marketing specialist Bobby Brown about plus size mountain bike tires and wheels. After discussing the pros and cons of plus-size tires, we talk about the best applications, what’s happening to 29+, and why 27.5+ bikes seem to be sweeping the market. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

In this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss ways to choose the best bikepacking bike plus we introduce a new segment titled, “What’s grinding our gears and stoking our spokes.” Want to know if fall weather and fewer mountain bikers in the National Forests is grinding our gears OR stoking our spokes? You’ll have to listen to find out. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/singletracks/support

On this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about the recent controversies surrounding the Redbull Rampage and mountain biking 14ers, plus the mythical “do-it-all” mountain bike. Production note: Going forward we plan to share two podcasts each week. Last week we screwed up the recording for our second episode so we only had a chance to publish one episode.