Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Fort William World Champs 2023 – Pre-Race Show Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

World Champs is here and I’m sitting down with Chris Kilmurray to find out about the changes to the Fort William track, the new World Champs schedule, the differences in rider support at this event and much more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Fort William World Champs pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Nathan Hughes

Downtime Goes Downhill (Racing) – Episode Five – Medals Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Downtime Goes Downhill, a podcast mini-series that’s going to take you with us as we have a go at racing downhill at both a regional and national level. Chris, Jonathan and Ben are three different riders, with different abilities, strengths, weaknesses, goals and fears. We’ll share our preparation, training and setup, along with our different approaches to getting faster and our progress. You’ll hear all about our experiences at the races, good and bad. We’ll also be bringing in some of the best in the world to help us improve throughout the year, so hopefully there will be heaps to learn too. Downtime Goes Downhill wouldn’t be happening without the support of some incredible brands. So a massive thanks to Canyon bikes, Fox suspension, Wahoo Fitness, Fox clothing and protection, Maxxis tyres, Magura brakes and We Are One Composites wheels. This is episode five where flat pedals won National Champ medals. The weather didn’t play ball and this was our first mud race, and man was it muddy. Hear how we all coped, what went well and what didn’t and how will we approach improving from here. We really hope you’re enjoying coming on this ride with us, so sit back, hit play and listen to episode four of Downtime Goes Downhill. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo - Ian Lean

The World of Gravity eBikes – Moritz Ströer From Canyon Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

I’m joined by Canyon's mountain bike engineering team manager, Moritz Ströer, to chat all things gravity eBikes. Hear Moritz’s thoughts on why eBikes weren’t initially great for gravity based riding. We talk about how eBikes have evolved and what has enabled them to become such a great tool for getting your gravity fix. Find out how and why the kinematics differ from regular bikes and why the kinematic on an eBike can actually be better. We chat about the future of eBike racing, Moritz shares some advice on choosing battery size and much more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Moritz Ströer. If you'd prefer to watch the episode, you can do that on YouTube here. Supporting Partners Canyon To check out all of Canyon's eBike range, head over to canyon.com. invisiFRAME If you want to keep your bike looking brand new and also make sure you get the best resale value possible when the time comes, then get your bike invisiFRAME protected now. As a Downtime listener, you can get 20% off worldwide using the code 'DOWNTIME20' for the month of July over at invisiframe.co.uk. Gorewear If you’re looking for the highest quality clothing that will enable you to get out on your bike in all weather conditions, then Gorewear has you covered with technical products that are backed with quality engineering and innovation and last the test of time. Based on quality engineering and innovation, Gorewear makes technical products that last the test of time. As a Downtime listener you can get 20% off the entire range until the end of August. Just use the code DOWNTIME20 at the checkout over on gorewear.com. This offer works in both the US and EU webstores. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 3 is now available here. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £25 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, EP2 or EP3 on their own too. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Kaos Seagrave – Full-Time Freeride Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

Today I’m joined by Kaos Seagrave. Kaos recently made the decision to move away from racing to focus on his freeride career and it seems to have been the best move he could have made. We chat about growing up in racing and the pressure he felt as the elite male on the team. Hear how he found his way into the freeride world and how that has ultimately become his focus. We chat about Red Bull Hardline, what it would be like it if became a series, winning whip offs, Rampage and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Kaos Seagrave. You can follow Kaos on Instagram @kaosseagrave. If you'd prefer to watch the episode, you can do that on YouTube here. Supporting Partners invisiFRAME If you want to keep your bike looking brand new and also make sure you get the best resale value possible when the time comes, then get your bike invisiFRAME protected now. As a Downtime listener, you can get 20% off worldwide using the code 'DOWNTIME20' for the month of July over at invisiframe.co.uk. Gorewear If you’re looking for the highest quality clothing that will enable you to get out on your bike in all weather conditions, then Gorewear has you covered with technical products that are backed with quality engineering and innovation and last the test of time. Based on quality engineering and innovation, Gorewear makes technical products that last the test of time. As a Downtime listener you can get 20% off the entire range until the end of August. Just use the code DOWNTIME20 at the checkout over on gorewear.com. This offer works in both the US and EU webstores. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 3 is now available here. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £25 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, EP2 or EP3 on their own too. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo - Samantha Saskia Dugon / Red Bull Content Pool

Downtime Goes Downhill (Racing) – Episode Four – Progress? Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Downtime Goes Downhill, a podcast mini-series that’s going to take you with us as we have a go at racing downhill at both a regional and national level. Chris, Jonathan and Ben are three different riders, with different abilities, strengths, weaknesses, goals and fears. We’ll share our preparation, training and setup, along with our different approaches to getting faster and our progress. You’ll hear all about our experiences at the races, good and bad. We’ll also be bringing in some of the best in the world to help us improve throughout the year, so hopefully there will be heaps to learn too. Downtime Goes Downhill wouldn’t be happening without the support of some incredible brands. So a massive thanks to Canyon bikes, Fox suspension, Wahoo Fitness, Fox clothing and protection, Maxxis tyres, Magura brakes and We Are One Composites wheels. This is episode four and after a bit of a break, we’re sitting down ahead of the UK National Champs to find out what each of us have been up to. Hear about our different approaches to training, bike setup and using our riding time to try and get faster for the next race. We really hope you’re enjoying coming on this ride with us, so sit back, hit play and listen to episode four of Downtime Goes Downhill. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That's less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it's totally free. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo - Sadie Aldridge

The Future of eBike Technology? – TQ Drives Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

EBike technology is progressing rapidly and TQ Drives are at the forefront. Today I’m joined by TQ's Product Manager, Daniel Theil and their Product Marketing Manager, Anna Vodickova. TQ are a new name for most of us, but I believe that they represent the future of eBike technology. Just a year ago they launched their system in the Trek Fuel EXe and it has received incredible praise from the media and riders worldwide. We sat down at their HQ to find out about the development of this lightweight, super intuitive eBike drive system. Find out how TQ have focussed on the rider to ensure that the technology works hand in hand with how we ride bikes. Hear how they’ve achieved all this in such a small and light package. It’s awesome to see what this brand have achieved in such a short time and I think it’s going to be exciting to see where they take this approach to eBike drivetrains. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Anna and Daniel from TQ Drives. To find out more about TQ Drives, head to their website tq-ebike.com or follow them on Instagram where they are @tq_ebike. If you'd prefer to watch the episode, you can do that on YouTube here. Supporting Partners invisiFRAME If you want to keep your bike looking brand new and also make sure you get the best resale value possible when the time comes, then get your bike invisiFRAME protected now. As a Downtime listener, you can get 20% off worldwide using the code 'DOWNTIME20' for the month of July over at invisiframe.co.uk. Gorewear If you’re looking for the highest quality clothing that will enable you to get out on your bike in all weather conditions, then Gorewear has you covered with technical products that are backed with quality engineering and innovation and last the test of time. Based on quality engineering and innovation, Gorewear makes technical products that last the test of time. As a Downtime listener you can get 20% off the entire range until the end of August. Just use the code DOWNTIME20 at the checkout over on gorewear.com. This offer works in both the US and EU webstores. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 3 is now available here. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £25 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, EP2 or EP3 on their own too. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

The Future Of World Cup Coverage? – Misspent Summers Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

James McKnight and Ben Winder are Misspent Summers. The founders of a small media company that aims to bring us exciting content from the wonderful world of mountain biking. We sat down in Leogang to chat about how the company has grown and what they are doing to provide amazing content from the Mountain Bike World Cup. Hear about their current and future plans, find out why Downtime EP exists, get our thoughts on World Cup racing in 2023 and much more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with James and Ben from Misspent Summers. To subscribe to Downtime EP, head here. To signup to the Misspent Summers newsletter, head here. Follow on Instagram @misspentsummers. Watch the episode on YouTube here. Supporting Partners invisiFRAME If you want to keep your bike looking brand new and also make sure you get the best resale value possible when the time comes, then get your bike invisiFRAME protected now. As a Downtime listener, you can get 20% off worldwide using the code 'DOWNTIME20' for the month of July over at invisiframe.co.uk. Gorewear If you’re looking for the highest quality clothing that will enable you to get out on your bike in all weather conditions, then Gorewear has you covered with technical products that are backed with quality engineering and innovation and last the test of time. Based on quality engineering and innovation, Gorewear makes technical products that last the test of time. As a Downtime listener you can get 20% off the entire range until the end of August. Just use the code DOWNTIME20 at the checkout over on gorewear.com. This offer works in both the US and EU webstores. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 3 is now available here. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £25 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, EP2 or EP3 on their own too. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin