Stay ConnectedPodcast host Jeff Barber, Editor-in-Chief at Singletracks.com, aims to inform and inspire with topics and interviews from the mountain bike world. Since 2015, we have been sharing weekly stories from under the helmets of the most inspiring and influential mountain bikers.
Join us as we learn from top athletes, product designers, trail builders, coaches, mechanics, artists, and leaders in the mountain biking community.
Scott Nydam is a longtime bike racer who has been inspired to start a NICA program for youth in Gallup, New Mexico. The city borders the Navajo reservation, and Nydam hopes to create numerous opportunities for native kids, both in Gallup and on the reservation.
Vincent Salabye is the Diné comp NICA team head coach and board president of Silver Stallion bicycle and coffee works. He’s also a father of two kids and lives on the Navajo reservation.
The nonprofit Scott and Vincent support recently received a grant from the Outride Fund.
In this episode we talk about the challenges facing folks living on the reservation and how mountain biking fits in with efforts to serve the community.
For more information visit bicyclecoffee.org and the Diné NICA team’s fundraising page here.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Lindsey Richter founded Ladies AllRide as “a movement dedicated to growing the community of female mountain bikers across the globe.” She’s a former professional mountain bike racer and was a contestant on the reality television show Survivor.
Singletracks talks with Lindsey about why she’s so passionate about mountain biking, and how she and others use the sport to build confidence and self esteem. Lindsey tells us why she thinks more women aren’t riding (yet) and shares tips all mountain bikers can use to improve their skills. We ask Lindsey what she’s learned since starring on Survivor, and who is inspiring her to be her best self.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
The Singletracks staff kicks off a busy summer mountain bike testing season! In this episode we share our impressions of the mountain bikes we’ve recently tested, and those we are just getting to know. If you’re considering a new bike this year, from gravel to enduro, and from expensive to cheap, we have you covered. Settle in, this is going to be a long one.
Recently tested: * Guerrilla Gravity Smash and Gnarvana* YT Jeffsy* Ibis Ripmo* Transition Scout* Pivot Switchblade* Niner RIP 9* Spot Ryve 115* Specialized Epic S-Works* Schwinn Axum* Viathon G1
Currently testing: * Santa Cruz Megatower* Canyon Spectral* Mondraker Foxy* Orbea Occam* Revel Rascal (bike build)* Trek Fuel EX * Norco Torrent (bike build)* Surly Karate Monkey (bike build)
Compare pricing and availability for these and other mountain bikes at singletracks.com/deals
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Lael Wilcox started biking in 2008 at age 20 with an around the world bike trip that took her through more than 30 countries. In 2015, essentially her first year of racing, she won the Tour Divide and smashed the women’s record by more than 2 days. The next year she won the 4,400 mile Trans Am Bike Race, and set the overall record for both men and women on the Baja Divide route in 2017. Today Lael continues to race and co-leads a mentorship program for middle school girls called Anchorage GRIT in her hometown.
We ask Lael to share her tips and tricks for bikepacking and mental toughness, and talk about the role gender plays in ultra endurance competition. Lael fills us in on how her plans have changed for 2020, her take on documenting and filming her adventures, and finding nutritious food to eat during races.
Follow and connect with Lael on Instagram @laelwilcox
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Brad Copeland worked his way up the bike tuning chain, from shop mechanic to a full-time position at Specialized Bicycles, and eventually landed a spot wrenching for the brand’s domestic teams. His racing and career interests laid deep in the dirt side of cycling, and when asked to travel with the Specialized World Cup XC athletes to a few events, he excitedly accepted. Copeland developed lasting friendships with several riders, eventually becoming the primary traveling wrench for Kate Courtney, who would then go on to win both a rainbow jersey and a World Cup overall title.
When Courtney switched to the Scott-SRAM MTB Racing team she was able to bring Copeland with her, which doesn’t happen in XC as often as it does in downhill racing. The pair are working hard to prepare for what the 2020 season holds, and we recently chatted with Copeland to get the story from his side of the pits. This discussion wasn’t originally intended to be a podcast, but given Copeland’s passionate descriptions, we wanted to share the raw recording.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Larry Pizzi is the Chief Commercial Officer for Alta Cycling Group, the parent company of wll known bike brands including Diamondback, Raleigh, and Ghost. He is also a board member at People for Bikes, a non-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling “safer, easier to access and more fun.”
In this episode, we get Larry’s take on gravel biking: Who are gravel bikers? How much are they spending on bikes? What does gravel advocacy look like? Will we see a gravel biking World Cup someday?
Larry also talks about electric bikes and the challenges facing local bike shops today.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Ken Avery is the Vice President of product and marketing for Vittoria, the world’s leading producer of bicycle tires. As an industry insider for many years, Ken has a wealth of knowledge on everything from mountain bike product design to marketing.
In this episode, we talk about how mountain bike tire design and technology evolved over the years, the tradeoff between tire weight and traction, and how preferences for lower tire pressures have influenced tire design. Ken goes over the basics of tire construction and talks about current demand for various widths and diameters. We also discuss tire inserts, sealant, and get the inside story about Ken’s involvement in the introduction of the original Maxxis Minion.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
It’s an understatement to say Covid-19 has changed the world as we know it. Mountain biking is no exception.
In this episode, Matt, Gerow, and Jeff talk about what’s going on in Colorado, Italy, and Georgia, respectively. We discuss the latest on mountain bike racing, athletes, tourism, brands, and of course everyday trail riders. If you haven’t been paying attention to mountain bike news lately — and we don’t blame you if you’ve been preoccupied — this will serve as a good recap.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Paul Howard has been coaching mountain bikers all around the world for over 20 years now. He’s a co-founder of the Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA) and is the owner and head coach at ZEP Mountain Bike Camps in Whistler.
In this episode, Paul shares the #1 skill mountain bikers actually need to work on, and how that’s often different from the skills they think need improvement. We talk about mountain bike skills myths, how mountain bike skills and fitness are related, and whether watching videos online can be a substitute for in-person skills coaching. Paul also fills us in on the PMBIA and its role in improving coaching in the mountain bike world.
Learn more about ZEP at zeptechniques.com.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
Greg Williams is the founder of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, a non-profit group based in California that’s dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of recreational trails. The group’s Connected Communities plan offers an innovative roadmap for bringing tourism through trails to former timber and mining towns.
We talk about how the group formed, and how their trail work is impacting the local economy. Greg shares some of the strategies the group has used to bring various trail user groups together that are applicable in other communities facing similar challenges. We also discuss the ways mountain bikers can help the trail communities they visit and how groups like the STBS measure success.
Learn more at sierratrails.org.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks
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