Vital MTB

Latest Episodes:

AFTERMATH Val di Sole - Vital's B Practice MTB Podcast Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!
Maxxis | Industry Nine | Burgtec
Holy cow, what a weekend of racing from Val di Sole! Arguably the gnarliest track on the circuit, this year provided spectacular racing thanks to some methodical course adjustments and bucketloads of new dirt. Racers were treated to periodic rain that really mixed things up as the track was ever-evolving, and bikes and bodies were put to the test, surviving the infamous Black Snake track.

As always, Dakotah Norton brings you between the tape with his trackside insights and breaks down the excitement from Val di Sole with Tanner Stephens and Jason Schroeder. In this episode, the crew discusses if VDS should be the blueprint for a World Cup DH track, what it’s like being chased by livestream drones, Jackson Goldstone’s textbook technique and bike setup, Ronan Dunne ingesting six Red Bulls on race day, weights strapped to down tubes, Dakotah playing in the tape during Semi-Finals, and the speed Junior racers in 2023. Thank you so much for listening, and we will see everybody after World Champs in a month! Enjoy!

Leogang & Lenzerheide World Cup DH - B Practice Podcast Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!
Maxxis | Industry Nine | Burgtec
The B Practice Podcast is back! After some unfortunate technical difficulties last week that saw our post-Lenzerheide show evaporate from existence, the powers that be allowed our post-Leogang show to happen. Only two rounds into the UCI Downhill World Cup season, and we’ve been treated to tons of epic racing. We don’t know if there has ever been a season with as close of racing and so many potential winners.

As always, Dakotah Norton brings you between the tape with his trackside insights and breaks down the excitement from Lenzerheide and Leogang with Tanner Stephens and Jason Schroeder. In this episode, the crew discusses initial impressions of the new race format, thoughts on the new broadcasting, the impressive crop of talent spread across each category, first-time category winners, Rachel Atherton’s legend status, and Loic Bruni’s futuristic gear. Thank you so much for listening, and we will see everybody after Val di Sole in a few weeks! Enjoy!

TAYLOR SAGE - The Inside Line MTB Podcast Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

These great companies make The Inside Line possible
Maxxis Tires | Jenson USA | FOX
Love him or hate him, Taylor Sage, or TSage as many call him, has been a breath of fresh air in the mountain bike scene for nearly 20 years. He's raced XC and downhill, he was a main builder at the infamous Hidden Valley trails, he's filmed for multiple New World Disorder movies, dug at Rampage for Kyle Strait and Cam Zink, helped keep MTB real with the 2Six Stallions, films and builds with Brandon Semenuk and so much more. Oh, and he's not on Instagram.
Enjoy the show with a living legend who's all grown up now...sort of.
#MTB #podcast #mountainbike
Show Contents
0:00 - Strava, Lopes and Racing XC
5:43 - MTB history
9:18 - Meeting Kyle Strait
14:40 - Building Trails and MTB vs BMX
27:54: - Mike Hucker Clark
30:36 - Zink, Strait, 2Six Stallions, Filming for NWD
39:51 - Robbie Bourdon's Broken Neck
47:23 - Film, Digital and Battling The Collective with NWD
50:47 - 2Six Stallions vs The Bicycle Rockers
52:53 - Sage is Unmarketable and Being Blind in One Eye
1:04:36 - TSage and Cam McCaul Saw a UFO
1:12:50 - Losing His Index Finger
1:28:15 - No Social Media
1:41:29 - Camera Gear, Semenuk, Editing Process
1:48:42 - The Future and Reflecting on the past

World Cup DH Pre-Season Mashup - Vital's B Practice Podcast May 18, 2023

Show notes

The B Practice Podcast is back after a small hiatus! Since our last recording a few months back, the crew has been busier than ever. Austin moved from Colorado to California to start a new role with Specialized, Dakotah has been in the thick of developing the latest Intense DH bike while continuing to build his house, Tanner’s been busy jump-starting his career as a producer, and I’ve just been doing what I can to keep pumping out cool content for the site.

With the 2023 World Cup downhill season less than a month out, the good news is that we will soon be back to our normally scheduled post-race podcasting. This offseason has been longer and more action-packed than usual, and a lot of pre-season racing has ensued. We sat down to discuss how the current crop of elite racers are looking after these warm-up events, who will be contending for the win at Lenzerheide, find out how Dak is feeling heading into summer, highlight some fast up-and-coming #USDH racers, and speculate on what type of course tape will be used at the first round.

As always, a huge shoutout to Maxxis, Industry Nine, and Burgtec for supporting the B Practice Podcast! Enjoy this episode, and we will see everyone the week after Lenzerheide for our post-race show.

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!

MTB Strength Training with Ben Plenge - The Inside Line Podcast May 10, 2023

Show notes

Welcome mountain bikers, I’m excited to have Ben Plenge on the show today. He’s a rider, racer, but he’s also the founder and coach at The Strength Factory in the UK. We discuss how Ben found mountain biking and being a fitness coach as well as specific philosophies and techniques to become a stronger, fitter rider.

Episode Topics

0:00 - Intro
2:34 - Getting into MTB and Joining the Army
9:21 - Becoming a Fitness Coach and Founding the Strength Factory
15:36 - Fitness for MTBers over 40 years old
21:32 - Mental Health, Training and Empathy
27:01 - Do You Need Weights or Tech Gadgets to Train Well?
34:13 - Importance of Posture for MTB
39:33 - Different Body Types and Training Based on Forward Riding Foot
44:37 - Nasal Breathing for MTB
50:26 - Being Successful with a Fitness Plan - Realistic Time Management
59:28 - Benefits of Low-Intensity Aerobic Training
1:10:48 - Does an E-Bike Make You Weak?
1:14:36 - Racers Ben Admires
1:16:56 - MTB Strength Programs

Strength Factory Promotions for Vital MTBers

All discount codes expire on 31st May.

Instagram: @strengthfactory_coach
YouTube: @thestrengthfactory.
These great companies make The Inside Line possible
MAXXIS TIRES - JENSON USA - FOX
Breathing Information

The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown
Breath by James Nestor
Follow @_brianmackenzie or his website: Shift Adapt

LUCA COMETTI - The Inside Line May 03, 2023

Show notes

Luca Cometti is a professional mountain biker and filmmaker from Southern California. He moved from BMX to MTB at an early age, hitting local races and making videos of his friends. As the years progressed, he turned that passion into becoming a Dual Slalom specialist, landing a ride on a factory team to race World Cup downhills, competing in Crankworx festivals all over the globe and creating film projects with some of mountain biking's most talented riders. Enjoy the show with one of the nicest riders in the game.
The Inside Line is supported by these great sponsors
Jenson USA
Maxxis Tires
FOX Racing Shox
See Luca on YouTube - @luca_cometti
Follow Luca on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/luca_cometti
Show Contents
0:00 - The Coffee Setup
8:12 - Bonus for Beating Strait & Slalom Bike Setup
21:11 - Finding Bikes and Grom Video-making in San Diego
30:36 - DH Racing Progression & BetterRide Camps
36:46 - Pursing a DH Racing Career
43:43 - From Factory Racer to Privateer
52:56 - Pursing Crankworx Instead of World Cup
57:07 - Marketing as a Rider and Filmmaking
1:06:19 - Importance of Social Media Influence
1:11:04 - Quality of Content
1:22:44 - Brands Measuring Athletes with Promo Codes
1:27:37 - Video Project with Greg Minnaar
1:31:22 - Filming Kyle Strait's Back-breaking Rampage Crash
1:38:05 - Crankworx Hustle and Bernard Kerr's Success
1:44:21 - SURON Riders Wrecking Trails?
1:54:13 - Racing Big Mountain Enduro in 2023
2:00:30 - Why Isn't Dual Slalom a UCI Event?
#MTB #mountainbike #bike

CHARLIE HARRISON - The Inside Line Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

U.S. downhill mountain bike racer, Charlie Harrison, joins us on The Inside Line to discuss his race career, injury and why he's decided to retire. Charlie has seen success with multiple World Cup DH podium results over the years. We talk about how he went from motocross racing to finding downhill MTB, career highlights, riding for Intense Factory Racing and Trek Factory Racing. As injury plagued the end of his time on the track, Charlie decided it was time to hang up the number plate and set his sights on a career in firefighting. He continues to ride regularly and does bike test work for Santa Cruz on occasion. #MTB #mountainbike #usdh
Video contents
0:00 - Using PVC Pipe as Fake Roots on a DH Track
3:03 - What is SoCal Speed Team
6:37 - From Moto to MTB
13:06 - Will We Ever See Skatepark Chuck Again?
16:05 - DH Race Progression / Fontana
24:54 - World Cup Visions
28:14 - First World Cup DH Success
36:45 - Getting Comfortable at World Cups
39:06 - Riding for Intense Factory
46:08 - Breaking into Top 10 at the World Cup
49:57 - Moving to Trek Factory Racing
56:00 - Reece Wilson Story
1:00:45 - Plagued with Injuries
1:13:59 - Retiring from DH Racing
1:20:56 - DH Training Program
1:24:23 - Outside Hobbies and Overlanding
1:28:32 - Helping with Santa Cruz
1:32:52 - Embarrassing Crash
Watch the episode - https://youtu.be/WYbuPIpYCkI

Rich Houseman - Downhill MTB Racing, Sponsorship and Social Media Discussions Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Rich Houseman forged a successful career as an American mountain bike racer in the late nineties and early 2000s. Taking wins in downhill, dual slalom, 4x and dual, Rich has seen all the different trends and changes that mountain bike racing has taken over the last two-and-a-half decades. As his race career wound down, he found himself at a company called Sponsorhouse, which managed athlete and brand sponsor partnerships. Sponsorhouse changed its name to Hookit and Rich has remained an integral part of the business for 19 years. He continues to oversee athlete and sponsor relations and discusses how Hookit uses data-driven information to help companies and riders succeed in their marketing efforts.
Thanks to JENSON USA and MAXXIS TIRES for supporting The Inside Line MTB podcast.
Watch this podcast on YouTube
Discussion Topics
0:00 - Introduction and Fontana
7:10 - BMX to Basketball to Downhill
16:50 - World Champs DH in Cairns
19:57 - First Sponsors, Racing for Tomac
24:54 - Slalom, Dual & 4X
30:59 - Bike Setup Back in the Day
34:28 - Why Did 4X Die?
35:56 - Proudest Racing Moment
38:08 - Making a Living Racing MTB
42:48 - Discovering Aaron Gwin
54:05 - Sponsorhouse to Hookit
1:00:17 - From MTB Racer to Desk Job
1:06:26 - Social Media's Impact on MTB Sponsorship
1:19:53 - What Makes a Successful Social Media Pt?
1:32:52 - Difficulties Female Athletes Face on Social Media
1:35:27 - Athletes Succeeding on Social Media
1:40:14 - Leticia Bufoni using Hookit
1:47:32 - Lew Buchanan Riding for OnlyFans
1:51:22 - Wyn Masters' Sponsor Value
1:56:11 - Dad Life
#MTB #Mountainbike #bike

The Future of DH Bikes? Trinity's Wild New Rig Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

It's a downhill bike. It's an enduro bike. It's a gearbox bike. It's a regular derailleur-based drivetrain bike. Learn all the details about Trinity's diverse and unique mountain bike with Mic Williams. Mic runs Williams Racing Products and is 1/3rd of the Trinity crew.
Interview Contents
0:00 - Trinity and WRP Background
2:39 - Gearbox-Adaptable Trinity Design
7:15 - Steel and Aluminum Frame Build
9:30 - Modular Frame Flex and Compliance Tuning
4:54 - Importance of Swingarm Flex
17:33 - Geometry - Matching Rear-center & Reach?
19:24 - Suspension Kinematics
23:44 - Modular Drivetrain Design
25:47 - WRP Gearbox Explained

JOHN HALL - The Inside Line Ride Along Ep. 2 Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Aaron Gwin's mechanic and potential 2023 Fontana 30-39 Expert champ, John Hall, joins Team Robot, Jason Schroeder, Jonny Simonetti and gordo on The Inside Line Ride Along. We spend three hours discussing everything from the unwritten rules of World Cup downhill warm-up spots, spoke tension myths, creating mountain bikes for consumers vs. pro racers, the new Intense M279 HP6 prototype, Gwin's chainless victory in Leogang and plenty more.
These great partners support The Inside Line
www.jensonusa.com - use coupon code INSIDELINE and receive 10% off qualifying items.
MAXXIS TIRES - they've been with The Inside Line since day one and make the best-performing mountain bike tires for all styles and riding conditions.
Interview contents
0:00 - Intro / Semi-final World Cup DH format Impact on Mechanics
17:35 - How Many Tires Used at a World Cup DH?
21:15 - John Hall was Jason Schroeder's Mechanic
25:45 - Becoming Aaron Gwin's Mechanic
40:35 - Trying to Get 27.5 DH tires and wheels in 2013
47:57 - Spoke Tension Debates
53:25 - Prototypes and Different Rider Setups
1:00:54 - Recipe for Winning
1:15:47 - Will John Hall Be the 2023 Fontana Ex 30-39 Champ?
1:27:50 - Thoughts on e-Enduro Racing?
1:38:38 - Developing Bikes for Every Rider
1:59:13 - Bike Reviews Based on Incorrect Setup
2:11:14 - You Can't Scrub
2:14:36 - Don't Make Bets with Mitch Ropelato or Aaron Gwin
2:19:36 - John Tomac Stories
2:24:29 - Developing the Prototype Intense M279 HP6
2:43:18 - Suspension Platforms
2:54:45 - The Broken Chain Leogang Win Story
3:12:53 - SoCal Speed Team

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