Our guest today is Brooklyn Bell , who is a mountain biker and a skier and an artist and a former figure skater and a future frog scientist (maybe). So we talk about all of that and a whole lot more, including Brooklyn’s current big idea. TOPICS & TIMES Preacher, teacher, or frog scientist? (2:20) Brooklyn’s hobbies as a kid (5:06) Art & “Mountain Art” (10:25) Getting into biking in Bellingham (18:54) Skiing vs mtn biking as boyfriend types (25:50) Becoming Ruby (33:48) Current favorite ...
Feb 11, 2021•55 min•Ep. 52
Today our guest is Sam Meegan of Privateer Bikes , which is a company that has been pushing forward certain aspects of bike design that have been gaining broader acceptance in the bike industry and growing in popularity among riders. So come to learn more about the origins, philosophy, and trajectory of Privateer, but stick around to hear Sam’s big idea about how to revolutionize a whole other product category. TOPICS & TIMES Privateer Bike’s philosophy & origins (4:25) Designing the Pri...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 51
PeopleForBikes is one of the most important organizations in the bike world that you might not be too familiar with. So we caught up with Jenn Dice to talk about what the organization is up to; working with a new administration; and what each of us can do to get involved. TOPICS & TIMES What is PeopleForBikes (2:50) Lobbying for bike legislature (6:16) Obstacles & challenges (14:14) Current progress (17:55) Working with the new Biden administration (23:57) E-bikes (27:17) How you can get...
Jan 28, 2021•39 min•Ep. 50
Yoann Barelli just signed on with Guerrilla Gravity , so we thought this would be a good time to catch up with him and talk about why he thinks GG is a great fit. (And for some important context here, we highly recommend checking out the conversation I had with the founders of GG and their composites engineer .) Yoann and Jonathan Ellsworth also discuss the coaching he’s been doing (see barelliconcepts.com ) and he offers some good coaching tips; we talk about his first introduction to bikes and...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 49
We talk with Blister’s bike editor, David Golay, about some of the gear he’s recently been testing; some of the most surprising products of the past year; some of the standout products of 2020; and a few predictions for 2021. TOPICS & TIMES: Canyon Stoic (2:36) Ohlins suspension (8:13) Most Surprising Products of 2020 (9:36) Standout products of 2020 (11:56) Predictions for 2021 (17:15) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 07, 2021•22 min•Ep. 48
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa is one of the best big line skiers of all time, and he’s an extremely good — and extremely passionate — mountain biker, too. So we talked with Sage about how he thinks about the similarities of skiing & mountain biking; riding lines in Virgin, Utah back in 2004; riding with Cam McCaul; what aspect of mountain biking he is most focused on improving; and his film, Balance . TOPICS: Transitioning between biking & skiing (3:54) When did you first really get into biking?...
Dec 27, 2020•59 min•Ep. 47
Noah Bodman is back to offer his review of parenthood (he’s a new dad); discuss carbon wheels; Sweet Protection’s convertible full-face helmet; and a number of forks that Noah has been spending time on. TOPICS & TIMES: Parenthood (3:06) Hunt Impact Carbon Wheelset (7:39) Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS (18:56) Forks (20:25) RELATED LINKS Survivor Endurance phone case Our experience with the Survivor Endurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 12, 2020•28 min•Ep. 46
We talk to Lance Canfield about their new Tilt and Lithium bikes and the rest of the Canfield Bikes 20/21 lineup; the origins story of Canfield; the evolution of Rampage and competing in the first Rampage comps; the mountain bike industry today; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Origins of Canfield Bikes (3:35) Getting into bikes, jumping off roofs (8:49) Competing at Rampage in its first years (16:49) Move to Fruita (26:23) Describe the Canfield customer (28:28) The 20/21 Canfield lineup (32:25) Th...
Dec 06, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 45
Anneke Beerten was on episode #34 of Bikes & Big Ideas , and we did not expect to have the 2 x world champion BMX rider, 3-time Four Cross world champion, and Queen of Crankworx (who hails from the Netherlands) back on the show under these circumstances. Anneke was in an accident and suffered a serious concussion, so we wanted to check in with about what happened; get a firsthand report of her recovery; and present a public service announcement that we all need to hear. But we then shift gea...
Nov 19, 2020•47 min•Ep. 44
For many of us, it’s shoulder season, where the riding conditions are either wet, muddy, cold — or all of the above. And some of us live in places where we just regularly encounter wet, muddy, or cold conditions. So today we’re talking about why some of the gear that’s intended for wet/muddy riding sucks; which products have worked the best for us; and we then turn to a conversation about forks from Fox, RockShox, and Manitou. TOPICS & TIMES: Wet-weather MTB Gloves (0:49) Why are MTB jackets...
Nov 14, 2020•28 min•Ep. 43
Trainers? Trainers?? Roadies have been using them forever, but many mountain bikers dismiss them (like we did). But Simon Stewart (aka, Mr. Tank Driver / co-owner of BV Bike Company ) lays out a compelling case for why all cyclists — including mountain bikers — should reconsider their stance on the modern, indoor trainer. TOPICS & TIMES : Why Simon got a trainer (2:53) What do you like about it? (6:35) Weekly training schedule? (16:57) Where to demo one / closing thoughts (22:49) RELATED LIN...
Oct 31, 2020•26 min•Ep. 42
A bike without pedals? Dog mushing? Surfing mountains? Today’s episode is a mindbender, and the backstory here all starts with episode #22 of Bikes & Big Ideas , so you should listen to it if you haven’t already. We’re talking today with Jordi Ponti from Barcelona-based Gravity Scooters , and we discuss how the idea of a gravity scooter came to be; the advantages of ditching your pedals — and seat posts; designing a DH scooter; dog mushing; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Origins of Gravity Sc...
Oct 08, 2020•35 min•Ep. 41
We check in with reviewers Dylan Wood (who gets to keep his seat at the bar), David Golay (who is now reconsidering what makes brakes good or bad), and Eric Freson (who still enjoys a sick jazz soundtrack) to get their updates on the Trek Slash , EXT Storia shock , Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, and the Banshee Phantom V3. TOPICS & TIMES: DYLAN WOOD Trek Slash: General ride impressions (2:32) RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Thru Shaft (3:32) Geometry - is it radical enough? (7:55) Climbing (9:21) ...
Sep 24, 2020•49 min•Ep. 40
What if you could buy a bike without immediately looking to swap out a bunch of the stock parts? And what if this dream build of yours was competitively priced? Sherpa Custom Mountain Bikes is a brand-new company that allows you to customize every part and color of your new bike, with over 1,000,000 combinations to choose from; their “photorealistic 3D dream builder” provides life-like graphics that allow you to scrutinize every detail of your custom build; and they’re also offering a life-time ...
Sep 17, 2020•43 min•Ep. 39
Structure Cycleworks arguably makes the coolest bikes out there — or the ugliest bikes out there. So we talked to Structure Cycleworks founder, Loni Hull, about why he introduced a front-linkage suspension design; why rear-linkage designs are everywhere, while front-linkage designs are utterly uncommon; and the pros and cons of bringing such an unorthodox bike to market. So whether you are a true bike dork or you just appreciate outside-the-box thinking and design, consider this is a ‘Must-Liste...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 38
Today, Trek officially released an update of their enduro-focused Slash , so we offer our initial impressions of the new bike and ask what this big new release might be able to tell us about where we are in terms of the evolution of bike geometry. To this end, we also talk about a couple other examples, including the Pivot Switchblade and the Rocky Mountain Instinct BC. TOPICS & TIMES: The new Trek Slash (1:34) Bike geometry (5:21) Pivot Switchblade (14:17) Rocky Mountain Instinct BC (19:11)...
Sep 03, 2020•26 min•Ep. 37
Mountain bikers Eliot Jackson and Katie Holden just launched the Grow Cycling Foundation , so we caught up with Eliot to talk about Grow Cycling; their plan to get a Velosolutions Pumptrack built in downtown Los Angeles; how to create a more welcoming bike culture; his terrific podcast, Reggy Radio ; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Night Owls vs. Early Birds (2:23) What is the Grow Cycling Foundation ? (5:24) Putting a Velosolutions Pumptrack in LA (20:50) How to develop a more welcoming bike cult...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 36
Any One of Us, the film about Paul Basagoitia and spinal cord injuries, just won an Emmy! So we are reposting the conversation we had with Paul, who was the first back-to-back winner of Crankworx Slopestyle; participated in Red Bull Rampage numerous times; and was one of the top riders in the game. But one tiny mishap led to a crash that left him paralyzed, and Paul’s life was changed in an instant. But that’s not the end of the story — Paul is currently making an absolutely incredible comeback....
Aug 13, 2020•49 min•Ep. 35
Anneke Beerten was born in the Netherlands, started racing BMX when she was 4 years old, then became a 2-time world champion in BMX, a 3-time Four-cross world champion, the Queen of Crankworx, and she’s won, podiumed, and top 5’d many enduro, DH, DS races. She also just won the So Cal Enduro and Snow Summit DH. So Blister reviewers Dylan Wood and Jonathan Ellsworth caught up with Anneke to talk about racing; what she’s up to these days; ‘badass’ books; business ideas; and you’ll get to hear ‘the...
Aug 06, 2020•49 min•Ep. 34
Bike sales are through the roof this season, and all around the world, a lot of people are hitting the trails. So we talked to the executive director of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association , Dave Ochs, to discuss the implications of — and potential solutions to — increased trail use. TOPICS & TIMES Dave’s background (3:00) CBMBA state of the union (6:20) Implications of higher use of trails (13:23) Infrastructure & Education (15:38) ‘Opposite Use’ Policies (24:21) Fat Bike World ...
Jul 31, 2020•44 min•Ep. 33
David Golay and Jonathan Ellsworth discuss the backstory of the new ZEB fork and why RockShox built it; who it’s for; its available configurations and compatibility; the ZEB vs. the Lyrik and more, with RockShox’s Chris Mandell. TOPICS & TIMES Chris’ background (3:39) ZEB backstory (12:40) Different ZEB models (21:57) ZEB vs RockShox Lyrik (26:49) ZEB compatibility (37:31) Drivetrains vs Brakes vs Suspension (38:51) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 23, 2020•45 min•Ep. 32
Everybody’s favorite bike-POV-commentator is back to talk about chasing Nino Schurter down trails in Switzerland; his thoughts on e-bikes (now that he’s been riding one frequently); his company, Velosolutions’ first “all-electric” build; the status of the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships ; and more. TOPICS & TIMES Claudio’s life these days (2:07) Chasing Nino Schurter (6:11) Claudio’s thoughts on his e-bike (9:45) Velosolutions ’ “all-electric” build (18:47) Status: Red Bull UCI P...
Jul 16, 2020•38 min•Ep. 31
Elorie Slater runs the marketing department for Pivot Cycles, and we talk about her unusual path to becoming the head of marketing for Pivot; her take on the bike industry in the time of COVID, and where the industry goes from here; bike prices and “entry level” pricing; and the notion of women-specific gear and female participation in mountain biking. TOPICS & TIMES Elorie’s background (4:12) Current bike industry trends (16:04) “Entry level” prices (25:23) Pivot’s frames (31:52) Ride Tunin...
Jul 09, 2020•47 min•Ep. 30
We talk with Dean Payne, the president and co-founder of the BC Bike Race , about the origins and evolution of one of the most epic bike races and events in the world. And Simon Stewart ( aka, Mr. Tank Driver ) is sitting in as co-host to discuss all things BC Bike Race, and what goes into putting together a complex and great event like this. TOPICS & TIMES History of the BC Bike Race (3:14) Creating an “alternate universe” (12:59) Russell Crowe & the World’s Largest Hockey Stick (22:03)...
Jul 03, 2020•55 min•Ep. 29
We caught up this week with the one and only Cam McCaul to talk about some of the bike films that made the biggest impression on him; the new TGR film he’s in called, Accomplice (some of which was shot in our little corner of the world, Crested Butte); how he prepares for riding big lines; his work as a commentator; and which discipline he thinks many people fail to really appreciate: slopestyle, DH, or big-mountain riding. Cam’s (most excellent) YouTube Channel Tour Dates for Accomplice Watch t...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 28
Today we’re talking with bike-industry veterans Simon Stewart ( Mr. Tank Driver, of Bikes & Big Ideas ep. #18 fame ) and Joe Parkin (author, former pro cyclist, and our editor-in-chief’s new dealer) at their bike shop in Buena Vista, Colorado . First, we announce their brand-new shop name, then we talk about what it’s like to own and operate a bike shop in these times, and finally, we discuss Joe’s wildly addictive new creation that our editor-in-chief calls, the “Crack Waffle.” TOPICS &...
May 28, 2020•32 min•Ep. 27
Which bike company is currently the most like which ski company? Here in part 2, we get into more arguments and offer more of their parallels and analogies between these two industries to get a better sense of the current position, reputation, and trajectory of a bunch of different brands in these sports. And we want to hear from you — where do you agree or disagree, and can you come up with better, more accurate analogies than the ones we’re proposing? Let us know in the Comments Section on our...
May 21, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 26
By the time he was in his mid-20s, Adam Miller had already founded three bike companies — Borealis Fat Bikes, Why Cycles , and Revel Bikes . It’s a pretty wild backstory, and Adam sat down with us in Blister HQ to spell it all out like he never has before. We talk about growing up in Alaska, starting — and running — his first bike company as a 21 year old college kid; selling that same company and going on to found Why Cycles and Revel; and what makes Revel bikes different and, what he believes ...
May 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 25
Which bike company is currently most like which ski company? And which bike and ski company do most other bike and ski brands secretly wish they could trade places with? Today, Noah Bodman, Jonathan Ellsworth, David Golay, and Eric Freson make parallels and analogies between these two industries to get a better sense of the current position, reputation, and trajectory of a bunch of different brands in these sports. And we want to hear from you — where do you agree or disagree, and can you come u...
May 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 24
What, exactly, does it mean for a company to be a Certified B Corporation business, and why should anyone care? To learn more, we reached out to Chris King Precision Components , which just completed the process of becoming one of the very few B Corp manufacturing companies in the entire bike industry. Chris King’s general manager, Chris (aka, “Kirby”) Bedsaul talked with us about what the process of becoming a B Corp entails, why they decided to do it, and along the way, we also discuss Chris K...
Apr 30, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 23
