Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

In this bonus mini-interview, we speak with world-famous trials rider Danny MacAskill about his latest video project, The Impossible Bike Obstacle Course Race. Danny shares his tips for riding skinnies and talks about his approach to challenging situations.

If you haven't seen the video yet, be sure to watch before listening so there are no spoilers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SChm4DyivOU

Geoff Kabush is a three-time Olympian and professional cross-country mountain bike and cyclocross racer with multiple Canadian National titles to his name. He's also a two-time winner of BC Bike Race and recently finished seventh this year against a stacked field that included Nino Schurter.
Tell us about your very first bike race. Why did you decide to sign up?  
Did you think you'd still be racing mountain bikes at age 49? 
In 2021, after multiple attempts, you set the FKT on the Repack DH course. What surprised you about the project? Would you ever consider giving it a try on a Klunker?
You've been experimenting with 32-inch wheels, and recently picked up a Naked Bicycles 32er gravel bike. What do you think about the emerging wheel size? How substantial are the performance benefits?
Do you have a favorite race format? Has that changed for you over the years?
What was it like racing the BC Bike Race this year? Do you plan to race the new format next year? 
What's your secret to staying fast into your 40s and 50s? How much of a race like the Downieville Classic is mental vs. physical?
Racing and sponsorships look very different today than they did when you first started out. Do you think it's harder for athletes today who are expected to be influencers and competitors at the same time?
You've ridden your bike and raced all over the world. What's your favorite place to ride? As a Squamish local, do you have any trail recommendations for visitors?
What other challenges do you have planned for this year?
Keep up with Geoff's latest adventures on Instagram @geoffkabush.
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Feedback Sports.
If you love your bike, you know that regular maintenance is the key to a smoother, faster, and safer ride. But a good wrenching session starts with the right setup. Enter the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic and Sprint repair stands. Trusted by World Tour mechanics and home hobbyists alike, these lightweight, anodized aluminum stands are ultra-stable, highly portable, and fold down in seconds.
Whether you're chasing down a tricky drivetrain click in your garage or dialing in your shifting at the trailhead, Feedback Sports gives you shop-quality precision wherever you are. Pair their award-winning stands with their professional-grade tool kits—like the Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit—and you have everything you need to keep your rig running flawlessly. Stop wrestling with your bike upside down on the grass. Elevate your maintenance game and give your bike the care it deserves.
Head over to ⁠⁠feedbacksports.com⁠⁠ today to check out their full lineup of repair stands and precision tools.
An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Aaron Roger is the founder and CEO of Rock Solid Trail Contracting which provides planning, consulting, design, and build services for projects mostly around the US. Rock Solid has built thousands of miles of trails in the US since 2014, in iconic destinations like Bentonville and Copper Harbor.
What was the first mountain bike trail you ever built?
Before starting Rock Solid, you were the president of the Copper Harbor Trails Club. What was the vision for the trails in Copper Harbor at that time?
What makes for a quality mountain bike trail? 
How do trail builders create memorable trails? Do riders want to ride difficult trails, or just trails that appear to be difficult?
When it comes to tourism, are high-quality trails alone enough to bring visitors?
How has trail building changed since your time as a Trail Specialist at IMBA?
Why do you think so many riders prefer hand-built trails over machine-built ones? Is it possible to make a machine-built trail feel like a hand-built one?
What are some of the projects you are most proud of? 
Who is your primary client for a trail build: riders or the land manager? How do you balance the desires of both groups?
Tell us about some of the custom trail-building tools Rock Solid has developed over the years. 
What are some projects Rock Solid is working on now?
Visit rocksolidtrails.com to learn more about the trail-building company.
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Feedback Sports.
If you love your bike, you know that regular maintenance is the key to a smoother, faster, and safer ride. But a good wrenching session starts with the right setup. Enter the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic and Sprint repair stands. Trusted by World Tour mechanics and home hobbyists alike, these lightweight, anodized aluminum stands are ultra-stable, highly portable, and fold down in seconds.
Whether you're chasing down a tricky drivetrain click in your garage or dialing in your shifting at the trailhead, Feedback Sports gives you shop-quality precision wherever you are. Pair their award-winning stands with their professional-grade tool kits—like the Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit—and you have everything you need to keep your rig running flawlessly. Stop wrestling with your bike upside down on the grass. Elevate your maintenance game and give your bike the care it deserves.
Head over to ⁠feedbacksports.com⁠ today to check out their full lineup of repair stands and precision tools.
An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Rick Vosper has been in the bike industry since the 1980s, serving in marketing and communications roles for some of the biggest brands in the business. His company, RVMS, provides creative services to consumer products and outdoor companies, and he's a regular contributor to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. 
What was your first job in the bike industry? How did you land that job?
Is cycling now, or has it ever been, a growth industry? What are the main participation drivers?
For bike brands, how realistic is it to grow overall participation vs. market share?
Why are mountain bikes so expensive? Is anyone getting rich by selling bikes?
What do you make of Chinese brands like Avinox and X-LAB entering the US market? Is vertical integration a threat to existing bike brands?
Is the local bike shop doomed? What is working for the more successful bike shops?
Between brands, retailers, and consumers, who wields the most power in the bike industry?
Is it that some US bike brands are seeing 50% or more of their sales going to e-bikes?
It seems like the US e-bike classification system was meant to avoid confusion, but now we're seeing problems around the country involving the sale and use of e-motos. What went wrong?
Now that a lot of the volatility in the supply chain has settled down, what opportunities do you see for bike and component brands going forward?
What advice would you offer a young professional considering a job in the outdoor industry?
Keep up with the latest bike industry analysis from Rick at Bicycle Retailer.
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Feedback Sports.
If you love your bike, you know that regular maintenance is the key to a smoother, faster, and safer ride. But a good wrenching session starts with the right setup. Enter the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic and Sprint repair stands. Trusted by World Tour mechanics and home hobbyists alike, these lightweight, anodized aluminum stands are ultra-stable, highly portable, and fold down in seconds.
Whether you're chasing down a tricky drivetrain click in your garage or dialing in your shifting at the trailhead, Feedback Sports gives you shop-quality precision wherever you are. Pair their award-winning stands with their professional-grade tool kits—like the Reflex Fixed Torque Ratchet Kit—and you have everything you need to keep your rig running flawlessly. Stop wrestling with your bike upside down on the grass. Elevate your maintenance game and give your bike the care it deserves.
Head over to feedbacksports.com today to check out their full lineup of repair stands and precision tools.
An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Cy Turner is the founder and owner of UK-based Cotic Cycles. The Cotic brand got its start in 2003 and is known for high-quality, handcrafted steel bikes, ranging from hardtails to full-suspension bikes to gravel bikes. 
What were you looking for in a hardtail in 2001 that you couldn't find back then?
Where does the Cotic name come from?
Why build mountain bikes from steel? Why did you stop using titanium?
Why does it seem like so many British bikes made from steel? Are most of your buyers located in the UK, or do you see a decent amount of demand internationally? 
Why move away from matched 29" wheels for the recently updated Cotic Jeht trail bike?
Do you see mountain bike geometry continuing to evolve, or is it pretty well optimized at this point?
Have you ridden a bike with 32-inch wheels? What's your perspective on the bigger wheel size?
The Cotic Rocket is one of the few high-end electric bikes with a steel frame. What made you want to design an e-bike? 
What's next for Cotic?
Learn more about Cotic at cotic.co.uk.
An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

This episode is sponsored by Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.
If you’re looking for your next mountain bike destination that offers just about everything, put Sandpoint, Idaho at the top of your list! The Lower Basin trail system serves up world-class riding through towering timber and across massive granite rock slabs, with trails for every rider — from technical black diamond descents to fast, flowy cross-country loops.
For excellent park-style riding, head up to Schweitzer Mountain Resort with dedicated downhill trails and e-bike access to more than two dozen trails. Or pedal from town to the Pine Street Woods trail system where the trails range from flowy to technical.
When you’re ready to take a break from the trails, Lake Pend Oreille is right there for camping, boating, swimming, or even standup paddleboarding. And after a big day outdoors, head into the town of Sandpoint where you'll find a great selection of bars and restaurants to relax and refuel. 
Get all the details to plan your perfect getaway at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visitsandpoint.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The trails and the good times are waiting for you when you Visit Idaho!