Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

Hope Technology is 30 years old this year, and we sit down with their 5th employee, and head of Sales & Marketing, Alan Weatherill. We chat about how Hope got started, how it grew to what it is today, some of the projects along the way, and much more. We also tell you how to become amongst the first members of the general public to take a tour of the Hope factory, so hit play and give it a listen. This episode of the podcast is supported by Hope Technology. You can find out everything you need to know about Hope by heading to their website hopetech.com. If you’re interested in a factory tour, then drop them an email on info@hopetech.com. If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to follow Hope on instagram, then you can find them @hopetech, or on Facebook @hopetech If you want to represent, and show your support for the podcast, then get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, sweatshirt or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – @roofowler

This week, we sit down for a chat with Ben Arnott, the mechanic for the YT Mob and engineer at Chromag Bikes in Whistler. We chat with Ben about how he made it onto the World Cup circuit, his thoughts on suspension set up and tyre pressure, his toolbox, the future of mountain bike geometry and much more. This episode of the podcast is supported by 661. As a downtime listener, you can get 25% off everything at www.sixsixone.com by using the code ‘downtimepodcast25’. Check out their great value Reset MIPS full face helmet! This episode of the podcast is also supported by The Trailhead Bicycle Company in Shrewsbury, UK. The Trailhead is an awesome bike shop, with a great team of staff, headed up by main man Sandy Plenty. We released an episode with Sandy last year which you can find here. The local bike shop is an important part of our riding communities, so please make sure that you support yours! You can find The Trailhead Bicycle Company at www.thetrailhead.co.uk on Instagram @the_trailhead_bicycle_co and you can find Sandy here @sandy_plenty If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can listen to the episode with Jordi from Fox Suspension here You can follow Ben on Instagram @wheelsarnott Check out the pressure gauges Ben mentioned here, and here Support the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Isac Paddock

This week, we talk to YT Mob rider, Angel Suarez. We chat about Angel’s background in motocross, how he’s dealt with his past injuries, the successes of his 2018 season, plans for 2019, and much more… Hit play and give it a listen. This episode of the podcast is supported by YT Industries. You can check out their updated 2019 range at yt-industries.com. If you want to find out more about the training camps that Angel talks about in this episode, then you can find all the information that you need at yt-mob.com If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to follow Angel on instagram, then you can find him @angelsuarezdh You can follow YT Industries @yt_industries and the YT Mob @yt_mob Please help us out and show your support for the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Isac Paddock

This week, we talk to Tony Seagrave, father to Tahnée and Kaos, head of FMD Racing, and half of MarshGuard. We discuss Tony’s background growing up riding BMX in London, his decision to move the family to Morzine, how the kids got into racing, the challenges of running a team, and much more… Hit play and give it a listen. This episode of the podcast is supported by Cotic Bikes. You can listen to our previous episode with Cy from Cotic here. I’ve been riding a Cotic FlareMAX for 6 months now and I absolutely love it. If you want to add a FlareMAX to your life then head to www.cotic.co.uk/product/flareMAX and if you add the code ‘downtime’ to the ‘anything else’ box at the bottom of the order page, then you’ll get a free 35mm stem worth £39 on orders placed before the end of February 2019. Also check out Cotic on Instagram @coticbikes This episode of the podcast is also supported by The Trailhead Bicycle Company in Shrewsbury, UK. The Trailhead is an awesome bike shop, with a great team of staff, headed up by main man Sandy Plenty. We released an episode with Sandy last year which you can find here. The local bike shop is an important part of our riding communities, so please make sure that you support yours! You can find The Trailhead Bicycle Company at www.thetrailhead.co.uk on Instagram @the_trailhead_bicycle_co and you can find Sandy here @sandy_plenty If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to follow Tony and the FMD Racing crew, then you can find him on Instagram @fmdracing Tony’s recommendation to improve your performance was to spend some money with Chris Kilmurray from Point One Athletic, their team coach. You can find him here. Please show your support for the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Dan Hearn

This week, Jonny Thompson from Fit4Racing is back. His previous episode on how to maximise your offseason was our second most popular episode in 2018 (listen here), and this time he’s back with a DH and an Enduro specific workout to help you move towards the start of the race season and bring some more speed, power and endurance into your training. This time we’ve got scaling options for most of the exercises so you can tailor the workouts to the right level for you. Jonny has also made a video of the movements we discuss in the episode, so you can make sure you’re doing things right, and there are pdfs that you can download, print out, and take to the gym with you. You can watch the video on the Fit4Racing YouTube channel, or towards the bottom of this post, where you’ll also find the downloadable pdfs. To find out more about Jonny and Fit4Racing, you can use the following links, Website www.fit4racing.com Instagram @fit4racing Facebook @Fit4racing YouTube Fit4Racing There are some great free resources there to help support your training! Also, as a Downtime listener you can get 50% off your first month of any Fit4Racing training programme. Just head to their website www.fit4racing.com, select your programme and use the code ‘downtime50’ at the checkout. Help us keep this podcast free by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Here are the pdfs for these 2 workouts… Fit4Racing Enduro Workout January 2019Download Fit4Racing Downhill Workout January 2019Download Check out the video that goes with this episode here…. Photo – Peter Ostrowski

This week, we talk to another one of the sports biggest characters, Eddie Masters. We chat about his approach to life, his racing career so far, what it’s like being a team manager, what helped him get to the podium in 2018 and much more. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this wide ranging chat with Eddie Masters. This episode of the podcast is supported by The Trailhead Bicycle Company in Shrewsbury, UK. The Trailhead is an awesome bike shop, with a great team of staff, headed up by main man Sandy Plenty. We released an episode with Sandy last year which you can find here. The local bike shop is an important part of our riding communities, so please make sure that you support yours! You can find The Trailhead Bicycle Company at www.thetrailhead.co.uk on Instagram @the_trailhead_bicycle_co and you can find Sandy here @sandy_plenty If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to follow Eddie, then you can find him on Instagram @edmasters The Hangover, the video that Eddie made for the Whistler Dirt Diaries, is here Please show your support for the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Boris Beyer

This week, we talk to one of the sports biggest characters, Yoann Barelli. We sat down and chatted about Yoann’s career so far, his thoughts on happiness, risk taking, doping in EWS, being a Dad, and much more, as well as discussing his plans for the future. So have a listen and find out how Yoann manages to perform so well and still have so much fun! This episode of the podcast is supported by The Strength Factory. As a downtime listener, you can get 50% off your first month of their new MTB Strength Programme at www.thestrengthfactory.uk by using the code ‘downtimestrong’ at the checkout (valid until 31st January 2019). You can listen to our two previous episodes with their main man, Ben Plenge, here and here This episode of the podcast is also supported by 661. As a downtime listener, you can get 25% off everything at www.sixsixone.com by using the code ‘downtimepodcast25’. Check them out for great helmets, protection, gloves and shoes! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can find the Hutchinson tyres that Yoann recommended here  Support the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Nicolas Brizin

This week, I’m joined by Joe McEwan, the main man behind Starling Cycles. Starling made quite an entrance when Steve Jones from Dirt picked up on their 29er Murmur and started raving about how good it was. We chat about how Joe went from aerospace engineer to bike company owner, why a carbon fibre expert chooses to make steel bikes, some hot topics like 29ers and bike weight, and Joe gives us some inside info on his latest prototypes. This episode of the podcast is supported by Starling Cycles. As a downtime listener, you can get a free t-shirt with your Starling at starlingcycles.com by using the code ‘downtime’. Check out what they have to offer! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If there is somewhere you want to listen to us, and can’t find us, then please get in touch. You can find out more about Starling at starlingcycles.com You can follow Starling on Instagram @starlingcycles Or on Facebook @StarlingCycles For more info on the tyre inserts mentioned in the episode, here are the links… cushcore.com mrwolf.bike Show your support for the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Rich Matherson @TheTaiwanPhotographer

This week, we talk Data Acquisition with two of the top engineers in the industry, Jason Chamberlain from Specialized and Torkel Sintorn from Ohlins. We discuss how data has been used to help design better bikes, how it’s used today by people like Loic Bruni to get their bike set up for ultimate performance, and where data acquisition might be heading in the future, as well as a few suspension set up tips from these top guys. This episode of the podcast is supported by 661. As a downtime listener, you can get 25% off everything at www.sixsixone.com by using the code ‘downtimepodcast25’. Check them out for great helmets, protection, gloves and shoes! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can find out more about Specialized at www.specialized.com You can find out more about Ohlins at www.ohlins.com Support the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Ohlins

This week, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau (also known as ALN) joins us on the show. Andréane made a spectacular return to the EWS podium this season after missing the first few rounds due to injury. We discuss that, along with her background in the sport, cross country racing, psychology and much more. This episode of the podcast is supported by 661. As a downtime listener, you can get 25% off everything at www.sixsixone.com by using the code ‘downtimepodcast25’. Check them out for great helmets, protection, gloves and shoes! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can follow Andréane on Instagram here @andreaneln Support the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or mug from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Kike Abelleira

This week, we’ve got something a little different, we take you behind the scenes at the Kendal Mountain Festival ‘Bike Night’. I got the chance to attend the festival, and sit down for a chat with Festival Director, Steve Scott, Bike Night’s main man, Ben Gerrish, and bike night stars Tracy Moseley, Katy Winton, and Gee & Dan Atherton. We cover many things, including doping in EWS and what New Year’s resolutions they would give to our listeners! If you’re based in the UK and haven’t been to Kendal Mountain Festival before, then you really should. It is an amazing place to see some of action sports biggest names, hear amazing stories, and to get inspired for your next adventure. In case you want to skip straight to a specific guest, here are the timings… Ben Gerrish 5:15 – 12:20 Tracy Moseley 12:20 – 25:20 Katy Winton 25:20 – 35:35 Steve Scott 35:35 – 41:30 Dan Atherton 41:30 – 49:40 Gee Atherton 49:40 – 1:01:00 To find out more about the festival, head to www.mountainfest.co.uk or to catch the festival while it’s on it’s UK tour, head to www.kendalmountaintour.com If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. Help support the podcast by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo courtesy of Trek Bicycles

This week, Jonny Thompson from Fit4Racing joins us on the show. Jonny coaches World Cup DH racer Adam Brayton, and in this episode he’s going to give some example workouts to help you make the most of your offseason. We talk about the minimum time needed to really make some gains. Why and how gym time can be really beneficial and efficient, and the need to develop multiple ‘energy systems’. Jonny has also made a video of the movements we describe in the episode, so you can make sure you’re doing things right. You can watch the video on the Fit4Racing YouTube channel, or towards the bottom of this post. To find out more about Jonny and Fit4Racing, you can use the following links, Website www.fit4racing.com Instagram @fit4racing Facebook @Fit4racing YouTube Fit4Racing There are some great free resources here to help support your training! Also, as a Downtime listener you can get 50% off your first month of any Fit4Racing training programme. Just head to their website www.fit4racing.com, select your programme and use the code ‘downtime50’ at the checkout. Help us keep this podcast free by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes We mention the life coach Tony Robbins in the episode, here are links to a couple of his books if you’re interested to find out more… Unlimited Power – The New Science of Personal Achievement here Awaken the Giant Within here Check out the video that goes with this episode here…. Photo – Peter Ostrowski  

This week, Reece Wilson joins us on the show. Reece was one of the breakthrough riders in 2018, with some amazing results, including his first World Cup podium. We chat to Reece about how he got into the sport, his progression to the top level, his 2018 season, Red Bull Hardline and much more, including some tips on how to whip, and Eddie Masters’ approach to world travel! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can follow Reece on Instagram here @reecowilson The Sleeper.co YouTube channels that Reece mentioned is here Find out more about Revgrips at revgrips.com Check out CushCore at cushcore.com Help us keep this podcast free by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Dave Trumpore

This week, I’m joined by Nick Grantham, the coach to Rachel and Gee Atherton. Nick has joined the Athertons through a challenging time, with both Rachel and Gee suffering serious injuries early in his tenure. However, using his experience built up across numerous sports, Nick has been able to support them both in returning to their winning ways. We sit down to talk about how he got involved with Atherton Racing, injury prevention and recovery, key aspects of mountain bike training, and Nick’s view on the future of physical preparation for downhill mountain biking, amongst many other things. If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. You can follow Nick on Instagram here @zer0226 Nick’s website is nickgrantham.com If you’d like to read Nick’s book on training like an athlete, ‘The Strength & Conditioning Bible’ is available here. Nick’s recommended reading with Amazon links is below, Conscious Coaching – Brett Bartholomew Strength and Conditioning – Biological Principles and Practical Applications – Marco Cardinale, Robert Newton and Kazunori Nosaka High Performance Training For Sports – David Joyce and Daniel Lewindon The Path of The Doer – David Hieatt and Andy Smith Oh The Places You Will Go – Dr Seuss   The medicine ball warm up that gets mentioned in the episode is at youtube.com/watch?v=RkzUZf7Up5M To find out more about the Beast sensor, head to www.thisisbeast.com, or the Push sensor at www.trainwithpush.com Help us keep this podcast free by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Jason Schiers and Mello Bouwmeester are heavyweights of the mountain bike industry, and in their first collaborative effort have released the Crankbrothers Synthesis wheelset, the first front and rear tuned carbon wheelset. You’ll probably have seen the product and the reviews on the mountain bike websites over the past week or so, but here we go deeper inside SR56, the research and development arm of the Selle Royal group that Crankbrothers belongs to. Join me in getting to know the characters involved, how they met, and what it really takes to develop a product like this. To find out more about the Synthesis wheelset, head to www.crankbrothers.com/pages/synthesis Crankbrothers have kindly offered all Downtime listeners a free Highline double wheel bag worth $90 with any Synthesis wheelset purchase, all you need to do is to enter ‘downtime’ at the checkout! If you are enjoying the podcast, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free, and it means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. All the links you need are at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can also find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and most of the podcast apps out there. For an overview of the wheels, this web article from NSMB is a great summary – nsmb.com/articles/crankbrothers-synthesis-wheels-reboot/ You can follow Crankbrothers on Instagram here @crankbrothers Help us keep this podcast free by getting yourself a t-shirt from downtimepodcast.com/shop If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! You can check out our back catalogue of amazing episodes at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photos – Crankbrothers/Manfred Stromberg