Yeti has a long history of unconventional suspension layouts, and they’ve just given their lineup a big shakeup with the new LT & MT, both of which use the Sixfinity six-bar layout from Yeti’s eMTBs rather than the Switch Infinity design from their last several generations of MTBs. So, we sat down with Yeti Engineer Peter Zawistowski to get the story of developing the Sixfinity layout; what they were able to achieve with it that wasn’t possible with four-bar designs; the differences in suspension kinematic requirements for different sorts of bikes; the LT’s radically overhauled geometry; and a whole lot more. 

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Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on Bikes and Big Ideas. Email us at [email protected] to weigh in.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Yeti’s history of suspension layouts (2:05)

Development of the Sixfinity platform (9:57)

Antisquat & the advantages of six bar layouts (15:55)

Suspension kinematics for different use cases (23:57)

Geometry adjustments & offering more vs. keeping thing simple (32:59)

Rear center lengths & geometry changes for the LT (39:14)

Athlete feedback in bike development (54:37)

Racers versus freeriders (57:47)

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The Blister Vault

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Today is a big day, as we welcome Freeride legend Cam McCaul as the new co-host of Reviewing the News. Cam and Simon Stewart go way back, and Simon has been a fan of what he’s been doing on and off the bike for as long as they’ve known each other. Cam brings a great new perspective to the show with his experience announcing Red Bull Rampage and DH racing, his freeride career, not to mention having ridden with so many of the top names in our sport. 

And, we have a hell of a month to cover in Cam’s debut, with plenty of racing and industry news to go over, and Cam shares what it's like to try and ride behind repeat DH World Champion, Jackson Goldstone.  

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on Bikes and Big Ideas. Email us at [email protected] to weigh in.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Mountain States Cups Series (1:18)

The Black Snake (11:26)

Gates 100k Prize Finally Awarded (25:01)

Eli Tomac Retirement (36:06)

Tadej Pogacar Crash (41:41)

Leadville 100 Recap (48:07)

Another eBike Battery Fire (51:39)

OneUp’s Used Marketplace (1:06:21)

What We're Watching — 'Parallel III' (1:10:37)

Rampage is Just Around the Corner (1:20:22)

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The Blister Vault

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Shortly after the final Enduro World Cup race of the 2026 season, Warner Brothers Discovery and the UCI made the surprise announcement that the series will not continue for 2027.

Despite the uncertain future that leaves for top-tier professional Enduro racing, the announcement was met with a surprising amount of excitement from athletes, and a real sense of optimism that something better can rise from the ashes of the short-lived EDR series. So we brought professional racer Eric Olsen back on the show to discuss all of it.

The full press release from the UCI can be read here.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on Bikes & Big Ideas. You can email us at: [email protected]

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TOPICS & TIMES:

The state of professional Enduro racing (1:42)

Online perception vs. reality on the ground (4:13)

Broadcasting & marketing Enduro racing (9:29)

The Enduro World Series becoming the Enduro World Cup (12:53)

New possibilities for Enduro racing (17:43)

Eric’s vision for what comes next (20:28)

Crankworx’s announcement of a new series (32:21)

How has (and hasn’t) the series changed in recent years? (35:39)

Optimism for the future (40:24)

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The Vault

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For this selection from The Vault, we’re sharing a Bikes & Big Ideas conversation where Vali Höll opens up about everything that went on behind the scenes during the mid-season implosion of the YT Mob race team, and how she managed to win her third consecutive World Cup overall title and fourth consecutive World Championship amid the chaos.

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livemomentous.com – use code: Blister

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Order our 26/27 Winter Buyer’s Guide

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For the Full Episode: Vali Höll on Her 2025 Season & the Dissolution of the YT Mob (Ep.306)

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Blister Podcast

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Bikes & Big Ideas

GEAR:30

Shortly after the final Enduro World Cup race of the 2026 season, Warner Brothers Discovery and the UCI made the surprise announcement that the series will not continue for 2027.

Despite the uncertain future that leaves for top-tier professional Enduro racing, the announcement was met with a surprising amount of excitement from athletes, and a real sense of optimism that something better can rise from the ashes of the short-lived EDR series. So we brought professional racer Eric Olsen back on the show to discuss all of it.

The full press release from the UCI can be read here.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on Bikes & Big Ideas. You can email us at: [email protected]

RELATED LINKS:

Momentous: livemomentous.com use code: Blister

OneSkin: oneskin.co/BLISTER

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ 

Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

The state of professional Enduro racing (1:42)

Online perception vs. reality on the ground (4:13)

Broadcasting & marketing Enduro racing (9:29)

The Enduro World Series becoming the Enduro World Cup (12:53)

New possibilities for Enduro racing (17:43)

Eric’s vision for what comes next (20:28)

Crankworx’s announcement of a new series (32:21)

How has (and hasn’t) the series changed in recent years? (35:39)

Optimism for the future (40:24)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

The Vault

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this selection from The Vault, we’re sharing a Bikes & Big Ideas conversation where Vali Höll opens up about everything that went on behind the scenes during the mid-season implosion of the YT Mob race team, and how she managed to win her third consecutive World Cup overall title and fourth consecutive World Championship amid the chaos.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

We’d love for you to share with us the stories or topics you’d like us to cover next month on Reviewing the News; ask your most pressing mountain town advice questions, or offer your hot takes for us to rate. Email us at: [email protected]

RELATED LINKS: 

livemomentous.com – use code: Blister

OneSkin: oneskin.co/BLISTER 

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Order our 26/27 Winter Buyer’s Guide

Enter Our Free Weekly Gear Giveaways

For the Full Episode: Vali Höll on Her 2025 Season & the Dissolution of the YT Mob (Ep.306)

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Podcast

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With XC bikes gaining popularity, there is a sea of similar-looking offerings from a bunch of brands — with a wider range of performance attributes than first meets the eye. So today, Blister reviewers Xan Marshland and Simon Stewart dig into the broader XC bike category and weigh in on why they think there’s commonality in XC bike design; their thoughts on XC geometry; and whether having baked-in Trail bike versatility is a must-have. Plus things to consider when buying one, and their predictions on where the category is heading. 

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please share with us the questions, topics, or stories you’d like us to cover on Bikes & Big Ideas. You can email us at: [email protected]

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Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide

TOPICS & TIMES:

XC Bikes are Hot (0:59)

Bikes We’ve Been On (2:10)

XC Bike Design (4:43)

Twangers or Non-Twangers (8:01)

Racing vs. Trail Riding (15:51)

XC Tires (22:21)

Favorite Components (33:45)

How to Choose an XC Bike (42:29)

OneSkin AD* (51:46)

Category Predictions (52:56)

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The Blister Vault

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North American DH racers are collectively having their best season in a long time, and Anna Newkirk is a big part of that success, notching her first career win — the first by an American woman in 23 years — and currently sitting fourth in the overall standings.

So we brought Anna back on the show to talk about her phenomenal weekend at Lenderheide, where she qualified first and repeated the result in finals; her injury-interrupted 2025 season and returning to form; managing the pressure of racing, and how to ride at the limit; and a whole lot more.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on Bikes and Big Ideas. Email us at [email protected] to weigh in.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide

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TOPICS & TIMES:

First career win at Lenzerheide

Qualifying first & the resulting pressure

Knowing when to push vs. aiming for smooth and safe

Qualifying format & changes to World Cup DH

Upcoming Juniors & growing North American momentum

USA Cycling & developing DH racers

Joining Frameworks & the benefits of a factory team

Goals for the rest of 2026

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Today on The Vault, we’re sharing one of Simon’s favorite moments from a Bikes & Big Ideas conversation where Hayden Zablotny talks about poaching the Proving Grounds event on his way to getting invited to — and then winning — Red Bull Rampage.

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

We’d love for you to share with us the stories or topics you’d like us to cover next month on Reviewing the News; ask your most pressing mountain town advice questions, or offer your hot takes for us to rate. Email us at: [email protected]

RELATED LINKS: 

Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+

Order our 26/27 Winter Buyer’s Guide

Enter Our Free Weekly Gear Giveaways

For the Full Episode: 2025 Red Bull Rampage Winner, Hayden Zablotny (Ep.307)

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Mike and Simon break down the bike racing in July, including the World Cup MTB racing in La Thuile and Andorra, the Tour de France, and the Canadian Open DH at Crankworx Whistler. They talk about Trek’s decision to limit all their eMTBs to 20 mph, and debate whether we’ve had bike shoe design all wrong, plus a whole lot more. 

Note: We Want to Hear From You!

Please let us know if there’s a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you’d like us to have on Bikes and Big Ideas. Email us at [email protected] to weigh in.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Mountain Bike Buyer’s Guide

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Mike’s The Grimy Handshake Substack

Manitou on the New Mezzer & Mezzer LT (Ep.328)

TOPICS & TIMES:

Simon’s Trip Across the Pond (1:17)

World Cup MTB Racing Recap (3:28)

Mike & Simon’s Take on the Tour de France (21:02)

Canadian Open DH Recap (32:00)

Trek’s Voluntary eMTB Speed Limit (35:48)

Are Bike Shoes Too Stiff? (44:06)

Einstein’s Saddle (48:51)

New Products (55:43)

Mike’s Pump Off (1:07:17) 

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.