Insider MTB

In this conversation, Austin White and Jay Pleet discuss their recent adventures and experiences at racing events. They talk about the challenges they faced, including technical difficulties, travel mishaps, and extreme weather conditions. They also introduce their guest, Rochelle, who shares her experience racing in the women's e-bike class and the pro women's class. They discuss the decision to race on an e-bike and the advantages and disadvantages of different bike choices. The conversation touches on topics such as the difficulty of the trails, the impact of weather conditions on racing, and the camaraderie among racers. Rachel discusses her experience racing downhill at Windrock and the challenges of riding a dual crown bike. She talks about her strategy for pushing her bike up the hills and the perception of riding a dual crown bike in the race. She also mentions her plans to race more BMEs and her decision to buy a new bike, debating between a Bronson and a Nomad. In this part of the conversation, the discussion revolves around race schedules, sponsorship, and the controversial topic of OnlyFans. Rachel mentions her potential conflicts with race schedules and her decision to disclose her sponsorship with OnlyFans to her current sponsors. The conversation also touches on frame sponsorship and the challenges of finding a downhill race bike that fits her well. The hosts express their surprise and curiosity about the sponsorship dynamics in the women's class of mountain biking. In this part of the conversation, Rachel discusses her plans to buy an enduro bike and participate in the Sunrise race. She reflects on her previous experiences racing with different bikes and the importance of being prepared. Austin and Jay discuss the challenges of racing at high altitudes and the possibility of muddy conditions at the upcoming race. They also mention the younger generation of riders who are stepping up their game and the benefits of having a team in terms of support and leverage. In this part of the conversation, Nik Nestoroff discusses his tools and gear, including his toolbox from Harbor Freight and his custom-designed kits from Pearl Izumi. They also talk about the potential growth of North American racing and the possibility of European riders coming to compete. They discuss the strategy and mindset needed for different race venues, such as the raw and gnarly trails at Windrock and the unique challenges of the Sunrise race. Nik shares his experience of racing at these venues and the importance of a strong mindset on day two of the race. Enduro racing requires a combination of physical fitness, mental strength, bike skills, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. The mental aspect of the sport is crucial, as riders need to be comfortable pushing their limits and throwing themselves into challenging sections. The speed and intensity of Enduro racing can change dramatically from practice to race day, and riders often find themselves going much faster during the race. The sport attracts both professional riders and amateurs who are passionate about the thrill and challenge of Enduro. Despite the risks involved, riders of all levels share a love for the sport and the unique experiences it offers.

In this conversation, Austin White and Jay Pleet discuss their recent adventures and experiences at racing events. They talk about the challenges they faced, including technical difficulties, travel mishaps, and extreme weather conditions. They also introduce their guest, Rochelle, who shares her experience racing in the women's e-bike class and the pro women's class. They discuss the decision to race on an e-bike and the advantages and disadvantages of different bike choices. The conversation touches on topics such as the difficulty of the trails, the impact of weather conditions on racing, and the camaraderie among racers. Rachel discusses her experience racing downhill at Windrock and the challenges of riding a dual crown bike. She talks about her strategy for pushing her bike up the hills and the perception of riding a dual crown bike in the race. She also mentions her plans to race more BMEs and her decision to buy a new bike, debating between a Bronson and a Nomad. In this part of the conversation, the discussion revolves around race schedules, sponsorship, and the controversial topic of OnlyFans. Rachel mentions her potential conflicts with race schedules and her decision to disclose her sponsorship with OnlyFans to her current sponsors. The conversation also touches on frame sponsorship and the challenges of finding a downhill race bike that fits her well. The hosts express their surprise and curiosity about the sponsorship dynamics in the women's class of mountain biking. In this part of the conversation, Rachel discusses her plans to buy an enduro bike and participate in the Sunrise race. She reflects on her previous experiences racing with different bikes and the importance of being prepared. Austin and Jay discuss the challenges of racing at high altitudes and the possibility of muddy conditions at the upcoming race. They also mention the younger generation of riders who are stepping up their game and the benefits of having a team in terms of support and leverage. In this part of the conversation, Nik Nestoroff discusses his tools and gear, including his toolbox from Harbor Freight and his custom-designed kits from Pearl Izumi. They also talk about the potential growth of North American racing and the possibility of European riders coming to compete. They discuss the strategy and mindset needed for different race venues, such as the raw and gnarly trails at Windrock and the unique challenges of the Sunrise race. Nik shares his experience of racing at these venues and the importance of a strong mindset on day two of the race. Enduro racing requires a combination of physical fitness, mental strength, bike skills, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. The mental aspect of the sport is crucial, as riders need to be comfortable pushing their limits and throwing themselves into challenging sections. The speed and intensity of Enduro racing can change dramatically from practice to race day, and riders often find themselves going much faster during the race. The sport attracts both professional riders and amateurs who are passionate about the thrill and challenge of Enduro. Despite the risks involved, riders of all levels share a love for the sport and the unique experiences it offers.

In this episode, we sit down with Colton Peterson, the winner of round 1 of the Big Mountain Enduro in the Men's Pro class, along with Porsha Murdock, who took the Women's Pro class. Wild weather rolls in, and we have to cut it short on this episode, but we will be back for EP9 with the winners of round 2.

Round 1 of the Big Mountain Enduro kicked off over the weekend with the largest Enduro purse ever. We have both winners of the Men's and Women's classes on the pod to talk about how the weekend went, along with Rob from BME to talk about the event and Windrock coming up this weekend.

World Cup kicked off this weekend for the downhill crew; grab some insight and thoughts.

In this conversation, Austin, Ty, and Spencer discuss the recent World Cup and Olympic points standings in mountain biking. They analyze the performance of American riders, including Christopher Blevins and Riley Amos, and the potential impact on their chances of qualifying for the Olympics. They also touch on the complexity of the Olympic qualification process and the importance of team tactics. The conversation highlights the excitement and competitiveness of the sport and the potential for American riders to make a strong showing in the upcoming Olympics. The conversation discusses the differences between cycling and motocross in terms of athlete participation and selectivity. It also explores the prestige and incentives associated with participating in the Olympics. The hosts speculate on the potential location of the mountain biking events for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles and discuss the development of successful cyclists in Durango, Colorado. In this final part of the conversation, Ty Kady, Austin White, and Spencer Rathkamp discuss the potential for US mountain bikers to compete in the Olympics. They talk about the importance of training with top-level athletes and the challenges of riding mountain bikes compared to motocross. They also discuss the selection process for the Olympic team and the performances of young riders like Riley Amos and Bjorn Riley. The conversation concludes with a discussion about upcoming events and the future of mountain biking in the US.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

06:13 The Olympic Qualification Process

14:11 The Advantage of Having Two Olympic Spots

32:25 The Development of Successful Cyclists in Durango, Colorado

38:31 The Potential of Young Riders

In this conversation, Austin, Ty, and Spencer discuss the recent World Cup and Olympic points standings in mountain biking. They analyze the performance of American riders, including Christopher Blevins and Riley Amos, and the potential impact on their chances of qualifying for the Olympics. They also touch on the complexity of the Olympic qualification process and the importance of team tactics. The conversation highlights the excitement and competitiveness of the sport and the potential for American riders to make a strong showing in the upcoming Olympics. The conversation discusses the differences between cycling and motocross in terms of athlete participation and selectivity. It also explores the prestige and incentives associated with participating in the Olympics. The hosts speculate on the potential location of the mountain biking events for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles and discuss the development of successful cyclists in Durango, Colorado. In this final part of the conversation, Ty Kady, Austin White, and Spencer Rathkamp discuss the potential for US mountain bikers to compete in the Olympics. They talk about the importance of training with top-level athletes and the challenges of riding mountain bikes compared to motocross. They also discuss the selection process for the Olympic team and the performances of young riders like Riley Amos and Bjorn Riley. The conversation concludes with a discussion about upcoming events and the future of mountain biking in the US.

Summary

In this conversation, Austin White and Spencer Rathkamp discuss their plans for Sea Otter and their participation in various races. They talk about the technical difficulties they faced during the podcast and their excitement for the event. They also mention the new products and brands that will be showcased at Sea Otter. They discuss their own racing strategies and the challenges they anticipate. They mention the possibility of having guests on the podcast during Sea Otter and their plans for live streaming. Overall, they express their enthusiasm for the event and their desire to have a fun and successful experience.

Takeaways

Austin and Spencer are excited about Sea Otter and have plans to participate in various races.

They discuss the technical difficulties they faced during the podcast and their determination to overcome them.

They mention the new products and brands that will be showcased at Sea Otter.

They talk about their racing strategies and the challenges they anticipate.

They express their desire to have guests on the podcast during Sea Otter and their plans for live streaming.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

04:59 New Products and Brands

Overall, this episode of the Insider MTB podcast delves into various aspects of the mountain biking world, focusing on the US Cup, the challenges and future of XC racing, the importance of personalities and social aspects in the sport, as well as discussions on various racing paths taken by athletes, financial realities of being an Olympic athlete, and the impact of spectator experience on the industry. The hosts and guests provide insightful commentary on the current state of the sport and potential directions for future growth and development.

Overall, this episode of the Insider MTB podcast delves into various aspects of the mountain biking world, focusing on the US Cup, the challenges and future of XC racing, the importance of personalities and social aspects in the sport, as well as discussions on various racing paths taken by athletes, financial realities of being an Olympic athlete, and the impact of spectator experience on the industry. The hosts and guests provide insightful commentary on the current state of the sport and potential directions for future growth and development.

In this episode, the hosts and guest talk about their experiences at the Sedona MTB Fest and discuss the changing landscape of the bike industry. They also share their thoughts on Fizzari changing its name to Ari. The guest, Sebastian (Normal Mountain Biker), introduces himself and talks about his background in California, childhood adventures, bike origins, discovering mountain biking at Whistler, starting Normal MTBer, transitioning to social media during COVID lockdowns, finding comedy in content creation, getting sponsored by Specialized, meeting his mountain biking heroes, and dealing with negative comments on social media. The hosts and guest also discuss the challenges of producing engaging content, making mountain biking more accessible, the importance of trust in business partnerships, and the role of influencers in education and engagement. They address the conflicts between different user groups, the importance of welcoming newcomers to the sport, and the need for inclusivity. The conversation concludes with discussions on personal branding, fan interactions, the value of changing lives, future events and races, and plans for the podcast. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of being raw and authentic, including diverse perspectives, and creating relatable content for a wider audience.