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This episode features the MCP hosts Josh and Dane and is pretty MTB-techy.  It starts out with a couple shoutouts from Josh to bike industry brands 1up and PNW for excellent customer service.  It transitions to cover some of our listeners perspectives on “stupid stuff in the bike industry”.  And finally, it concludes with an epic and aggressive argument (in good fun) between “Team Josh” (who rides Shimano drivetrains) and “Team Dane” (who rides SRAM drivetrains). 

Links and stuff…

1up: https://1up-usa.com

PNW: https://www.pnwcomponents.com/

Team Josh: https://mtb.shimano.com/us/products/mtb/

Team Dane: https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain

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In this episode, Dane sits down again with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain to discuss Rocky's significantly redesigned enduro bike... the Altitude.  Feedback from Rocky's professional enduro race team were essential in shaping the Altitude's redesign.  This episode features less rabbit holes and more bike specs.  Enjoy.

Learn more about the new Altitude at Rocky Mountain's Website: www.bikes.com

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In this episode Josh & Dane chat with "Sunglass Rob" the CEO of San Diego's based SportRX.  SportRX is an online company focused on prescription eyewear for multiple sports with biking being one of their biggest markets).  Sunglass Rob is an avid mountain biker and an absolute savant as it relates to eyewear.  In addition to learning a ton about active eyewear and optics, the episode covers a bit about Rob, his riding, and his company. 

Special Note
Josh has been testing out SportRX's Huckson prescription sunglasses on mtb & gravel rides and can honestly say they are the best sunglasses he's ever worn on the trail.  SportRX did provide the shades to Josh free of charge but the MCP is not getting any compensation for this podcast or recommendation from SportRX.  In fact, Josh likes them so much that he just ordered a pair of non-prescription Huckson's (paid full-price) to wear when riding in contacts.

The Huckson: www.sportrx.com/sportrx-huckson.html

More About SportRx
SportRx is a San Diego-based company that was built by active opticians who ride their bikes, run their races, push their jogging strollers, and bomb down slopes. Since 1996, we've been on a mission to help people see better while doing the things they love. For over two decades, we have specialized in custom prescription sunglasses (and prescription snow goggles!) for athletes in virtually every sport and have mastered the art of prescription wrap around lenses. We strive to create the best prescription sports sunglasses, prescription glasses, and Rx goggles that are tailored uniquely to your sport and vision needs – no matter how extreme your prescription (or your sport!).

SportRX Links:
Web: www.sportrx.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@sportrxeyewear

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Dane had a chance to sit down with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain Bikes during the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival to chat about the new Instinct, Rocky’s line-up and a bit about the mountain bike festival.

Rocky Mountain Instinct
https://bikes.com/collections/instinct

Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
https://sedonamtbfestival.com

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In this episode Josh and Dane discuss and debate (argue even) about annoying mountain bike stuff.   Some of the topics we debate on include… 

• Presta valves + chunky sealant. 
• Dunlop valves.  
• British brake lever setup (rear brake on left / front brake right).
• MOAB closing its lift (yes, they had one).
• Spoke holes inside rims (requires rim tape = tubeless system failure point).
• Nipple management.
• Rim tape that won’t stick.
• Overwhelming # of mountain bike tire variants. (width, tread patterns, compounds, casings).
• YouTube “expert advice” on mountain bike tires.
• Microscopic sized rotation indicators on mountain bike tires.
• Accidentally putting tires on the rim, backwards.
• Flat mount disc brake caliper mounts = frequent alignment issues.
• Monster gravel bikes.
• Mountain bike standards constantly changing.
• Press fit bottom brackets.

Here’s some links & corrections from the episode… 

• WTH is a Dunlop Valve?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlop_valve
• BTW… brass is not magnetic.  (but brass plated could be).
• Maxxis Forekaster… https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/forekaster/
• Monster Gravel Bikes… https://chelaclo.com/en/what-is-a-monster-cross/
• Motorex Bicycle Lubricant… https://motorex.com/en-ch/product-range/grease--5470?selectedFilterValues={%22line--704135%22:%22BIKE+LINE%22}&page=1

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Old Pueblo MTB is a mountain bike group based in Tucson, AZ. that hosts multiple group rides every week.  The group communicates primarily through their Facebook page which has 4,000+ members. 

The episode features ‘The Travis Williams’ (aka Captain Enthusiasm) who is one of the key administrators of Old Pueblo MTB.  In addition to learning all about Old Pueblo MTB… the boys and Travis discuss lots of interesting topics including the inspiring story of Travis’ recovery from a heart attack and his journey back to the trail. 

There’s also a section in this podcast where we delve a bit into the topic of e-mtb’s.  Travis shares how he thinks many e-bike naysayers suffer from the “broccoli-effect”.  Meaning, they hate e-bikes, but they’ve never tried one (like kids often are with broccoli).  If that’s you, we urge you to try out an e-mtb… we suspect you might come away with a different perspective.

 About Old Pueblo MTB:
A diverse, family friendly group of people in the Tucson area joined together by our mutual love of Mountain Biking. We welcome all ages, from any walk of life. If you're new to the sport, or just want to try it out, come join us! We have skill levels from beginner to expert and we ride as often as we can. We welcome your photos, videos, questions and input. See you on the trail!

Old Pueblo MTB
https://www.facebook.com/groups/203787656312279/

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Recorded onsite at the brewery, the boys chat with Brian (owner of Catalina Brewing Company) about beer, the brewery, and content spanning a ton of mountain bike topics (including: bikes, epic adventures, bike art, and more) . 

Some interesting nuggets include how a 125cc moto smashed the rear window of Josh’s truck, an epic mountain bike ride in Tucson that requires riders to send their bikes down a zipline whilst they repel down a cliff, and oh yeah, why the brewery has a stripper pole.

Cataline Brewing Company
Catalina Brewing Company (CBC) is a small (nano) craft brewery that manufactures and distributes a variety of craft beers designed and created from local materials with the southern Arizona market in mind, and centering around a mountain bicycling theme and the incredible outdoor spirit that exists in the Arizona Southwest. 

In addition to great beer, amazing mountain bike theme (including lots of MTB related art) the brewery offers some tasty food, frequently holds live music and other events, and lots of leisure sport options including a large collection of pinball machines.  Go check it out… not far from the loop (near the I-10 crossing) and you won’t find outdoor bike parking because they want you to bring your bikes inside.

Address: 6918 N. Camino Martin, #120, Marana, AZ. 85741

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wgzq27VML1MUZSZn9

Web: http://www.catalinabrewingco.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/CatalinaBrewingCo/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/catalinabrewingco/

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What is the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo?  Think “Burning Man” + “Mountain Bike Race”. 

Dane & Josh recorded this episode LIVE this morning, just before the race start in the Old Pueblo MTB booth. In this episode we laugh, rap about the event, interact with participants and spectators, and as always go down random mountain bike related rabbit holes.

Epic Rides – 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
https://epicrides.com/events/24-hours-in-the-old-pueblo/event-guide/

Shout out to Old Pueblo MTB for inviting us to record live from their booth.  You’ll learn all about them in an upcoming episode of the MCP!

Old Pueblo MTB
https://www.facebook.com/groups/203787656312279/

About Old Pueblo MTB:
We are a diverse, family friendly group of people in the Tucson area joined together by our mutual love of Mountain Biking. We welcome all ages, from any walk of life. If you're new to the sport, or just want to try it out, come join us! We have skill levels from beginner to expert and we ride as often as we can. We welcome your photos, videos, questions and input. See you on the trail!

Why is Tucson called “The Old Pueblo”?https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2005/07/01/how-the-old-pueblo-got-its-name/

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If you listen to this podcast at all... you probably know that we are presently obsessed with bike fits.  It all started when Wolfman (aka Andrew Wolf, a prior exercise physiologist) berated Josh for never having a bike fit in Episode #57.  That catalyzed an awesome bike fit experience with Frank Kaiser (Ben's Bikes) who we interviewed in Episode #62.  Frank told us that while the basic foundation of bike fitting is generally accepted, there are slight differences in technique and approach between fitters.

To get a better feel for what Frank was talking about... Josh reached out to Tyler over at Guru, recorded an episode with him, and got another awesome fit.  This time on his "down country" mountain bike (Specialized Epic Evo). 

Yes, you should get fit to each bike you own.

Tyler Vandruff is co-owner of Guru Bikes and owner of Vandruff Fit Solutions.  Tyler's been involved, in one way or the other, with bike fits since he was a kid.  In this episode he lays out his approach to bike fitting.  Which I can tell you, is equally awesome, but slightly different from Frank's approach.  Tyler uses the RETUL system, a previously independent bike fit focused company, recently acquired by Specialized.

Here are a few of RETUL's mantra's on bike fits... 
1. A bike is symmetrical, humans are not
2. Feet are your foundation, invest in them
3. The hips don't lie  <-- (see what we did there)
4. Hand position is the product of a good bike fit

https://guru-bikes.com/
https://www.retul.com/

Tyler Vandruff
Guru Bikes - Vandruff Fit Solutions
Email: [email protected]
Call: 520.622.2453

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Join us in wishing a warm welcome to Dane Higgins (Guru Bikes & Guru Suspension) who is joining Josh as the new co-host of the Mountain Cog Podcast. 

In this episode, we welcome and learn more about Dane (his shop & suspension business, his bikes and riding style).  In addition, the episode spends a good chunk of time on the state of the bike industry; past, present, and future.

We have lots of fun episodes planned this year.  Stay tuned! 

Guru Bikes (also home of: Guru Suspension & Vandruff Fit Solutions)
Web: https://www.facebook.com/people/Guru-Bikes/100090157836263/
Phone: 520-622-2453
Location: 2634 N. 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ.

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