In this powerful and inspiring episode of MTB: Sharing the Stoke, host Jamie sits down with 13-year-old mountain biker Amelia Twist and her mum Toni to talk about a ride that’s about so much more than just bikes.

Amelia, a passionate Mountain Bike rider from Tauranga, is on a mission to challenge New Zealand’s outdated school sport rules that exclude homeschooled students from receiving medals or joining teams in School Sport NZ events. Despite being able to race, homeschooled athletes are denied the same recognition as their peers—a rule that affects over 4,000 students nationwide.

To fight this injustice, Amelia and fellow homeschooler George are planning a 730–800km winter bikepacking mission from Cambridge to Wellington, where they'll deliver a petition directly to Parliament. The goal? To ride for change and raise awareness for the overlooked voices of homeschool athletes.

We dive deep into Amelia’s riding background, her inspiration from bikepacking legend Lael Wilcox, and the logistics behind this bold midwinter adventure. Amelia shares the behind-the-scenes challenges of preparing for a long-distance ride in harsh conditions, from gear needs to legal action—yes, there’s a judicial review in motion, and support is growing fast.

Whether you're a rider, a parent, an advocate, or just love stories about young people making big moves, this episode will get you fired up. Amelia and George aren’t just pedaling for podiums—they’re pushing for fairness, inclusion, and the right to compete.

🔗 Follow their journey: studentsport.nz
📣 Support the cause: Sign the petition and spread the word
📸 Instagram updates: @studentsportnz

🎧 Tune in for:

• Amelia’s favourite Rotorua trails & races

• The injustice behind School Sport NZ's medal ban

• Winter route planning from Cambridge to Parliament

• How you can join the ride or support the cause

This isn’t just a ride. It’s a movement. Don’t miss it.

In this episode I chat with Matt at the airport as we wait for our flight south from Skardu. We talk about the two weeks we have just spent in one of the most incredible places on earth, trying to find epic single trail. Turns out this place has a lot more than just that! From the culture, terrain, people, landscapes, and food to the challenges and successes that a trip like this breeds. Hear a fresh perspective on this remote part of the world.

Now that we have found where the good stuff is hiding, would you come with us next year?

https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/2025-pakistan-trip/

The YouTube Vlog can be found here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL78Jdf4vw689rHZgf2weloaZF8k_Zoaxm&si=U3Lx-lAUb_l7wwgu

For Insta look for

@newzealandmountainbiking

@mtb_phd @brakeace

@jeffcarter21

@mrmikedawson

@adam.stories

Keep an eye out for the short film that we are putting together from the trip. We are really excited about it!

Remote coaching is here. See how it went with Nick and the creators of BrakeAce. Not only are we talking more about braking, but we also did something pretty awesome. I used BrakeAce to coach Nick remotely. I didn't ride with him at all, he recorded his rides with BrakeAce and Strava - so I could see some common themes with his riding correcting some bad habits and encourage the good ones. He kept cracking PB's on strava and the results were awesome! The chat is pretty good too.

Learn more about the Remote Coaching Here on the NZMTB website.

⁠⁠⁠Check out the video⁠⁠⁠ where I linked up with Matt and we did a session integrating science and coaching to help Matt's riding.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow NZMTB

⁠⁠⁠YouTube - @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Check out the BrakeAce website here⁠⁠⁠

Follow Matt's podcasts here - ⁠⁠⁠Demystifying MTB⁠⁠⁠ - & -

⁠⁠⁠Check out the interesting videos on his YouTube channel here

I have had Matt on MTB - Sharing the Stoke before because I think that he likes brakes even more than I do. We went out and shot a video trying to see how an eBike rides compared to a mountain bike and if one was better than the other. It all came down to a couple of things that we should have guessed!

Matt is a 3rd generations cyclist and really loves science and has been a big part of the development of BrakeAce - this is how he helps share the stoke with riders all over the world! By demystifying how we ride we have a solid starting point to improve from.

⁠⁠Check out the video⁠⁠ where I linked up with Matt and we did a session integrating science and coaching to help Matt's riding.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠⁠

Follow NZMTB

⁠⁠YouTube - @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠

⁠⁠Check out the BrakeAce website here⁠⁠

Follow Matt's podcasts here - ⁠⁠Demystifying MTB⁠⁠ - & -

⁠⁠Check out the interesting videos on his YouTube channel here

There is no question - Nelson has some of the best riding in NZ, but it didn't happen overnight and negotiating access is just as important as ever. The mountain bike club is huge and they have an amazing amount of riding, but securing access is still at the top of their priorities. Join us as we chat about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into keeping trails accessible for us to ride with all of the different user groups and stakeholders involved. Have a think next time you are riding your favourite trail how it got there and how much work goes into keeping it available for recreation.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow NZMTB

⁠⁠⁠YouTube - @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠⁠

Yes, there is mountain biking in Northland. There is quite the scene of stoked locals up there digging trails and keeping the clubs alive. Have a listen to hear what Ben has seen over the years and his involvement with the club. Also, get some insight to the club's vision for the Whangarei MTB Club for the future. Should we have a New Zealand Mountain Bike Club?

⁠⁠Have a look at Ben's blog here - https://3xplorenz.com/

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠⁠

Follow NZMTB

⁠⁠YouTube - @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram @newzealandmountainbiking⁠⁠

If you have ever wanted to improve your riding (pretty much everyone ever) then this is a great listen for you! In this episode, I catch up with Matt Miller about Braking, brake balance, when where and how we brake and the effects that has on our overall ride on MTB - Sharing the Stoke.

Matt is a 3rd generations cyclist and really loves science and has been a big part of the development of BrakeAce - this is how he helps share the stoke with riders all over the world! By demystifying how we ride we have a solid starting point to improve from.

⁠Check out the video⁠ where I linked up with Matt and we did a session integrating science and coaching to help Matt's riding.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠

Follow NZMTB

⁠YouTube - @newzealandmountainbiking⁠

⁠Instagram @newzealandmountainbiking⁠

⁠Check out the BrakeAce website here⁠

Follow Matt's podcasts here - ⁠Demystifying MTB⁠ - & -

⁠Check out the interesting videos on his YouTube channel here

This episode is just yarning about what we love - BIKES. Catching up with Morgan after his first stint away working with World Class Acadamy in Whistler. Travelling, working, and wrenching on bikes.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NewZealandMountainBiking/featured⁠

@newzealandmountainbiking - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/newzealandmountainbiking/⁠

In this episode of MTB - Sharing the Stoke, I catch up with Taylor Grey who has developed his own brakes - the Radic Kaha. These brakes don’t only look sick but they perform and have been in production now for a year and have been tested by some of NZ’s top riders. I want to get my hands on a set after talking to Taylor!

Check out radicperformance.com for more information on the Kaha and to get yourself a set! Follow their Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/RadicNZ/

And if you reckon your brakes are already top-notch but you aren’t sure whether you’re using them well or not check out the info that BrakeAce gives you or join me for a lesson next time you are in Rotorua.

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠

https://www.youtube.com/@NewZealandMountainBiking/featured

@newzealandmountainbiking - https://www.instagram.com/newzealandmountainbiking/

This episode is about grassroots riding, racing, and some key things for the progression of your riding. I yarn with Ben about his development as a mountain biker and how that has shaped what he tries to give back to the community. Based in Alexandra, Ben now rips at Matangi Station and helps with a club race series for the community through summer among other things.

Chasing Ben down one of his favourite lines in Alex! - ⁠https://youtu.be/-tsxJRpvjpk⁠

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails.

The best way that you can support this content is by booking a ride/lesson with us so that we can continue to just talk about mountain bikes!

You can learn more about who we are below or visit our website to book your ride today! ⁠https://newzealandmountainbiking.com/⁠

https://www.youtube.com/@NewZealandMountainBiking/featured

@newzealandmountainbiking - https://www.instagram.com/newzealandmountainbiking/

https://matangistationmtb.com/