MTB TRIBE - Your Trail Map to the World of Mountain Biking

On episode 88 we are chatting to the Legend and Master himself, Mr Glyn O’Brien. Glyn was a supporter of the podcast from the very beginning and was kind enough to come on the show way back on episode 10 (listen here). Glyn is super keen to help and support the Irish race scene anyway he can and has been doing just that for a number of years. So it was great to get him back on the show for another chat. On that first chat with Glyn we talked about how he got started in mountain biking, what the scene was like then, racing, rampage and a load more. So for this chat I wanted to know more about the race scene in Ireland and Northern Ireland, how it has been growing, the changes that have been made over the last couple of years, how the Vitus First Track Enduro series has been received so far this year and how the new Vitus First Tracks Enduro team is working out.

We also touch on the recent trail closures effecting Northern Ireland, what this means, why this has happened and how we as forest loving mountain bikers can help. There is a good positive outcome here so please tune in and have a listen. We all need to play our part and help however we can. We also get into the Vitus bike range, plans for Whistler and other races Glyn has planned for later in the year, how he still enjoys racing and is still super competitive. However in saying that, I think Glyn is just so stoked to see the Irish race and mountain bike scene grow and be healthy. If people are getting on bikes and getting healthy, both mentally and physically, Glyn has a smile on his face.

Find out more at: www.mtb-tribe.com

On episode #87 we are chatting with Jack O’Hare the owner and founder of the very cool trail construction company Summit Trails. Jack reached out to me after listening to episode #73 with his good friend Jasper Da Seymour. Jack and Jasper both live in Tasmania and if you tuned in to Jasper’s episode you will know how mountain biking is blowing up in Tasmania with trail centres like Blue Derby and Maydena Bike Park, just to mention a few. These trail networks have become so popular that communities have been reborn due to the number of mountain bikers coming to ride and enjoy what these trails have to offer.

So it was a complete pleasure to get Jack on the show and tell us about how these awesome trails came to be and what it takes to own and run a successful trail construction business. We chat about how Jack got into the trail building industry, companies he worked with, why he stepped out to form his own company, Summit Trails, the many balls you have to juggle to make something like this work and why Jack loves it so much. Plus much much more!

Continue reading here: https://www.mtb-tribe.com/

On episode #86 we welcome back Ben Plenge from The Strength Factory to chat about injury recovery. How to approach and best recover from a bad injury, how and when to get back into the gym and why a profressional trainer like Ben can really help get you back on the bike faster and fitter than you left it. Also get 50% OFF your first months subscription of Ben’s monthly STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING MTB PROGRAMME using the below promo code!

We had Ben on the show back on episode #51 chatting about why going to the gym makes you a better mountain biker. We chatted a little at that time about my collar bone injury and how the gym can possibly help to prevent such an injury and after the show we talked about Ben coming back on the show when I had recovered to chat about just that... How to recover from a mountain bike injury, or any injury really. In that episode #51 Ben gave me some points and tips about how to help get better faster, keep my chin up and get to mending yourself straight away, not to sit around feeling sorry for yourself.

In this episode we get into that in more depth and chat about when to get back to the gym, how to do this correct, can you get back before you are 100% mended, when to know to stop and how to help with diet and mind-set, plus much more. So if you have had that time-out injury in the past or you are in a recovery period from an injury or simply want to be prepared (God forbid) for that dreaded day, pop on the headphones and check it out. Hope it doesn't hurt to much!

For episode 85 we are joined once again by a great friend of the podcast, Robert from Freewheelin' We caught up to chat about and review the last couple of months of the Irish racing calendar.

Robert is a wealth of information when it comes to the Irish and Northern Irish race scene. He attends all but a couple of the race events, he knows the players and is always hassling them for an interview in one form or another. This time he was sticking a microphone in their faces and ask them a few questions about their season so far, their state of mind and goals for the rest of the season. Robert was very kind to come on the podcast and share his interviews with the show. We hear form Greg Callaghan, Kelan Grant, Killian Callaghan, Leah Maunsell and Ronan Dunne.

So tune in and have a listen to the movers and shakers of the Irish race calendar thus far, plus much more.

Enjoy the show!

I love the e-bike debate, both Robert and myself after doing episode number 82, where we reviewed the 2019 Vitus Escarpe 29 VRX, decided to publish a further episode about an e-bike he recently reviewed on his website. The discussion ended up more of a chat about e-bikes in general than an actual review. We both came to the conversations not knowing each other's views or opinions regarding the introduction of e-bikes into mountain biking.   Robert recently spent several weeks riding Vitus E-Summit which the guys from Chain Reaction Cycles kindly lent him. Robert reviewed his experience on his website, and after reading the article, I thought that it would be interesting to get him on the podcast to chat about his first experience on an e-bike. We talk about the differences between an e-bike and a regular bike, how they handle differently, what trails they are suited for, the benefits, the drawbacks, uses and market prices.

On todays episode and number Eighty Three we are chatting to Andrew Coburn about winning the Mountain Bike NI Scout Leader Award, staying stoked on the trails and how mountain biking changed Andrew’s life for the better. Plus a few funny stories from when Andrew started mountain biking.

When reading through the annual email sent from Mountain Bike NI regarding the yearly award winners (these are awards voted by riders for things like best trail, best MTB accommodation, best MTB cafe etc...etc.) I discovered that the Scout Leader Award had been won this year by Andrew. I was stoked to hear this because Andrew is in love with mountain biking and if anybody deserves the award it is Andrew. I have never hit the local trails with Andrew but I knew he was somewhat of a character and would be a great guy to have a chat with and get on the podcast. After all, its characters like Andrew that make this mountain bike hobby so much fun and when these guys are around, there never seems to be a dull moment.

This is not so much an episode but a story of how having an interest, a social group of friends and an awesome community around you can help change your life forever.

Its episode number Eighty Two and we are teaming up with Robert from the very cool and insightful online MTB website called Freewheelin'. This is somewhat of a first for the podcast as we have never done a bike review before so it was great to get Robert on the show and talk us through his latest review, the 2019 Vitus Escarpe VRX. Robert was kindly asked by Chain Reaction Cycles to take the bike for a number of weeks, put it through its paces, test it out, write a review on his thoughts and post it on his website (see below for website review). So after having Robert on the show back in Episode 079. We got chatting and decided why not come back on the podcast and tell us all about his experience with riding and reviewing the 2019 Escarpe.

On episode number Eighty we are chatting with Meave Baxter about her racing career since the 90’s, her wins, her loses, how things have changed over the years, how to stay safe on the trails and what she has planned for the 2019 season.

We chat to Meave about what the racing scene was like at that time and how things have changed since then. Meave tells us some great stories of the people she looked up to, people she raced against, how her first race was done on a full rigid bike and how she made her own body protection from old foam camping matts. Plus much more.

Get Show Notes here: https://chtbl.com/track/7E49E/traffic.libsyn.com/mtb-tribe/080_Irish_MTB_Racing_Legend_Meave_Baxter_Part_1_FINAL.mp3

On episode number Seventy Nine we are chatting with Robert Lynn who is the founder and owner of the very cool online website and magazine called Freewheelin’. Robert is super keen on the Irish MTB scene and is really passionate about the awesome growing mountain bike scene we have in Ireland, including the North. Robert follows the Irish race scene closely and covers all the race meetings bringing us all the best information and results from the meetings and events. The websites slogan ‘2 Wheels – 1 Passion ‘. is certainly true and Robert is super passionate about what he covers and puts on the website. He covers everything from the grassroots to the international events and has a keen interest in the up and coming youth talent, and we have a lot in Ireland.  

So, it was great to get Robert on and fill me in on what is going on and what we can look forward to in the 2019 season. And to be honest I knew you guys and girls would also like to know what is happening so I got Robert on the podcast to have a chat about the Irish race scene, who to look out for, where the events will be happening, what new teams to keep an eye on and the movers and shakers on the EWS. We get into a lot of detail about the characters who are putting Ireland on the map for producing great racers, why this is happening, how the trail networks are helping, updates on funding for new trail networks and what the racing scene holds for us in 2019.

So tune in, get up to date on the Irish race scene and find out what events you may want to enter or even just show your support by spectating.