The Singletracks staff has tested a ton of gear this year, and this week we’re looking back at some of our favorites. Listen in to hear what impressed us about each of these items, from clothing and accessories to complete bikes.



Some of the products covered in this episode:

MTB components

* TRP G-Spec brakes* Teravail Honcho tires * Schwalbe Magic Mary tires* Formula Selva R fork * Hope Fortus 30 wheels * Versus tires* MRP Raven fork * Ohlins TTXAir shock * And four more favorite tires tested in 2020



MTB accessories

* Topeak Burrito seat pack * Thule Roundtrip duffel bag * Garmin Forerunner 235 watch * Polar Grit X watch * Topeak Tubi 18 mini tool * Topeak DA mountain pump * Fidlock bottles * Camelbak Chase hydration vest * Topeak Prepstand Pro work stand



Clothing and wearables

* Pactimo Ridgeline hoodie * Gore C5 All-mountain shorts * Tasco gloves * Giro Ventana shoes * Endura MT500 jacket * Fox Speedframe helmet
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks





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Our Favorite Mountain Bikes and Gear of 2020

Podcast host Jeff Barber, Editor-in-Chief at Singletracks.com, aims to inform and inspire with topics and interviews from the mountain bike world. Since 2015, we have been sharing weekly stories from under the helmets of the most inspiring and influential mountain bikers.

Join us as we learn from top athletes, product designers, trail builders, coaches, mechanics, artists, and leaders in the mountain biking community.
 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Sports

Wilderness

Amanda Carey is the President of NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, a non-profit that develops mountain biking programs for student athletes across the United States. Prior to joining NICA, Amanda served as the executive director of Mountain Bike the Tetons and as a mountain bike coach.

 What drew you to mountain biking initially? What's kept you so engaged over the years? 
 What do you think has kept mountain biking from growing more than it has over the past couple of decades?
  How is NICA impacting mountain bike participation? 
  How can NICA teams attract new student athletes who don't have a family cycling background? Why choose mountain biking over another sport?
  How would you characterize the level of competition at NICA races? 
  What is NICA doing to encourage trail building and maintenance? 
  Is there a demand for a more gravity-oriented youth riding program? 
  What advice do you have for parents of NICA athletes?
  What are the biggest opportunities for NICA over the next five years? How can Singletracks listeners help support your mission?

Learn more and find out how you can get involved at nationalmtb.org.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks 

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How NICA is Changing Mountain Bike Culture

Sara Bresnick is a former professional mountain biker, cycling coach and founder of Pedal Power Training Solutions which offers customized training plans plus advice on nutrition, race strategy, and technique.  

 What are some fitness goals your clients have beyond racing? For example, does it make sense for a rider to work with a coach before a big weeklong mountain bike trip? 
 Do older athletes need more time to recover between intense workouts?
  What happens if you miss a day, or two, in a training schedule? How quickly do fitness gains disappear?
  How does an "off season" work for bike athletes? Should you still be biking some, or is it possible to do other activities instead?  
  Let's say I wanted to ride the Tour Divide in 2025, and my goal was to finish the ride in 45 days. Given a good level of base fitness, what's a realistic timeframe for training? In general, what would a training plan involve?
  What's the biggest challenge most people face when it comes to improving their fitness?
  As a trainer, what can you learn from a client's workout data? 
  How much of your job as a trainer is emotional support versus purely technical?
  What's one easy step everyone can take to start improving their fitness today?

Learn more and connect with Sara at pedalpowercoaching.com.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks 

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So, You Don't Have Time for MTB Training. Welcome to the Club

Claudio Caluori is a seven-time Swiss National Champion and founder of Velosolutions, "a global network of professionals with profound knowledge in cycling, action sports, tourism and urban development." He's also a popular YouTube personality, delivering entertaining course previews and ride-alongs with top athletes.
In addition to building pump tracks around the world, Velosolutions recently helped with construction of the XC race course for the 2024 Paris Olympics and is working on an ultra accurate timing app for pump track competition. 

 How did you get into downhill mountain bike racing?
 How are you able to talk while riding fast in your Red Bull course preview and Bla Bla Run videos? Does talking mess you up sometimes?
  How is designing and building a race trail different from building a trail for the public?
  What's so great about pump tracks? Why do adult riders tend to avoid them? 
  Tell us about Pump Tracks for Peace.
  Some riders seem to be against asphalt tracks. What's your take?
  Is trail building and funding easier in some parts of the world than in others?
  Which Velosolutions projects are you most proud of?
  Tell us about Velosolutions Farm. What's the vision?
  What are some projects Velosolutions is working on right now?

Get more information about Velosolutions at velosolutions.com.
Photo credit: Sternemann 
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks 

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Velosolutions and Claudio Caluori are Making Their Mark on the MTB World

In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Matt and Jeff discuss the current trends around mountain bike weights. Are bikes too heavy, or are they where they should be given how durable and capable they are today? 
This discussion covers:

 Examples of specific bikes and their weights
 Why bike weights might be increasing
  The benefits to lightweight -- and heavy -- mountain bikes
  Areas where mountain bikes might be able to cut weight

This is Matt's last episode with the Singletracks podcast so to start the show we talk about some of his most memorable stories from the past 6 years. We'll miss you Matt! 
Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America’s coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at⁠⁠⁠ ExploreBrevard.com⁠⁠⁠.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks 

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Love It or Hate It, Mountain Bikes Aren't As Lightweight as they Used to Be

Will Hart is Product Marketing Manager at Cane Creek, a western North Carolina based maker of suspension and bike components.

 Besides looking cool, what are some advantages of a coil shock?
 Are certain styles of riding better suited to a coil shock than others?
 What makes some FS mountain bikes coil compatible, and others not?
 How does compression damping work on a coil shock? Is there any air involved?
 Tell us about the Cane Creek Tigon. What's the idea behind combining a coil with an air spring?
 How are progressive and linear coil springs different?
  How do you set sag on a coil shock?
  What about other settings? Are coil shocks as tunable as air shocks?
  What does tightening the pre-load on a coil shock do?
  How does bottom-out work on a coil shock?
  Is it difficult for lighter riders to find an appropriate spring?
  How does the weight of a coil shock compare to an air shock?
  Will a coil feel different over time as the metal fatigues? 
  Are coil shocks lower maintenance than air shocks?
  What is your advice for mountain bikers who are coil curious?

Find out about the Cane Creek Coil Curious program at canecreek.com.
Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America’s coolest small towns. It all adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at⁠⁠ ExploreBrevard.com⁠⁠.
--Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks 

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

Our Favorite Mountain Bikes and Gear of 2020

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