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Welcome Mountain Bikers! Thanks for tuning in to Vital MTB’s The Inside Line podcast. I’m your host, Shawn Spomer. Today we have a treat! Charlie Sponsel, sometimes known as Team Robot is on the show. Charlie was a professional mountain bike racer, has a hilarious and informative presence on the internet, and is a down-to-earth, straight shooter when it comes to both bikes and, more importantly, life in general. We run the gamut of topics on today’s show, and I even had to call him back up to get his stance on chainstay length because we missed it the first time around. If you didn’t know, Charlie has a monthly advice column on Vital MTB, so if you have a question, hit him up by writing advice@vitalmtb.com on the old email.A big thanks goes out to Jenson USA, supporter of The Inside Line for the last four years! Keep your bike running strong with parts from Jenson. If you use coupon code “insideline” all one word at checkout on jensonusa.com, you’ll receive 10% off qualifying items. Thank you Jenson!Maxxis Tires just launched the updated Shorty tire. You can check out our review on VitalMTB.com with Squamish shredder, Joel Harwood, who gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars. A specialty tire for wet conditions, the Shorty is available now on maxxis.comIn our episode today, I speak with Charlie about trail advocacy and stewardship. Well, Santa Cruz Bicycles, through their Paydirt initiative is donating $1 million to trail projects over 3 years. You can see current funding recipients or submit your project to the program at santacruzbicycles.com/paydirtCharlie, thank you. Listeners, we definitely thank you and I hope you enjoy the show.

Welcome Mountain Bikers! Did you know that Santa Cruz had shipping delays this year because they couldn’t get cardboard for their bike boxes? That is the kind of world we’re living in right now, and on today’s show, we talk with CEO of Santa Cruz, Joe Graney, about the current state of the bike industry and bike availability.This episode is also available as a video on VitalMTB.com and our YouTube channel, showing our Zoom call and some behind-the-scenes footage of bike assembly, covid shield construction and more scenes from the Santa Cruz headquarters.If you’re looking for bikes or components, JensonUSA.com should be at the top of your list. They’ve supported the Inside Line since day 1 and continue to offer 10% off qualifying items at checkout when you use coupon code, insideline, all one word. Thank you Jenson!A fresh pair of Maxxis Tires may be the best way to update the personality of your bike. There’s nothing like new tires to keep you gripping and ripping and Maxxis make some of the best in the game. And finally, we touch on this a bit in the show, despite the hard times of the pandemic, Santa Cruz’s Paydirt initiative is donating $1m over three years to trail projects around the world. Discover the recent grant recipients and see how your project may get help. Hit up santacruzbicycles.com/paydirt

Sven Martin, renowned mountain bike photographer, answers some of your questions in the second installment of #AskSvenAnything. Whether he’s giving a photography tutorial or describing how getting certain photographs was "probably-legal", his answers are inspiring and document the history of our great sport. Take your time, enjoy the audio responses and get lost in the tiny sampling of photos he chose for this month's feature.See the photos that accompany Sven's answers on Vital MTB A big thanks to Santa Cruz Bicycles for getting behind this fun feature and thank you to everyone who participated in the first round of questions. Stay tuned to @VitalMTB on Instagram for round 3 in early March.Follow Sven on Instagram - @svenmartinphoto

Welcome mountain bikers, happy 2021! What happens when the kids ask you for the mic so they can record their own Inside Line? Well, today happens and it warms my cold, black heart to no end. The #USDH gravity-loving crew from Rooted MTB take over the show to discuss their experiences as American downhill racers. Their honest, fun, self-deprecating look at what it takes to chase World Cup downhill dreams is a first-hand account of where our sport is today. It’s time for the old-timers to step back a bit and let the up-and-comers have their say. A word of caution for sensitive ears, there is some adult language in today’s show. And, if you’re wondering? Heck yes, I listened to the entire thing and loved every disjointed-laugh-filled minute of it. Enjoy the show #USDH! The Inside Line is supported by Jenson USA where you can shop for all of your mountain bike and MTB-related gear. Use coupon code “insideline” all one word, at checkout on jensonusa.com and you’ll receive 10% off qualifying items. Maxxis Tires make our bikes go ‘round and we’re honored to have them as an Inside Line supporter for the last 4 years! The most fun and easy way to alter a bike’s character or performance on the trail is with a set of new tires. Hit up maxxis.com to find the tire that’s best for you!How rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe. Hit up santacruzbicycles.com/paydirt to see the grant recipients, to apply for a grant or learn more about this awesome trail-funding initiative.

Welcome Mountain Bikers. This is Vital MTB’s The Inside Line podcast, I’m gordo, and I hope you had a good holiday season. With 2021 just a moment away, I’m stoked to be sitting with a local bike shop owner for our show today. Ryan Cowling is the owner of Kore North Bike Shop in Meridian, Idaho. If I ever had a dream shop setup, it would be this…mountain bikes and skateboards!We discuss his history with bicycles, discovering mountain biking while he lived in Japan, the ups and downs of running a local bike shop, being robbed and recovering stolen bikes with help from good friend Prison Mike, his love of Red Bull Rampage and so much more. THANK YOU LISTENERS FOR SUPPORTING THE INSIDE LINE FOR FOUR YEARS!Thank you to our sponsorsJenson USA - use coupon code insideline at checkout and receive 10% off qualifying items.Maxxis Tires - our mountain bike tire of choiceSanta Cruz Bicycles and the Paydirt Fund - they're giving away $1 million over three years to trail projects and community building programs.

Welcome Mountain Bikers, we’re stoked to start a new monthly feature with our best photo friend and trackside heckler, Sven Martin. A week ago, using Instagram, we challenged you to #AskSvenAnything. Sven has chosen a good handful of questions out of the many that came in and dives deep into the answers. Whether he’s giving a masterclass in his photographic process or trolling Rachel Atherton to race enduro, the insight and experience in his answers are priceless. If you’re listening in on our podcast channel, make sure you visit VitalMTB.com because Sven personally chose photos that correspond to some of the answers here…some classic photos that many of you may have never seen before. Listen to Sven Martin's The Inside Line podcastA big thanks to Santa Cruz Bicycles for getting behind this fun feature and thank you to everyone who participated in the first round of questions. Stay tuned to @VitalMTB on Instagram for round 2 in early January.Follow Sven on Instagram - @svenmartinphoto

Welcome mountain bikers! We're lucky as a four-leaf clover to have John Lawlor on the show! John is a long-time mountain bike rider and racer-turned videographer and filmmaker. He’s been responsible for Vital RAW videos from World Cup downhill races the last few years and is a staple on the race scene. We talk team rumors, VHS tapes, his career as a former Elite-level bike racer, and the future of mountain bike filming.We hope you're getting on the trails and staying safe out there!Thank you - Maxxis TiresMaxxis TiresA big shout out goes to Maxxis tires. Make sure your bike has the right shoes for springtime shredding! Maxxis has supported The Inside Line since day one and they continue to make our bikes grips, rip and roll.Thank you - Jenson USAJenson USAUse code INSIDELINE and get 10% off select itemsAt jensonusa.com, you can save big with their MTB Gift Guide. Jerseys, shorts, outwear, helmets and even shoes are available at big discounts right now. Get dialed at Jenson USA!Thank you - Santa Cruz BicyclesSanta Cruz Bicycles offers free pivot bearing replacement for life on any of their full-suspension frames. If your riding has slowed down with a bit of lockdown, now’s a great time to get your local shop for some bike maintenance. hit up santacruzbicycles.com/dealers to find a great shop near you.

Welcome mountain bikers! Thanks for tuning in to Vital MTB’s The Inside Line podcast. Today we're joined by MTB Marketing Manager for Maxxis Tires, Aaron Chamberlain. Maxxis has been behind The Inside Line since day one, almost four years now, and it's all thanks to Aaron. We're honored to have such a top-shelf brand getting behind something we believe in here at Vital.Aaron discusses his love for bikes and finding his way into the bike industry after being an art school dropout. We discuss all things Maxxis, including choosing which tire models and constructions make the cut and having to deal with the name Assegai for Greg Minnaar's tire. How are mountain bike tires made? Why do some tires cost $90? We hit on those topics and there is even some censored team rumor gossip. Enjoy the show!The Inside Line is proudly sponsored by Jenson USA, your online shopping source for bikes, riding gear, apparel, and components. Holiday deals are in full swing and if you use coupon code InsideLine (all one word) at checkout, you can receive 10% off qualifying items.Maxxis Tires will keep you and your bike connected to the trail with their wide variety of tread patterns, rubber compounds, and tire constructions. I’m still enjoying an Assegai front tire with Minion Semi-Slick out back on my daily driver 5010. The Assegai decides the line with the Minion SS keeping things playful as it slides along for the ride. Maxxis.com has all your MTB tire needs.How rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe. Hit up santacruzbicycles.com/paydirt to see the grant recipients, to apply for a grant or learn more about this awesome trail-funding initiative.

Welcome mountain bikers! We're proud to have a trail-building, bike-shredding guest on The Inside Line podcast today. Steve Wentz of Momentum Trail Concepts joins us in Boise, Idaho, in between excavator sessions, as he carves out a new trail here in town. The trail is part of a SWIMBA project that has been in the works for some time, and it offers up some new, exciting riding in our region.Steve is a former US Junior National DH team member, a former World Cup DH racer, he’s a professional trail builder, a mad consumer of M&M’s, and a long-time Vital MTB test rider. In 2004, Steve freeloaded a ride in spomer's 2001 Chevy Malibu from the Calgary World Cup to Denver with Clay Porter riding shotgun. Steve Wentz is a unique human being who can't snap or whistle and was even a door-to-door window salesman. Thank you listeners for your support, I hope you’re getting some good ride time in, give your local trail builder a big, fat socially-distanced hug, and enjoy the episode!!!The Inside Line is proudly sponsored by Jenson USA, your online shopping source for bikes, riding gear, apparel, and components. jensonusa.com has a Fall Riding essentials shopping page to keep you outfitted and on the trails as the temperatures drop. Use coupon code InsideLine (all one word) at checkout to receive 10% off qualifying items.Maxxis Tires will keep you and your bike connected to the trail with their wide variety of tread patterns, rubber compounds, and tire constructions. I’m still enjoying an Assegai front tire with Minion Semi-Slick out back on my daily driver 5010. The Assegai decides the line with the Minion SS keeping things playful as it slides along for the ride. Maxxis.com has all your MTB tire needs.How rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe. Hit up santacruzbicycles.com/paydirt to see the grant recipients, to apply for a grant or learn more about this awesome trail-funding initiative.Vital MTB website@VitalMTB on Instagram

Welcome Mountain Bikers! Thanks for tuning in to this special race-edition of The Inside Line mountain bike podcast. Today we feature racer interviews from the final World Cup Downhill of 2020. Race winners and others discuss the challenging double-header weekend. Loic Bruni, Greg Minnaar, Marine Cabirou, Matt Walker are just a few on the mic with @maddogboris and Dan Hearn, who covered the race for Vital MTB.How rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe.With all these new trails, you’re going to make sure you have the right gear for the ride. Hit up jensonusa.com/sale so save big on bikes, riding gear and components. whatever you need, Jenson has it through their online store and, you can even save 10% off qualifying items by using coupon code InsideLine (all one word) at check out.Maxxis is a long-time supporter of the Inside Line. We love their tires and we’ve noticed more bikes are being spec’d with their MaxxGRIP rubber tires. Are you a MaxxGRIP type of rider or a MaxxTERRA, maybe one of each? What about you MaxxSPEED riders? They’re the goods for some serious hauling. Whatever compound you choose, Maxxis will keep you blasting the trails this autumn. Dig into more on maxxis.com to learn more about their tire constructions and compounds.

Picture this: You move from Florida to the West Coast, only to hear the siren song of mountain biking. In a matter of years, it takes over your life. You move to a small, mountain bike-centric town and the house you move to is strategically located a short pedal from the local trail network. You make your passion your job, you write about riding, and dedicate your livelihood to sharing the lives of mountain biking's biggest names. Along the way, you ride nearly every day. Rain gear is for riding in the rain and bike lights are for riding at night. Your worldview is through the lens of bikes and your view of bikes is about the people on them.There is an element of that story in each of us but the complete picture is that of Lacy Kemp. Part of Kona Bicycles' marketing team, Lacy has a rich history among the heroes of our sport. She's a writer, a rider, an advocate, and has an idea or two about some things.How rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe.With all these new trails, you’re going to make sure you have the right gear for the ride. Hit up jensonusa.com/sale so save big on bikes, riding gear and components. whatever you need, Jenson has it through their online store and, you can even save 10% off qualifying items by using coupon code InsideLine (all one word) at check out.Maxxis is a long-time supporter of the Inside Line. We love their tires and we’ve noticed more bikes are being spec’d with their MaxxGRIP rubber tires. Are you a MaxxGRIP type of rider or a MaxxTERRA, maybe one of each? What about you MaxxSPEED riders? They’re the goods for some serious hauling. Whatever compound you choose, Maxxis will keep you blasting the trails this autumn. Dig into more on maxxis.com to learn more about their tire constructions and compounds.

In this Tech Talk episode, Vital MTB's Brandon Turman calls up Giant Bicycles Category Manager, JC Schellenbach, and retired Professional mountain bike rider, Adam Craig, to discuss one of Giant's most exciting new bikes – the just-introduced Trance X Advanced Pro 29. Featuring 135mm rear travel, 150mm up front, progressive geometry, and a clever flip chip, this one is ready for anything. The three cover everything from Live Valve shock tuning to frame stiffness decisions and who it was designed for. Visit Vital MTB to learn more

Welcome mountain bikers! Thanks for tuning in to Vital MTB’s The Inside Line.I’ve been missing the face-to-face interviews that have become less frequent due to the Covid restrictions. It’s hard to believe that almost two years ago, we ran this two-part interview with mountain bike legend, Kirt Voreis and Cam McCaul as co-host. I wanted to run it again because, 1. you can never get too much Voreis and, B. you can never get too much Voreis. I’ve crushed the two parts into one for this replay, so sit back, listen again or listen for the first time and #allhailvoreisHow rad is this? Our friends at Santa Cruz announced that their PayDirt initiative has named 16 organizations as the first funding recipients in the company's three-year, $1 million pledge aimed at trail building and mountain bike development across the globe.With all these new trails, you’re going to make sure you have the right gear for the ride. Hit up jensonusa.com/sale so save big on bikes, riding gear and components. whatever you need, Jenson has it through their online store and, you can even save 10% off qualifying items by using coupon code InsideLine (all one word) at check out.Maxxis is a long-time supporter of the Inside Line. We love their tires and we’ve noticed more bikes are being spec’d with their MaxxGRIP rubber tires. Are you a MaxxGRIP type of rider or a MaxxTERRA, maybe one of each? What about you MaxxSPEED riders? They’re the goods for some serious hauling. Whatever compound you choose, Maxxis will keep you blasting the trails this autumn. Dig into more on maxxis.com to learn more about their tire constructions and compounds.

Welcome mountain bikers! Thanks for tuning in to Vital MTB’s The Inside Line podcast. We have a great show today with guest, Chris Mandell of SRAM. He has a long history in the mountain biking industry. We get into all kinds of suspension discussion thanks to his experience at RockShox, and we learn about his penchant for big, suffering rides.We hope you're getting on the trails and staying safe out there!Thank you - Maxxis TiresMaxxis TiresA big shout out goes to Maxxis tires. Make sure your bike has the right shoes for springtime shredding! Maxxis has supported The Inside Line since day one and they continue to make our bikes grips, rip and roll.Thank you - Jenson USAJenson USAUse code INSIDELINE and get 10% off select itemsAt jensonusa.com, you can save big with their summer MTB apparel sale. Jerseys, shorts, outwear, helmets and even shoes are available at big discounts right now as summer comes to a close. Get dialed at Jenson USA!Thank you - Santa Cruz BicyclesSanta Cruz Bicycles offers free pivot bearing replacement for life on any of their full-suspension frames. If your riding has slowed down with a bit of lockdown, now’s a great time to get your local shop for some bike maintenance. hit up santacruzbicycles.com/dealers to find a great shop near you.

Welcome mountain bikers, this is a pre-game E-Bike Test Sessions edition of The Inside Line podcast. I’m Shawn Spomer and I’m stoked to be social distancing, in-person, with Vital’s very own Brandon *huck-n-slap-it-to-flat* Turman, Brad, *B3z-Bullet-Head* Howell, and our secret weapon tester, Sean *Griz* McClendon, who, when he’s not slinging the bling at Deity, likes to pretend he’s Kovarik doing two-wheel drifts at 90mph on Trail 4 here in Boise. E-bikes aren’t that fun without electricity and The Inside Line isn’t that fun without the support of our gracious sponsorsThe Inside Line is brought to you by Jenson USA. Jenson USA has great deals on great mountain bikes and bike-related products both online and in-store and, coincidentally, two of the bikes in our test are available at Jenson. The Norco Sight VLT is available for online purchase or in-store purchase, and the Santa Cruz Heckler can be purchased in-store only through Jenson. Shop in person at their Corona California retail location, hours are limited right now and masks are required, but the doors are open. You can also access online purchases for curbside pick-up only at their Riverside, California location. As always, use coupon code insideline at check out on jensonusa.com to receive 10% off qualifying items.Maxxis Tires makes The Inside Line and predictable traction on the trail possible. The Santa Cruz Heckler and Norco Sight VLT in our test both have Maxxis Minion DHR II tires front and rear. I think it’s safe to say that no one in the test is bummed with that tire spec. Hit up maxxis.com for more info.Finally, one last Santa Cruz plug because they make sure The Inside Line is possible - You get free, lifetime pivot bearing replacement on any Santa Cruz full-suspension bike, including, the Heckler we’ve been hucking this week. santacruzbicycles.com/dealers will get you to a local Santa Cruz shop near you.Considering the polarizing nature of this e-Edition of The Inside Line, please send all hate mail or love mail to sspomer@vitalmtb.com - We accept recorded, audio excerpts, memes or good, old-fashioned, opinionated written notes.Alright, I’m gonna light the match, throw it into the leaf pile, sit back and watch it burn!! 

Welcome mountain bikers. This is the inside line podcast. I’m gordo and I’m honored to have co-host, Sean "Griz" McClendon, with me as we grill the one, the only, Kyle Strait. There’s no box to put Kyle in. He’s been a successful World Cup DH mountain bike racer, he's a king of style at the dirt jumps, he owns the Dual Slalom track, is a two-time Red Bull Rampage winner and one of the most influential bike riders in our sport. Kyle is candid and open about the ups and downs of his mountain biking career. Did you know he did a half-marathon while dribbling a soccer ball? It's all in there.Thank you - Maxxis TiresMaxxis TiresA big shout out goes to Maxxis tires. Make sure your bike has the right shoes for springtime shredding! Maxxis has supported The Inside Line since day one and they continue to make our bikes grips, rip and roll.Thank you - Jenson USAJenson USAUse code INSIDELINE and get 10% off select itemsAt jensonusa.com, a long-time supporter of The Inside Line, you can get 20% off a single qualifying item when you use code SAVE20 at check out. Riding season is right around the corner, so get dialed at Jenson USA!Thank you - Santa Cruz BicyclesSanta Cruz Bicycles offers free pivot bearing replacement for life on any of their full-suspension frames. If your riding has slowed down with a bit of lockdown, now’s a great time to get your local shop for some bike maintenance. hit up santacruzbicycles.com/dealers to find a great shop near you.

In this Tech Talk episode, Vital MTB's Brandon Turman calls up RockShox Product Manager, Jon Cancellier, to discuss one of the biggest, burliest forks in years – the just introduced RockShox ZEB. Featuring 38mm stanchions and travel lengths up to 190mm, you know this one is ready for business. The two cover everything from stiffness considerations to Pro rider feedback, where it shines on the trail, and who it was designed for. Visit Vital MTB to learn more about the new RockShox Zeb fork

Clear down to the smallest details, Ibis bikes are known for their incredibly clean design. Roxy Lo has played a major role in making those bikes look and function in a phenomenal way. Her experience and role merge analytical and creative worlds. She's a bad-ass industrial designer with experience in a wide variety of fields and isn't afraid to bust out the sketchbook or virtual reality headset.Thank you - Maxxis TiresMaxxis TiresA big shout out goes to Maxxis tires. Make sure your bike has the right shoes for springtime shredding! Maxxis has supported The Inside Line since day one and they continue to make our bikes grips, rip and roll.Thank you - Jenson USAJenson USAUse code INSIDELINE and get 10% off select itemsAt jensonusa.com, a long-time supporter of The Inside Line, you can get 20% off a single qualifying item when you use code SAVE20 at check out. Riding season is right around the corner, so get dialed at Jenson USA!Thank you - Santa Cruz BicyclesSanta Cruz Bicycles offers free pivot bearing replacement for life on any of their full-suspension frames. If your riding has slowed down with a bit of lockdown, now’s a great time to get your local shop for some bike maintenance. hit up santacruzbicycles.com/dealers to find a great shop near you.

Ryan Cleek has been one of mountain biking's storytellers for over 20 years. He's played many roles in the industry as a photographer, writer, videographer and product tester for media outlets and bike brands alike. Along the way, he has made two feature-length films about mountain bikers and their journey in our sport. We had a chance to sit down and get the story of the storyteller, and it's pretty good, if we say so ourselves.Learn More About Ryan Cleek and His Projectshttps://www.ryancleek.com/Instagram: @cleekndestroy Cam Zink - Reach for the Sky Documentary http://www.camzinkreachforthesky.com/ also now on Amazon Prime for free, here.My mountain bike art site features images I've shot and made them into unique pop-art style designs through Illustrator and Photoshop. After each image, Ryan deletes the history of the layers, so it would be impossible to reproduce one of these designs from scratch. They are truly one-of-a-kind pieces. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BikeBlotterThank you listeners for your support. The Inside Line is supported by great mountain bike brands!Thank you - Maxxis TiresThank you - Jenson USAThank you - Santa Cruz Bicycles

The Big Mountain Enduro is the premier enduro mountain bike race series in North America. Brandon Ontiveros, founder of the BME, took his love for bikes, adventure and racing to make it his full-time job. When pro rider friends told him about European-based enduro mountain bike racing in the early 2000s, Brandon saw the writing on the wall, embraced the format, and began the successful and fun, Oregon Enduro Series and eventually the BME.Kyle Warner, a Big Mountain Enduro racer, interviews Brandon about the different facets of what enduro racing is, or could be, they discuss the challenges and logistics of hosting a race, and they look into the future of the Big Mountain Enduro. In 2020, there will even be an e-MTB class at select venues.COVID 19 has obviously impacted the 2020 race season, but BME events are currently scheduled to resume at the end of August in Big Sky, Montana. BME 2020 Revised Racing ScheduleBig Sky, MT: August 22nd-23rdWinter Park, CO: September 12th-13thAngel Fire, NM – BME Finals: October 10th-11thwww.bigmountainenduro.comcover photo by Eddie Clark