Vital Mtb - Speaking Of Mountain Biking

Thank you Maxxis Tires, FOX Suspension and Jenson USA for making The Inside Line possible.Watch this interview on YouTubeJoe Bowman of The Union and Steel City Media gets on the mic to discuss sponsor and rider changes for the team in 2024. 2023 was an extremely successful year for the not-for-profit program with Chris Hauser grabbing a Junior World Cup DH win and team riders graduating to bigger factory teams. As a development team, The Union's goal is to help young and up-and-coming riders get experience at the World Cup level with hopes of building their future in the sport.Follow @join.the.union on Instagram

The #frecklegate conspiracy comes to fruition as Dakotah Norton officially joins the newly formed Mondraker Factory Racing Team. After two years of upward trajectory under Intense Factory Racing, Dak hopes to continue edging closer to that elusive first World Cup win while helping develop Mondraker's new DH bike alongside Ryan Pinkerton and Ronan Dunne.Dak is a staple of our B Practice Podcast, so we had to hop on last week to discuss how the switch to Mondraker came about, what he was looking for in a new team, and how he feels heading into the season. Enjoy!These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineInterview Contents0:00 - Intro, Crew Catch Up6:29 - Norton Compound Update10:48 - Dak Joins Mondraker Factory Racing!11:30 - Why He Left Intense Factory Racing14:53 - How Riding For Mondraker Came Together 16:49 - What Was Dak Looking For in a New Team18:43 - Getting Paid Fairly23:48 - Difficulty Finding a Ride as a Top 10 Racer31:28 - Aaron Gwin's Impact

Thank you Maxxis Tires, FOX Suspension and Jenson USA for making The Inside Line possible.Watch this interview and see riding clips on YouTubeIn a sea of slashed budgets, folding teams and riders struggling to find a way to race downhill mountain bikes in 2024, Neko Mulally has expanded his Frameworks team with the addition of Spanish rider, Angel Suarez for 2024. In this Inside Line MTB podcast, we ask Neko how he was able to expand his team, increase budget and roll into the season with two podium contenders - Angel in Elites and first-year Junior, Asa Vermette. Neko candidly talks budget, bike development, the future of Frameworks and what the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup may look like.Interview Contents0:00 - Intro, Angel Suarez on Frameworks5:45 - UNNO to Frameworks, Already a FOX Rider9:39 - Sponsor Changes, Wheels and Tires13:09 - Neko, Asa and Angel are the Same Height - Intentional?18:20 - Increased Team Size, Not Budget Cuts. How?21:24 - Frameworks with a GEARBOX?!24:38 - Why Aren't Oth

Downhill mountain bike racing legend, Greg Minnaar, announced that he joined Norco Bicycles after 16 years with the Santa Cruz Syndicate. Minnaar has more Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill victories than any other Elite male racer. While 2023 was supposed to be his farewell season after two-and-a-half decades of racing, a flat tire at World Championships in Fort William left Greg with a poor result and a hunger to end his competitive career on a high note. When Santa Cruz decided to let Greg go, he found a new home at Norco. In this interview we talk with Greg about that change, the possible challenges of working with a new bike and team, as well as his expectations for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH race season.Video Contents0:00 - Intro /  Is He on FOX or RockShox?3:31 - Any Other Sponsor Changes?4:21 - Why Didn't He Retire in 2023?7:55 - Did He Try to Stay with Santa Cruz Syndicate?10:50 - Norco's Race Engineering Program13:09 - How Will He Adapt to the Norco Prototype DH Bike?16:17 - Fro

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxWelcome mountain bikers! We're stoked to take you for a ride along during a conversation we had at the end of October during Vital's budget mountain bike test in Reno, Nevada. It was a special time because every Vital editorial staffer was present with some of our favorite contributors too. The primary discussion revolves around the bikes we were testing and how great it is to be a mountain biker with so many quality bikes and components. Whether beginner or experienced, it's really hard to go wrong with a mountain bike purchase these days. Eventually, we twist and turn our way onto the topic of Red Bull Rampage, which was fresh in our minds at the time, and ultimately to our favorite subject, World Cup Downhill racing.Get to know the Vital staff a bit better, give a nod to budget-friendly mountain bikes and enjoy the show!Watch Vital's $2,500 Mountain Bike Comparison

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxJoin us as we get to know Dan Critchlow, one of the founders of Burgtec. Burgtec is a mountain bike component manufacturer that started with some friends wanting stronger flat pedals in the early 2000s. As time went on and riders craved their product, they expanded their efforts and have turned Burgtec into a successful, premium MTB component brand with pedals, bars, stems and more.Dan discusses his journey into mountain biking, racing downhill at the World Cup level, the formation and development of Burgtec, and even how he coached Josh Bryceland during the year Ratboy won the World Cup overall.Enjoy the show!

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineWe interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to tell you the story of how Dakotah, Tanner, and I met through downhill racing. Chatting about racing and bikes hardly gets old, but we figured changing things up and providing some context on how the heck we all ended up together spitting nonsense into your headphones could be entertaining. It's not the craziest story, but it sure was a fun period in our lives, traveling the world and attempting to race bikes at the highest level. Enjoy!

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineAs a mountain bike fan, November is pretty boring. Everyone is patiently waiting for the new year to roll around to announce new team and sponsorship deals, and until then, not much happens. To help fill the void, we are back with another podcast to cover some really hard-pressing topics. Dakotah’s journey to home ownership in Tennessee has become public knowledge, but building the house is only part of the project. We open this episode discussing his plans to build a moto track, pit bike track, and pump track over the next month. All part of his master plan to have the ultimate training playground; we then talk about why he rides with shorter cranks, the effects of lever angle and bar roll, one-piece handlebars, why Dakotah doesn’t race on tires that are more than three runs old, and pick components or gear that we think riders overlook their importance. Enjoy!

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxWe're honored to have Jack Rice on The Inside Line. You probably know Jack as a mountain bike race photographer with his work from the World Cups and #USDH races featured on Vital. He was also the team photographer for Transition Factory Racing this season. However, just a few years ago, Jack had no significant photography experience and very little time on a mountain bike. So how did he become a successful photographer in our scene in such a short time? Through grit, determination, and a desire to never go back to what he calls his old life. Today Jack shares his story which includes growing up in Brooklyn, experiencing friends lost in the 9/11 terror attacks, tackling severe drug and alcohol addiction, and the power of community and family. We also talk about what it was like breaking into the World Cup MTB photography community and dig into what the future looks like. There are heavy topics covered in this episode, so please be advised if there are sensit

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineThe leaves are falling, debates surrounding Rampage results are smoldering, and speculation about who is riding for what team fills the forums; it must be the off-season! Between Tanner shooting feature films, Dakotah building furniture, and myself making editorial plans for 2024, we found some time to record a fresh podcast riffing about bikes and racing.With the 2024 UCI Schedule just released, we discuss the cause and effects of a mostly European-based series and the complications of having a U.S.-based World Cup or National Series. We also chat about what trail bike I should get next (open to recommendations in the comments), touch on some team rumors, debate if bikes should be designed for the world's fastest racers or the average rider, Dakotah's contracts, and the importance of ex-racers being involved with brands and bike development. Enjoy!

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxToday we speak with Christopher Arruda, Brand Manager at NOBL Wheels. They've been producing carbon rims and wheelsets for mountain bikes since 2012 and continue to refine and develop their lineup. We wanted to hear about their journey and learn why they think a rider might choose carbon rims over aluminum.Recently released is NOBL's G2 carbon rim range. The new hoops are more impact-resistant and durable while remaining lightweight and we find out how they landed on this current design. Additionally,  one of NOBL's specialties is custom wheel builds, and we unpack the variety of configurations available, including wheels using space-aged BERD spokes. Enjoy the show!

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineThe 2023 season is over! What a season. Eight races, seven winners, five first-time winners, and 22 points-paying races (if you include qualifying, semi-finals, and finals). Rachel Atherton made her return to DH and won another World Cup; Vali Holl became the first female to win Worlds and the World Cup Overall since Rachel in 2018; Loic Bruni took his third World Cup overall title; Ryan Pinkerton won the Junior Mens overall for U.S.A; Valentina Roa Sanchez became the first South American to win a UCI World Cup overall; and our boy Dak added two more podiums to his name. Arguably one of the most exciting World Cup seasons to date, it also brought a lot of change with Warner Bros/Discovery taking over the broadcasting, the addition of semi-finals, fewer riders in finals, and a bit of unknown looking towards the future of downhill. In this episode, the crew reflects on the good and bad from the 2023 season, Dakotah breaks

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxWe have another great Inside Line with passionate interviews from the ground at the last World Cup Mountain Bike Downhill of 2023 in Mont-Sainte-Anne. Jack Rice talks to Elite riders, mechanics and team managers and asks if they think downhill is in a better place now than it was a year ago after the change from Red Bull's involvement to Warner Bros/Discovery. Bernard Kerr, Loic Bruni, Abigail Hogie has a lot of insight, Jordi from FOX and more. There are timestamps of the individual interviews in the description below.0:59 - Bernard Kerr5:07 - Loic Bruni16:14 - Abigail Hogie25:03 - Jordi Cortes31:59 - Colin Esquibel38:43 - Aaron Gwin44:10 - Wyn Masters46:31 - Evan Warner53:00 - Eddie Masters57:21 - Jorge Gomes1:03:10 - Nina Hoffmann1:06:14 - Sian A'hern1:09:02 - Danny Hart1:13:07 - Mikayla Parton1:14:35 - Chris Grice1:18:46 - Jim Bland1:21:07 - Austin Dooley1:24:29 - Tyler Ervin1:27:30 - Dave RichardsEveryone here at Vital would like to thank Jack, Joh

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineThe World Cup circus arrived in the U.S. two weeks ago and has provided some legendary racing! Big checks have been signed, more first-time winners have won, and World Cup overall titles have been handed out. But most importantly, our boy Dakotah Norton, aka Kubota, aka Stack Attack Dak, has been racking up the dough with a win at the Open and 3rd in Snowshoe. There was a lot to talk about, so get comfortable because we found nearly three hours of downhill-related topics to ramble on about. We open this episode by answering a question asked by Vital member kylestelzer in the comments of our Les Gets podcast that goes into how Dakotah maximizes his strengths as a racer, what he thinks are his weaknesses, and how dirt bikes are one of the biggest tools he uses to get better at downhill racing. We then discussed what Dak has done with his prize money from the last two racers, the economic state of downhill, and the value of

Thank you Jenson USA | Maxxis Tires  | FOX ShoxWelcome mountain bikers! Thanks for tuning into Vital MTB's The Inside Line podcast. We're going mobile today with Jack Rice in the pits at the Snowshoe World Cup Downhill. It's funny, Jack and I basically jinxed each other when we were texting, as we both wanted to cover the privateers at Snowshoe. The same old Elite Pit Bits galleries get a little old after so many back-to-back races. I figured we'd do a privateer Pit Bits, but Jack did what he does best. Instead of focusing on bikes, he got in there and helped tell the stories of U.S. Downhill's working class. Elite riders, juniors and team managers open up about the challenges and rewards of chasing their dreams. The interviews conclude with everyone's favorite commentator, Mr. Rob Warner. Rob's interview at the end does have some F-bombs dropped, so be aware if there are sensitive ears in the room. Long live #USDH0:00 - Intro1:11 - Jack Pederson3:27 - Austin San Souci9:00 -

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry Nine​With no racing to talk about this week, we called #USDH racer Dylan Maples to chat about his epic 2023 season! Dylan might have only started racing downhill a few years ago, but the Team NorCal rider has quickly become one of the most exciting American racers on the World Cup Circuit. We discussed his quick progression within the sport, what it's like being a DH racer from Sacramento, how his approach to racing has evolved as his confidence has grown, the importance of having time at home after being on the road for two months, going from a privateer program to having full-factory support with his fill-in ride with Commencal Muc-Off, riders he looks up to, who he hates getting beat by, and goals going into the last two World Cups. We hope you enjoy our conversation, and thank you, Dylan, for taking the time to talk with us! 

It's hard to believe the first U.S. Open of MTB was held 20 years ago in 2023. The event has come a long way since then with a prize purse totaling $80,000 this year, all thanks to the hard work of Clayton Harper and his crew. Vital talks with Clayton and #USDH shredder, Neko Mulally, to discuss the event's history and what we can expect in 2023.The 2023 U.S. Open of MTB takes place September 21-24 with Downhill, Enduro, Dual Slalom and Whip-off events at Killington Resort in Vermont. Amateur and open classes all use the same downhill track, making for a memorable experience for up-and-coming riders as they can compare their times to world-class pros.Riders confirmed for 2023 include the Santa Cruz Syndicate, Dakotah Norton, Neko Mulally, Wyn Masters, Jill Kintner and more.Vital is stoked to have the Gravity Cooperative filming a full race replay show that will air on Vital MTB. The Gravity Collective is the crew behind the awesome race replay shows from Downhill Southeast and the 2022 U.S. National

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineIn case you have any doubts, Les Gets, France, still produces the best World Cup downhill races. The intensity of the track, the passion of the French crowd, and the ability of French racers to rise to the occasion make Les Gets a picture-perfect stage for iconic racing. Last weekend was no exception, as a dry and loose track delivered a race with less drama, more first-time winners, and a riot-inducing double French victory. Join Dak as he brings you between the tape along with professional bench racers Tanner Stephens and Jason Schroeder. In this episode, the crew chats about Dylan Maples filling in on Commencal Muc-Off, the toughness of Erice van Leuven, the challenge of racing a track like Les Gets that deteriorates so much, Vital's Shorts Bounty, the hardest part of Les Gets being the first two turns, Dean Lucas retiring, and the US Open happening in two weeks, and much more. Thank you so much for listening, an

These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!Maxxis | Burgtec | Industry NineFor the first time, the World Cup circus stopped in Loudenvielle, France, for round #5 of the 2023 World Cup season. The week kicked off with last-minute schedule changes due to the weather and only got weirder from there. Luckily, an insane track and constantly changing conditions delivered some of the most exciting racing of the year. And to top it off, our boy Dak Norton finished second—his best World Cup result to date! Join Dak as he brings you between the tape with his trackside insights and breaks down the excitement from the fresh Loudenvielle track with Tanner Stephens and Jason Schroeder. In this episode, the crew discusses the precedent set by the schedule change in Andorra, why junior racing shouldn’t have been canceled, Aaron Gwin crushing it as a commentator, why Loudenvielle was a good DH track and not easy to ride, the Nina vs. Vali battle, Kade Edwards and Thibaut Dapréla doing tuck-no-handers mid-run, t

Today the Junior World Cup Downhill race in Loudenvielle, France, was canceled. The race organizers claimed the track conditions were unsafe for competition due to overnight rain and the steep layout of the course.  Early in the morning, Junior riders struggled during practice, but as the day progressed, some riders were able to make safe top-to-bottom runs. Ultimately the race was canceled and qualifying results from the day before stood as final results.Jack Rice speaks with riders and mechanics to get their opinion on the cancellation.   Marshy of Cube, Jorge Gomes of Transition Factory Racing, John Hall of IFR, Wyn Masters of GT Factory Racing, Tim Flooks, Ethan Craik and Dean Lucas share their insight.