The Inside Line Podcast - Vital MTB

Would you rather be riding epic bike parks in Queenstown, downhill trails in Laguna or sitting in the ER because you can't pee? Jason Schroeder, Lars Sternberg and Shawn Spomer reflect on their last couple of weeks in this episode of Bikes Unaff....... The 9th Street Documentary on YouTube 0:00 - Intro 1:52 - Help Us Change the Podcast Name 3:34 - Jason's What's In What's Out, Max Alran Rips 6:35 - Jason Met Queenstown_NPC 12:30 - Lars' What's In What's Out, Ride New Places 20:23 - Spomer What's In What's Out, Olympics & 9th Street Doc 25:30 - Spomer Can't Pee and Misses Asa Destroying Telonics 41:54 - Jason Meets Sven 43:50 - Loic Bruni and His Tire Pressure 48:51 - Lars Got a Frameworks DH & Headsets Suck 1:00:53 - Does Santa Cruz Sell More V10s Than Any Other Pedal Bike in Their Lineup? 1:07:17 - Will Specialized Stop Making Alloy Full Suspension Bikes? 1:08:37 - Jason Wouldn't Let Loris Vergier Follow Him 1:10:21 - Crazy Commencal Team Brake Setups in NZ 1:20:37 - Packing a Bike To Travel & Frameworks' Nifty Boxing Technique 1:27:31 - Don't Travel with Jason 1:29:25 - Why 17 Questions?

One of downhilling's finest, Loic Bruni, ain't scared of the dreaded 17! You can watch this interview on Vital MTB Questions asked 0:00 - Who would win in a fight between you, Amaury Pierron and Jackson Goldstone? 0:50 - Do you ever go to World Cup after parties? If yes, tell us your favorite post-race story. If no, why don't you like to have fun? 1:54 - Does your mechanic Jack get enough credit for how much he helps with the bike and suspension setup? 3:02 - How many on-track line spotters do you have? (Spoiler, Nico Vouilloz will be one in 2026!) 4:14 - How many Elite men and women should there be in finals at a World Cup? 5:39 - Do the new crop of young racers terrify you or motivate you? 6:55 - What tire pressure do you run and do you run inserts? 7:23 - What has been your favorite part of being a dad? 7:55 - How much money in bonuses have you made from winning one World Champs? 8:27 - When you SuperBruni or PopeBruni signs, does that weird you out? 8:58 - What do you want to do when you're done racing? 10:04 - People always talk about how your suspension setup is different than most of your competitors. Do you think it's true? If so, how does it differ from the rest? 12:02 - If your new son wanted to pursue being a pro rollerblader, would you let him? 12:41 - What is one activity you would not let your son pursue? 13:11 - Have you ever told Red Bull "no" to one of their clickbait video project ideas? If so, what was it? 16:17 - Do you think social media can have a negative impact on race performance? 17:58 - Would you rather be telling Vital MTBers to like and subscribe instead of answering these dumb questions?

Downhill destroyer, Aaron Gwin, takes another stab at the dreaded 17 during a Frameworks test camp in Southern California. Hard to believe the first 17 Qs we did with Aaron was 15 years ago! Question asked 1. You wake up late and are in rush to get your day going. You stop by a Starbucks to get your caffeine fix. What drink are you ordering? 2. How do you pass time on long flights? Movies, reading, sleeping, catching up on emails?? 3. What was your best trick during your bmx days? 4. What was the most money you made at a single race from bonuses? (you can leave out the team, year, or brands if you’d like) 5. If you had it all to do over again, would you rather have been a professional supercross/outdoor rider than a professional mountain biker? 6. Who has the best style at World Cups these days? 7. Favorite and least favorite World Cup track? 8. How many riders come to Windrock and ask for free shuttles? 9. Best place to eat out if you’re at Windrock? 10. Of the titles you hold, rank these from least to most favorite: bike park owner, race promoter, professional mountain biker, airbnb host, sports commentator. 11. What do you miss most about living in SoCal? 12. What’s your game plan going into Red Bull Hardline? 13. You’re considered one of the greatest downhill racers of all time. Who do you consider to be the best downhill racer? 14. We know you’ve always been a bit of a gym rat. Give us a few of your favorite exercises that translate well to on the bike performance? 15. How many elite men and elite women should there be in finals at a World Cup? 16. We’ve always admired your ability to capitalize on the success you’ve had as a racer with the many financial endeavors you’ve taken on. Do you have any money/business advice for other athletes? 17. Wouldn’t you rather be building trails at Windrock than answering these stupid questions?

Can Neko handled the dreaded 17? Watch on YouTube, too.

We’ve been minimally interested in the 32-inch wheel topic. It was more fun to hypothesize what they’d ride like when it was a distant rumor. Now that Maxxis has 32-inch tires you can buy, and many brands are currently developing literal wagon wheel models, we don’t know how to feel. Luckily, we tagged in Maxxis Brand Manager, Aaron Chamberlain, to fill us in on the impetus of the 32-inch revolution and the main arguments around their implementation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:39 The 32-Inch Wheel Debate 10:11 Mechanical vs. Wireless Drivetrains 17:01 The Push for 32-Inch Wheels 17:41 Technical Challenges in Tire Production 22:59 Market Response and Anticipation 26:06 Benefits and Applications of 32-Inch Wheels 33:51 Potential Pros and Cons of Larger Wheels 40:36 Looking Ahead: The Evolution of Bike Design 51:09 The 32-Inch Wheel Trend: Implications and Insights 53:51 Weight Considerations: Performance vs. Practicality 58:43 Community Insights: The Biking Culture and Preferences 01:01:46 Tire Talk: Preferences and Innovations

Happy New Year errybody! In this episode, we go through the components, places to ride, and habits Vital users listed as their favorites in 2025. We then touch on what we enjoyed in 2025 and what we are looking forward to in the year ahead. Shoutout to Vital user Ervan for starting the forum thread “2025: Things I loved this year” and giving us the idea for this week's podcast. Read the forum thread in discussion - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2... Chapters 00:00 New Year Reflections and Family Time 11:08 Retirement in Action Sports: A Bittersweet Transition 13:38 Women in Racing: Breaking Taboos 16:49 Health Reflections: The Impact of Illness 19:46 Excitement for Upcoming Events 24:03 Dak's New Journey with Dream Team 36:05 Community Engagement and User Feedback 53:25 Trends in Mountain Biking: E-bikes and Upgrades 01:13:50 Product Discussions and Industry Insights 01:26:23 Wheels and Brakes: Performance Insights 01:38:13 Starting a Business: Flowcraft and Community Engagement 01:47:32 Reflections on Racing and Industry Changes 01:52:30 Engaging the Community: The Podcast Forum

The news of Aaron Gwin making a new home on Frameworks TRP yesterday left a lot of unanswered questions. Thankfully the man himself was down for a candid chat to discuss his new future. Cover photo by Callie Horwath Topics 0:00 - Intro and What About Crestline? 9:34 - History with Neko 12:26 - How Can Frameworks Afford Gwin? 15:38 - Does Gwin Have to Race Now? 19:14 - Dealing with So Many Product Changes 32:31 - Does the Frameworks Accomodate Gwin's Riding Style? 43:00 - Being on a Team with Asa Vermette, Battling the Kids 49:50 - Game Plan for 2026 Races 53:55 - Gwin's Training Regimen 1:00:35 - Involvement with Lake Placid World Cup and TN National in 2026? 1:06:30 - Racing Hardline Tasmania 1:11:32 - Aaron Gwin 2011 vs. Aaron Gwin 2026?

0:00 - Aaron Gwin 8:16 - James McAllister 16:05 - Neko Mulally As the 2026 downhill mountain bike season dawns, Frameworks TRP Racing announces that #USDH superstar, Aaron Gwin will join the team. Aaron, multi-time World Cup-winning downhiller, ran his own team, Gwin Racing, aboard Crestline bikes in 2024 and 2025. The change to Frameworks means a focus on racing, rather than team management, as Gwin seeks to wrap up his competitive career giving it all he can. With a new team comes new equipment. Besides the Frameworks frame, Aaron returns to FOX suspension after Ohlins with Gwin Racing. He'll be on Burgtec bars, a departure from his long-time Renthal setup. Wheels change to ENVE from e.thirteen, and he'll be aboard Continental tires. Vital contributor, Jack Rice, catches up with Aaron, Neko and James McAllister, Aaron's mechanic during a testing session at Windrock Bike Park in December to discuss the changes and challenges.

After an exciting two years with Mondraker Factory Racing, our guy Dak has moved to Scott DH Factory and signed a three-year deal. So naturally, we had to podcast about it. We wanted all the details on what prompted his departure from Mondraker, what attracted him to Scott, his goals and expectations for the upcoming season now that he's mostly recovered from his injury, and most importantly: will he still be running 75mm rise bars on his new Gambler? Per usual, Dak was transparent about what he’s seeking from a team at this point in his career, the reality of having to prove he’s still a podium contender post-injury, and his newfound appreciation for the opportunity he has to keep racing his bike. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

We have a very special, and probably tear-and-laugh filled episode of The Inside Line as we catch back up with Colin Meagher, all-around nice guy, incredible, storied mountain bike photographer and man dealing with the late stages of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since Colin’s symptoms have progressed so strongly, he’s not really able to speak, so we have a gaggle of his best buds in Seattle to help do the talking for him. You can watch this interview on our YouTube Channel It was almost 7 years to the day that I first met with Colin in Hood River, Oregon, for an interview (found here). We talked about his career highlights and his diagnosis with ALS and what the future looked like for him. Well, we’re back to celebrate him and his life through some memories and some roasting by a group of friends that only know each other because of Colin. Since Colin can't speak, we go through a Q&A with Patrik Zuest reading the answers that Colin wrote and provided via email. Everyone at Vital hopes you get inspired by listening to the stories of how Colin impacted so many lives. Colin, we love you! Contents 0:00 - Intro and Colin's crew on how they met colin 8:26 - Colin answers questions about his ALS 35:35 - Colin gets roasted by his crew

Electric mountain bikes. Either you love ‘em, or think they’re wack. Granted, the latter opinion has been losing steam as more brands release good e-bikes, and more riders toss a leg over one. They’re the talk of our industry and are one of the few, if not the only, segments of bikes experiencing significant change year after year. In this show, Vital’s own Jason Schroeder and Shawn Spomer, along with industry veteran Lars Sternberg, and Founder/Operator of Crestline Bikes, Troydon Murison, sift through the current landscape of e-bikes and discuss what the future might hold. The conversation also kicks off with a rad (almost hour-long) dive into how Crestline Bikes became a thing and the challenges posed by making bikes overseas. Contents 00:00 "My Watch Said I Was Dead" - Lars Sternberg 08:54 What's In and What's Out: Weekly Highlights 21:17 The Founding of Crestline Bikes and how they were made 59:02 Transitioning to DJI Motors 01:35:08 Consumer Behavior and E-Bike Sales 01:53:20 Understanding Power and Performance in E-Bikes 02:10:13 The Balance Between Analog and E-Bikes 02:20:43 Regulations and Safety Concerns in E-Biking

In this special edition of the Inside Line podcast, Jeff Brines interviews Sam Nicols, the former CEO of YT Industries from 2021 to 2024, exploring his journey from a career at Amazon to leading a prominent bike company during tumultuous times. He reflects on his experiences as CEO of YT Industries, discussing the challenges faced in the bike industry, particularly around demand fluctuations, inventory management, and the impact of cash flow on business decisions. 00:00 Introduction to Sam Nicols and YT Industries 01:49 Sam's Background and Career Path 09:28 Challenges of Stepping into YT During the Pandemic 11:35 Navigating Supply Chain Issues and Customer Care 16:01 The Private Equity Interest and Acquisition Process 23:45 Aligning Goals with Private Equity 30:15 Understanding the Risks of Private Equity 34:11 The Impact of Market Conditions on YT's Valuation 37:05 Transitioning to In-House Assembly 49:43 Demand Fluctuations and Market Realities 50:21 Navigating Demand Fluctuations 54:08 Strategic Decisions Amidst Overstocks 01:00:05 The Impact of Cash Flow on Business Decisions 01:03:43 Cost Management Challenges in the Bike Industry 01:10:08 Marketing Strategies: Balancing Brand and Performance 01:17:48 The Role of Data in Business Operations 01:25:12 Leadership Dynamics and Company Culture 01:30:12 Reflections on Competition and Industry Evolution

In episode 2 of Bikes: Unaffiliated, Jason Schroeder, Lars Sternberg and Shawn Spomer discuss the evolution of mountain bike technology, focusing on the durability of bikes and components. They explore the expectations riders have for bike longevity, and the importance of community feedback in shaping technology. The conversation also touches on maintenance practices and the balance between cost, weight, and durability in bike design. They delve into the evolution of mountain biking, focusing on suspension setups, the impact of e-bikes on component durability, and the importance of understanding rider skill levels. The crew discusses the challenges of navigating suspension adjustments, the significance of bearing technology, and the lifecycle of bike components. They also dissect where to spend money when building a durable bike. Chapters 00:00 Introduction, What's In/What's Out 14:10 The Evolution of Mountain Biking Gear 18:28 Tires and Tubeless Technology: A Game Changer 23:43 The Balance of Durability and Performance 29:00 Expectations on Bike Longevity 34:05 The Future of Mountain Bike Technology 45:20 Dynamic Forks and Rider Preferences 48:23 Sensitivity to Suspension Setup 51:27 Skill Levels and Equipment Accessibility 52:16 Understanding Compression and Adjustments 54:29 E-Bikes and Durability Challenges 58:17 Headset Issues and Innovations 01:03:36 Durability in High-End Bikes 01:12:14 E-Bike Technology and Future Considerations 01:17:38 Understanding Bike Longevity and Maintenance 01:19:41 Investing in Bike Parts for Durability 01:22:51 Building a Bike: Prioritizing Components 01:26:01 Injury and Its Impact on Riding 01:26:10 Choosing the Right Bike and Brand 01:29:40 The Lifecycle of Bike Parts and Consumer Expectations 01:36:49 Engaging with the Cycling Community

Join Vital's own Jason Schroeder and Shawn Spomer, along with industry veteran Lars Sternberg, as they discuss the gripping topic of launching new bikes and their embargoes. Why do we have embargoes? What goes on behind the scenes of a new product launch? Are embargoed launches still impactful? How do brands and media make a splash on embargo day to give riders something to get excited about? Vital MTB's new podcast show— bikes ≠ unaffiliated, is our spot to chat about bike-related topics that aren't necessarily focused on current events, racing, or covering the latest-greatest tech. It's not a space for interviews, but rather for having a conversation about things we find interesting.

Jeff Brines follows up our "We Discuss YT" podcast with his thoughts after listening to the Markus Flossmann interview on the Downtime podcast. Jeff also notes corrections made in our original show after learning information shared in the Downtime pod. Discuss more with the Vital community

We’re back with The Inside Line, BS edition where we talk about the business and economic side of the mountain bike industry with Jeff Brines and Charlie Sponsel. Today is a discussion about YT Industries and the company’s recent turmoil of going through administration, shutting down and then re-opening just the other day. Because they went through the administration process, Jeff was able to pull out company information to analyze that we don’t usually get to see from bike brands. Please understand we’re not providing any financial advice, and as we’ve noted in the past, these topics may be a discussion of curiosity and interest to us, but real people have been impacted by everything we’re talking about. They may have lost jobs, they may be out thousands of dollars. At no point are we trying to make light of any of these situations. Additonally, we have no way of actually knowing the hearts or motivations of anyone involved in the topics we discuss, so we do our best to look at the data and report on stories we’ve heard regarding the situation. Thank you to FOX | Maxxis Tires | Jenson USA for supporting The Inside Line

This Inside Line podcast explores how mountain biking's newest competitive event, Hard MTB League, has the potential to change the sport. Vital Content Director, Shawn Spomer, met up with Braydon Bringhurst and Adam Pishl, the two visionaries behind the League, two weeks after its inaugural invitational near Boise, Idaho. Topics include explaining what Hard MTB League is, reflecting on how the first event went, the challenges that were faced, the excitement of tight racing, how athletes are selected, what the future looks like, and most importantly, how community is being fostered through the series. If there are any questions or feedback about the Hard MTB League, Adam can be reached at hardmtb@icloud.com Thank you to FOX | Maxxis Tires | Jenson USA for supporting The Inside Line

MSA, what a way to end the season. Grueling and daunting, it's a track that other venues will forever be compared against. It feels wrong that this could be the last World Cup at Mont Sainte Anne for a long time (if not ever). At least the final send-off race was one to remember. For our crew, it was memorable because our guy Dak, against a lot of odds, slotted himself into 4th place less than a year after a life-altering injury. We couldn't be prouder. In this episode, we chat about Dak's program (or lack thereof) going into the off-season, Jackson doing Jackson things to take the overall title, the current rider pool being so deep, tire sealant tips, Rampage thoughts, and what type of content is even engaging these days. Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast this season!

The B Practice podcast returns! There was a lot of racing the past six weeks or so. Our main man Dak was busy globetrotting and facilitating one hell of a comeback. So we can't be too upset about his lack of availability. Thankfully, we sat down this week to chat about some DH racing and were joined by special guest Dante Silva. We kept the conversation laid-back per usual, breaking down the unpredictable track from Lake Placid, how Dante and Dak's weekends went, what winning the U.S. Open for the third time meant to Dak, Dante's switch from racing World Cups to being a US-only racer this season, and plenty of other topics. We hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks as always for tuning in!

Two years ago to the day, Vital member, contributor and finance specialist, Jeff Brines, posted a question in our forum, "Will more companies be shutting down in the next 12-24 months?" A small, but exciting mountain bike brand, Guerrilla Gravity, surprisingly announced it was closing, and the rest of the industry was in the wake of the Covid boom. It was a dynamic time with plenty of uncertainty ahead, so the question Jeff asked was very relevant and our community was engaged. Fast-forward to today and that forum thread has 414,000 views and over 3,100 replies as the Vital community has followed the topic every day for the last two years. At the request of the thread's participants, we honor the anniversary of the topic as Shawn Spomer, Vital Content Director and Charlie Sponsel, Vital contributor, catch up with Jeff to look back and reflect on the health of the bike industry today and to speculate what may happen going forward. THANK YOU to all Vital MTB members who have participated in this discussion. We're honored to have such a fantastic community of bike riders on our platform. The one-year anniversary podcast with Jeff can be found here