Mountain Cog - 091 – From Rigid Bikes to World Champion: Tim March on Ghost-Writing Steve Peat's Autobiography

091 – From Rigid Bikes to World Champion: Tim March on Ghost-Writing Steve Peat's Autobiography

12/31/24 • 64 min

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Tim March, the ghost writer behind Steve Peat's autobiography "Forged by Speed: The Making of a Mountain Bike World Champion." March reveals the three-year journey of bringing mountain biking legend Steve Peat's story to life, drawing from over 20 years of detailed personal diaries and 100+ hours of recorded conversations. Listeners will discover how Peat balanced his notorious party lifestyle with becoming one of downhill mountain biking's greatest champions.

The conversation explores Peat's evolution from riding rigid bikes on Sheffield's gnarly terrain to his pivotal meeting with Rob Roskopp at Santa Cruz Syndicate, his fierce rivalries with Nicolas Vouilloz and Greg Minnaar, and the personal struggles that shaped his career. March provides fascinating insights into Peat's unique character—a world-class athlete who refused to compromise his social life for success, yet still achieved 17 World Cup wins, two World Cup overalls, and a World Championship title while maintaining his status as mountain biking's ultimate "hammerhead."

Forged By Speed – The Making of a Mountain Bike World Champion

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/forged-by-speed/id6717572064
Amazon (U.S.): https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Speed-making-mountain-champion/dp/1839810963
Amazon (U.K.): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forged-Speed-making-mountain-champion/dp/1839810963
Web: https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/forged-by-speed

Peaty’s (Steve Peat’s mountain bike product company)

https://peatys.com/

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Forged By Speed – The Making of a Mountain Bike World Champion

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/forged-by-speed/id6717572064
Amazon (U.S.): https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Speed-making-mountain-champion/dp/1839810963
Amazon (U.K.): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forged-Speed-making-mountain-champion/dp/1839810963
Web: https://www.adventurebooks.com/products/forged-by-speed

Peaty’s (Steve Peat’s mountain bike product company)

https://peatys.com/

Listen to Mountain Cog
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Spotify
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[email protected]

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090 – Faction Bike Studio: The Secret Engineering Firm Behind Your Favorite Mountain Bikes (Guest: Adam Robbins)

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Josh and Dane from The Mountain Cog podcast dive deep with Adam Robbins from Faction Bike Studio, uncovering how this secretive Quebec-based engineering firm shapes the mountain bike industry. Since 2010, Faction has operated as the only bike-specific design and engineering studio globally, helping brands of all sizes create innovative products while staying deliberately behind the scenes. Adam explains their comprehensive approach to bike design, from industrial design and prototyping to manufacturing support and FEA (Finite Element Analysis), revealing how Faction maintains their clients' spotlight while perfecting designs.

The discussion highlights Faction's public collaborations, including their work with Frameworks Racing on bonded aluminum frames and Danger Home's titanium 3D-printed derailleur project. Adam shares insights from their handlebar compliance testing, where they discovered significant differences between materials and designs that impact ride feel. The episode also touches on Faction's manufacturing relationships worldwide, their innovative 24-hour prototyping process, and how they're updating industry standards through real-world testing with elite downhill racers. For mountain bike enthusiasts curious about how their favorite bikes come to life, this episode offers unprecedented access to the hidden side of bicycle engineering.

Faction Bike Studio links...
Web: https://factionbikestudio.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/factionbikestudio/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/factionbike/

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Spotify
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[email protected]

Next Episode

092 - SRAM vs Shimano: Comparing Mountain Bike Components with SRAM Field Guide Jimmy Nordloh

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In this episode, we sit down with Jimmy Nordloh, SRAM Field Guide for the Southwest region, to explore the evolution and innovation behind one of mountain biking's leading component manufacturers. Jimmy shares insights into SRAM's brand portfolio including RockShox, Zipp, Truvativ, Quark, Time Pedals, and Hammerhead, explaining how SRAM has grown through strategic acquisitions while maintaining quality across their product lines. Listeners will gain valuable perspective on the differences between SRAM and Shimano components, with particular focus on serviceability and compatibility.

The conversation delves into technical discussions about SRAM's breakthrough products, including the Reverb AXS wireless dropper post, the revolutionary Charger 3.1 damper with Buttercups technology, and the evolution of SRAM's braking systems from Avid Elixir to the current models. Jimmy offers professional advice on brake bedding techniques, component selection for desert and various riding conditions, and how SRAM's wireless ecosystem creates unprecedented integration opportunities for cyclists. Whether you're a mechanic, bike shop owner, or passionate rider, this episode provides insider knowledge on mountain bike technology past, present, and future.

SRAM MTB Products
SRAM MTB: https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain
Rockshox: https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox
Truvativ: https://www.sram.com/en/truvativ
Zipp: https://www.sram.com/en/zipp
Quarq: https://www.sram.com/en/quarq
Time: https://www.sram.com/en/time-sport
Hammerhead: https://www.hammerhead.io/
Velocio: https://velocio.cc/?__woopraid=gtJLkWVFnj0g