The Mountain Flyer Podcast

Silverton is a remote outpost in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The former mining town is known for the steep skiing at Silverton Mountain, and the narrow gauge railroad train that brings throngs of tourists from Durango. Most of the area’s established trails ascend steep, rugged terrain that’s best suited for expert mountain bikers, if they are rideable at all.

More recently, the Silverton Singletrack Society has embarked on a mission to add more purpose-built mountain biking trails to the area. Silverton local Klem Branner is president of the Silverton Singletrack Society. Branner, who also owns and operates Venture Snowboards out of Silverton, is a passionate mountain biker who is working to build more accessible trails in his backyard. Thirty miles of trail, to be exact.

In this episode, Branner speaks to the partnerships that are making that dream a reality. And he explains why the non-profit decided to work with the local land managers right out of the gate, instead of building pirate trails and asking for forgiveness down the line.

This episode is made possible by Big Agnes.

Presented by Mountain Flyer Magazine

Filmmaker T.C. Johnstone has been making documentaries for more than 25 years. So far his career in film has taken him to over 60 countries, including a trip to Rwanda with cycling legend Tom Ritchey. Most recently, he filmed In The Dirt, a moving documentary about the Native American cyclists who are growing the sport of mountain biking on the Navajo Nation, where no bike shops exist. It’s a moving film that shows how the bicycle can heal and bring together a community, whether through trail building, racing or giving castaway bikes new life.

In this episode, Johnstone explains why you don’t show up at a Navajo residence unannounced, describes the beauty of the Navajo Nation, and emphasizes the energy and passion Navajo riders exude while on their bikes.

This episode is made possible by Big Agnes.

Richmond Cycling Corps uses cycling to create positive change in the lives of youth who live in Richmond, Virginia’s public housing projects. It is not like a typical after-school or drop-in program, where kids might attend once and never return. Services include casual and long-distance cycling outings; mountain bike racing in middle school and high school; a bike rental service completely run by the youth; case management that includes tutoring, help with medical needs and other day-to-day life challenges; and a small school, the Legacy Academy, for students who don’t thrive in a typical classroom.

In this episode, Richmond Cycling Corps Director Matt Kuhn talks about how the program uses bikes as a way to connect and build relationships with kids and teens.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of Shimano.

[Photo] Courtesy of Richmond Cycling Corps

For this special edition of the Mountain Flyer podcast, host Trina Ortega welcomes Seattle-area broadcast journalist Paul Andrews in co-hosting a panel discussion about e-MTBs and their place in today’s mountain bike landscape. Industry leaders Ace Bollinger, Leslie Kehmeier, Nat Ross and Yvonne Kraus dive deeper into the impacts e-mountain bikes are having on trail development and access, land management decisions, and advocacy efforts.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of Shimano.

From pump tracks to career inroads, Grow Cycling Foundation aims to build pathways into cycling for marginalized demographics. At the heart of this new nonprofit is former World Cup downhill racer Eliot Jackson, who admits he’s always had a “bias for action.” A longtime motocross racer who grew up in Oklahoma and California, Jackson first got into racing mountain bikes at age 18 and immediately set his sights on racing World Cup downhill, which he ended up competing in for 10 years. Today, he is a presenter for Red Bull TV and continues to race the Crankworx series.

In this interview, which was recorded in mid-January, Jackson talks about his life growing up with two entrepreneurial parents; how he got into mountain biking, his experience as a Black athlete, Grow Cycling’s aspirations—including the construction of a $1.2 million pump track in Los Angeles—and the best way one person can make a difference.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of 10 Barrel Brewing.

[Photo] Jeff Clark