The NSMB podcast: Obsessed with Mountain Biking

For many of us, riding bikes begins as a childhood activity, belting around the local neighbourhood, learning to wheelie and launching off gutters. But in some parts of the world, it goes beyond an after school activity. Neighbourhoods riddled with kids outdoing each other on the bike can build into pushing for national titles. These hotbeds of talented young riders develop more as the years go by, leaving a legacy behind.

It turns out Yoann Barelli grew up in such a hotbed in the south of France. He started riding with his 'brother' and future world champion, Fabien Barel but the town is also home to legendary downhill racer, Nico Vouilloz. There’s much racing history in the streets there but for Yoann, a slightly different path was taken.

Most listeners will know Yoann for his exuberant personality and, as it turns out, it played a large role in securing his first professional contract. But as he’s matured, his outlook on life and racing has too. Yoann shared how he got started in the sport, how the more recent events in his life and the world have shaped his career, and his thoughts on the environment.
Topics discussed:

1. Starting riding and racing in the South of France
2. Taking time to travel and learn English
3. How to be a Pro Rider video and how it actually worked
4. The Enduro World Series giving riders a chance at a career that wasn't there before
5. French lines and how the EWS has evolved
6. Cutting back the amount of racing
7. Starting the Into the Gnar coaching business
8. Racing for the thrill
9. Finding ways to progress as a pro-level rider
10. Injuries and their impact on racing
11. Cleaning up the environment
12. Becoming carbon neutral

Links mentioned in this episode:

• How to be a Pro Rider by Yoann Barelli
• Barelli Concepts / Into The Gnar
• Sam Hill in Chile
• Rideguard – mudguards made from recycled plastic
• Yoann’s Instagram

The NSMB Podcast: Obsessed with Mountain Biking is available on all of your favourite podcast apps:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Overcast
• Google Podcasts

Bryson Martin has been involved in the industry for longer than most of you would imagine. From racing in the 80s to starting his own suspension manufacturing company, DVO, he’s seen the evolution of our sport from its early beginnings. We're excited to present the first NSMB Podcast ever recorded, we just had a little delay in publishing it. AJ and Bryson dive in and talk about elevated chainstays, drilling out suspension parts in the garage, how the Bomber name came about and, of course, the birth of DVO. Bryson also shares some snippets for exciting products that will be coming in the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

Wearing Suits & the merge into bikes for a living
Bryson: Before I got my master's degree I got a normal job, where I had to wear a suit...
AJ: No way...
Bryson: it was awful!

Starting with Marzocchi
Bryson: I ran into a guy from Marzocchi who was straight from Italy—you could tell he was Italian, you know, wearing one of those suits and walking around a bike show. I was like; “Hey, I raced Marzocchi on my motorcycles for years.” and stuff. I said: “What are you doing here?” He said, “oh, we’re thinking about entering the mountain bike market.” I’m like: “I’m your guy! I can handle it.” Laughing.

So... yeah we stayed in contact and six months later I flew to Italy and I said; “Hey I’ve got an idea. I’m going to make a mountain bike fork. I can handle the US structure, I want to be part owner and I’ll build it.” I was talking to Adriano Marzocchi, one of the cousins, and I said: “How big is your motorcycle division?” And he said you know, ‘X’ amount of millions of lira. Then I go “alright, in ten years I’ll make it bigger than motorcycle.” He laughed and goes; “You’re so stupid, haha, you Americans. I like your...” something in Italian which equates to your arrogance, you know. Then he goes; “Let’s do business.” And that’s how it started...

On Starting DVO Suspension
Bryson: We always looked at, in the past, air spring technology. We felt like, we wanted to use different air spring technologies... There are certain performance advantages to doing an air spring differently. Through the economics of manufacturing back then (at Marzocchi) we weren’t able to even investigate it. But we know that it represented a problem. That’s why we have the OTT System (with DVO)... I remember it clear as day, like the first day we sat down, we’re like, alright, let’s design a new air spring. These are the problems that we’ve seen in the past, how are we going to address them, manufacturer it, make it as light as possible, easy to adjust, you know, etc.

Something New?
AJ: Inverted single crown forks...

Bryson: I'm, that's, those are awesome. I love ‘em. I’m working on one, I’ll be honest with you... I’m working on one and... It’s a little bit... Well honestly, I was the first to come out with an inverted fork. At Marzocchi, I did the RAC fork. That’s called Reversed Advanced Composite. So I developed that. It was an inverted, carbon upper structure. I did it with Easton in Mexico. We just, we didn’t... It was way before its time. We didn’t have the manufacturing capabilities that we have now.
I’m working on one. The thing is, it needs to be light. Inverted you can’t hit these weight targets that a lot of people... So for me, its kind of a side project, in a sense, but... Inverted is awesome. It’s the only way to go.

For flat pedal riders after the most grip possible, FiveTen has really been the only option. Year after year, new shoe releases have left us to question, why is it so hard for others to achieve similar grip?

With the release of their new 2FO DH shoes and now the Rime, A.J. Barlas wanted to know more about Specialized’s shoe development process. Did they want all the grip, and if so, why did it take so long? How did they test the sole for grip? And what about their choice of materials?
Specialized Footwear Product Manager, Stephen Quay was happy to dive into the new shoes, answering A.J's questions and more. They discussed the development process behind SlipNot ST, the materials used in the uppers, and Specialized’s Body Geometry. It turns out heaps goes into making shoes and the type of rubber needed for grip is tricky to develop.

For every rider frothing about their new bike with a steeper seat tube angle, there are plenty who feel things are going too far. Claims of poor power and efficiency accompany complaints of sore hands, knees and backside but what if the seat angle alone isn’t the cause?

With many happy to see steeper seat tube angles on modern mountain bikes, the complaints from those unimpressed by the changes got A.J. Barlas thinking; Is the steeper seat tube angle going too far for the majority, and how does it affect our biomechanics on the bike?

After a year of on and off research on the topic, A.J. reached out to a performance coach with education in exercise physiology. Joel Harwood is the founder of Blueprint Athlete Development and works with a range of World Cup and EWS calibre athletes. Joel simplified the science while also raising points that all riders, whether comfortable with steep seat angles or not, could consider when on their bike.

What actions will inspire someone to make a better life for themselves? Those of our childhood heroes, our friends and parents, or a complete stranger can have a lasting impact but how about a video game?

Growing up, Kyle Warner dealt with many daily challenges. As a teenager, he was looking after his clinically depressed mother, they lost their home, and his older brother had a drug addiction. But the video game, Downhill Domination, and Eric Carter’s character in that game sparked something in Kyle.

Kyle fell in love with the sport. Once he got a bike, riding became a positive outlet, bringing joy and an escape from the trouble at home. He declared, mountain bikes were going to be his life and set goals to become a professional racer. Now he's shifted his focus from racing to helping others get into the sport. His YouTube channel has grown rapidly and an active community of followers share stories of saved marriages and a new direction in life, just like Kyle discovered when he found bikes.

Kyle's story is one that I’m excited to share. It’s humbling, emotional and left me speechless several times. He’s a great human, genuine, soft-spoken and motivated to help people by spreading the positive impact that bikes can have.

Welcome to the latest episode of the NSMB Podcast and our conversation with Kyle Warner.