Episode Summary

Today on the podcast, Jeff, Jared & Liam discuss some epic recent rides before chatting about the latest and the upcoming KETL Mtn Treasure Hunts. Then they take a walk down memory lane, reminiscing about the glory days of MTB innovation and products that truly revolutionized the mountain bike experience. Finally, we jump into a few classic listener questions ranging from picking the right hydration pack to T-Type drivetrain cross compatibility and everything in between. Tune in!

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If you are one strange human that would like to read a transcript of the podcast above, continue reading below!

Intro & Wisdom Jared welcomes everyone to Episode 171. They celebrate nearing 100 episodes with the current crew and reminisce about the "OG" founders. Jared shares a "word of wisdom" from Zach: “You can achieve anything through small consistent moves forward,” sparking a debate on whether the book Atomic Habits is a life-changer or a bit too "elitist" in its delivery.

Bikes & Recent Rides The crew discusses their recent exploits. Jeff has been busy with work but managed some "laughably bad" overgrown night rides. Liam details his experience with the LA Tourist Book Series race—a 48-hour checkpoint-style race where you have to rip pages out of physical books at coordinates to prove you were there. He also survived the Rock Cobbler, a brutal gravel event he chose to tackle on a hardtail due to the rough terrain. Jared highlights an epic 5,000-ft climb in Ojai, praising his new WTB Peacekeeper tires for their volume and weight.

The Kettle Mountain Treasure Hunt Jeff discusses the "Nevada Road Trip" edition of the Kettle Mountain treasure hunt. All 15 jars (each containing $100 cash and a $100 gift card) were found in under 24 hours by a dedicated team on a "revenge mission." Jeff announces that the upcoming Arizona edition will be much harder—removing GPS coordinates and requiring hunters to scan video footage for landmarks.

Nostalgia: The "Innovation Plateau" The guys discuss how modern mountain bike innovation has slowed down. They reminisce about the "Golden Era" (2008–2019) when technologies like dropper posts, 1x drivetrains, and modern geometry genuinely changed the ride experience. Jeff recalls the "glorious disaster" of early dropper posts like the 2008 Crank Brothers Joplin. They debate if gearboxes are the next frontier or if all innovation dollars are now being diverted exclusively to e-bikes.

Listener Questions

  • Packs: For 2–4 hour rides, the crew highly recommends the USWE Rush 8 vest for its "no-bounce" fit, even if it looks a bit like a parachute.

  • Tall Riders: For a 6'5" rider looking for a short-travel bike with a 520mm+ reach, they suggest the Santa Cruz Tallboy (XXL), the Yeti SB120 (XXL), or potentially the Rebel Rascal (XXL).

  • Drivetrain Compatibility: A listener asked if they could use a new SRAM Transmission (T-Type) derailleur with an old Eagle drivetrain. The verdict: No. The spacing and pull ratios are different, and Transmission requires a UDH-compatible frame and a full ecosystem (cassette, chain, derailleur) to function.

🔑 Key Points & Discussion Topics

  • The "Fish that Climbs Waterfalls": Daniel’s Fun Fact of the day features the Hawaiian Goby, which uses pelvic suction cups to scale sheer rock faces—a feat Jeff finds oddly relatable.

  • Tire Tech: A deep dive into the WTB Peacekeeper vs. Maxxis Forecaster. The crew likes the Peacekeeper for being lighter and higher volume in the 120 TPI version.

  • Treasure Hunting 2.0: The Kettle Mountain hunts are evolving. Expect fewer coordinates and more "visual scouting" to slow down the pros who are finding jars in record time.

  • Gear Nostalgia: The Yeti SB4.5 and SB5.5 are cited as "all-time" bikes that were ahead of their time, despite the industry’s shift toward heavier, "over-built" carbon frames today.

  • Drivetrain Realities: While the new SRAM Transmission is robust, the hosts admit that a well-tuned 11-speed XX1 or mechanical 12-speed Eagle still offers a more "tactile" and lightweight experience for many riders.

🏁 TL;DR

In Episode 171, the crew covers the successful (and fast) Nevada Kettle Mountain treasure hunt, Liam’s "book-ripping" race adventures in LA, and the brutal Rock Cobbler gravel race. The core of the episode is a nostalgic look at the "Innovation Plateau," where the hosts argue that while bikes are better than ever, we've moved from "game-changing" tech (droppers, 1x) to "marginal gains" and e-bike dominance. They wrap up by helping a 6'5" listener find a bike that actually fits and crushing a listener's dream of "franken-shifitng" old Eagle parts with new SRAM Transmission gear.