Episode Summary

Today on the podcast, Jared and Liam are joined by our friend and local pro Tydeman Newman. We chat about training and racing in 2026 as well as the formation of Trail 1 Racing Division (T1RD) before jumping into a classic set of listener questions ranging from recovering from injury to choosing between T-Type and Di2 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!

This episode marks a major milestone: Episode 100 under the Worldwide Cyclery era. To celebrate, the crew is joined by local pro and "Trail One Racing Division" athlete Tydeman Newman. They bridge the gap between pro-level training and everyday rider struggles.

Intro & The "Prime of Life" Jared, Liam, and Tydeman kick off the 100th anniversary episode. They discuss "Zach’s Words of Wisdom" (Zwow): “Find something you’re good at that people will pay you for and go really, really hard at it.” This sparks a debate on physical peaks—Tydeman (24) is in his anaerobic prime, while Jared and Liam (early 30s) argue they have more "dad strength" and endurance now than they did in their 20s.

Tydeman’s "Empty the Tank" Philosophy A recurring theme this episode is Tydeman’s ability to "turn himself inside out." He describes finishing intervals so hard he can't unclip and just tips over into the bushes. Liam notes that while most riders have "self-preservation" filters, Tydeman lacks that switch, which is why he’s taking KOMs blind in Santa Ana.

The "TURD" Racing Division The guys officially introduce T.U.R.D. (Trail One Racing Division). The mission is simple: tell the story of racing and training without taking it too seriously. Support comes from Revel, WTB, and CeramicSpeed. Upcoming events include:

  • The Sea Otter Fuego XL: Jared is officially "wearing Lycra" for this one.

  • Downieville Classic (August): The main goal for the team.

  • Tuscany Trail: Tydeman is heading to Italy for a 500km bike-packing adventure.

New Gear & "Butter Wagons" The crew revisits the SRAM/RockShox launches from the previous week, specifically the Maven B1 brakes and the XX DH Transmission. Tydeman confirms the Mavens are "insane" for heat management on 10,000-ft vertical days in Santa Ana.

🔑 Key Points & Discussion Topics

  • Antarctica’s "Blood Falls": Daniel’s Fun Fact details an iron-rich subglacial lake that oozes deep red water, creating a Martian-like landscape used by NASA for testing.

  • The "E-Bike Runner's High" Rebuttal: A listener calls out the crew, claiming that if you climb a "nasty downhill ski-track" on an E-bike with a 2.8 Eddy Current tire, you'll be "high as giraffe nuts." The crew stands by their claim that analog gratification is just... different.

  • Pro Training Load: Tydeman reveals his schedule: 35-40 hours of work at Worldwide Cyclery combined with 15-18 hours of training per week. His tip: "I'll wash my bike before I do my laundry."

🎲 New Segment: Completely Unimportant Questions

The crew runs a rapid-fire round of non-bike debates:

  • Pineapple on Pizza: Universal "Yes."

  • Aliens: "Real."

  • Cereal as Soup: Technically "Yes."

  • Moon Landing: Liam and Tydeman "want to believe," but Jared is rocking the tin-foil hat.

  • 100 Duck-Sized Horses vs. 1 Horse-Sized Duck: The consensus is the 100 small horses—mostly for the purpose of domestication (or "drop-kicking").

🛠️ Listener Questions & Advice

1. Shimano Di2 vs. SRAM Transmission

Question: If I have the choice for a new 140mm trail bike, which one do I pick?

  • The Verdict: Transmission. While Shimano Di2 shifts fast, the lack of a strong clutch leads to excessive chain slap. Transmission keeps the bike silent and shifts flawlessly under heavy pedaling loads.

  • Value Tip: Get the GX Transmission derailleur (it's a wear item) but splurge on the XO or XX cassette to save significant rotational weight.

2. The 50mm Gravel Tire

Question: What is a "set it and forget it" tire for loose/smooth Colorado gravel?

  • The Verdict: WTB Resolute (50mm). It looks like a mountain bike tire but rolls surprisingly fast on pavement. If you want pure speed for racing, look at the Schwalbe G-One RS.

3. Recovering from a Wrist Injury

Question: How do I get my confidence back for jumps after breaking my wrist?

  • The Verdict: Gym and Braces. 1. PT/Gym: You need functional strength before confidence. 2. Braces: Liam recommends the 7IDP or Mobius braces for support. 3. Step-Down: Start at a Pump Track. It builds stability without the high-speed risk of a rock garden.

4. Visiting Santa Barbara

Question: Where should I stay and ride for "flow and tech"?

  • The Verdict: Stay in Santa Barbara (near State Street/The Funk Zone) for the vibes.

  • Trail Reality Check: Santa Barbara does not have flow trails. It is "slow-speed jank" and rocks. For flow, drive 45 minutes south to the Santa Monica Mountains (Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park).

    🏁 TL;DR

    Episode 100 celebrates the "T.U.R.D." racing team and Tydeman’s "all-gas, no-brakes" approach to training. The crew settles the Di2 vs. Transmission debate (Transmission wins for the clutch), offers recovery tips for wrist injuries, and warns visitors that Santa Barbara trails are rocks, not flow.