Episode Summary
Today on the podcast, Jared, Liam & Tydeman chat about their recent rides and some cool new products in the mountain bike world before discussing their favorite tire pressure calculators and how tire pressure can be oftentimes overlooked. Then we get into a classic set of listener questions ranging from Garmin watches to fork upgrades, bike selection and everything in between. Tune in!
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MTB Podcast — Episode 189 Summary
1. Intro & Nostalgia
Bike Shop Beginnings: The hosts reminisce about working in bike shops early in their careers—from Powderhorn Bike Park rental shifts to straightening "tacoed" beach cruiser wheels by slamming them on the ground.
Milestones: Liam celebrated 10 years at Worldwide Cyclery; Jared hit 8 years.
Zach’s Words of Wisdom: "Your mind will follow whatever you feed it." (Avoid doom-scrolling and curate what you consume).
Daniel’s Fun Fact: Nintendo was founded in Kyoto, Japan on September 23, 1889 (producing handmade Hanafuda playing cards)—the exact same year the Eiffel Tower opened for the Paris World's Fair.
Movie Chat: Liam watched the entire Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy in sequence on a flight home from Italy to beat jet lag.
2. Recent Rides & Training
Off-Season Shift & Foot Missions: Racing season has wound down. The crew is focusing on trail running and hiking to prep for a 40-mile off-trail, fast-packing thru-hike in the Superstition Wilderness (Phoenix, Arizona) with Jeff, which starts with ~5,000 feet of climbing in the first 10 miles.
E-Bike Fun: Taking out new Cannondale Moterra SL / Amflow demo bikes around local trails (Sycamore Canyon) for quick, fun sessions and relapping steep climbs without burning out.
3. New Product Highlights
Revel Titanium Ranger
Design: Titanium front triangle paired with carbon rear links and triangle.
Manufacturing: Uses 3D-printed head tube, bottom bracket, and suspension link mounts welded to smooth-finish titanium tubes. Raw titanium aesthetic.
Market Response: Frame retails around $6,000; the initial pilot run of 10 frames sold out on the first day.
WTB CZR (CMR) Light i30 Carbon Wheels
Specs: ~1,300g per set (with tape and valves), 28-hole rear / 24-hole front straight-pull spokes, 7X Star-Ratchet-style hubs, 30mm internal width.
Pricing & Value: ~$1,800/set—significantly lighter than comparable Zipp 1Zero Hi-Top and ENVE XC models in the sub-$2,000 range.
Warranty: WTB’s "Ride with Confidence" policy provides a free replacement rim to the original owner if broken while riding, no questions asked.
4. Tech & Setup Tips: Tire & Suspension Pressures
Wolf Tooth Tire Pressure Calculator: A listener noted that using an online calculator (accounting for rim width, rider weight, casing, and inflation vs. ambient temp) revealed he was running ~4 PSI too high.
PSA on Gauges & Pumps: Floor pump gauges are notoriously inaccurate (often off by 3–5 PSI). Buy a dedicated digital tire pressure gauge ($30) and keep it in your gear bag for consistency across different pumps.
Free Tuning Reminder: Playing with lower tire and suspension pressures costs nothing. Re-bracket and reset your suspension settings at least once a year as riding styles and fitness evolve.
5. Deep Dive: Garmin Watches & Wearables
Models Used:
Liam: Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire.
Jared: Forerunner 965 (praised for the lightweight chassis and bright AMOLED touchscreen).
Tydeman: Instinct 2/3 Solar (loved for monochrome screen, multi-week to infinite solar battery life, and the built-in LED flashlight).
Key Metrics Tracked: Resting Heart Rate (RHR), HRV status, sleep score/trends, and sunrise/sunset times.
Takeaways: None use phone notifications on the wrist. Garmin Edge MTB head units offer downhill and lap-split modes, but the hosts wish Garmin made a dedicated, rugged, button-operated MTB watch.
6. Listener Questions
Q1: Playful & Efficient Tech Bike for Vermont (Replacing 2023 Stumpy Evo)
Bikes Considered: Revel Ranger (overforked), Revel Rascal, Santa Cruz Tallboy V6.
Advice:
The Revel Ranger overforked to 140mm paired with beefier trail tires climbs efficiently and tracks exceptionally over chunky roots and rocks thanks to the CBF suspension layout.
The Tallboy V6 leans slightly more plush/planted downhill but may feel less snappy out of corners.
The Ibis Ripley / Exie or a Forbidden Druid could also fit, depending on whether pure pedaling efficiency or descending stability is prioritized.
Q2: Upgrading a Fox 34 Step-Cast with Fit4 Damper (Santa Cruz Blur TR)
Problem: The Fit4 damper feels harsh and gets overwhelmed on fast, repeated hits.
Recommendation: Option 2 (Upgrade to a newer Fox 34 SL with the Grip SL damper) or source a Fox 34 Performance with standard Grip damper.
Reasoning: The Fit4’s bladder design is harsher than Fox’s spring-backed IFP Grip architecture. The newer Grip SL tune offers vastly improved small-bump suppleness without adding excessive weight or altering the frame geometry (unlike over-forking to 130mm, which slackens the seat tube angle too much on sustained climbs).
Q3: Crank Arm Length Preferences
Liam: Runs 165mm across all mountain bikes (enduro, trail, XC) for hip clearance, ground clearance, and spin fluidity.
Jared: Uses 165mm on road, gravel, and mountain.
Tydeman: Runs 170mm on his mountain bikes (prefers the leveraged, torquey feel when clearing punchy technical climbs with long legs) and 165mm on road/gravel to prevent hip pinch.
Warning on Q-Factor/Spindles: Be careful mixing narrow road/gravel spindles (e.g., SRAM DUB SL / non-wide) on modern wide chainstay frames, as crank arms can impact the stays under load.
Q4: Trying Shimano SPD vs. Crankbrothers Pedals
Jared tested Shimano SPDs after years on Crankbrothers: appreciated the firm, tactile retention click, but missed the free-floating, easy entry/exit of Crankbrothers.
Pedal Maintenance PSA: Pedals take immense abuse and are often completely neglected until bearings seize or bodies rip off the axle. Service them regularly or take advantage of rebuild kits.
7. Safety PSA: Wilderness Medical Prep (From a Listener/Surgeon)
Crucial Essentials Beyond Band-Aids:
Emergency Bivy/Blanket & Poncho: To survive overnight hypothermia/rain.
Water Purification: Tablets or an ultralight filter.
Emergency Calories: Enough sustenance to sustain unexpected delays.
Tourniquet & Wilderness First Aid Training: Knowing how to apply life-saving pressure and stop arterial bleeding is far more critical than carrying standard first-aid bandages.
Satellite SOS Integration: Note that newer devices (like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin InReach Messenger-compatible devices) allow SOS triggers directly from the wrist or handlebar unit if your pack or phone is out of reach.