Shows
Demystifying MTB11 Seconds Faster with Virtual Skills Coaching?!đ¤ŻUntil now, MTB skills coaching has only been possible in-person. We want to change that. BrakeAce technology allows MTB skills coaches to help you identify your weaknesses and prescribe skills training sessiosn so you can get faster on any trail no matter where you live!
In today's episode we talk with the first remote skills coaching athlete and his coach to understand how remote MTB skills coaching works and the suprising results in the rider's confidence and performance.
This episode was super fun to record and we loved chatting about it! Check it out now!
Learn more about the remote...
2024-07-221h 14Demystifying MTBAre E-bikes Faster on Downhills?Everyone talks about ebikes being faster on downhills, but is it actually true? And how do you change the way you ride to go faster on an ebike than your normal bike? Friend of BrakeAce, Jamie Garrod of New Zealand Mountain Biking, recently completed multiple back to back tests and collected data to figure out which is faster and what he's doing differently. The results might surprise you!
Lik to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXd6I3eumzk
Get your own BrakeAce (shipping NOW!): â â â â â â â https://www.brakeace.com/shopâ â â â â â â
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2024-07-161h 02Demystifying MTBDoes Suspension Setup Matter? We Tested It...Does suspension setup even matter for MTB? Are you wasting your time turning knobs on your bike? We did real testing to find out!
Lik to the webinar and alllll the data: https://youtu.be/Ff04CPw0OSc
Get your own BrakeAce (shipping NOW!): â â â â â â https://www.brakeace.com/shopâ â â â â â
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Get our book Free Speed for FREE and try The BrakeAce Method to get faster on ANY trail â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â https://www.brakeace.com/â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â
And download our app to check out some sample rides to see how you can unlock your own Key Opportunities for smoother riding and fas...
2024-06-241h 04Demystifying MTBWhich Is Faster: Braking More or Less?Which is faster on downhills - braking more or less? Today we're talking about what happens when you're braking, how it affects your braking zones and corner speed, and what you're really looking for when it comes to faster times out on the trail. MTB is a tricky sport, and it's all about doing all the fundamentals right. We dig into the data and give you plenty of things you can try on your next ride so you can ride smoother, faster and in more control - and of course have more fun!
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Get...
2024-06-1253 minDemystifying MTBThe REAL Reason You Need Shorter CranksShorter cranks are all the rage right now in MTB - and for good reason! In this episode we dig into some of the reasons why you need shorter cranks and at the end do an absolute deepdive into the REAL reason you need shorter cranks on your mountain bike.
Here's the link to the Pinkbike article by Seb Stott that we mentioned https://www.pinkbike.com/news/why-shorter-cranks-are-better-according-to-science.html
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Get your own BrakeAce (shipping NOW!): â â â â https://www.brakeace.com/shopâ â â â
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Get our book Free Sp...
2024-05-2848 minDemystifying MTBEngineering High-end MTB Wheels with Jon from FLOIn today's episode we're talking with wheel engineer Jon Thronham from FLO Cycling. We discuess how he deiced to quit his day job to make the best carbon wheels possible in a time when people had their doubt about the future of the material. Also in this episode, we talk about where the future of MTB wheels may go! You won't want to miss this episode!
Learn more about FLo Cycling: https://flocycling.com
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Get your own BrakeAce (shipping NOW!): â â â https://www.brakeace.com/shopâ â â
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Get our book...
2024-04-0855 minDemystifying MTBWhy Braking Zones Are So Important with Rory Bingham of Onward MTBJoin us today as we uncover the secrets of mastering braking zones in mountain biking with coach Rory Bingham of Onward MTB. From the ins and outs of of braking to timing, body position and terrain navigation, Rory shares game-changing insights to elevate your riding skills. Whether you're a downhill daredevil or a technical trail enthusiast, Rory's insights will take your MTB game to the next level. Tune in for expert tips and strategies that'll have you shredding trails with confidence! (Thanks ChatGPT)
Learn more about Rory: https://www.onwardmtb.com/
https://www.instagram.com/onward_mtb
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2024-01-301h 01Demystifying MTBWhy You're Not Using the Front Brake and How to Fix It with Jamie Garrod from New Zealand Mountain BikingOn today's episode, we've got Jamie Garrod on board to talk about the ins and outs of using the front brake. We've seen riders with as little as 1% front brake, but a few simple confidence hacks have seen them grow to consistent 20/80 f/r splits.
We're spilling the beans on why so many riders are shy about hitting the front brake, and we've got Jamie Garrod on board to talk about the ins and outs of using the front brake. Jamie is a Kiwi mountain biking guru who does lessons and tours right here in Rotorua, NZ...
2023-11-141h 04Demystifying MTBBraking in Corners: the 2-1-NONE Method for Speed and ControlMTB skills coaches have worked out the 2-1-0 Method for braking into corners. You start by doing heavy confidence braking with both brakes followed by just the rear brake and finishing with no brakes. Today Rohan and Matt discuss what confidence braking and cornering means, where and why the 2-1-none Method can help you gain and maintain control, and where in the corner you should be braking to get the most exit speed. We compare this to what might happen if you brake too early or too late.
Read more about the 2...
2023-09-1938 minDemystifying MTBGreat vs Good MTB Coaching and Skills Instructing with Hannah RichardsonToday we're joined by professional MTB skills instructor, Hannah Richardson. We discuss how she got into being an MTB coach and what she brings to the table for riders at every level. It's interesting to consider that even the best riders in the world can benefit from getting back to the basics, and that coaches like Hannah are equipped with the tools to help you get there.
In the end it's about having a coach you trust and believe in - someone you will trust enough to follow into the batttle of MTB and...
2023-08-231h 06Demystifying MTBAnti-Rise, Suspension Tuning & Braking Effects with Dave from Dialled TelemetryIn this episode, we're delving into the world of mountain bike suspension with Dave from Dialled Telemetry. Dave brings a unique perspective to suspension tuning based on his scientific background and his now years of experience helping riders around the world use data acquisition to tune their suspension.
Discover how front and rear braking impact forks and shocks, including the intriguing concept of anti-rise in frame and suspension design. Learn practical tips for adjusting suspension dials effectively, demystifying the process for riders of all levels.
Explore Dialled Telemetry's journey from a personal experiment to a...
2023-08-101h 43Demystifying MTB57% of Riders Bed Their Brakes Wrong!Today is all about getting the most out of your bike - with data to prove it! Following manufacturer's brake pad bedding protocol will allow you to get the most out of your brake, while bedding them in the wrong way can lead to AT LEAST FIVE potential issues with your brakes and/or safety. If you have noisy, weak, inconsistent or fading brakes, it could have to do with the simple 12-minute step you're skipping. We discuss the data associated with thermal decomposition and transfer layers duing pad bedding, tell you our pad bedding hacks, and also delve...
2023-08-021h 01Demystifying MTBSuspension Setup & Tuning: Things You Thought You Knew with Jono from The Suspension LabAs a self-proclaimed "suspension geek," Jono's passion for all things MTB tech shines through as he combines his love for math and physics with the intricacies of suspension systems. He started The Suspension Lab as a way to focus on helping riders get the most out of their suspension - from custom tunes on the dopest setups to simply getting your bike feeling good. From vibration analysis and fluid dynamics to friction, calculus, and material properties, Jono's expertise covers a wide range of disciplines that contribute to the performance of mountain bike suspension. We consider him the don of...
2023-07-201h 44Demystifying MTBWhy Confidence Makes All the DifferenceJoin us today with Jamie from New Zealand Mountain Biking as we unravel the power of confidence in enhancing your riding experience. Jamie is a MTB skills coach and leads MTB tours on some of the best trails on Earth. He has ridden with riders of every level, and has come up with a few simple techniques to help riders get the most from their riding experience, and knows a thing or two on how to read a trail and create new lines. From fearless descents to mastering cornering techniques, Jamie and Rohan share invaluable insights into tackling various...
2023-07-101h 03Demystifying MTBNot Improving? Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Transform Your RidingWe all do it - we get stuck in a rut and plateau in our riding. Our skills, fitness and general riding ability suffers because we stopped learning and trying new things. All hope is not lost! Once you identify the rut you're in, it's time to make a simple training strategy to get out of it. We explore some of the ruts we've been stuck in, and how we can continuosly improve. We discuss things like different types of terrain, 10,000 hours in MTB, exploring new trails, enjoying being worse for a little, East Coast versus West Coast racing...
2023-06-2736 minDemystifying MTBCornering: The Things You Never Thought AboutProfessional MTB skills coach, Matt Wilkins from Mountain Biking Coaching Australia joins us today to talk all about how to corner on a MTB. Cornering is a highly complex topic, but we break it down into some simple things you can think about to corner faster on your next ride. We talk about things like pressure, traction, turning or leaning the bike, bike-body separation, changing direction, where to brake in corners, riding off-camber, looking ahead and scanning the trail, what the pros do to ride so fast, and so much more! This was a super fun episode and Matt...
2023-06-151h 14Demystifying MTBLong vs Short Travel - How Much is Too Much?We've found that we ride slower and brake more when the bike is fully locked than when we're riding properly tuned suspension. Like a lot more. Brake Time, FlowScore and Brake Checks were all up on the rigid bike. But do we all really need 6 inches of travel? Can you ride downhill on a trail bike? Is 140mm enough for Enduro? Well, if you listened to our tire testing episode, you'll remember that we were able to completely change the bike and how we brake simply by changing the tires - not increasing suspension. There are all kinds of...
2023-06-0431 minDemystifying MTBPreride Like a Pro - How to Get More from Your Course CheckPreriding for enduro, XC and Downhill races can leave you tired and confused. But it doesn;t have to be that way! In today's episode, we go through a workout prescribed to MTB riders around the world, and dig in to how we can get the most from the trails on the day before our race. We discuss things like nutrition, cooldown, pacing, GoPro video, data overlay, Key Opportunities, how we race differently compared with how we preride, and how to make your race count.
Learn more about the BrakeAce Method on our site â https://www.brakeace.co...
2023-05-1745 minDemystifying MTBIt's Not About Braking Less | How to Ride Like You're in ControlBrakeAce measures your braking and shows you where and what you can improve. But it's not about braking less! If you've ever felt clumsy on a trail or like you were a passnger on the bike, then this episode is for you. Our friend Kim wasn't feeling good on the bike, so she put BrakeAce back onto her bike and identified her Key Opportunities. After using the BrakeAce Method, she was able to imrove the way she rode in her KOs, and overall feel like a better rider and more in control on the trail. And it was good...
2023-05-021h 05Demystifying MTBTop 3 Tips for MTB TrainingProfessional MTB coach Brian Larivere has been racing and coaching MTB for many years. He's a TrainingPeaks and USAC certified coach, and he knows a thing or two about getting the most out of his athletes. Brian joins us today to disucuss his top 3 tips for training for MTB racing at every level - whether you race XC, Enduro, or Downhill. Brian's top tips are: train your engine, improve your skills, and focus on going fast on trails. We open up these tips, dig into the science, and give you a number of takeaways that you can try right...
2023-04-2053 minDemystifying MTBMaster Jumps by Unlocking These SkillsEveryone wants to be able to hit jumps on their bike, but not everyone knows how to do it the right way. Some have said that it's a skill you either have or don't have. But can you learn how to jump? What skills do you need to be able to jump? And what's the easiest way to get started? Well, fortunately Rohan has a ton of experience teaching jumping clinics and he's here to tell you the skills you need to master jumps. Like anything in MTB, doing hard, tehcnical movements is all about doing lots of easy...
2023-04-0544 minDemystifying MTBBike Industry Engineering Secrets They Don't Want You to KnowWe catch up with Taylor from Radic Performance, maker the Kaha - a New Zealand made hydraulic disc brake system. You may know Taylor from the world's first ever 3d printed MTB brake. Well now, he's created a whole new braking system from the ground up. Launched at Crankworx 2022, Taylor has been steadily building the best brakes possible - no limits! Listen in for more on the design of mtb brakes, what an engineer thinks about mtb rotor size, braided brake hoses, mineral oil versus DOT fluid, pads, heat and how much brake pressure we create! We've tested the...
2023-03-231h 03Demystifying MTBWhy your brakes suck (they're slowing you down)This podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the world's most powerful ride improvement tool and advanced riding analysis platform - brakeace.com
Presented by: Matt Miller (MTB PhD) and Rohan Martin (Sweaty Techie)
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In the last episode, we talked about bigger rotors, and why you need them to manage heat and make your lever squeeze feel easier. Today we follow up with what to do when your brakes suck, and why your bad brakes and poor braking habits are making you slow. We also talk about bedding in...
2023-02-2236 min
Strong SongsFrom Bach to Miles Davis, with Emily ReeseKirk sits down with musician and podcaster Emily Reese to talk about the beauty of Bach's "Goldberg Variations," the distinct sound of Davis/Evans/Mulligan's "Birth of the Cool," the joys of the Knight Rider theme, and her podcast Level with Emily Reese, which focuses on the wide world of video game music. FEATURED/DISCUSSED:Emily's music podcast Level with Emily: https://www.levelwithemily.com"Singin' the Blues" feat. Frankie Trumbauer on C Melody Sax"Move," by Miles Davis and "Jeru," "Rocker," and "Venus de Milo" by Gerry Mulligan, arr Gil Evans from Birth of the C...
2023-02-171h 18Demystifying MTB5 reasons you need bigger rotors on your MTBThis podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the world's most powerful ride improvement tool and advanced riding analysis platform - brakeace.com
Presented by: Matt Miller (MTB PhD) and Rohan Martin (Sweaty Techie)
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Now that we have learned more about braking with BrakeAce, there are a number of things we can do to improve the performance of our brakes.
One of the best things we can do to get better performance from our brakes is to have larger rotors.
The reason for this is...
2023-02-0141 minDemystifying MTBIndoor Training for Mountain BikersSmart trainers and gaming apps are roadie paradise. You can quickly log on, draft your mates, track your FTP, and really go full gas at 100rpm.
It's the exact opposite of MTB.
[BTW SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU WANT 4X FREE ZWIFT WORKOUTS I USE WITH ALL MY ATHELTES]
But does that mean it's not going to make you a better MTB rider?
Over the years I've collected hundreds of hours on the trainer, including 10 wintery years training in snowy Pennsylvania and a dozen highly controlled, month-long...
2023-01-0932 minDemystifying MTBRiding Fatigued - Overbraking and Making MistakesWe all know the feeling of heavy legs, but how does it affect your riding? If you have a power meter, you can easily see the difference - all roadies do it. But what about with how you actually ride - on downhills?! Well, I took BrakeAce out to analyze my braking and see how this fatigue affects my Strava times on my local MTB descent. I started out feeling great, but ended up braking way more when I was fatigued compared to when I was riding fresh. Thanks to BrakeAce, I now know that I need a little...
2022-12-0923 minDemystifying MTBHow to Win at StravaThis is how Rohan got his PB on Strava. It was an awesome descending trail of about 1 min long, but he dropped 7 seconds from his initial time using this 4-step BrakeAce Method to get his fastest time. It's easy: ride the trail, find yours Key Opportunitiess, session your KOs, and ride the trail again. None of us have unlimited time, so we want to cut to the chase and get faster. The BrakeAce methods allows us to efficiently ride trail like we did when we were kids - find the trickiest bits, try them again, and PROVE with data...
2022-10-3136 minDemystifying MTBSurviving Multi-Day Rides - 3 Tips For EVERY RiderWhether your next big ride is a holiday with the homies or a multi-day MTB stage race, there are 3 major aspects you need to consider to not only survive, but to thrive. It doesn't matter what level you're at - these 3 tips will help you. We mentioned before, that your biggest limiter is your engine. Well, these tips will help you improve your FTP and your endurance. We also know that the muscles use primarily glucose [sugars, carbohydrates] while riding MTB. So we have some top tips on how to time your carbohydrate intake during the ride to make...
2022-10-1631 minDemystifying MTBWhy Your Heart Rate Goes Up on DownhillsThe way your body works with your mountain bike is highly complex. You want to ride faster, but sometimes you hit your limit and simply can't ride smooth on the descents. Riding a mountain bike is a lot like riding a jackhammer - vibrations everywhere. Our muscles need more oxygen to do more pedaling or damping, and it's the heart's job to increase its rate and send much needed oxygen to your muscles. And if you do it all right, you can go faster! Today we discuss all of this and more, and finish with some secret tips on...
2022-10-0528 minDemystifying MTBHow Wireless Bike Parts WorkWireless technology is all around us and is increasingly growing on bike components. You've heard of ANT+, SRAM AXS, Bluetooth and BLE, and of course, Wi-Fi. But what are these? And how do they work? It's like magic that lines of code affect your shifting or dropper post, and how  a firmware update affects your battery life in your power meter. Well, we went to the horse's mouth for this one, and got the details from our own wireless expert, Rohan Martin. If your wireless device is yelling at you, or you ever wondered how they work, this one's f...
2022-09-2538 minDemystifying MTBMTB Tires - Traction, Speed or Durability? Pick TwoWe live in vastly different climates, but run similar tire setups -- at times! On some trails you can ride XC tires, but sometimes you need downhill casing. Which is best, and when should you use them? We did the tests and have data to show you.
Stan's NoTubes tire pressure calculator
Tire testing video - comparing XC to DH (with data)
Scientific article on tire volume, tire pressures and impact attenuation
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This podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the...
2022-09-1439 min
Demystifying MTBFront Or Rear Brake - Which Is Better?Bike companies have traditionally stocked smaller rear rotors and larger front rotors on bikes. But why? We've found that riders are using their rear brakes more, so shouldn't the rear rotor be larger? In the episode we talk about the efforts of using the front versus the rear brake, and go over some analysis of two riders on the same trail with vastly different Brake Balance.
Blog post: https://www.brakeace.com/post/to-rear-brake-or-not-to-rear-brake-that-is-the-question
No front brake analysis video: https://youtu.be/Z01bxOVou2Q
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This podcast is brought to...
2022-09-0428 min
Strong SongsLofi Beats & The Circle of FifthsKirk answers a crop of new listener questions on topics ranging from Steve Perry's vocal technique, Art Garfunkel's guitarmonies, Â the Carolina Crown's viral brass section warmup, Ram Jam's chaotic riffs, and how to explain complex music theory concepts to non-musicians.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:âElbow Greaseâ by Scott Pemberton from Timber Rock, 2015âA Song for Youâ by Leon Russell from Leon Russell, 1970"Scissors Cut" by Art Garfunkel from Scissors Cut, 1981âCarolina Crownâs Hornline Drops the Hammer in HoustonââGoodbye Yelow Brick Roadâ by Elton John and Bernie Taupin from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973"Morning Moon" by Kanisan ft. Wishes and Drea...
2022-08-2655 minDemystifying MTBFlat Pedal Mistakes - Don't Do ThisFlat pedals can be great - if you know how to ride them. We did a small experiment and found that a clipless pedal riders can go faster downhill by using flat pedals, and we have the braking analysis to prove it. But sometimes flat pedals just feel...slow! In this episode we talk about 3 simple techniques you can use to ride flat pedals as well as you ride clips, and go over some simple mistakes you may be doing without even knowing.
Do flat pedals win medals? BrakeAce analysis: https://youtu.be/WxqLKlqcCdE
2022-08-2428 minDemystifying MTB4 Steps to Faster DownhillsThe BrakeAce method is 4 steps to your fastest ever downhills. On average, riders have saved 7 seconds per 2 minutes of trail using the BrakeAce Method on their mountain bikes. In this episode, we go over the 4 steps you can take to improving your FlowScore in your Key Opportunities. If you've ever wondered how you can ride smoother and beat your mates down hills, listen in for our secrets. Who know - you may even get yourself the KOM?!
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This podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the world's most in-depth riding...
2022-08-1431 min
Strong Songs"Help Me" by Joni MitchellThere are few singer-songwriters as inimitable as Joni Mitchell, with her swirling song forms, leaping melodies, and that magical voice, untethered by the laws of gravity. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Joni's 1974 song "Help Me," a hummingbird of a tune hovering between commitment and flight, tumbling and falling past love and toward freedom.Written by: Joni MItchellAlbum: Court and Spark, 1974Listen/Buy via JoniMitchell.comAlso featured:âBig Yellow Taxiâ by Joni Mitchell from Ladies of the Canyon, 1970âA Case of Youâ and "Californiaâ by Joni from...
2022-08-1255 minDemystifying MTBHow Your Lead Foot Affects Your CorneringRight and left-handedness is nothing new, and it's akin to snowboarding/skating with the right or left foot forward. Similarly, we all have a preferred foot to lead with on the trails. This can create problems due to hip angles and bike-body separation, and is one of the reasons we have preferred turning directions. Our our hips and knees are the root of the problem, but being able to switch our lead foot on downhills can helps us be better prepared and for tacking descents. Listen in as Rohan explains his top tips for riding goofy.
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2022-08-0319 minDemystifying MTBWhat's Up with Handlebar Sizes and Widths?MTB handlebar evolution has seen clamp sizes grow from 25.4 to 31.8 and now 35mm, while widths have gone crazy from 500 to 800mm. What gives? And what are the benefits? Does anyone know??? There might be an ideal size for you, but it isn't easy to know when you've nailed it.
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This podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the world's most in-depth riding analysis platform and the only brake sensor - brakeace.com
Presented by: Matt Miller (MTB PhD) and Rohan Martin (Sweaty Techie)
2022-07-2418 min
Demystifying MTBThe Perfect Body PositionDoes the perfect body position exist for mountain biking? How can you stay centered on the bike to ride faster and improve your MTB skill? Listen in with our very own Rohan Martin on the ins and outs of body position for cornering, traction, downhill, braking and more so you can have more fun on the bike.
This podcast is brought to you by BrakeAce: Own the Mountain with the world's most powerful ride improvement tool and advanced riding analysis platform - brakeace.com
Presented by: Matt Miller (MTB PhD) and Rohan Martin (Sweaty Techie)
2022-07-1322 min
RadiolabA Terrible Covid Christmas SpecialThis year was the worst. And as our staff tried to figure out what to do for our last episode of 2020, co-host Latif Nasser thought, what if we stare straight into the darkness ⌠and make a damn Christmas special about it.
Latif begins with a story about Santa, and a back-room deal he made with the Trump administration to jump to the front of the vaccine line, a tale that travels from an absurd quid-pro-quo to a deep question: who really is an essential worker?Â
From there, we take a whistle-stop tour through the numbers tha...
2020-12-2349 min