The Mountain Flyer Podcast
The Mountain Flyer podcast expands Mountain Flyer, The Mountain Bike Journal magazines print features, profiles, and discussions into a powerful medium rich with personal insight from mountain biking’s most celebrated personalities and inspirational tales from the grittiest pioneers of our sport.
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Prime Time With Alex Clark
05/13/2024
Prime Time With Alex Clark
Cycling, in all its forms, has a way of transcending geography and culture. Prime Ability, a bike-based nonprofit in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to empowering BIPOC youth through the transformative power of cycling. Prime Ability Founder Alex Clark is a passionate cyclist and a health and physical education teacher at Dunbar high school, in Washington, DC. Through Prime Ability, Clark established DC's pioneering youth cycling team of color. He sees cycling as a vehicle for education and exploration; a chance to learn about the city’s history and see it in a different light; and an opportunity to cultivate a passion for cycling among the BIPOC community. In this episode, Clark shares what inspired him to start Prime Ability, and how cycling has impacted his teaching—and his life. He speaks to the importance of getting more students of color and students from underserved communities into mountain biking, road racing or any facet of cycling. Learn more about This episode was made possible by . Presented by
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Abby Long: Riding With Gratitude
03/28/2024
Abby Long: Riding With Gratitude
As the executive director of Vermont’s Kingdom Trail Association, Abby Long carries on a legacy that began 30 years ago. The Kingdom Trails encompass more than 100 miles of trails and pump tracks in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The region is known for its remote location, rural character and mountainous landscape that lends itself to skiing and mountain biking alike. In this episode, Long reflects on the unique nature of the public-private partnerships that make the Kingdom Trails viable. Whereas in the Western United States there are vast amounts of public land, the opposite is true in Vermont. The Kingdom Trails traverse the land of more than 100 private landowners. Long also speaks to the positive economic impact the trail network has on the region. Riders travel from Canada and throughout the U.S. to experience what the Kingdom Trails have to offer. In thinking about the future, Long says sustainability and community are paramount in maintaining—and expanding— the Kingdom Trails network. This episode was made possible by Presented by
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Chewing The Fat with Wende Cragg
03/20/2024
Chewing The Fat with Wende Cragg
During the early aughts of mountain biking, men dominated the scene and took most of the credit for the birth and progression of the sport. It’s a fact that early rider and photographer Wende Cragg reflects on with a good-natured laugh, before shrugging off the egos that like to take credit for what has become a global phenomenon. Cragg played a pivotal role as one of the first female mountain bikers. She always carried a camera on her adventures, mainly to capture images of wildflowers and the idyllic California landscape. Along the way she happened to document the birth of mountain biking in and around Fairfax, California, and Crested Butte, Colorado. Cragg’s collection of photography can be viewed at the Marin Museum of Bicycling, on and through her frequent posts on social media. In this episode, she recalls her early rides on a 50-plus pound bike and the characters she shared the trail with. She reflects on what it was like to be part of the birth of a sport, and the importance of curating and preserving its history 50 years later. This episode is made possible by Presented by
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Sourcing Singletrack with Silverton's Klem Branner
03/10/2024
Sourcing Singletrack with Silverton's Klem Branner
Silverton is a remote outpost in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The former mining town is known for the steep skiing at Silverton Mountain, and the narrow gauge railroad train that brings throngs of tourists from Durango. Most of the area’s established trails ascend steep, rugged terrain that’s best suited for expert mountain bikers, if they are rideable at all. More recently, the Silverton Singletrack Society has embarked on a mission to add more purpose-built mountain biking trails to the area. Silverton local Klem Branner is president of the Silverton Singletrack Society. Branner, who also owns and operates Venture Snowboards out of Silverton, is a passionate mountain biker who is working to build more accessible trails in his backyard. Thirty miles of trail, to be exact. In this episode, Branner speaks to the partnerships that are making that dream a reality. And he explains why the non-profit decided to work with the local land managers right out of the gate, instead of building pirate trails and asking for forgiveness down the line. This episode is made possible by Presented by
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In The Dirt With T.C. Johnstone
02/20/2024
In The Dirt With T.C. Johnstone
Filmmaker T.C. Johnstone has been making documentaries for more than 25 years. So far his career in film has taken him to over 60 countries, including a trip to Rwanda with cycling legend Tom Ritchey. Most recently, he filmed In The Dirt, a moving documentary about the Native American cyclists who are growing the sport of mountain biking on the Navajo Nation, where no bike shops exist. It’s a moving film that shows how the bicycle can heal and bring together a community, whether through trail building, racing or giving castaway bikes new life. In this episode, Johnstone explains why you don’t show up at a Navajo residence unannounced, describes the beauty of the Navajo Nation, and emphasizes the energy and passion Navajo riders exude while on their bikes. This episode is made possible by .
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E-bikes: Rad, Bad or Just a Fad?
11/18/2021
E-bikes: Rad, Bad or Just a Fad?
For this special edition of the Mountain Flyer podcast, host Trina Ortega welcomes Seattle-area broadcast journalist Paul Andrews in co-hosting a panel discussion about e-MTBs and their place in today’s mountain bike landscape. Industry leaders Ace Bollinger, Leslie Kehmeier, Nat Ross and Yvonne Kraus dive deeper into the impacts e-mountain bikes are having on trail development and access, land management decisions, and advocacy efforts.
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Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: Richmond Cycling Corps
06/10/2021
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: Richmond Cycling Corps
Richmond Cycling Corps uses cycling to create positive change in the lives of youth who live in Richmond, Virginia’s public housing projects. In this episode, the organizations director Matt Kuhn talks about how the program uses bikes as a way to connect and build relationships with kids and teens.
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The Endless Advocacy of Bikepacking Roots
05/19/2021
The Endless Advocacy of Bikepacking Roots
In this episode, Bikepacking Roots cofounders Kait Boyle and Kurt Refsnider talk about the need for their nonprofit, the joys and challenges of creating epic routes, paying homage to both the land and the people who came before, how bikes have changed their lives and their new Backcountry Bike Challenge.
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Catalyst for Diversity: Eliot Jackson, Grow Cycling Foundation
03/16/2021
Catalyst for Diversity: Eliot Jackson, Grow Cycling Foundation
In this interview World Cup downhill mountain bike racer Eliot Jackson talks about his life growing up with two entrepreneurial parents; how he got into mountain biking, his experience as a Black athlete, Grow Cycling’s aspirations—including the construction of a $1.2 million pumptrack in Los Angeles—and the best way one person can make a difference.
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Thriving on Challenge: Hannah Finchamp
02/08/2021
Thriving on Challenge: Hannah Finchamp
The two-time overall amateur Xterra world champion and five-time collegiate cycling national champion Hannah Finchamp talks about how she got into mountain biking, what to look for in a coach, her bout with Covid-19 (which occurred during the European World Cup races of 2020), and her positive outlook that keeps pushing her to excel.
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Doubling Down: Lea Davison
10/02/2020
Doubling Down: Lea Davison
In this episode, mountain biker Lea Davison talks about what it’s like to be a world-class athlete during a global pandemic and the weight of being one of five women vying for two open spots to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics (rescheduled for summer 2021). In a nutshell, Lea Davison is doubling down.
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Tale Spin: Stories from the MTB Community
08/21/2020
Tale Spin: Stories from the MTB Community
In the premiere episode of Mountain Flyer’s “Tale Spin,” we get to hear stories straight from our riding friends. Gloria Liu reflects on the soulful connection a rider has with the bike. Klunking enthusiast Jon Rizzo speaks to the calming power of the Pennsylvania woods. Mountain Flyer contributor Ed Ortega channels his inner Edgar Allen Poe. And Australian cycling journalist Wil Barrett recalls how he summoned “The Power of the Pickle” during his first race on the rugged trails of western Colorad
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“The World’s Happiest Invention” Gary Fisher’s Lifelong Love Affair With Cycling
05/13/2020
“The World’s Happiest Invention” Gary Fisher’s Lifelong Love Affair With Cycling
From the industry’s first bonafide mountain bikes to today’s fast-growing e-bike segment, Gary Fisher has long been in love with cycling, which he believes is much more than just a sport. Described as a dreamer who loves bikes, people and big ideas, Fisher is steadfast in his belief that bicycles can change the world. And who better to promote the magic of cycling than one of the founding fathers and innovators?
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Kyle Warner: Beating the Odds
01/27/2020
Kyle Warner: Beating the Odds
Growing up, enduro athlete Kyle Warner faced family and personal challenges that would’ve broken the average human. But he found escape on the bike, and with support from the Northern California cycling community and the greater bike industry, Warner started racing and landing consistently on the podium. As he heads into 2020, Warner aims to get more people on bikes, especially kids facing tough times.
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Suspension Innovation w/ Fox Engineer Everet Ericksen
12/18/2019
Suspension Innovation w/ Fox Engineer Everet Ericksen
What kind of person does it take to develop the industry’s smartest suspension? 18-year Fox employee and suspension designer Everet Ericksen breaks down some of the tech of his team’s latest innovation — Fox Live Valve — while also talking about how he got into shock absorber development, its challenges and its highlights.
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Sonya Looney
10/17/2019
Sonya Looney
Sonya Looney’s pro MTB career includes more than 25 wins and course records in 11 countries, including a World Championship and USA National Championships. Nutrition, endurance racing and business savvy: Looney talks about her pursuit of the best possible life and shares tips to help you do the same.
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Rebecca Rusch v5.0
07/26/2019
Rebecca Rusch v5.0
In this episode of The Mountain Flyer Podcast Rebecca Rusch, the Queen of Pain, reflects on all she’s done in her first four decades, and her work on defining what’s in store for “Rebecca Version 5.0.”
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Rock Solid
07/17/2019
Rock Solid
In this episode of the Mountain Flyer Podcast, trailbuilder and Moab, Utah native Tyson Swasey talks about his relationship with the land and the importance of trails to the mountain bike community.
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Conservation 101 on the Arizona Trail
04/25/2019
Conservation 101 on the Arizona Trail
High school adventurers Whitton Feer and Ian Catto set out for the Arizona Trail in the spring of their senior year to gain a better understanding of the U.S. West's water crisis. In this episode, Feer and Catto talk about their 13-day adventure in hot, dry Arizona and consider the question: Is there hope for humans living in the Desert Southwest?
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