Send us a text In this episode Josh & Dane sit down with Chris Johnson who is the CEO & President of the Tonto Gravity Riders (TGR). TGR has built and maintained some amazing gravity focused trails in Arizona including in the Pinal Mountains Trail System and Sunrise Bike Park. TGR is a large group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts that share a passi…

Send us a text In this episode we dive into the value of bike-adjacent businesses deliberately planning for and taking actions to make it convenient for cyclists to visit their establishments. Tucson’s Hop Shop does exactly that… in fact, they are of 1 of only 11 businesses in Arizona to get a “Bicycle Friendly Business” award by the League of Amer…

Send us a text In this episode Josh & Dane sit down with the President (Nick Giovannucci) and Vice President (Matt Hrabko) of the Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Activists (TORCA). They are doing some amazing work relative to building & maintaining big mountain trails on Mt. Lemmon in Southern Arizona. The mission of Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Activ…

Send us a text In this episode, Josh & Dane chat with Charles Kwintero (or as he says it, Carlos Quintero). Carlos has worked in the bike industry for 15+ years including roles at Giant, Specialized, and managing Bicycle Warehouse in SD. Today, Carlos is the Southwest Marketing Manager for Enso Sales Group (which covers Intense, POC, Mavic, & Deros…

Send us a text In this episode you’ll learn about two things… #1. Sunrise Park Resort (which is outside of Greer, AZ.) #2. Colby Landin (seasoned trail & track builder) We kept hearing that Sunrise Park Resort was making great progress in improving their bike park. Then we ran across Colby’s Instagram Page and saw what he was doing up there. We rea…

Send us a text Dr. Jody Bartz is Founder and Executive Director of Gro Girl Gro a non-profit with a mission to INCREASE the number of girls and young women who BELIEVE they are capable and strong athletes and outdoor leaders through safe and supported outdoor experiences. Additionally, Jody offers connection-based mountain bike skills, endurance, a…

Send us a text In this episode Josh & Dane chat with DVO Suspension’s Master Tuner Ronnie Dillon. Ronnie has been working on the design, test, manufacture, and tuning of mountain bike suspension products for over 25 years. DVO is a high-end suspension brand offering innovative trail, enduro, and downhill mountain bike shocks and forks. Their produc…

Send us a text This week Dane & Josh sit down for an early morning, pre-ride, and mellow chat with Dave Slagle. Dave runs “Our MTB Rides” (a social ride group with 1700 members). He’s also a prior president and current board member of the Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) and a brand ambassador for Specialized Bikes. He loves to build and m…

Send us a text Josh & Dane sit down for a lively debate about the future of mountain bike technology. Bold predictions are made. Sides are taken. Wagers are placed. History lessons are given. Riding styles are criticized. This episode highlights clearly that the Guru is lifelong industry SME, and Magellan watches some mountain bike youtube videos. …

Send us a text In this episode Josh & Dane are joined by Justin Dietrich (General Badass, Downhill Wizard, & O.G. Hydrofoil Pro) to chat about a few of the “destination worthy” trails they’ve ridden recently while on travel in Utah, California, and Northern Arizona. While many trails are discussed throughout the episode this Trail Talk icenters aro…

Send us a text The MCP team put out a request on our socials and multiple forums requesting stories about crazy wildlife encounters on the trail. We got a great response (thanks to all that contributed)! So, we grouped the inputs into 8 categories and recorded this episode where Josh & Dane discuss the “best” (unscientifically chosen) responses. Th…

Send us a text We live in “America’s Bike Town” (Tucson, Arizona). Our weather allows us to ride 365 days a year and the cycling options here are unmatched. We have 100’s of miles of single-track that range from cross country to big mountain. The road cycling attracts pros and amateurs from all over the world to ride our vast network of paved roads…

Send us a text Josh and Dane sit down with Steve Morganstern (Bicycle Ranch) to discuss why mountain bikers might be giving up more than they save when buying from a consumer direct brand. This episode essentially covers the consumer value proposition of buying from your local bike shop versus buying a bike online. The local shop value proposition …

Send us a text Josh & Dane took a field trip up to Tempe, Arizona to spend a day with Pivot Cycles’ President (Bryan Mason) and Factory Field Rep (Bill Larson). The day included a fun ride on Pivot eMTBs at the amazing Hawes Trail System, grabbing lunch at Someburros, touring the Pivot factory, meeting many of the Pivot team in various departments,…

Send us a text This episode features the MCP hosts Josh and Dane and is pretty MTB-techy. It starts out with a couple shoutouts from Josh to bike industry brands 1up and PNW for excellent customer service. It transitions to cover some of our listeners perspectives on “stupid stuff in the bike industry”. And finally, it concludes with an epic and ag…

Send us a text In this episode, Dane sits down again with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain to discuss Rocky's significantly redesigned enduro bike... the Altitude. Feedback from Rocky's professional enduro race team were essential in shaping the Altitude's redesign. This episode features less rabbit holes and more bike specs. Enjoy. Learn more about t…

Send us a text In this episode Josh & Dane chat with "Sunglass Rob" the CEO of San Diego's based SportRX. SportRX is an online company focused on prescription eyewear for multiple sports with biking being one of their biggest markets). Sunglass Rob is an avid mountain biker and an absolute savant as it relates to eyewear. In addition to learning a …

Send us a text Dane had a chance to sit down with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain Bikes during the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival to chat about the new Instinct, Rocky’s line-up and a bit about the mountain bike festival. Rocky Mountain Instinct https://bikes.com/collections/instinct Sedona Mountain Bike Festival https://sedonamtbfestival.com Listen t…

Send us a text In this episode Josh and Dane discuss and debate (argue even) about annoying mountain bike stuff. Some of the topics we debate on include… Presta valves + chunky sealant. Dunlop valves. British brake lever setup (rear brake on left / front brake right). MOAB closing its lift (yes, they had one). Spoke holes inside rims (requires rim …

Send us a text Old Pueblo MTB is a mountain bike group based in Tucson, AZ. that hosts multiple group rides every week. The group communicates primarily through their Facebook page which has 4,000+ members. The episode features ‘The Travis Williams’ (aka Captain Enthusiasm) who is one of the key administrators of Old Pueblo MTB. In addition to lear…

Send us a text Recorded onsite at the brewery, the boys chat with Brian (owner of Catalina Brewing Company) about beer, the brewery, and content spanning a ton of mountain bike topics (including: bikes, epic adventures, bike art, and more) . Some interesting nuggets include how a 125cc moto smashed the rear window of Josh’s truck, an epic mountain …

Send us a text What is the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo? Think “Burning Man” + “Mountain Bike Race”. Dane & Josh recorded this episode LIVE this morning, just before the race start in the Old Pueblo MTB booth. In this episode we laugh, rap about the event, interact with participants and spectators, and as always go down random mountain bike related r…

Send us a text If you listen to this podcast at all... you probably know that we are presently obsessed with bike fits. It all started when Wolfman (aka Andrew Wolf, a prior exercise physiologist) berated Josh for never having a bike fit in Episode #57. That catalyzed an awesome bike fit experience with Frank Kaiser (Ben's Bikes) who we interviewed…

Send us a text Join us in wishing a warm welcome to Dane Higgins (Guru Bikes & Guru Suspension) who is joining Josh as the new co-host of the Mountain Cog Podcast. In this episode, we welcome and learn more about Dane (his shop & suspension business, his bikes and riding style). In addition, the episode spends a good chunk of time on the state of t…

Send us a text Bittersweet. It’s an interesting word. It’s used to refer to something that has both happy and sad aspects. It’s the perfect word to describe this episode. The sad part is that this is Mike’s last episode as a co-host of the MCP. He’s retiring. The happy part is that we have awesome plans for the future. Those plans include a new co-…

Send us a text In Episode 57, Wolfman convinced us to get a bike fit. So, we tracked down a local (and amazing) professional bike fitter, got a bike fit from him, and convinced him to come on the podcast. In this episode we chat with Frank Kaiser (aka our favorite German). Frank is a professional bike fitter, a certified IRONMAN Coach, a business o…

Send us a text In this episode Josh, Mike, & Roundabout Sam have an interesting conversation on the vast challenges and success stories related to managing transportation & mobility in Tucson, Arizona. While centered around Tucson… these topics directly translate to any major city. The subjects covered include: increasing bicycle, pedestrian, and m…

Send us a text In this episode, we engage in a compelling conversation with Susie Murphy, the Executive Director of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA.com), a non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing sustainable trail access for mountain biking in San Diego County. Established in 1994, SDMBA boasts a volunteer-dri…

Send us a text This is the 1st of our 2 part series with O.G. BMX pro Dusty Horton. The episode starts off with Dusty telling about his BMX roots in Milwaukee, his time riding for DK, his discovery of 22" BMX bikes and his current gig riding for Ditto BMX. The episode is full of laughs and fun stories including riding brakeless, how Turf Skatepark …

Send us a text Warning: this episode includes conversation about suicide. This episode may not be appropriate for anyone sensitive to the topic of suicide. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please know, SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER, help is available. A super easy way to get help in the United States is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Just TEXT or C…

Send us a text Ever wondered about the intricate science behind cardiovascular fitness and the mysterious VO2 max readings on your smart devices? Or pondered about the impact of bike crank lengths on your cadence? Well, your curiosity is about to be satiated as we explore these fascinating topics with our guest, Wolfman. An exercise physiologist tu…

Send us a text This week's guest is 15 year old road cyclist Brady Hogue (joined by his mom Sarah). Throughout the episode Brady walks us through his cycling journey starting with the Vail Composite Mountain Bike team thru his transition to road cycling, including racing in nationals and participating in USA Cycling's European Training and Race Cam…

Send us a text In this episode we chat with Sirena Rana, owner of Trails Inspire. The episode covers many cool outdoor topics including Amerind Museum's grand opening (Oct 7th, 2023) of a new hiking trail system in Texas Canyon, AZ (in the Dragoons) and The Sun Corridor Trail project which aims to establish a bike touring route from Douglas, AZ to …

Send us a text Have you ever met a person whose spirit leaves an indelible mark on your soul? A man with a self-actualized nature, humbleness, and kindness that garners respect from all that meet him? Craig Randall, fondly remembered as the Bike Monk, was that person for Tucson's mountain biking community. One of the original trailblazers, he pedal…

Send us a text Today's guest, Tucson Police Department Chief Chad Kasmar, is a passionate cyclist with a fascinating career in public safety. Kasmar shares his journey from a tricycle-riding child to an avid mountain biking adult. We delve into his adventurous Leadville race experiences, discuss his transition from dirt bikes to mountain biking, an…

Send us a text Ever wondered what it takes to reconstitute and epic big mountain trail system with sick vertical drop? Today, we're fortunate to have Nat Gordon, a board member of the volunteer-run Sonoran Desert Mountain Bikers (SDMB) organization on the show, to shed some light on their organization and their efforts to revive the trails on Mount…

Send us a text Join us as we pedal our way through the world of cycling with our guest, Jesus Frías, a seasoned cyclist and owner of Ride Tucson, a new shop that focuses on building community. With over two decades of riding experience tucked under his helmet, Jesus opens up about his inventive business model that blends his love for cycling with a…

Send us a text Turns out, growing up in a skatepark lays the foundation for unbelievable talent on gravity fed trails. This week’s guests (Skander Anderson & Grayson Festerling) are both 14 years old. They grew up spending countless hours riding and competing on freestyle scooters at skateparks throughout the country. Today, they are “retired” from…

Send us a text This episode features Joanna and Phil Yates of Trail Lovers, a company located in Sedona, Arizona that provides guided mountain bike rides/tours. Joanna is the Skills Clinic Manager & Lead Skills Coach and Phil is the General Manager & Lead Guide. Trail Lovers offers many different, unique, and 5-star MTB tours for every type of ride…

Send us a text If you have not ridden Angelfire Bike Park in Northern New Mexico, then stop what you are doing right now and plan a trip. It’s a bucket list destination. In this episode Angelfire’s Bike Park Manager (Patrick West) and Gravity Trail Development Manager (Tucker VanOrmer) give us the inside scoop on the park’s history, operations, tra…

Send us a text Our hosts are joined by guest Josh Lipton, founder of Campfire Cycling, a brick & mortar and online shop that specializes in bikepacking and bicycle touring. Lipton shares his expertise and the trio dive deep into specific bikes, components, bike setup, and unique gear used in bike packing and touring (all of which are available for …

Send us a text There are three types of people in the world… 1. those who - wonder what happened 2. those who - know what happened, but were not involved 3. those who - make things happen This week’s guest Brad “T-bone” Knox is in that third category. Years ago, he decided to transform himself into an elite athlete, and he did it. In this episode T…

Send us a text Josh and Lacey take our listeners on a journey around the world on two wheels with extraordinary guests Marti Shea (aka the Gazelle), an esteemed elite athlete, cyclist, and owner of Select Fitness, and Joe Tonon (aka Luca), owner of Destination Cycling. As Marti and Joe join forces, listeners are treated to an insightful and enterta…

Send us a text The week is the first of a periodic and recurring new series on bike riding destinations. We call it… Go ride a bike. This first episode highlights Mission Beach, California, where you can park your car and use a bike to get to 100’s of great activities and venues. Mike & Josh are joined by 10 year old Matt Anderson who offers his un…

Send us a text Framebuildingschool.com offers 7 day (carbon) & 11 day (steel) courses in where you learn to design and actually fabricate a custom frame! Only 2 students allowed per session. In this episode of the MCP, we have the privilege of interviewing Dave Bohm, the founder of Bohemian Bicycles and Framebuilding School.com. Dave is an accompli…

Send us a text This episode features Sherwood Gibson, the founder of Ventana Mountain Bikes USA. The conversation covers the origins of Ventana Bikes, Sherwood’s passion for bicycles, and how it led him to establish the company. Sherwood and his team set out to create top-quality bikes that were manufactured in the USA. He discussed how he mastered…

Send us a text In this episode of the Mountain Cog Podcast, we delve into the world of endurance coaching, single-speed racing, and leadership training with the remarkable Troy Jacobson. With a vast array of experiences and expertise, Troy shares his insights and stories of helping people boost their performance whether on the race course or in the…

Send us a text This week’s episode features Mike Piccini and Paul Thomas from Carbon-Fix. The Carbon-Fix team is made up of a few individuals with a combination of many years of cycling experience and more importantly over 35 years of carbon composite experience gained while working in aerospace and defense. These guys can repair just about any dam…

Send us a text In this episode, we hear from Scott Wraith (aka Scotty Van Halen), coach of the Vail Composite Mountain Bike Team, and his daughters/team riders, Shelby and Riley. They discuss the team's history, its mission, and the benefits of participating in competitive mountain biking. The Vail Composite Mountain Bike Team, a member of the Ariz…

Send us a text This week the MCP is joined by guest host Mike Mucker and features special guest Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association (ATA). The ATA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment. The Ariz…