Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

Today I’m joined by Madison Saracen’s lead rider, Matt Walker. Matt is a super analytical racer with a highly dedicated focus on performance. Matt isn’t the most outspoken rider, but when we do hear from him, you know it’s worth listening to. We chat about the last couple of years for Matt where a series of ups and downs have seen him battle injury, take an overall and secure his first elite World Cup win. Hear how Matt feels about being considered an underdog, how he approached finding the missing performance in 2021, what he does to stay motivated and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Matt Walker. You can follow Matt on Instagram @mattwalkerdh and follow the team @madisonsaracen. Supporting Partners Stashed Products If you want to upgrade your bike storage to something that’s convenient, easy to access, yet still saves you space, then the Stashed SpaceRail is the one for you. Due to it’s incredible popularity, there are no discounts right now, but we do have something special for Downtime Listeners. If you spend £200 or more on a SpaceRail system before the end of February 2023, then Downtime listeners get a free set of pedal wraps in their choice of size, worth up to £20 (or choose a beanie or pedal wrap clip). Just add the pedal wraps to your cart and use the code DOWNTIME at the checkout over on stashedproducts.co.uk. There is also free global shipping until the end of Jan 2023 on orders over £250. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Boris Beyer

Today I’m joined by your World Cup overall champion for 2022, Camille Balanche. We sat down to chat about Cami’s 2022 season and the ups and downs that led to that overall victory. Find out how Cami went from a potentially season ending injury to an incredible comeback that saw her do what was needed to clinch the title at the final round of the year. Cami also talks about the importance of testing, finding time on tracks, her approach to getting faster on her bike and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Camille Balanche. You can follow Cami on Instagram @cam.bal and listen to her podcast with Emilie Siegenthaler here. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Kéno Derleyn

For the first episode of 2023 and I’m joined by a rider who’s been at the top of our sport for a long time now and shows no signs of stopping, Myriam Nicole. As this was our first time chatting we talk about Myriam’s path into downhill racing and how she worked her way up from being what she calls a slow junior to a top factory rider. Hear about how Myriam has overcome injuries and dealt with a fear of jumping to become a multiple world champion. We also talk about concussion and the experience Myriam had with it at the start of the 2022 season. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Myriam Nicole. You can follow Myriam on Instagram @myriam_nicole. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Kéno Derleyn

Mountain bikes are continually developing and the trail bike category has become more and more popular. But just how good are modern trail bikes? We took the Santa Cruz Tallboy, 5010 and Hightower, which cover a travel range from 120 to 145mm, for a day’s gravity based riding, to see how they performed. Hear what we thought to each of the bikes, how they compare and which one’s we’d choose to keep. Just how capable are these type of bikes and could a shorter travel bike improve your riding enjoyment? Also, can you really work out how a bike is going to perform from some numbers on a spreadsheet? As ever, we were surprised by what we found. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with me, Jonathan and Ben to find out. You can check out all of the Santa Cruz range over at santacruzbicycles.com. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. We Are One Composites We Are One are generously offering Downtime listeners 15% off everything on their website. So wether you want their new Convergence wheels, their still very awesome Revolution wheels, or their incredible bike the Arrival, now is your time. You can get 15% off until midnight on December 31st 2022 by using the code ‘DowntimeDecember15‘ at weareonecomposites.com (note: this must be entered at the final stage of the checkout process on the ‘confirm order’ page). Santa Cruz Bicycles You can check out these bikes and the rest of the Santa Cruz range over at santacruzbicycles.com. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.03 Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Santa Cruz Bicycles

There has been some big news in the past week around some of the rule changes to both the Downhill and Enduro Mountain Bike World Cup for 2023, so I thought it would be a good idea to get on a couple of people who live and breathe this to help us understand the changes and how they might impact things. So I’m joined by Downtime’s first and second ever guests, Chris Kilmurray and Neko Mulally to dig into the changes in the rule book and what they actually mean. How will a semi-final work, who will have protected status and how does the points structure impact the riders. Will skin suits return? Is live radio communication to riders likely to happen and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Chris and Neko. You can find Chris on Instagram @point1athletic and Neko @nekomulally. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. We Are One Composites We Are One are generously offering Downtime listeners 15% off everything on their website. So wether you want their new Convergence wheels, their still very awesome Revolution wheels, or their incredible bike the Arrival, now is your time. You can get 15% off until midnight on December 31st 2022 by using the code ‘DowntimeDecember15‘ at weareonecomposites.com (note: this must be entered at the final stage of the checkout process on the ‘confirm order’ page). Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.03 Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Nathan Hughes

Vali Höll had a pretty much perfect junior mountain bike World Cup career, so there were huge expectations piled on her arrival in the elite ranks. An injury at World Champs in 2020 put her out of contention, but a rollercoaster couple of years followed with crashes, frustration and tears, alongside an overall title and a World Champs win. We sat down to chat all about the last few years and find out how it’s been from Vali’s perspective. Vali openly shares the ups and downs of being a young world class athlete. Hear what Vali has learned, what turned around her performance on the bike and what it was like becoming World Champ. Vali’s story shows just how hard it can be, to be the best. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Vali Höll. You can follow Vali on Instagram @valihoell and you can get a copy of Hurly Burly, with Vali on the front cover, at misspentsummers.com. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. We Are One Composites We Are One are generously offering Downtime listeners 15% off everything on their website. So wether you want their new Convergence wheels, their still very awesome Revolution wheels, or their incredible bike the Arrival, now is your time. You can get 15% off until midnight on December 31st 2022 by using the code ‘DowntimeDecember15‘ at weareonecomposites.com (note: this must be entered at the final stage of the checkout process on the ‘confirm order’ page). Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.03 Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin

Charlie Hatton is a mountain bike rider who’s shown serious promise for a few years now, but it hadn’t quite all come together for him. 2022 was a breakthrough season for Charlie where he showed just what he was capable of, taking incredible results even through adversity. We sat down to chat about his career so far and to find out what it’s taken for Charlie to put in the results we’ve seen this year. Hear how he works to tune the bike with the huge amount of options available to him and what it’s been like working alongside Andreas Kolb as he also had his breakthrough season. Having just signed another 3 years with Continental Atherton, there’s a bright future ahead for Charlie. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Charlie Hatton. You can follow Charlie on Instagram @charlie_hatton1. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. We Are One Composites We Are One are generously offering Downtime listeners 15% off everything on their website. So wether you want their new Convergence wheels, their still very awesome Revolution wheels, or their incredible bike the Arrival, now is your time. You can get 15% off until midnight on December 31st 2022 by using the code ‘DowntimeDecember15‘ at weareonecomposites.com (note: this must be entered at the final stage of the checkout process on the ‘confirm order’ page). Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.03 Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Jack Tennyson

Amaury Pierron is easily one of the most exciting mountain bike riders on the planet. Amaury has an insane desire to win, which on occasion has taken him to some dark places. We chat about his progression from the junior ranks as a privateer, into the elite field and ultimately joining a factory team. Find out what went on behind the scenes to help that 2018 overall win. Hear about Amaury’s battles on the track and away from it, dealing with some serious injuries. From the highest highs to the lowest lows, Amaury has always had incredible determination and drive. Add to that a professionalism and some serious attention to detail and you have a rider that is hard to beat. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Amaury Pierron. You can follow Amaury on Instagram @amaurypierron4, on TikTok @amaurypierron and on YouTube here. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. We Are One Composites We Are One are generously offering Downtime listeners 15% off everything on their website. So wether you want their new Convergence wheels, their still very awesome Revolution wheels, or their incredible bike the Arrival, now is your time. You can get 15% off until midnight on December 31st 2022 by using the code ‘DowntimeDecember15‘ at weareonecomposites.com (note: this must be entered at the final stage of the checkout process on the ‘confirm order’ page). Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.03 Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Kéno Derleyn

Join me for a chat with Santa Cruz CEO, Joe Graney. Joe talks about his background and how he’s worked his way up from joining Santa Cruz as a contract engineer to now being CEO of the entire business. Hear Joe talk about the importance of the Syndicate to their marketing efforts and how they made carbon a legitimate option for gravity mountain biking. How does Joe feel engineering translates to running a business? We also chat about Santa Cruz’s insane drive to develop bikes and how even Covid didn’t slow that down, why they build their bikes in-house and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Joe Graney. You can check out all that Santa Cruz have to offer over at santacruzbicycles.com. Supporting Partners 7mesh Do you want some incredible quality riding kit from the awesome 7mesh? Well, they are offering Downtime listeners a 20% discount using the code ‘DOWNTIME7MESH20‘ over at 7mesh.com. Head over now and check them out and what’s even better is that the ship globally, so wherever you are, you can get your hands on some top quality riding gear. Santa Cruz Bicycles To check out everything Santa Cruz, just head over to santacruzbicyles.com. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 2 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage or you can purchase EP1, or EP2 on their own too. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. Each episode will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you’re there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes