In this episode, Austin White and Spencer Rathkamp are joined by Sean Estes, the senior product marketing manager at Fox. They discuss various topics, including their experiences at Sea Otter, Sean's home renovation projects, the cost of mountain bikes compared to dirt bikes, and the rise of Keegan Swenson in the endurance racing scene. They also touch on the Lifetime Series and the advantages of older riders in endurance events. The conversation covers topics such as Keegan Swenson's impressive riding skills, the use of dropper posts in races like Leadville, the similarities between cross racing and motocross, the early days of the A1 ride, the introduction of e-bikes by Specialized, and the impact of e-bikes on the mountain biking community. The conversation in this part focuses on the rise of e-bikes and their impact on the mountain biking industry. The hosts discuss the surge in e-bike popularity during the pandemic and how it has contributed to the growth of cycling. They also explore the differences between e-bikes and analog bikes, including the experience of riding them and the benefits they offer to different types of riders. The conversation then shifts to the recent launch of a new dropper post by Fox and the marketing efforts behind it. The hosts discuss the advantages of Kashima coating and its impact on performance and longevity. They also touch on the importance of stiffness and weight in bike components and how it affects overall performance. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the BC Bike Race and the experience of riding in British Columbia. In this part of the conversation, Sean and Austin discuss their preference for riding the trails in Whistler rather than the park. They talk about the popularity of the park during Crankworx and how the trails get crowded and worn out. They mention the appeal of the Valley trails and the option of e-bike access. They also discuss some specific trails in Whistler that they enjoy, such as Into the Mystic, Lord of the Squirrels, and Bring on the Weekend. The conversation then shifts to Sean's role at Fox and the different brands under the Fox umbrella. They talk about the company's focus on suspension and their efforts to align the different brands within the company. They also briefly mention their interest in off-road truck racing and the Baja 1000. The conversation ends with a discussion about their experiences at Interbike and the NorCal SoCal Showdown race in Bakersfield. In this final part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the state of the industry and the future of Enduro racing. They touch on the challenges faced by the industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent surge in demand for bikes. They also explore the evolution of Enduro racing and its current identity crisis. The conversation concludes with a discussion about upcoming events and plans for future episodes of the podcast.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Surprising Viewership
02:57 Reflecting on Sea Otter and Home Renovation Projects
08:56 The Cost of Mountain Bikes vs. Dirt Bikes
12:57 Keegan Swenson's Rise in Endurance Racing
18:00 The Advantages of Older Riders in Endurance Events
23:03 The Excitement of the Lifetime Series
24:02 Keegan Swenson's Impressive Riding Skills
25:10 The Debate on Dropper Posts in Races like Leadville
28:23 The Similarities Between Cross Racing and Motocross
36:39 The Popularity of the A1 Ride Organized by Specialized
43:31 The Impact of E-Bikes on the Mountain Biking Community
49:31 The Rise of E-Bikes
57:56 The Launch of a New Dropper Post
01:02:06 The Advantages of Kashima Coating
01:05:08 The Importance of Stiffness and Weight
01:13:57 The BC Bike Race Experience
01:17:11 Exploring the Valley Trails in Whistler
01:23:12 The Appeal of Suspension and Fox's Brand Alignment
01:29:10 The Thrill of Off-Road Truck Racing
01:34:48 Memories from Interbike and the NorCal SoCal Showdown
01:40:15 The State of the Bike Industry and the Impact of COVID-19
01:47:15 The Evolution and Identity Crisis of Enduro Racing
01:50:27 Opportunities for Growth in Enduro Racing
01:52:18 The Appeal of Events like the BC Bike Race and Downieville
01:55:14 Future Plans for the Podcast