Leo Kokkonen is the founder of Pole Bicycles, a boutique mountain bike brand based in Finland that's known for its innovative design and construction techniques. Founded in 2013, the brand was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2024, but now they're back with a brand new prototype and a desire to continue pushing the envelope.

• Why start a bike company in 2013? What did you want to do that wasn't already being done
• How did the mountain bike community react to your geometry ideas back then?
• In 2017, you were planning to produce a carbon fiber bike. But then you decided not to. Why
• How did you come up with your process for machining frames out of aluminum?
• What are the advantages of designing and manufacturing bikes in Finland? What are the challenges?
• What are the MTB trails like in your area of Finland?
• Tell us about the challenges Pole faced that ultimately led to bankruptcy. What happened? What did you learn?
• What can you tell us about the latest prototype you're working on?
• How has your production method changed?
• What's next for Pole?

Visit polebicycles.com online and follow @polebicycles on Instagram to see the bikes and to keep up with the brand.

An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Follow Singletracks on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@singletracks⁠⁠⁠ to keep up with the latest mountain bike news.

Gabriel Wibmer is a 23-year-old Austrian free ride and trials rider who's built a massive YouTube following with his creative urban riding videos, including the viral late for school series that's racked up nearly 25 million views, sponsored by Canyon bikes and hailing from East Tyrol, Austria, Gabriel has proven himself both as a Downhill Racer and as one of the most innovative content creators in mountain biking today.

• How did motocross and trials riding shape your mountain biking style? Who are your biggest influences?
• How has YouTube changed since your "Late for School" video in 2019? Do you think it is harder to go viral now?
• Is it true you came up with the "Wibmer Impossible" concept after having a bike stolen in Prague?
• Do you usually start with a location and build a story, or does the concept come first?
• What was the most challenging trick in "Wibmer Impossible"?
• How is your Canyon Torque DH bike set up? What modifications do you make?
• How did you prepare for the tricks in "Gravel Mania"? Do you ride drop bar bikes regularly?
• What was the hardest part about riding bike park features on a gravel bike?
• Where is your favorite place to ride?
• Do you have interest in racing downhill or trials again? What about urban downhill like Red Bull Valparaíso?
• What projects are planned for 2026?

Follow Gabriel @wibmergabriel on Instagram and his YouTube channel. Cover photo: © Hannes Berger

An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Follow Singletracks on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@singletracks⁠⁠⁠ to keep up with the latest mountain bike news.

Josh Whitmore is the founder of the MTB Skills Factory (mtbskillsfactory.com) in Brevard, North Carolina. He's a Level 4 certified mountain bike coach and he’s spent more than 25 years helping riders, from total beginners to professional racers, improve their skills and confidence on the trail. We'll dig into what makes riders better: how to train your instincts, how to practice effectively, and what separates skill from fitness on the trail.

• What makes the best mountain bikers great? Is it line choice, body position, mental focus, or something else?
• How can riders recognize whether their biggest limitation is technical or mental?
• What does “failing forward” mean when it comes to learning new skills?
• What’s the biggest mistake riders make when they’re trying to practice skills?
• If someone only has an hour to practice each week, what’s the most effective way to use that time?
• What subtle habits separate a “pretty good” rider from someone who’s really dialed?
• How do you balance fitness and skill in your own training, and what should riders prioritize?
• From a coach’s perspective, what’s actually happening when a rider hits that “flow” state?
• Is there a way to measure progress in skills that isn’t tied to race times or Strava segments?
• From your perspective, what defines a professional mountain bike coach, and what should riders look for when choosing one?
• Is there any kind of certification or background that really matters, or is it more about experience and results?

• What’s one small thing riders could do today that would immediately make them better?

An automated transcript will be available at Singletracks.com later today.

Follow Singletracks on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@singletracks⁠⁠⁠ to keep up with the latest mountain bike news.