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.

Today we’re talking with Nick Ryan, the Trails Coordinator for the Copper Harbor Trail Club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Copper Harbor has been on mountain bikers’ radars for years, both for its remote location and its incredible trail quali. With some exciting new projects underway and a lot of lessons learned over the years, we get up to speed on Copper Harbor with Nick.

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.

Jarrod Harris is the co-founder of Jarrod's Place bike park in Summerville, Georgia. We'll be diving into what it takes to open a bike park, the challenges and rewards of building trails, and we'll talk about Trail Armor, an innovative product that was actually developed right there at Jarrod's Place.

• What's your background? How does someone end up starting a bike park?
• How did you learn to build trails?
• Were there any parks or trails that inspired you and your team when you were first starting out?
• Is owning and operating a bike park a good business?
• Trail Armor is a product that was developed at Jarrod's Place. What is it, and how does it work?
• Beyond Jarrod's Place, where is Trail Armor being used?
• Can you describe how the park is laid out? What are the most popular trails?
• What's the mix of riders you see at the park? Are you getting many locals, or do people travel from further away?
• Is there an off-season at the bike park?
• How much of your time goes into trail maintenance versus building new stuff?
• What would you do differently if you were to open another bike park today?
• What's next for the bike park?

Learn more and buy a pass to Jarrod's Place at jarrodsplacebikepark.com.

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.

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has been providing independent safety ratings for sports helmets since 2011, and today we’ll hear from Dr. Barry Miller about how their testing works, why their rating system stands apart from standard certifications, and how the system has pushed manufacturers to improve designs over time.

In this episode we discuss the following questions.

• Why did the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings program get started?
• How do your ratings differ from certification standards like CPSC?
• How are bike helmets tested in your lab, and who performs the testing?
• How well do lab results correlate with real-world crash data and field studies?
• With so many models out there, how do you choose which helmets to test?
• The 5-star rating scale was recently recalibrated, making 5 stars harder to earn—why?
• Have the ratings influenced helmet companies to improve designs?
• How unsafe is it to mount accessories (lights/cameras) on a helmet?
• How do bike helmets compare tech-wise to helmets for other sports like football?
• What are the main limitations of your testing and rating methodology?
• Any upcoming testing updates, categories, or research directions riders should know about?

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.

Alex Larson is a registered dietitian who works with endurance athletes, including cyclists, helping them fuel smart both on and off the bike. In this podcast episode we’ll be tackling some serious nutrition questions—like how much protein do you actually need?—and some not-so-serious ones—like if hot dogs make for a good pre- or post-ride meal.

• When should athletes choose hydration mix over plain water?
• How do you know if you need more electrolytes?
• What role does sugar play in fueling rides? Do non-pro cyclists benefit from sugar mid-ride too?
• Among mountain bikers there does seem to be a sense that because we're so active, we don't need to be as concerned about avoiding junk food as less active individuals. Is that fair?
• What are some effective and inexpensive alternatives to traditional energy/fueling products?
• Is it “OK” to indulge in a giant burrito and a couple beers after a ride? Any nutritional guidance around post-ride meals?
• Do you have a rule of thumb for how much protein athletes—especially cyclists—should actually need to consume each day?
• How accurate are calorie estimates from smart watches and fitness apps?
• Is weight loss really just “calories in vs. calories out,” or is there more to it?
• What role does AI currently play in nutrition planning and advice? Should athletes be cautious or curious?

Learn more and connect with Alex at alexlarsonnutrition.com and on Instagram @alexlarsonnutrition.

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

This episode is sponsored by Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.

If you’re looking for your next mountain bike destination that offers just about everything, put Sandpoint, Idaho at the top of your list! The Lower Basin trail system serves up world-class riding through towering timber and across massive granite rock slabs, with trails for every rider — from technical black diamond descents to fast, flowy cross-country loops.

For excellent park-style riding, head up to Schweitzer Mountain Resort with dedicated downhill trails and e-bike access to more than two dozen trails. Or pedal from town to the Pine Street Woods trail system where the trails range from flowy to technical.

When you’re ready to take a break from the trails, Lake Pend Oreille is right there for camping, boating, swimming, or even standup paddleboarding. And after a big day outdoors, head into the town of Sandpoint where you'll find a great selection of bars and restaurants to relax and refuel.

Get all the details to plan your perfect getaway at ⁠⁠⁠visitsandpoint.com⁠⁠⁠. The trails and the good times are waiting for you when you Visit Idaho!

Miles from Mullet Cycles has carved out a unique niche in the bike industry by going against the grain. From his brash and unconventional approach to bikes to his knack for creating one-of-a-kind accessories, Miles has been challenging industry norms for years.

He's dedicated himself to perfecting the mixed-wheel format for mountain bikes, and he’s also the creative force behind Miles Wide Industries, which offers clever, rider-focused accessories. Today we’ll talk about his path into the cycling world, why he’s sticking with mixed-wheel setups, and what’s next for his two companies.

• When did Mullet Cycles officially get its start? Were mixed-wheel bikes considered a novelty at the time?
• A lot of riders use the words “mullet” and “mixed-wheel” interchangeably, but your company actually trademarked the term Mullet as it relates to bikes. Why did you go that route? How has the rise of the term 'mullet' affected your marketing efforts?
• What makes Mullet Cycles’ bikes different from mixed-wheel bikes from other brands?
• Unlike most bike brands, you don't publish complete geometry tables for your bikes. Why not?
• How does your experience as a jewelry designer influence your approach to building bikes?
• What’s the idea behind a Mullet gravel/adventure bike, and how is that project coming along
• Why don't you offer any of your frames in carbon fiber?

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

This episode is sponsored by Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.

If you’re looking for your next mountain bike destination that offers just about everything, put Sandpoint, Idaho at the top of your list! The Lower Basin trail system serves up world-class riding through towering timber and across massive granite rock slabs, with trails for every rider — from technical black diamond descents to fast, flowy cross-country loops.

For excellent park-style riding, head up to Schweitzer Mountain Resort with dedicated downhill trails and e-bike access to more than two dozen trails. Or pedal from town to the Pine Street Woods trail system where the trails range from flowy to technical.

When you’re ready to take a break from the trails, Lake Pend Oreille is right there for camping, boating, swimming, or even standup paddleboarding. And after a big day outdoors, head into the town of Sandpoint where you'll find a great selection of bars and restaurants to relax and refuel.

Get all the details to plan your perfect getaway at ⁠⁠visitsandpoint.com⁠⁠. The trails and the good times are waiting for you when you Visit Idaho!