Podcast · Arts & Books

Vital MTB

A mountain biking podcast channel featuring in-depth interviews with world class riders and cycling industry professionals.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 11 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 1 hrNew

A Consistently Inconsistent Season - 2026 World Cup Recap - Vital’s B Practice Podcast

A few things were consistently inconsistent this year: Dak’s results and how many podcasts we recorded. But recognizing the problem is the first step to progress. With the dust from the 2026 World Cup DH season settled, we hopped on the mics to chat about Dak’s first year riding for Scott and his ambitions for the off-season and next year. We also reflected on who had a good year, who had a bad year, who needs to turn it around next season, and who we think will come out swinging in 2027.&nbs...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Whizzla World Cup Recap - Best Race of the Century?? Also, F* Poles | Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated
Spomer and Schroeder were on the ground at the inaugural Whistler World Cup, and the post-race stoke was too high not to talk about it. So we got Lars Sternberg on the line, and had a good ol bench race banter session. The Whistler crowd was legendary, the track was quintessential Whistler, the weather was typical for a race weekend, and Americans topped two podiums. The only thing that could have made it better was if Lachie Stevens-Mcnab wasn’t DQ’d for dodging a pole. Enjoy the chat!
25 Sep 2026 · 23 min
Vital's B Practice Podcast - The Whistler Update
The crew has been slacking on podcasting. No one likes excuses, so we won't give you any. Good news is the World Cup circus has arrived in North America, and we are on site in Whistler to document potentially the most anticipated DH race of the century. With Jason and Dak both in the same time zone and town, they caught up for a quick catch up before the weekend chaos begins.
24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
R.I.P. Enduro World Cups - Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast - EP. 13
This week, Jason Schroeder, Lars Sternberg and Shawn Spomer discuss the end of enduro World Cup racing in 2027 - the why, the how, and the what’s next. Join the podcast discussion - Bikes: Unaffiliated Forum Discussion Digest more of our content - Instagram, YouTube, Facebook (Thumb photo cred: the great Sven Martin)
11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Are you a ‘core’ mountain biker?? - Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast - EP. 12
This week, Jason Schroeder, Lars Sternberg, and Shawn Spomer discuss two super serious topics: What does it mean to be a core mountain biker?Do riders care how much their mid- to long-travel bike weighs? Join the podcast discussion - Bikes: Unaffiliated Forum Discussion Digest more of our content - Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
15 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 32 min
A Sore Ankle, High Security & Inflatable Body Armor - La Thuile & Andorra Recap - B Practice Podcast
La Thuile and Andorra came and went, and the same names topped the podiums in each category except junior men, which is impressive considering how different the tracks were. The rest of the results sheet, especially in elites, has continued to be a mix up every round. And it shows in the overall standings—points gaps are tight when you get below the top three. It’s going to be an exciting back half to the season after the summer vacation. We get into who finished where the past two weeks, and...
10 Jul 2026 · 2 hr 46 min
The Rise of DJI: From Drones to E-Bikes - B.S. Podcast
In this episode, Jeff Brines and Charlie Sponsel explore the fascinating history and rapid rise of DJI, the Chinese tech giant known for drones and now e-bikes under the Avinox name. They analyze the cultural, geopolitical, and industrial factors that have shaped DJI's success and its implications for the cycling industry. Jeff and Charlie explore the rapid advancements in e-bike technology, the strategic moves of industry giants like DJI, and the evolving regulatory landscape. They analyze h...
25 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Bar Width, Mountain of Hell, Gearbox Motors - Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast
Tag along for another decompression conversation, where we chat about the Mountain of Hell mass-start race, Cannondale’s Bad Habit that Jason’s been reviewing, how heavy is too heavy for a trail bike, the subjectiveness of bike setup and what components are ‘good,’ bar width, bar ends, and auto-shifting e-bike gearbox motors. Enjoy!
24 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 43 min
2-Clicks of Rebound The Wrong Way!! - Lenzerheide Recap - B Practice Podcast
Four rounds into the 2026 World Cup season, and three B Practice podcasts have been recorded. What’s new? This episode, we get into what Dak’s been messing with, the struggles he had in Leogang, and the strides he made in Lenzerheide. We also spent way too long disputing what should change to make World Cups more engaging and growing. How many times can we talk about the same things? We also cover the usual talking points from the past two weeks of racing. Enjoy!
23 Jun 2026 · 17 min
You Asked. They Answered - Specialized Demo 11 Q&A
Specialized’s new Demo 11 downhill bike is a certified rocket ship. You don’t need us to tell you that. Jordan Williams, Loic Bruni, and Finn Iles have proven the platform's abilities over the past three years of development and this year two World Cup DH wins have been nabbed aboard the production version. The problem may be that it's complex, heavy and priced much higher than other DH bikes. Specialized gave us the chance to ride the bike, and we took the opportunity to get all of yo...
8 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 26 min
From Loudenvielle to Leogang - B Practice Podcast Analysis
Loudenvielle came and went, and unfortunately our dude Dak didn't make it in the night show. That's racing. The good news is his setup is trending towards the bullseye. After a week off lapping in Schladming, it's time to get back on the horse and head to Leogang. We figured most people already got their fix of post-race highlights from Loudenvielle, so we focused most on Dak's thoughts on the track, the race to make finals, Luca's first victory and what it represents, why he's going stiffer ...
3 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Your Mid-Week MTB Decompression - Vital’s ‘bikes: unaffiliated’ Podcast
Join us on an unscripted, unaffiliated podcast journey where we discuss various hot takes from the Loudenvielle DH World Cup, risk vs. reward in DH racing, the Hot Laps event in Washington, how to hit berms better, why Enduro World Cups are dying a slow death and why that doesn’t actually matter for the sport of enduro, and a bunch of other MTB-related nonsense. Enjoy! Bikes' Unaffiliated forum conversation
29 May 2026 · 6 min
JORDI CORTES - 17 Questions
See more 17 Questions videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLiDwPfY-lhwLORXY7C8mhKi-BtWbmxXO Influencer, internet personality, FOX suspension guru, and Greg Minnaar’s #1 emotional support human, Jordie Cortes rips through a classic 17 Questions. (minus one)
26 May 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Developing A Mountain Bike at 19 - Arid Cycles Founder Ethan Eggert | Vital's Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast
This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Ethan Eggert, the founder of Arid Cycles, to discuss how he’s managed to create his own mountain bike in only a few years without any financial help or a traditional background in bike development. It’s a really cool story that shows how no idea is too big with some ingenuity and persistence. What has transpired is the Spade model, a very intriguing enduro bike that’s highly modular, progressive, and features some first-of-its-kind design elemen...
12 May 2026 · 1 hr 58 min
“Every Run Is a Race Run” | Vital's B Practice Podcast - South Korea
Days late, dollars short. That’s how the B Practice Podcast rolls. After a rough first race of the year, followed by some horrendous travel, it took us an extra week to nail down our guy Dak to podcast. We chatted a good bit about his race weekend in South Korea and how he’s feeling about his program going into the next big block of racing. We also discussed how he rushed to race the Monster Pro Downhill at Mountain Creek last weekend, and how he’s heading to Andorra next week to make his bik...
27 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 41 min
Let's Get Mental - Bikes: Unaffiliated Ft. Dr. Jason Richardson
Dr. Jason Richardson joins the podcast to chat about his work as a sports psychologist in cycling and how the same tools that benefit professional athletes can benefit every rider, regardless of ability, on and off the bike. We loved this conversation and learned a lot ourselves. We hope you get something out of it, too! Summary Professional BMX rider and sports psychologist Dr. Jason Richardson shares insights on mental resilience, goal setting, and the psychology of winning. Discover...
23 Apr 2026 · 29 min
World Cup DH Press Conference - Bruni, Goldstone, Shaw, Holl, Hemstreet, Seagrave
Virtual press conference recorded on April 21 to discuss the upcoming World Cup Downhill season with Loic Bruni, Jackson Goldstone, Luca Shaw, Vali Holl, Gracey Hemstreet and Tahnee Seagrave.
22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Freak Bikes Taking Over - Bikes Unaffiliated
Schroeder, Spomer and Lars get back together to discuss big wheels and weird bikes taking over. 00:00 Reflections on Sea Otter 2026 09:59 The Future of Wheel Sizes 13:09 What's In and What's Out 34:52 Innovations in Mountain Bike Technology 42:09 Health Scares and Personal Stories 44:00 - Neko Mulally and his Sea Otter Winner 32" 59:15 Exploring the 32-Inch Wheel Debate 01:19:56 World Cup Predictions and Insights 01:23:09 Logistics of Racing in New Venues 01:25:03 Vital DH Fantasy Poll This...
21 Apr 2026 · 6 min
TEAM ROBOT - Hot Takes from Sea Otter
Sponsel loses so you can win.
10 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 41 min
Dak's Setup Is Getting Out There - Vital's B Practice Podcast
I's been a busy few months since the last podcast—Jason went to New Zealand and Italy, Tanner has been to nearly all 50 states working different shoots and projects, and Dakotah has bounced between Europe and Tennessee as he feverishly tests every setup under the sun. We covered a lot of this show, including Dak's crash at the Tennessee National, getting outside of the box with setup, Reece Wilson's crazy stem/bar combo, gym training vs. on-bike training, and goals at the first World Cu...
9 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Masters World Championships - Matt Thompson and Steve Wentz
Today we talk with Matt Thompson and Steve Wentz who just returned from Masters World Champs downhill in Chile. Matt took the rainbow stripes in the 50-55 Master C2 class and Steve landed a Top 10 in a stacked field of “younger” talent, most importantly beating Ben Deakin in the process. We dive into what Masters World Champs is, learn about their experiences with the event over the years and dig into the full story of this years’ race. As a bonus, they both came home in one piece.
8 Apr 2026 · 12 min
More Linear? More Comfortable?? Tech Breakdown & Impressions of RockShox New Zeb Fork
RockShox Zeb fork is all-new for model year 2027. They’ve taken what they learned developing the latest Boxxer, and have applied many of the same technologies and tuning ideologies to their single-crown, gravity fork. Vital editor, Jason Schroeder, has spent the past few months testing the fork and runs you through everything that’s new, and how it’s performed so far. More info - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2027-rockshox-zeb-fork-tech-info-impressions-discussion 0:00 - Int...
29 Mar 2026 · 19 min
POST-RACE Pro Downhill Series Rock Creek Interviews - Unc Chats with Luca Cometti
Elite race day at the first event of the 2026 @prodownhillseries was a heater at Ride Rock Creek bike park in North Carolina as downhill mountain bikers put it all on the line for victory. Listen to the post-race interviews with Luca Cometti. Interviews 0:00 - Lucas Dedora 1:11 - Final Elite Men Finishes 2:07 - Luca Shaw, Elite Men's Winner 3:07 - Ryder Lawrence 3:43 - Aletha Ostgaard, Elite Women's Winner 5:37 - Eliot Jackson 7:05 - Kai Burleson 8:20 - Dante Silva 12:04 - Podium Shot...
26 Mar 2026 · 21 min
Pro Downhill Series Rock Creek Track Walk Interviews - Unc Chats with Luca Cometti
Luca Cometti heads to round 1 of the 2026 Pro Downhill Series at Ride Rock Creek, North Carolina. Track walk took place today, and Luca grabbed the pros to find out how they'll approach the weekend following the Tennessee National. Interviews 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - Dillon Lemarr 2:14 - Gracey Hemstreet 3:06 - Bode Kuhn 4:10 - SR Suntour Holeshot 4:27 - Tayte Proulx Royds 5:24 - Ryan Pinkerton 6:11 - Austin Dooley 6:45 - Abby Ronca 8:35 - Drake Parker 9:14 - Asa Vermette 9:53 - Kai Burleson 11:2...
23 Mar 2026 · 28 min
POST-RACE Pro Interviews - Tennessee National - Unc Chats with Luca Cometti
Watch the interviews What a crazy day of #USDH action at the 2026 Tennessee National at Windrock Bike Park. Austin Dooley took the Pro Men's win by just .004 seconds over Cole Suetos. If they crossed the line at 20mph, that's just 1.4 inches! Aletha Ostgaard stomped on the women with a win by over 6 seconds. Gwin slid out, Ronan Dunne and Luca Shaw flatted, Dak was coughing up blood after a seeding crash. It was hectic! Luca Cometti gets the scoop from all the pros to see how their race days ...
20 Mar 2026 · 26 min
Grilling the Pros - TN National Unc Chats with Luca Cometti
You can watch these interviews on YouTube The first major U.S. downhill mountain bike race of 2026 is underway at Windrock Bike Park. #USDH shredder, Luca Cometti, grills the pros during track walk to see what they're up to and how their feeling for this weekend's race. Riders like Ronan Dunne, Dakotah Norton, Aaron Gwin, Dante Silva, Kailey Skelton, Frida Ronning and more DH pros speak up. 0:22 - Frida Ronning 1:02 - Dakotah Norton 2:43 - Aaron Gwin 4:57 - Gavin Tomlinson 5:59 - Bode Burke 7...
10 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
We're Keeping the Name. Bikes Unaffiliated Ep 6
You chimed in and the name of our podcast, Bikes: Unaffiliated will remain. In this episode, Jason Schroeder, Shawn Spomer and Lars Sternberg tackle an assortment of random bike and non-bike subjects like why was our tech forum picking on Dario from Pinkbike, why didn't Spomer answer Lopes' phone call, should we test a 32-inch-wheeled hardtail, what is Epicly Later'd, the DHR II sucks as a front tire, why don't Lars or Jason like radials and plenty more.
20 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Vital Staffers in Heaven (Queenstown) and Hell (The ER)
Would you rather be riding epic bike parks in Queenstown, downhill trails in Laguna or sitting in the ER because you can't pee? Jason Schroeder, Lars Sternberg and Shawn Spomer reflect on their last couple of weeks in this episode of Bikes Unaff....... The 9th Street Documentary on YouTube 0:00 - Intro 1:52 - Help Us Change the Podcast Name 3:34 - Jason's What's In What's Out, Max Alran Rips 6:35 - Jason Met Queenstown_NPC 12:30 - Lars' What's In What's Out, Ride New Places 20:23 - Spomer Wha...
17 Feb 2026 · 19 min
17 Questions - Loic Bruni
One of downhilling's finest, Loic Bruni, ain't scared of the dreaded 17! You can watch this interview on Vital MTB Questions asked 0:00 - Who would win in a fight between you, Amaury Pierron and Jackson Goldstone? 0:50 - Do you ever go to World Cup after parties? If yes, tell us your favorite post-race story. If no, why don't you like to have fun? 1:54 - Does your mechanic Jack get enough credit for how much he helps with the bike and suspension setup? 3:02 - How many on-track line spotter...
29 Jan 2026 · 9 min
17 Questions - Aaron Gwin
Downhill destroyer, Aaron Gwin, takes another stab at the dreaded 17 during a Frameworks test camp in Southern California. Hard to believe the first 17 Qs we did with Aaron was 15 years ago! Question asked 1. You wake up late and are in rush to get your day going. You stop by a Starbucks to get your caffeine fix. What drink are you ordering? 2. How do you pass time on long flights? Movies, reading, sleeping, catching up on emails?? 3. What was your best trick during your bmx days? 4. Wh...

About Vital MTB

A mountain biking podcast channel featuring in-depth interviews with world class riders and cycling industry professionals.

Vital MTB is a English arts & books podcast from Vital MTB. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Vital MTB
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 11 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1193681611

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