The New Standard Podcast - Ilan: Recent Episodes
Ilan Rotenberg
A weekly show where I have a conversation with people from around the world of biking about themselves, the industry, and their favorite post-ride drink.
Raymond George loves to bike. His videos demonstrate a fluid style and he is known for his sweat investment in building jumps all around the Santa Cruz area in California. He has been in biking competitions such as Andrew Taylor's Showdown and FISE Montpelier. But he has yet to make the big break that will propel him to stardom: and that is the starting point for this episode. What do you do when you acknowledge that you may not make a career out of doing what you love, and how do you keep it in your life in a way that leaves the option open to continue with it. Ray is incredibly thoughtful in this two-part interview while talking about his fledgling riding career, how to build a perfect jump, and how meditation is like mountain biking.
Raymond George loves to bike. His videos demonstrate a fluid style and he is known for his sweat investment in building jumps all around the Santa Cruz area in California. He has been in biking competitions such as Andrew Taylor's Showdown and FISE Montpelier. But he has yet to make the big break that will propel him to stardom: and that is the starting point for this episode. What do you do when you acknowledge that you may not make a career out of doing what you love, and how do you keep it in your life in a way that leaves the option open to continue with it. Ray is incredibly thoughtful in this two-part interview while talking about his fledgling riding career, how to build a perfect jump, and how meditation is like mountain biking.
Mike Brcic has a thousand jobs: he writes for the Huffington Post about social entrepreneurship, runs courses for and mentors entrepreneurs who want to enter the social space, he founded Sacred Rides - the first mountain bike tour company, and he founded Bikes Without Borders - a nonprofit dedicated to using the bike as a vehicle for change. In this remastered episode, Mike and I talk about how he started his company, about how mountain biking is uniquely suited to be a low-impact method to bring economic activity to depressed regions, his trip in Greenland, and about social entrepreneurship in general. This remains a wonderful conversation and I hope that you all enjoy.
Did you know that track cycling was once the favorite sport of Al Capone and that the top athlete had the same contract as Babe Ruth? Neither did I until I read a recent Atlas Obscura article by Nathalie Lagerfeld, America's Short, Violent Love Affair With Indoor Track Cycling (http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/americas-short-violent-love-affair-with-indoor-track-cycling). Nathalie comes on to talk about why she became interested in the sport and it's roots in the party scene of turn of the century America.
In part 2 we venture a little further afield talking about Kevin's other company Superbig Creative, about his punk rock influences and losing to Greg Graffin playing chess backstage at Bad Religion concerts, and how his company approaches sponsoring riders.
I sat down with Kevin Walsh during "Stormpocalypse" and we went all over the map in our conversation. We talked about how and why he tried to craft the image of his company, how to compete as a small fish in a big ocean of bike companies, and why he wants to create a better, more inclusive community in mountain biking.
Caitlyn Vestal has a full time professional job while also maintaining a professional cyclocross racer training and racing schedule. On this episode, we talk about her schedule and how she organizes her time to be able to balance these two aspects of her life, what she uses for cross training, why sometimes you need to eat wrong to train right, and about cyclocross strategy for the uninitiated. If you are the type who will make excuses about being too busy to exercise, you absolutely need to check out this episode!
Ian Andersen is riding from Alaska to Argentina to raise money for the United Spinal Association, a group that helps people who have recently suffered from spinal cord injury. On the episode, we talk about his trip so far (we met up in Vancouver), what made him so passionate about the cause of spinal cord injury, and waking up to a flock of wild sheep. Ian's website is: ridewithian.com
Sonya Looney is an inspirational rider who writes and speaks about empowerment, overcoming fear, and pushing to new boundaries. She's also a 24-hour mountain bike endurance race champion, has won races all over the world, and has managed to create an entire career around mountain biking. In this interview, we talk about getting started in racing, switching to enduro, how she overcame obstacles in her own life to create a career in mountain biking, and how she works 75 hour weeks to manage to live her life doing what she loves. This is a really fascinating interview, and I hope you all enjoy.
NSP regular Clément, professional downhill racer Eliot, and I talk about Rachel Atherton's unbelievable season, Danny Hart's ascendance, the people who have moved up in the ranks, and people you might have missed this season. We also talk about Crankworx from an athlete and a spectator perspective, and a fun story about renting a mustang to go to Rampage with Bernard Kerr.
I talk this week with Swiss National Champion and 5th place overall world cup finisher Emilie Siegenthaler. We talk about how she is recuperating from a recent ACL/meniscus injury, about why this season was still the best she's had, and how she got into downhill racing
Emilie Siegenthaler on the mental focus while riding, the Pivot Racing team, and the time when Brendan Fairclough got chased around the block by goons in South Africa
I talk to Aaron Stinner of Stinner Frameworks about the things that convinced him to start his company, about running an environmentally conscientious handmade bike brand, about the death of American manufacturing, and how much he thinks being an American-made brand affects his competitiveness.
Henning talks about how he got working in the industry, and why YT is taking over the world of mountain biking by being a company that is informal and relaxed. We also talk about predictions for the end of the world cup season, who will be winning the last races on the men's and women's side, and who is the best all-around mountain biker.
I talk to my friend Miriam about starting to mountain bike, what were the pitfalls, the biggest surprises, and the biggest barriers to entry for her. She picked up mountain biking about 4 months ago and now rides more than almost anyone I know. This is a really cool look at what it was like to be a beginner and learn some of the things that we could point out to our friends who want to start riding.
Vernon and I talk about how he got his job in the bike industry after coming from politics, what he doesn't like about new standards in the bike industry and how he tries to balance that with his job of writing about new tech.
I got in touch with Vernon to talk about the Human Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act that is currently in congress and was put forth by the Sustainable Trails Coalition. Vernon has done a lot of reporting about Wilderness areas and how it is that mountain bikers have gotten to be banned. In this episode we talk about the bill itself, how it is that mountain bikers got banned from the wilderness in the first place, and why there is infighting between IMBA and the STC. We also try to dive into why it is that hikers and equestrians don't seem to like mountain bikers,
I talk to Adam Leddin, the creator of CycleEXIF.com, a celebration of the beauty of the bicycle, from custom frames to well-worn cargo bikes. We talk about Adam's introduction to riding, what is aesthetically beautiful about the bicycle, why he created the website, and about a single speed tour from Sydney to Melbourne. Definitely a really nice change of pace in terms of conversation!
I talk to Danielle Baker, a writer for Pinkbike and Freehub Magazine, as well as the director of rider relations for the BC Bike Race. This was a really cool conversation that ranges from how Danielle made it into the bike industry to internet trolls to a horrible crash she had on a tour from Vancouver to Canmore in 2011.
I talk to legendary freerider Darren "Bearclaw" Berrecloth about the changes to the Red Bull Rampage for this year as well as about riding Canyon Bikes and about spending 24 hours in a strip club. Then Phil Kmetz comes on to talk about last weekend's US Nationals downhill race where he took 10th place in a hotly contested race. Darren's sponsors are: Red Bull, Gopro, Canyon Bikes, Maxxis, Evoc, DVO Suspensions, Spank, Adidas eyewear, IXS protection, Sombrio, Five Ten, Shimano, Ledlenser, and Avena Originals
This week I talk with Claire Buchar who is a real multitasker. She spent 12 years as a privateer and held all kinds of jobs like coaching, working in a bike shop, and even construction. She now continues to race, manages a team Kovarik Racing, is a graphic designer, is in the media, and is a brand ambassador. We talk about when and why she started riding, the Kovarik Racing Rider Development Team, the difficulties of life as a privateer, and how she keeps eating healthy and nutritious. Her sponsors are: Intense, Fox, Smith Optics, Magura, DT Swiss, Chromag bikes, Five Ten, Maxxis, and Evolution Bike Shop Whistler
Tara Llanes is an inspirational part of the mountain bike community. She is paraplegic after a crash during a race in 2007. She now runs Tara Llanes Industries (tarallanesindustries.com), importing and distributing adaptive cycles for the differently abled and working on advocacy to open access for the differently abled. We talk about her company, how mountain biking has changed since she was racing, and why she plays better tennis when she's not thinking about the game. This was one of my favorite interviews so far, please enjoy!
An interview with James Wilson, a mountain bike-focused strength training coach who has created all kinds of programs to get riders to improve their riding using the latest information about fitness and training. James and I talk about whether we need more data about mountain biking, what ways riders can think about how they interact with the world to then improve their riding, how he keeps up with changes in technology and fitness to constantly improve his training programs, and more! You can check out James on his website: bikejames.com
A look back at the Fort William and Leogang downhill world cup races. We talk about Rachel Atherton's dominance, the men's field including Greg Minaar and Danny Hart, who is coming up this season, and who we expect to do well in the coming weeks.
Great interview with a super cool rider, Phil Kmetz, who is a business student, a professional downhill rider, and also a youtuber who makes fantastic how-to videos for mountain bikers. I love seeing how people can find different avenues for advancing mountain biking and I think that Phil has chosen a unique and terrific way to spread the word and help less experienced riders out. Phil would like to thank: DeFeet, Danny's Cycles, Cane Creek, IXS, and Deity components (who make the best t-shirts)
I talk to one of the most decorated bike racers of all time, Jill Kintner. A multiple-time world champion, national champion, Crankworx winner, Sea Otter winner in the disciplines of BMX, 4-Cross, Dual Slalom, Pumptrack, Downhill, and even Enduro. Oh. And also an Olympic Bronze Medalist. Jill's sponsors are: Red bull, Shimano, Fox Shox, Norco, e-thirteen, Renthal, Maxxis, Sombrio, Steven's Pass, Stan's NoTubes, Camelbak, Fabric saddles, Smith Optics, Bell, Slytech, Maxima, Stages, and Fanatik.
Mike and I talk about how Sacred Rides came about, how mountain bikes can be a force for good, some examples of peoples' experience with the company, and how mountain biking is a good metaphor for life. The movie he was talking about at the end of the pod was "Chasing The Inca"
Part 2 of my interview with Eliot Jackson. We talk about how to become a pro racer, what it's like having a brother who rides professionally, and what Eliot does when he's not riding or training.
This episode I put together a brief in memoriam to Steve Smith, the Canadian downhill rider who died tragically this week. Then I talk to Eliot Jackson, pro world cup downhill rider, about his results at Cairns, how he trains, the vocal chord disfunction that kept him out of racing for a season, and what his off-season is like. Sound clips came from "Seasons" by The Collective, "From the Inside Out" by 2nd Base Films, "Follow Me" by Anthill Films, and the UCI broadcasts of the 2013 Mont Sainte Anne and Leogang Downhill Races. Thanks to all of them for letting me use those sounds.
I rant about sexism in cycling as evidenced by Shane Sutton, then Clement and I talk about where he learned to ride DH, how he got into the bike industry, and why the French don't like the Athertons.
In this conversation with Clément Touraille, we talk about the differences between Lourdes and Cairns, Loic Bruni's win, Eliot Jackson, Fitness for DH riders, Josh Button, Sick Mik Hannah, and the races we look forward to the rest of the season.
I talk to my good friend Alex about some stories of biking and his life as a courier and the Island Sprint V race this weekend. The Island Sprint sponsors are: @merakiway @guy.friday @nofunpress @libertycyclery @rideawaybikes @urbanecyclist @forwardcycling @regalbicycles @cyclecouture @biketoonsto @switchbackcyclery @tandemcoffeetoronto @mosheroriginals