Send us a Text Message. The MCP team put out a request on our socials and multiple forums requesting stories about crazy wildlife encounters on the trail. We got a great response (thanks to all that contributed)! So, we grouped the inputs into 8 categories and recorded this episode where Josh & Dane discuss the “best” (unscientifically chosen) resp…

Send us a Text Message. We live in “America’s Bike Town” (Tucson, Arizona). Our weather allows us to ride 365 days a year and the cycling options here are unmatched. We have 100’s of miles of single-track that range from cross country to big mountain. The road cycling attracts pros and amateurs from all over the world to ride our vast network of pa…

Send us a Text Message. Josh and Dane sit down with Steve Morganstern (Bicycle Ranch) to discuss why mountain bikers might be giving up more than they save when buying from a consumer direct brand. This episode essentially covers the consumer value proposition of buying from your local bike shop versus buying a bike online. The local shop value pro…

Send us a Text Message. Josh & Dane took a field trip up to Tempe, Arizona to spend a day with Pivot Cycles’ President (Bryan Mason) and Factory Field Rep (Bill Larson). The day included a fun ride on Pivot eMTBs at the amazing Hawes Trail System, grabbing lunch at Someburros, touring the Pivot factory, meeting many of the Pivot team in various dep…

Send us a Text Message. This episode features the MCP hosts Josh and Dane and is pretty MTB-techy. It starts out with a couple shoutouts from Josh to bike industry brands 1up and PNW for excellent customer service. It transitions to cover some of our listeners perspectives on “stupid stuff in the bike industry”. And finally, it concludes with an ep…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Dane sits down again with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain to discuss Rocky's significantly redesigned enduro bike... the Altitude. Feedback from Rocky's professional enduro race team were essential in shaping the Altitude's redesign. This episode features less rabbit holes and more bike specs. Enjoy. Learn mor…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode Josh & Dane chat with "Sunglass Rob" the CEO of San Diego's based SportRX. SportRX is an online company focused on prescription eyewear for multiple sports with biking being one of their biggest markets). Sunglass Rob is an avid mountain biker and an absolute savant as it relates to eyewear. In addition to le…

Send us a Text Message. Dane had a chance to sit down with Sam Elmes from Rocky Mountain Bikes during the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival to chat about the new Instinct, Rocky’s line-up and a bit about the mountain bike festival. Rocky Mountain Instinct https://bikes.com/collections/instinct Sedona Mountain Bike Festival https://sedonamtbfestival.com…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode Josh and Dane discuss and debate (argue even) about annoying mountain bike stuff. Some of the topics we debate on include… Presta valves + chunky sealant. Dunlop valves. British brake lever setup (rear brake on left / front brake right). MOAB closing its lift (yes, they had one). Spoke holes inside rims (requ…

Send us a Text Message. Old Pueblo MTB is a mountain bike group based in Tucson, AZ. that hosts multiple group rides every week. The group communicates primarily through their Facebook page which has 4,000+ members. The episode features ‘The Travis Williams’ (aka Captain Enthusiasm) who is one of the key administrators of Old Pueblo MTB. In additio…

Send us a Text Message. Recorded onsite at the brewery, the boys chat with Brian (owner of Catalina Brewing Company) about beer, the brewery, and content spanning a ton of mountain bike topics (including: bikes, epic adventures, bike art, and more) . Some interesting nuggets include how a 125cc moto smashed the rear window of Josh’s truck, an epic …

Send us a Text Message. What is the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo? Think “Burning Man” + “Mountain Bike Race”. Dane & Josh recorded this episode LIVE this morning, just before the race start in the Old Pueblo MTB booth. In this episode we laugh, rap about the event, interact with participants and spectators, and as always go down random mountain bike …

Send us a Text Message. If you listen to this podcast at all... you probably know that we are presently obsessed with bike fits. It all started when Wolfman (aka Andrew Wolf, a prior exercise physiologist) berated Josh for never having a bike fit in Episode #57. That catalyzed an awesome bike fit experience with Frank Kaiser (Ben's Bikes) who we in…

Send us a Text Message. Join us in wishing a warm welcome to Dane Higgins (Guru Bikes & Guru Suspension) who is joining Josh as the new co-host of the Mountain Cog Podcast. In this episode, we welcome and learn more about Dane (his shop & suspension business, his bikes and riding style). In addition, the episode spends a good chunk of time on the s…

Send us a Text Message. Bittersweet. It’s an interesting word. It’s used to refer to something that has both happy and sad aspects. It’s the perfect word to describe this episode. The sad part is that this is Mike’s last episode as a co-host of the MCP. He’s retiring. The happy part is that we have awesome plans for the future. Those plans include …

Send us a Text Message. In Episode 57, Wolfman convinced us to get a bike fit. So, we tracked down a local (and amazing) professional bike fitter, got a bike fit from him, and convinced him to come on the podcast. In this episode we chat with Frank Kaiser (aka our favorite German). Frank is a professional bike fitter, a certified IRONMAN Coach, a b…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode Josh, Mike, & Roundabout Sam have an interesting conversation on the vast challenges and success stories related to managing transportation & mobility in Tucson, Arizona. While centered around Tucson… these topics directly translate to any major city. The subjects covered include: increasing bicycle, pedestri…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we engage in a compelling conversation with Susie Murphy, the Executive Director of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA.com), a non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing sustainable trail access for mountain biking in San Diego County. Established in 1994, SDMBA boasts a volu…

Send us a Text Message. This is the 1st of our 2 part series with O.G. BMX pro Dusty Horton. The episode starts off with Dusty telling about his BMX roots in Milwaukee, his time riding for DK, his discovery of 22" BMX bikes and his current gig riding for Ditto BMX. The episode is full of laughs and fun stories including riding brakeless, how Turf S…

Send us a Text Message. Warning: this episode includes conversation about suicide. This episode may not be appropriate for anyone sensitive to the topic of suicide. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please know, SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER, help is available. A super easy way to get help in the United States is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Just …

Send us a Text Message. Ever wondered about the intricate science behind cardiovascular fitness and the mysterious VO2 max readings on your smart devices? Or pondered about the impact of bike crank lengths on your cadence? Well, your curiosity is about to be satiated as we explore these fascinating topics with our guest, Wolfman. An exercise physio…

Send us a Text Message. This week's guest is 15 year old road cyclist Brady Hogue (joined by his mom Sarah). Throughout the episode Brady walks us through his cycling journey starting with the Vail Composite Mountain Bike team thru his transition to road cycling, including racing in nationals and participating in USA Cycling's European Training and…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode we chat with Sirena Rana, owner of Trails Inspire. The episode covers many cool outdoor topics including Amerind Museum's grand opening (Oct 7th, 2023) of a new hiking trail system in Texas Canyon, AZ (in the Dragoons) and The Sun Corridor Trail project which aims to establish a bike touring route from Dougla…

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever met a person whose spirit leaves an indelible mark on your soul? A man with a self-actualized nature, humbleness, and kindness that garners respect from all that meet him? Craig Randall, fondly remembered as the Bike Monk, was that person for Tucson's mountain biking community. One of the original trailblazers,…

Send us a Text Message. Today's guest, Tucson Police Department Chief Chad Kasmar, is a passionate cyclist with a fascinating career in public safety. Kasmar shares his journey from a tricycle-riding child to an avid mountain biking adult. We delve into his adventurous Leadville race experiences, discuss his transition from dirt bikes to mountain b…

Send us a Text Message. Ever wondered what it takes to reconstitute and epic big mountain trail system with sick vertical drop? Today, we're fortunate to have Nat Gordon, a board member of the volunteer-run Sonoran Desert Mountain Bikers (SDMB) organization on the show, to shed some light on their organization and their efforts to revive the trails…

Send us a Text Message. Join us as we pedal our way through the world of cycling with our guest, Jesus Frías, a seasoned cyclist and owner of Ride Tucson, a new shop that focuses on building community. With over two decades of riding experience tucked under his helmet, Jesus opens up about his inventive business model that blends his love for cycli…

Send us a Text Message. Turns out, growing up in a skatepark lays the foundation for unbelievable talent on gravity fed trails. This week’s guests (Skander Anderson & Grayson Festerling) are both 14 years old. They grew up spending countless hours riding and competing on freestyle scooters at skateparks throughout the country. Today, they are “reti…

Send us a Text Message. This episode features Joanna and Phil Yates of Trail Lovers, a company located in Sedona, Arizona that provides guided mountain bike rides/tours. Joanna is the Skills Clinic Manager & Lead Skills Coach and Phil is the General Manager & Lead Guide. Trail Lovers offers many different, unique, and 5-star MTB tours for every typ…

Send us a Text Message. If you have not ridden Angelfire Bike Park in Northern New Mexico, then stop what you are doing right now and plan a trip. It’s a bucket list destination. In this episode Angelfire’s Bike Park Manager (Patrick West) and Gravity Trail Development Manager (Tucker VanOrmer) give us the inside scoop on the park’s history, operat…

Send us a Text Message. Our hosts are joined by guest Josh Lipton, founder of Campfire Cycling, a brick & mortar and online shop that specializes in bikepacking and bicycle touring. Lipton shares his expertise and the trio dive deep into specific bikes, components, bike setup, and unique gear used in bike packing and touring (all of which are avail…

Send us a Text Message. There are three types of people in the world… 1. those who - wonder what happened 2. those who - know what happened, but were not involved 3. those who - make things happen This week’s guest Brad “T-bone” Knox is in that third category. Years ago, he decided to transform himself into an elite athlete, and he did it. In this …

Send us a Text Message. Josh and Lacey take our listeners on a journey around the world on two wheels with extraordinary guests Marti Shea (aka the Gazelle), an esteemed elite athlete, cyclist, and owner of Select Fitness, and Joe Tonon (aka Luca), owner of Destination Cycling. As Marti and Joe join forces, listeners are treated to an insightful an…

Send us a Text Message. The week is the first of a periodic and recurring new series on bike riding destinations. We call it… Go ride a bike. This first episode highlights Mission Beach, California, where you can park your car and use a bike to get to 100’s of great activities and venues. Mike & Josh are joined by 10 year old Matt Anderson who offe…

Send us a Text Message. Framebuildingschool.com offers 7 day (carbon) & 11 day (steel) courses in where you learn to design and actually fabricate a custom frame! Only 2 students allowed per session. In this episode of the MCP, we have the privilege of interviewing Dave Bohm, the founder of Bohemian Bicycles and Framebuilding School.com. Dave is an…

Send us a Text Message. This episode features Sherwood Gibson, the founder of Ventana Mountain Bikes USA. The conversation covers the origins of Ventana Bikes, Sherwood’s passion for bicycles, and how it led him to establish the company. Sherwood and his team set out to create top-quality bikes that were manufactured in the USA. He discussed how he…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of the Mountain Cog Podcast, we delve into the world of endurance coaching, single-speed racing, and leadership training with the remarkable Troy Jacobson. With a vast array of experiences and expertise, Troy shares his insights and stories of helping people boost their performance whether on the race course …

Send us a Text Message. This week’s episode features Mike Piccini and Paul Thomas from Carbon-Fix. The Carbon-Fix team is made up of a few individuals with a combination of many years of cycling experience and more importantly over 35 years of carbon composite experience gained while working in aerospace and defense. These guys can repair just abou…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we hear from Scott Wraith (aka Scotty Van Halen), coach of the Vail Composite Mountain Bike Team, and his daughters/team riders, Shelby and Riley. They discuss the team's history, its mission, and the benefits of participating in competitive mountain biking. The Vail Composite Mountain Bike Team, a member of…

Send us a Text Message. This week the MCP is joined by guest host Mike Mucker and features special guest Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association (ATA). The ATA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment.…

Send us a Text Message. Wil “The Phantom” Bisel and his wife Jessica join the MCP for an entertaining conversation that weaves together his DYI approach to BMX, gravel riding, and yoga. Wil is a multi-faceted athlete and coach, currently riding and coaching for the Biolab Sciences team, and a recently certified yoga instructor. Jessica is a certifi…

Send us a Text Message. In this week’s episode, the boys are joined by Andy “Floyd” Erickson who runs the ‘Tucson BMX’ racetrack in southern Arizona. Throughout the conversation the crew uncovers many interesting topics including: How BMX turns out great multi-discipline cyclists. The evolution of BMX components and geometry over time and how they …

Send us a Text Message. In this episode the boys discuss checks, checks, checks. Pre-ride bike checks. Ride gear checks. Shop tool checks. And how to stay positive and check yourself when forced off the bike with an injury. Topics covered include: The pre-ride “M” check. The gear you should take along with you on a ride. The basic shop tools every …

Send us a Text Message. This week Mike and Josh are joined by a father and son duo of mountain bike enthusiasts; Aaron “Limited Edition” Cavazos and his teenage son James “The Rambler”. These two boys share their passion for mountain biking through stories of riding, racing, coaching, and gear selection. Many topics were touched on in this episode …

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we meet Dane Higgins, the owner of Guru Bikes and Guru Suspension. Guru Bikes is a newly opened and full service bike shop in Tucson, Arizona. Guru Suspension is a nationwide mountain bike suspension service company that works with both independent bicycle retailers and consumers directly. Guru Suspension se…

Send us a Text Message. This week we are excited to introduce our audience to the “Stoke Podcast” in this joint MCP/Stoke episode. Stoke Podcast is hosted by Quinn Travis who is a professional off-road cyclist, Psychology major, Yoga student, a new dad, and a seeker of movement. Through his Stoke Podcast, Quinn interviews people who explore the rea…

Send us a Text Message. In this podcast, we hear from Brian Newbrey, (aka Dah Shark) owner of Ajo Bikes, a family bicycle shop in Tucson, Arizona. Brian talks about his passion for helping people find the right bike for their needs, and how his shop has become a hub for the local biking community. One of the unique offerings at Ajo Bikes is their s…

Send us a Text Message. Eric “EZ” Ebenboch (aka The Cheetah) stops by the Mountain Cog studio during his trip to Tucson for the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo event. Throughout the chat and amongst the banter, EZ shares a lot of great insight into what sounds like a pretty amazing bike scene in Wisconsin. We knew Trek was based out of Wisconsin, we had…

Send us a Text Message. Jody Bartz, PhD, dedicated endurance athlete with over a decade of experience as a competitive cyclist, recently started a program called GRO Girl GRO which stands for “Gathering and Recreating Outdoors, Girl(s) learn how to Give back, be Responsible, and take Ownership.” In the podcast, she discusses the mission of the prog…

Send us a Text Message. Back by popular demand, the boys are joined by Punk Rock Dan for a fun conversation that covers a number of topics including… Returning to exercise after respiratory illness. How martial arts & scuba training can help you better handle a crash. A recount of their recently broken bikes and the planned replacements. A few bike…