Sustainability in Mountain Biking – How Are We Doing?

Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

Sustainability is a word that we hear often these days and for good reason, but how is mountain biking doing? The release of the first sustainability report by Trek last year really started to shine a light on the scale of the challenge that we face, so I thought it would be a good idea to sit down with an expert and find out more. Mike Bascombe is a mountain biker and a consultant who specialises in sustainability. We chat about what sustainability means and the benefits that it can bring to the sport, the brands and the individuals involved, as well as to the planet in general. We look at how the mountain bike industry is doing and focus on areas where both brands and us as individuals can work to make the biggest improvements. While this may be an uncomfortable topic in many ways, I think it’s super important that we start to tackle it. This is something that isn’t going to go away and we need to start making improvements and moving in a positive direction, together, as a whole sport. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Mike Bascombe. You can find out a little more about Mike in his work bio here. The Trek sustainability report that we mention is here. Check out what Bike Park Wales are doing on sustainability here. Supporting Partners Shimano Shimano have recently launched their new gravity focussed flat pedal shoe, the GR9. It features their brand new gravity-optimised Ultread sole that combines the rubber compound and the sole design to create the perfect balance of grip and durability. I’ve been using the shoe for the past few weeks, so I can’t really comment on durability yet although there is no evidence of any damage from the pedal pins after the first few rides. What I can comment on is the grip. For me, they’ve got the balance right, I feel totally connected to the bike and I’m not worried about my foot slipping on the pedals, but I don’t feel so locked in that I can’t make minor adjustments to my foot position on the pedal. The new GR9 is available now from your local Shimano dealer and you can check it out at mtb.shimano.com. WeAreOne Composites I've been using WeAreOne wheels for nearly 4 years now and I'm a massive fan. I'm currently running a Faction 29er up front and a Union 27.5 in the rear and I love them. I feel like they strike a lovely balance of being precise but not so stiff that they punish you for being a millimetre offline. The quality and finish of the product is also second to none. As a downtime listener you can get 15% off all rim-only products from WeAreOne during the month of March. All you need to do is to use the code ‘wearerims2022’ at the checkout over on weareonecomposites.com. Podcast Stuff Downtime EP Downtime EP issue 1 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast, expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history. Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep and you’ll be able to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage. Merch If you want to support the podcast, and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free and means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available.