Advertise on podcast: Edge vs. Everyone: A Biker's Edge Podcast

Some mountain bike rides just hit different. In this episode, Zach and I talk about what actually makes a mountain bike ride memorable and how to have better rides more often. It’s not always the bike, the trail rating, or even how fast you’re going. A lot of the time, the best rides come down to the right mix of terrain, conditions, effort, scenery, people, and a little unpredictability. We get into some of our favorite mountain bike rides, the moments that made them great, and the things that can turn a normal ride into an all-timer. New trails, hero dirt, mud, big efforts, sketchy features, broken bikes, improvised trail fixes, great views, and the kind of riding that keeps you fully switched on. We also talk about how to avoid the stuff that can ruin a ride, and why some of the rides that go completely sideways end up becoming the best stories. If you’re looking for mountain bike tips, better MTB rides, trail-riding advice, or just want to hear two riders unpack what makes a great day on the bike, this one’s for you. What makes an all-time great ride for you? Drop your favorite ride, trail, or ingredient for a perfect day on the bike in the comments.

Ready for an argument? Let’s chat about the hype around Avinox. Love it or hate it, it’s here. It breaks the rules, goes fast, and has completely taken over the conversation.It’s a heck of a motor, and we certainly don’t hate it. But the motor wars aren’t as won as the internet forums might think.

We get a lot of mountain bike questions. Some are great. Some are brutal. In this episode, we break down the most common questions we see. Sizing, e-bikes, carbon vs alloy, judging bikes off geo charts, and a few takes that needed a reality check. We give real answers based on time on trail, not internet theory. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just helping you understand what actually matters when you’re choosing a bike or trying to get more out of the one you have. If you’ve asked one of these before, you’re not alone.

How many mountain bikes do you actually need?In this episode, we break down one-bike, two-bike, and three-bike setups — and then put them to the test with a realistic $5,000 budget. When does a second bike truly add value? When does a third bike stop making sense? Where does specialization start to matter — and how much of it is just justification?We walk through our current garages, build ideal 1-, 2-, and 3-bike setups, and stress test everything against real-world constraints.No fantasy builds. No unlimited-money cop-outs. Just honest answers about what actually earns space in your garage.If you’ve ever wondered whether you need more bikes… or fewer… this one’s for you.

In Episode 3, I sit down with my neighbor Josh Hicks to talk about his experience at the Colorado Trail Race. We get into what the race actually feels like day-to-day, mountain lion encounters, wildfire-induced loogies, and sleeping on gas-station benches.We talk about training, pacing, decision-making, mental fatigue, and how riding alone for that long reshapes your body and mind. If you’re curious about endurance racing, bikepacking, or the realities of doing something that’s too hard for a long time, this one’s worth a listen.

This episode is our year-end bike awards show—but not the polished, press-release version.We’re running through the categories that actually mattered this year, based on what was ridden, broken, overhyped, underrated, and learned the hard way. No spec-sheet worship. No brand-safe takes.Eligibility:Anything discussed had to be released this year or meaningfully come into popularity this year.Categories covered:• Bike of the Year• Ride of the Year• Component / Tech of the Year• Brand of the Year• Most Overhyped• Most Underrated• Best Value• Best Looking Bike• Disappointment of the Year• Trend of the Year• What Actually Mattered This YearSome picks are obvious.Some are going to piss people off.A few have nothing to do with gear at all.This isn’t about crowning winners.It’s about pressure-testing the things we all argue about and figuring out what actually moved the needle on the trail this year.If you’ve got strong opinions, you’re in the right place.

Does bike weight actually matter, or is it one of those things riders obsess over because it’s easy to measure? In this episode of Edge vs Everyone, I start with a simple claim: bike weight doesn’t matter nearly as much as people think. Grams get argued about endlessly, pounds get misunderstood, and somewhere along the way weight became shorthand for performance. We dig into where that thinking came from, why it stuck around, and what riders are really feeling when a bike feels fast, slow, lively, or dead on the trail. We talk about modern bikes getting heavier, why that isn’t a bad thing, and how geometry, suspension, tires, wheels, and setup often matter far more than the number on a scale. There’s pushback, disagreement, and a few lines worth defending along the way. This isn’t about pretending weight doesn’t exist. It’s about putting it in the right place and asking whether it deserves the attention it gets. Edge vs Everyone. Hold your line.