David Golay, Author at BLISTER

Five Ten Trailcross GTX

July 25, 2022April 3, 2022 by David Golay

Five Ten calls the Trailcross GTX “the ultimate wet weather riding shoe” and it is, by far, the best option our Bike Editor has tried to date. But it’s not quite perfect — so check out our full review for the full rundown.

Let’s Go Racing

March 26, 2022 by David Golay

The 2022 World Cup Downhill season kicks off this weekend, and our Bike Editor is pretty fired up about it.

There are a lot of smart people working in bike suspension, but EXT founder Franco Fratton might have the most impressive resume — which includes working for the Ferrari and Lotus Formula One teams. And so on this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Franco to chat about his career and life story; his suspension design philosophy; how he went from focusing on motorsports to making some of the best bike suspension out there; and a whole lot more.

EXT Founder Franco Fratton on a Lifetime in Suspension (Ep.110)

March 24, 2022 by David Golay

EXT founder Franco Fratton might be the most interesting man in the suspension world, and we sat down to talk about his career, working in Formula One, entering the bike market, suspension design philosophy, and a whole lot more.

David Golay Reviews the Cannondale Jekyll for Blister

2022 Cannondale Jekyll

March 23, 2022 by David Golay

Cannondale calls their new high-pivot Jekyll a game-on Enduro race bike, and it is a good one. But it’s also a bit more versatile than that label might suggest. Check out our full review for our take.

David Golay Reviews the Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol for Blister

2022 Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol

March 22, 2022March 21, 2022 by David Golay

We’ve now used the same exact front triangle to review four different Guerrilla Gravity bikes, and the latest one, the revised Trail Pistol, has proven to be a nice update to the brand’s short-travel Trail bike. Check out our full review for more.

Martin Maes practically grew up in the GT pits with his father, and had raced for them since he was a teenager. But he made the move to Orbea for 2022, and so on this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down to chat about his career trajectory and the value of a change of pace; the mental aspects of racing & injury recovery; becoming a father; bike setup for Enduro and DH racing, and a whole bunch more.

Martin Maes on Team Changes, Bike Setup, & Fatherhood (Ep.109)

March 18, 2022March 17, 2022 by David Golay

Martin Maes makes his podcast debut to talk about career progression, the value of a change of pace, fatherhood, bike setup, and a whole lot more.

David Golay Reviews RockShox Flight Attendant for Blister

Flash Review — RockShox Flight Attendant

March 16, 2022 by David Golay

RockShox launched their Flight Attendant electronic suspension a few months ago and we’re now spending time on it — and it’s pretty mind-blowing.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Ignorance is Bliss, Sometimes

March 13, 2022March 12, 2022 by David Golay

Dropper posts keep getting longer — with OneUp’s new 240 mm version leading the charge — and our Bike Editor reflects on a decade-plus of dropper post evolution.

Yoann Barelli just announced the formation of his Into The Gnar Progression Team — so we got him back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about it. And along the way we talk about Yoann’s career shift into freeriding; what he’s learned about coaching & training in recent years; his plans for 2022 — including teasing some very big news — and a bunch more.

Yoann Barelli on Progression, Coaching, & Career Shifts (Ep.108)

March 10, 2022 by David Golay

Yoann Barelli is back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about his new, very unique Into The Gnar Progression Team — and Yoann teases some very big news, too.

David Golay and Dylan Wood Review the Santa Cruz Bronson for Blister

2022 Santa Cruz Bronson / Juliana Roubion

March 21, 2022March 9, 2022 by David Golay

The Santa Cruz Bronson has grown a mullet, but it’s still a super versatile Trail bike that we think will work for a ton of different riders. Check out our full review for the complete rundown.

What We’re Watching — March 2022

March 5, 2022 by David Golay

March’s chapter of What We’re Watching has a bunch of ski, bike, and running videos for your entertainment — plus a sneak preview of our Bikes & Big Ideas guest for next week.

David Golay reviews the Antidote Carbonjack for Blister

Flash Review — Antidote Carbonjack 29

March 3, 2022 by David Golay

We've started spending time on the Antidote Carbonjack. Check out our Flash Review for our early impressions.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

If you’re already an active member, please log in.

(If you're already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)

We’ve got Darren Murphy from Push Industries on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about suspension design and tuning, the Eleven Six shock, how to set up your suspension, and much more.

Push Industries’ Darren Murphy on Product Development, Suspension Tuning, & Local Manufacturing (Ep.107)

March 3, 2022 by David Golay

We’ve got Darren Murphy from Push Industries on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about suspension design and tuning, the Eleven Six shock, how to set up your suspension, and much more.

On Race Broadcasting & Going Mainstream

February 26, 2022February 25, 2022 by David Golay

The UCI just announced that Discovery will be taking over World Cup race broadcasting from Red Bull, starting in 2023. Our Bike Editor has some thoughts.

Mountain bike suspension is better than it’s ever been, but there’s always room for improvement. Cascade Components certainly thinks so, and have made a name for themselves making aftermarket suspension links to do just that. And on this week’s episode of Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Cascade engineer Jimmy Davis talk about suspension design, why it’s possible to improve stock bikes for the right riders (and who those riders are), and a whole lot more.

Cascade Components on Making Bikes Better (Ep.106)

February 24, 2022 by David Golay

We sit down with Cascade Components to talk about suspension design; their aftermarket links & the goals behind them; plus brakes, chain guides, and a whole lot more.

Starling Cycles have made a name for themselves building simple, elegant steel single-pivot bikes, and this week on Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with founder Joe McEwan to talk about going from working on aerospace composites to building metal bikes, his thoughts on bike design — including why simpler is often better — and a whole lot more.

Starling Cycles on Simplicity, Design, & Building Bikes in a Shed (Ep.105)

February 23, 2022February 17, 2022 by David Golay

Starling Cycles have made a name for themselves building simple, elegant steel single-pivot bikes, and we sat down with founder Joe McEwan to talk about going from working on aerospace composites to building metal bikes, his thoughts on bike design — including why simpler is often better — and a whole lot more.

Blister Topic of the Week: Try Flat Pedals

Debatable: You Should Try Flat Pedals (Again)

February 12, 2022 by David Golay

Flat pedals have essentially disappeared from the upper echelons of bike racing, but there’s a lot more to life than just going fast, and our Bike Editor makes the case why even the most staunch clipless acolytes should learn to ride flat pedals, too.

We’ve got Ed Masters on Bikes & Big Ideas this week to talk about the incredible end to the 2021 World Cup season (and get hyped for racing to fire back up in 2022); catch up on his injury-laden 2021 season and how he’s doing these days; the similarities and differences between Enduro and DH, and the challenges of racing both; and a whole lot more.

Ed Masters on Racing DH & Enduro at the Top Level (Ep.104)

February 10, 2022February 10, 2022 by David Golay

We’ve got Ed Masters on Bikes & Big Ideas this week to talk about the incredible end to the 2021 World Cup season (and get hyped for racing to fire back up in 2022); catch up on his injury-laden 2021 season and how he’s doing these days; the similarities and differences between Enduro and DH, and the challenges of racing both; and a whole lot more.

What We’re Watching — February 2022

February 5, 2022 by David Golay

What We’re Watching is back with a bunch more ski and bike videos for your viewing pleasure, including some quick edits, a couple of longer pieces, and one really important statement on mental health.

We sat down with Katy Winton on Bikes & Big Ideas to get the full story on her whirlwind 2021 season — including having to start her own team at the 11th hour — as well as her recent signing with GT. And along the way she sheds a ton of light on life as a professional racer, and everything that goes into training, mental preparation, race-day focus, managing a career and team contracts, and a whole lot more.

Katy Winton on 2021, Life as an EWS Pro, & Signing With GT (Ep.103)

February 3, 2022 by David Golay

We sat down with Katy Winton to get the full story on her whirlwind 2021 season — including having to start her own team at the 11th hour — as well as her recent signing with GT. And along the way she sheds a ton of light on life as a professional racer, and everything that goes into training, mental preparation, race-day focus, managing a career and team contracts, and a whole lot more.

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