Mountain biking with inadequate brakes is terrifying, if not downright unsafe, but the role of pads and rotors in dialing in braking performance is often underappreciated. So this week on Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Daryl Simmons of Galfer USA to go deep on brake pads and rotors, including differences in pad materials and why the classic metallic vs. organic binary doesn’t tell the whole story; what factors influence wet-weather performance and heat resistance; rotor design and how to think about choosing rotor sizes; and a whole lot more.

Galfer on MTB Brake Tech (Ep.81)

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Mountain biking with inadequate brakes is terrifying, but the role of pads and rotors is often underappreciated. So we sat down with Daryl Simmons of Galfer USA to go deep on brake pads and rotors, including differences in pad materials and why the basic metallic vs. organic debate doesn’t tell the whole story; what factors influence wet-weather performance and heat resistance; rotor design and how to think about choosing rotor sizes; and a whole lot more.
David Golay reviews the Nicolai G1 for Blister

Flash Review: Nicolai / Geometron G1

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The Nicolai G1 stands out as being just about the most aggressive-seeming Enduro bike on the market, and we've been spending time on it. Check out our Flash Review for our initial impressions.

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Blister Stuff We Like — August 2021

Stuff We Like: August 2021

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In the latest edition of “Stuff We Like,” our reviewers share a broad range of products they’re currently using — and really liking — from fancy sparkling water to bike tires, boots, and more.
Blister Outdoor Gear review Crested Butte

Chris Porter on Mullets, Dual-Crown Enduro Forks, & More (Ep.80)

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Chris Porter, one of the most interesting and most opinionated figures in the MTB world, is back on Bikes and Big Ideas. We discuss the Geometron G1 & how Chris chooses to set up his personal bike; dual-crown Enduro forks & how we both wish they were more common; EXT suspension, including the Era fork and custom G1-spec Storia shock; & much more.
Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming a force in the world of ultra running. So yesterday on Off The Couch, we talked with Annie about her preparation for Leadville and the race itself; waiting tables; our idea to run for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October.

2021 Leadville 100 Winner, Annie Hughes (Ep.92)

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Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming a force in the world of ultra running. So we talked with Annie about her preparation for Leadville and the race itself; waiting tables; our idea to run for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October.
Blister Mountain Bike Review Hip Pack Roundup 2021

Hip Pack Roundup — 2021

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Hip packs have gone from being an ironic fashion throwback to a commonly accepted mountain bike accessory, but they now come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve been testing six options, from ultra-minimalist to quite roomy, and here you can check out how they compare and which would work best for you.
Our guest today on the Blister Podcast is Troy Russ, the community development director of Crested Butte. Troy has a long history in community planning and development, so is able to provide an incredibly well-informed perspective on a broad range of topics, and there are a lot of relevant considerations and takeaways for mountain communities everywhere.

Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2: Housing, Community, & Core Values (Ep.179)

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Our guest today is Troy Russ, the community development director of Crested Butte. Troy has a long history in community planning and development, so is able to provide an incredibly well-informed perspective on a broad range of topics, and there are a lot of relevant considerations and takeaways for mountain communities everywhere.
Gordon Gianniny reviews the Hoka One One Zinal for Blister

Hoka One One Zinal

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The Zinal is Hoka's latest offering in the more minimally cushioned, fast-and-light category of trail shoes. So how does it compare to the numerous other options in that class, and what sort of runners should have it on their list? Check out our review.
Blister Outdoor Gear review Crested Butte

Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design (Ep.159)

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We are airing the panel session on ski design that we held at the Blister Summit. We talk to the designers behind the skis from Blizzard, Folsom Custom Skis, Rossignol, Dynastar, and Wagner Custom Skis to get their respective design philosophies; discuss current trends in ski design; debate whether skis are being dumbed down today; determine once and for all whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; & more.
This week on the Bikes & Big Ideas podcast we decided it would be a good time to check in with several of our reviewers on the gear they’ve been most impressed with so far this year; the new products they’re most excited to check out; and along the way we talk about mullet bikes, bike shop pranks, and unveil several genius new ideas that we definitely shouldn’t be giving away for free.

Gear of the Year (So Far) (Ep.79)

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We check in with several of our reviewers to discuss the gear they’ve been most impressed with so far this year; the new products they’re most excited to check out; and along the way we talk about mullet bikes, bike shop pranks, and unveil several genius new ideas that we definitely shouldn’t be giving away for free.
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