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Jonathan talks with Will Cockrell about his excellent book, Everest, Inc. They discuss the fascinating history of guiding on Everest, the evolution of that industry, and the broader topic of the ethics, principles, and parameters of guiding in general, anywhere.
TRP Evo Pro Brakes
TRP’s Evo Pro brakes take over from the popular DH-R Evo as their flagship gravity offering, and TRP says the new stoppers offer better ergonomics, more power, and greater adjustability. We’ve spent the last seven months putting those claims to the test. See how the Evo Pro brakes stack up.
Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 2: State of Shops; Gear Wins & Fails; & the Future of Each (Ep.350)
Today, we take a look at the state of ski shops vs bike shops; what each industry is doing to grow participation and engagement in their sport; gear wins and fails; and our reviewers weigh in on which industry has the brighter future.
Ibis Oso 1.1
The Ibis Oso 1.1 got a few construction tweaks and a smaller price tag, but it’s still a very unique-looking offering on the eMTB market. It comes with a unique ride, too, but one that should appeal quite a bit to the right buyer. Read on to find out who the Oso might be for.
Win Apparel From SPC/LST
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Sapien Quilted Crew, Omega E-Waist Active 5.5” Short, and Range Beanie from SPC/LST!
Reviewing the News w/ Mike Ferrentino, May 2025 (Ep. 277)
Mike and Simon discuss the exciting start to mountain bike World Cup DH racing, the fantastic Giro d'Italia, Christopher Blevins' domination, Mathieu van der Poel’s rough day on a mountain bike, some good industry news, and a whole lot more.
2026 Orbea Occam SL & Occam LT
Orbea has updated the Occam SL and Occam LT Trail bikes, and while the changes aren’t massive, there are a couple of nice tweaks — including the option to forgo headset cable routing.
Salsa Blackthorn 125 C & Blackthorn 145 C
Salsa’s new Blackthorn siblings bring some interesting design details — and a ton of on-bike storage — to a new Trail / All Mountain platform with two different travel options on the same frame. Check out what they’ve cooked up, and our early impressions of the Blackthorn 145 C.
America’s Founding Spirit & the Most Important Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of (Ep.72)
Brandy doesn’t get the love that it deserves, given that it was America’s founding spirit, and no category has a bigger folk hero tied to it (Johnny Appleseed, anyone?). Today, we’re talking about all things brandy with Clear Creek Distillery.
Shimano XTR M9200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain & Wheels
Shimano’s long-awaited wireless XTR group is here. Here are all the details — and our long-term Full Review after spending several months with the new shifter, derailleur, cassette, cranks, and wheels.
Shimano XTR M9200 & M9220 Brakes
Alongside their new XTR Di2 drivetrain, Shimano also updated their longstanding and very popular XTR brakes, and we’ve been testing the Trail / Enduro version for the past few months. Here’s the design rundown on both of the new XTR stoppers, and our take on how the four-piston option has performed.
Flash Review: Yeti MTe
We’ve been spending time on Yeti’s brand-new MTe, a mid-travel, light-assist eMTB that includes TQ’s new HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial impressions.
Yeti MTe
Yeti just launched their second-ever eMTB, the MTe, a light-assist offering featuring TQ’s new HPR60 drive system. With design cues from Yeti’s 160E and their unpowered mountain bikes, Yeti has packed some familiar things into the MTe, as well as some new features. Check out our First Look for the whole story, and our Flash Review for our initial on-trail impressions.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend, April / May 2025 (Ep.359)
Cody and Jonathan discuss Rob Katz’s return as the CEO of Vail; what’s going on with REI; the sale of Pieps; the latest way to speed up Mt. Everest; the Most Canadian News; the return of the Blister Book Club; what we’re reading & watching; and more.
Flash Review: 25/26 Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA
Several of our reviewers have become big fans of Atomic’s low-volume Hawx boots, but what about the roomier ‘Prime’ version? Here are Luke Koppa’s initial thoughts on the freeride-touring Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA.
Flash Review: Magura Gustav Pro
Magura’s Gustav Pro brakes promise consistency and heat management, so do they deliver? Our Flash Review has initial impressions from the first couple of rides with Magura’s latest stoppers.
Stuff We Like: May 2025
This month’s assortment of gear includes several impressive cycling components, coolers made from coconuts, some summer apparel favorites, and much more. Check it out to see what our reviewers have been liking lately.
Ski vs Bike Industry, Part 1: Similarities, Differences, Trends, & the Health of Each (Ep.349)
In past years, we’ve done a series called ‘Bikes vs Skis’ where we’ve posed the question: Which bike company is most like which ski company? But today our team is zooming out and comparing the ski vs bike industry to identify the significant similarities and differences; assess the relative health of each; and see how the trends in one might align with trends in the other.
Flash Review: Pivot Shuttle SL/AM
We’ve started testing Pivot’s Shuttle SL/AM, and its combination of impressively low weight and solid all-mountain capability has it looking like a compelling new option in the light-assist category.
Win a Pack From The Brown Buffalo
The winner of our Gear Giveaway this week will get the Conceal Pack 21L from The Brown Buffalo!