#26 What Riders Get Wrong About MTB Suspension Setup

In this episode of the RECON MTB Podcast, Nic Bean and Allan Cooke sit down with Rob Brown, co-founder of Loam Pass, the season pass that gets you two days at each of 80 bike parks across North America for 2027.Rob flew in from Salt Lake to break down how Loam Pass works, why he took inspiration from ski passes, and how the business behind Loam Pass works. We also get into why just two riders held both a Loam Pass and Highland Bike Park’s own season pass, what that says about bringing parks new customers, and where bike park pricing is headed. Plus, the perks, discount codes, British Columbia plans for 2027, and the 2027 pass going on sale October 1st.00:00 - 75 cents a lift???00:35 - Meet Rob Brown from Loam Pass02:14 - What Loam Pass is03:28 - 160 days of riding for $20004:00 - Borrowed from the ski industry07:01 - The road trips it creates08:18 - How Loam Pass started09:43 - 80 of the 120 bike parks in the US10:41 - Why bike park prices went crazy12:01 - E-bikes vs bike parks13:42 - How riders find out about it14:58 - 2027: British Columbia and beyond16:17 - Shuttles and backcountry, not just lifts17:37 - The perks, and discount codes that never work20:24 - What's new for 202721:55 - Doing the math per lift22:42 - Who has ridden the most parks24:15 - How the business model works26:12 - Paying parks 72% of the ticket price27:09 - Going to Europe29:48 - Only 2 riders overlapped at Highland31:26 - The best bike parks on the pass33:23 - Colorado and the Pinkbike comments33:50 - Wrap-upLike and subscribe so you never miss a future episode!Listen to the podcast on other platforms if you're on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ttv3BLOQQ85apNw2atbdAApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recon-mtb-podcast/id1805747145Follow RECON MTB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconmtbCheck out Loam Pass: https://www.loampass.comFollow Loam Pass: https://www.instagram.com/loampass#mtb #mountainbikinglife #loampass #bikepark

In this episode of the RECON MTB Podcast, Nic Bean and Allan Cooke sit down with Sam Zimberoff, US marketing manager at Mondraker, for a full review of the Mondraker Zendit, a 165/170 enduro e-bike built around the Avinox M2S motor and an 800 Wh battery.After two days of laps in Santa Cruz, the boys get into forward geometry and why Mondraker runs longer reach with a 30 mm stem, the Zero suspension system and where the "bottomless" feel comes from, why the entry-level RR build is the lightest bike in the range, why Mondraker moved from Bosch to Avinox, and whether a $10,500 to $15,700 e-bike can justify its price. Plus Allan's near-death front wheel moment, a seat-down climbing tip, and the case for a Zendit with no motor.00:00 - Intro00:57 - Meet Sam Zimberoff, Mondraker USA02:02 - The Zendit: 165/170 Avinox M2S e-bike03:27 - First impressions and setup04:33 - Spec levels: RR, RRS and XR (the base build is the lightest)06:24 - Sizing, reach and the mullet setup09:00 - Forward geometry explained11:15 - Drift control and cornering12:44 - Allan's near-death front wheel moment13:57 - One suspension platform across the whole line16:05 - Frame compliance vs Avinox power16:43 - Bosch to Avinox: why Mondraker switched19:27 - Riding tip: seat down on steep climbs20:13 - Suspension setup and the bottomless feel23:10 - The Zero suspension system explained25:00 - A ride feel unlike any other bike28:03 - Price: $10,500 to $15,70031:01 - Why every build gets SRAM Transmission and Maven brakes32:48 - Will there be a cheaper build?34:10 - Make one with no motor? The Anark35:39 - How the Zendit jumps38:42 - Wrap-upLike and subscribe so you never miss a future episode!Listen to the podcast on other platforms if you're on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ttv3BLOQQ85apNw2atbdAApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recon-mtb-podcast/id1805747145Follow RECON MTB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconmtbFollow Mondraker: https://www.instagram.com/mondrakerbikes#mtb #mountainbikinglife #mondraker #zendit #avinox #ebike

Lawrence from Speed Shop Aptos joins Nic and Allan on episode 26 of the Recon MTB podcast to drop some suspension knowledge! Many riders have their suspension info and setup completely WRONG and we think this info can help a lot. Don’t miss it!

Is the Revel Rerun the best lightweight e-bike of 2026? Nic and Alan from the Recon MTB Podcast put the Revel Rerun to the test, and it made them question everything they thought they needed in an e-bike.In this review they break down the Bosch SX motor, Canfield CBF suspension platform, mullet setup, 170mm front / 165mm rear travel, and whether the $5,599 price tag is actually a steal in today's market.Topics covered:- Revel Rerun full specs & geometry breakdown- Canfield CBF suspension — what makes it different- Lightweight vs full-power e-bike: which actually makes sense?- Bosch SX motor feel, battery life & real-world range- Who this bike is actually for- Is $5,599 good value in 2026?- One-bike quiver? Seriously?

Adam Miller joins the podcast live from the Sea Otter Classic to tell the full story of Revel Bikes — from scrappy startup to private equity exit, and back again. He breaks down what it really took to build Revel from the ground up: seven credit cards, employees living at his house, and sleeping in factory dorm rooms in Asia to save every dollar. What started as a passion for making bikes he actually wanted to ride eventually turned into one of the most respected names in full-suspension mountain biking.The conversation digs into what makes the CBF suspension platform so different, why Revel's bikes keep winning bike of the year, and how a geometry philosophy of "progressive, but not too progressive" is quietly outperforming flashier alternatives. Adam also gets into the decision to go mostly direct-to-consumer, how that unlocked a 25–35% price drop without sacrificing quality, and why their small team in Taichung hand-builds every order to spec.They also get into the harder lessons — what really happened after the private equity sale, how Adam bought the company back after it failed, and why rebuilding small and lean with the original crew might be the smartest thing he's ever done.

Matt and Jono Jones join the podcast to break down how they went from riding bikes at the highest level to building Mavrix — a virtual bike park designed to be ridden anytime, anywhere.They talk about Matt’s journey from slopestyle competitions and huge freeride features to YouTube, and how that path eventually led into game development. What started as a passion project quickly turned into years of work recreating the feel of real mountain biking in a digital world.The conversation dives into the challenges of translating real-world riding into gameplay, why most bike games never quite get it right, and how their approach flips that idea on its head. They also share how the game is already inspiring riders in reverse — with players getting into MTB after experiencing it virtually.

🪖 MTB Helmet Safety Deep Dive + Crash Data Insights (w/ Simon Fisher & Allan Cooke)In this episode of the RECON MTB podcast, the crew is joined by helmet design expert Simon Fisher (founder of Headspace Design Lab, with experience at Giro, Bell, and Specialized) alongside Allan Cooke, ex professional BMX athlete and XGames gold medalist, for a deep dive into the realities of mountain bike helmet safety.They break down surprising real-world crash data (including insights from Pinkbike Friday Fails), why many accidents happen during “easy” riding, and the truth behind full-face vs half-shell protection across MTB, BMX, and beyond. Simon also shares insider knowledge from decades in helmet design - covering testing, materials, and what actually makes a helmet effective when it matters most.Plus, they discuss when it’s time to replace your helmet, common misconceptions riders still believe, and how to choose the right protection for your riding style.This episode is brought to you by Leatt, a leader in rider protection with advanced testing and innovation at the core of their gear.📌 If you ride bikes, this one could genuinely change how you think about safety.

We went to Mexico City… to race TransAzteca 🇲🇽🚵‍♂️In this episode of the podcast, Nic and ReconMTB head south to take on the TransAzteca — and quickly realize this trip is about way more than racing.From the insane high-altitude trails around Mexico City to the unreal food and culture, this place completely surprised us.Nic sits down with local legend and TransAzteca race organizer Mau de Avila to talk about:– What makes TransAzteca such a unique race– How events like this can boost tourism– The rapidly growing trail network and riding community– And why more riders should be looking at Mexico for racing and adventureSo many people overlook Mexico when it comes to mountain biking… but after this trip, we’re convinced that needs to change.If Mexico wasn’t on your riding bucket list before — it might be now 👀

🔮 2026 MTB Predictions + Forbidden Dreadnought ReviewIn this episode of the RECON podcast, Nic and Allan dust off the crystal ball and throw down their spicy predictions for the world of MTB in 2026, from team shakeups to game-changing products and the riders to watch.Plus, after months of riding, they give their no-BS review of the Forbidden Dreadnought V2, where it shines, where it struggles, and who it’s actually for.📌 Whether you're here for bold takes or gear talk, you’ll want to stick around.

Cam Zink breaks down what actually went wrong at this year’s Red Bull Rampage. From surprising crashes to the conditions riders were fighting against, Cam gives his raw take on why this year’s event was so chaotic. If you want real insight from someone who’s been in the game for decades, this clip is it.Full podcast episode: https://youtu.be/hX1ndAySlCw