The Downtime Podcast

World Champs 2024 is done and Andorra delivered an ever evolving dustbowl for the riders to contend with. Dice were rolled, limits were pushed and we saw some incredible racing in Andorra. Join me, Neko and Olly to chat about the track itself, the evolution over the week, analyse some of those top race runs and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Andorra World Champs post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. They also have a brand new intermediate tyre for you to check out, the new High Roller. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Pa

Today we’re joined by 'Mr. Gas to Flat' himself, Adam Brayton. Adam’s faced some serious challenges over the past couple of years, from changes in World Cup entry requirements to the unexpected shutdown of his bike sponsor, Nukeproof, right before the 2024 season. Despite these setbacks, Adam has kept pushing forward, racing whenever and wherever he can, and seizing every opportunity. In this episode, we dive into how he’s navigated these obstacles, his experiences at Hardline Maydena and Wales, and his thoughts on the massive new canyon gap. We also discuss the evolving landscape of World Cup downhill racing, the role of personality in today’s social media-driven world, and much more. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Adam Brayton. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Adam on Instagram @adbrayton and watch 'GastoVlog' here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Canyon The Canyon End of Season Sale is live! Now's your chance to grab th

World Champs is upon us, and this year we head to Andorra to see who will come out on top. Join me for a chat with Chris Kilmurray as we discuss the nature of the Andorra track, who to look out for, cheeky practice, local advantage and much more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Andorra World Champs pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. They also have a brand new intermediate tyre for you to check out, the new High Roller. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donati

Today we’re joined by Cut Media founder, Stu Thompson. Stu might be better known for his video work with Danny MacAskill and around the sports world, with his production company Cut Media. However, Stu was a world cup downhill racer whose talent was spotted by none other than Steve Peat. Believe it or not, Stu was also responsible for the first ever World Cup livestream. We chat about his racing career and it’s unfortunate or fortunate end, depending on how you look at it. Hear how Stu met Danny MacAskill and how their work together evolved. We also discuss his other Cut Media projects, the creator landscape in MTB and plenty more. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Stu Thompson. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find out more about Cut Media at their website here and on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Canyon The Canyon End of Season Sale is live! Now's your chance to grab that Canyon you've been eyeing all year at an un

Today we’re going behind the scenes of Red Bull Race Tapes, which has been called the ‘Drive to Survive’ of mountain biking. I’m in the Race Tapes studio with producer Romain Dompnier, to find out what goes into making this insanely good series. Hear the background of how Race Tapes came to be and how they get such incredible access and insight that we don’t tend to see elsewhere. How do they approach the more controversial subjects and rivalries and have they ever upset anyone in the process? What goes into choosing the stories that they will follow, what can we expect from the 2024 season and plenty more. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Race Tapes producer, Romain Dompnier. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can watch Race Tapes over on Red Bull TV here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s

Today we’re joined by Irish enduro star, Greg Callaghan. Greg has recently moved away from a factory team and created his very own programme. We talk about what went into that and how he approached putting together a package to enable him to perform. We'll delve into his 2024 Enduro World Cup season, his thoughts on how the sport has evolved, and the adaptations he's made along the way. I chat with Greg about his experience of racing the eEnduro to get some insight into this new discipline and how it works. Greg has a wealth of experience in the sport and it shows in this episode with some great insight into what it takes to perform. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Greg Callaghan. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Greg on Instagram @greg_callaghan and on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little

Today we're joined by German enduro star Christian Textor, better known as Texi or Big Chris from MoiMoiTV. We dive into Texi’s incredible journey from discovering dirt jumping, through racing downhill World Cups, to his current home at the YT Mob, competing at the highest level at World Enduro. Texi shares how he manages to successfully combine having four children with elite-level racing, offering some great insights on becoming the best version of yourself. It's clear that Texi really thinks about things, and he's found an amazing balance that works for him. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Texi. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Texi on Instagram @texi5 and watch his YouTube content here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of

Today we're joined by Canadian enduro star Andreane Lanthier Nadeau, also known as ALN. Since we last had ALN on the show, a lot has changed, and it hasn't all been smooth sailing. We'll dive into some of ALN’s experiences, from having victories slip through her fingers to losing faith in the process and herself. Hear how she made the bold move away from a factory team to build something new, bringing a fresh and more positive energy with her. ALN’s journey shows that change can be incredibly positive, even during tough times. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with ALN. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow ALN on Instagram @andreaneln. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners We Are One Composites For the Convergence rims, We Are One took their incredible ride feel and durability, added in the latest engineering understanding and materials science and came up with something really special. Improving their already amazing ride characteristics a

Today we’re joined by the biggest name in mountain bike photography, Sven Martin. Sven shares his thoughts on what makes a good mountain bike photo as well as giving us the story behind some of his favourite shots. Hear Sven’s take on the changing face of enduro and downhill racing and his thoughts on wether video is taking over from photography on the hill. Sven lives and breathes this sport, so you know he’s going to have some well thought out points of view and plenty of great stories. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Sven Martin. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Sven on Instagram @svenmartinphoto and @squidsontour or checkout his work over at misspentsummers.com. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners We Are One Composites For the Convergence rims, We Are One took their incredible ride feel and durability, added in the latest engineering understanding and materials science and came up with something really special. Improving t

Today we’re joined by Enduro star, Jesse Melamed. After winning the overall in 2022, Jesse made a big move from Rocky Mountain to Canyon, so we sat down to see how it’s going. Hear how Jesse has chosen and setup his bike for the season. We discuss some of the changes he’s made over the past year and the influence that Fabien Barel has had on that. Hear Jesse talk about what it takes to win an EDR these days, along with discussing the state of the sport, the impact of eBike racing and find out if we’ll see Jesse racing downhill any time soon. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Jesse Melamed. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Jesse on Instagram here and on YouTube here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners We Are One Composites For the Convergence rims, We Are One took their incredible ride feel and durability, added in the latest engineering understanding and materials science and came up with something really special. Improving thei

Round 5 is done and the summer break is upon us, but Les Gets did it’s best to challenge the riders with an incredible track and some unseasonal conditions. Join me, Neko and Olly as we delve into the details of what went on and analyse some of the stand out performances of the weekend. As always, Les Gets delivered incredible racing but with some big schedule changes and there’s heaps to talk about. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Les Gets World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I w

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with the one and only Ben Hildred. Ben's double Everest challenge quickly became one of my favourite riding videos of the past year, so I couldn't resist catching up with him to dive into the details. We'll also discuss his recent and even more challenging Olympus Mons ride reboot. Together, we explore the psychology behind these monumental rides, delving into what drives Ben and how he achieves such remarkable feats. This conversation offers a captivating glimpse into the limits of human endurance and the power of a solid process. Personally, I find it impossible not to feel inspired to ride hard after talking with Ben. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Ben Hildred. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Ben on Instagram @benhildred and watch his double Everest here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners We Are One Composites For the Convergence rims, We Are One took their incredible ride feel and d

Alright, round 5 is upon us and this time we’re in the French alpine resort of Les Gets. We talk about how the season is developing, the changes to the track, the potential for aero and electronic gains and plenty more. Les Gets is no doubt going to provide some amazing racing. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Les Gets World Cup pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s

Today I’m joined by Cotic’s main man, Cy Turner. Cy has been heavily involved in the steel part of the Frameworks downhill bike project with Neko, so of course we kick off chatting downhill bikes. Then Cy shares an open and honest take on what it’s been like to run a bike brand over the last few years. We also chat about the shift towards eBikes and get his take on that as well as finding out why he’s loving short travel bikes right now. As always, a super interesting chat with someone who thinks a little differently to most and isn’t afraid to head in different directions if he believes in the benefits. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Cy Turner. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Cotic on Instagram @coticbikes, see their website cotic.co.uk and checkout their YouTube channel here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Gorewear If you're seeking the highest quality clothing for cycling in all weather conditions, Gorewear has you co

Today I’m joined by Ben and James from Misspent Summers to talk about what’s going on in enduro and downhill world cup racing. Between us, we’ve experienced both disciplines online and on-site this season, so we thought we’d get together to share our thoughts on the coverage and the racing. We also wanted to cover some of the more persistent rumours that are floating around right now about the potential changes to downhill racing in 2025. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Ben and James from Misspent Summers. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Misspent Summers on Instagram @misspentsummers, on YouTube here and find newsletter sign-up and yearbooks on their website here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Gorewear If you're seeking the highest quality clothing for cycling in all weather conditions, Gorewear has you covered and right now, Downtime listeners can get a huge 35% off any top and bottom bundle over on gorewear.com by usin

Alright, round four in Val di Sole is in the books and we are over halfway through the season already. Tune in as we find out how the Black Snake evolved over a wet and wild week and what went down come finals day. The 2024 season keeps on giving and Val di Sole was no exception. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Val di Sole World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £

Alright, we’re back to back and heading to Val di Sole this weekend for one of the most demanding tracks on the circuit. How will riders ensure they are recovered and ready to go, what does this year’s version of the track have in store for us and are we entering a new era of dominance. We cover all that and more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Val di Sole World Cup pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations star

Today I’m joined by YT Industries' Product Development Manager, Frank Dörr to talk about their brand new Tues MK4 downhill bike. How do you take a race winning bike and improve on it, with the pressure of knowing you have 2x World Champion, Vali Höll joining the team. How do you balance the functional vs the aesthetic requirements and how do you make sure the bike works for World Cup athletes and regular riders like us. As always, Frank is super open and provides some great insight into how the products we ride get designed and tested. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Frank Dörr. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow YT on Instagram @yt_industries. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Gorewear If you're seeking the highest quality clothing for cycling in all weather conditions, Gorewear has you covered and right now, Downtime listeners can get a huge 35% off any top and bottom bundle over on gorewear.com by using the code DOWNTIME35 a

Alright, this weekend we're back in Leogang, a track the riders know well, with historically tight margins. The weather has swung between sunshine and storms all week, giving the riders constantly changing track conditions to deal with. Keeping it rubber side down has been a challenge. As always, we were treated to incredible racing and I’m joined by Neko and Olly to dig into what went on. So sit back, hit play and listen to this Leogang World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Supported By Maxxis Tyres Maxxis is synonymous with performance and racing and is the winningest brand in the history of World Cup and EWS racing. No matter where or how you ride, Maxxis has the tyres for you with a wide range of tread patterns, casing and compound options. You can check out the entire range of Maxxis tyres over at Maxxis.com, and find the tyres at your local Maxxis dealer. You can also give them a follow on instagram where they are @maxxisbike. Podcast Stuff Patreon I would love it

Today’s episode is a little different. If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you’ll know that it’s very much not about me, but today it is. For a while now, Neko has been telling me that he thinks people would like to know more about me. I guess for some of you, you’ve heard my voice for years now and I’ve not shared a whole lot about myself. So I finally caved in and let Neko take control of the questions. We sat down in Fort William and chatted about my background in mountain biking, my previous career in automotive engineering and how I eventually came to start the podcast. Hear about the challenges of making a mountain bike podcast your full time job and where the podcast is going in the future. Hopefully you enjoy finding out a bit more about me and where this whole podcast comes from. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Chris Hall. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Downtime on Instagram @downtimepodcast. Podcast Stuff Sup