The Mountain Flyer Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Cycling, in all its forms, has a way of transcending geography and culture. Prime Ability, a bike-based nonprofit in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to empowering BIPOC youth through the transformative power of cycling.

Prime Ability Founder Alex Clark is a passionate cyclist and a health and physical education teacher at Dunbar high school, in Washington, DC. Through Prime Ability, Clark established DC's pioneering youth cycling team of color.  

He sees cycling as a vehicle for education and exploration; a chance to learn about the city’s history and see it in a different light; and an opportunity to cultivate a passion for cycling among the BIPOC community.

In this episode, Clark shares what inspired him to start Prime Ability, and how cycling has impacted his teaching—and his life. He speaks to the importance of getting more students of color and students from underserved communities into mountain biking, road racing or any facet of cycling. 

Learn more about Prime Ability

This episode was made possible by YETI CYCLES.

Presented by Mountain Flyer Magazine

As the executive director of Vermont’s Kingdom Trail Association, Abby Long carries on a legacy that began 30 years ago. The Kingdom Trails encompass more than 100 miles of trails and pump tracks in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The region is known for its remote location, rural character and mountainous landscape that lends itself to skiing and mountain biking alike. 

In this episode, Long reflects on the unique nature of the public-private partnerships that make the Kingdom Trails viable. Whereas in the Western United States there are vast amounts of public land, the opposite is true in Vermont. The Kingdom Trails traverse the land of more than 100 private landowners.

Long also speaks to the positive economic impact the trail network has on the region. Riders travel from Canada and throughout the U.S. to experience what the Kingdom Trails have to offer. In thinking about the future, Long says sustainability and community are paramount in maintaining—and expanding— the Kingdom Trails network.

This episode was made possible by ABUS

Presented by Mountain Flyer Magazine

On the Myers-Briggs personality test, Lea Davison charts on the extreme extrovert end. In elite mountain bike racing, where many athletes are reserved and restrained, Davison’s spontaneity and playfulness aren’t the norm. But that's exactly what we love so much about her…along with her commitment to empowering girls and young women through her nonprofit Little Bellas. In this episode, Davison talks about what it’s like to be a world-class athlete during a global pandemic and the weight of being one of five women vying for two open spots to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics (rescheduled for summer 2021). In a nutshell, Lea Davison is doubling down.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of 10 Barrel Brewing.

[Photo] Manuel Uribe

In the premiere episode of Mountain Flyer’s “Tale Spin,” we get to hear stories straight from our riding friends. Outside magazine editor Gloria Liu reflects on the soulful connection a rider has with the bike. Klunking enthusiast and bike collector Jon Rizzo speaks to the calming power of the Pennsylvania woods. In his essay “The Murder, the Yeti and I,” Mountain Flyer contributor Ed Ortega channels his inner Edgar Allen Poe as he reflects on blood-thirsty ravens taunting him after a fall on the trail. And Australian cycling journalist Wil Barrett of Flow Mountain Bike recalls how he summoned “The Power of the Pickle” during his first race on the rugged trails of western Colorado.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of 10 Barrel Brewing.

From the industry’s first bonafide mountain bikes to today’s fast-growing e-bike segment, Gary Fisher has long been in love with cycling, which he believes is much more than just a sport. For Fisher, it’s a way of life—the source to take in what he calls “Vitamin N” (Nature) and simultaneously “soothe the beast.” Described as a dreamer who loves bikes, people and big ideas, Fisher is steadfast in his belief that bicycles can change the world. Whether a bike is used for competition, to improve an individual’s physical and mental health, prevent chronic disease, solve transportation needs or provide recreational value, it is the great leveler. And who better to promote the magic of cycling than one of the founding fathers and innovators?

This episode is possible thanks to the support of Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley's 750+ miles of singletrack.

[Photo] Sterling Lorence

Growing up, enduro athlete Kyle Warner faced family and personal challenges that would’ve broken the average human. But he found escape on the bike, and with support from the Northern California cycling community and the greater bike industry, Warner started racing and landing consistently on the podium. As he heads into 2020, Warner aims to get more people on bikes, especially kids facing tough times.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of Niner Bikes.

[Photo] Matt Ware

What kind of person does it take to develop the industry’s smartest suspension? 18-year Fox employee and suspension designer Everet Ericksen breaks down some of the tech of his team’s latest innovation — Fox Live Valve — while also talking about how he got into shock absorber development, its challenges and its highlights.

This episode is possible thanks to the support of Niner Bikes.

Sonya Looney’s pro MTB career includes more than 25 wins and course records in 11 countries, including a World Championship and USA National Championships. A successful businessperson, she launched and hosts The Sonya Looney Show podcast, founded Moxy & Grit apparel brand, and started the nutrition-based community Plant-Powered Tribe. But Looney equally loves helping others break out of their comfort zones, take on new challenges and tackle their bucket lists now. Nutrition, endurance racing and business savvy: Looney talks about her pursuit of the best possible life and shares tips to help you do the same.

2019 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee and World Champion cross country and gravel racer Rebecca Rusch turned 50 last year. The four-time Leadville 100 MTB champ, six-time Dirty Kanza winner, public lands advocate, motivational speaker and fire fighter has every reason to down shift. Yet in September, she launched Rusch Ventures (rebeccarusch.com) to integrate her existing and new programs, including Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Rusch Academy, MTB Lao adventure trips, and the Be Good Foundation, funds from which go toward removal of unexploded ordnance in Lao and the preservation of public lands. When the Queen of Pain turned 50, she reflected on all she’d done in her first four decades, then got to work defining what’s in store for “Rebecca Version 5.0.”

Sponsored by Venus de Miles
venusdemiles.com

A calculated investment in singletrack in the mid-2000s solidified Moab, Utah, as a singletrack destination at a time when the town’s recreation planners could either respond to neighboring communities’ MTB-specific development or fade into the desert sunset with its 4x4 and double-track routes. Thanks in part to his skillful rock work on the iconic Captain Ahab, trailbuilder and Moab native Tyson Swasey was part of the town’s renaissance as a singletrack destination. Canyon country demands that trailbuilders not be undaunted by the heavy lifting required in rocky terrain, and Swasey is a perfect match. “He has a masterful eye for interpreting the landscape,” says Richard Edwards, IMBA Trail Solutions’ director of construction and operations. “Tyson is great at using rock work, not to sanitize, but to build a way through and leave a lot of texture and flavor to the trail.” Swasey is now a staff member for the newly formed Grand County Active Transportation and Trails Department based out of Moab and previously served as a trails specialist for IMBA Trails Solution. Through that experience, he has become one of the most respected trailbuilders in the country. In this episode, he talks about his relationship with the land and the importance of trails to the mountain bike community.