The NSMB Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

What if the trail that scares you most is the one that finally sets you free? We sit down with illustrator and writer Cy Whitling to chart a life that moved from a Christian nationalist upbringing in northern Idaho to the loamy corners of Bellingham, where bikes, art, and community remapped everything. Cy shares how a humble hardtail, a generous shop mentor, and a dog-eared Kona catalog cracked open a worldview built on fear. College layered in skiing, search and rescue, and daily contact with people whose empathy outshone dogma, leading to the hard choice to cut ties and build a chosen family.

From there, the conversation digs into identity and inclusion. Cy explains why he came out as bi while releasing a Pride poster, the backlash that followed, and the deeper connections that made it worth it. We explore queerness in mountain biking—how pronouns and representation signal safety, why bisexuality is often misunderstood, and where the industry quietly leads with real people doing real work. His art choices are purpose-built: animal characters to widen identification, a notes-app pipeline to capture trailhead truths, and weekly comics that make riders feel seen. We talk creative process, deadlines, and how to balance integrity with sustainability without turning art into merch purgatory.

Finally, we ride west. A solo road trip to Seattle and Bellingham becomes a revelation: steep loam, rock rolls, and a birthday party reached by bike, not car. Cy’s skills jump by necessity, pulled forward by friends who ride the impossible and a community that makes fast feel safe. He contrasts mountain biking’s professionalism with skiing’s precarity, reflects on avalanche fatalities that changed his risk tolerance, and shares why he’s still hungry to make work that gives more than it takes. Hit play for a story about leaving control, choosing compassion, and finding home on two wheels.

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Precision isn't just a goal for Abbey Tools founder Jason Quaid—it's a religion. From humble beginnings as a welder crafting nuclear-grade pressure vessels to becoming the creator of the cycling world's most coveted tools, Jason's journey exemplifies how passion and craftsmanship can transform an industry.

The story begins with a simple phone call and a modified lockring tool that would become known as the "Crombie Tool." What started as a favor for a fellow race mechanic quickly evolved into a business when Jason brought his first batch of 100 tools to the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon. Every mechanic with cash in their pocket bought one, and those who didn't returned the next day. That immediate validation launched Abbey Tools into existence.

Unlike most manufacturing operations today, Abbey maintains control over nearly every aspect of production at their facility in Bend. The five-person operation machines, weld, and assemble each tool with meticulous attention to detail. "We spend almost as much time inspecting the parts that go into the HAG (Hanger Alignment Gauge) as we do making them," Jason explains. This commitment to quality is evident in products like their titanium hammer—a tool that Jason initially thought was "one of the dumbest things anybody had ever asked me to make," but later realized had elegance and utility.

What makes Abbey's approach unique is their unwavering focus on function while still creating tools beautiful enough to be considered functional art. Though initially designed with professional race mechanics in mind, their tools have found an enthusiastic audience among home mechanics who appreciate quality equipment. From bottom bracket sockets to their renowned truing stand, each piece reflects Jason's philosophy that if you're going to invest in the precise engineering and execution, why not make the finished product visually stunning too?

Whether you're a professional wrench or a weekend warrior who takes pride in maintaining your own bikes, Abbey Tools represents the pinnacle of quality in an industry where precision increasingly matters. As drivetrains evolve from 8 speeds to 13 in the same hub space, the margin for error shrinks—making tools that deliver exacting results more valuable than ever.

Want to see craftsmanship elevated to an art form? Explore what happens when a skilled tradesman brings his expertise to the cycling world and refuses to compromise on quality.

Our guest for the latest NSMB Podcast is Ben Arnott, a World Cup downhill mechanic, engineer, and small business owner.   

Ben spent several years working as the head mechanic for Trek World Racing and the YT Mob and the stories from his time following the circus provide a fascinating look into the World Cup. For six of his years with the teams, Ben was also responsible for the team truck. He got to know it intimately while driving the large rig on the small, European mountain roads to each venue.   

But Ben recently pulled back from wrenching for World Cup athletes like Greg Williamson, Angel Suarez, and David Trummer. Instead, he's remained in Canada for the first summer since immigrating and is focused on sharpening his engineering skills with OneUp Components. 

He hasn't completely left the wrenching world either and keeps his hands busy servicing products from Formula and EXT, which he imports through his distribution business, Alba. And while no longer wrenching on the World Cup, he's not saying it will never happen again. 

Chris Porter joins A.J. Barlas for another episode of the NSMB Podcast and once again, it's a brain-tickler. Our first conversation shared stories of Chris's background, giving a better understanding of the man behind the ideas having a resounding impact on the sport. With Chris’s blessing, part two has been labelled Big Mouth Strikes Again. He sees things through a different coloured lens and isn’t afraid to share his opinions. Not everyone will agree with his thoughts, but his musings can spark ideas and leave you contemplating things not previously considered. I always come away from our conversations with an appreciation for new perspectives and I hope listeners can, too. 

Mountain bikes have evolved tremendously in the last five years but before then, media and marketing had already nudged the term longer, lower, slacker beyond the edge of being a cliché. The alarmingly incremental progress made to bike shapes is at least partly to blame for the term being worn thin.

During this time one person, in particular, established a name for themselves, and a company to serve riders interested in leaping ahead. Chris Porter is better known today for what was a unique approach to bike shape, one that’s slowly becoming more mainstream with each model year. And whether or not you find yourself agreeing with his thoughts, they at least tickle the mind. 

But who is Chris Porter? Where is he from? What led him down the path to the current day, one where some have labelled him the godfather of modern mountain bike geometry. For years, his thought-provoking ideas on mountain bikes have challenged what people believe to be right, and I wanted to know more about where those ideas stem from? 

Chris is immensely passionate about riding on two wheels, whether a motorcycle or mountain bike, which is clear when listening to him share some of his experiences – genuine emotion can be heard in his voice. That love, coupled with a desire to improve the experience is a large part of what drives him. 

While this episode, the first of two planned with Chris was primarily to discuss his background, there is some discussion on the technical aspects of mountain bikes in the latter half. We'll be connecting again shortly to dive deeper into some of these topics and poke the industry bear a little too.

But none of those lessons could prepare her for the latest challenge faced at the end of 2020. After a messed-up year, thanks mostly to the world turning on its head, Katy found herself without support to continue her career as a professional E.W.S. athlete. The lessons learned during her prior low were no match for the uncertainty and lack of direction she faced this off-season. Not knowing what lays ahead makes it hard to motivate or set goals for the coming year. 

Scrambling, Katy had countless conversations with teams and brands but ultimately kept receiving dreaded rejections. Not everything was lost though, and Katy found support from a large brand that believed in her. That belief provided her with the assurance needed to soldier on and sparked a renewed focus for the sort of brands she wants to align with. 

Katy’s saga, as it’s being referred to, is as muddy as it gets. Timing, status, the global pandemic, and gender each affected the situation. But she's made it through with a renewed energy to get after it and a fire that burns hot.

What actions will inspire someone to make a better life for themselves? Those of our childhood heroes, our friends and parents, or a complete stranger can have a lasting impact but how about a video game? 

Growing up, Kyle Warner dealt with many daily challenges. As a teenager, he was looking after his clinically depressed mother, they lost their home, and his older brother had a drug addiction. But the video game, Downhill Domination, and Eric Carter’s character in that game sparked something in Kyle. 

Kyle fell in love with the sport. Once he got a bike, riding became a positive outlet, bringing joy and an escape from the trouble at home. He declared, mountain bikes were going to be his life and set goals to become a professional racer. Now he's shifted his focus from racing to helping others get into the sport. His YouTube channel has grown rapidly and an active community of followers share stories of saved marriages and a new direction in life, just like Kyle discovered when he found bikes.  

Kyle's story is one that I’m excited to share. It’s humbling, emotional and left me speechless several times. He’s a great human, genuine, soft-spoken and motivated to help people by spreading the positive impact that bikes can have. 

Welcome to the latest episode of the NSMB Podcast and our conversation with Kyle Warner. 

For every rider frothing about their new bike with a steeper seat tube angle, there are plenty who feel things are going too far. Claims of poor power and efficiency accompany complaints of sore hands, knees and backside but what if the seat angle alone isn’t the cause? 

With many happy to see steeper seat tube angles on modern mountain bikes, the complaints from those unimpressed by the changes got A.J. Barlas thinking; Is the steeper seat tube angle going too far for the majority, and how does it affect our biomechanics on the bike?

After a year of on and off research on the topic, A.J. reached out to a performance coach with education in exercise physiology. Joel Harwood is the founder of Blueprint Athlete Development and works with a range of World Cup and EWS calibre athletes. Joel simplified the science while also raising points that all riders, whether comfortable with steep seat angles or not, could consider when on their bike. 

For flat pedal riders after the most grip possible, FiveTen has really been the only option. Year after year, new shoe releases have left us to question, why is it so hard for others to achieve similar grip?  

With the release of their new 2FO DH shoes and now the Rime, A.J. Barlas wanted to know more about Specialized’s shoe development process. Did they want all the grip, and if so, why did it take so long? How did they test the sole for grip? And what about their choice of materials? 

Specialized Footwear Product Manager, Stephen Quay was happy to dive into the new shoes, answering A.J's questions and more. They discussed the development process behind SlipNot ST, the materials used in the uppers, and Specialized’s Body Geometry. It turns out heaps goes into making shoes and the type of rubber needed for grip is tricky to develop.  

For many of us, riding bikes begins as a childhood activity, belting around the local neighbourhood, learning to wheelie and launching off gutters. But in some parts of the world, it goes beyond an after school activity. Neighbourhoods riddled with kids outdoing each other on the bike can build into pushing for national titles. These hotbeds of talented young riders develop more as the years go by, leaving a legacy behind.

It turns out Yoann Barelli grew up in such a hotbed in the south of France. He started riding with his 'brother' and future world champion, Fabien Barel but the town is also home to legendary downhill racer, Nico Vouilloz. There’s much racing history in the streets there but for Yoann, a slightly different path was taken.

Most listeners will know Yoann for his exuberant personality and, as it turns out, it played a large role in securing his first professional contract. But as he’s matured, his outlook on life and racing has too. Yoann shared how he got started in the sport, how the more recent events in his life and the world have shaped his career, and his thoughts on the environment.

Topics discussed:

1. Starting riding and racing in the South of France
2. Taking time to travel and learn English
3. How to be a Pro Rider video and how it actually worked
4. The Enduro World Series giving riders a chance at a career that wasn't there before
5. French lines and how the EWS has evolved
6. Cutting back the amount of racing
7. Starting the Into the Gnar coaching business
8. Racing for the thrill
9. Finding ways to progress as a pro-level rider
10. Injuries and their impact on racing
11. Cleaning up the environment
12. Becoming carbon neutral

Links mentioned in this episode:

• How to be a Pro Rider by Yoann Barelli
• Barelli Concepts / Into The Gnar
• Sam Hill in Chile
• Rideguard – mudguards made from recycled plastic
• Yoann’s Instagram

The NSMB Podcast: Obsessed with Mountain Biking is available on all of your favourite podcast apps:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Overcast
• Google Podcasts