Mountain Cog
Mountain bike podcast that will make you laugh and learn. Featuring a wide range of passionate guests. Available everywhere (Apple, Spotify etc).
Episodes
126 episodes
126 - Shop Talk: SRAM's Quiet Overhaul, Brembo Brakes, & Why Reach Is Misleading
Shop Talk is back on the Mountain Cog Podcast, and Episode 126 is loaded. Josh and Dane open with the Avinox M2 motor conversation that's dividing the e-bike world right now — too much power, not enough regulation, or just the next evolution of...
125 - How Much Do Bike Companies Make? More shocking economics.
Ever wonder how much money bike companies actually make? In this episode, Josh breaks down the real financials behind the mountain bike industry — and the numbers might surprise you. Using publicly available data from Giant, Merida, and ...
124 - Shop Talk: Another Bike Brand Fails, Motor Wars & Value Drivetrain Debate
Episode 124 marks the debut of Shop Talk — Mountain Cog's new recurring episode format built around four segments that cut through the marketing noise and get to what actually matters on the trail and in the industry. The guys kick things off w...
123 - Hayes vs. Shimano Brakes: Which One is Better for You?
Brakes are one of those things most riders don't think about until something goes wrong — and then it's all they can think about. This episode of Mountain Cog changes that. Josh and Dane dig into the Hayes versus Shimano debate with the kind of...
122 - Mountain Biker's Guide to Sunglasses: Fit, Lenses, and Top Brands (Rob Tavakoli, SportRX)
Sunglasses might be the most under-thought of piece of gear in mountain biking. Most riders either skip them entirely or default to whatever they already own, without knowing that the wrong tint, frame, or fit can actually make riding harder an...
121 - Stability, Breathability, & Heat Release - Orange Mud’s Unique Take on Hydration Packs & Business (Josh Sprague, Orange Mud & Seven Clay)
When Josh Sprague couldn't find a hydration pack that stayed put, ran cool, and didn't feel like dead weight on his back, he built one himself. Fourteen years later, Orange Mud offers unique solutions to the endurance and mountain bike markets....
120 - How Much Do Bike Shops Actually Make? The Shocking Economics of Your LBS.
Ever wonder why bike shops seem to come and go? The answer's in the math, and it's not pretty. Josh dives deep into industry data from the National Bicycle Dealer Association, trade publications, and financial modeling sites to paint a realisti...
119 - How to Set Up Mountain Bike Suspension: Complete & Simple to Understand Guide from a Suspension Expert
Does your mountain bike fork feel harsh over bumps? Is your suspension bottoming out on drops or packing down in rock gardens? In this comprehensive suspension setup guide, professional bike shop owner and suspension expert Dane Higgins and co-...
118 - How to Start Mountain Biking: Bikes, Gear, Trails & Essential Tips
New to mountain biking in 2026? This beginner-focused episode delivers expert guidance on every aspect of starting your mountain bike journey. Learn the key differences between entry-level hardtail bikes (under $1,000) and full suspension optio...
117 - Bike Shop Secrets: Norco Optic & Outbound reviews plus info on tires, shocks, seat posts, and bells.
Mountain bike enthusiasts get real-world product testing results in this Bike Shop Secrets episode featuring comprehensive reviews of the Norco Optic and Outbound bike lights. Dane provides an 8-month review of his Norco Optic, a unique 125mm t...
116 - Bike Shop Secrets: Grip Reviews (SQ Labs & Rev Grips) + Fox Podium Fork and More
Looking to upgrade your mountain bike's contact points without breaking the bank? This episode of the Mountain Cog Podcast explores two of the best grip solutions for combating arm pump and hand numbness: SQ Labs 70x 2.0 Pro Grips and Rev Grips...
115 - Bare Innovation's Ryan Burney on Bikes, Business, and Rim Protection
Starting a product company in the cycling industry isn't for the faint of heart—just ask Ryan Burney. After years of designing bikes at Cannondale and GT, Ryan quit his job with no safety net to launch Rim Saver and eventually Bare Innovation, ...
114 - Why Direct-to-Consumer Bike Companies Are Failing (And What's Next)
What killed the direct-to-consumer bike boom? This episode combines financial data, industry research, and insider knowledge to explain the DTC mountain bike industry's spectacular rise and dramatic fall. Josh presents findings indicating that ...
113 - 500 Miles of Sedona Singletrack: An Advocacy Blueprint That Actually Works (Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition - VVCC)
Discover how the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition built one of Arizona's most successful mountain bike trail networks in this episode featuring VVCC President Tracy Randall and board member Lars Romig. From Sedona's iconic red rock terrain to th...
112 - Bike Shop Secrets: Chasing Creaks - A Mechanic's Nightmare and How You Can Fix It
Are you struggling with a mysterious bike creak that's driving you insane? In this episode of Mountain Cog Podcast, hosts Josh and Dane dive deep into the most frustrating problem in bike maintenance: diagnosing and fixing bike creaks. Learn th...
111 - Bike Shop Secrets: Will My Parts Fit if I Swap Mountain Bike Frames?
Thinking about swapping your mountain bike frame but wondering if your existing components will transfer over? This comprehensive bike shop secrets episode dives deep into frame compatibility with industry expert Dane Higgins. Learn about criti...
110 - Quality Bicycle Products (QBP): Why Your Bike Shop Depends on This Hidden Giant (Guest: Bryce Buckner, QBP)
When your local bike shop orders parts, there's a complex supply chain working behind the scenes that most cyclists never consider. Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) operates as the invisible backbone of bicycle retail, distributing products from ...
109 - Bike Shop Secrets & Gear We Like: SportRX Huckson Sunglasses, Vittoria Agarro Tires, Frameworks DH Frame and more.
In this thorough mountain bike gear review episode, hosts Josh and Dane share their honest, long-term testing experiences with popular MTB products including SportRX Huckson Sunglasses and Vittoria Agarro Tires & Inserts. The discussion cov...
108 - Zuma Bike Ranch & Phil’s World Trails: A Unique MTB Experience in Southwest Colorado.
Experience the diverse mountain biking terrain of Southwest Colorado with Jake Quigley, owner and operator of Zuma Bike Ranch in Cortez, Colorado. Strategically located at the northern part of Phil's World's expansive 62-mile trail network, thi...
107 - 25 Years of Stan's (NoTubes): President Mike Bush on Innovation & Sustainability
Discover the engineering and chemistry behind tubeless technology and more with Stan's (NoTubes) President Mike Bush, whose industrial manufacturing background shaped ~25 years of cycling innovation. Bush explains the technical details of bead ...
106 - Bike Shop Secrets: Can I ride it? Chain Stretch. Cassette Wear. Quick Links. Dropped Helmet, and Carbon Frame & Component Damage.
Rider safety takes precedence in this essential bike shop secrets episode, where bike industry veteran Dane Higgins addresses the critical question every mountain biker faces after a crash or component failure: "Can I ride it?" Learn the defini...
105 - Cables Are Back! SRAM's Mechanical Transmission: Eagle 90 & Eagle 70 (& other new stuff) - Jimmy Nordloh, SRAM Field Guide
Tired managing batteries, firmware updates, and paying for expensive electronic drivetrains? This episode with SRAM's Jimmy Nordloh goes deep into the new Eagle 90 and Eagle 70 mechanical transmission systems that deliver transmission's shiftin...
104 - Bike Shop Secrets: Disc Brake Squeal, Internal Routing Issues, Suspension Service (incl. Fork Stanchion Lube), & Pedal Cadence.
In this comprehensive bike maintenance episode, suspension expert Dane "Suspension Guru" Higgins tackles the most common disc brake problems plaguing mountain bikers. Learn why your hydraulic disc brakes keep squealing despite new rotors and pa...
103 - Deep Dive: New XTR M9200 Di2 Wireless Groupset with Nick Murdick (Shimano’s MTB Product Manager).
In this comprehensive deep dive, Shimano's Mountain Bike Product Manager Nick Murdick reveals a copious amount of details about their new XTR M9200 Di2 wireless groupset. Learn how Shimano engineered their first fully wireless mountain bike dri...
102 - Inside Park Tool: The World's Largest Bicycle Tool Company with Truman Purdy
Go inside Park Tool, the world's largest bicycle tool company, with Technical Expert Truman Purdy in this deep-dive interview. Learn the fascinating origin story of how Art Engstrom and Howard Hawkins transformed from a small Schwinn repair sho...