RECON MTB Podcast

#24 He Sold His Bike Company… Then Bought It Back When It Failed

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.

#23 Matt and Jono Jones Build the MTB Video Game That No One Else Could

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.

#22 Are You Wearing the Wrong MTB Helmet?

🪖 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.

#21 Racing in MEXICO Was Not What We Expected...

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 👀

#20 What Is ACTUALLY Going On In MTB? 2026 Predictions

🔮 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.