Suspension Sessions - Episode 16: 10 Years of RBC - A Suspension Sessions Special

This one's different. No tech deep-dives, no setup tips - instead, Glen sits down with Robbie to celebrate ten years of Robbie's Bicycle Concept (RBC).

They rewind to the very beginning: RBC's roots as a BMX brand, Robbie's early days working with Manitou in the '90s, and the moment he spotted a gap in South Africa's suspension market back in 2015. From a three-person upstairs workshop to a facility with in-house dynos and telemetry, they trace how the business — and the industry itself — has evolved.

Along the way: the story behind RBC's international brand partnerships (Öhlins, DT Swiss, Trickstuff, Push Industries, and more), a workshop mishap involving a very small, very lost damper clip, why standing eight hours a day is the real job requirement, and why Finale Ligure remains Robbie's favourite trail on earth.

They also bust a couple of persistent suspension myths — including the classic "my shock is leaking air" call that almost always isn't — and look ahead to where suspension tech is headed next, from electronic damping to how e-bike batteries might change the game entirely.

It's part origin story, part bench-racing session, and a look at what's kept RBC going for a decade: passion over profit, and a genuine love of getting more people on bikes.

Spotify Chapters – Suspension Sessions Episode 16

(00:00) Welcome to Suspension Sessions
(00:29) Celebrating 10 Years of RBC
(01:33) How RBC Started as a BMX Brand
(02:34) Passion Over Profit
(04:19) The Shift to Suspension Specialisation
(04:43) Spotting the Gap in the Market
(05:10) From a 3-Person Workshop to the Dyno Room
(07:46) How Suspension Technology Has Evolved
(10:27) Investing in Workshop Equipment
(11:23) Telemetry, Dynos & Removing the Guesswork
(12:58) The Biggest Innovation: Metric Shocks
(13:10) Trends That Didn't Survive: High Linkage Forks
(14:15) Workshop Story: The Case of the Missing Clip
(15:52) How Event Support Began
(16:16) Meeting Valentin in Switzerland
(19:31) A Decade of International Brand Partnerships
(21:57) Training Staff & Learning to Let Go
(23:12) Meet the Team: Nelson & Angela
(24:20) What Keeps Customers Coming Back
(24:52) Preparing Pro Athletes for the Season
(25:42) Why International Riders Choose South Africa
(26:31) Best Trail Ever Ridden: Finale Ligure
(27:46) Busting Suspension Myths
(30:32) Robbie's Favourite RBC Memory
(30:55) Looking Ahead to the Next 10 Years(32:21) Electronic Suspension, E-Bikes & AI
(33:53) What RBC Wants Customers to Take Away
(35:09) 10 Year Anniversary Event – 5 September