The race behind the race – a conversation with the woman steering one of South Africa's most beloved cycling events.

In episode 14 of Suspension Sessions, Robbie and Glen sit down with Lions Karoo to Coast Race Director Zandile Meneses to uncover what goes on behind one of South Africa's most iconic mountain bike events.

From the rich history of Karoo to Coast and the unique appeal of Prince Alfred's Pass, to the immense logistical challenge of getting thousands of riders safely from Uniondale to Knysna, Zandile shares what it really takes to keep this legendary race rolling year after year.

The conversation explores the evolution of the event, the rise of gravel bikes, the difficult decisions that race organisers sometimes face, and the vital role local communities and the Lions Clubs play in making Karoo to Coast so special.

Of course, being Suspension Sessions, the discussion also turns to bike setup, suspension choices, and what riders should consider when preparing for one of the country's favourite point-to-point races.

Whether you're a Karoo to Coast veteran, planning your first ride, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes of a major cycling event, this episode offers a fascinating look at the people and passion that make it all possible.

In episode 13 of Suspension Sessions, Robbie and Glen sit down with Candice Lill fresh off her victory at the Absa Cape Epic, to talk about life, racing, and suspension setups.They unpack what it takes to perform at the highest level of cross-country and stage racing — from the intensity of the World Cup circuit and the Olympic Games to the unique demands of multi-day events. At the core of the conversation is suspension: how Candice builds a reliable baseline, adapts to changing terrain, and why confidence in your setup can make or break a race.Candice chats about lessons learned along the way, the small setup decisions that have a big impact under pressure, and how it all started — from the very beginning of her cycling journey at just three years old.Whether you’re chasing podiums or simply looking for more confidence on the bike, this is a grounded, insight-packed conversation with one of South Africa’s best.

In Episode 12 of Suspension Sessions, we focus on one of the most critical — and often overlooked — aspects of stage racing: suspension preparation.Drawing on real-world experience from working with riders at the ABSA Cape Epic, Glen and Robbie break down what it takes to get your suspension ready before the race, and how to manage it over multiple days of demanding terrain.From correct servicing and establishing a reliable baseline setup, to understanding the relationship between suspension, tyres, and rider fatigue, this episode covers the fundamentals that directly impact performance and consistency.We also discuss daily checks, what to do as fatigue sets in, and the common mistakes riders make — including over-firm setups and unnecessary mid-race changes.If you’re preparing for a stage race, or simply want your bike to perform consistently over long, demanding rides, this episode offers practical, experience-led insight into getting the most out of your suspension.🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension servicing, setup, and performance.

In this episode, we sit down with Tristan from Gecko Racing Engineering — a young mechanical engineer designing and building a 400kg single-seater race car for the iconic Simola Hillclimb.

Instead of buying a race car, Tristan chose to build one from the ground up. We unpack how their development process starts with tyre selection and moves into suspension geometry, leverage ratios, anti-squat, anti-dive, and shock choice.

Gecko Racing visited RBC with a 3D-printed front suspension assembly to refine their setup — and we explore why MTB air shocks make sense during the development phase before potentially moving to coil.

If you’re into real-world engineering, data-driven suspension development, and bold grassroots motorsport projects, this episode is for you.

Listen now and dive into the dark arts of suspension.

For Episode 10 of Suspension Sessions, Glen and Robbie sit down with Terje “TJ” Hansen, Head of MTB Suspension at Öhlins - a man who’s spent nearly three decades at the heart of world-class suspension development.

From being born into motocross heritage to helping build Öhlins’ mountain bike program from a “skunkworks” project into a World Cup-winning force, TJ shares the inside story of how elite racing drives real-world product evolution.

In this episode, we chat about:

• The early days of Öhlins MTB and the legendary TTX22

• How working with Specialized Gravity and riders like Loïc Bruni shapes suspension innovation

• The philosophy behind the Fast Forward program and hydraulic top-out technology

• New developments including advanced low-friction coatings and the launch of an Öhlins gravel fork

• The impact of Brembo’s acquisition and what it means for future R&D

• Electronics vs. analogue suspension — where the industry is really heading

• Why most riders overcomplicate setup — and TJ’s simple, powerful approach to getting suspension right

TJ also shares honest insights on telemetry overload, common setup mistakes (even at World Cup level), and why correct bike balance always comes before twisting knobs.

This is a masterclass in suspension thinking - blending race paddock development, real-world service insight, and practical advice every rider can apply immediately.

If you care about performance, balance, and the future of suspension tech, this one’s not to be missed.

Episode 9: The 32-Inch Wheel Debate – Innovation or Overkill?

In this episode of Suspension Sessions, Glen and Robbie sit down with Valentin Wendel from BMC to unpack one of the most talked-about developments in modern mountain biking: 32-inch wheels.

After seeing the prototype unveiled at a World Cup event, the discussion dives into why the industry is exploring bigger wheels, what the real performance gains might be, and the trade-offs that come with scaling everything up.

From improved rollover and smoother cornering to increased weight, stiffness challenges, geometry changes, gearing implications, and frame design constraints — this episode explores the engineering realities behind the hype.

The team also debates who 32-inch wheels are really for, whether they could make more sense in other bike categories, and how innovation in the industry has historically been received — from 26” to 29” and beyond.

If you’re curious about where bike design is heading, and what it actually takes to bring a concept like this to market, this is a thoughtful, balanced look at the future of wheel size.

🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension servicing, setup, and performance.

Episode 8: The Art of Balance – Real-World Suspension Tuning with RBC

In Episode 8 of Suspension Sessions, Glen, Robbie, and Valentin dig into what suspension tuning really looks like away from theory and inside real-world riding conditions.

Recorded after several days of hands-on suspension setup with professional riders in the Western Cape, this episode explores the idea of balance — between rider, bike, suspension, tyres, and terrain. The conversation breaks down the process RBC follows when setting up race bikes, why servicing must come before tuning, and how small changes in tyres, pressure, and damping can dramatically affect performance.

The episode also highlights the importance of rider education, trust, and repeatable setup processes, showing why even professional athletes benefit from structured suspension work and a solid baseline — especially heading into a race season.

If you want insight into how suspension is tuned in the real world, how riders learn to use their adjustment tools, and why feel, feedback, and experience still matter as much as data, this episode takes you deep into the Taichi of suspension.

🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension servicing, setup, and performance.

Episode 7: Inside Suspension Development with Valentin Wendel (BMC)

In this episode of Suspension Sessions, Glen and Robbie sit down with Valentin Wendel from Swiss bike manufacturer BMC for a deep dive into the world of suspension development.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Valentin shares insight from his time working on World Cup race bikes, developing suspension systems from first principles, and supporting elite riders on the ground at major events. From early carbon fork development and real-world race testing to the realities of lab simulation, environmental conditions, and rider feedback, this episode explores what it really takes to design suspension that works outside of a test bench.

The conversation also touches on the future of suspension technology, including electronic damping concepts, the challenges of complexity and cost, and why rider feel and real-world testing still matter more than data alone.

If you’re interested in how modern suspension is engineered, tested, and refined — from the workshop to the World Cup start line — this episode offers rare insight from someone who’s been deeply involved at every level.

🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension setup, servicing, and performance.