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

Suspension Sessions – Episode 15 | Two Weeks in Andorra: Behind the Scenes at the Andorra Epic & UCI World Cup

What does life really look like behind the workshop doors at two of mountain biking's biggest events?

In this episode, Robbie shares his experiences from two unforgettable weeks in Andorra, working first at the Andorra Epic and then with DT Swiss at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Pal Arinsal.

From 5 a.m. starts and long days servicing suspension in the Epic paddock to building race wheels for World Cup athletes, Robbie gives us a rare insight into the work that happens long before riders roll onto the start line.

We discuss:

• Why Andorra has become one of mountain biking's premier destinations

• Supporting riders throughout the demanding Andorra Epic

• How heat, dust and altitude affect suspension performance

• The importance of servicing before a stage race

• Working inside the DT Swiss race workshop at a World Cup

• The incredible sense of community among mechanics, teams and riders

• Helping privateers alongside elite professionals

• Lessons every rider can take home about bike preparation and maintenance

Along the way, Robbie shares stories from the workshop, talks about servicing suspension for South African World Cup rider Candice Lill, explains why preparation is everything, and reminds us that even at the highest level, mountain biking is still built on people helping people.

Whether you're preparing for your next stage race, curious about what happens behind the scenes at a World Cup, or simply love hearing stories from the heart of mountain biking, this episode is packed with insight and experience.

🎙️ Suspension Sessions is brought to you by Robbie's Bicycle Concept (RBC) – keeping mountain bikers riding at their best through world-class suspension servicing, setup and technical expertise.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your riding buddies.

#SuspensionSessions #MTB #MountainBiking #AndorraEpic #UCIWorldSeries #DTSwiss #SuspensionService #BikeMechanic #WorldCupMTB #StageRacing #CandiceLill #RBC #RobbiesBicycleConcept

Spotify Chapters – Suspension Sessions Episode 15

(00:00) Welcome to Suspension Sessions

(00:30) Why Andorra is a Mountain Biking Mecca

(02:55) How Robbie Joined the Andorra Epic

(05:20) Supporting Riders as a Suspension Specialist

(07:05) Building a Mobile Suspension Workshop

(08:05) A Day in the Life at the Andorra Epic

(10:00) Heat, Dust & Suspension Challenges

(11:45) Why You Should Service Before a Stage Race

(13:10) Big Repairs & Working with Pro Riders

(15:00) From the Andorra Epic to the UCI World Cup

(15:45) Inside the DT Swiss Race Workshop

(18:15) Supporting Elite Riders and Privateers

(19:30) The World Cup Pit Community

(21:20) What Every Mountain Biker Can Learn

(23:10) South Africans on the World Cup Circuit

(24:00) Supporting Candice Lill at the World Cup

(25:30) Lessons from Andorra & Final Thoughts

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.