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The mountain bike industry is obsessed with acronyms, and after decades of marketing buzzwords like "EVO," "Aggressive," "Downcountry," and the (now fading) Enduro-Race, it feels like we’ve finally reached peak confusion. We spent years defining our sport, only to throw the rulebook out the window the moment e-bikes hit the scene. But are these ever-shifting categories actually helping you find the right tool for the trail, or are they just a clever way to sell you the "N+1" bike you don't really need?

In this episode of the Testpilot podcast, Jens Staudt sat down with industry veteran Guy Kesteven to strip away the "Excel spreadsheet" side of mountain biking. From the 32-inch wheel debate and the evolution of VPP versus Horstlink suspension to the honest reality of whether geometry innovation has hit a plateau, we’re cutting through the marketing noise. Whether you're a bike nerd with a garage full of vintage frames or a rider wondering if your bike is "capable enough," this is the reality check you’ve been waiting for.

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Podcast: Is MTB media biased, because it is paid?

Podcast: A journey throuhg 25 years of MTB history in bike media.

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Testpilot.bike – Your magazine for deep insights on product, bike culture and the two wheel industry.

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If you’ve ever found yourself deep in the weeds of suspension kinematics or obsessing over damping curves, you’re in good company. In the high-tech sanctuary of Push Industries in Colorado, founder and CEO Darren Murphy has spent two decades following his very own revolution in mountain bike suspension. This isn't just about making better parts; it's a technical philosophy—and perhaps a bit of stubbornness—required to build a manufacturing powerhouse that prioritizes elite performance above all else.

This episode sheds light on the history of the company and later takes a deep dive in how Push suspension works. It explains a lot about how suspension works and you will learn a lot directly from the mind behind the product.

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Review of the Nine.One fork.

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Testpilot.bike – Your magazine for deep insights on product, bike culture and the two wheel industry.

4zig

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Es beginnt oft mit einer mutigen Idee, und der Jürgen Schlender von Alutech Bikes ist so einer, der sie einfach umsetzt. Er muss keine großen Konzernvorgaben abnicken, nicht in Asien Formen öffnen – er baut einfach. Und zwar selbst. Ausprobieren liegt ihm und so experimentiert er schon immer mit allem, was spannend ist. Egal ob Mullet, (extrem) flache Lenkwinkel oder auch Motoren.

Und jetzt? Jetzt prescht er mit dem nächsten Thema vor: 32 Zoll.

Jürgens Motto: „Nich’ lange schnacken! Machen!“, greift auch bei der neuesten Laufradgröße. Auf dem Bikefestival Freiburg haben wir dann aber doch geschnackt. Im Kurz-Podcast diskutieren Jürgen und Jens über 32-Zoll. Wie es sich anfühlt, in welchem Bikesegment es sinnvoll sein kann und die Frage, ob es von der Bike-Community angenommen wird.

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Testpilot.bike – Your magazine for deep insights on product, bike culture and the two wheel industry.

4zig