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How do bike magazines test bikes? How do they form their opinion? If you ever wondered how the testing process looks behind the curtain or how it evolved over the last decades, this podcast is for you.

Mike Kazimer is the editor in chief for Pinkbike. Joining host Jens Staudt on the Testpilot Podcast, he opens up about his journey from a decade of wrenching in bike shops to spending the last 15+ years testing gear at the top level of media.

In this episode, Kazimer breaks down the shift from isolated, jet-lagged press camp reviews to Pinkbike’s structured Field Tests, sharing how side-by-side loops, control parts, and diverse test crews keep bike reviews honest. The two also dork out on how geometry hit its modern sweet spot, why mid-tier aluminum workhorses are better than ever, the headaches of electronic over-complication, and why simple, durable bikes still win out at the end of the day.

Whether you are a tech dork obsessed with suspension telemetry or just love getting out on two wheels, hit play for a candid look at how the bike industry actually works.

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Pinkbikes editors pick for geometry.

Podcast: 25 years of history in bike media. A retrospective with James Huang and Jens Staudt

Podcast: The Category Trap with Guy Kesteven – Why Your Bike is Lying to You

Podcast: Leo Kokonnen about the rebirth of Pole Bicycles

Podcast: Keith Scott from Banshee Bikes – Engeneering over hype

Podcast: Joe McEwan – 10 years of Starling Cycles and staying true to yourself

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

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In this episode of the TESTPILOT.bike Podcast, host Jens Staudt sits down with Leo Kokkonen, founder and chief designer of Pole Bicycles. Following a tumultuous period in the bike industry, Kokkonen returns to detail the brand's pivot from high-volume manufacturing to ultra-exclusive, bespoke bike building.

The conversation focuses on the debut of the Pole Hiisi, a revolutionary e-MTB platform machined from solid billet 7075-T6 aluminum, featuring modular travel options (152mm–200mm), bridge-less swingarm compliance tuning, and the high-torque, silent Maxon BikeDrive Air S motor.

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Podcast: Keith Scott talks about Banshee Bikes

Podcast: Joe McEwan – 10 years of Starling Cycles

www.TESTPILOT.bike

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

4zig

Send us Fan Mail

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.

www.TESTPILOT.bike

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

4zig