Suspension Sessions

RBC - Robbie's Bicycle Concept
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This is the RBC Podcast — your guided tour into the science, service, and setup behind MTB suspension. Hosted by Glen, with deep insights from Robbie, this series explores the fundamentals that every rider should understand: from sag and seals to service intervals, tuning, and long-term performance. If you love the engineering behind the ride, or simply want your suspension to feel dialled every time, this is your new go-to podcast.

Episodes

  1. Factory to Fast Forward with TJ Hanson

    4H AGO

    Factory to Fast Forward with TJ Hanson

    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.

    35 min
  2. The 32-Inch Wheel Debate – Innovation or Overkill?

    FEB 16

    The 32-Inch Wheel Debate – Innovation or Overkill?

    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.

    13 min
  3. The Tai Chi of Suspension Set-up

    FEB 9

    The Tai Chi of Suspension Set-up

    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.

    16 min
  4. Inside Suspension Development with Valentin Wendel (BMC)

    FEB 2

    Inside Suspension Development with Valentin Wendel (BMC)

    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.

    20 min
  5. Legacy Suspension - Is it possible to keep old-school suspension operating effectively?

    JAN 21

    Legacy Suspension - Is it possible to keep old-school suspension operating effectively?

    Before lockouts, air springs, and endless adjustment dials, there was legacy suspension — simple, innovative, and often surprisingly effective.In Episode 6 of Suspension Sessions, Robbie and Glen look back at the forks and shocks that helped define early mountain biking, and discuss how these older systems still fit into today’s riding world. From common wear points and service challenges to sourcing parts and setting expectations, this episode focuses on how to keep legacy suspension working properly — and when it’s worth doing so.Whether you’re maintaining an older bike, restoring a classic, or just curious about how modern suspension got here, this episode blends nostalgia with practical, workshop-tested insight.

    18 min
  6. A chat with Michel Kruiper - former Dutch Downhill Champion.

    JAN 12

    A chat with Michel Kruiper - former Dutch Downhill Champion.

    Michel Kruiper joins Robbie and Glen for a dive into the early days of downhill mountain biking and some views on current trends.A former Dutch National Downhill Champion and UCI World Cup racer, Michel shares what it was like competing in UCI DH events, training for Olympic selection and how he transitioned into the cycling retail space.Whether you’re a racer, a weekend rider, or a suspension nerd, this episode blends history, experience, and practical insight from someone who’s seen the sport evolve from the start.

    19 min
  7. Coil or Air MTB Suspension?

    JAN 6

    Coil or Air MTB Suspension?

    Air vs Coil: Which Suspension Is Right for You? Air or coil — it’s one of the most common suspension questions riders ask, and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Suspension Sessions, we break down the real-world differences between air-sprung and coil-sprung suspension. No marketing hype, no internet myths — just practical insight from the workshop and the trail. We cover how each system works, how they feel on the bike, and what really matters when it comes to setup, servicing, adjustability, weight, and long-term ownership. More importantly, we look at who benefits from each option and why the “best” choice depends far more on the rider than the component. Whether you’re considering a suspension upgrade, struggling to get your bike feeling right, or just want to understand your setup better, this episode will help you make a more informed decision. Because when suspension is set up correctly — air or coil — it changes everything.

    25 min
  8. Dropper Posts

    12/22/2025

    Dropper Posts

    In Episode 3 of Suspension Sessions, we take a closer lookat dropper posts, a component that’s become essential on modern mountain bikes, yet is often misunderstood and neglected. Drawing on real-world workshop experience at RBC, we unpack how dropper posts work, what affects performance, and the most common problems we see coming through the service department. We also discuss basic care, service intervals, and when adropper post needs professional attention versus a simple adjustment. The goal is to help riders get consistent performance, longer service life, and better value from their equipment. If you want your dropper post to work reliably when itmatters most - this episode is for you. 🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension, droppers, and performance setup.

    12 min
  9. Setting your MTB suspension sag

    12/15/2025

    Setting your MTB suspension sag

    In this episode, Glen and Robbie break down one of the most important - and most misunderstood - elements of MTB setup: suspension sag.They discuss what sag really is, why it matters and the common mistakes riders make when setting sag on forks and rear shocks.A practical, no-nonsense conversation to help riders achieve a balanced, dialled suspension setup from the start.

    8 min
  10. Servicing your MTB suspension

    12/11/2025

    Servicing your MTB suspension

    Glen and Robbie, one of South Africa’s leading suspension specialists, unpack the fundamentals every rider should understand regarding MTB suspensions and servicing. If you’re fascinated by the engineering behind the ride, or simply want your bike to feel dialled every time you hit the trail, this is your new go-to suspension podcast.

    16 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

This is the RBC Podcast — your guided tour into the science, service, and setup behind MTB suspension. Hosted by Glen, with deep insights from Robbie, this series explores the fundamentals that every rider should understand: from sag and seals to service intervals, tuning, and long-term performance. If you love the engineering behind the ride, or simply want your suspension to feel dialled every time, this is your new go-to podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    RBC - Robbie's Bicycle Concept
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © RBC - Robbie's Bicycle Concept
  • Show Website
    Suspension Sessions