Mountain Cog

Josh Anderson & Dane Higgins

Mountain bike podcast that will make you laugh and learn. Featuring a wide range of passionate guests. Available everywhere (Apple, Spotify etc).

  1. 6月2日

    128 - Are Chinese Brands Disrupting the Mountain Bike Industry?

    Send us Fan Mail If you've been paying attention to the mountain bike market lately, you've probably noticed some unfamiliar brand names popping up — and some surprisingly low price tags attached to them. Episode 128 is Josh and Dane's deep dive into the growing wave of Chinese brands entering the US market not as behind-the-scenes manufacturers, but as direct competitors to the brands you already know and ride. From complete enduro bikes priced well below comparable US brands to electronic drivetrains at half the cost of Shimano and SRAM, something is clearly shifting in the industry. What makes this episode worth your time is that Josh and Dane don't just point at the price tags — they explain the machinery behind them. Vertical integration, fee-on-fee cost removal, reverse engineering, government subsidies, and the post-COVID/tariff driven factory crisis in China all played a role in getting us here. They also call out the stuff you should actually be worried about — inconsistent quality control, after-sale support that's still figuring itself out, and software ecosystems that need work. Brands like Amflow/Avinox, XDS/X-LAB, Elite Wheels, Seekrun, L-TWOO, and others get specific attention, and Josh makes a bold prediction about DJI and the future of the AMFLOW brand that's worth hearing. Listen to Mountain Cog Apple Podcasts Spotify Other Podcast Sites Socials Instagram Facebook Email mountaincog@gmail.com

    1 小時 6 分鐘
  2. 5月5日

    126 - Shop Talk: SRAM's Quiet Overhaul, Brembo Brakes, & Why Reach Is Misleading

    Send us Fan Mail Shop Talk is back on the Mountain Cog Podcast, and Episode 126 is loaded. Josh and Dane open with the Avinox M2 motor conversation that's dividing the e-bike world right now — too much power, not enough regulation, or just the next evolution of trail riding? Then they get into something that didn't get nearly the attention it deserved: SRAM overhauling their entire non-T-type Eagle lineup and simplifying it down to three groups. If terms like NX, GX, XO, and XX1 are part of your vocabulary, you'll want to hear what's replacing them and what it means for anyone still riding a non-T-type AXS setup. The second half of the episode tackles Brembo's entrance into mountain biking with their GR Pro brake, which brings some legitimate motorsport engineering to the trail — including a three-position lever ratio system that lets you tune the brake feel from progressive to immediate. Josh and Dane give you the honest take without the hype. Dane also breaks down why he sees reach being misused constantly in his shop, and why a customer almost spent $350 on an unnecessary stem because an AI told him his reach was wrong. Spoiler: the bike fit perfectly once it was actually built and measured. Rounding out the episode are bang-for-the-buck picks for Reynolds aluminum wheels, WTB Volt saddles, and a quick fix for tubeless tires that aren't holding air. Listen to Mountain Cog Apple Podcasts Spotify Other Podcast Sites Socials Instagram Facebook Email mountaincog@gmail.com

    1 小時 15 分鐘
  3. 3月24日

    123 - Hayes vs. Shimano Brakes: Which One is Better for You?

    Send us Fan Mail Brakes are one of those things most riders don't think about until something goes wrong — and then it's all they can think about. This episode of Mountain Cog changes that. Josh and Dane dig into the Hayes versus Shimano debate with the kind of depth and honesty that's hard to find when every other review online is either sponsored content or a five-minute YouTube video that barely scratches the surface. The conversation starts with a simple real-world observation from the trail and quickly evolves into something genuinely eye-opening about how these two systems are fundamentally built to feel different — not better or worse, just different. Dane has spent decades behind a bike shop bench working on both systems, and that experience comes through in every minute of this episode. He explains why Shimano's brakes have earned their legendary reputation for easy maintenance, why Hayes has quietly built a cult following among riders who prioritize feel and control on technical terrain, and what the actual tradeoffs are when you choose one over the other. DOT fluid versus mineral oil, modulation versus raw bite, easy bleeding versus superior feel — it's all covered here without an agenda. By the end you'll have a clear picture of which system fits your riding and your lifestyle. Shimano: https://bike.shimano.com/stories/article/the-easy-to-understand-guide-to-brakes.html Hayes: https://hayes.hayesbicycle.com/en-us/ Listen to Mountain Cog Apple Podcasts Spotify Other Podcast Sites Socials Instagram Facebook Email mountaincog@gmail.com

    1 小時 20 分鐘

簡介

Mountain bike podcast that will make you laugh and learn. Featuring a wide range of passionate guests. Available everywhere (Apple, Spotify etc).

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