The Enduro World Series Podcast (Enduro World Series)

After weeks of poking around the proverbial bushes, Ric and Ruaridh have finally solved the mystery of just who New Zealand’s Charles Murray will be riding for this year and it is Specialized Racing! The sixth place rider from the 2020 Bluegrass EWS Finale Ligure joins us on the line from the sunny Southern Hemisphere to talk about his new team, quitting his day job and just how confusing a mixed wheel bike can be when it comes to buying tyres!

Also, we talk about the Dirt Fund Project - a new charity set up to help fund privateer racers, discuss what is next for Katy Winton and Ruaridh falls off a patio.

Another hectic week at the Enduro World Series office has passed under the teams front wheel so there's plenty for Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin to discuss. There's been racing action from the EWS Qualifiers in Dunedin, NZ and Windrock, USA, the mystery of who Charles Murray will be riding for in 2021 rumbles on (for now) and Yeti/Fox Race Team have announced their 2021 line-up. 

Where does the two-time EWS Champ, Richie Rude, stack up as we head towards the new season getting underway? Or will it be his teammate and one of the form riders of 2019, Shawn Neer, who will be top turquoise rider this time out? 

We also answer YOUR QUESTIONS, discuss the dark art of bike colour and whether or not trials has any place in an enduro race... 

Join Ric McLaughlin and Ruaridh Cunningham as they discuss Enduro World Series race bikes getting ever more suspension travel on the day that Nukeproof launch their new 180mm travel Giga. How much is too much and on which 2021 EWS courses will added bounce come in handy?!  

They also discuss the rise of the mixed wheel size 'mullet' bikes, Sam Hill turning troll on social media, lockdown hair care and the worst mud that Ruaridh has ever raced in. 

Team camps can be tricky things - melting pots of egos, injuries and new equipment. The last thing anyone needs is two podcasters turning up to ask inane questions... With that in mind, Ruaridh and Ric went for a behind-the-scenes look at the Chain Reaction Cycles team's annual set-up straightener. 

They also look ahead to a pro-packed first big UK enduro - the Epic Hope PMBA Enduro (which carries EWS Qualifier status) at the end of the month. Anticipation builds ahead of New Van (better title pending) arriving, Ruaridh opens up about opening up shoulders, Ric retells one of his more spectacular racing disasters and the sporting career of Take That's Mark Owen comes up for debate. 

Donate to the BASE MTB HnD Yr2 Tweed Valley Everest challenge, here:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=BASEMTBHNDyr2&pageUrl=1

With the white hot heat of battle set to rejoin in just a couple of weeks time, Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin look ahead to the Vittoria EWS-E Tweed Valley and how the former is getting on with designing his first race course. 

What do the pro's look for in a race course? How tough should e-bike liaisons be and for the first time in its history the podcast gets interrupted by a man wanting to buy a coffee! To be fair, that is because we moved to our new home-from-home at No1 Peebles Road coffee shop. A heartfelt thanks to Craig and the team for taking us in and allowing us to talk nonsense for a prolonged period of time in their premises.   

For the first time, this podcast is also available in video over on the Enduro World Series YouTube channel. 

This week we have some racing to report in on from the impressively-titled Fox Superflow sealed by Stan’s gravity enduro event down under which has raised a burning question; are Australian racers simply better at race kit than any other nation?! 

We look ahead to the next round of the Israel Enduro Series, discuss how fast Greg Callaghan's father is on an e-bike and lament the sale of Ruaridh's trusty old van. There's also talk of new vans, Shimano's revolutionary E-TUBE app and how tough it is to make the jump from U21 to Pro class racing. All this whilst trying not to get distracted by a small bird who seems determined to make it on to the podcast.  

It's been a long time coming but Ruaridh and Ric FINALLY get to talk about one of the biggest deals in the history of mountain bike racing coverage - Discovery, Inc's investment in the Enduro World Series and EWS-E. More racing, more coverage and more exposure for the riders and teams! 

Also, the boys have spent their first day on their new Santa Cruz Bullit MX e-bikes. How do the bikes differ from their old Heckler's and what were their initial impressions, how did Shimano's EP8 drive unit perform and what bits on their bikes could they not talk about?! 

Zakarias Johansen is one of the most chilled out pro's in the Enduro World Series pits and has the speed and style between the tapes to back it up. He joins us this week to talk about starting life as a Norwegian downhiller before he was briefly coached by Ruaridh which was enough to turn him into a Swedish enduro racer! 

Zak re-joined his first pro team, Ibis Cycles Enduro Team, this off-season and has just returned from his first race of the season where he finished second in Finale Ligure. He made waves as part of Team Sweden at the Bluegrass Trophy of Nations back in 2019 and has some really interesting views about race bikes, surviving the Scandinavian winter, suspension and snowmobiles! 

Do you know your progressive siping from your ETRTO?! Tyres divide opinion like no other bike component and their performance can dramatically affect not just how your bike feels on the trail but where you end up at your next enduro race. 

Rather than just battle through Ruaridh and Ric's own (often non-sensical) opinions, we enlisted the help of Ken Avery from Vittoria Tyres. Senior Vice President of Product, Ken is first and foremost a mountain biker and has moved from racing at UCI-level to designing some of mountain biking's best known rubber. Enduro racing is a brand-new challenge however and represents a very delicate balancing act for tyre designers. 

In this episode, we talk about our own tyre-based misfortunes, how we got on with our Vittoria tyres last season, what we all should be looking for and thinking about when it comes to tyre choice. Also, what does the future hold for e-bike tyres and how does a bike handle with 65psi in the front tyre?! 

In the fourth episode of the podcast Ric McLaughlin and Ruaridh Cunningham discuss some news about the EWS calendar, the first EWS Qualifier of the year in Falls Creek and our NEW BIKES! Well, Ric's new bike... 

It's another whistle stop tour of Planet EWS with the guys discussing topics including Lapierre Zipp Collective's new young gun, how important comfort on an enduro bike is and whether or not it's better to be best mates with your teammate or your mechanic.

Plus, we answer your questions in the second instalment of our Ask Us Anything section.

With all the Enduro World Series and EWS-E entries now live and all but a few being accounted for it definitely feels like we've been asked to stow the tray tables in preparation for final descent into the 2021 race season! 

This week Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin discuss the official launch of (nearly) all of the official teams with some notable names having quietly traded pit spaces. There's also discussion about the new Husqvarna E-Bicycles Racing team and their headline signing of Alexandre Fayolle. 

We report on Trek Factory Racing's injured Florian Nicolai, attempt a video round-up and debate what it means to be a 'season' rider... 

It's Ruaridh and Ric's last podcast from Scotland as they get ready to hit the road and head out to MET EWS Val di Fassa Trentino next week, but there's still much to discuss! First up it's a flotilla of new machinery headed up by Santa Cruz's new Bronson and a mountain bike that may need an air intake.

Last week the Enduro World Series announced the all-new, bigger than ever 2022 race calendar so the boys take a wander through it picking out some of the most exciting parts. For more information on the 2022 calendar check out:

https://www.enduroworldseries.com/news/1647-2022-the-biggest-ews-calendar-ever-/

For more about Wyn Masters' Privateer Of The Week, visit:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/2021-world-cup-dh-and-ews-privateer-fund?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B4803-donation-alert-v5

Also in this podcast: Ruaridh's slippers, Nigel Page's slopestyle career, an F1 car in LA and a cold horse.

Next week: ITALY!

The UK's Bex Baraona is officially on a winning streak taking pre-season victories (by big margins) both in home soil and in Italy. We talk to Bex before she gets ready to hit the road taking her run of form to the opening round at MET EWS Val di Fassa in a couple of weeks. Is she set to be a title contender in 2021?!

And in other news, Greg Callaghan and Kelan Grant hit the road, Ruaridh has a haircut and Ric contemplates a bike build!

To stand on the top step of an Enduro World Series podium confirms that you are one of the very best mountain bike racers on earth. When looked at as a group of people who have managed it, there is a fascinating collection of riders who have managed it 'only' once. Some are now retired, others are still in the pro ranks and may yet have more victories in them.

In this episode, Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin dive into the details and stories behind those wins and try and work out what they mean for the incoming 2021 season. 

This week Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin discuss Devinci's announcement that they are committing to enduro and if they can be a factor in the overall Teams championship. We also discuss Forbidden's new Dreadnought as the latest long-limbed enduro frame breaks cover alongside the future of EWS and EWS-E courses. Will we see the first 6000m of vertical course by the end of the year?!

Also, we answer your questions! And there's everything from dream destinations to bear fights involved! 

It's been another busy week at the Enduro World Series and EWS-E office! But it probably wasn't as busy as Kasper Woolley should be preparing to be... Ruaridh and Ric catch up to discuss the young Canadian's upcoming mentorship under Jared Graves, one of the most complete bike racers ever, on the newly-announced Yeti / OneUp Components Pro Team. 

Forbidden Synthesis - another all-Canadian super squad has arrived as the Battle for Squamish heats up! 

We also take a look at the uniquely suspended race machines of the new Juliana Free Agents team. Plus how to embarrass yourself outside of an ice cream parlour, stuffing/preloading Medjool dates, rappers in space and a whole lot more... 

It's happened. It's finally happened... someone has let us record the podcast in a brewery! This week, Ruaridh and Ric report in from Tempest Brewing Co. where the team are hard at work producing something special for the Vittoria EWS-E/EWS Tweed Valley. 

An exciting block of racing lies ahead with six races taking place in just three weeks including the return of EWS-E and two brand-new venues! With the van (nearly) packed, the EWS team are off to France for the Michelin EWS Loudenvielle. We haven't raced in France since EWS Montagnes du Caroux back in 2019 and with French riders dominating the top-20's it feels like one of the most hotly-anticipated races in a long time. To add some spice to the mix, the boys take a look at the newly-crowned French national champions and how that changes things. 

Also, who are we backing to be the big disruptors this season and where/how will they do it?! And seagulls. And beer. 

A video version of this podcast will be available in a couple of days. For those who missed the video version of Episode 24, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 

On episode 9 of the Enduro World Series podcast we have a brand-new partner announcement in the form of sporting event logistics giants, Ship To Cycle. We help to celebrate 100 years of one of the most trusted bike industry brands in the world, Shimano, with a ride down Memory Lane whilst taking a look at some of their more curious creations and the groupsets that shaped us as riders. We also talk about Specialized’s brand-new Turbo Levo, the name that has become a byword for hard-hitting e-bike fun and get an update on the The Mystery of Charles Murray  and Ruaridh’s quest for Project 85. Or should that be Project 87.5?

To use the parlance of our times, it's been a minute! Ruaridh and Ric have returned from nearly a month on the road with the opening four rounds of the Enduro World Series 2021 now in the history books. 

There's been a lot to talk about too... the Pro Women's championship has (as we predicted) really caught fire with no fewer than three different winners plus heartbreak for a certain Canadian. The Pro Stage cometh! What difference did a single stage of racing with championship points up for grabs the evening before the full course make? There was also the (already) epic saga of Richie Rude vs. Jack Moir, what was eating Sam Hill and GOOD FRIENDS OF THE PODCAST Charlie Murray and Zak Johansen's debut podiums! 

Also discussed: the Santa Cruz Megatower, church pews, collapsing roofs, Rain Man and cheese. 

For all our regular listeners, apologies for the lack of episodes during the last few weeks. The double rounds were hectic and with so much time spent visiting local pharmacies to get tested and travelling we never got a chance to sit down and record a podcast. Hopefully we can back into our regular weekly routine now. 

For all the video action from the first four rounds of the season, check out GMBN. 

Keep up to date with all the latest action and news from the Enduro World Series here.

The Specialized EWS-E Crans-Montana and EWS Crans-Montana were full of drama from start to finish with big name racers crashing left, right and centre and their opponents lining up to take advantage. Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin are back together to relive a hectic week in Switzerland on what would be some of the years best stages. 

Travis Pastrana is one of the most decorated extreme sports athletes of all-time and has blazed a trail through several different sports raising the bar ever higher for others to follow. And then he met Ruaridh, one fateful night in California...

Also in this episode; the Yeti 160E launch, surprise packages and vans not falling through ceilings. 

You can re-watch all the action from EWS Crans-Montana, RIGHT HERE! 

You can re-watch all the action from Specialized EWS-E Crans-Montana, RIGHT HERE! 

This week it's the second part of our USA road trip as we get to know the people behind the 2022 Enduro World Series rounds. In Episode 28 it's the turn of Adam Craig (general all-round MTB legend) and John Tauses who is the Carrabassett Valley Trail Manager. Both of them are deeply rooted in mountain biking in Maine and have been driving forces behind bringing the 2022 series to Sugarloaf. 

For those who complained that there wasn't enough Ruaridh last week then fear not! Cunningham returns for this one. He's partnered alongside our very own Finlay Anderson as the four discuss what promises to be a historic back-to-back East Coast block of racing next season. 

If you want to find out more about the new venues then check out our EWS Destination Spotlight pieces, available here. 

Or, if you fancy experiencing the Enduro World Series first hand and are good at waggling a camera, then why not apply to join us in our new Creator role which you can apply for here.

It's a funny old time of year with many Enduro World Series pro's making announcements, upping sticks and moving teams. Ric McLaughlin and Ruaridh Cunningham set about the mammoth task of attempting to untangle which EWS pro's will be riding for what teams this season. The watering hole is shrinking and there are some big names still to announce! 

Plus they shed some light on how the dark art of rider contracts work, who needs to hurry up and find a seat and, on paper at least, which teams are looking like contenders for the 2021 Teams Championship already. 

The sixth episode of The Enduro World Series Podcast is a bit of a milestone in that we've got our first guest on the show! 

The term 'mountain bike legend' is thrown around pretty liberally but if it fits anyone properly it's Chain Reaction Cycles' Nigel Page. Nigel has lived a life on two wheels from motorbikes, to BMX, to racing at the very top level of professional downhill during the sports late 1990's golden age. Since then, Nigel has been pivotal in first setting up Chain Reaction Cycles as one of the most professional teams in mountain biking and then recruiting Sam Hill and helping him to his three consecutive EWS overall titles. He still races too and is a Masters podium regular.

In the show Nigel talks about everything from his early days right up to helping Nukeproof develop their latest race bikes and working intimately with one of the sports most mercurial, talented and humble talents... Ruaridh Cunningham. Oh, and Sam Hill too... 

In this weeks episode we're going on the road and beginning to look ahead to the 2022 race season. The EWS team are just back from a site visit to our two brand-new US rounds in Burke, VT and Sugarloaf, ME. Our very own Finlay Anderson sat down with one of the driving forces behind the first of those races, a man who has ran race teams, fostered some world-class young talent and pushed extremely hard to bring the Enduro World Series to his home trails - Knight Ide. 

WE'RE HIRING! If you want to come and work for the Enduro World Series here's how you can apply for our new Creator position.

Also, as mentioned in the show, you can watch Steve Jones' assault on the Bluegrass EWS-E Finale Ligure here.

Cecile Ravanel announced her official retirement from racing last week so this week we're looking back at what made the three-time EWS Champ such a formidable competitor. Will her influence continue to be felt and has anyone got any chance of replicating her dominance?!

We also talk about Kevin Miquel's latest Specialized Racing S-Works Enduro race bike, carbon fibre versus alloy handlebars, enduro race bike hacks and Ric buys not one but (potentially) two bikes... 

In the fifth episode Spring is threatening to spring and thoughts are turning to bike racing... We report from the Intense Cycles Capital Kamikaze from Mount Stromlo down under as the EWS Qualifiers continue to roll out.

Ruaridh and Ric also debate whether or not we've reached the ceiling of big enduro bike tech developments and what elements of them designers have yet to crack. 

There's more team news too with Giant Factory Racing Off-Road and Sunn French Connexion Racing announcing their squads, a big signing for Peugeot Cycles and an icon returns in the form of Orange Factory Racing from the UK! We assess what we should be expecting from them in 2021, remember some of their previous greatest hits AND we answer your questions...

An old wooden door creeks open... nervously you peer into the darkness behind... look closer... what's that?! BANG! IT'S THE 2022 EWS-E AND EWS RACE SEASON! 

After nearly eight months of waiting it is FINALLY here! The Vittoria EWS Tweed Valley 2021 was consigned to the history books as one of the most talked-about EWS races in history but all that is now itself history and Ruaridh Cunningham and Ric McLaughlin are back to talk all things '22. 

What rounds are they most excited about? Who are they backing and, perhaps most importantly, how much action are they going to serve you up and where?! Ric talks us through the EWS' exciting new video model, Ruaridh pontificates on weird cockpit set ups and redesigning the EWS Tweed Valley course. There's also talk surrounding the new Santa Cruz Megatower V2, motorhome insulation foam and the motion picture film Deep Impact.

A video version of this podcast is available at: https://www.youtube.com/c/EnduroWorldSeries1 

One of our favourite things about enduro racing is that pretty much any mountain biker can have a crack at it. But, as we all know, there is no such thing as 'the average mountain biker' and with that in mind, Ric has been down the enduro library (we're fairly certain that no such place exists) to compile a list of unlikely racers to have strapped on some transponders and hurled themselves at the stages.

What do we mean by 'unlikely'? We have a Hollywood A-lister, several Olympians, an F1 ace, some big mountain snow stars and an extremely well-qualified motocross racer to hint at just a few. 

Also in this episode: some big news about our first video podcast, rubber dinghies and Ruaridh's (rumoured) male modelling. 

The (liquid) dust has now settled, the power washers have been put away and the riding kit is dripping in the garage... the 2021 EWS-E and Enduro World Series is in the books. After a failed attempt to broadcast from the road, Ruaridh and Ric are back however with plenty to discuss and debate.

Over the course of the next few episodes we're going to be looking at the second block of racing, the busiest in Enduro World Series history with nine races in just five weeks! Who were the big winners, who were the losers and what were the stories behind them? 

Also, EWS Travel has just launched an all-new MTB trip that has been years in the making. For more details about our brand new H+I Adventures EWS Travel Scotland package, CLICK HERE.   

We may well be between two epic blocks of Enduro World Series racing but there's still plenty going on! EWS regulars have been in action at Red Bull Hardline, the world's most extreme DH race. It just so happens that Ruaridh has won that race so he was more than up for providing an insight into what success in North Wales demands. 

We discuss the latest developments with our Race Labs Pro Race Plate, hop around the planet for an EWS Gold Qualifier round-up and announce some new limited edition merch now available in our webstore. 

And on top of all this... we answer YOUR questions! Or at least, do our best to answer your questions anyway... 

To volunteer and get closer to the action than anyone else at Vittoria EWS Tweed Valley CLICK HERE.