Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

At sixteen, Simona Kuchyňková was told to find a different sport. A brain aneurysm and two surgeries later, the doctors said she could race, but at her own risk. Since then there’s been a broken wrist at the Downhill World Championships, two ACL tears, and a first Elite season that ended with second overall, a Red Bull helmet and the biggest smile in the paddock. This year she raced on a torn ACL until a crash at La Thuile ended her season. We caught up with the owner of the most mispronounced name in mountain biking in Finale Ligure, three months after surgery, to find out how she keeps coming back. It’s an inspiring story from one of the most exciting talents in mountain biking right now. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Simona Kuchyňková.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

You can follow Simona on Instagram @simca_original and on YouTube here.

Podcast Stuff

Patreon

I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.

Merch

If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

Newsletter

If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.

Follow Us

Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.

For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.

Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Photo – Rick Schubert

Nine years ago, on the trails of Finale Ligure, Adrien Dailly finished second to Sam Hill in the fight for the Enduro World Series overall title in his first elite season. What followed wasn’t the rise everyone expected: a shattered elbow, three surgeries, shoulder injuries, concussions, and a slow slide out of love with enduro racing.

This weekend, back in Finale, he became the first man to win the E-Enduro World Championships twice, just weeks after taking the Enduro World Cup overall for the first time, despite it not being on his to do list. We sat down with him the morning after, to find out how he got from there to here. There’s plenty to talk about, so sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Adrien Dailly.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

You can follow Adrien on Instagram @adriendailly.

Sponsoring Partners

Michelin

Michelin are a long time supporter of Adrien and have stood by him through thick and thin. Having been involved in the testing and development of their enduro tyre range, Adrien has gone on to show just what they are capable of, by taking and Enduro World Cup overall and two E-Enduro World Championships. You can check out the entire Michelin range over at michelin.co.uk/bicycle.

Exposure Lights

Exposure Lights will transform your night riding experience and keep you coming back for more. I’m running the MaXx-D bar light and Diablo helmet light and have been blown away by their performance. Downtime listeners can get a very rare 10% discount until the end of November 2026 by using the code DOWNTIME10% at the checkout over at exposurelights.com.

Term & Conditions: Please note the code applies to selected new lights only and cannot be used on mounts, accessories or alongside other promotions. Sometimes free items will be added to your basket, these will need to be removed for the discount to apply, or you may be charged for these items.

Customers outside of the UK will not pay UK VAT at the point of purchase. Local taxes, duties, customs payments and tariffs may be applied on or before delivery, as determined by the destination country. We do all we can to minimise these costs, but we must act within the law and we have no control over such payments. Due to variations in rates by country/region, we are unable to estimate how much you will have to pay. This is calculated once the items have been despatched by us.

Patreon

I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.

Merch

If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

Newsletter

If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.

Follow Us

Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.

For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.

Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Photo – Seb Schieck

The Enduro World Championships have been and gone, and what a way to wrap up the season here in Finale Ligure.

I’m joined by Morgane Charre and Greg Callaghan to look back at the racing, talk about the challenges that Finale gave to the riders, and get into the big question hanging over enduro right now: what happens next?

With the current Enduro World Cup series coming to an end, 2027 looks set to be a significant year for the sport. There’s a lot of positivity around, but with two potential world series currently on the table, are we at risk of splitting an already weakened sport in two? There’s plenty to talk about, so sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Morgane and Greg.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

Sponsoring Partners

Exposure Lights

Exposure Lights will transform your night riding experience and keep you coming back for more. I’m running the MaXx-D bar light and Diablo helmet light and have been blown away by their performance. Downtime listeners can get a very rare 10% discount until the end of November 2026 by using the code DOWNTIME10% at the checkout over at exposurelights.com.

Term & Conditions: Please note the code applies to selected new lights only and cannot be used on mounts, accessories or alongside other promotions. Sometimes free items will be added to your basket, these will need to be removed for the discount to apply, or you may be charged for these items.

Customers outside of the UK will not pay UK VAT at the point of purchase. Local taxes, duties, customs payments and tariffs may be applied on or before delivery, as determined by the destination country. We do all we can to minimise these costs, but we must act within the law and we have no control over such payments. Due to variations in rates by country/region, we are unable to estimate how much you will have to pay. This is calculated once the items have been despatched by us.

Patreon

I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.

Merch

If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

Newsletter

If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.

Follow Us

Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.

For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.

Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Photo – Rick Schubert

Welcome back to Downtime Goes Downhill. On this episode, a well known bike designer joins us for his first downhill race in 25 years. Ben and Jonny finish the season separated by 0.14 of a second. We talk about spending your risk wisely, dealing with a mudder, semi-slick tyres, and why we choose to go racing when we could just ride bikes. Oh, and Jonny invents a new type of goggles. Plenty to go at here, so sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with me, Ben, Jonny and our very special guest.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

As always a huge thank you to Fox Racing, One Up Components, Wahoo and Sprung Suspension for making this series possible.

Sponsoring Partners

Downtime Goes Downhill is proudly sponsored by Fox Racing, One Up Components, Wahoo and Sprung Suspension.

Exposure Lights

Exposure Lights will transform your night riding experience and keep you coming back for more. I’m running the MaXx-D bar light and Diablo helmet light and have been blown away by their performance. Downtime listeners can get a very rare 10% discount until the end of November 2026 by using the code DOWNTIME10% at the checkout over at exposurelights.com.

Term & Conditions: Please note the code applies to selected new lights only and cannot be used on mounts, accessories or alongside other promotions. Sometimes free items will be added to your basket, these will need to be removed for the discount to apply, or you may be charged for these items.

Customers outside of the UK will not pay UK VAT at the point of purchase. Local taxes, duties, customs payments and tariffs may be applied on or before delivery, as determined by the destination country. We do all we can to minimise these costs, but we must act within the law and we have no control over such payments. Due to variations in rates by country/region, we are unable to estimate how much you will have to pay. This is calculated once the items have been despatched by us.

Patreon

I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.

Merch

If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

Newsletter

If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.

Follow Us

Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.

For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.

Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Anna Newkirk won her first elite World Cup in Lenzerheide this season. She qualified first, dropped last, and says the run never felt fast. Anna talks us through that day, how she got there after a broken hand a year before, and why the approach that won that race didn’t work at the next round. Anna gives us some insight into just how hard World Cup downhill really is right now and how the winning recipe is constantly evolving. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Anna Newkirk.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.

You can follow Anna on Instagram @annanewkirk_ and find the team videos on YouTube here.

Sponsoring Partners

Exposure Lights

Exposure Lights will transform your night riding experience and keep you coming back for more. I’m running the MaXx-D bar light and Diablo helmet light and have been blown away by their performance. Downtime listeners can get a very rare 10% discount until the end of November 2026 by using the code DOWNTIME10% at the checkout over at exposurelights.com.

Term & Conditions: Please note the code applies to selected new lights only and cannot be used on mounts, accessories or alongside other promotions. Sometimes free items will be added to your basket, these will need to be removed for the discount to apply, or you may be charged for these items.

Customers outside of the UK will not pay UK VAT at the point of purchase. Local taxes, duties, customs payments and tariffs may be applied on or before delivery, as determined by the destination country. We do all we can to minimise these costs, but we must act within the law and we have no control over such payments. Due to variations in rates by country/region, we are unable to estimate how much you will have to pay. This is calculated once the items have been despatched by us.

Loam Pass

Get access to 80 destinations at a reduced price today with your 2027 Loam Pass. Purchasing now will also get you a 2026 pass, valid until 31st Dec. So put it to work on a fall riding trip, then start mapping out 2027. Head to loampass.com and get your deal before it ends on 14th October 2026.

Fox Racing

This episode is a paid promotion with Fox Racing. Thanks for them for making this conversation possible. You can check out all they have to offer over at foxracing.com.

Patreon

I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.

Merch

If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

Newsletter

If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.

Follow Us

Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.

For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.

Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes

Photo – Nathan Hughes