GMBN Presents The Mountain Bike Podcast

This week on the Dirt Shed Show, James Pickering and Fergus Ryan ask if it’s time for mountain bike events to introduce tighter age restrictions after watching 11-year-old Wes Sends backflip a 60-foot double. We also dive into the tech of the brand-new Orbea Rallon RS, featuring the Fox Live Valve Neo wireless system. Plus, we’ve got your weekly dose of Hacks and Bodges and a 'Super Nice' session in the Bike Vault!
Enter the FSA competition giveaway 👉 https://gmbn.eu/FSAHandlebarComp2026Q1 
This competition is only open to those residing in: EU, UK, NZ, US, Canada and Alaska. Entries close 10:00GMT Friday 30th January 2026, and winners will be announced in a Dirt Shed Show from Tuesday 3rd February 2026.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱ 
00:00 - Should There Be An Age Limit For Mountain Bike Events?
08:52 - News
10:04 - Giveaway
10:21 - Hacks And Bodges 
14:12 - Things We Liked This Week
16:29 - Caption Contest
23:04 - On The Channel
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond. 
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.gmbn.eu/Subscribe 
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 https://www.gmbn.com/uploader
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/newsletter
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Crankbrothers Pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: https://gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: https://gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: https://gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin
CamelBak: https://gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Met Helmets: https://gmbn.eu/Met-Helmets

Welcome to the first Dirt Shed Show of 2026! This week, Rich Payne and James Pickering dive into the massive team changes shaking up the pro circuit and the controversial rise of 32-inch wheels in World Cup XC. Plus, we look at the $100,000 prize purses up for grabs this season and showcase some of the gnarliest trail-side fixes in Hacks & Bodges.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Welcome to 2026!
00:54 - New Teams, New Kits & Pro Rumors
02:00 - The $100k Belt Drive Challenge
03:40 - 32-Inch Wheels
05:40 - Hard MTB League & Massive Prize Purses
08:28 - Support the Channel: GMBN Shop
09:12 - Hacks & Bodges
12:55 - Things We Liked This Week
15:13 - Caption Contest
17:18 - Bike Vault
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond. 
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.gmbn.eu/Subscribe 
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 https://www.gmbn.com/uploader
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/newsletter
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Crankbrothers Pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: https://gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: https://gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: https://gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin
CamelBak: https://gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Met Helmets: https://gmbn.eu/Met-Helmets

Happy New Year from everyone at GMBN HQ! Join Rich, Fergus, and James as they look back at a hectic year of riding, from summiting Europe’s highest peaks to surviving the adrenaline-fueled chaos of urban downhill. We’re also teasing our massive plans for 2026, including some brutal endurance races and a return to the downhill circuit.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Happy New Year from the Dirt Shed!
01:00 - Summiting Europe’s Highest Peak
02:10 - Riding Death Slabs with Remy Metallier
02:54 - XC Bike vs. World Cup Downhill Track
04:25 - Wholesome Bikepacking with Dad
05:25 - Surviving Genoa Urban Downhill
07:11 - Riding the Peak District
08:18 - Underground Mountain Biking in Caves
09:25 - Racing Ardrock Enduro
10:33 - Big Teasers for 2026!
13:50 - New Year's Hacks and Bodges
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond. 
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.gmbn.eu/Subscribe 
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 https://www.gmbn.com/uploader
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/newsletter
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Crankbrothers Pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: https://gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: https://gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: https://gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin
CamelBak: https://gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Met Helmets: https://gmbn.eu/Met-Helmets

Merry Christmas from the Dirt Shed! This week, Ferg and James dive into the ultimate festive dilemma: will a 6,000-calorie Christmas dinner actually ruin your riding fitness for next year? We also look back at our biggest fails and crashes from our first six months on the channel,
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Merry Christmas from the Shed!
00:48 - Will Christmas Dinner Ruin Your Fitness?
02:12 - Our Christmas Riding Traditions
04:29 - Holiday Weight Gain Stats
05:29 - The Ultimate MTB Gift Guide
09:56 - Afterburner Wheel Winner
10:18 - Our Biggest Fails & Crashes of the Year
14:34 - Bike Vault
20:21 - Caption Contest
22:06 - Coming Up This Week on GMBN
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond. 
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.gmbn.eu/Subscribe 
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 https://www.gmbn.com/uploader
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/newsletter
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Crankbrothers Pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: https://gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: https://gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: https://gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin
CamelBak: https://gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Met Helmets: https://gmbn.eu/Met-Helmets

In this week's GMBN Dirt Shed Show, Rich Payne is joined by Fergus Ryan, to ask the question, are drop-handlebar mountain bikes still mountain bikes? 🤔 What actually makes an MTB an 'MTB' and not a 'gravel bike'?
Enter the FSA competition giveaway 👉 https://gmbn.eu/FSAHandlebarComp2026Q1 
⏱ Timestamps ⏱ 
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Are these mountain bikes?
08:37 - News
16:46 - FSA Handlebar Competition giveaway
17:11 - Hacks And Bodges
20:14 - Things We Liked
21:48 - Caption Contest
23:06 - Bike Vault
27:51 - On The Channel
The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.
GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond. 
Our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.gmbn.eu/Subscribe 
🛍 GMBN Merch Store 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/gmbnshop
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 https://www.gmbn.com/uploader
Sign-up to our newsletter 👉 https://www.gmbn.eu/newsletter
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon Bikes: http://gmbn.eu/Canyon
Propain Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Propain
Orbea Bikes: https://gmbn.eu/Orbea
Park Tool: http://gmbn.eu/ParkTool
Crankbrothers Pedals: http://gmbn.eu/crankbros
Shimano Footwear: https://gmbn.eu/ShimanoShoes
Ergon: http://gmbn.eu/ergon
Vittoria Tires: https://gmbn.eu/Vittoria
Reynolds wheels: https://gmbn.eu/Reynolds
FSA: http://gmbn.eu/fsa
Topeak: http://gmbn.eu/topeak
Garmin: https://gmbn.eu/Garmin
CamelBak: https://gmbn.eu/CamelBak
Met Helmets: https://gmbn.eu/Met-Helmets