Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca

We believe in staying in touch with the history of bicycles. Knowing where we've been can often tell us where we are going. That idea has been frequently used when discussing the emergence of the 32 inch wheel. "It's like when we went from 26er to 29er" they say. But what was it really like to be in the trenches through the birth of the Mountain Bike? The struggle to find parts. The original wheel size dilema. The passion to push the industry in a new direction. Gary Fisher know what it was like. Gary -- as you probably know -- is a Mountain Bike OG: Pioneer. Thinker. Doer. He helped bring a new style of riding and the new bikes to ride on into the world of cycling. He is a part of bicycle history. Josh and Hottie talk to Gary about what it took to see a vision become reality. From hanging out with the Greatful Dead to bombing down Marin County's Repack Trail. Gary has a million stories that somehow are stored in one amazing cycling mind.

The Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race has long been grounds for equipment tinkering and experimentation with the hopes of shaving minutes .. even seconds off finish times. Drop bars on mountain bikes at Leadville may seem recent but actually it was first tried by a pro in 2009. Travis Brown showed us by putting road bars on his Trek Full Suspension 26 inch mountain bike that anything can and should be considered when setting up a Leadville race bike. Drop bars, aero bars, and bar ends mounted inboard are now banned. But the experimentation and tinkering continues. We went to ten-thousand feet to find out how some of the fastest riders were planning to cheat the wind and reduce rolling resistance over the 100 miles plus of Rocky Mountain pain and suffering. Due to a nearby wildfire, the course was changed. Less climbing and more road was on the plate. Riders were making adjustments in both tactics and tech. In this episode we take a look at the common threads as riders headed for the start line. Paige Onweller gives us an inside look at dialing a bike for this unique race. We also get some feedback on how 32 inch wheels perform when placings and prize money are at stake. Two pros – Zach Calton and Emma Langley – share their thoughts on riding big wheels on big climbs. And we get a full recap from the front of the men's race from a guy who has been there a lot. John Gaston details the attacks and alliances that defined the 2026 Leadville 100. Plus we hear about the tech he used and rejected for this year's edition of the LT100 MTB Race.

While listening to Paige Onweller answer our questions, we found ourselves wishing we could be more like her. Wishing we had her organizational skills, her critical thinking, her ability to adapt quickly. Paige has the tools to be the kind of Marginal Gainer that makes us think, "I wish I was more like Paige." Paige's focus on details started well before she ever saw a Gravel Race start line. She was a collegiate runner and after that, had a career in medicine. But like we've heard from many runners, her sport led to injury which led her to the bike. At first, her riding was for fitness while she healed. But then she discovered how good she was, and so did others. Namely team Twenty-Twenty Four. They brought her on board to do Zwift racing and Time Trials. Before she knew it she was on a start line in Nebraska at Gravel Worlds. Then her career in medicine was put on hold as Paige took her detailed approach to the Life Time Grand Prix. Josh and Paige's partnership started this spring in the wind tunnel. The two of them got together for a focused approach on aerodynamics and women. They made some very interesting discoveries which we talk about in this show. Ever thought about waxing hair? You will after hearing them discuss Paige's aero bun.

We rarely chase trends or product announcements on the Marginal Gains Podcast. The news of the day we mostly leave to other shows. So allow us while we make an exception to our normal behavior and take a stab at the 32 inch wheel. The wheel size is not the new thing here. It's the tire that's creating some buzz. A viable, tubeless mountain bike tire to be precise. When Maxxis started showing its 32 inch Aspen, bike builders took notice. Some fired up their CAD programs to see if they could make it work. Using heat and steel, drawings were then turned into something rideable. One of those designers is Daniel Yang. Yang MFG and Neuhaus Metalworks have produced the Nova; a mountain bike buit around the 32 inch wheel. Steel, fully rigid, geared or single speed. We met up with Daniel on the trail and took the Nova for a test ride. After, we sat down at a park picnic table for a discussion on what it took to fit these wheels into a frame, who this bike is for and who it is not for and what could be mountain biking's next big move.

Marginal Gainers are familiar with Best Bike Split -- the website where using rider data you can forecast a finish time on a specific course. It has been a great tool for years for amateurs and pros alike. Josh has frequently referenced BBS on the show. Fatty and Hottie have discussed it on their Leadville Podcast. But we wanted to know what is under the hood. For that we turn to its founder Ryan Cooper. Before Best Bike Split, Ryan was a lot like us: a competitor with the hopes of going faster. Unlike most of us, he's really good at math. His ability to come up with equations and sus out variables gave him the tools to invent Best Bike Split. But the inspiration was more of an experiment -- a story will leave for him. In the interview, Ryan shares what he can about how BBS comes up with its forecasted times. He also talks about some new features he has in the works like factoring in tarmac conditions to better hone in on times. Ryan also wants listeners to get a taste of BBS and he is extending a discount to listeners of the pod. Use the code MARGAINS25 for a discount and as Ryan says: Race smarter. Ride faster. Win more.