Mind the Track

The pollen is thick, kids are out of school, the tourists have invaded Tahoe and temperatures are soaring, which means only one thing – summer is here. In Episode 89, Trail Whisperer recaps a mountain bike road trip out to the California coastal town of Eureka while Pow Bot fun hogs on Lake Tahoe with his wing foil. The boys stand corrected by listeners about their Strava rant, California considers instating an official Bruce Lee Day, people are dying from foraged mushroom poisoning, the Ice Cream Man is back again, and TW recommends seeing Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. The boys also tackle the “Bieber-ification” of trails, aka, making them lame by dumbing them down, and how this act of Bieber-ing trails is a microcosm of society at large getting dumber, as evidenced by how easy Jeopardy questions have become. Also, TW ASS rants about preservationists protesting efforts to allow chainsaws in Wilderness areas so volunteers can clear a maintenance backlog many thousands of fallen trees deep. Plus – only two 10% off coupons for any new bike at Start Haus in Truckee remain! Just use the password CORE LORD and save. 2:20 – What are we going to do when we hit episode 100?3:00 – For newer listeners of MTT, go back and listen from Episode 1.5:00 – The pollen is thick. The tourists are here. It’s hot out. It’s SUMMER.7:45 – Recapping the Lost and Found Gravel Bike Event in Portola.8:55 – Drop into the Start Haus – 2 CORELORD 10% off a new bike discounts remaining!12:00 – Recapping a road trip to Eureka, California and riding Hatchery Ridge trails.22:15 – Foil Bot has been local fun hoggin’ and finally wing foiling properly.28:00 –Marlette Flume trail and Chimney Beach is back open after 5PM on weekdays.31:00 – Follow up on Strava – Pow Bot shares a Strava confessional.34:30 – How you can shut off the heat map on Strava so it isn’t shown publicly.38:00 – “Bumblies” is what they call clueless city people in the mountains in the UK.39:30 – California State Assembly bill will potentially create an official Bruce Lee Day.41:20 – Mind the Mycelium – 50 cases of mushroom poisoning including 4 deaths.44:10 – 2N Benn calls in with a PSA – don’t make new trails going around snow and down trees.46:50 – Don’t shortcut the trail or make it easier or more lame – aka – “Bieber-ing” the trail.53:20 – American culture is getting dumber and Jeopardy questions are getting easier.58:00 – Another ASS Rant about the Ice Cream Man.59:30 – ON A MUSICAL NOTE – Seeing Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience.1:05:50 – The Grit podcast having their intro song being flagged for copyright infringement.1:09:10 – Forest Service is considering allowing chainsaw use in federal Wilderness areas.1:16:00 – Motorized users are most often hated because of the noise factor, not the act itself.1:17:40 – Support your local non-corporate ski hill this winter and buy a non-Mega ski pass.1:21:55 – Met a welder who builds cloud seeding machines to increase winter snowpack.

In the third installment of the Cosbey Chronicles, the boys sit down with Coz at his caretaker’s quarters on the shore of Gold Lake and dive deep into trails. Raised as a Mormon, by age 12, Coz knew organized religion wasn’t for him. At that same age, he rode a Honda Trail 90 motorcycle for the first time, and it was the beginning of the rest of his life. His religion became exploration on two wheels in the outdoors. Coz talks about the three years he spent laying out and building Mills Peak trail in Graeagle, as well as working on all the trails in Lakes Basin for the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, an organization he co-founded. Coz talks about the future of recreation in rural mountain communities and encourages listeners to escape the negativity of life, losing their minds in the track, being present in the moment. He also encourages those with financial means to contribute their wealth to trails and trail projects, benefiting the public in an age where connection to place is being lost to invasive technology. 6:30 – Podcast – The Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know8:25 – Coast to Coast Radio with Art Bell9:55 – Car Talk with Click and Clack11:50 – Recording at Gold Lake near Graeagle, California with Marc Cosbey18:20 – Living through two winters in Lakes Basin – running naked out into a snowstorm22:20 – Tuning into nature through the sounds of nature25:30 – Being raised Mormon, not digging it, and instead embracing nature and trails as religion30:05 – Riding a motorcycle for the first time in his life at 12 years old – beginning of the rest of his life.34:30 – Trails are a pathway to spirituality – tuning out the world and focusing on the moment in the track.36:15 – Building Mills Peak trail and spending years in the Lakes Basin improving the trails.39:50 – What’s it like to ride a trail you built after 3 years of your life working on it?43:15 – Stew McMorrow – a volunteer who’s had his life changed by the importance of trails.45:15 – Where does Coz see the future of trails and trail organizations?49:45 – Volunteers who have desk jobs that come and volunteer – it can change their life.56:57 – What is the biggest challenge and opportunity for rural mountain communities in securing their future?1:00:31 – What have you learned about yourself, community and public lands in the wake of devastating wildfires over the last 5 years?1:12:30 – What trail is Coz most proud of building over the years?1:13:55 – Building the North Yuba Trail from Downieville to Goodyears Bar and the enjoyment of designing a trail before it’s built.1:18:27 – What was the significance of building Mills Peak Trail in Graeagle?1:21:33 – What advice does Coz have for folks starting their own trails organization?1:29:48 – If your life were a tree, what kind of tree would it be?1:32:47 – What’s an epic ride people have to do in the Lakes Basin? Mount Elwell.1:38:25 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

Imagine being the mayor of a mountain town during the height of COVID. For Dave Polivy, owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports, being a COVID mayor became his reality after being elected onto Truckee town council in 2018. For better or worse, Dave’s tenure during COVID cemented his nickname in the community as “Mayor Dave”, even though he’s no longer mayor. He’s also Kurt’s doppelganger, giving him another nickname; “Doppelganger Dave”. In Episode 71, we chat with Dave about how he landed in Truckee on September 11, 2001, and his path to business ownership, community building, keeping the ski bum dream alive and eventual mayorship. Dave has appeared on a lot of radio and TV shows, as well as podcasts, but usually he just ends up being a sound bite. But in this near two-hour episode, listeners will get a behind-the-curtain look at what it takes to be an elected official in a mountain town facing growing pains and an identity crisis, all while balancing family, business ownership, and of course, getting outside and putting his mind in the track.   2:30 – Trail Whisperer recaps his 4,200-mile cross-country drive from Boston to Reno.6:00 – Introducing Dave Polivy – former mayor of Truckee and owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports.9:15 – Doing the Rose to Toads mountain bike ride, a fundraiser for TAMBA.12:40 – Dave’s September 11, 2001 story.14:20 – Kurt’s September 11, 2001 story.16:10 – Tom’s September 11, 2001 story.17:30 – Dave arriving in Truckee after driving cross-country from Saratoga Springs, NY.19:14 – Starting Tahoe Mountain Sports in 2003.26:00 – Moving to Truckee from the northeast to be a ski bum.30:50 – Fondest memories of Truckee back in the early 2000s.33:45 – Going from ski bum to politician through working for Sierra Business Council.41:20 – As Truckee mayor, did you ever have to make a decision that went against the wishes of the community?45:05 – Is there such a thing as affordable housing? Is there enough of it in Truckee currently?47:30 – Getting foreclosed on in 2008 while on vacation outside the country.49:00 – A shortage of availability of living wage housing. There’s enough housing stock, but they aren’t available, so the Lease to Locals program was developed and it’s working.1:00:10 – Can Truckee solve its housing issues by emulating the funds the town has raised for recreational trails through ballot measures?1:08:05 – Raising funds for trails through sales tax and giving non-profits money to build them.1:15:07 – How do you promote Truckee as a mountain bike destination when most of the trails are illegal?1:21:13 – What kind of conflict exists between being a business owner and a politician?1:32:20 – Being mayor of Truckee during COVID helped solidify the persona of “Mayor Dave”.1:34:15 – What is your vision for how Truckee will look in 10 years?1:44:00 – Dave and Kurt are doppelgangers – people mistake both of them as the other person.1:50:10 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

For the third August in a row, heavy rain has blessed the northern Sierra Nevada. Amidst the best brown pow cycle of the summer, on episode 69, Pow Bot and Trail Whisperer froth over the fresh rainfall while burners out on the playa get mud plugged and hit with haboobs. TW also froths over his new Ibis Ripley and PB over his recent progress on the wing foil. Other topics include Old Farmer’s Almanac predictions on winter, differing opinions on vacationing in Santa Cruz, the expense of bike racks, and on a musical note, The Scientist’s dub reggae, St. Vincent and seeing Collie Buddz live at The Hangar in South Lake Tahoe. The boys also Dope or Derp Mariachi bands, wearing a shammy and tailgate pads while DOUBLE DOPEing ski straps and plastic grocery baskets as gear carriers. 3:00 – Best riding conditions of the summer in Lake Tahoe are happening right now in late August. Third year in a row of rain in August. BROWN POW!4:00 – Burning Man woes – windstorms, epic mud, 10-hour wait line on the playa to get in.8:20 – Dirk Hobskin calls in with Channel 69 news special brown pow report.11:25 – Trail Whisperer celebrates New Bike Day – Ibis Ripley.16:40 – What do you think about Santa Cruz?23:30 – Pow Bot has been frothing on wing foiling on Washoe Lake.31:00 – Ice Cream Man is still harassing Trail Whisperer.32:45 – Old Farmer’s Almanac makes its predictions for Winter 2025-26. Do you think Farmer’s Almanac is an accurate tool for seasonal forecasting?37:15 – Update on the rope swing at DL Bliss State Park getting cut down.40:25 – We sold out! Thanks to all our listeners for buying a Mind the Track hat.41:40 – On a Musical Note – The Scientist (Hopeton Overton Brown), Trail Whisperer saw Collie Buddz at The Hangar in South Lake Tahoe, St. Vincent (Annie Clark).53:00 – Pow Bot recommends watching Florida Man before going on vacation to Florida.55:40 – DOPE or DERP – Mariachi bands.57:20 – DOPE or DERP – Wearing a shammy.1:03:25 – DOPE or DERP – Tailgate Pads.1:14:25 – DOUBLE DOPE – Singing the praises of the Voile ski strap.1:16:55 – DOUBLE DOPE x2 – using a plastic grocery basket as a gear carrier.1:21:40 – Part II of the Cosbey Chronicles will be on episode 70.1:24:00 – Trail Whisperer going on a cross-country adventure driving a car from Boston to Reno.1:28:50 – Pow Bot’s story of sleeping on the side of the highway and being woken at 4:30AM.1:33:30 – The dilemma of inheriting family furniture and the cost of shipping it cross country.1:38:45 – The Mountains to Meadows Enduro Festival at Plumas County Fairgrounds on September 12-14. The return of Grinduro!

The first live recorded show of Mind the Track was at last weekend’s grand opening of the brand new Start Haus bike and ski shop in Truckee next to the “mouse hole” on Highway 89, the only shop Pow Bot will take his splitboard. Considered by many to be the best bike and ski shop in Tahoe, Start Haus has a core lord crew of ace mechanics, including one of today’s guests, co-owner Gregg “Stubby” Stone, a recovering singlespeeder who can fix your bike almost as fast as a rides downhill. The boys also chat with OG mountain bike legend Scot Nicol, the founder of Ibis Cycles. Born in 1981 at the dawn of mountain biking, Ibis is the only original mountain bike brand left that is still part owned by its founder. At the ripe young age of 70, Nicol still rips the legs off people half his age. He shares a bit of wisdom about staying young and healthy, a bit about mountain bike history and bike innovation. The boys also chat about California State Park’s recent decision to limb up a Lake Tahoe tree that was the granddaddy of all rope swings, and why social media and “influencers” are squarely to blame for its demise.3:30 – Recording live at the Start Haus grand opening in Truckee.6:10 – Optimization culture – forget that. Optimize having fun. That’s most important.8:00 – We are down to our last 10 Deso Supply hats…so get on it and order yours!9:20 – Pow Bot’s story about riding the Amtrak from Chicago to Colorado to go skiing.11:40 – Listener shout outs to Amiel, Clark and John B.14:55 – A little bit about today’s guests, Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis Cycles and Gregg Stone, co-owner of Start Haus.20:16 – NEWS THAT MATTERS – California State Parks cut down the tree limbs of an iconic rope swing on the West Shore. Social media blew up the spot and ruined everything.34:08 – Former Truckee mayor, Dave Polivy, makes cameo appearance.37:00 – DOPE OR DERP – Bar Down. Liability risk in skiing in the US compared to Europe.45:15 – Euro Carver and Fritz Schmitz talk about difference between Smoke Shack and Start Haus.50:50 – Interview with Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis Cycles.54:40 – The transition from a one-man custom steel frame builder to a 50-person company making composite bikes.58:00 – What innovations have changed mountain biking the most? Suspension. Tubeless.1:01:10 – Why has nobody figured out a 21st Century solution to the Presta valve?1:04:45 – If Scot were to buy a custom hardtail, what would he buy? No. 22 Bicycle Company.1:07:25 – DOPE or DERP – Hardtail mountain bikes.1:10:00 – Staying young and healthy at 70 years old. The key is a life of bikes, avoiding stress and eating healthy.1:15:45 – What is your best day outside North America and inside North America? Slovenia and Lake Tahoe.1:18:50 – What is the Ibis Migration event in Mendocino and La Ventana, Baja Mexico?1:24:53 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?1:26:35 – Interview with Gregg Stone – co-owner of Start Haus.1:27:45 – Where did Gregg get his nickname “Stubby”?1:29:20 – How did Gregg go from being a mobile bike mechanic to being a big bike shop owner?1:34:06 – Start Haus has a great YouTube series with easy to understand tech tips.1:37:00 – How did Start Haus manage to purchase a piece of land and build a brand new building on Highway 89 in Truckee?1:41:45 – What is the best way to get in and out of the parking lot at Start Haus?1:44:10 – What’s the most bizarre bike you’ve ever worked on? Pennyfarthing aka high wheeler.1:48:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?1:50:00 – Singlespeed mountain biking and SInglespeed World Championships in Bend, Oregon.

Recorded deep in the Toiyabe Range of central Nevada far from civilization, the guys talk about the Toiyabe Crest Trail project and the tumultuous arrival of summer in Lake Tahoe, where 11 people perished in a couple days due to a boating accident and hikers drowning in a swimming hole. The boys discuss complacency in the mountains and how it can be deadly, Trail Whisperer recaps his Wilderness First Aid training experience with Bliss Wilderness, Spooner Lake State Park puts out a survey for a new master plan, core lords call in to ask how you recover from a mountain bike accident, a rebuttal to DERPing UGG boots, saving wildlife you find in the backyard and if the ice cream man and his truck are DOPE or DERP. Also, Mind the Track announces its first piece of branded apparel for listeners to purchase! 2:30 – Recording on location in the Toiyabe Range of central Nevada, working on the Toiyabe Crest Trail. 5:35 – Jim Zellers and the early days of mountain biking in 1970s Cupertino, California.8:55 – Trail Whisperer’s first time riding the Toiyabe Crest Trail in 2016.18:15 – Mind the Track swag is finally here! Our first piece of apparel – the Mind the Track Do All Adventure hat made by Deso Supply Co (desosupply.com)25:30 – Summer is here. The solstice has arrived. Post work steamy singletrack sundown rides and the deadliest day in Tahoe boating history?29:22 – Three hikers drowned at Rattlesnake Falls on the N. Fork American River. Juan Heredia – a free diver hero who retrieved the bodies.32:20 – Complacency is dangerous. Always be on guard in the mountains because Mother Nature rules.37:45 – Mono County Search and Rescue extracted a splitboarder who fell 1,000 feet off Mount Dana. 39:00 – Ebikes, bad ideas and what’s healthier – no drinking and riding ebikes or drinking and riding mountain bikes?44:05 – Recap of Bliss Wilderness and his teaching of Wilderness First Aid and being a First Responder. 51:14 – Nevada State Parks survey for Spooner Lake State Park. Share your thoughts and ideas!Surveymonkey.com/r/spoonerlakebackcountry or email planning@parks.nv.gov . Survey closes July 20. 53:50 – Core Lord Call-Ins – Sean - @familysize – how do you go about rebounding from a crash on the mountain bike?1:00:48 – Nate – Another name for Tourists – COD – Careless, Odd and Dangerous. He vehemently disagrees with DERPing UGGs.1:05:45 – DOPE or DERP – Kellen on Insta – handguards on mountain bikes. 1:14:20 – DOPE or DERP – The Ice Cream Man and his ice cream truck. 1:17:40 – DOPE or DERP – Saving wildlife you find in your backyard. 1:24:05 – The ice cream power move at camp. What are your favorite camping power moves?1:26:30 – Shout out to Myles at Incline Spirits and Cigars in Incline Village.