The Ride Companion

What's really happening with adidas Bike and Five Ten? Senior Global Product Manager Luke Hontz joins Davi and Olly to explain the new adidas mountain bike shoe range, the arrival of the three stripes and the thinking behind Five Ten's next chapter. Luke shares how Greg Minnaar spotted a 1mm difference in an earlier Hellcat shoe that the factory initially disputed, why Dakotah Norton breaks supposedly unbreakable shoes and how feedback from riders including Danny MacAskill and Brendan Fairclough helps shape the finished product. We also explore flat pedal versus clipless shoe design, Stealth rubber, BOA protection, toe impact protection and why muddy shoes changed the way Luke approached development. Along the way, Luke tells the story of his journey from BMX racing and working in bike shops to landing a dream job at Five Ten and adidas. The new adidas bike range includes the Freerider, Freerider Pro, Freerider Pro BOA and the first-ever Freerider Pro BOA Clipless, with consumer availability scheduled for March 2027. You can keep up to date here https://www.adidas.co.uk/cycling Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion This episodes sponsors: - GoPro → Save 10% on all GoPro cameras with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://prf.hn/l/EJdbMxV/ You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk 📝 Contact Us & Business: https://theridecompanion.co.uk/pages/contact Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com & TRC Media House

Thomas Genon joins Olly and Davi in a Whistler hotel ahead of Red Bull Rampage 2026 for a deep dive into what it really takes to ride the biggest freeride mountain bike event in the world. Tommy G has spent more than a decade at the highest level of mountain biking, from winning Red Bull Joyride and becoming FMB World Champion to establishing himself as one of the most experienced riders in Red Bull Rampage history. In this episode, Tommy takes us inside his preparation for Rampage 2026, including training for enormous spin drops, choosing and building a line in Utah, dealing with fear and risk, the difficulty of judging Rampage and why the event looks completely different when you're standing on the mountain. Thomas also reveals how two time Rampage winner Brett Rheeder unexpectedly became part of his 2026 dig crew, reflects on finally reaching the Rampage podium in 2025 and explains what it was really like entering the event without a bike sponsor. The conversation also dives into Tommy's slopestyle career, winning Red Bull Joyride, the evolution of freeride, social media, sponsorship, his favourite Rampage runs and why he believes the perfect Rampage run needs to combine technical riding, creativity, tricks and big mountain freeride. We hope you enjoy this episode and sorry for the bad quality. Blame Davi. All the info and how to watch Red Bull Rampage 2026 here: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/red-bull-rampage Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion This episodes sponsors:- Exposure Lights → 10% off all 'off road' lights with code EXP@THERIDECOMPANION! https://exposurelights.com - GoPro → Save 10% on all GoPro cameras with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://prf.hn/l/EJdbMxV/ - WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk 📝 Contact Us & Business: https://theridecompanion.co.uk/pages/contact Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com & TRC Media House

Davi and Olly are back together to discuss the serious issues at S4P Bike Park, whether Red Bull Cerro Abajo could take mountain biking mega mainstream and their upcoming trip to Whistler for the UCI Downhill World Cup. In this episode Olly explains what has been happening at S4P Bike Park, and why after years of personally investing time and money into the trails the is under serious threat of closure due to anti social behaviour. The lads also talk Red Bull Stuttgart Cerro Abajo. Olly shares what it took to build the urban downhill course, what it felt like to see the streets packed with spectators and why urban downhill could become mountain biking's answer to Supercross. There's also a full preview of the upcoming Whistler trip, including Davi taking the cheapest Marin Alpine Trail to the world's most famous bike park, Olly travelling with an e-bike, the return of World Cup downhill to Whistler and the content they hope to create while they're there. Let us know what you want to see from Whistler and nominate someone from your local riding community who deserves to be recognised as a TRC Igloo Trail Boss below! Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion This episodes sponsors:- SKS Germany → Learn more about SKS products and the new shock pump at https://www.sks-germany.com/en/ - Get 15% off Invisiframe kits, decals & more with code REFRESHANDRIDE: https://www.invisiframe.co.uk - WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk 📝 Contact Us & Business: https://theridecompanion.co.uk/pages/contact Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com & TRC Media House

Listen or watch the full episode with Alan Milway below. Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Ad Free on Patreon Episode Sponsors:- - Looking to book an RV or a camp site for an EPIC adventure? Check out our new friends at outdoorsy.com and enter code RIDE at checkout to remove all service fees! You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Troy Lee Designs → 10% off with code theridecompanion at saddleback.avln.me/c/OzduCWvjtcOr Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at uk.worx.com HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk 📝 Contact Us & Business: https://theridecompanion.co.uk/pages/contact Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com & TRC Media House