#27 Guy Kesteven – Are MTB categories a marketing lie or are bikers just weird? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 1H 25M

#27 Guy Kesteven – Are MTB categories a marketing lie or are bikers just weird?

from Testpilot.bike – Mountainbike Nerd Podcast · host Jens Staudt

Send us Fan MailThe mountain bike industry is obsessed with acronyms, and after decades of marketing buzzwords like "EVO," "Aggressive," "Downcountry," and the (now fading) Enduro-Race, it feels like we’ve finally reached peak confusion. We spent years defining our sport, only to throw the rulebook out the window the moment e-bikes hit the scene. But are these ever-shifting categories actually helping you find the right tool for the trail, or are they just a clever way to sell you the "N+1" bike you don't really need?In this episode of the Testpilot podcast, Jens Staudt sat down with industry veteran Guy Kesteven to strip away the "Excel spreadsheet" side of mountain biking. From the 32-inch wheel debate and the evolution of VPP versus Horstlink suspension to the honest reality of whether geometry innovation has hit a plateau, we’re cutting through the marketing noise. Whether you're a bike nerd with a garage full of vintage frames or a rider wondering if your bike is "capable enough," this is the reality check you’ve been waiting for.SUPPORT THIS CONTENTLink to accompanied article.Podcast: Is MTB media biased, because it is paid?Podcast: A journey throuhg 25 years of MTB history in bike media.www.TESTPILOT.bike-------Testpilot.bike – Your magazine for deep insights on product, bike culture and the two wheel industry.4zig

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 9, 2026

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Send us Fan Mail The mountain bike industry is obsessed with acronyms, and after decades of marketing buzzwords like "EVO," "Aggressive," "Downcountry," and the (now fading) Enduro-Race, it feels like we’ve finally reached peak confusion. We spent years defining our sport, only to throw the rulebook out the window the moment e-bikes hit the scene. But are these ever-shifting categories actually helping you find the right tool for the trail, or are they just a clever way to sell you the "N+1" ...

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#27 Guy Kesteven – Are MTB categories a marketing lie or are bikers just weird?

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This episode is 1 hour and 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 9, 2026.

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