PODCAST · sports
The Ride Companion
by TRC Media House
The mountain bike podcast that sometimes forgets to talk about mountain bikes...Hosted by Olly Wilkins and Davi Birks#theridecompanion
Episodes
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Luke Hontz Shares What's Really Happening With adidas Bike and Five Ten
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...
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Wade Simmons on Rampage History, Judging and the Future of Freeride
The first ever Red Bull Rampage winner, Wade Simmons, joins Davi and Olly to talk Rampage history, judging and the future of freeride mountain biking. As Red Bull Rampage returns to its original venue for its 25-year anniversary, Wade takes us back to 2001 when nobody knew what the event would...
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Thomas Genon Reveals What It REALLY Takes to Ride Red Bull Rampage
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...
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The Whistler Companion!
We're in Whistler courtesy of adidas bike. We sat down in a terrible podcast set-up to talk about our experience so far, riding the iconic trails, our track walk with Brendan Fairclough and Josh Hill and loads more! Get a deal on a GoPro Mission HERE and get 10% off with code THERIDECOMPANION Get...
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Riders Are Destroying Their Own Bike Parks?
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…
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Roger Vieira on Factory Racing, Winning Cerro Abajo & Chasing a World Cup Podium
Roger Vieira is back on The Ride Companion during the best season of his life... In this episode, Roger explains how Bernard Kerr's injury ultimately opened the door for him at Pivot, what life inside a factory downhill team is really like and whether factory support has actually made him faster...
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Rachel Atherton's Most Honest Interview Yet
Rachel Atherton is one of the greatest downhill mountain bike racers of all time. With 40 UCI Downhill World Cup victories, six overall titles, five elite World Championships and the only perfect World Cup season in history, Rachel achieved almost everything the sport could offer. In this deeply...
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TOP MOMENT: Brendog got smoked by Amaury Pierron!
Listen or watch the full episode with Brendan Fairclough below. Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Ad Free on Patreon Episode Sponsors:- Check out Brendan & Co's new business at https://riderovika.com and enter the code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off the entire site! You can also support our long term...
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TOP MOMENT: World Cup Downhill Is a Cruel Sport With Jenna Hastings
Listen or watch the full episode with Jenna Hastings 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...
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Tailgatin' with Bernard Kerr
Welcome to Tailgatin' with Bernard Kerr, a special episode of The Ride Companion presented by Igloo! We travelled to Pivot Factory Racing HQ in Wales to catch up with Bernard and do some talkgatin' across his incredible and very unique car collection. Bernard shares a brutally honest assessment…
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Brendan Fairclough Reveals New Business, the Legends Returning to Les Gets and Rampage Advice
Brendan Fairclough is back on The Ride Companion to reveal his new business, ROVIKA! Recorded inside the ROVIKA warehouse, Brendog and Olly Wilkins also look ahead to Les Gets, where Brendan is joining downhill legends Sam Hill and Steve Peat for a special Monster Energy course preview. Brendan...
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Jenna Hastings Gets Honest About Life as a World Cup Racer
Jenna Hastings joins The Ride Companion for an incredibly honest and hilarious conversation about life as a professional World Cup Racer. The Pivot Factory Racing rider and 2022 Junior Downhill World Champion opens up about the pressure of qualifying, questioning whether she can still ride a bike...
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TOP MOMENT: The Reality of Being a Pro Rider with Sam Hockenhull
Listen or watch the full episode with Sam Hockenhull 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...
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10 Years of The Ride Companion
Ten years ago, I recorded the first version of this podcast from my bedroom with no microphone, no experience and absolutely no idea what I was doing. More than 460 episodes later, I wanted to sit down and reflect on some of the milestones that reflected where this all started. On my own, in a...
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TOP MOMENT: Mathew Pritchard LIVED With Chickens For A Failed TV Show?!
Listen or watch the full episode with Mathew Pritchard 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!…
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Sam 'Dave' Hockenhull From Manchester City Academy to Professional Mountain Biker
Sam 'Dave' Hockenhull joins Olly and Davi for his first appearance on The Ride Companion. Sam explains how he went from Manchester City football academy to becoming one of mountain biking's most naturally gifted and unique riders. He shares why he walked away from football, how Josh Bryceland…
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TOP MOMENT: adidas tech lands in downhill
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…
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Mathew Pritchard Talks Sobriety, Fame, The Road Of Excess & Life After Dirty Sanchez
Mathew Pritchard is best known as one of the stars of MTV's Dirty Sanchez but, this chat goes far beyond the stories everyone has already heard... In this episode, Mathew joins Davi and Olly to talk about who he was before the fame, how skateboarding shaped his life, how Pritchard vs Dainton…
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A Note From Olly
YOU'RE INVITED! Book your ticket to TRC Live on 31st of July, details here: https://www.haslemerehall.co.uk/sales/genres/events/the-ride-companion---bike-nigh See you there?
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Alan Milway on adidas Tech, World Cup Politics & the Secret to Going Faster
Alan Milway joins Davi and Olly for an inside look at the Norco x adidas Race Division and the realities of coaching riders at the sharp end of the UCI Downhill World Cup. Alan explains why what feels fast on a downhill bike isn't always fast, how he uses split-screen analysis and trackside…
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Warner's Race Companion: La Thuile World Cup
Join us live for Rob Warner's Race Companion, a downhill watch-along party for the La Thuile World Cup. Rob Warner joins The Ride Companion for a live watch-along party, expect reactions, stories, predictions, chat interaction, giveaways and probably a fair bit of chaos while the racing unfolds.…
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Stag Do Refunds, Ghost Stories & Strava Crimes - Listener Questions Special
This week on The Ride Companion, Davi and Olly dive into a listener questions special… which very quickly turns into rants about stag do refunds, billionaires, ghosts, Morzine, beer vs lager, belt drive bikes, Strava shortcuts, trail etiquette, Angel Delight and whether Race Companion live...
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Andrew Neethling Brings Mass-Start Banter, World Cup Bench Racing & DH's Biggest Debates
Andrew 'Needles' Neethling joins The Ride Companion for a full race-chat episode covering the current state of World Cup downhill, the brutal new qualifying format, Luca Shaw missing finals after winning a World Cup, Finn Iles' incredible back to back wins, Anna Newkirk's breakout victory, team...
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Loam & Away Teaser: Things We Can't Make Make Sense!
This is a free teaser from Loam & Away, our Patreon exclusive show for The Ride Companion supporters. In this one, Davi, Olly and producer Doug spiral into the tiny everyday things that make them feel like complete aliens. People standing up on planes, champagne, Guinness, expensive watches…
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Sam Reynolds & Euan Bowen On Concussions, Crashes & Brain Health In MTB
Crashing is part of mountain biking but, how much do we really understand about what happens to the brain when we hit our head? On this episode of The Ride Companion, Davi and Olly are joined by HIT Recognition founder Euan Bowen and Sam Reynolds for an eye opening conversation about concussions,...
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Loam & Away Teaser: Are We Aliens?
This is a preview of Loam & Away, our Patreon exclusive show for The Ride Companion supporters. In this clip, Davi and Olly discuss weird personal habits, social awkwardness, panic buying expensive wine and why normal life sometimes makes you feel like a complete alien. Watch/listen to the full...
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Warner's Race Companion: Leogang Downhill World Cup
Join us live for Rob Warner's Race Companion, a downhill watch-along party for the Leogang World Cup. Rob Warner joins The Ride Companion for a live watch-along party, expect reactions, stories, predictions, chat interaction, giveaways and probably a fair bit of chaos while the racing unfolds. To...
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Olly's Dream MTB Trip, Vanta Jam Chaos & World Cup Dramas
Davi and Olly are back in studio for a proper catch-up episode covering everything from Vanta Jam to Olly's dream trip to Japan, Luca Shaw's first Downhill World Cup win, the Enhanced Games controversy, Japanese snacks, sumo wrestling, live commentary nerves and the future of MTB. Davi breaks…
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Nathan Bennett Explains Why Japan Might Be Mountain Biking's Best Kept Secret
Olly Wilkins is in Minakami, Japan for a special bonus episode of The Ride Companion with MTBJapan founder Nathan Bennett. Nathan moved from New Zealand to Japan 30 years ago and has spent decades building, clearing and guiding mountain bike trails in one of the most unique riding destinations in...
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32" Wheel Debate, Sea Otter, Japan Loam Hunting & Mexico Street Race Builds
This week on The Ride Companion, Davi and Olly are finally back in the studio for a proper catch-up after a wild few weeks of travel and big life moments. Davi breaks down the full California trip, from cruising the Pacific Coast Highway and visiting Sea Otter, to heading to Marin Bikes HQ and...
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Matt Cipes: Marin Bikes Product Boss On The Future Of MTB & E-Bike Development
On this episode of The Ride Companion, we're joined by Matt "Cippy" Cipes from Marin Bikes. Cippy is Marin's Category Manager for performance mountain bikes, which means he plays a huge role in shaping the brand's full suspension bikes, e-bikes, spec choices, geometry, suspension feel, pricing,...
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Wyn Masters Shares What Really Happened In South Korea
Wyn Masters is back on The Ride Companion after a brutal crash at the opening round of the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup in South Korea. Fresh from the Mona YongPyong World Cup, Wyn joins Davi and Olly to explain exactly what happened in the crash that left him with a fractured wrist and a serious…
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Martha Gill & Janelle Soukup On Pioneering Women's MTB While Keeping It Fun
Martha Gill and Janelle Soukup join The Ride Companion for a powerful conversation about the progression of women's mountain biking, freeride, racing, mentorship and what it takes to build a career in the sport. During this episode Martha Gill, the 2024 Queen of Crankworx and long time Marin…
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Matt VanEnkevort, The CEO Who Revived Marin Bikes
Davi visited Marin Bikes HQ in California to sit down with CEO Matt VanEnkevort to learn the real story behind how one of mountain biking's most iconic brands rebuilt itself around one simple idea, MADE FOR FUN. On this episode of The Ride Companion Matt shares the story of joining Marin in 2012,...
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The Retro MTB Challenge, Looksmaxxing, Bosch Updates & Social Media Addiction Lawsuits
Davi and Olly sit down for a proper catch-up episode! On this episode of The Ride Companion Davi talks about getting back on the regular bike, crashing on his own and setting a retro bike challenge. Olly shares what the first month of being a Dad has been like and his tips for trying to ride…
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Gee & Dan Atherton Reveal The Future Of Red Bull Hardline
Dan and Gee Atherton have HUGE Red Bull Hardline updates! On this episode of The Ride Companion Dan and Gee, Atherton reveal the debut of Red Bull Hardline British Columbia, coming to Cypress Mountain near Vancouver on October 17th 2026. Designed by Dan and Gee Atherton, the course will bring the...
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Danny Hart: Inside The Mind Of A Downhill World Champion
Danny Hart joins The Ride Companion for a BANGER episode! In this episode, Danny takes us deep inside the world of World Cup downhill racing. He talks openly about pressure, qualifying formats and how the sport has evolved since his legendary 2011 Champery World Champs run which cemented his name...
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Andrew Dodd on 20 Years in the Bike Industry: Truths, Reviews & The State of MTB
Andrew Dodd aka Doddy is the podcast! Doddy is a man who has lived through every era of mountain bike media, from the golden age of print magazines at MBUK to YouTube with Global Mountain Bike Network and now working inside the industry with Mondraker. We dive deep into the evolution of mountain...
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Top Moment: Sam Reynolds on slopestyle's golden years
Listen or watch the full episode with Sam Reynolds Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Ad Free on Patreon Episode Sponsors:- - Stashed are offering TRC listeners and exclsuive 10% discount with code TRC10 at https://www.stashedproducts.com/trc - Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at...
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Dom Ferris of Trash Free Trails on Trail Litter and How We Fix It
Dom Ferris, founder of Trash Free Trails joins The Ride Companion to talk about one of the biggest issues affecting every rider, runner and outdoor space user: single-use pollution on our trails. Dom explains how Trash Free Trails started, why trail litter is about far more than 'bad behaviour'…
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Top Moment: Brendan Fairclough on why Monster entered downhill
Listen or watch the full episode with Brendan Fairclough Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Ad Free on Patreon Episode Sponsors:- - SRAM: https://www.sram.com/en/sram - Want an easy way to tick your daily nutritional needs? Support the show and get 15% OFF HUEL products with code 'RIDE' at...
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Olly is a Dad!!
In this episode of The Ride Companion, Olly opens up about becoming a Dad, the intense reality of birth, life in and out of hospital, sleep deprivation, and what the first days with baby Wilf have been like. During the episode the lads also talk about Davi's up-coming trip to Sea Otter, MTB's...
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Sam Reynolds on Rejoining Polygon & Why DarkFest 10 Could Be the Last
Sam Reynolds is back in The Ride Companion studio and this one's packed! On this episode we're talking DarkFest 10 and, why it MIGHT be the final event, the new Rocket 2 concept for even more airtime and Sam's full circle return to Polygon bikes after first signing with them back in 2012. Sam...
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Brendan Fairclough on Signing with SRAM, Monster Energy's DH Move & a Secret Project Reveal
Brendog's back in studio and this episode is stacked! On this episode of The Ride Companion Brendan Fairclough pulls back the curtain on his new SRAM deal and why it really happened, the new parts he's running (Boxxer / Maven / XX DH) and what it's like bolting fresh parts on… then riding a brand...
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New Bike Day & A POV Podcast Experiment!
It's just Davi and Olly in the studio this week and.. it goes exactly how you'd expect. Davi has a new bike day and brings his new Marin Alcatraz dirt jump bike to work (nothing hits like a fresh hardtail), which turns into a bigger conversation about why you don't actually need the best bike to...
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Martyn Ashton on Why Mountain Bikers Need to Show Up for Mountain Biking
In this episode of The Ride Companion, mountain bike legend Martyn Ashton joins us for one of our most honest, funny and important conversations yet. We talk about Martyn's latest project, Rideable Now and why he believes mountain bikers need to show up for mountain biking. During the episode...
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Hardline Tasmania Bench Racing & Predictions
Red Bull Hardline Tasmania is just days away. Let's go bench racing and make some fun predictions! Olly and Davi break down the full rider list including Jackson Goldstone, Asa Vermette, Bernard Kerr, Troy Brosnan, Sam Hill, Aaron Gwin, Roger Vieira, Gracey Hemstreet and more plus, who's missing,...
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The TRC Race Team, Motorway Rules, A Pinkbike Award and More
The first Ride Companion catch up of 2026… and we're straight back into it! We kick things off talking winter illnesses, whether 'man flu' is actually a thing, and why the placebo effect might be more powerful than people think, along with a few honest Christmas confessions (including why we're...
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Playing MAVRIX with Jono & Matt Jones!
Matt Jones and Jono Jones join The Ride Companion to break down MAVRIX ahead of console release on January 22nd. During this episode Matt and Jono give Davi and Olly a tour of the virtual world they've help create, the boys explain how it was built, what makes it feel so real and why it could…
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Blake Samson On Building His New Channel the Right Way
Blake Samson (aka Zimblake) is back on The Ride Companion to talk about what happens after you take the leap. In this episode, Blake breaks down launching his new YouTube channel, building his first major project from scratch, why he's choosing the slow, proper route, and how trust, planning, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The mountain bike podcast that sometimes forgets to talk about mountain bikes...Hosted by Olly Wilkins and Davi Birks#theridecompanion
HOSTED BY
TRC Media House
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Ride Companion have?
The Ride Companion currently has 474 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Ride Companion about?
The mountain bike podcast that sometimes forgets to talk about mountain bikes...Hosted by Olly Wilkins and Davi Birks#theridecompanion
How often does The Ride Companion release new episodes?
The Ride Companion publishes regularly with 474 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Ride Companion?
You can listen to The Ride Companion on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Ride Companion?
The Ride Companion is created and hosted by TRC Media House.
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