The Ride Companion

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 become, preparation meant pulling weeds, and he even crashed in his winning run!? The Godfather of Freeride shares his perspective on Rampage judging, why originality matters, and how to weigh huge tricks against steep, technical lines. We discuss Brendan Fairclough and Gee Atherton's riding, the risks of pushing progression, and what the next generation brings to the mountain. Plus, the story behind Wade's iconic Marzocchi truck gap, his decades with Rocky Mountain Bikes, the challenges facing the bike industry, starting Godfather's Garage, and whether professional mountain bikers now have to be content creators. We hope you enjoy this episode with one of the true legends of the sport. 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/ - Get 15% off Invisiframe kits, decals & more with code REFRESHANDRIDE: https://www.invisiframe.co.uk - Feedback Sports: https://feedbacksports.com 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

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 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

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

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 or, simply given him the opportunity to show the speed he already had. Roger breaks down his first proper factory supported off-season, testing with FOX in California, riding in Queenstown, changing his approach to training and working with Bernard Kerr to improve some surprisingly specific weaknesses in his riding. We also get deep into the mental side of World Cup downhill racing. Roger explains the 'red zone vs blue zone' approach he's using with his mental coach, why World Cup qualifying creates so much pressure and what goes through his head in the seconds before leaving the start gate. Roger also explains why urban downhill brings out a completely different mentality in him, why he loves the Red Bull Cero Abajo series so much and the intricasies of downhill street racing. Once again, Roger delivers with great insights. We hope you enjoy the episode. 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