And they were
aware that they don't sign just me, but
they sign a family. I I see my
head as a computer basically because
you want to have hundred percent
of the processor
being assess for your rights that happens now.
And when you start giving away little chips
for, like,
what do the others do? That's a small
bubble
of people racing down the hill.
And the bigger thing is who you are
without the bike.
Hey, everyone. I'm Chris this is the downtime
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Alright. Today, we're joined by German Stark, christian
tech store, better known as Tech or Big
Chris from V Tv.
We dive into Texas incredible journey from discovering
dirt jump in through racing down in World
cup to his current home at the White
t mob competing at the very highest level
of world in j. Sexy shares how he
manages to successfully combine having 4 children with
elite level racing
offering some great insights on becoming the best
version of yourself. It's clear that Sexy really
thinks about things and he's found an amazing
balance that works for him.
So without further ado, Here's Christian Text textile.
Christian Text textile. Welcome to the downtime podcast.
My house things. Yeah. Well, thanks for having
me in the first time. Like, it's
we had a little chat at the mill.
We had
couple of, like, 1 and a half years
ago. Yeah. Just as the mob was kinda
get going in its latest 4. Exactly. So
I've been following the podcast for a long
time though, and man. I feel like it's
1 of the
biggest mountain bike podcast for sure. Like, there
are a lot of characters on there that,
I really look up to and
I just feel like it's interesting to hear
people chatting. Yeah. Different,
form of getting to know characters. So I'm
excited to be here. I feel really fortunate.
Like it's it's a big thing for me
To really Okay. Yeah? Thank, dude. It's a
big thing for me to. Yeah. So, no.
It's a pleasure. I appreciate. Glad that you
made the time. Yeah. Let's start the start
because, you know, we did that little thing
at the at the White email, but we
didn't find out a huge amount about you
then. So, yeah, Take us right back. Tell
us a little bit about, like, where you
grew up and how bikes came into your
life because I think it was a bit
of inspiration from a bigger brother. Right? Yeah.
Like, that's long story obviously because
It's quite a few years ago.
But
I think bikes were always
sort of my favorite toy. And like, as
a kid growing up, played soccer, plate.
I don't know all sort of things that
you do in school or whatever.
But the bike always been the 1. Like,
you kind of always come back to your
first love
in that way. But, Yeah.
Yeah. As you said, my bigger brother. He's
8 years older. I've got 4 siblings. Okay.
So so from my big family. 6 family.
Yeah.
3 sisters, 1 brother. I'm the youngest or.
And my brother always been, like, obviously, my
role model, like, looking up to what he
does and as a smaller brother, you gotta
step up and and do it. So
I I guess progression was natural for me
because you were a bit
disabled in terms of, like,
physicality and all that stuff and
like, comparing to what he does. So
he started doing, like, trial stuff. I think
it was maybe
I don't know, like, late nineties. Mh. Where,
like, I don't know if it was still
hands ray or, like, these guys. Yeah. My
in Ashton my like. Yeah. Kind of Feel
like that inspired him a lot. Yeah like,
not like super gravity side of things, but
like more trials.
So, yeah. I tried that right my best
and I always just did what he did,
so there was
progression there, but
yeah, talking of where I'm from
pretty much middle of Germany, Like, pretty close
to Frankfurt.
Hill. Yeah.
Hill, but not mountainous. I guess. Exactly. No
mountains.
No bike parks, no lift either. Like, okay.
Yeah. Just growing up riding bikes in in
the woods and
going from there. Nice. And that trials
introduction, I guess 3 your brother sort of
moved into more, like dirt jump free ride
kind of stuff for you. Right? Was that
was that with your brother as well? Did
he get that direction?
Yeah. I think like, he kind of bought
his first full suspension bike
remember Had been... I think a can Gemini
A gemini
Gemini.
It had the man 2 Sherman on, like
that was a bike. Like, yeah
you would just look at it for hours
and you're like, wow, that's so sick. And
then obviously, being inspired by, like, cranked newer
disorder and stuff like that. He would build
drops Yeah. Into shoots and stuff. So it
kinda went free right there. Yeah. And I
just try to follow along on a hard
tail
how holding on for deal life, but
it quickly real quickly developed into they're jumping
for me because
that was the time where you would wait
for new disorder to come out Christmas time.
Yeah. And that's your only visual
inspiration of the sport back then. And other
than that, you just buy magazines,
and you would look in the magazines and
you'd see, like, people like John Cohen,
T of P. I don't know I like
the dirt some stars from back then, and
you just see like, oh, they do, like,
no hand is over jump that's like,
It's not just the takeoff off. It has
a landing. It's a double. Yeah. Yeah. So
you're, like, trying to build this thing look
similar somewhere in the gravel pit, and then
you tried to take your hands off the
bars and, like, get a feel for it
and that's basically
how I started Yeah riding and we developed
a little
I'd say dirt jump scene Mh. At home
locally.
I was kind of the first guys to
do that in my village at least.
And
yeah, then we had some people who did
it a bit more proper, U. In the
area. And as you do that stuff, you
get to know these people and you you
see, like, oh there's. Someone next village. It
does the same stuff. And
yeah. That developed a little bit, and then
we actually got a little dirt park,
build it ourself sweet.
How old were you point then? Like, well
we're like 15. Okay. Walked up to the
major of our village yet. Showed him this,
like, powerpoint
arranged with pictures of Virgin parks. And we're
like, we need this in our village and
like, 3 boys and big props to the
major because he was, like, okay. We have
this piece of land. Yeah. There you go.
And I was like, yeah, my dad has
digger, and I can operate them, like, it's
not gonna cost us anything. Amazing. Yeah. And
we actually made it happen and had a
little spots and
that was kind of foundation for writing for
us because there was nothing. Like... Yeah. There
no trails, no like, not even a flow
trail or something, no dirt jumps. It's just
like whatever we imagined and did. That's the
writing we had. That's cool. Have you've seen
that scene at home like, develop over the
years then that you, I guess you and
your brother sort of kick kickstarter a bit.
Yeah. So my brother moved out
by the time that we got more intense
to do it jumping, and I he had
other things in life that took over, but
he's still writing now. His kids are taken
over now that, like, they sending vic. So
that's cool to see it's passing on. Yeah.
But at home,
I think the Deutsche kind of thing was
pretty strong for.
I'd say 5 to 10 years. There's still
a lot lot of guys doing that stuff,
not in our home village, like that spot
gone. Okay. Becoming a sick concrete skate park
at the moment, which is also cool. Yeah.
But it kinda developed into End to be
honest. Okay. Like now, my village or our
village is,
big the spot. Yeah. In the region. So
that's pretty cool to see and
most guys kinda switched to racing over the
years or did something else, but... Yeah. It's
funny how everyone's coming back to riding now.
But they pick under bikes,
or bikes? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you're,
I guess, still involved in the scene and
building trails out there. Yeah.
Couldn't say that officially, but okay. I heard
up. Yeah. Yeah. We we still don't have,
like, a official member or official trail or
anything like that, but
Like I can say, we
have good, like, connections, and we try just
to speak with people like, with, yeah. Don't
try to fight each other in the words,
but You try to speak to the Hunter
you run into... Yeah. And sometimes you get
lucky. Yeah. Yeah. And you develop a good
relationship, and you actually get along with everything
in the words.
And sometimes you like, okay. We stay away
from the hill. Yeah.
There's a, like a a saying in the
Uk that I think that the ride chef
lot died, was which just be nice, say
hi. So, like when you're out. If you
meet people,
just make the time to stop, have a
chat. Don't fly past them or Yeah. Like,
cut across fire roads at 20 mile an
hour in front of them sort of thing.
And Yeah. Yeah. It does make a massive
difference, Hey, like, even if you're on land
that
maybe isn't a hundred percent
loud. Like as long as you're courteous and
Yeah. Polite. Yeah. I think it's... I mean,
it's obvious we know that we don't have
the right to do what we do in
the word Yeah. In terms of law.
But then
if you look at it from just the,
human kind of view. Yeah. You're like, well,
everyone's trying to, like,
have a good time on the words and
we're not destroying stuff. Like, that's bullshit. But
Yeah. From
running away from people in the woods back
in the days when you're like, where
where seen with a shovel in the words
or something, and you just, like duck and
hide and run or something like done it.
We we got to, like,
just like, walk up to the person straight
away and talk to them and trying to
have a good conversation. Yeah. And, yeah.
That's been working really good. Let's get to
him, man. So Dirt jump in doing that
side of things.
Was there ever... Was there competition involved and
Dirt jump for you Or was it purely
just enjoying being on a bike? Yeah. Little
little
competition side of things, but not massive like,
Okay. Did some amateur
D competition, and that's not even comparable to
the level
the guys do these days, like,
I don't know. I did, like, some spins
like,
3 sixties and back flips and stuff, But
no, like, big combos or stuff That's nowadays
average and even amateur competition. So levels crazy.
It's crazy. Yeah. Okay. So did talk about
rate, like, racing then. And I think it
was a friend that took you to your
first ever, like, downhill race. Right? Yeah. So
when I started my apprenticeship,
obviously, I earned some money. So it was
time for the first full suspension bike. And
back in the days I bought a ken
day. Okay. Profit.
I had a profit. Yeah. Yeah. Sick bike.
Back then it was kind of a
does it all bike? Yeah. And I
bought it because it was a slopes sell
bike for the Ken. Right? It's back in
the days, which was the big crew for
me.
So
it was still good enough to race, like,
horrible setup up probably, like, super hard because
of, like, set it up for jumping and
stuff, but Yeah. So 1 of my mates
who had Dirt jumped with.
He was starting to do the Access races.
I'm already back in the day, so he
was like, I need to go to races
because we obviously rode at home and. Yeah.
He figured that I was pretty quick down
the hill, so. I was like, oh, you
need to do this race. Like, you need
to come and and then at some point,
he, like,
actually took me along and raced my first
It was, like, a rupees cup or something
called. I think that's still going.
So like a 09:19 or?
Yeah. I was just... I just had my
driving license so it would have been 19.
Yeah.
And
so pretty late start. Yeah. Raising side of
things, but I did that race only 1
race, and
I think I I ended up on the
podium at least.
You were second. Yeah. Could be. Yeah. Yeah.
And I know... I remember yeah, the guy
who beat me. Yet had like,
clip pedals full on down bike,
full kit. And now I was just, like
racing in jeans on the slopes so bike
and. I was like, Okay. Maybe there are
points to improve, but, yeah,
I was already hooked. Like, I really loved
it. It was full on mother, and I
just enjoyed myself. Cool. So it wasn't so
much the result. It was the experience that
kinda hooked you in or Yeah. Yeah. Definitely.
And even in Dirt trump, I was always
more of a technical writer, Like, I tried
to do I don't know, like, 3 sixties
on
a sketchy jump Okay. Or like, technical jump,
let's say. Yeah rather than trying to go
big and
make a crazy combo on on a straight
jump. So,
always love technical riding so that, like, got
me hooked straight away.
And, yeah. Next... Yeah. Signed up for the
whole thing. So... Yeah. And you... There's, like,
different classes here. Yeah. Is it like... What
do they call the kinda of entry level
classes? Like, hobby classes or something? Yeah It's...
I think it used to be called free
man. Okay. So it's like free from license?
Yeah. Yeah. Again.
And you won the whole lot. Yeah. Yeah.
Actually, every race I I wanted it. Yeah.
And most by a margins that was crazy.
Still on the profit at this point. Did
you upgrade? I actually upgraded to track session.
Okay. Yeah. Through a local dealer, like, I
got a little
like, I don't know. Like, a half price
deal or something. So I got my first
download bike. Yeah.
Double crown forks everything. So I did you
get that deal then with 1 1 race
result. Like, how did you talk your way
into that? I think it's just, like, it's
been the bike shop off I've always. Okay.
Like, went to kind of, it's where my
brother already bought the the old Gemini and
Yeah. Stuff like that. So it's been
a good,
relationship to those guys
and I've always been... You call it chop
red. I guess. Yeah. Like, yeah. That was
1 back at home. Yeah. The kid who
breaks stuff all the time. Can you always
in? And you're like, oh, yeah, You have
this. Half price. Yeah. Yeah. Go. Nice. That's
cool. No. But they always kind of supported
me. Still till this day. It's still running
the shop in
actually, the junior took over now. Yeah. Who's
my age, and we're good friends. And it's
cool like we have such a long history.
Actually ended up wrench for me
at
some of the world cups in way. He
used to work for fox and all that.
So... Yeah. Big shout out to
the the Evening 12 watch board guys. Yeah.
That's amazing.
Supporting through All all the years. Very cool
cool. Yeah. So that first year then, or
first full year.
You've taken a win every time you've gone
racing. Yeah. You've gotta start feeling pretty confident
about that. And then, I guess it's... You
have... Do you have to upgrade then and
get, like a license and go to next
category and what's out. Now. You can actually
stay in that class if you want, but
I was
I was like, okay. Go. License class because
I won
like this class now, even though I didn't
win the overall because I actually broke my
leg that that year.
Late season
and
that was... But there was also
a very
important and interesting point of my career, let's
say because
It's funny.
There used to be a thing called Scandinavian
and Photo challenge. It's like Deep summer. Okay.
For the crank works.
Hosted by a photograph in Scandinavia. Mh. So,
best in chic. Yeah. Yeah He got invited
for that as of
photograph had taken part of the competition.
And they had a squad of German guys.
It was like national teams almost, like the
photograph I had national writers
I think it was 4 riders
per photograph, and,
he had a couple of writers with him,
like, pro riders. I mean, I was
some kid. U. And 1 of the guys
was... I think Arm, K,
former slopes are right from Germany, like, really
good writer, professional guy for Ken and Gt
for many years.
And
he's rather local to me. And we knew
each other from their jumping. And then,
he... I think he got injured or something.
And he actually said saber, well,
There's this kid. He's pretty decent on a
down bike, but he can also, like, do
jump. So it's he's good for something like
that. You can ask him.
Do believe that's the setup. So
Saber and Carlo. Mh. Also professional guy back
then.
They approached me and I was, like, what?
Like this has to be a mistake, you
know, felt like a dream to me. So
I ended up going up there. And we
did this whole competition thing, and I really...
I had a good time and we did
some some really cool shit.
And
ended up free riding 2 days after the
event and broke my femur. Oh, man and
my hip and my hand.
Like, had a massive 1. Was that your
first real light, big injury. Yeah. Yeah. That's
a big 1 to go in That was
also my first injury was a femur break.
But... Yeah. That was massive. In but still
the whole event was,
like it got me
kind of into the picture. So I wouldn't
say, like, crash was worth it. Yeah. Nobody
chooses an accident, but
the whole thing as such was very important.
Yeah me and open some doors like Yeah
Exactly. Yeah. What were what did you have
metal put in the Femur? Like, how was
it treated?
Yeah. I got a rot in the female.
Yeah. And, luckily, the doctor who
operated me up there. He was Austrian. So
we could talk. Yeah. That was good. My
english wasn't quite as good back, answer.
And he said I get kinda lucky because
in other countries, they would have replaced the
hip possibly.
Because they get money Per Yeah k. Joined.
Yeah. They do and stuff like that. So
that's actually pretty bad. But
he was like you... That young still, and
it's only a crack in the hip. Mh.
So I had to beyond crutches for 2
months. Straight or something. Yeah. So it was,
like, if you really take care, it'll heal
like that and it did so amazing forever
thankful for that. Yeah. Do you still have
the metal femur or not? Yeah. They tried
to get it out, but no chance. Yeah.
Mindset stood. Think. And unless they get that
pretty quick. It can be quite hard to
get out. So... Yeah. The the guys who
tried to take it out. They said they
have to do that much damage to get
it out that it what I wanna sense?
Does it bother you ever, like you feel
it? The metal itself? No, but I definitely
have problems with my hip like... Okay.
Actually, over the last 3 years, it kind
of developed getting worse. U. It's getting better
now that I've started to treat it. Right?
Okay.
And have a lot of ph. Also, the
new ph on our team is amazing with
that. Like, it helped me a lot this
year.
But there were I think it was 22
the season.
Are basically erased on painkillers, the whole season
like big time because
my leg got me so much pain.
It's, you know how when you hit your
funny bone.
Yeah. And that's how your arm feels. That's
how my whole leg feels when I was,
like,
I don't know, like, right hand, right foot
off, rudy corner or something, and your your
bike gets... Gives you a hip It's like
from the inside, my whole leg was, like
funny bone.
And I would literally
be tears. Yeah. Bad. After the stage. Even
last year, I remember I should tell.
Second last stage, I got a, like I
just had a little slight out from a
wooden bridge and I had to save the
bike and you like do a quick response
move. U. And
it gave me that feeling again, like that
hit.
And then I rode, like, really bad in
the bottom of the stage, And I was
like, oh, what's happening? And then I got
off my bike after the stage, and I
couldn't even stand on my left leg. Gee.
Like, I couldn't stand on a sing leg.
Yeah. So I was like, oh, that's not
good. That isn't good, man. What what have
you done other than like, some good ph
treatment. If there's certain things you've been doing
that have helped,
like, improve that for you like certain movement
or strength worker or Yeah. What have you
found that that unlocks that pain a bit.
Well, I'm
really, like, enjoying being in the gym. Okay.
Recently, like, not to get big, but to
move healthy.
And part of that is injury because
at...
Like, I feel like there's benefits, you can
take from doing the right moves and stuff
to Yeah, like, prevent injuries in the first
place and also, like, coming back from him.
And,
I'm lucky enough to have people in my
gym like local gym that Are really, like,
into sports and, like good trainers.
And 1 guy did It's called,
neuro
training. Okay. Where you really target
certain muscles in your body. Yeah. With certain
movements and, like, he would trigger stuff with,
like, rubber bands and okay. Stuff like that.
To regain
muscle mind connections Basically to reprogram that path?
Yeah. Because my left leg, like, I'd be
super strong during a squat Yeah. But that's,
like, in a straight line. It's your main
muscle. Mh.
And it's like, easy for the hat to
do that. Yeah. But when do you do
a clean straight squat on a mountain by
day rain. Yeah. So,
there are a lot of muscles around your
hip obviously that need to be
implemented in the movement, and
I was actually shocked because I thought I
was a pretty fit athlete. Yeah. But then
we did some movement well would struggle to
even
make my leg move. Yeah. And it's currently
the the easiest. You see someone doing like
with us easy surely I can do that.
Yeah try it. Like. And it's like no
weight stuff. Just like, maybe a rubber band,
and then you have to, like, twist it
in the certain movement and like, okay. Now
it now push your heel. I'm like, well,
it's not happening me. It's so yeah. It
doesn't move.
So we did a lot of that stuff
to regain that muscle mind
connection. U. And it helped me massively to
improve strength
around my hip. Nice. So that's really good.
And then just honestly, like, good ph
changes, everything.
Yeah. Yeah not cheap unless you get it
as part of your team structure, but often
very worth it. Yeah the right person. Exactly.
Yeah. Cool. So... Yeah. Obviously, downhill becoming more
and more of a thing for you.
You work your way through Eye access, had
some good success there in the in the
license category.
And eventually decided to find your way to
a world cup.
I think Peter Mari was your first world
cup Was it? Yeah. To talk us a
bit through the process of getting yourself there
and also what it was like being there
for that first 1. Yeah. So
after racing license class for 1 season,
after the free man sort of year and
coming back from that hip injury,
well,
being there again. Not coming back because I
never
did proper rehab, but I just talked, and
that's part of the problem.
I only started that
4 years ago, maybe. And how long ago
was the accident? 10 years. That's over 10
years old ago. Yeah.
So,
do your rehab kids? Like, that's super boy
from
here it is. If I didn't even get
any ph from the Nhs in the uk.
You need gorgeous people sent me home with
some crutches and light there you go. Yeah.
I had a few sessions at the, like,
local ph you. Yeah. It's like, yeah. You
do some squats like that. Yeah. You good
for life against trays. Yeah. But, yeah. Anyways,
Peter Mad, yeah. So after racing license class
for
1 season, basically, I don't know my results
from back then, but that was still, like,
we would go out
drinking
with the boys or like, just having a
good time. Yeah.
Before the race days.
And, like, I didn't I didn't knew anything
about being in an athlete back then, but
we're still... We just had a good time,
and I think it's it's a good, like,
part of
writing careers or whatever. You're supposed to be
fine. Right? Yeah. Exactly.
And but I figured that season, like, oh,
maybe it's good.
On Sunday, not to worry about if you're
gonna throw up in your helmet amid race
run.
And
you try to prevent a couple of those
things. Yeah.
Which is easy to do. So
I learned quite a bit about racing.
But still not on an intense level. I
wouldn't, like, train properly or stuff like that.
Okay. Just ride bikes.
But then,
actually, Matt dog Boris from back then mark
by ride a magazine, which was the
German gravity magazine.
He approached me and he was, like,
Saber from the deep summer, oh, the Scandinavian
photo change. He was, like, yeah. I heard
you were doing that with Saber and he
said you're, like, really sick rider. So we
wanna do a little team for the magazine
like, you you keys. Yeah.
So that kicked off with that as well.
So
was that the bull's connection then. That developed
out of that, because it was like a
full in house magazine team in the first
place,
and Boris kind of ran that, so we've
ran around Eurobike,
the year prior, and
like, hooked up with sponsors, which was obviously
easy because they were all keen to be
in the magazine. Yeah. So it wasn't too
much about the writers. Most of the people
probably didn't you me. Okay. But they were
like, yeah. We give you free frames, we
give you, like, stuff, so.
We got, free bikes all of a sudden.
No like, budget or anything. Yeah. We got
stuff. I was sick. And so it was
me and Made racing for that. It was
a nuke proof. Okay.
Mountain bike rider racing team Yeah. Or something
like that.
And,
So
we decided because I had recently met Potty.
Mh. And Germany, who was traveling in a
camper van with has made
Stefan
for the season.
And he was the only other person in
the world, I believe racing among bike.
And me. Yes. So I raised the Mon
bike as well because,
Alm gave it to me U. Through this
connection. So
So we got to know each other through
that. And then he was like, oh, yeah.
You can come down in winter because your
winter must,
suck pretty bad for riding. So I was
like, yeah, Let's actually do it. And we
did it. So
I went down there with Tommy, my teammate
on the new proof then for
20 12, I believe. K.
And, yeah, we went down for 2 months
to South Africa,
just
live life, like road trip riding bikes. And
actually, Johan back at the time was already,
like a hard training.
Athlete. Like, he was putting a lot into
it. This is Jo ham Potter. Right? Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Potty. So most people would
know him as potty. Pot sc. He's Now
part of the White t mo as a
line coach for For, like, Vale, Ocean and
and Sean and.
So
it's cool how that comes together again, but
he actually
showed me
quite a lot about being a down.
Like, he would do sprints and stuff like
that. And, like, we would join and I
would die after, like, 2 sprints snack. Wow,
why is this so hard And and I
figured like, oh, if I do this more
often, it probably wouldn't feel as hard on
the tracks, sir.
Yeah. I ended up raising the,
world cup in Peter Mad, which didn't go
that well. Like, I think
maybe I crashed and my colleagues run or,
I, I had a rock or something and
blew up my chain in my chain and
all that. But
I was still crazy because all of a
sudden, you're on the track with like all
your childhood heroes,
and my head wasn't ready for that. Like
Our I struggled,
maybe not on that race as much, but
the whole
next
2 seasons.
I figured like that was my biggest
struggle. K. To be on track with all
my, like, heroes,
And you feel like so small. Was it
like an impostor syndrome? Kind of thing Did
you feel that you did deserve to be
there? Or you just intimidated by to... Yeah.
Definitely.
Like, I was like, oh, I'm gonna drop
in
into the section now and do my thing,
but then you say like, oh, Steve Pee
coming okay up. Maybe I way to
wait till he's gone, but then like 1...
Next one's comments, like Brand, Bryce.
I don't know, like, all of, like, Min
and all the fast guys and you're like,
when I'm not going anywhere here, like...
And my my whole mindset, like, shifted from
just do your thing.
Do your best, like, ride your thing
to, like, worrying about stuff that happened around
me? K. Which took totally the focus away
from riding bikes good. Because I feel like
I was a pretty decent bike rider then.
Mh. But I wasn't able to
bring that to the track because my head
was
spinning around so much other stuff. Yeah. On
the track, rather than ride my bike.
Did you get any help on that? Was
there... Was like sports psychology,
really a thing at the world cup in
those days?
Not really. Yeah. I think like, I felt,
like, I needed just man up,
which is bad. Like, yeah. That was, like,
the the feeling I had And I don't
even know where that, like, came from. I
didn't, like, I think it's a generational thing.
Right? Yeah I was the approach that I
wasn't, like, teach or, like, r
grown up like that. Yeah. At home, like,
that wouldn't be a thing. So,
I don't really know where that came from,
but, like, everyone was tough boys on, on
the tracks and in the scene, So it's
like, I think if I'd even
talked about that, He'd be like, a weak
guy maybe. Yeah. He feel like it shows
a week. Yeah. And
I don't know if that's wrong, but
Yeah. I didn't... Like, at the time, I
didn't feel comfortable enough to, like, just
talk to someone about that stuff. Like, now
I'm good.
With talking stuff about that. And, also it
teach me
so much
for now. Like when I started erasing Aws,
I felt pretty good straight away because
it's still like, I'm still racing my heroes.
Like, I'm on a team
with guys like that. So Yeah.
It's still crazy. But
I'm, I know who I am now,
both as an athlete. Yeah. And just a
human being, and that's what it comes down
to in the end. Yeah. I feel like...
And I figured now. Like, yeah. We are
races, but it's it's a small bubble
of people racing down the hill. Yeah. And
the bigger thing is who you are without
the bike. Yeah. But... I guess, the elder
you get, most people become more comfortable in
their own skin. Right?
Hopefully. Yeah. Not always but, like, it's a
general trend I think, But, yeah. How I
don't know how
it it must be possible to, like, do
that earlier in your life
with the right support and the right help
I feel.
But most people it just takes time. Certainly
for me, it's take just taken a long
time to feel like I know
who I am and Yeah. What where my
place is. You what I mean? I feel
like I never had a role model in
racing. Okay.
And that's why
I'm pretty motivated now to, like,
also see the young guys, especially from Germany
and, like,
even though it's just like,
posting a comment on the Instagram ever now
then after race or, like, drop them a
message, but, like, showing your part of their
story as well. Yeah. Okay. In terms of,
like,
I see you. Yeah. And if you need
someone if you wanna talk, like,
I'm here. That's cool. And to build a
community like that because I felt like Always,
like, I had to figure stuff my myself
and most.
Pro riders kept cards pretty close to their
chest back then. Yeah. At least in Germany
and
So
that didn't help at all. And I feel
like
I always say that.
I hope I'm not the only German flag
in the
top 30 top 20. Yeah. And as soon,
like, I hope they're more German flags, and
that's not gonna develop
itself. Like, if up pass on the most
stuff possible and and push the most because
I'm, like, I made it there already. Mh.
I know at least a few things that
it takes.
And if I pass that on to the
guys as early as possible. Yeah. They might
even go even further. So
I feel like that wasn't missing for sure.
Yeah. Days. And it helps us make them
feel comfortable, I guess, like, like, just communicating,
saying, hello,
yeah. Post a message whatever. Yeah. Do you
think do you think the downhill scene is
more welcoming now than it was back then?
Like, it's definitely changed
a lot. I think it feels
a relatively friendly place. But I mean, I
I'd had similar feelings on the penny last
week Right? We were waiting to try and
get down the hill and then you're like,
well, there's Am. Be let him go. Yeah.
Oh, there's Miriam Bella Hog. Like, it was
I can understand that. Yeah.
Intimidation massively Yeah.
I don't know. I mean, I changed. Yeah.
Yeah For sure. But
I can't talk too much
for, like, national races because I haven't done
any Mh in in a long time.
I've done 1
in 20 18, national champs, chairman champs. And
most guys that still know me. That was,
like, straight away, easy and good relationships, but
then there were so many kids and and
people that they didn't knew me. Mh. I
don't know them. But I feel like in
the World Cup racing scene it's pretty
pretty cool. And also people are more outspoken
about struggling
about mental problems and stuff like that. And
I think that's super important. Yeah. You shouldn't
like,
over highlight that stuff,
and it's dangerous to, like,
sometimes make excuses maybe. I'm not I'm not
judging anyone at all because I've been there,
But,
it's easy to fall down the horse on
the on the other side as well. Good.
I think it's so important
and
and healthy
to just be
true, Yeah. To yourself and to others with
that.
Because only when you when you speak, you
can be heard. Mh. In that way, and
then you can be helped. Yeah. And you
guys, as our idol like sharing that means
it's more likely that we're gonna know as
well Right? I think in our own friendship
groups or writing groups. I think it makes
it okay to talk about some of that
stuff, which is cool. Yeah. And it's like
that's only a thing that showcases cases through
writing for riders maybe. Yeah. But it's something
that's, like, just human.
And it might showcase in a total different
area for a listener. Mh. Right now, maybe.
And maybe that helps them. You know? And
I feel like that's
the coolest thing
that we can do as a writing scene
inspire people with
like,
values and Mh. And stuff like that, and
not just to go fast on it. Yeah.
Yeah. Bounce everything. Right? Being in a good
human. And have in front at the same
time. So, yeah, you're downhill career. Obviously, first
world cup in Peter Mari
and feeling quite intimidated, but you you carried
on with it. You did you know, a
few years of a sort of mixed program
of access and world cup downhill racing that
the
magazine team like merged into being
the ball's team.
Yeah. Talk us through, like, now looking back
on your downhill career. Like, how do you
how do you look at it? How do
you feel about it?
I feel like I learned a lot,
but you... You also gotta see I never
raised as a junior? Mh.
So
all the stuff that most junior learn in
their junior career
I kinda
started doing that from, like,
my twenties on.
So that was a big learning, and sometimes,
I feel like I've maybe missed out on
an opportunity, Like, I could have made more
out of it. Mh. But then I gotta
be graceful to myself and be, like, well,
that's actually when you started racing. Like, you
were just trying to figure this thing out.
Yeah. And, yeah. As you said, the the
bold skies approached the magazine back then for
20 13 to, like, run a team,
and that's when I got on the team
with Win. Yeah. So that was a big
step for me too because Wynn was obviously
well known on the scene already he had
massive
experience and racing world world cups for.
I don't know how many years already.
And
it's funny how, like, back then, he was
in a
crucial point of His career I feel like
because he was just coming back from a
set of injuries Yeah. Trying to get us
back to the wall and just
make something work. So he was pretty focused
on himself. And it told me that after
the whole team thing. As well, which is,
beautiful.
Because back then,
I had more... I had higher hopes in
having someone like him as a teammate. Okay.
In terms of passing on stuff and maybe,
like, from him.
But he was really focused on his own
thing because he needed to make it work
for himself, which is fair enough I understand
that. But
So we never, like, really had that
bond or, like, a a deep friendship or
whatever in the Korea even though, like,
he lived at my house for a little
bit, even Eddy and some of the Van
x when they flew over, they all ended
up at my parents house nice. So, like,
hands down. My parents are pretty cool. In
that way, just I all the older the
guys there.
But... Yeah. So
I was on the team with Win, and
I learned a lot from just, like, looking
what he does. Yeah. And trying to follow
along. Like, even... I mean, for sure riding,
like, riding behind someone who's faster than you
always Yeah. Teaches you. But even, like approaching
racing and all that stuff. So I learned
a lot and
I didn't really qualify much back in a
days. So I ended up being a mechanic
for wind. Mh. Sometimes like swapping frames overnight
because it was all, like prototype
stuff, and we would have problems. So, like,
I did a lot of that stuff. But
it was cool. It was now that I
looked back. It was actually a really special
time and I'll I'll learn so much about
racing in general, Like,
about
teams like what makes a team a team
and what do you need? On a team
and, like, material and and all that stuff.
And
it's funny how when all that ended.
I actually became good friends with win. Okay.
I
I don't know if, like, the pressure needed
to be off, you know, like, for him
or a year or both. I feel like
we're both Yeah. Developed as as persons for
sure. But Yeah. I feel like for him
and it was a lot of pressure this
those years because he knew that was maybe
his
like, last shot or whatever. Yeah. And he
made it work in our big time and
Yeah. And it's really cool to still see
him and and meet him and
And actually, when I started racing and end
du, he was already experienced in Endure, he
walked won
the Rot 1 already. So
that's when
the sort of relationship that Hoped for
came together and Yeah sort of developed. Like,
he would come to me
when I had, like, my first
top 20 ish stages and stuff, and it
was multiple day races still, like, 2 days
so Had a good first day for the
first time I remember in Pets. Yeah. And
he would text me messages all of sudden.
Like,
given me advice like, how to approach the
second day and given me props. And that
meant so much to me. Yeah. And that
was so cool because he would give me
that honor advice, like, how to approach a
long stage. I've never done a long stage
in my life before. Yeah. So it was
like, oh, yeah, up here. You're not gonna
gain anything by risk in your life if
you
do like this and that. And and that
was so cool. So awesome. Yeah. I feel
like the whole downhill thing was almost
like a a approving ground for that End
for me. Yeah. Yeah. It has been for
a lot of riders right, quite a lot
of people have gone that direction. Before we
move off the downhill here, I look back
through your results, and it it feels like...
I don't know if you feel this, but
it feels like there's a bit of a
trend where when it was world champs,
that's looks like where you had your best
results. And in a way, you could see
that as a more pressured event because it's
such a big thing. Yeah. But it's a
different format, and you don't have to qualify.
Do you think it was related to the
format? Did you feel different at a world
champs? Why do you think those results came
better maybe than the the world cup? Yeah.
It's funny.
I don't know. Some somehow world cups became
my nemesis. Like, and...
Yeah. I I hardly qualified that at many,
like, I don't know I qualified it a
few times, but in in general, like, for
how many I tried,
I didn't qualify it at many. And then
I would be
so many guys who would beat me at
a World Cup at world champs. Yeah. Because
I had to, like, top 40. Yeah. Out
of 30 something val wise Yeah. Body soul
and. Yeah. Yeah. I'm nightly tracks as well.
Yeah. Yeah. So... And also another funny thing
is I would raise some of the same
guys and an eye access cup. Yeah. On
tracks like Sc, and I would get top
10 European cups.
And I would be some of the factory
riders
who I would never get close to you
on the world cup. So
I do feel like these guys knew already
that you have to step it up for
a world cup it's a different thing. But
like, did you feel more at home though
like an Excess or a a European. I
feel like, it was just, like, less pressure.
Yeah. That hole apostasy everything thing was less
significant and Yeah. Definitely. So get... If you
could rewind the clock now and take a
psychologist with you to the world cups. Do
you think you could have got those results?
On a world cup with a bit more
help? Or do you think T of today
is mature enough and learn enough that you
could go back and put those results down?
That... That's
while I was tempted to do a world
cup again.
Because I actually wanted to find out because
I felt after I've done well
and end, like I had top twenties and
stuff.
I felt like I was such a more
well rounded rider and more solid rider. Mh.
I always have that question, like, wonder how
would do at a world cup now. Yeah.
But, I mean, watching it now now. Like
these days. It's
it's gnarly, like massive respect. And it's... So
it's cool to be
close to that through the team. Mh.
But I'm not tempted to do a world
cup right now. You know? No. Do you
think that I'll ever a change?
Yeah. I I think that's done. Okay. But
you get to hang out in the big
truck then? Yeah. Well, I still do.
I've not been in here yet I wanna
go and have a look this week. Spare
barista for your hands
machine so. Perfect. Nice. It's what we know
it's come for coffee.
Good stuff man. So, yeah, Obviously, this this
downhill career, and you stay with bulls I
think you were with bulls for about 10
years in the end. Yeah. 10 years well.
Was it your decision to move to end
endure. Was it like a push from bulls?
How did the end interior shift come? It's
actually both because obviously, they stopped the donald
program as they did... Like, they never quite
committed enough to it to
to establish them as a Donald brand. I
feel like the bike was for the time
a really good raw bike. Like
if you develop that thing, it would have
been pretty good.
But they're never committed enough, I feel like
in in that way, which is
makes sense for the brand when when you
see the brand and understand the brand, it's
so different to it, like, a gravity based
brand. Yeah. But they were like, okay. We
like this whole endure thing is a thing
now and
it fits more to our products.
So we develop a little bit and.
And
you wanna give it a crack.
And, I mean, obviously, at the time, I
did not have many choices. Like, I could've
have been on...
Some German down team.
Bulls gave me the opportunity to raise the,
and then I could still do the download
part. So
for that season
20
17, maybe.
I've raised
more down still than under all 16. I
don't know what he was. But
I just raised under a series. They said
you should raise
for still doing my pro... Donald program. Yeah.
And,
but actually straight away, first race. I was
like, oh, that actually feels like riding bikes
at home because as I said, I don't
have a bike park. I don't have down
tracks. Yeah. At home, it's always been end.
You either push up your bike or you
ride up your bike, the hills, and then
you write down trails. So that's your donald
training. Yeah. Which is essentially a riding. So
straight away you felt more comfortable Like that,
Yeah. So felt more like Oh, that's actually
what I do at home. Yeah.
And so that those races
became national champion straight away that year. Yeah.
So I was
pretty successful I'd say in in the first
season.
And I was like, oh, that's sick. Like,
we're writing so many new places.
Because I've been on the Donaldson scene for
quite a while and you raised the same
tracks over and over again.
And I feel like that's a point for
many guys who switched I was like, oh,
that feels fresh. It's just something new and
it's like,
new tracks, new locations. You experience the locations
differently, like, a more well rounded a picture
of the location and stuff. And
I still
know and and believe that both sports, disciplines
have
that, like, their pros that you can't beat
with the other 1, But Yeah.
That just felt fresh to me and and
felt good. So I kinda committed turned or
the following year? Yeah. Would was it less
intimidating? I guess at that point in, there
was, like, the interior riders work quite as
elevated as they are now in like, the
sort of
side of things, but then there were a
few people that had come across from down
Fabian and Nico.
Like some, you know, those superheroes of the
sport from the nineties.
How did you feel more comfortable not just
with the style of riding, but in that
group of people? Mh Well I
didn't really raise those people till
20
18. U. Because,
my bikes wouldn't be
strong enough Avoid. Okay. So in the first
place, I just raised, like, smaller races, michelin
races. We had, I think called trail
that was pretty close to, like, Alpine riding
had a few stops in in the Alps,
but it was like a German based series
And I did all those races. I think
I did 24
races in total that. Yeah. Yeah.
Not being a multi time that yet. So
I was... I had more time on hands
for that.
But so I raised loads of smaller races,
but the bikes weren't
went ready. Like, I knew it wouldn't make
sense to sign up for Aws. Even though
I was already signed up 20 16 for
finale. Mh. But then my bike wouldn't make
it. Most of the smaller races. Yeah. So
we figured it's it's not worth it.
But
Even in those smaller races,
it was funny because I knew there were,
like, established end specialists.
And the German speaking scene and some of
them were on, unlike world cup Teams.
And
I was the new guy, like the Donald
guy. I knew it was good bike rider,
But again, I could feel that like thoughts
creep and... Oh, he's, like, he's he must
be the fitter guy ever because he's like,
training that hard or whatever. So But then
I started beating all those guys. Like, I
hardly...
I think I won
all races basically that. I did.
And
then it also, like, people were like, why
don't you raise C aws and and I'm
like, yeah, well, I would like to the
buy not going there. Yet. Yeah. That's a
kind of tricky 1. Right? You don't you
don't wanna throw responses under the bus, but
like exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Also you want you
don't wanna
do yourself a this disservice, but, I'm not
ready for Aws or whatever. And then we...
I mean, we kinda got it ready.
With some mods. Like I did a
with a mate. We did a a different
link, like Cnc machine instead of a 2
piece carbon thing and stuff like that to
make the bike last. Yeah.
And and work a little better.
And that was cool because I mean, a
bulls didn't have a developed
department like that back in the days to,
like, say, we make a prototype where race,
gravity raises on. It's like they have a
massive,
range of bikes that they need to work
on and. Yes. Like, biggest respect to the
engineers because it's a massive job. And it's
different approach, as I said,
and still they made it work, and they
gave me a bike in the end that
really worked. So
thanks for that. But we kinda had to
like,
figure out our ourselves back then. Yeah. And
then we got it ready and I signed
up for my first
20 18 Mh. In or large. Yeah.
Which
appears to be the hardest 1 ever in
the history, Is that the wet Rocky French
1. Yeah. Yeah. 2 days or like 4
days with with practice, and it's like I
think it was the biggest 1 in terms
of pedal.
Title asians, and
I I felt like I got run over
by bus couple of times after that race.
And I was like, okay. So that's under.
This is real. Yeah. Yeah. This is the
big show. And at...
At that point, I was like,
kind tinkering along. Like, I knew from racing
all these smaller races.
It's not like,
I wasn't chasing a career or anything, but
I knew, like, job wise because we already
had a kid
then...
And I you're like, well, I'm responsible for
stuff in my life.
For, like, a little family and all that.
So I need to have a job. Yeah.
And I was like, well, I'm not gonna
make anything out of racing small races all
the time, and it's not my passion either
Just, like, winning small races to be on
the box. I wanna challenge myself. I wanna
grow as an athlete and stuff like that.
So
I was like, okay. I'll give this Ew
thing a shout, and
if I do, like, top 50,
pretty much in the first season, I know
there's potential to to go further with training
because I didn't have a trainer back then.
Nothing like, I was just frees styling. And
so no. I knew, like, there was
improvement.
On the line, but
I wanted to prove myself first that I
have what it takes Yeah. To make it
in.
And so first race, I actually had, like
I had crashes. I had cramp. I'm, like,
I struggled so bad, but it was such
a big eye opener.
I actually ran over 1 of my mates
in 1 section That was the greatest part
of the race. Like he crashed in, like
a channel.
His bike was sideways. And I just like,
lifted my front wheel ran straight over him
and his bike.
That was a
image that I have from that race.
And so I was like, oh, okay. That's
under now.
But I knew... I think I was 50
second or something. Okay. 50. Okay. So close
to where you to be straight exactly. So
I was like, oh, that's that's actually been
pretty sick. Yeah. But
But I was pleased right away because I
you're, like, oh, it could have been better.
Like, you know? Yeah. I think that's the
thing that's wrong in our brains while we
keep racing.
And then next race that, yeah, like, I
only did the euro rounds.
I think it was Pets. Mh. And Pets,
the riding style was more like my home,
like,
wet,
like,
pretty, like deep dirt and stuff like that.
So that felt like riding at home in
winter.
And
I think after the first day, I was
18,
and that was like crazy
because I was like, full private T
Racing with friends,
but I was so sick
it still gives me goosebumps when I think
about it because everyone from, like, the German
crew we had, like it it was like
a tight crew of friends
that we raised all the races with. And
they, like, really stepped up, and they were,
like, oh, I wash your bike and then
nice. 1, like,
a a friend, like, she made dinner, and
she said, like, are, you relaxed, like, you
stretch legs and stuff like that. So all
of a sudden, everyone was like, oh, this
is big. Yeah. And we can be part
of it with, like, helping and lifting him
up, And
yeah. And that's also, like, when texted me
that that night. I remember, like,
stay cool. Just do what you did, Like,
you did amazing today and you do the
same time on all good.
So, yeah. Kept it together. Yeah. And ended
up top 20,
second D.
So that was crazy. And that's where I
knew, like,
Wow. Like, I'm capable of this. Yeah. This
doesn't happen by mistake. Yeah. I mean, it
was only 1 time then. Mh.
So you think, it's 1 1 whatever. Like,
you mind there's funny things. Yeah. And then
next race in Lat, that was just super
hard for me and my bike was a
small bike, so
it was hard to just hang on. Yeah.
And had a 4 maybe, which wasn't bad,
but
And, I mean, nowadays, it it'd be pretty
solid almost, but
back then, I think if you had a
solid race, you'd be
easier
in the top 20 for short. Red tight.
But then. Exactly.
So... And then Ai sir, the next race
in Spain,
I actually just entered
spontaneous because I did so well in pets.
So I was like, oh, I might as
well do all the euro. Yeah. And
I had another
really good race. On Terrain, I wouldn't favor
myself, Like, it's so different from home and
everything.
And actually ended up sixteenth.
So that's when I realized, oh, wow, there's
something here.
Yeah. It can be 1 of the guys.
Yeah. And like, I was streaming off maybe
1 day being in in a top 30
start group and stuff like that when I
had my first, like, top 20,
like, if you're 1 of those guys. And
all of a sudden I was, like, beating
half of those guys. Yeah. And I'm like,
wow. This is
This is crazy. And yeah. And I guess,
at that point as well, like, there was
quite a lot of money moving into the
sport. It was in its relatively early days.
End was a growing discipline,
people were buying in jira bikes at rate.
So you... I guess you could see that
potential to actually earn
you know, to make a living from it
Support family. Right? Which was obviously very important
to here. Yeah. And, like,
thanks to bolts. They were, like, oh, you're
actually doing well here. And
I won all the national championships,
back then too. So that was super important
to them as a German brand and all
that. So they offered me to be, like,
okay. What do you need
to
focus on this Yeah. Rather than working jobs
at home, like in construction
Like, my dad has a a drilling company,
and I used to work there. Okay. Flat
out whole winter to take time off for
racing for summers. Yeah.
And just jump in on little jobs in
the summer. Yeah.
Which is cool like, I I love a
good craft and honest work, you know, with
my own hands. So
it's...
It hasn't come free, you know, freely to
me to to raise full time, so I
appreciate it even more I feel like.
But so that was amazing for me because
it was, like a
a natural progress
From, like,
the work took off
and the writing kind of, got more and
more because I got money for it all
of a sudden Yeah. And stuff like that.
But it never felt like he a massive
deal live up to it. Yeah. You know?
Yeah. And I think that maybe my head
wouldn't have been able to. To manage that
in terms of pressure. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm
I'm happy for the route I kind of
took.
And
yeah. But writing got more and more intense.
I had more, like,
time to spend for training. I got a
trainer that year to to just structure my
training because As I said, we we already,
like, started the family then.
And it was just
so hard because I would always question myself
in terms of Did I do enough this
week? Yeah. I might go for another ride?
I might go to the gym And you're
like, you don't have that structure?
And
my wife was going crazy because you're like,
well, we wanted to do something today, but
then
I feel like I missed training,
and I need to do another session, and
then she couldn't plan anything for us. And
so was good to to add a trainer
to the team. I guess you... When you're
short of time like that with a family,
you want to know that every hour you
spend training is you're doing the right thing.
Like you're getting the most value out of
that hour.
Spend some money with someone to help you
do that. Must have been, like, so valuable
to you. Yeah. And
I think the biggest benefit almost was to
know
when there's like an off day. It's actually
an off day. And it's therefore for a
reason. You know, like, you can relax. Yeah.
And you're not questioning yourself, the whole off
day
Should Actually go for a cheeky 1 tonight.
Yeah. The cheeky ride in the ar or
a quick gym session or something, but it's
like, okay. Here's the plan. That's the structure,
stick to it. Yeah. And you've done everything
right.
So that helped massively to schedule life
but also to relax my head. Mh. Because
the last thing you wanna have as a
races being on a start line.
And questioning
the whole program leading up to this. Yeah.
You wanna be there. I'm ready. Yeah. Yeah.
I've done everything. You come from a big
family and and often that leads to people
creating their own big family. Yeah. She's is
kind of the route that that you've got
families obviously very important to you. 4 4
children now. Yeah. Alright? Fairly recently, the fourth
edition. Yeah. The smallest 1 is only, like,
close to 4 months. Okay. Amazing. And how
old the youngest.
Yeah. The like, the this 1 month. Yeah.
And
our oldest 1 is 7 and a month
Now. Okay. So you've been a father for
a a good while. Yeah. How...
I mean, I have 1 child. She's 4,
and I know how much work that creates.
I mean, it's a lot of fun, but
it's also it's very busy.
How do you manage to race at the
level you're racing
and have fought children and a your wife
must be amazing. Full stop. But so I'm
I'm sure, like, props to her. But, yeah.
How do you fit it together? How do
you balance everything, keep everyone
including yourself happy right. So you don't wanna
feel like you're letting your children down and
all that sort. Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, you said it,
my wife's amazing.
Stop.
That's the that's the answer.
No. But other than that, I don't know.
Okay. I don't know how how how I
do it. Like, I'd I just do.
I just try my best in both worlds.
And that's
that's how it feels most of the time
you'd like trying to dance on 2 parties.
Yeah. And because you're always kind of
you're in 1 world and you miss out
on the other 1.
And it's like both ways like that. Yeah
Yeah. So it's it's definitely a big challenge
to balance all that. And you obviously, like,
I I love my family more than anything
in the world, my wife in the first
place and and the kids, but
you always feel like
right now, you almost, like, let them down,
you know? Because you're not there. Mh. And
stuff like that. Like, you feel responsible for
stuff, and then sometimes you... You have rough
days
at home when I'm away. Like, usually, stuff
goes wrong. Yeah. Yeah. You know, like, 1
of the kids would get sick
straight away when I leave the house, like,
whack.
And,
maybe it just highlights more
because you go and you you realize it
more. But
so it's it's definitely not easy to balance
that, but, yeah, I mean,
hands down, my wife is doing an amazing
job. And
we also, like, that's super important to me
that we take this decision off keep racing
together. Mh. It's not only my decision. Like,
I don't wanna chase my dream
and pay the price of, like,
I don't know, like, damage my family Damage
my wife,
health, mentally and and physically.
So, it's always a team decision for us
to keep doing this, and
I would really like, leave it up to
her say, like, it's it's enough now. Like,
okay. We can't do this anymore. But we
we got amazing family at home. We got
amazing friends who really step up especially when
I'm away, like, we try to schedule things
a little bit. So
so my wife has some support at home,
like, good friends,
who help us. And and that's
you... Like, you say it takes a village.
It really does. Yeah.
And I'm It's amazing. Like, that's such a
beautiful thing that we are blessed to to
experience,
to see how people step up and like,
it motivates us to help people again in
in a different way maybe.
And, like, though... That whole thing that happens
behind the scenes.
Is sometimes
such a bigger story than me just racing
my bike down a hill somewhere. Yeah. I
always say it's like,
I'm just a clown
on the,
like, on the bicycle, you know? Yeah. The
whole show is run by by other people.
Yeah. There's a lot of people behind
you being here doing what you do. That's
the team, obviously. Yeah. But then there's your
team at home, which. Is not just your
wife and your kids. It's family. Its friends
it's everyone that supports that.
Does that come with a pressure though when
you're at the top of the hill? Like,
do you want a result to prove that
it was worth? Yeah. Everyone making those sacrifices,
including yourself? Yeah. That thought is definitely present.
Yeah.
Sometimes. But I know I shouldn't give into
that because it doesn't help. Yeah. Again, like,
I I see my head as, like, as
a computer basically because
you want to have hundred percent
of the
like, work processor
being assess for your ride that happens now.
And when you start giving away little chips
for, like,
what do the others do? Yeah. Which was
the bigger thing back in the days? Or,
like, oh, should, like, deliver here I should
make it worth it and stuff like that.
You you give away capacity
from
what you need for your writing. So I
tried to not give in to that too
much, but it can drive you sometimes. It
definitely keeps me going, like,
I mean, last race and Leo gang,
Had
just a stupid crash up top on stage
1, and then I fell down the mountain,
a couple of meters further down and that's
like where you give up,
but then I'm, like, no, I can't quit.
Like,
I I literally thought of my kids at
that moment. I was like, no. I I
don't wanna
I don't know they probably don't even care
right now, And... Maybe they wouldn't ever find
out
what result are did that race, but it
kinda gave me that feeling in the moment.
I was like, no. We're not quitting. Like,
that's mama, mama ain't race no quit So...
Yeah. Yeah.
That way. So I just kept going and
kept grinding and,
again, it comes down to values.
That you pass on. Mh. And that's for
me, like, my instrument is the sport
to develop those values. Yeah. Maybe, and and
show them. Yeah.
And
that's also funny because people ask me, like,
are kids racing yet, are the kids writing
them I'm like, I don't know if they
ever will. I don't care. Like, what I
wanna care about is
what values. Yeah. They
hopefully,
get passed on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The values
to transfer across wherever they do. Right? Whether
it's sitting in an office doing something 9
to 5, whether it's racing bikes, whether it's
doing something else in sport. We, super important.
Does it help motivate you in training as
well, I guess? Like if you've got dig
in deep on a session, like, you're probably
gonna go harder because you're like, well. This
is an hour. I'm not with my kids
so I gotta make this worth it. Yeah.
I'll definitely get more efficient. Yeah. That's for
sure.
Because, I mean, life's busy at home. Yeah.
Super busy, and
it's it's kinda hard to structure everything. And
the biggest thing I'm liking in his bike
time, obviously because I don't get away from
home.
As much. And I feel like that's where
I'll lose the most at the moment, Okay.
Especially this year has been super busy.
But
for, like, the training side of things and
what I do at home. I'm like, yeah.
You, like, you wake up, get too ready
for school. Okay? He's gone. And then you're,
like, get the next to Kindergarten and you,
like, arrange some stuff and then I it's
like, okay. This is my time window now,
Gym time. Yeah. And you don't hang around.
Like,
you go there and you do work, and
it's it's good like, it it definitely helps
me. And I feel like I was useless
when I had no kids because
I just
wasted my time. Play in the mirror. Yeah.
Taking photos for Instagram.
Yeah. We're just like
cruising in so much. Yeah. And it's it's
funny how on the team, like, Jake is
pretty structured and he, like, he doesn't waste
time.
And I'm like Lord Faith had. Sometimes on
on the show, you know? You gotta... Have
some funny characters. Yeah. Yeah.
I'll take that.
But actually, what, like when we speak, is,
like, how do you do it at home?
I'm like, yeah. Maybe I'm
relaxing and chilling that much here when we
are traveling
because
at home it's like full on. So this
is
almost like an off time. Yeah. Even though,
like, yesterday, Thursday here in Morphine, you know,
just, like pump laps whole day because I
was, like, this is my chance, like, to
ride a bike. Yeah, definitely. And I think
people... We... I've had this conversation with my
wife what did we do with our time
before we had kids. Like you don't... Until
you... Until it's scarce. Yeah. You don't make
the most of it. I don't think. So
in a way, it's kinda cool because I
can transfer that. I don't know if you
feel the same, but like, I can transfer
that
structure and that business ness into other parts
of my as well, and I just get
more done in general than I ever did
pre kids, I think. Yeah. Absolutely. So we
should talk a bit about Y tea. Right?
Because that's been the latest chapter of your
life. I think you had a a good
friend who's been working for W for a
while, was that the initial link in. And
Tell a bit about how the White gig
came over. Yeah. It kinda
started a long while ago when as you
mentioned, Eric Image.
German Steve Peed as they call him.
He's been
since
day 1 with White tea as a development
rider, and and both and eraser. Yeah. And
we've been good friends for years because I
met him through raising national
donald cups for sure
And so we've been always, like, riding together,
training together when it was possible.
And
when I started racing and doing all that
and I had that long term relationship with
balls.
And I would hang out at his every
now and then to, like, go ride because
he has good riding around and and good
bike park and stuff. So
we just hung out and joke and he'd
be like,
like it'd be sick to do some stuff
for Y and and whatnot none I can't.
Let's, like, it'd be so sick to be
on a team together 1 day. And he'd
be like, what really? Like, you wouldn't go
away from bolts would you. And I'm like,
well, if the circumstances are are right and
Yeah. It fits and with family and everything.
Why not?
And then,
like, that kind of started a little fire,
but y t at the time was, like,
well, with we don't wanna sign
just the 1 man show. Mh. If we
want... If we do in neuro, we wanna
do it properly.
So
that kind of like, turned it down at
the time. Yeah. And I think it took,
like, 2 years or what whatever.
Till Y really
started that whole new mop program,
and that's when they approached me directly and
they were like, well, we actually...
We're ready now. Like, we wanna start a
program and and we feel like you're you're
fit for the program and everything. So
that's when when talks started happening. And... But,
yeah, the initial thing
got get started by by, my body, so
I'm I'm very grateful for that.
And
Yeah. Ever since, like,
last year,
part of them mop and and super happy
about it. Yeah. Yeah. I'm guessing it was
a no brainer to say yes.
Yeah. I mean, I was, like, I had
a nice spot where it was. Mh. In
the past and was rather secure
in in terms of...
Like, family
providing and and all that stuff. So it's
it's nothing that you just throw away for
a a nicer bike or like, a nicer
team or whatever. You, like, the whole
frame needs to be fitting. Yeah. In my
position. I'm not just a
a freestyle guy that like, lives for himself
in the van or, you know, like, there's
more on the line that that needs to
be done. So,
but I communicated that when we started talking
and
and they were
aware that they don't sign just me.
But they sign a family. Yeah. And that's
something that's really important to me and and
it's really special and
that I feel honest the brand of White
tea.
That they really support individuals. Mh. It's not
just they picked me as an athlete because
I might provide good points for an overall
for the T or. I'm a good development
rider or whatnot,
but they really
see individual persons, and they wanna highlight stories.
So
And I asked that questions straight away. That's
pretty deep inside, but I asked the athlete
manager. Like, why are you
signing a guy like me. Like, I'm... In
my thirties, I'm a multi time not champ,
but dad. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, that's
all stuff that doesn't
win on a on a card. Yeah. Yeah.
In terms of top trump's. Yeah. Exactly. And
but he was like, well, you bring stability
to the team.
And
and that in that moment,
it became a no brainer. Yeah. Because I
was like,
sick. Like, they actually highlighted values
and stuff that's
not highlighted often enough Yeah. On the circuit.
I feel like. Definitely. And I do... I
I spent a bit of time with White.
I've been lucky enough to go to headquarters
and spend a bit of time with the
Uk team as well. And There is, like,
you know, they you have the slogan and
good vibes, but they do live that. And
it was... There also is a bit of
a family feel it, I would say. Like,
everyone seems to get on really well in
the company,
There's a lot of banter and, like, everyone
feels pretty tight. Yeah. Does it feel like
that on the team. I get the impression?
It's like that. Yeah. Definitely. Yeah. Both as
you say in the company, and with a
team, I'm only 2 and a half hours
away from Hq. So,
that's pretty cool for me too because I
can actually be there. Mh. Sometimes to have
meetings with R and d guys. Yeah. Where
we'll, also have partly a job,
and stuff like that. And it straight away,
it's... It felt, like,
I'm part of a family. Like, so many
people were stoked to
to have me in the company.
I was actually surprised like, overwhelmed by that
because,
I didn't see that coming. I was, like,
most people would probably not even know me.
Because
former sponsors, it was, like massive ship. And
all this the whole thing and some people
wouldn't even knew what you're doing
Yeah. When you talk to them.
It's pretty small head. I think people realize
how few people they're are Involved really. Think
it's not a massive company. And you feel
the passion everyone brings. Yeah. It's like,
I don't think there's anyone who just needed
a job. You know,
everyone's there because they love what they do,
and they they're passionate for it. And you
feel that whole vibe within the company. So
that's amazing and I really enjoy that.
And that obviously passes on to the team,
and that's a core identity. Yeah. To the
team because
the company essentially or, like, the brand
wants that within a team. Yeah. It's not
just about results and performance. Like,
athletes worry about that enough themselves.
Like you don't need a add pressure to
that, but it's about, really have good times.
It sounds a bit bashed,
but it is. Like, it it really is
about having good times and and transport that
to people.
Yeah. Definitely. And you're on a team with
a good crew, so Casper William and Jack
Moore Yeah. And yourself on the interior squad.
And, I mean, Jack is arguably the most
famous interior rider on the planet at the
moment. I would say, like Mo mo Tv
has
taken a an already well of character and
kind of elevated him in in the fan
eyes. I think. And obviously, you featured heavily
on that over the last couple seasons I
was, Chris. I was about to say Triple
x l Chris,
recently,
your name.
Might be a bit more famous than Why
moore himself. There we go. Yeah. It's coming
on coming on. But how has that been
as an experience? Because that you say you've
gone... I mean, Paul's
we're not, like, I guess, pushing you in
the limelight in the same way that Y
t have the ability to do.
You were probably a lot more under the
radar than than you are now, and then
add more mo tv on the top of
that, and you've sort of been become a
super superstar of the endurance scene like, almost
overnight. Yeah. How how's has that been?
It's it's natural. Yeah. It's it felt really
natural. And I told Jack as well,
like, if he was 1 of those like
vloggers or Youtubers who are, like, oh, we
need to do something for the vlog to
be funny or, like this setup show. Yeah.
Yeah. Are not keen to be big Chris
on there.
But it's... Honestly, if the camera is down,
yeah. It's the same. Like,
And, yeah, First of all, we get along
so well, and I'm super grateful for that
because it's not for granted, like,
some people just don't gel with. Mh. And
I try to get along with most people
really well.
But, you can't, like,
force it sometimes. And everyone on the team
is really like,
just getting along, really nice and it's good
friendships, who develop and and we really like
each other. And,
especially with Jack having such a tough year
last year as well.
And then re injuring his wrist a little
bit this season and stuff like that. So
we've we've gone through stuff. Yeah. Yeah.
And that bonds you, and it became a
really good good friendship and also on the
on the vlog. It just like, it's natural.
You know, like, we we talk the same
amount of nonsense.
When the camera is down and,
maybe sometimes more than on the vlog. Yeah
to be honest. But we also have, like,
good chats like deep deep chats about life
and and stuff that's going on. So that's
really cool and I really enjoy that. And
the whole, like, Momo mo Tv thing. It
just, like, felt natural to be to be
on there. I kinda enjoy that. It's it's
fun and. It's
it's a beautiful way to
make the sport more accessible to fans and
give insights. And I feel like that's almost...
1 of the channels to
experience and already Hundred percent. Yeah. Yeah. I
know you get a more support tracks side.
That's a result of of, like, being big
chris. Yeah. Big time. Yeah. Like, honestly, and
and Ta I was overwhelmed. It was crazy.
I think.
Maybe the the crowd almost went as hard
for me than for for some of the
Aussie guys will check himself. You've only been
on... Team then, like, a couple months. Right?
So it came up quick. Yeah. It it
shows how, like, especially the Aussie follow
jack yeah or or Tv. So it's been,
yeah. Been really cool to, like, kind of
benefit from that Or, like, It just feels
cool. Like, I'm I'm super grateful for for
for that. Yeah It must make the experience
of being at a race even more fun
for you? To have that support and people
wanting to come and meet and chat must
be. Yeah. And also, as I mentioned to
you earlier,
it's kinda cool because I'm such a at
such a different state of life, I'd say,
or, like, in such a different position with
having family and all that. But it turns
out that most people who watch the flock,
our family people, all kids and Yeah. And
and so many parents and
and dads and, like, people reached out to
me and
they, like, love the character on there, Mh.
Which is It's not nothing is made up
there. You know? Like, we... Yeah. We do
have funny things every now and then, but
it's like, I tried to be honest and
real on there, and it is real like
everything that's on there, which is super important
to me. But
I feel like yet just sharon Mah heart.
Every now and then,
hits a bit deeper than just talking about
which corner you washed out of the race.
You know? So
and that seems to touch people and and
inspire people.
And that comes back to me, like I
get messages on Instagram and and stuff, and
and that keeps me going. That motivates me
on days where I feel like quitting because
it doesn't make sense
when you sleep.
Next to a kids bed on the carpet
overnight and if you're like, oh, should train
should do this and then
and everything falls apart. But then you you
get a message and people are like, oh,
we... I don't know, like, we got inspired
by what do you do and we do
this and that again now and it's so
good for a family and I'm
get in tears when read stuff like that.
And... It's amazing. And that gives me
motivation again to, like, okay. Let's Yeah. You
a role model for for family people that
won't do something alongside it. Yeah. That's amazing.
Yeah. That's super cool. You mentioned the whole
lot, yeah, sleeping on the floor next to
a kid that that needs you there that
time and then you've got a training session
the next day. I guess the risk of
over training when you're, like, non training stress
is high as a result of family life
or higher. Like, how do you manage
that and ensure that you keep, like, a
healthy balance between training enough, but not going
too far when when life's busy.
Yeah.
I think like, there's just no rest when
you're at home, there's always something happening. And
then when the kids are bed,
you're like, okay. Now I can do my
stuff. Yeah. Like, you I can do some
maybe some office stuff, some emails and and
stuff like that. So there's
Yeah. It's definitely easy to overcook it,
and we just recently added
building a house
to the project list. So of course. Yeah.
That was too much time on hand,
and we're trying to do it ourselves
obviously. Yeah. Yeah. Why not.
Because we'll love a good craft. So
but there's there's no pressure there, so that's
good. Okay. And I just do something whenever
it's let's
possible.
But
again,
in that term, it's super helpful for me
to have a trainer, who knows me. Mh.
Who knows my life circumstances,
And he, like, kinda can read my feedback
in terms of okay. We we catch up
and
and he'd be like, okay. I feel like
you need some rest. So you're sharing some
data and, like, commentary around
sore and how you're feeling and energy levels
and stuff. Yeah. I tried to keep him
updated in terms of like, we we use
training peaks as actual. So he sees what
I've... What I've done and what I've didn't
do. Yeah. And,
so he has the data.
And then we also tried to catch up
or do voice messages. Okay. And he would...
I mean, he would look
him my voice. Yeah. And get the feedback
and out same like, how the nights were
with the kids maybe. And in general, they
are good. Yeah. But, you know, like,
in general, is not every night. So
and some days are just busy, like, you
have to maybe go to a doctor or
you have, like, a little party from the
kindergarten or. Yeah. Not. And that stuff that's
important to me, you know? Like, it might
sound funny to some people,
but it's super important to me. Because I
wanna be there, and I wanna be their
for my kids, and I wanna see them
grow up, and I wanna be part of
it,
because
I don't know fast forward 10:20 years.
I don't care what position I did in
a race. But If my kids are, like,
not interested in me anymore because they feel
like I wasn't interested in them. Yep. That
would hurt big test the biggest loss you
can Yeah. You can have. Right? So balance
all that. It helps massively to have someone
who, like, kind of oversees that. Mh. And
he's like, okay.
Well, you know what? You shouldn't worry about
the session you skip today.
We just make it extra hard tomorrow.
And then he he puts in a 7
set of interval also something that kills me
for, like, 3 days. So
we work our way around. Yeah. That's cool,
man. And you're... You mentioned earlier, like, your
role at White tee is, you, there is
a race, but you also have like, an
R and D
side of things as well where you're, like,
integrating more maybe than some of the rest
team with, like, the engineers Back at White
tea. Yeah. Just talk to us a bit
about that and, like how that works, what
you've been up to, How you getting on
with it. Yeah. Yeah. So straight away from
when we, like, set up the whole deal,
it was
clear that that is a part of my
job, which is cool to me because it's
also more
like, it kind of takes pressure from from
racing because my role is a bit bit
bigger. Yeah. And when there are days where
I can't, like, live as an athlete, let's
say and and live up to my own
expectations,
let alone.
I feel like, okay, there's more to my
role here, Like, I shouldn't worry about it
too much. And Everything, 1 of the team
is aware of it too. So that being
said,
the team is super supportive with me being
in a family man. Like,
if family is, like, and in trouble. Like,
if there's
if there's fire at home, you know, everyone
would understand if I stay home. Yeah. They
respect that. They support me in that. So
like, really really
a massive,
yeah.
Thank you to to the whole team for
for that. I think that's pretty unique.
And
so the R and D kind of thing
was
clear straight away because I started some development
stuff with bolts as well. I did some,
like, Oe testing with
suspension manufacturers for them, and that goes around,
like, the same guy who tests for
bulls, Rocks, Oe specs would do it with
White t. So.
You kind of know each other within the
scene, and then he would maybe give feedback
to the White tea guys of recently tested
with Taxi. So you kind of get a
reputation for
being a guy who
can be tested with. Yeah. Because not every
guy who
or every person,
who goes fast, essentially
feels what makes the bike Yeah. Fast or...
So people it fast. Right? Sometimes... And and
sometimes, it's not
about going fast. Yeah. Yeah. For the majority
of people who buy a bike in the
end, it's not. So.
Yeah. I kind of developed a little
like, standing for myself in that way, I
could... I would say.
And,
White t sees that and sees the benefit
and need for them as a brand to
have people like that. With Oo in the
first place is amazing
with that stuff, maybe I don't know, like,
definitely the most amazing person I've
ever seen. Mh.
Doing doing that stuff, like, what he feels
is pretty
pretty crazy. So
also been
friends with, he obviously reported that to White
that I would be
a good
addition Yeah. To to that because it's too
much work for 1 person alone. So so
he pushed for that essentially. And,
Yeah. So I started
working with them,
not many projects yet. Okay. As things are
still fresh and kind of the whole racing
side of things needed to
find its feet. Yeah.
But... Yeah, Like, it's... It
comes down to, like, if there's a new
bike to be developed, and you rider
prep production bike just to try it in
terms of if it's strong enough or where
stuff would fail or what the problems would
be. Mh.
To, like, try different things on the bikes
like geometry wise or, like,
suspension wise, and then also,
just small stuff, like, try a different headset
cup because we wanna spec this and Okay.
Write it as hard as you can and
see if it outlast the other 1 or
if it fails earlier and stuff like that.
And you just need people for that. So,
I'm happy to jump in on that, and
also give feedback
on, like, the technical side of things,
the best way I can. Mh. As I
learned a technical job in the industry, like
an automotive,
as an apprenticeship and then for another year.
I work there. So I have a sort
of a technical background to understand processes
and and stuff like that. So
that definitely helps me
trying to get my head around solutions for
making a bike better. Sweet. What was your
old role in Ot automotive? What sort of
stuff you doing? I've learned a job that's
called Mech electronic. Okay. So it's half, like
mechanic thing and half electricity. Yeah. Yeah.
And I didn't develop a product myself. Mh
we...
The the company I was working for made
like,
all sorts of electric
I have to find the words english. But
it's like, few fuel pumps. Okay. Yeah valves
for, like, hydraulics and Yeah. Yeah. And stuff
like that. It's pretty big company.
And I sort of
developed and build up and serviced machines who
produce the product then. Yeah.
But it was also, like, R and D.
Yeah. Because you've... You need to find ways
to make a process better, your,
stuff would fail. So you try to find
better solutions and stuff like that. And essentially
all the the processes
to make machines better and stuff. It's the
same as working on the bike. Are. Yeah.
Nice. And it... You see that as, like,
a future if racing
comes to an end for you at some
point, which I guess it does for everyone.
Yeah. 1 day. Do you see, like a
longer term future in the bike industry with
that, would you rather be like, a line
spot on the hill? Like, what what does
the future?
Look like or what sort of things do
you do you feel like you might end
up going towards? It's definitely a perspective.
Or an option. I'd say.
I don't plan
the future too much. To be honest. It's
like, it's not that I live in the
day, but
you sort of develop chances and possibilities, and
you see where life takes you.
And
But that's definitely a thing. And, I mean,
as we talk right now, I have massive
passion for the sport. I'm a massive fan
of the sports still, and
So I wanna be involved and that's definitely
a way to be involved. Also, I think
their possibilities to to be involved with the
team and stuff like that, but then you
gotta see if you still wanna travel that
march Yeah. Your family or if you're over
it at some point, maybe,
But it's definitely
a way,
like, a a perspective, I'd say, Yeah. To
be involved. And I wanna
develop myself there as well. I'm just as
eager and competitive, And that way,
like, being an athlete. Mh. Also to, like,
being a better test rider,
I don't know, like, work my head around
solutions,
educate myself about materials and stuff like that
and and and try to push for that.
So as long as the company,
shares that with me and and they feel
like our benefit. I definitely, I'm keen to
to stay the part of that and awesome.
And stick with that pretty amazing family Sweet.
Life's good, man. Yeah.
Definitely definitely. Yeah. Nice. We should start wrapping
up. And we'll hit up our final 4
questions because your first proper time on the
podcast, I guess. Yeah first 1 of those,
if I listen is at a hundred and
50 50 pounds or about a hundred and
75 euros to spend to improve their performance
on a bike. What would you recommend they
went and spend that on?
50
That's a tough 1, and it's funny because
I listen to so many people quest... Like,
answering that question.
Is there another 1 coming up on parts
or something?
No. That's okay. That's the part. That's kind
the parts 1 really. It's like... Yeah. And
I think some people have... Yeah. Yeah. Some
people had the approach of, like,
doing a coaching lesson or something.
And it's...
I mean, it's tough because it's so individual.
It depends on, like,
how you're riding status is like, how you
good your riding. Mh how bad your bike
is maybe? Yeah. Yeah. If your tires is
a rubbish, for sure you wanna spend the
money on new tires, so it's pretty individual.
But
if it comes down to
like the bike,
I think...
Yeah. Like good tires. Yeah. Do make the
biggest difference on a mountain bike. U.
And
I feel like
especially,
people who, like, just started writing,
and
and they don't have, like, a lot of
awareness
for their own,
like movement on the bike yet. Yeah. And
not... They didn't develop a lot of technique.
It really helps to to have a good
coaching session. Yeah. And I'm saying a good
coaching session because there's a lot of
not that good coaching sessions out there. And
people like, to
make you believe stuff that mh might work
for some, but then it's like, they...
I feel like a lot of people sell
laws. Yeah, you know?
Like, that's the technique that you have to
do. Otherwise, it won't work. Then you see
people who win world cups and then they
different. They do. They do what the coach
might say is wrong. Yeah. You know? Yeah
yeah. So,
I mean, it's hard to find those people
sometimes.
But if you have a really good coaching
session. So
just someone who's a very good rider and
aware of body position and stuff, if they
do 1 run behind you. Mh. They'd give
you, like, 3 keys, what you change. Yeah.
And it'll... It might change your bike riding.
Yeah. Yeah. Hundred percent. If we took that
price
cap away,
and said, like, what's the best change you've
made to your bike in the last 2
years?
What would you say has been like the
most?
Influential step forward that you've made because I
know you've had the opportunity to, as Jack
would say, be a massive tweak.
That's a tough 1.
I feel like
I've been tweaking for so long
that I've been
running
pretty solid level of what I know works
for me. But
I think
almost the biggest change over the last few
years is writing just the softest tires. Okay.
I could get. Yeah.
Yeah what you are now? Conte Sc sc.
Okay. Which ones? And then it's I'm running,
like, magic Mary out front also of the
time. Sometimes take chan in the rear. Yeah.
And
yeah. So
the
up
3 or 4 years ago, I still ran
the, like, the medium kind of compound in
the rear And now I feel like, how
could I even do that. Yeah. Now I'm
running the softer tires and
little little spoiler, even softer stuff. Okay. Because
I'm I'm part of
another development program for them. Sweet.
So that's definitely
some of the
the best changes I'd say. Yeah. Done. Yeah
interesting. Okay, man. Second 1, if you could
widen back the clock and sit down with
16 year old Taxi,
what advice would you give him?
Just trying to be your best and not
to be the best. U.
Yeah Yeah. Do you feel like you were...
You spent a lot of your earlier life
trying to be the best
Are worried about being the best. Okay.
And is that gone now.
Not all of the time? Okay. Yeah. The
style energy still there. When I when I
do a...
I don't know. When I do a stupid
little competition against 1 of my best mates,
like table tennis or whatever.
I'll definitely worry about being the best. Yeah.
I love it. No. But... Yeah, honestly,
and again, that's like,
That sounds like so
like,
everyone would say that. Like, don't worry, relax.
Like, Yeah. Don't stress. And stuff like that.
But, I guess everyone says it because it's
true. And
yeah, just
calm down. Yeah. And don't stress about, like,
what's gonna happen or what's not gonna happen.
Yeah. And just, like, do you. Yeah. Paying
your best. Be versus being the best, is
quite a nice way to reframe it because
it totally changes the head space, but the
intent is still really positive. Yeah. It's not
like you're backing away.
Yeah. Just working out what's
going after you rather going after someone else
or... Yeah. I keep preaching that to myself
over the past years.
That...
And I'm preaching that to myself because it's
so easy to forget and and focus
otherwise. But.
Yeah. I wanna be my best and not
the best. And maybe that's against some
people who like,
win races and they're like,
get pushed into a super ego mode or
whatever. Maybe that works for some people. I
don't know.
I feel like it wouldn't work for me
And and for a lot of other people,
but
like, for example, when I win national champs,
like, I won a few now, which is
cool. Yeah. And it's getting tighter, which is
also cool. Like, the boys I'll step up
big time. But
if my goal is to be the best,
and I win national champs. Yeah. Like, Goal
achieved. Pretty cool, but I might not question
what I could do better. Yeah. You know?
Because Yeah. I was the best. Yeah. August.
So we keep running. And you never, like,
think further. Yeah. True. And so if my
goal is to be the best. Yeah.
I might even be pleased with second place
because I actually did my best on the
day. And mh. You know, like, I think
it
if it really digest that short sentence,
there's a lot in it, how you, like,
can handle,
both failure Yeah. And success In a better
way. If your goal was to be your
best they're not the best. Hey Because
who's gonna be the best comes down to
a couple of hundred other writers out Yeah.
Yeah. You can't that. Which you can't control.
Yeah. And that that's back to, like, my
biggest struggle back in the days, maybe. Yeah.
I can't control those, and it doesn't help
focusing on that. Yeah.
Nice. I like it, man. I was like,
yeah, There was a lot that I'm gonna
think about that more.
Alright. Third 1, if you could have a
coaching session with anyone past or present, Who
would it be, and what would you wanna
learn?
Wow.
Well,
as anyone or most people on this on
on this podcast said probably a corner session
with
Yeah. But maybe that's just more of for
watching him corner. U. Yeah. I'd I'd happily
watch Samurai red turns all day long, I
think. But I have to say it's
like, I've got a first row seat to
pretty amazing corner.
Most of my rights nowadays with jay. Yeah.
And
Like, like I said, I'm a massive fan
of the sports still, and and I feel
so, like, fortunate to to ride with guys
like Him mo, yesterday I wrote a couple
of laps with with Richie as well. Plenty.
And
I feel like a little kid still, you
know, Like I'm
dude, I'm really doing this. It's it's amazing.
So
I'm really fortunate in that way. But
or coaching session with anyone that's
like, that's more than just in sports. Yeah.
It can. Yeah For sure. So Yeah.
I don't know that like I'm I really
love sports in general and, like, all sort
of,
like the
the mental side of things Yeah. Within sports,
and there's so many great
sports, men and women
overall,
the sports and, like, I don't know, like,
people like Walter. Mh.
Like breaking it down to German, German speaking
and people like,
probably
1 of the, if not the best ready
driver,
back in the days for sure on on
the old Audi and like, his approach to
things Yeah. Such a core and real guy
and a technical nerd.
So someone like that would be really cool.
But then also, like,
I don't know. People who did
massive things,
like, for society, and
I don't know, like, someone like Nelson Mon
mandela maybe Or like,
I don't know if there's so many people
I've been reading a lot
about, like, second world war recently yeah. And
that whole time and hollow house, which is
a big
part of German history, unfortunately. Yeah. But it's
it's on our hands to use it wisely,
especially states for everyone to learn from. Right.
Yeah. And and there's so many
amazing characters and small and big stories. Yeah.
Who, like, stood up for
for human
Yeah. Kind and and values and
and they, like,
put their lives
on the line to to help others and
to build up
like, I don't know,
things within that time period.
And I feel like there's so much more
in in those stories sometimes to learn as
a human. Yeah. So... Is there any standout
books then from that sort of period that
you've been reading?
I don't know. That's 1 guy who was
a like a German pastor
Like, I, I wouldn't
I wouldn't say I'm a religious, but I'm
I'm a I believe. Yeah. Like I'm a
a believer. I'd say that. That's It's a
thing between my heart and got. Yeah. Not
about following rules and stuff like yeah yes.
But there's 1 guy,
Dietrich bon. Mh. And his life is so
inspirational,
in that time. He got actually,
killed by The nazis in the end.
But like, till the last
second of his life, he
just was
a a well of positivity.
Yeah. And,
like,
carrying good,
like,
values and and, like, against all odds. Like,
he was
really living up to, like, love enemies. U.
In a way that's super inspirational, Like not
naive. Yeah. Yeah. But
but just
out of this world almost interesting.
And, yeah, that's definitely a story that that,
touches me big time and teach me for
life, like, for everyday line Yeah. You to
send me a link and I'll stick it
in the show notes people can dig in
if they're keen.
Alright. Last 1.
Something you do every day that you feel
benefits you.
Quiet time. Okay. And a prayer? Yeah. That's
hard cup of coffee. It can be hard
to find it in a mountain bike week.
Right? There's a lot going on finding somewhere
quiet to reflect is not always straightforward.
I just recently added a hundred push ups
to it. Okay.
But that's a that's a different story. It's,
bit of a thing we started, But
no. But honestly,
I think
in in a life
but also in a in a time where,
like, so much is happening. Mh.
You
you have to find, like, just quiet time
of relax. And like not scroll. Like, quiet
time doesn't mean being on your phone or
intel. Yeah. Like, really just be quiet. Mh.
Maybe not not even reading something. Yeah. But
just like, calm down
and let
your body and, like, your your brain, your
thoughts
start being present because there's so much... I
feel like,
especially, like, as you mentioned, do you have
a race week sometimes and it's busy or
at home weeks get even busier.
And then you come
to that, like, quiet time again and you
just sit and you feel like, oh, Like,
there's so many thoughts. There so many things
that are on my mind, but they, like,
get pushed Yeah. Yeah. All the time. And
I feel like people do that on purpose
sometimes because they're scared of their. Yeah. And
some people are scared of quiet. Yeah. Of
being alone. Yeah. And if that's the case
for you, it's
I think it's alarming. Yeah.
Because it's so healthy to be quiet and
to listen
what's happening inside of you and
and and process that. Mh And so would
you call it a meditation or not? Because
meditation people often think is about clearing your
mind. But I'm not The more I kind
of dig into it, I'm not convinced that's
necessarily the case. It's about letting these things
in
and being willing to address them and letting
them go again. It's not necessarily about like,
just sitting in there. Totally blank for 20
years. Yeah. I've, yeah. I think people, like,
picture
paint the picture in different ways. Yeah. As
we all different. But
yeah. You could call it meditating.
Your version maybe. Yeah. Yeah. But it's I
think it's just comes down to, like, quiet
time and actually be quiet. Yeah. And sometimes
just like, when you think when you don't
know what you can think of,
just... Yeah. Be like that. Yeah. And see
what happens. And and, yeah, As I said
for me, that's,
deeply connected to my belief. Yeah. So I'm,
yeah, to just
for me, there there has to be something
bigger, and and that's my foundation, you know,
for life, for everything.
That's my source for family life. Yeah. For
racing, for keep this running.
Maybe that's partly the answer of how do
I all do it? I don't know. Yeah.
Maybe it's
not just me.
But so,
yeah, that definitely benefits me. Yeah. What I
do every day. Yeah. It definitely helpful to
have a belief in something it doesn't have
to be a god. It could be like,
I don't know. The universe has got your
back or whatever it is. But... I feel
like we all
a in a way. Yeah. Like, even if
you... It's it's a saying, like, even if
you just sit on a chair, you believe
it's gonna hold your weight. You know? Yeah.
Yeah. So I think
whole brain is
designed
for that, you know, in a way. Yeah.
And
and even if you're like, of you have
a
good explanation how things work in the universe.
Universe and now how everything
like started. There's still... It comes down to
a set of beliefs Yeah. At the beginning.
Yeah. Because
you have to believe something first
to be there to
develop. It's it's a bigger topic. We can't
answer everything. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. And
I don't know. That's just my way to
to find peace To find strength and and
stability and branding. Yeah yeah. And maybe it's
something else for for for other people. And.
And I have
like, the biggest respect for all that, Like,
I'm I'm not a preacher in any way
or something like that and wanna turn people
around know something like that. You know, not
at all, but I just tried to
be real with who I am. Mh. And
my set of beliefs for life and and
and my ways.
And I try to just live that. Live
that out and inspire others. And if people
see, like, oh, that's actually cool or that
actually could help me or whatever.
I'm super happy and and grateful to.
To be someone who maybe
inspired someone else. You know? So... Yeah. Yeah.
That's why we're here. Yeah. That's awesome, man.
A really nice place to wrap up. I've
really enjoyed chatting, finding out a bit more
about you and what makes you tick. And
I look forward to see and how the
rest of the year and the and the
future goes for you. If if people wanna
follow along, like, where are the best places
over the Mo mo Tv. Where the best
places for them to to find and follow
you. Yep. Probably Instagram.
My my Instagram is the most updated. K.
I'd say as Sexy.
Sexy 5 5. Yeah. I'll stick it in
the show no. And I just recently added
a lock. I started about achieve. But that's,
like, if you wanna watch high quality stuff,
you better stick to my Tv. I just
basically load up
full gopro pro races. Okay because,
I'd do with the German Mt news. It's
like AAA
Mt platform, a arrays
report. Yep. And we added the visual side
of things. This as as Gopro footage. So
that kind of developed. But again, a lot
of people, like, jump over for more Tv
and actually watch my races too. So that's
cool to see.
It's in German. Yeah. We have subs, but...
Yeah. That's
that's the program for now. And if if
people are keen to watch me tumbling down
the mountain sometimes,
they can they can,
can you look up my Youtube too? Wicked.
Yeah. Stick links to all that in the
show. Yeah. Thanks Mate. Know it's a busy
week. So thanks for making the time. Yeah.
I've really enjoyed it. And yeah. We'll see
you around. Yeah. Same for me. It's been
a pleasure to be honored and,
see around. Awesome. Cheers mate. Cheers.
Alright. That's it for this episode with Sexy.
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