Bike Filth

About Bike Filth

The raw ride through cycling’s wildest stories. BMX, MTB & madness.

Publisher

Tim Portlock

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Apr 2025

Latest episode

31 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

62 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Oct 2026

   10 Mountain Bike Inventions That Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

   Mountain biking has produced some incredible inventions over the years. But for every revolutionary piece of technology, there were plenty of weird, wonderful and downright bizarre ideas that seemed brilliant at the time!In this episode of Bike Filth, we're taking a nostalgic look at 10 mountain bike inventions that pushed the boundaries of bicycle design. From Dave's Chain Device (DCD) and beautifully CNC-machined X-Lite components to the legendary Tioga Disc Drive, Cannondale's unusual suspension designs and Shimano's incredible pneumatic Airlines shifting system.We're heading back to the golden age of mountain biking, when purple anodised aluminium was everywhere, manufacturers weren't afraid to experiment, and some bikes looked like they'd been designed by NASA.Were these forgotten MTB inventions engineering masterpieces, unnecessary complications or simply ahead of their time?Featuring classic mountain bike technology from Shimano, Cannondale, Kona, X-Lite, Tioga and more, this is a celebration of the weird and wonderful innovations that helped shape modern mountain biking.**SUPPORT MTB MANAGER – PLAY ALPHA 4 FOR FREE**I'm also developing MTB Manager, a mountain bike team management game inspired by classic sports management games. Build and manage your own downhill mountain bike racing team, with the game currently in development.Alpha 4 is available to try for FREE, including downloadable versions for Windows and Mac.Play or download MTB Manager Alpha 4 here:https://bikefilth.itch.io/mtbmanagerI'd really appreciate your feedback to help improve the game!**JOIN THE BIKE FILTH COMMUNITY**Subscribe for weekly videos covering mountain bike history, legendary riders, forgotten MTB brands, retro mountain bike technology and plenty of cycling nostalgia.Bike Filth merchandise:https://bikefilth.comInstagram: @bikefilthMTB Manager Instagram: @mtbmanagergame**LET'S HEAR FROM YOU**What was the strangest mountain bike invention you ever owned? Did you have a noisy DCD, a collection of purple X-Lite parts or something even more unusual?Let me know in the comments!Thanks for watching, and stay filthy!#MountainBiking #RetroMTB #BikeFilth #MountainBikeHistory #MTB #VintageMTB #MTBManager

2. 

   24 Oct 2026

   When Mountain Bikes Had PERSONALITY… What Happened?

   When Mountain Bikes Had PERSONALITY… What Happened? Remember when mountain bikes looked completely different from one another? GT had its iconic triple triangle, Klein had outrageous paint jobs, Cannondale was experimenting with wild frame designs, and Mountain Cycle was building bikes that looked like they'd come straight out of a science fiction film. Mountain biking in the 1990s and early 2000s was full of strange ideas, colourful components, unusual suspension systems and manufacturers willing to try just about anything. But somewhere along the way, things changed. Modern mountain bikes are faster, more capable and more technologically advanced than ever before. So why do so many of them seem to look alike? In this episode of Bike Filth, we're taking a nostalgic trip through some of the most distinctive mountain bikes ever made, including legendary designs from GT, Klein, Cannondale, Yeti, Mountain Cycle, Trek and more. We'll explore the golden age of experimental mountain bike design, the obsession with colourful anodised components, and why modern MTB manufacturers have gradually moved towards similar frame shapes and geometry. But have mountain bikes really lost their individuality, or are we just remembering the best bits of the past? Let me know in the comments: Which mountain bike had the most personality? And do you think modern mountain bikes have become too similar? I'd love to hear which bikes you dreamed of owning, which ones you actually rode, and which designs you think deserve to make a comeback. Subscribe to Bike Filth for more mountain bike history, forgotten brands, retro MTB technology and general cycling nonsense. New videos every Saturday at 8am. Stay Filthy. IMAGE CREDITS This video features historical and reference images sourced from various websites and online image searches. All third-party photographs and images remain the property of their respective copyright holders. Where possible, original creators and photographers are credited. If you own an image featured in this video and would like credit added, corrected or the image removed, please contact Bike Filth. #MountainBiking #RetroMTB #MTBHistory #BikeFilth #MountainBikeHistory

3. 

   17 Oct 2026

   10 Things Mountain Bikers Used to Believe (That Sound Crazy Today)

   Remember when mountain bikes had ridiculously narrow handlebars, enormous stems, 27 gears and everyone was obsessed with making their bike as light as possible? There was a time when mountain bikers believed all sorts of things that seem completely ridiculous today. But were we actually wrong, or were mountain bikes simply very different back then? In this episode of Bike Filth, we're looking back at 10 things mountain bikers used to believe, from the glory days of 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets to the great flat pedals versus clipless debate. We'll explore why narrow handlebars were once considered better, why longer stems were so popular, why everyone wanted more gears, and how our attitudes towards suspension, wheel sizes, weight and expensive upgrades have changed over the years. Some of these ideas have been completely overtaken by modern technology. Others still make plenty of sense, and a few might even deserve a comeback. Mountain bikes have evolved enormously over the last 30 years, but does newer always mean better? And here's the really interesting question: what do we believe about mountain bikes today that we'll be laughing about in another 20 years? Let me know in the comments: What mountain biking advice were you given when you first started riding? Do you still believe it, or has modern technology changed your mind? And if you're still riding 26-inch wheels, running a triple chainset or refusing to give up your flat pedals, I'd love to hear why. Subscribe to Bike Filth for more mountain bike history, forgotten technology, legendary brands, retro bikes and stories from the weird and wonderful world of cycling. New Bike Filth videos every Saturday at 8am. Stay Filthy. IMAGE CREDITS Some historical photographs and reference images featured in this video were sourced through online image searches. Bike Filth does not claim ownership of third-party images. Every effort is made to acknowledge original creators where known. If you are the copyright holder of an image featured and would like to request a credit, correction or removal, please get in touch. #MountainBiking #MTB #RetroMTB #MTBHistory #BikeFilth

Who has been a guest on Bike Filth

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mark Noble
• Chris Chance
• Greg Herbold
• Dave Cullinan
• Cedric Gracia

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

62

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0