RockShox Rethought Everything – Inside Their New Suspension with Tim Lynch
Downtime - The Mountain Bike PodcastShow Notes
With the latest RockShox suspension launch, they’ve rethought everything and that goes further than just the technology that you get to ride. RockShox have even changed the development process itself, in order to bring us the biggest leap forward in suspension technology that they possibly can.
This week we’re joined by RockShox Chief Engineer, Tim Lynch, to find out what really went into developing the latest raft of gravity suspension. From ZEB to Lyrik, and Vivid Air to Super Deluxe, we’ve got you covered. This is an insight that goes beyond what you’ll have heard in the press releases, to really get under the skin of how this tech actually gets designed. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Tim Lynch.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.
You can find out more about the new RockShox range here.
Podcast Stuff
Sponsoring Partners
Loam Pass
Picture this, over 70 epic mountain bike destinations across North and South America. Two free days at each, a third at half price, and no blackout dates. Just you, your bike, and an endless world of trails. Even better, there’s loads of new spots to explore this year, including Highland in New Hampshire and KRB in New Mexico.
Well that’s what you get with Loam Pass. For just $250, you unlock over 100 days of riding across top bike parks, shuttles, and trail systems. Whether you’re chasing park laps or finding hidden gems, it’s got you covered.
But don’t hang around, that early bird price ends May 1st 2026. Head to loampass.com, grab your pass, and start planning those road trips.
RockShox
This episode is a paid partnership with RockShox - check out the new suspension range over at sram.com.
Patreon
I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.
Merch
If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.
Newsletter
If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.
Follow Us
Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.
For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.
Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.
Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes
Photo - Downtime Podcast
More from Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast
Welcome back to Downtime Goes Downhill. On this episode, a well known bike designer joins us for his first downhill race in 25 years. Ben and Jonny finish the season separated by 0.14 of a second. We talk about spending your risk wisely, dealing with a mudder, semi-slick tyres, and why we choose to go racing when we could just ride bikes. Oh, and Jonny invents a new type of goggles. Plenty to go at here, so sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with me, Ben, Jonny and our very special guest.
Anna Newkirk won her first elite World Cup in Lenzerheide this season. She qualified first, dropped last, and says the run never felt fast. Anna talks us through that day, how she got there after a broken hand a year before, and why the approach that won that race didn’t work at the next round. Anna gives us some insight into just how hard World Cup downhill really is right now and how the winning recipe is constantly evolving. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Anna Newkirk.
I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your Lake Placid post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris.
If you could redesign how a downhill event pays its riders, what would you do? Simon French has done exactly that. He’s the man behind Maydena Bike Park and the team that runs Hardline Tasmania, and now he’s launching his own race: Beyond Gravity. Pay-per-view, around forty cameras, with the return of 5 person podiums, Rob Warner and thirty percent of the live broadcast money going to the riders. I caught up with him to find out how it works, who’s coming, and what it’s going to take to actually pull it off. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Simon French.
The new Norco Team DH is finally here. After some laps on the new bike in Val di Sole, I sat down with Greg Minnaar and the engineers behind it, Colin Ryan and Kirk McDowall, to get the full story behind the new bike. A six-link suspension platform built for total independent tunability, developed through secret test sessions and years of racing feedback. We get into how Greg ended up signing after a covert test in Spain, how the team solved early stiffness issues, and why Greg reckons the level of adjustability on this bike makes it feel like a privateer’s dream. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Greg Minnaar, Colin Ryan and Kirk McDowall.