Suspension Sessions

In this episode, we sit down with Tristan from Gecko Racing Engineering — a young mechanical engineer designing and building a 400kg single-seater race car for the iconic Simola Hillclimb.

Instead of buying a race car, Tristan chose to build one from the ground up. We unpack how their development process starts with tyre selection and moves into suspension geometry, leverage ratios, anti-squat, anti-dive, and shock choice.

Gecko Racing visited RBC with a 3D-printed front suspension assembly to refine their setup — and we explore why MTB air shocks make sense during the development phase before potentially moving to coil.

If you’re into real-world engineering, data-driven suspension development, and bold grassroots motorsport projects, this episode is for you.

Listen now and dive into the dark arts of suspension.

For Episode 10 of Suspension Sessions, Glen and Robbie sit down with Terje “TJ” Hansen, Head of MTB Suspension at Öhlins - a man who’s spent nearly three decades at the heart of world-class suspension development.

From being born into motocross heritage to helping build Öhlins’ mountain bike program from a “skunkworks” project into a World Cup-winning force, TJ shares the inside story of how elite racing drives real-world product evolution.

In this episode, we chat about:

• The early days of Öhlins MTB and the legendary TTX22

• How working with Specialized Gravity and riders like Loïc Bruni shapes suspension innovation

• The philosophy behind the Fast Forward program and hydraulic top-out technology

• New developments including advanced low-friction coatings and the launch of an Öhlins gravel fork

• The impact of Brembo’s acquisition and what it means for future R&D

• Electronics vs. analogue suspension — where the industry is really heading

• Why most riders overcomplicate setup — and TJ’s simple, powerful approach to getting suspension right

TJ also shares honest insights on telemetry overload, common setup mistakes (even at World Cup level), and why correct bike balance always comes before twisting knobs.

This is a masterclass in suspension thinking - blending race paddock development, real-world service insight, and practical advice every rider can apply immediately.

If you care about performance, balance, and the future of suspension tech, this one’s not to be missed.

Episode 9: The 32-Inch Wheel Debate – Innovation or Overkill?

In this episode of Suspension Sessions, Glen and Robbie sit down with Valentin Wendel from BMC to unpack one of the most talked-about developments in modern mountain biking: 32-inch wheels.

After seeing the prototype unveiled at a World Cup event, the discussion dives into why the industry is exploring bigger wheels, what the real performance gains might be, and the trade-offs that come with scaling everything up.

From improved rollover and smoother cornering to increased weight, stiffness challenges, geometry changes, gearing implications, and frame design constraints — this episode explores the engineering realities behind the hype.

The team also debates who 32-inch wheels are really for, whether they could make more sense in other bike categories, and how innovation in the industry has historically been received — from 26” to 29” and beyond.

If you’re curious about where bike design is heading, and what it actually takes to bring a concept like this to market, this is a thoughtful, balanced look at the future of wheel size.

🎧 Suspension Sessions is powered by RBC — specialists in suspension servicing, setup, and performance.