Welcome to RECON, the weekly email rounding up the most important MTB stories in under 5 min.

From Lebron James to Joe Biden, there’s plenty of celebrities who love to ride mountain bikes.

We made a list of all the big names who love to ride. Check it out on our Instagram and let us know your favorite.

On Today’s Descent:

• 🏁 The Latest Chatter On UCI Teams

• 🚲 Will Forbidden Enter The E-Bike Game?

• 💥 Riding School: How to “BOOST”

RACING

⤵ Orbea x FMD Racing?

Orbea getting into downhill is like Red Bull launching chamomile tea.

But according to sources close to the matter, FMD racing may drop Canyon in favor of Orbea for 2025.

Spanish bike maker Orbea, which was founded in 1840, has risen to prominence recently because of their innovative light e-bikes and enduro world cup presence. However, for a brand that doesn’t currently produce a DH bike, the news is coming out of left field.

FMD Racing, which is home to star rider Tahnée Seagrave, has been with Canyon since 2020. With such an iconic rider atop it, the new bike change will no doubt be a point of focus for the upcoming season.

In a previous newsletter we covered the motorless eMTB ridden by Martin Maes at the UCI DH World Cup at Fort William last season. It’ll be fascinating to see how Orbea will use their learnings there to bring a fresh take to a downhill bike.

🥝 NZ Hotshot To Factory Team

Kiwi Lachlan Stevens-McNab is part of a new wave of Gen Z riders shaping the future of mountain biking.

After a strong season as part of the Union team, Lachlan missed out on his first World Cup win at Mont Sainte-Anne by 0.062s. He also took a dub at the U.S. Open of MTB the weekend before that race.

At this point, it’s inevitable Lachlan will jump to a factory team. Rumors point to him signing with Trek, as he’s already been riding the Trek Session with Union.

🇫🇷 Loris Vergier Leaving Trek

7x World Cup and 1x World Championship winner, Loris Vergier, is also looking like a free agent right now.

The 28-year-old has crushed it for the Trek team since 2021, most recently winning the World Championship in Andorra this year.

The whispers now have him going to Commencal’s main team (Commencal Muc-Off) where he will race alongside fellow stars Myriam Nicole and Amaury Pierron.

🙋‍♂️ RECON’s Take On The Rumors

Team moves like these happen for one big reason: mountain biking is as much about brand strategy as it is about racing.

Riders aren’t just athletes; they’re walking, talking marketing powerhouses. Their results on the World Cup circuit, combined with their social media presence and fan following, make them incredibly valuable to brands. When a rider performs well, they elevate the brand they represent—whether it’s through podium finishes or viral edits, their value skyrockets.

BIKE PATROL

🚨 Forbidden Teases Their First eMTB!

Forbidden’s founder, Owen Pemberton, dropped a spicy hint on Instagram this week.

The Canadian brand is diving into the eMTB game.

Known for their sleek and high-performing high-pivot bikes, Forbidden currently offers just three models. But with every major brand getting electrified, it was only a matter of time.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Drive System: The bike seems to be rocking DJI's new Avinox drive system, packing 105Nm of torque and an 850W peak output. This system also features an 800Wh or 600Wh battery and is relatively lightweight.

• Build: Spotted in the teaser is a RockShox Zeb, pointing to a burly, enduro-focused build similar to the Dreadnought.

• High Pivot: If we know Forbidden, this bike is likely keeping their signature high-pivot magic alive.

When asked for more info, Forbidden confirmed they’re working on an e-bike but stayed tight-lipped on specifics.

🙋‍♂️ Why It Matters

Forbidden has earned its place as a pioneer of innovation in mountain biking, being one of the first to champion high-pivot designs. But to scale their business and stay competitive, it's no surprise they’re eyeing the e-bike market—a space they’re poised to disrupt.

When it comes to e-bike development, choosing the right motor is everything, and Forbidden’s rumored choice of the new DJI Avinox system is bold. DJI might be new to MTB, but they’re absolute legends when it comes to high-performance electric motors for drones. Their tech is miles ahead, even compared to the latest offerings from Bosch or Brose/SRAM. We’re talking 20% more power—that’s a serious game-changer.

Going with an unproven motor manufacturer is definitely a risky move, but the allure of massive power output and DJI’s cutting-edge tech will undoubtedly turn heads. Riders looking for that extra juice might just find themselves taking a chance on this beast. If Forbidden pulls it off, this could be a major win for the brand and e-MTB innovation alike.

GIVEAWAY

🎗️ Frameworks Giveaway

When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee this past September, it left several communities in shambles.

Among the affected areas was Old Fort, North Carolina, a town hit especially hard by flooding and landslides.

Collin (@cihlenfeldt), a rider who purchased one of the first Frameworks DH frames, decided to donate his unused frame to support relief efforts. Teaming up with Frameworks, they built the frame into a full size large team-spec downhill bike to be raffled off, with all proceeds going to the Old Fort Strong Fund.

Here’s How You Can Help

• Donate $20 for a chance to win the bike.

• All proceeds go directly to individuals and small businesses in Old Fort.

• Donations have already surpassed $35,000 and counting!

The winner will be announced at the Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival this Saturday, December 7th and Frameworks will ship the bike anywhere in the world.

Click HERE to donate and enter the raffle. Huge thanks to Collin for paying it forward and to everyone who has already donated. Let’s keep the momentum going!

RIDING SCHOOL

🎈How to BOOST jumps!

This section of our newsletter is sponsored by MTB education app Mastery, where we bring you the advice of pro riders to sharpen your skills out there.

We've all seen it—someone at the local jumps catching way more airtime than anyone else, almost like they're "double jumping." The truth is, it's not magic—it's called boosting.

Boosting your jumps and getting more airtime is actually simpler than it looks. With just a few key steps, you can start adding height to your jumps and improving your bike control in the air.

Here are 3 simple steps to help you boost your jumps and get way more airtime.

The Concept of "Popping"

• Preloading the bike before the lip to create a platform to push off of.

• Imagining jumping over a fence without a running start: preload, squat, and pop.

• Explode upward, Arms reach full extension as your front tire hits the top of the takeoff.

• Then, Legs reach full extension as your rear tire hits the top of the takeoff.

Body Positioning in the Air

• Once airborne, suck the bike up toward your body for extra height.

• Add style (e.g. whip or tabletop) for balance and control to avoid getting bucked.

• Maintain a relaxed, fluid body position to control the bike.

Off the bike tips 🏋️‍♂️

• Practice jumping squats to get more power out of your pop.

• Strengthen your lower back to achieve more stability and control off of the lip, bent over rows work great for this

With Mastery, you can learn MTB skills from the pros. If you haven’t yet, be sure to join their waitlist—it's the perfect way to level up your riding.

🎥 Video Of The Week

 💥 Look back at all of the best UCI Downhill race runs of 2024.

💥 Wipeout Of The Week

🚨  Finn Smith tucks front in the most spectacular way… Hope you’re all good Finn, at least we know that Santa Cruz dirt tastes good.

🎧 Ear Candy

Our favorite action sports podcaster, Gypsy Tales, got the behind the scenes scoop on all of the Redbull Rampage drama. Great listen!

🗞 Miss A Recent RECON Newsletter?

🌪️ Death Grip 2 Makes Waves As Major MTB Film

🐣 Red Bull Hardline Invites Their Youngest Rider Ever

🇫🇷 Loic Bruni's Top Secret Bike Exposed

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