Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by ReconMTB.com - the store where you can win a free bike by shopping for bike parts.

To commemorate the start of the downhill world cup season in Bielsko-Biala - here’s a fun a fact about Poland.

Did you know Poland invented the bagel? 🥯

That’s right - the circular bread dates back to the 1600’s where it was originally doled out as a gift to women after childbirth.

• 🏁 Party in Poland - World Cup Opener Preview

• 🛑 DJI Avinox levels up - what a power update 

• 🍎 Riding School: How To Climb Faster

👇 Quick Picks

🛖 New Owners For Rocky Mountain Bikes

The cult brand from Canada has been acquired by a new ownership group. Known for its high-performance bikes the brand filed for creditor protection under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in December 2024, citing supply chain issues and declining margins post-pandemic .​ The new owners from Chaos Sports Inc plan to revitalize the operations, focusing on innovation and a stronger global presence.

🚨 SRAM Drops Upgrade Kit

SRAM just dropped a kit to turn your regular Eagle drivetrain wireless. For around $550 you get an AXS derailleur, controller, battery, and charger. Super easy to install – clean setup, no cables, full send. ​With proven AXS wireless technology and the rugged durability of GX components, this upgrade kit is an entry point to the the future of bike technology.

🎉 Ari Bikes Recovers 288 Stolen Bikes

What a great surprise: hundreds of stolen Ari bikes have been recovered in a major bust. Law enforcement tracked down the missing rides, bringing relief to the cycling community. They have successfully tracked down 288 of the 337 stolen bikes in their original packaging. Authorities are now working to return them to Ari and investigate how the largest bike heist ever was pulled off.

🕵️‍♀️ LEAKED: Finn Illes Specialized Prototype

Finn Illes prototype Specialized Demo first looked like it was prepped for a gearbox. After more photos where released, we can see that instead of a gearbox, the bike is sporting a 2 chain drive system, similar to the new Pivot Phoenix.

RACING

🥇 Warzone In The Woods

The UCI DH World Cup is officially back, kicking off in Poland where Bielsko-Biała made its wild debut last year.

The track’s been beefed up for 2025 — more speed, more tech, and yes, snow at track walk. Practice already claimed Bernard Kerr and teammate Ryan Griffiths, both injured on the same section in a bikepark nearby. Roger Vieira will take Kerr’s spot on the Pivot factory team.

What to expect:

• Track Length: ~2.6 km

• Vertical Drop: ~500m

• Top Section: Fast, rooty off-cambers and tight woods

• Mid Section: Rocks, line choice chaos, and sniper turns

• Finish: Massive senders and sculpted berms into a stadium-style finish zone

• Conditions: Spring weather could flip at any time – think wet roots, slick slabs, and blown-out corners by Sunday

Last year, Ronan Dunne took his first-ever win here in slick, unpredictable conditions, just 0.064 seconds ahead of legend Loïc Bruni. Now he’s back, healthy, and hunting for more after that brutal Hardline crash in Tasmania.

On the women’s side, Marine Cabirou stormed to victory in 2024 while Vali Höll crashed out — but both are contenders again.

The big shake-up? No more Elite semi-finals. Riders now face two qualifier rounds: the top 20 men and 10 women from the first race go straight to finals; the rest fight for a second chance. No protected riders. One mistake, and you’re out.

Riders to watch: Loïc Bruni, Jackson Goldstone, Pierron, Dunne, Höll, Nicole, Seagrave, Hoffmann.

If last year’s debut taught us anything, it’s that Poland knows how to throw a World Cup party. Now with more fan zones, sharpened lines, and a new race format for 2025, we’re heading into some uncharted territory.

This isn’t just a season opener — it’s a warzone in the woods. Catch it live on Discovery+ or UCI MTB’s YouTube.

TECH

⚔️ DJI Wants To Win The E-Bike War

The rumors were real.

DJI just dropped a firmware update that turns their already-impressive Avinox motor into a full-blown beast. Turbo mode now delivers 1,000W of peak power — up from 850W — a 17.6% jump that riders will definitely feel on the climbs.

Even better? You no longer need to hold the “up” button to access Turbo, and the 30-second time limit? Gone. It’s now unlimited full-send whenever you want it.

And this isn’t just for Amflow riders. The update applies to any bike running the Avinox system — including eMTBs from Forbidden and UNNO.

But it’s not all about raw power. The update also brings smart tweaks across the board:

• Reorder assist modes (Eco no longer awkwardly placed between stronger modes)

• Hide modes you don’t use

• Customize your display to show up to 8 data points, including live bar/line graphs

• Adjust Boost mode duration and see crash movement logs

The app got a solid UX boost too — now with easier ride history management, better Strava syncing (finally), and smoother cloud connection and SIM stability. You can even fine-tune drivetrain and wheel parameters for a more dialed ride feel.

Legal Limits? More Like Guidelines

Here’s where it gets tricky. In the EU, eMTBs are technically limited to 250W continuous output and 25 km/h top speed. The often-cited 750W figure? Not legally binding — just industry guidance. North America’s a patchwork: Canada caps at 500W, most U.S. states limit to 750W, and a few outliers like Florida and Mississippi have no stated limit at all, as long as it pedals.

In short: Avinox is now pushing the edge of what’s legal depending on where you ride — and trail access groups are watching.

RECON’s Take: DJI is going for dominance. Between Bosch and Avinox, the eMTB power wars are officially on. But here’s the thing: just because you’ve got 1000 watts doesn’t mean you should use all 1000 — especially on multi-use trails. As bikes get faster and more powerful, rider awareness and respect matter more than ever.Power is nothing without control.

GIVEAWAY

🎁 Last Chance To Win A $10K MTB

This is the last newsletter before we close this month’s giveaway!

We’re giving away this $10K Scott Ransom 900 RC you can win in your preferred size if you enter before 5/19 at 11:59 PM PST.

The Ransom 900 RC is a full-carbon, 170mm enduro machine packed with high-tech features and clever integration. The standout update is the shock placement: a custom Fox Float X Nude is hidden horizontally in the downtube and driven by a new six-bar linkage. This layout keeps the shock protected from the elements while concentrating forces near the bottom bracket to optimize frame strength and stiffness.

Better yet? We’re giving 2x entries right now for every $1 spent on our online store reconmtb.com. That’s double what shoppers earned earlier in the month.

Riley M. from San Diego won our first giveaway and he entered in the 2x entries period buying a $33 bottle of tubeless sealant which earned him 66 entries.

You must live in the United States to be eligible to win so if you do, don’t miss out and get in the giveaway before it’s too late.

RIDING SCHOOL

🏔 How To Climb Faster

Climbing might not be sexy, but it’s essential.

Nail your technique, and every descent gets a whole lot sweeter. Here’s how to get up faster, smoother, and with gas left in the tank.

🔧 Technique Tips

• Spin in an easy gear with high cadence — don’t mash.

• Stay seated for traction, especially on loose climbs.

• Shift your weight slightly forward to keep both wheels planted.

• Keep chest low, chin behind the stem, and grip light to stay centered.

• Mix it up — stand for short bursts, sit for longer grinds.

🚲 Pedaling & Lines

• Pedal in smooth circles, not hard stomps.

• Scan ahead for clean lines — avoid roots and square-edge hits.

• Hit rough sections with momentum and a slightly harder gear.

• Use your body to lighten over obstacles.

🔧 Tire Pressure & Setup

• Lower PSI = better grip, but too soft = drag.

• Find your sweet spot by testing across terrain types.

🧠 Mental Tricks

• Break climbs into chunks — aim for the next rock, not the summit.

• Count minutes to stay calm and steady.

• Remind yourself: the pain is temporary, the descent is forever.

Efficient climbing doesn’t just save your legs — it unlocks more trail. Master the basics, and you’ll be faster and fresher when it’s time to shred.

Mastery is an app launching next month that connects you with top MTB coaches in one place so you can master skills like this from the best out there.

Sign up for the waitlist so you don’t miss the launch.

🎥 Video Of The Week

Finally we get high quality highlight video from the best freeride event ever:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Going too far? Nic and Allan debate whether we’ve reached peak E-Bike?

🚲 Giveaway Winner Bike Delivered

We flew out to San Diego to personally deliver Riley M., the winner of our first giveaway, his brand new Transition Sentinel V3.

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser