DONUTS & BIKES: The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast

0:00 1:17:21

Neko Mulally – The Goal is the Same: How to Go Fastest from Start to Finish

June 04, 2025

Paul Howard Kristian Jackson

Neko Mulally

downhill mountain biking racing strategy bike design technique training determination team building risk-taking details in performance body types technique vs strength performance factors coaching sports psychology

Interview with Neko Mulally – The Goal is the Same: How to Go Fastest from Start to Finish

This week, Kristian and Paul sit down with the one and only Neko Mulally — professional downhill racer, bike designer, commentator, and Team Owner of Frameworks Racing.

Neko is a true powerhouse in the world of downhill mountain biking, and we were thrilled to catch up with him amidst his packed schedule. In this episode, we dive into everything from racing strategy and coaching insights to bike design, technique, and what it really takes to go fastest from start to finish.

Whether you're a seasoned rider or just a fan of the sport, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. Tune in and enjoy the ride!

Who is Neko?
How did Neko learn to race?
Lessons in training
How to get better at technique
Determination and racing
Origins of determination
Grit and Success
The link between determination and creativity
What characteristics does Neko look for when building his team
The journey to running a team starts with a bike
Frameworks as a risk-taking endeavor
Why details matter
Meeting Asa – investing in success
Angel – Attention to details
The performance relationship between details and resilience
Anna – the perfect fit
How a lot of racers are within a small window of finishing time, but all do it differently
How different body types impact technique
Is it better to have technique before strength or strength before technique?
How to get the 2% more out of performance: Is it technique or other Performance Factors?
Critiquing technique vs. Pros and Cons of choices
Techniques are just tools
The racing triangle: Technique, Bike Set up, and Strength
At the race – you’re there to take the test, not to study
Pros and Cons of access to coaching for young racers
The value of sports psychology and racing in reframing success in racing and life

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga - Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts - Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

Interview with Neko Mulally – The Goal is the Same: How to Go Fastest from Start to Finish

This week, Kristian and Paul sit down with the one and only Neko Mulally — professional downhill racer, bike designer, commentator, and Team Owner of Frameworks Racing.

Neko is a true powerhouse in the world of downhill mountain biking, and we were thrilled to catch up with him amidst his packed schedule. In this episode, we dive into everything from racing strategy and coaching insights to bike design, technique, and what it really takes to go fastest from start to finish.

Whether you're a seasoned rider or just a fan of the sport, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. Tune in and enjoy the ride!

Who is Neko?
How did Neko learn to race?
Lessons in training
How to get better at technique
Determination and racing
Origins of determination
Grit and Success
The link between determination and creativity
What characteristics does Neko look for when building his team
The journey to running a team starts with a bike
Frameworks as a risk-taking endeavor
Why details matter
Meeting Asa – investing in success
Angel – Attention to details
The performance relationship between details and resilience
Anna – the perfect fit
How a lot of racers are within a small window of finishing time, but all do it differently
How different body types impact technique
Is it better to have technique before strength or strength before technique?
How to get the 2% more out of performance: Is it technique or other Performance Factors?
Critiquing technique vs. Pros and Cons of choices
Techniques are just tools
The racing triangle: Technique, Bike Set up, and Strength
At the race – you’re there to take the test, not to study
Pros and Cons of access to coaching for young racers
The value of sports psychology and racing in reframing success in racing and life

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga - Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts - Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

0:00 19:06

Donut Hole 1: What can Mountain Bike Coaches Learn from Mountaineering Guides?

May 28, 2025

Kristian Jackson Paul Howard

Josh Whitmore

mountain bike coaching mountaineering guides mountain bike skills coaching mountaineering rock and alpine guiding ice climbing

Donut holes are the “missing piece” at the center of the pastry. Our Donut Hole “Mini-sodes” are short, bonus content that focus in on a single idea. This first one asks the question “what can mountain bike coaches learn from Mountaineering Guides?”

In this field recording, Kristian sits down with Josh Whitmore, Apprentice Rock and Alpine Guide, and Certified Ice Climbing Guide with the American Mountain Guide Association. Josh also is owner and head Coach at The Mountain Bike Skills Factory and is a Mentor for the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches. He also has a great donut story!

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

Donut holes are the “missing piece” at the center of the pastry. Our Donut Hole “Mini-sodes” are short, bonus content that focus in on a single idea. This first one asks the question “what can mountain bike coaches learn from Mountaineering Guides?”

In this field recording, Kristian sits down with Josh Whitmore, Apprentice Rock and Alpine Guide, and Certified Ice Climbing Guide with the American Mountain Guide Association. Josh also is owner and head Coach at The Mountain Bike Skills Factory and is a Mentor for the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches. He also has a great donut story!

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

0:00 1:28:00

Performance Factors & The Difference Between Pros vs Joes

May 15, 2025

Paul Howard Kristian Jackson

performance factors mountain biking skills pros vs joes motivation equipment environment psychological physical tactical technical efficiency

Getting better at mountain biking is all about performance. Often in mountain bike coaching, we focus on skills as a target to improve performance. While this approach may be effective in some cases, technical skills may not be the factor holding a rider back. We call these factors the performance factors, and they impact riders differently depending on their stage of development. In this episode, we dig into these factors, how they impact ordinary joes differently from pros, and how we as coaches can use these factors to increase performance.

In the show, we discuss:

Defining Pros vs Joes to highlight what factors impact riding other than skills
What is performance? How do we understand this concept on bikes and in coaching?
The relationship between performance and motivation
The Six Performance Factors: Equipment, Environment, Psychological, Physical, Tactical, Technical
Where do we start if we want to make an immediate change?
What are the timelines for change?
How do the performance factors work together?
What really holds us back from performance?
What does pressure to execute do to performance?
Why so psychological factors underlie most other factors?
Why is strength such an important component?
How is efficiency related to performance?
How do technical skills appear in performance?

And of course, the donut of the day!

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga -- Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah.

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts -- Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor.

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

Getting better at mountain biking is all about performance. Often in mountain bike coaching, we focus on skills as a target to improve performance. While this approach may be effective in some cases, technical skills may not be the factor holding a rider back. We call these factors the performance factors, and they impact riders differently depending on their stage of development. In this episode, we dig into these factors, how they impact ordinary joes differently from pros, and how we as coaches can use these factors to increase performance.

In the show, we discuss:

Defining Pros vs Joes to highlight what factors impact riding other than skills
What is performance? How do we understand this concept on bikes and in coaching?
The relationship between performance and motivation
The Six Performance Factors: Equipment, Environment, Psychological, Physical, Tactical, Technical
Where do we start if we want to make an immediate change?
What are the timelines for change?
How do the performance factors work together?
What really holds us back from performance?
What does pressure to execute do to performance?
Why so psychological factors underlie most other factors?
Why is strength such an important component?
How is efficiency related to performance?
How do technical skills appear in performance?

And of course, the donut of the day!

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga -- Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah.

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts -- Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor.

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

0:00 1:11:31

Coaching vs. Instruction: The Next Evolution

May 08, 2025

Paul Howard Kristian Jackson

mountain bike coaching instructing performance factors relationship building outcome goals process goals teaching styles human factors fun metrics for success

Are mountain bike coaching and instructing the same thing? How are they similar? Why are the different? Does it matter? If so what does this mean for the mountain bike industry? In this episode Paul and Kristian take on this questions to discover how the answers impact the impact we have as coaches and instructors.

In this show:

Paul and Kristian explain the radio silence of the last year
What's coming up in season 4!
An update on the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches
A historical perspective on mountain bike instruction
How focusing on performance factors shifts the focus from instruction to coaching
Coaching and relationship building
Outcome vs process goals
How efficiency helps determine a coaches role
Why teaching styles natter
The "greyness" between instructing and coaching
Connectedness and the human factors
The role of fun as a tool
Metrics for success
Paul's Donut of the Day!

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga -- Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah.

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts -- Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor.

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

Are mountain bike coaching and instructing the same thing? How are they similar? Why are the different? Does it matter? If so what does this mean for the mountain bike industry? In this episode Paul and Kristian take on this questions to discover how the answers impact the impact we have as coaches and instructors.

In this show:

Paul and Kristian explain the radio silence of the last year
What's coming up in season 4!
An update on the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches
A historical perspective on mountain bike instruction
How focusing on performance factors shifts the focus from instruction to coaching
Coaching and relationship building
Outcome vs process goals
How efficiency helps determine a coaches role
Why teaching styles natter
The "greyness" between instructing and coaching
Connectedness and the human factors
The role of fun as a tool
Metrics for success
Paul's Donut of the Day!

Thanks to our Season 4 partners:

Tsuga -- Durable and innovative gear, crafted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the rides we all dream of. Borne in Boone, perfected in Pisgah.

tsuga.us

Local Lion Coffee and Doughnuts -- Local Lion uses a 1930’s award winning recipe is a craft rooted in tradition creating the experience of authenticity and flavor.

local-lion.com

Support the show

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Like what we’re doing? Support us on Patreon for just $3/month. Your help keeps us delivering high-quality, independent content for mountain bikers and coaches worldwide. You're fueling better riding, smarter coaching, and the sport’s growth.
👉 patreon.com/donutsandbikes

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the latest updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow @donutsandbikes.

MTB COACH EDUCATION: Instructors and coaches—want to grow your skills or get certified? Explore the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches at www.gsmbc.pro.

DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions on The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast: Donuts & Bikes are those of Kristian Jackson, Paul Howard, and guests, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GSMBC, PMBIA, or others mentioned. Guest content reflects personal opinions and is not intended to offend or misrepresent any person or group.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
This podcast and its authors disclaim all responsibility for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on the content.

DONUTS & BIKES: The Mountain Bike Coaching Podcast

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Episodes

Neko Mulally – The Goal is the Same: How to Go Fastest from Start to Finish

Donut Hole 1: What can Mountain Bike Coaches Learn from Mountaineering Guides?

Performance Factors & The Difference Between Pros vs Joes

Coaching vs. Instruction: The Next Evolution

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