Ever wondered what actually goes on at a press camp? Is it all just heli-lifts, free beer and endless supplies of the latest products? It's something I've always wondered about and I recently got the chance to find out as I was invited to attend Bike Connection Agency in Italy. I thought it would be good to put together some chat with some of the journalists and brands from the camp, as well as sharing some of my own experiences and catching up with the people who are responsible for the organisation. I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at one of Europe's biggest mountain bike press camps.

You can find out more about Bike Connection Agency at their website here or their Instagram @bikeconnectionagency.

Supporting Partners

CushCore

I’ve been using CushCore for a few years now and yeah they help protect your rims, but what I really love is what they do to the way the bike rides. The bike is more damped, it rolls faster and maintains momentum better over rough terrain. They really do allow you to go bigger, corner harder, and ride faster with total confidence.

CushCore have amassed 24 EWS wins and 94 podiums. In World Cup downhill they have 27 wins 96 podiums, 7 world championships and 3 world cup overall champions. Pretty impressive eh!

If you want to go bigger, corner harder and ride faster with total confidence then cushcore.com is the place to head.

Canyon

Canyon have just launched their new Spectral:ON featuring a range anxiety busting 900wH battery and a poppy lively ride feel that is super engaging to ride. What Canyon has achieved with this bike has really blown me away and the engineering and design really is next level. As a Downtime listener you can get free Bike Guard on any Spectral:ON orders using the code FUN-ON-2022 at the checkout over on canyon.com.

This voucher code is valid online between 12 April 2022, 00:01 CET and 3 May 2022, 23:59 CET. The code applies a free Bike Guard to Spectral:ON bike orders. It cannot be redeemed in conjunction with any other discount code and excludes Factory Outlet bikes and framesets. The code cannot be applied retroactively, and applies only to products available at the time of purchase. Cannot be redeemed for cash and resale is prohibited. The code can only be used once per customer. Canyon reserve the right to terminate or change the terms of this promotion at any time.

Podcast Stuff

Downtime EP

Downtime EP issue 1 is now available at downtimepodcast.com/ep. EP takes inspiration from the guests and topics of the podcast. It expands on them, and takes them into a stunning print-only format. EP is the perfect companion for some quiet time away from the distractions of modern life. Beautiful to have and hold, and a timeless piece of mountain bike history.

Just head over to downtimepodcast.com/ep to save yourself £5 off of the cover price with an annual subscription for just £20 plus postage.

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. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.

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 subscribe. Each episode 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/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you're there, why not join our newsletter to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday. Full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more.