Richie Rude and Shaun Hughes are a rider/mechanic pairing that have seen huge amounts of success together, so getting the chance to chat to them together and delve into that relationship was really interesting to me. We sat down just ahead of the first EWS of the year, which, by the way, Richie won. We chat about how they met, the transition from downhill to enduro racing and get into how their relationship works. Hear about the psychological side of supporting each other, why Shaun rides practice, how key Jared Graves has been and plenty more. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Richie Rude and Shaun Hughes.

You can follow Richie on Instagram @richie_rude1 and Shaun @yetipolarbear_1.

Supporting Partners

We Are One Composites

I’ve been using WeAreOne wheels for nearly 4 years now and I’m a massive fan. I’m currently running a Faction 29er up front and a Union 27.5 in the rear and I love them. I feel like they strike a lovely balance of being precise but not so stiff that they punish you for being a millimetre offline. The quality and finish of the product is also second to none.

As a downtime listener, you can get 15% off any Onyx Vesper wheelsets and all rim-only products from WeAreOne until 31st July 2022. All you need to do is to use the code ‘VESPER15’ at the checkout over on weareonecomposites.com.

Cycology

Cycology aren't afraid to stand out from the crowd and have a wide range of incredible quality riding kit for you. A direct to consumer model means the quality is amazing for the price that you pay and what's even better is that until 5th July you can get 20% off their entire range by using the code 'DOWNTIME20' on the checkout over at cycologygear.co.uk. Head over and check out the range now. There's a very clever online sizing app to help you choose the right size, free shipping for all orders over £25 and 90 day money back returns too, so you can order with no worries.

CushCore

Want to go bigger, corner harder and ride faster with total confidence then CushCore have got you covered. The first choice of a huge amount of the top EWS and DH racers, CushCore is way more than just an insert to reduce your chance of punctures. CushCore really does change the way your bike rides for the better. Head over to cushcore.com and check it out.

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.

Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.