David Turner on now and the future: ‘Old is Mould’

It’s always worth having a chat with David Turner – he’ll always have something to say, and he’s not afraid to say it. Since his bikes hold a fond spot in the heart of many a mountain biker, and there are plenty of fans who would love to own one of his Turner Burners, I was quite surprised to hear that he doesn’t look back at those old frames with much reverence. ‘Old is mould’ he said – though it’s an anti-hoarding philosophy that he applies beyond bikes.

That’s not so say he’s not proud of what he’s made in the past, but he’s more focussed on the bikes and riding that he’s doing now. Which means the Cyclosys gravel bike and the Nitrous hardtail – which David reckons is a downcountry bike.

If you want to know what might come next from David Turner, you need to know where he’s riding, since it’s the need he sees before him that drives what he makes next. Luckily for us, he seems fighting fit and full of energy, so there should be more ideas in the pipeline. He doesn’t dismiss the idea of another full suspension bike, but right now he’s happy with his hardtail. Will we have to wait until he’s knees get creaky for a full bounce bike?

Sea Otter is a great place to go if you want to chat bikes with people that love them. Check out the rest of our coverage here.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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