It’s that time of year when the #teamrumours are in full effect! Join George & Jack for some wild speculation, uncorroborated insight & the odd confirmed fact. Joining them are a couple of riders who’ve recently confirmed new rides: Commencal 21’s Angel Suárez Alonso &…
George Thompson
After taking a 17 year break from exercise, George rediscovered mountain bikes in 2008. Six years later, at 40 years of age he started racing Downhill and the following season somehow ended up on the Revolution Bike Park Race Team. As the other members of the team fought for podiums and National Series victories, George searched for mid-pack mediocrity. In a bit to add some value #makingupthenumbers was born; a blog about their race weekends and in particular life towards the back of the field.
Making Up The Numbers Podcast -Emilie Siegenthaler, Becky Cook and Martha Gill
We’re getting pretty deep into the offseason now & we wanted to try & shine a light on a few issues in the sport. The first show is about increasing participation from women, particularly when it comes to racing. What role do national federations play?…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Ep 12 | Tracey Hannah and Matt Walker
As the mud dries on the 2020 DH Season George & Jack catch up with 2020 UCI DH World Cup Champion, Madison Saracen’s Matt Walker & after recently announcing her retirement, play 20 questions with the 2019 UCI DH World Cup Champion, Polygon UR’s Tracey…
Making Up The Numbers | Camille Balanche, David Trummer and Dan Slack – DH World Championship Review
What a weekend in Leogang! Still cleaning mud from their fingernails, ears and suspension linkages, we have three riders fresh from their DH World Championship podiums and straight into the podcast studio with George and Jack. Your new Women’s Elite World Champion, Camille Balanche, Elite…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast – DH World Championships Preview Special
Finally some Downhill Racing for the gang to get excited about! Joining George & Jack for a special Downhill World Champs preview show are 2 x GB Elite Men’s National Champion Greg Williamson, 2 x Junior Women’s World Champion & 2 x Junior Women’s World…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Greg Minnaar, Jordi Cortes and Rob Przykucki
This episode of the podcast is a bit special! Joining George to talk ‘bike set up’ are 3 x World Champion & 3 x World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar, Fox Global Technician Jordi Cortes and Founder of Motion Instruments Rob Przykucki. Watch on YouTube or…
Making Up The Numbers | Making Up The Races
Are you missing the race season a bit too much? Our George might not be much of a podium contender, but in lockdown he’s discovered that racing is about much more than just not winning. I’m missing it. The racing. Not the racing per se;…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Gee Atherton
Gee Atherton joins George and Jack in this week’s Making Up The Numbers Podcast. Joining us on this episode of the podcast is 2 x World Champion & 2010 World Cup Overall Champion, Gee Atherton. If you had an hour to ask Gee Atherton anything…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | 2020 MTB World Cup – Let’s Go Racing!
We have a 2020 MTB World Cup season on the horizon! Joining George & Jack to discuss it are the UCI’s Simon Burney, Nina Hoffmann, Trek Factory Racing’s Andrew Shandro & Fit 4 Racing’s Jonny Thompson! Last week the UCI released a revised 2020 Downhill…
2020 MTB World Cup | Your Questions Answered With UCI’s Simon Burney
In This week’s Making Up The Numbers podcast, we were lucky enough to have Simon Burney join the team to answer all the burning questions about that new eight race 2020 Mountain Bike World Cup season ahead. It’s clear that the UCI wants a 2020…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Vali Höll & Thibaut Dapréla
Joining George & Jack for this episode are Junior World Cup Winners Vali Höll and Thibaut Dapréla. Vali Höll is the 2 x Junior Women’s World Champion & 2 x Junior Women’s World Cup Overall Winner & in 2018 she completed the perfect season, winning every…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Tahnée Seagrave
There may be no racing yet, but that hasn’t stopped the podcasts rolling. This week we have Tahnée Seagrave, World Cup Winner – and potential World Champion contender, had 2020 gone to plan. As the 2013 Junior World Champion & winner of 7 World Cups,…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Charlie Hatton, Joe Breeden and Alan Milway
There may be no racing yet, but that hasn’t stopped the podcasts rolling. This week we have three huge guests for you. Atherton Racing’s Charlie Hatton & Polygon UR’s Joe Breeden are 2 of GB’s young guns battling on the World Cup stage; legendary coach…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Laurie Greenland
There may be no racing yet, but that hasn’t stopped the podcasts rolling. In his first ever podcast, this week we have Laurie Greenland. At 23 years of age Laurie Greenland is on the perfect trajectory to the very top of the sport. Junior World…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Danny Hart
The race season may be all topsy turvy, but fear not, we have an hour of great chat here with one of the world’s best Downhill riders: Danny Hart. If there’s one rider who certainly isn’t making up the numbers it’s Madison Saracen’s Danny Hart;…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Matt Simmonds and Todd Schumlick
The new race season is nearly upon us, which means our elite squad of racers on the MakingUpTheNumbers team is reaching peak form and putting the finishing touches to their pre season training. We’re reliably informed that Binners can now open a bottle of wine…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 7 | Ad Brayton & Dan Bladon
Earlier this week Ad Brayton and Daniel Bladon dropped into the studio with George to record the final podcast episode of season one. Topics of conversation included smashing wheels, finding grip and strapping ginger to your body as a post crash remedy. It’s taken the…
3 Full Face Trail Helmets, Head To Head
We get George and his downhill buddies to put three full face helmets light enough for trail use to the test. I’d like to think that I was assigned this product test because of my literary ability to translate complex product information into real world…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 6 | Reece Wilson & Kade Edwards
Last weekend the Trek Factory Racing Downhill team were in town and Reece Wilson and Kade Edwards dropped into the Manchester studio to record a podcast with George Thompson and Binners. Topics of conversation included the 2018 and 2019 DH World Cup seasons, their Trek…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 5 | Matt Walker
In this episode #MakingUpTheNumbers team members George & Binnsy sit down with Madison Saracen’s Matt Walker. Making Up The Numbers – Episode 5 – Matt Walker In this episode George & Binnsy sit down with 2017 Junior World Champion & five times British National Champion,…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | HSBC National Downhill Series Rd 5 – Ae Forest
George brings us his ‘race’ report from the HSBC National Downhill Series Round 5 / SDA Round 5 – Ae Forest “It’s your worst nightmare this isn’t it?” Binnsy isn’t wrong. After two days of glorious sunshine and dusty trails we’re on the first uplift…
Video | Mates Race On New Antur Stiniog Trails
George checks out the new trails at Antur Stiniog – there’s more than ever before, and more to come. Antur Stiniog Trail Launch – Saturday 14th September 2019 Coming into 2019 it’d been a good while since I’d ridden at Antur Stiniog. It’s one of…
MakingUpTheNumbers | National Downhill Series Round 4 – Hopton
Can 14lbs and 8mm make our George any faster? He heads to his next Downhill race to find out. ‘It’s worse than ever’. MrsMakingUpTheNumbers has finally snapped. My snoring is now unbearable apparently; so, after a visit to the GP I’ve been advised to lose…
Making Up The Numbers Episode 4 | Joe Smith
In this episode George Thompson chats race highlights, bike set up, flat pedals and body armour with Propain Factory Racing’s Joe Smith. George catches up with Propain Factory Racing’s Joe Smith to discuss the 2019 season so far & in particular the Val di Sole…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | National DH Champs – Revolution Bike Park
It was the National Downhill Championships at the weekend – how did our team of podium hopefuls (hope springs eternal…) get on? “Have you seen any older bikes?” Binnsy asks Kris Lord, of his 2014 Saracen Myst. Kris looks down at his pride and joy…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 3 | Will Longden
Our very own racer of mediocrity, George Thompson, sits down with Will Longden to continue his Making Up The Numbers Podcast for the 2019 season in association with Hope Technology, Revolution Bike Park and us, Singletrack. Hello and welcome to a very special Making Up The Numbers…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 2 | Jack Reading
Our very own racer of mediocrity, George Thompson, has started a brand new Downhill World Cup, Making Up The Numbers Podcast for the 2019 season in association with Hope Technology, Revolution Bike Park and us, Singletrack. Welcome to the second episode of the Making Up The…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | Whiplash, gravel rash and headaches – National DH Series, Rd 3 Bala
I have wondered if we’d ever get to this point; writing the blog on Monday morning from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. Safe to say it’s been one hell of a weekend in Bala… Rewind to noon on Friday… I’m still in Menorca, waiting for a flight…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | Fort William – The Warm Up
National Downhill Series Round 2 & SDA Round 3 – Fort William. George Thompson brings us his latest downhill race report from the shadows of the podium. “Let me message Jules and see which one she wants to go to?” “No, no, no, no, NO! Don’t…
Making Up The Numbers World Cup Podcast | Episode 1 | Part 2
Part 2 In part 2 of Making Up The Numbers Podcast, Joe Breeden describes his race run and how it felt to be on the Red Bull live feed for the first time, before George gives Mojo’s Chris Porter a call. Listen to Part 2…
Making Up The Numbers World Cup Podcast | Round 1 With Joe Breeden
Our very own racer of mediocrity, George Thompson, has started a brand new Downhill World Cup Podcast for the 2019 season in association with Hope Technology, Revolution Bike Park and us, Singletrack. Intense Factory Racing UK’s Joe Breeden joins George and co-presenter Richard ‘Binzy’ Binns…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | ‘I am not precise, I am cumbersome’ – SDA Rd 2, Innerleithen
George Thompson brings us his race report from SDA Round 2 – Innerleithen where he tries to weave in and out the trees. It’s not him that’s too big, it’s his bike. “We’ve got you a present” Hope’s Matt Rushton has just handed Adam Smith a.k.a.…
First Ride Review | Hutchinson Griffus – A Gravity Tyre From The Racing Lab
The Hutchinson Griffus is the first product from the Hutchinson Racing Lab. We sent George Thompson to find out all about it. How do you break the Maxxis stranglehold on the UK MTB tyre market? Schwalbe has come closest in recent times, and Pirelli and Michelin are…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | Ae-bandoned – SDA Round 1
‘What’s your favourite season?’ MrsMakingUpTheNumbers asks.Every fibre of my being wants to respond with ‘race season’ but as I open my mouth, I think better of it. ‘Spring’. Tension has been building over the past few weeks. We’ve not talked about it but we both…
Not just #MakingUpTheNumbers – Gloopy Glory at the final round of the HSBC National Downhill Series
‘You just need to commit.’ I know Binnsy’s right but there are far better riders than I going face first into the mud. ‘Come on, give it a go at least’ I tell myself. I commit fully. I crash faster. The bike remains prone in…
Slip Slidin’ Away – #MakingUpTheNumbers At HSBC National DH Series – Round 4, Rhyd-Y-Felin
“Is it impolite to hurry the pharmacist along?” I message Mrs MakingUpTheNumbers. The response comes quickly “Can you check if the missing box from my online order has arrived?” If we all had a special superpower, I have no doubt Mrs MakingUpTheNumbers’ would be making…
Bagging points… #MakingUpTheNumbers at the HSBC National Champs 2018 – Glencoe
George Thompson has sent this picture-heavy epic report from the other weekend’s National DH champs up at Glencoe… Sit back and enjoy! “Oh, so you’re still going to Glencoe then?” “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” If you’re feeling the pressure, answering a question with a…
It’s coming home! – #MakingUpTheNumbers at Masters Worlds 2018 – Vallnord, Andorra
“It’s an honour to ride this track in these conditions!” It’s 11am on Monday morning and Mark Weightman is eulogising. Mark’s one of a kind, like a Graeme Obree of DH; not building bikes out of washing machines but just thinking about things differently. The…
Eating Dust With #MakingUpTheNumbers – Pearce Cycles Rd 3: Bala
They say, ‘if you want to get faster, ride with faster people’ and Lord knows I’m trying. As I sit on the start line for the first of my two race runs I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s going on. Another visor destroyed in…
Bad Luck And Trouble In #MakingUpTheNumbers: Gravity Events DH Series Rd 3 – Llangollen
“Rachel” “Rachel” She can’t hear me can she? I’m locked in the bloody garage. “Oh ******* hell”. It’s 6:15 on Saturday morning. The van’s outside with the doors wide open, my wallet’s on the dashboard, phone’s in its cradle, the bike’s in the back and…
Fort William: All the stars, plus #MakingUpTheNumbers – HSBC British Cycling DH Series Rd 2
Rather strangely, the story of Round 2 of the National Downhill Series begins roughly one week earlier, some 300 miles from Fort William on an uplift in Llangollen, Wales. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed a race through injury” Binnsy says with a touch of…
The Coronation Street Of Race Reports – Cwmcarn: #MakingUpTheNumbers
“I like Making Up The Numbers; it’s funny. It’s like a soap opera. Not like EastEnders though as there’s no arguments. It’s like Coronation Street. It’s the Corrie of race reports.” It’s Saturday afternoon and we’re at Cwmcarn for Round One of the highly anticipated…
MakingUpTheNumbers – Gravity Events Round 1: The Race That Didn’t Happen
George Thompson, our regular reporter of mid pack (if he’s doing well) downhill action, is back in action. Well, sort of. He’s got a new team, a new fan club (he’s breeding his own), and he’s got a full race season ahead of him. He’ll…
#MakingUpTheNumbers: DH National Champs in Bala
George and Rachel Thompson bring us a report from the DH National Championships
Masters World Championships, Vallnord – #MakingUpTheNumbers
Downhill ain't easy: Broken bikes, broken vans, and broken bones in Vallnord last week. George Thompson was our man on the ground.
Downhill For Normal Humans: #MakingUpTheNumbers
With the Downhill season kicking off soon, meet our mid-pack man on the ground