THE HIGH PRIEST OF HIGH PIVOTS
Mountain Bike Rider|August 2023
After profiling him a decade ago, we catch up with Owen Pemberton, founder of Forbidden Bike Co. and early proponent of size-specific geometry, to talk all things suspension design
Alan Muldoon
THE HIGH PRIEST OF HIGH PIVOTS

AImost 10 years ago to the day, we shone the spotlight on Owen Pemberton in a feature titled, "These People are Changing Everything". The idea behind the feature was simple: showcase key personalities in the mountain bike sphere who were pushing boundaries and defying convention. The rising stars of mountain biking, if you like.

In that article Owen stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Manon Carpenter, Sam Needham and Katy Winton. Back then, the straight-talking Englishman was a frame engineer at Norco, Owen pioneering size-specific geometry while establishing a new life for himself in British Columbia, Canada.

Today, Owen is the owner, founder and head engineer at the Forbidden Bike Co. He's still based in Canada but in addition to designing high-pivot idler bikes with size-specific chainstay lengths, he also has a company to run.

We caught up with Owen when he was back in the UK for the recent launch of the new Druid V2 to talk about all things bike design, suspension and get some insights into what he's been doing for the last decade.

In the interview that follows, Owen speaks candidly about his early days at Norco and his shift in thinking with regards to suspension design. He also opens up about his fears around high-pivot idler designs being the latest industry darling, and the risk that they could suffer the same fate as Plus-size tyres.

Owen had a lot more to say on multiple topics but we didn't have enough space to include everything we discussed here, including a deep dive into pedal kickback and the limitations of certain suspension configurations. So if you like this and want to read more, the unabridged version of our conversation with Owen is available at mbr.co.uk. 

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2023-Ausgabe von Mountain Bike Rider.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2023-Ausgabe von Mountain Bike Rider.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERAlle anzeigen
Best places to ride with your kids
Mountain Bike Rider

Best places to ride with your kids

Five top venues to keep the nippers entertained this summer

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO CARBON 2
Mountain Bike Rider

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO CARBON 2

It’s got more suspension tunes than a Hitchcock movie, but will this Moterra thrill us or chill us?

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September 2023
100% GLENDALE GLASSES
Mountain Bike Rider

100% GLENDALE GLASSES

When it comes to eyewear, having a large lens not only offers a lot more protection from trail splatter, it puts the frames further out from your field of view, allowing you to focus on the terrain in front of you. The Glendale is absolutely vast, and actually has a lens size akin to a full downhill goggle, so you literally can’t see the top or sides of the frame.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2023
DMR STAGE 2 MTB RAIL SADDLE
Mountain Bike Rider

DMR STAGE 2 MTB RAIL SADDLE

DMR's new Stage 2 MTB Rail is one of those new/old products. The shape and construction are identical to the existing Oi Oi saddle, but the company has wrapped it in a new skin and added some harder-wearing reinforcement to the edges. It's also toned down the lairy graphics; this saddle only comes in plain black.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2023
STRAIGHT TORQUING - GUY KESTEVEN
Mountain Bike Rider

STRAIGHT TORQUING - GUY KESTEVEN

Has tech taken the hard work and fun out of mountain biking, or should we embrace evolution and roll with it?

time-read
3 Minuten  |
September 2023
STORM FORCE
Mountain Bike Rider

STORM FORCE

Manon Carpenter may have retired from downhill competition, but her new role as a trail advocate is achieving results far beyond the race track

time-read
8 Minuten  |
September 2023
SWEAT AND SLATE
Mountain Bike Rider

SWEAT AND SLATE

We ride 140 miles through Snowdonia on Cycling UK's newest and gnarliest long-distance trail

time-read
9 Minuten  |
September 2023
HEAD SPACE
Mountain Bike Rider

HEAD SPACE

New guidance reveals how to spot concussion, and how best to treat it

time-read
4 Minuten  |
September 2023
LATE SUMMER LOVIN'
Mountain Bike Rider

LATE SUMMER LOVIN'

Classic UK holiday hotspots that really shine when the crowds have gone

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September 2023
HOT STUFF
Mountain Bike Rider

HOT STUFF

WHAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS MONTH

time-read
3 Minuten  |
September 2023