Race Bikes with Ric McLaughlin

After nearly 20 years of trying, Britain's Steve Peat finally won the UCI World Championships in Canberra 2009. He did so on a custom-sized Santa Cruz V10. Peat's win became legendary, and the bike talismanic.

Jeff Steber created the cornerstone of full suspension bikes and what was widely credited as being the first ever downhill bike. Shaun Palmer, one of the sport's most important athletes, secured its legacy.

Outside Zurich, Nino Schurter has an (almost) complete collection of all of his race bikes. We take a look at pretty much all of them, but focus on the very special Scott Spark that they presented to him after his record-breaking win in Lenzerheide 2023.

Honda entered the world of UCI Downhill World Cup racing for four years and created one of the most mythical race bikes to ever exist – the RN01. In his bike shop in Pietermaritzburg, Greg Minnaar retains the only one left on the planet.

S1 E5 • 23m • HDU

The Commencal Supreme is one of downhill mountain biking’s most successful bikes, with a legacy shaped by its creator Max Commencal and star rider Loris Vergier’s obsession with detail and performance.

S1 E6 • 23m • HDU

In 2011 and 2012, Aaron Gwin led a U.S. resurgence in downhill racing, winning nine World Cups with Trek World Racing aboard a bike famed for its strength, weight balance, and lasting legacy.

S1 E7 • 22m • HDPG

We explore mountain biking’s greatest underdog story: Cannondale’s rise against the odds, led by star rider Jolanda Neff aboard the cutting‑edge, instantly recognisable Scalpel.

S1 E8 • 23m • HDU

In a top‑secret corner of Poland, we get hands‑on with the Specialized Project Black, the most advanced bike yet on Race Bikes. Fresh from the podium, and in a series first, Ric gets to ride it himself.