Sam Reynolds on Rejoining Polygon & Why DarkFest 10 Could Be the Last
The Ride Companion
TRC Media House
4.9 • 533 Ratings
🗓️ 4 March 2026
⏱️ 83 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sam Reynolds is back in The Ride Companion studio and this one's packed!
On this episode we're talking DarkFest 10 and, why it MIGHT be the final event, the new Rocket 2 concept for even more airtime and Sam's full circle return to Polygon bikes after first signing with them back in 2012. Sam breaks down the behind the scenes story of landing his first 'proper' sponsor, how Polygon helped shape his career and the moments he still remembers like they happened yesterday, from Rampage's Superman over the canyon to early contests in the golden era of slopestyle. We also dive into the physics and fear factor of the world's biggest jumps, why tailwhips get harder at speed, what happens if you tap the front brake mid-air and how DarkFest is evolving as the next generation pushes the limits plus, loads more.
Episode Sponsors:-
- Stashed are offering TRC listeners and exclsuive 10% discount with code TRC10 at https://www.stashedproducts.com/trc
- Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk
- invisiframe → 15% off kits, decals & more with code REFRESHANDRIDE: https://www.invisiframe.co.uk
- Manta Sleep: Get 10% off with code theridecompanion at https://tinyurl.com/theridecompanion
- Kecks → 10% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://kecks.co.uk
Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion
You can also support our long term partners:
Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb
Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com
SRAM: sram.com/en/sram
adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten
invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk
Troy Lee Designs → 10% off with code theridecompanion at saddleback.avln.me/c/OzduCWvjtcOr
Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion
HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/
Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk
Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/
Igloo → igloocoolers.com/
Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off
Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com
WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at uk.worx.com
HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk
Follow
The Ride Companion
Instagram @theridecompanion
YouTube @TheRideCompanion
Olly Wilkins
Instagram @odub_23
YouTube @owilkins23
YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion
Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk
📝 Contact Us & Business: https://theridecompanion.co.uk/pages/contact
Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com & TRC Media House
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | And you're about to head back out there, right? |
| 0:01.6 | Yes, in, literally next week, to start the build. |
| 0:04.5 | Darkfest, 26. |
| 0:05.5 | For the 10th edition. |
| 0:06.5 | It could be the last one. |
| 0:09.0 | Really? |
| 0:09.7 | Yeah, there's rumours that the farm might have to be sold. |
| 0:13.2 | So we could genuinely be heading to the 10th and final Dark Fest. |
| 0:30.1 | Oh. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to start every podcast like that. |
| 0:32.1 | Sam Reynolds, everybody. |
| 0:36.1 | Thanks having me back, nicely back in the studio. |
| 0:37.2 | Yes, good. |
| 0:40.7 | Hey, I put Sam Reynolds 26 on the clapboard thing. |
| 0:43.2 | And then I realised it's actually your social media handle. |
| 0:43.7 | Yeah. |
| 0:45.1 | And then I was thinking, wow. |
| 0:47.2 | 2026 is going to be your year, dude. |
| 0:48.5 | This is your year. |
| 0:49.4 | Well, you know what? |
| 0:52.8 | I feel like a bit of a fraud in 2026 because I've not really done much biking. |
| 1:10.8 | I don't know about you guys. It is not stop raining. No. Oh my gosh. Not much. You've not been Hollywood around like, Bren, have you? You've been UK based. It's not. Yeah, been fairly UK based. I did a quick pop to Indonesia, which was nice, but it's monsoon season. Hey, guys, it's monsoon season. It's monsoon season. not relatable. It's monsoon season. I thought it was relatable podcast time, but it's monsoon season. It's monsoon season. |
| 1:11.7 | Not relatable. It's monsoon season. I thought it was relatable podcast time, but it's not. No, it's been to Indonesia. Oh no, poor you, the monsoon. The monsoon season here as well. It's true. It's always monsoon season here. And it's cold too, so it's just terrible in that. Well, dude, let's get right to it. You're not going to Indonesia for nothing either, are you? |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from TRC Media House, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of TRC Media House and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.