The Art of the Possible – With Ben Hildred
Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast
Downtime MTB
4.9 • 628 Ratings
🗓️ 2 July 2024
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with the one and only Ben Hildred. Ben’s double Everest challenge quickly became one of my favourite riding videos of the past year, so I couldn’t resist catching up with him to dive into the details. We’ll also discuss his recent and even more challenging Olympus Mons ride reboot. Together, we explore the psychology behind these monumental rides, delving into what drives Ben and how he achieves such remarkable feats. This conversation offers a captivating glimpse into the limits of human endurance and the power of a solid process. Personally, I find it impossible not to feel inspired to ride hard after talking with Ben. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Ben Hildred.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.
You can follow Ben on Instagram @benhildred and watch his double Everest here.
Podcast Stuff
Supporting Partners
We Are One Composites
For the Convergence rims, We Are One took their incredible ride feel and durability, added in the latest engineering understanding and materials science and came up with something really special. Improving their already amazing ride characteristics and increasing impact strength by 32%. Downtime listeners can get their hands on We Are One’s awesome Convergence rims and wheelsets at 20% off for the month of July. Just use the code ‘DowntimeJuly2024‘ at the checkout over on weareonecomposites.com.
Patreon
I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here.
Merch
If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop.
Newsletter
If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter.
Follow Us
Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments.
For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast.
Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there.
Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes
Photo – Callum Wood
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Maybe it's that control I have over, over that mental state with my mountain biking that's |
| 0:06.0 | why it's so rewarding for me. Oh gosh, no, I never ever entertain those thoughts. Never. |
| 0:13.5 | Like, you can't do that. Otherwise, they start taking over. Most buy rights, in fact, I'll set |
| 0:18.9 | myself a goal, like an achievable small goal, |
| 0:21.5 | and I'll make sure I achieve all those small goals along the way. And this isn't me stating |
| 0:29.5 | or announcing anything, but like... Hey everyone, I'm Chris Hall, and this is the downtime podcast where we're going to be taking you deeper than ever into the gravity-based side of mountain biking. |
| 0:42.4 | First up, thank you to our supporting partner, We are One Composites. |
| 0:46.0 | For the month of July, downtime listeners can get 20% off all We Are One convergence rims and wheel sets. |
| 0:52.2 | In designing the convergence range, WeR one, so at their tried and tested durability |
| 0:56.0 | and ride feel are mixed in the very latest in engineering and material science. |
| 1:00.0 | The end result is a wheel that not only improves their already awesome ride feel, but increases |
| 1:05.0 | their impact strength by an amazing 32%. |
| 1:09.0 | We've been using the convergence rims on our downhill team bike since the beginning |
| 1:12.1 | of 2023 with zero problems and a whole lot of smiles. If you want some top quality |
| 1:17.1 | we are one wheels in your life, then until the end of July, you can get 20% off all convergence |
| 1:21.9 | rims and wheel sets by using the code downtime July 24 at the checkout over on we are one composites.com. |
| 1:28.5 | That's downtime with the capital D, July with a capital J, and the number 24 with no spaces over |
| 1:34.7 | at we are one composites.com. All right, just a couple more quick things before we get stuck into |
| 1:39.3 | this week's episode. First off, make sure you never miss an episode by following the podcast. |
| 1:43.9 | Just hit that |
| 1:44.5 | button in your podcast app now or find dedicated buttons for all the major platforms at |
| 1:48.6 | downtimepodcast.com for slash follow. You can also keep up to date with what's going on by |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Downtime MTB, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Downtime MTB and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.