From Shuttle Vehicles to DH Bikes, Southern Gravity is USA-Made

Sean Leader and his company Southern Gravity provide bike parks with the things they need from ramps and shuttle vehicles to (possibly, one day) US-made DH bikes.

Sean Leader is the founder of Windrock Bike Park and Southern Gravity, a Tennessee-based company that builds ramps and shuttle vehicles for bike parks. Not only that, Southern Gravity recently released a prototype steel DH mountain bike that’s being tested by top elite and junior DH riders.

  • You’ve worn many hats in the mountain bike world. When was the moment you realized you could make a living in the sport?
  • How did Windrock Bike Park get started? 
  • What were some of the challenges you faced as a bike park operator?
  • Why build your own DH bike?
  • What are the advantages of a steel DH bike frame compared to other materials?
  • Did the expiration of the DW-Link patent figure into your design plans?
  • Tell us about the Southern Gravity Racing team. Who are the athletes on the team, and which races are you targeting?
  • How would you describe the southern DH mountain bike scene today? How has it evolved?
  • What do you say to folks who think the southeast doesn’t have quality trails or challenging terrain?

See the bike and connect with Sean at SouthernGravity.com.

This episode of the Singletracks podcast is sponsored by Explore Brevard.

Where else can you choose from over 300 miles of epic singletrack against a backdrop of
soaring mountains and cascading waterfalls? Where else can you explore 100,000 acres of
public lands laced with hundreds of miles of backcountry gravel roads? Your best mountain
biking adventure ever begins in Brevard, North Carolina, home to Pisgah National Forest and
DuPont State Recreational Forest. Four primo bike shops will get you sorted, whether you need
a rental, service, or some cool swag. Top it off with an array of craft breweries, cafes, and
gathering spots that have earned Brevard the title as one of America’s coolest small towns. It all
adds up to one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the U.S. Find out more at
ExploreBrevard.com.

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Photo: Jeff Barber