What Is a Tuned Mass Damper and Why Does Your MTB Need One?

This week, we’re diving deep into mountain bike innovation with Matt Shearn from Rimpact, a brand that started with tire inserts and is now making waves with cutting-edge technology. The Tuned Mass Damper, inspired by Formula One, promises to transform your ride, reducing vibrations and both mental and physical load. We’ll get into the science behind it, the testing process, what riders are saying and how I got on with the device. Plus, we’ll explore Rimpact’s chain damper and how it’s tackling drivetrain feedback to improve your ride even more. If you're ready to hear what these game-changing technologies could mean for your ride, then it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Rimpact's Matt Shearn. You can watch this episode on YouTube here. You can find out more by heading to rimpactmtb.com and find them on Instagram @rimpactmtb. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Loam Pass Picture this, over 50 epic mountain bike destinations across North and South America. Two free days at each. A third day at half price. No blackout dates. Just you, your bike, and an endless world of trails. Sounds pretty sweet, right? That’s the magic of Loam Pass. For just $250, you get access to over 100 days of riding at the best bike parks, shuttles, and trail systems out there. Whether you’re chasing big bike park laps or seeking out hidden gems, Loam Pass has you covered. Don’t hang around, that early bird price of $250 only lasts until the 1st May 2025, so if you want more riding for less, then grab your Loam Pass now from loampass.com. Listener Offers Downtime listeners can now get 10% off of Stashed Space Rails. Stashed is the ultimate way to sort your bike storage. Their clever design means you can get way more bikes into the same space and easily access whichever one you want to ride that day. If you have 2 or more bikes in your garage, they are definitely worth checking out. Just head to stashedproducts.co.uk/downtime and use the code DOWNTIME at the checkout for 10% off your entire order. And Just so you know, we get 10% of the sale too, so it’s a win win. 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 - Rimpact MTB