INTERVIEW AND RACE BIKE SETUP: ENDURO RACER MYLES MORGAN’S SECRETS TO SPEED

Myles Morgan is one of the rising stars in the enduro racing world. After his third place at the EWS in Crans Montana, Switzerland, and winning this year’s TDS Enduro event, Morgan is now looking like one of the most promising enduro racers in America.

Morgan is the protege of former racer-turned-Evil-Bicycles-CEO Jason Moeschler. Jason started riding with Myles’ dad, Mark Morgan, in Nevada City, California, years before Myles was born and when Jason was just 14. “Myles’ dad, Mark, was one of the fastest riders in town. He made me suffer any time we rode together,” says Jason.

Myles attended the same high school that Jason did and joined the Nevada Union Miners High School mountain bike team. He would go on to be one of the strongest riders in the NorCal High School League. “If a rider is top five in the NorCal League, they have some pretty serious talent,” says Moeschler. “Myles was one of those top-five riders.”

One day, Jason got a call from Myles letting him know he was coming to Bellingham, where Evil Bikes is located, to check out Western Washington University. “I invited Myles out for a ride while he was in town where, just like his dad, he proceeded to drop the hammer and make me suffer,” says Moeschler. Evil was in need of a part-time mechanic, so they hired Myles, who soon became a fixture at Evil as he attended school.

“Out on the trails, it soon became apparent that Bellingham had a new sheriff in town,” says Moeschler. “Myles is known as one of the strongest riders in Bellingham, which is saying a lot considering the riding talent residing there. On the weekends, Myles would head to the races. He usually came home with a good result or would have us in suspense as he hovered in the top three of a week-long stage race, such as the Trans-Cascadia or Trans-Sierra Norte. It became clear Evil needed to give Myles a full ride when he traveled to the EWS in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and came home with a third-place finish. As you know, Americans don’t typically show up to race in Europe and end up on the podium.”

“So, here we are today. A kid’s dad who used to ride me into the ground. A little guy from my hometown who saw his dad ride and picked it up himself,” says Moeschler. “The result is a Bellingham student who has impressed us all, both on and off the bike. I’ve been in the bike industry for 28 years. It isn’t often you see a rider with natural talent as good as Myles.”

 

RIDER PROFILE:

Name: Myles Morgan

Nickname: Smiley

Age: 20

Birthdate: July 10, 2001

Birthplace: Grass Valley, CA

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 140 lb.

Shoe size: 43

Helmet size: Medium

Waist: 30

Marital status: Single

Current home: Bellingham, WA

House: Share one with four other dudes

Cars: ’96 Tacoma (usually runs)

Started racing: 2015

Turned pro: 2021

Riding or racing specialty: Enduro

Favorite course or riding area, North America: Kellogg, Idaho; Northstar, California

Favorite course or riding area, Europe: Morzine France

Favorite food: Pad thai

Goals: To be the fastest U.S. Enduro racer

Heroes: Sam Hill

Favorite recording artist: Notorious B.I.G, Big L, Wu Tang Clan

Favorite movie: Earthed 4 or 5, New World Disorder 5

Favorite hobbies: Fabricating, skiing, camping, mountain biking

Jobs held (other than racer): Bike mechanic, warehouse tech

Most embarrassing moment: Any time I think I know how to do something but then get schooled by someone who actually knows how wrong I am. Usually happens in front of peers.

Always takes on a trip: As many snacks as possible.

What you would be if you were not a racer: In school for a trade.

 

 

INSIDE THE PROS’ BIKES

Myles Morgan’s Evil Wreckoning

Frame: 2022 Evil Wreckoning, size large, carbon fiber, 166mm travel

“It charges through fast, chunky stuff so well and still maintains being mega-playful and easy to pull for trail gaps.”

Fork: 2022 RockShox ZEB Ultimate, 29-inch, 180mm travel, three tokens, six clicks LSC, three clicks HSC, seven clicks rebound (from fully closed)

“Stiff through the chunk yet forgiving on the hands.”

Tires: WTB Vigilante, 29×2.5″ Tough/High Grip

“I used to run these tires before I was sponsored by WTB and continue to run the front and rear in almost all conditions. A WTB Verdict 2.5 Tough/High Grip goes on if it gets really wet.”

Sealant: WTB sealant

“Only change it if I am swapping a tire.”

Tire inserts: Rimpact Original inserts    

“They are super light but still take impacts quite well.”

 

Rims: Evil Loopholes, 29″ front and rear, 29mm internal width

Spokes: Sapim D-Light 2.0 DB J Bend

Front hub: WTB Frequency

Rear hub: WTB Frequency

Rear axle width: 157mm

Brakes: TRP DH-R Evos, 223mm rotors front and rear

Handlebars: SRAM Descendant, aluminum, 760mm wide, 25mm rise, 5 degrees upsweep and 8 degrees backsweep

Grips: DMR Deathgrips

Bottom bracket and bearings: Enduro bearings MAXhit DUB

“I have had the same one on my bike for nearly a year, and it still spins like it’s new.”

Pedals: Shimano Saint SPD

Cranks: SRAM GX Eagle DUB, 170mm

Chainring: SRAM GX Eagle, 32t

Shifter: SRAM X01 Eagle AXS Rocker paddle

Rear derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle AXS

Rear cassette: SRAM X01, Eagle 10-52t

Chain: SRAM X01 Eagle

Myles says he changes it every four or five months (condition dependent).

Chain lube: Dumonde Tech blue

Saddle: WTB Silverado, thin width

“I have been running Silverados since I started racing high school XC in 2015.”

Seatpost: OneUp 210mm dropper post

Headset: Enduro bearings XD 15

Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate, 205 x 65mm, Rebound fully open, two clicks of LSC from closed

Stem: OneUp, 50mm, zero rise

Chainguide: MRP SXg lower guide

Head angle: 64 degrees

Bottom bracket height: 358mm

Weight of complete bike: About 36 pounds

Estimated value of bike: $8000 to $9000

 

 

MBA Q&A

MBA: Where did you grow up?

Myles: Grass Valley, California.

MBA: What kind of work do (did) your parents do?

Myles: My dad is a general contractor, and my mom teaches the third grade.

MBA: When did you first learn to ride a bike?

Myles: I think I got off training wheels when I was 4.

MBA: Who taught you?

Myles: My parents.

MBA: What were your first bike races?

Myles: I raced XC in the NICA High School League. I won a race in JV and podiumed once in Varsity.

MBA: When did you get your first mountain bike?

Myles: I must have been 7 or 8. It was a 20-inch Marin with Grip Shift.

MBA: When did you start competing on mountain bikes?

Myles: A few before, but 2015 consistently.

MBA: How did you finish in your first competition?

Myles: I got second place in a local XC race when I was maybe 10 or 11. It was a Nevada City Dirt Classic.

MBA: What titles did you win as an amateur?

Myles: I won a California enduro in Ashland in the U2 category in 2018. I also won the Sea Otter Enduro in 2019 in Junior Men.

MBA: What have been your best competitive results as a pro?

Myles: I got second at the North American Enduro Cup and second at the TDS Enduro in 2021. Last month I won the TDS Enduro in 2022!

 

MBA: Where did you go to school?

Myles: Nevada Union High School. I attended Western Washington University for a couple years but have since ceased attending for lack of interest.

MBA: What awards did you win in school?

Myles: High school diploma.

MBA: What other sports have you played or enjoyed?

Myles: Skiing, rock climbing, basketball

MBA: Can you tell us something interesting or unusual about yourself or your family?

Myles: My dad was a pro bodyboarder for a short while when he was my age.

MBA: Is there some other interesting fact or trivia that people might like to know about you?

Myles: When I was in middle school, I got pretty into riding scooters at the skatepark for a few years.