Navigating a Privateer Life

You can watch the Video on the story here:https://youtu.be/SboHc-tE_gkThese are my thoughts and opinions on the most heartbreaking crash of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Shanaze Reade, a teenage phenom, was dominating woman's BMX making her the favorite for the gold medal at BMX Racings debut in the Olympics.   Coming out of retirement, the indomitable   Anne-Caroline Chausson, brought competition to Reade that ended in the last corner of the 2008 Olympic BMX Finals.Support the show

The year is 1951 and the points have come down to the final race in Barcelona.  The greatest racer of all time lines up next to his rival in a newer more powerful Ferrari.   This was the culmination of the just the second official Formula One championship season.  The pre war Alfa Romeo's that dominated Grand Prix racing went head to head with Enzo Ferarri and his newly built monsters.    Rivalries are essential to racing, knowing the stories the heart breaks and the passion of these legends helps ground yourself in how the world of racing works.  Ascari and Fangio are the perfect example of two men who raced with different styles in a time period of change.  They also laid the base that modern Formula One is based.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

In 1997 the deep throated sound of a four stroke graced the ears of all that attended the Supercross finals in Las Vegas.  Amongst the choir of high pitched racing it was Doug Henry aboard the YZM400F that took the podium.  While that moment in the Las Vegas night was the shining example of change in the bikes that would line the gate, the YZM400F itself had a story of its own.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

We, cyclists, are a little crazy.  Finding new hills to put your lungs on the verge of exploding.  New trails that actively try to figure out new and creative ways to break your bones.  Even the bike that you call your best friend will seem to find the perfect moment to crush your spirit.We all find ways to make ourselves continue on as the world does its best to destroy us.  Whether it's by having some internal conversation with yourself for two hours or shutting down any emotions you have, well prepared for the night terrors that will haunt you later that night.  These are just two examples of what are known as Grit.In 1910 during the Milan-San Remo, a spring blizzard blew over the Turchino pass.  A small, stern and very practical Frenchman by the name of Eugene Christophe showed the true depth a man with an endless tolerance for pain can endure.  This story is a tale that you can look back on as your legs are on fire and you don't think you can go any further and tell yourself that, maybe, you need to think like a tiny turn of the century Frenchman.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

The finale of the Rivals series.  Circumstances had taken their toll on Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond.  The lead up to the showdown at the 89 Tour de France was upon them.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

After the split between Hinault and Renault, we find Lemond getting the contract of a lifetime to become Hinault's super domestique. This lead to the greatest internal rivalry a team had ever seen and the first racer from the United States to win the Tour de FranceSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

The epic finish of the 1989 Tour de France which ended in the tightest margin victory in the races history, just 8 seconds, was the culmination of a decades worth of rivalry, team camaraderie, and the career twilight of the racing master who took the young talents under his wing. While the decade ended with a dual of two champions, it started with Bernard Hinault, on the hunt for dominance. Powered by the French industry titans of Renault and Elf, Bernard Hinault led a charge to snag as many Tour championships as he could. Little did he know an injury would open up the opportunity of a lifetime. This led to a battle between Laurent Fignon and Bernard Hinault who left Renault to the newly created, hyped up, La Vie Claire team. Hinault would not only have to race against his young replacement but an up and comer in the form of the American, Greg Lemond. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Ways to ease your way back into training. Of course its more mental, its stupid cold and wet outside and the trainer is boring. You haven't lost your fitness its just sleeping waking it up will be about you not getting burned out on training because the couch is a nice warm place to hang out at night.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Knowing yourself is probably one of the most difficult ways to become a better cyclist and most likely a better person in general. The work will pay off though. Knowing yourself means you'll know how to better yourself. From knowing how to avoid poor racing situations or being able to manipulate the race to suite you. This podcast can dive into a few reasons you should zen out and meditate your way into knowing who you are little better.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

I was reading an article on Cycling Tips about Dr. David Spindler and how he helps pro cyclists in the peloton most notably the former Dimension Data team.His interview was full of insight in what it was like to work with athletes at the highest level, with their needs and wants against their struggles with normal life.The idea of how much we as cyclists ignore out mental state as we grind through training and racing really hits home. Especially when you have responsibilities. Take a listen and think about taking care of your mind as begin your 2020 season.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

I dig into the benefits of being tied to a specific brand or staying free of influence. Being able to approach a sponsor by knowing everything there is to know about their product or having the ability to be a candid reviewer are two examples of being tied to a brand or not can bring. Also I want to know what goes through your head during those last 5 miles of a hard ride or race? The things that drive you when your body has thrown in the towel. If you want to be on Navigating a Privateer life, email me at Nathan@Freebooterracing.com and we can set up an interview or we can give you an outlet for you race reports. I want to here and share your stories.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

This weeks podcast is about the term wabi-sabi. Embracing the beauty of imperfection. If you have ever seen a run down place or enjoyed an older part of town that has been repurposed you are a fan of wabi-sabi. Use this as you develop yourself as a racer. Don't try to chase perfection, the people are just as interested in the journey and all its short comings.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Finding skills that will help you add value to yourself as you approach sponsors. Whether its taking pictures or being a personal trainer, you can use these skills to get sponsors. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

I'm finally back after all of my packing, moving, unpacking, unpacking, and unpacking. This week I have a Privateer tip on why not to eat a burrito and climb a bike. One of my favorite racers and OG freerider passed away. The Pinkbike article linked here.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

This week I dip my toes into the dangers of the hyped up crowdfunded bike companies of SpeedX and Sick Bicycle Co. Two companies with completely different paths but in the end the same outcome. Pinkbike and Cycling tips did great journalism on these stories.The privateer tip this week is to pick something unique and stick with it. Do something that will set you apart from the masses on the line then keep with it as trends change, it will help you brand yourself. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

This episode focuses on Copy. It's what advertisers use to sell product. Learning how to create good copy will make you incredibly valuable to sponsors and help them sell product, which in turn will get you better sponsors. Going through the different levels of copy and how you can utilize them is the key point you, as a privateer, can use to help your career as you grow.I talk about Morvelo and their amazing advertisements. They are coming to the US and they are going to bring some amazing product with them.An awesome story about Justin Williams and his Legion of Las Angeles crushing it at Tulsa Tough. An awesome read you can check it out here.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

This week I rant about how nature is what makes bikes great and how much I like air. I also do a news segment that gives privateers takeaways from the Dirty Kanza, Leogang, Fort Willam, and the horrible state of bicycle retail tariff obsession.The privateer tip for this week is about how you should prepare your mind for long solo days. Don't let you mind over think your problems and sink you into a depression when you need your body to do work.Freebooter Racing coaching and season support is now available on Freebooterracing.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Hey everyone, sorry for the audio, I did this one all on my iPhone.This week I tell the story of how I went for a ride and ended up bare assed in the rocks. I also talk about the new XT and SLX 12 speed drivetrains, and how you should be carful just taking people on rides. Sometimes they just aren't into it and you let your super enthusiasm wreck your ride and potentialy bicycles for them.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Here is a quick one on Niki Lauda. He was one of the greats in Formula One. He died last week and I felt it he had a story that we can learn from.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

In your life as a Privateer racer you have to get used to crashing at the worst times. It doesn't elude even the highest level racers. We will go through three racers and their crashes that all ruined great opportunities and how each one had a different outcome in their careers.The privateer tip is to get you own personal jersey printed. As a Privateer it will help you stand out and give you a sales platform to pitch sponsors.I still need racers stories, write them, record them, film them, whatever you want and then email me at Nathan@freebooterracing.com and we will put them on the podcast. It's a perfect outlet for you to get your team or sponsor out there to different listeners.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Just a little update, I'll be moving to Monterey so I wanted to catch up, tried to talk about some new tech or soon to be wheelsize fight. A few legends of the bike industry had died including Roland Della Santa, a Reno frame builder who built amazing frames for people like Greg Lemond. Thanks for listening, and supporting me through this transition.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Shanaze Reade, Jamie Staff, and Chris Hoy were all renowned Bmx racers in their day, but became world champions on the velodrome. Watching their rise on the track shows the powerful sprinting powers that BMX creates. Any BMX racer out there should go race track to, create different competition and opportunities to grow as a cyclist. Check out Freebooterracing.com for a special on getting a new Track bike if your Bmx racer, it's only $400 dollars, or a new Bmx race bike for $350. Sign up for our Patreon, to get discounts on those bikes and many other bikes including enduro and road bikes. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

I sit down with my old friend Jon Wilson, and we talk about bikes. Jon Wilson was a 2x National Collegiate Champion and the winner of the first NMBS Super D series. We talk about how being a fun person can lead to sponsorships, going pro too soon or doing it to ride with the best, and the stories that led to him being a local legend.You can find an unedited version of the interview on Freebooterracing.com and you can check out Jon Wilson's Brewery tour if you are ever in the Reno/Tahoe area.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Graeme Obree was the one hour record holder as well as a 2x Pursuit world champion. His story is one of being self made as well as struggling against rules, governing bodies, and social nonacceptance. Take his story and help it guide you to why your riding.His biography and his movie The Flying Scottsman are a great read or watch. They tell his story of the path to his one hour record. The latest movie Battle Mountain, tells the story of the struggles to beat the human powered speed record.We get in to what you need to do to pitch a sponsor to support you. The pitch and numbers you need to properly approach a sponsor.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

There are some races that are in a world of their own. They create feeling that leave a taste in your mouth for the rest of your life. Some of those races aren't big, or very prestigious but put you in a place that is unique. Some races change the direction of cycling like the Downieville Classic or the Dirty Kanza. Some are a reason to let loose with other racers who you usually see on a tough weekend before they have to trek home. Stagnate racing comes quickly. Bike racer are always interested in something new and unique. Bmx is a sport that is fighting that tooth and nail for no other reason than they see competition with new bike parks. This has never been the case for racers. We want more, we want different, and we want lots of people to see us. This podcast was sparked by a cool indoor mtb race at Paris, France in 1996. It got me wondering about how many other cool races I've been around or that have changed the way racing is. Hope you enjoy my rant.Remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Check out our website at Freebooterracing.com, our store is being filled with bikes, parts, gear and other cool stuff.Support us on Patreon and get a monthly subscription box and discounts on the store.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Taking a look at the spectrum of extreme focus to extreme versatility. The careers of Sean Palmer and Nico Vouilloz are opposites. They came together in the 1996 World Downhill championships with one of the closest victory margins of all time. Palmer is a legend among action sports and was the unspoken, or overspoken, ambassador of the 90's extreme sports movement. While Vouilloz is the hands down most successful Downhill racer of all time. To learn about how you approach cycling and all it's diciplines is about what you want. Do you want to be like Sean Palmer, Peter Sagan, or Jared Graves? Do you want to be like Nico Vouilloz, Lance Armstrong, or Julien Absalon? Focused or diverse?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

A quick update on how my training has gone nowhere followed by an interesting take of the medical paper the Psychology of Pain. Studies on how the brain perceives pain as it comes in contact with emotions. This is a powerful tool to use when you are planning your training and how you approach your racing.Make sure you donate on Patreon, we have cool packages and discounts to our store which will have bikes and parts for our privateers. We are starting reviews so keep an eye out on youtube for those to come up. We will be giving away our reviewed product so make sure you keep up with us, we move slow so it shouldn't be that tough. Thanks for listening.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

In 2004, I rode in the shadow of the mountains that Tour de France legend Greg Lemond trained on. Knowing what he did helped drive me to reach my dream goals. The ultimate goal of what you want to achieve in cycling.Your ambition is as big as your goals, make sure you approach your dreams with the same amount of ambition as you can put into it. Knowing your idols training regiment will help you put that into perspective. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Coming out of highschool into the real world can be a tough prospect for aspiring pro racers, even ones that aren't trying to go pro, but still be a competitive racer.It was my first competetive year as an adult, self funded, and brutal. The life of partying and riding bikes clashing constantly. I made it to the national championship. I did well at the national championship. This is the story of that race.Make sure you check out our Patreon, where you can get discounts on product that we review at freebooterracing.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

The Athertons have been powerhouses in the world of gravity mountain bike racing. So what do you do when your goals are to "just continue to win world championships". It's a nice problem to have, but we have seen others jump out of the sport to keep things fresh. The Athertons went in a different direction. This is a little bit about how their pivoting kept the family on the move and a continuous success in downhill racing.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

On my comeback journey I felt I was doing well. Out of nowhere my little brother, Brody Honea an off road motorcycle racer racing for Chidester Transport Racing, wanted to go for a ride. Putting me back into my brain, questioning if I was ever going to be ready to get into the race scene again.A roller coaster of thoughts, It was good to ride with my brother again.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Racing is a product of the times. While riding your bike never changes, the popularity of disciplines waxes and wanes in the ever fickle world of what bike riders think are cool. Today is so diverse in what you can race, I think it is truly incredible. Bmx to fat bike snow races are just an indicator of the paths you can choose to get the most out of you racing career.Roland Green was a product of the "Lance Train". A fast and talented racer had an unprecedented rise to become the XC World Champion, then as he began to transition to the lucrative world of road racing, a crash ended his career. Then nothing from Roland Green. Learn from the Story of Roland Green to take advantage of the times not just become a product of them. Support us on Patreon to purchase products we test at a discounted price. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

When I drove around for work, I always saw a healthy dose of mid morning riders at the trail heads. I was always jealous of the fact that it was always perfect temperature, there was no rush to beat the sun going down, and that I was going to work. This was my first ride that I was able to try to recreate that feeling, but things didn't go quite as planned. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

The alter ego is a way to approach cycling in any way you want. The story of Marco Pantani showed how his fierce alter ego "The Pirate" and the man off the bike were completely different.Make sure you check out our Patreon page. We have privateer support tiers of all levels.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

Life changes are in the works. Big ones. A grand plan is finally set in motion through the loss of my job. A little bit of a rant, but don't be fooled I'm ready to pursue a racing life once again.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

The story of Kuwahara and how it relates to personal dignity. Do you feel it's better for a brand to do whatever it takes to make money and stay alive, or stay small and a little obscure to keep the name true? Take the lessons of Kuwahara into your personal racing career to create the right path as you create your racing identity.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)

A place to start. A base to tell my story of being a privateer bike racer. The feelings, stresses and envy. These are the thoughts, from me as I start my journey to become a bike racer again. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Freebooter)