The Bikepack Canada Podcast

Arie Hoogerbrugge started riding to Argentina on November 11, 2019. Since starting in Newfoundland, the outpouring of support and the kindness of strangers he has received has fuelled his journey and kept him warm and fed. Listen in as he speaks to the lessons learned and how cycling has been a keystone to his mental health.

Brian Szklarczuk (@vladperogie) is changing the face of bikepacking and cycling in Manitoba and wants to make the activity more accessible. His entrepreneurial spirit has allowed him to form the relationships he needs to make his goals a reality. In conjunction with Bonjour Manitoba, he's waking up the spirit of cycling, which will place this province on the map with unique cycling experiences accessible to all.

As one of the most requested guests for the Podcast, many of you already know who this man is. For those of you who don't, say hello to Guy Stuart. Guy has been in the Bikepacking scene for the last handful of years and has made his presence known by participating in any event he can get his wheels into. Guy is also a passionate DIY sempster (tailor, sewer) and has manufactured most of his own luggage. In this episode, Guy discusses his passion for cycling and his analytical approach to the design and fabrication of his pieces.

Lamar Timmins jumped in with both feet when he decided to tackle the Silk Road Mountain Race this past summer. Although he was no stranger to pushing his limits, Lamar was tested physically and mentally. In this episode we hear about the challenges he faced and just how important mind set was for him to finish this gruelling track.

On this episode of the Bikepack Canada Podcast, we speak with Adventure Audio Podcast hosts Tyler Hamilton and Peter Hockenhull. Their first episode was released October 4th 2018 and focuses on endurance athletics. Peter and Tyler are curious and inquisitive hosts who like to dive deep into the ultra world and into what motivates athletes to push their limits.

2019 was a great year for the Bikepack Canada Podcast! We had the privilege of speaking with so many inspirational people and for this we wanted to send out some thanks. Thanks to all of the guests that took time out of their busy lives to share their stories with us, and thanks to all of you for listening.In this episode, we ride through 2019 and listen to some of the inspirational intros from the podcast this past year. You'll hear the voices of athletes from all walks of life and all experience levels. Each and every person had something to share that either taught a lesson or inspired us to ride. See you in 2020!!

Soon after Mike Gurnham completed the Japanese Odyssey, we sat down to chat about his experience. Mike is no stranger to seeing the world by bike but it goes without saying that this event not only tested his physical limits but also his mental fortitude. Mike fabricates bikepacking bags for his company, Thief Bikepacking, and is passionate about building gear that will stand the test of time and abuse.

Tara Weir is a Canadian cyclist and world traveller. She has toured over 37,000 kilometres and there doesn't seem to be an end to her desire to experience the world by bike. On November 3rd, 2019, Tara completed the Wild West Route, her first North American tour, riding over 5300km from Canmore, Alberta to the Mexican border. Listen in as she shares her experiences from the trail and reflects upon previous tours.

After 68 days on the trail, Liz and Bob arrived in Antelope Wells, completing the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Bob and Liz have been married for 36 years and started touring as a couple. Liz is a retired nurse and Bob is an on-line reading tutor. Listen in as they share their stories from the trail and how their adventure has changed their lives and strengthened their relationship.

In this episode, we sit down with media creator, RJ Sauer. RJ is a writer, director, producer for commercial and film. His passion is creative exploration through storytelling whether on camera or outdoor adventure in his backyard and abroad.We discuss his experience on the Iditarod Trail Invitational as a film maker and participant. RJ also shares stories about his summer adventures racing the Alberta Rockies 700 and touring part of the BC Epic route with his wife Sarah and son Oliver.

Has anyone ever asked you “Why?” Have you ever asked yourself that? “What am I doing out here? In the rain. In the dark. Alone.”What drives us? What's motivates us as humans? Why is the act of Bikepacking long distances, for example, so satisfying?In this episode, we chat with Sports Psychologist, Matt Bain. Matthew has an extensive psychology background in a broad range of areas. Clinical diagnosis and treatment, family centered practices, motivation, performance concepts, and emotional management have led to his depth of practice. Matt discusses the mechanics of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and how coaching has evolved to better harness an athletes true potential.

BT 700 part deux! In this episode we sit down with BT 700 organizer Matthew Kadey and the women's and men's top finishers, Sarah Caylor and Kyle Messier.

Nat Rainbow is all about spreading positivity. When she decided to tackle the Tour Divide this year, she had no idea she'd be riding the Lanterne Rouge and was blown away by the Bikepacking community's support. Nat shares what she did to prepare for her epic journey and some of the tools she harnessed to maintain a positive mindset through all the challenges she faced to get to Antelope Wells.

Aaron came to British Columbia to tour the Lost Elephant Ultra as well as the Flathead in Alberta before heading back to his home in Salida Colorado. With over 500km and 11,000m of ascent, he got a taste of the East Kootenay's. Aaron lives the life of a Bikepacker, stitching bags for Oveja Negra and riding his bike… a lot. We caught up with Aaron at the Invermere Hostel while he was resting after an unexpected effort.

In this episode, we chat with Jonathan Hayward about the evolution of the Alberta Rockies 700, just one of a handful of Canadian Bikepacking events. Now a loop, the AR starts in Canmore Alberta taking riders south through the Rockies and into the Flathead before looping back. Listen in as we chat about the challenges involved in completely rerouting his event to make things logistically easier for participants.

In this episode we sit down with Janie Hayes. On this years Tour Divide, Janie found some unexpected challenges and after a couple of weeks on the trail, and decided to call it. We dive deep into mindset and try to discover the “why?” of her journey.

The Lost Elephant, previously known as the Kootenay Gravel Grinder, explores the bikepacking paradise of the Rocky Mountain Trench here in the East Kootenays. Not for the faint of heart, this route of just over 500km and 10,300m of ascent will test your mettle. In this episode, we chat with the organizers of this beast of a route to get some background and hear the stories of the evolution of this event which starts in Cranbrook.

In this episode, we connect with Sofiane Sehili. Sofi was one of the many elite riders held up by Mother Nature at Brush Mountain Lodge. After being turned back by heavy snow and technical issues, he and other riders sat in armistice at BML. He later scratched. Sofi is a passionate, driven guy with very definitive goals. Enjoy, while he shares some of the lessons learned and just how much the Tour Divide inspires him.

We thought we would continue the BC Epic 1000 stoke with another fantastic conversation with BC Epic Organizer, Lennard Pretorious. Lennard was inspired to create the BC Epic 1000 after riding the Oregon Outback. Lennard's passion for the sport has created one of the more iconic Bikapacking routes in Canada, traversing South Central BC from Merrit to Fernie. For those of you participating in the BC Epic this summer, this is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode, we sit down to chat with Evan Deutsch, Trans Am record holder and winner of the 2018 BC Epic 1000 (2.19.46). One of Evan's strengths is his positive attitude and mindset. If you're riding the Epic this year, and need some motivation or inspiration, this episode is a must listen.

Today, May 13th, is the official release of the Wild West Route. Here's an excerpt from bikepackingroots.org: “The 2,700-mile Wild West Route is designed to offer bikepackers a non-technical, expeditionary-scale riding experience that immerses one in the vast expanses of wild and public lands in the Intermountain West. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands – 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands designation. Riders will experience the incredibly remote mountains of western Montana and central Idaho, the desolate beauty of southern Idaho's Snake River Plain, endless vistas from Utah's high plateaus at 10,000 feet elevation, the canyon country of Navajo Nation and Grand Canyon region, and the towering Sky Islands and low Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona.”

Seasoned bikepacker, Matthew Kadey likes to share. After some time exploring southern Ontario, and all the route options, Matthew decided to put together a route and make it available to everyone to explore. The BT 700 is a 700ish kilometre bikepacking route traversing some of the most interesting and less trodden terrain in southwestern Ontario. Matthew talks to us about the route and as a registered dietician schools us on nutrition and butter tarts.

Winter adventure is a family affair when it comes to the Dunlop Family. In this episode, we sit down with Doug Dunlop, aka @coldbike, to get the lowdown on winter adventure. In this marathon conversation we chat about technology, sleep systems, shelters, winter ultra racing, ticks…. the list goes on and on. We really enjoyed hanging out with this hardcore family of winter adventurers and hope you enjoy listening in. We recommend popping the buds in and heading out for a ride for this one.

Welcome, to Sarah's Island. When Ryan and Sarah founded Bikepack Canada they probably had no idea the kind of impact they were going to have on the community. By creating a place where fellow bikepackers could share their experiences, they have not only connected people from around the globe, they have made this great sport more accessible. In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Hornby to talk about the evolution of Bikepack Canada and the importance of carrying on its legacy. We also talk about this years Bikepack Canada Summit and her upcoming film project in honour of Ryan's guide book, Bikepacking the Canadian Rockies.

In this episode , I chat with coach Ryan Draper about training and nutrition. Ryan's coaching style is an all encompassing program, working with athletes from the inside out to help them be the best versions of themselves.

In this episode, I talk with Katrina Rosen of Canmore. We cover topics such mental readiness, nutrition and family bikepacking.

Chatting with Kevin Prentice (of Portland, Oregon), Director of Partnerships / Business Development for the go-to mapping site, Ride with GPS. Learn more at www.ridewithgps.com

Chatting with Tori Fahey (of London, England) on the evolution of her highly popular bikepacking bag business, Apidura. Learn more at www.apidura.com

Chatting with Nathan Siemens (of Cranbrook, BC) on the evolution of Western Canada's first bikepacking event, the Lost Elephant - formerly known as the Kootenay Gravel Grinder. Learn more at www.lostelephant.ca

Chatting with former pro-cyclist, Tyler Hamilton (of Missoula, Montana) on his first bikepacking trip along the Great Divide & falling back in love with cycling. Details for the Banff road cycling camp we reference can be found at www.livbanff.com

Chatting with pro Jeff Bartlett (of Canmore, Alberta) on adventure photography, writing and filmmaking. Check out Jeff's portfolio at www.jeffbartlettmedia.com

Chatting with David Dean (of Cambridge, Massachusetts) on the creation and technology behind his Sinewave Cycles dynamo chargers and new beacon light. 

Chatting with Dean Anderson (of Saint Albert, Alberta) on being the first rider to complete the Canadian Triple Crown - the BC Epic 1000, Alberta Rockies 700 & Hurt'n Albert'n 550 - in a time of 7:15:35. Also, what it took to do it on a singlespeed bike.

Chatting with Nathan Taylor (GIS expert for the Adventure Cycling Association) on the steps involved to map new routes, including the Jasper to Banff extension of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - coming May 2018.

Chatting with Payton MacDonald (of West Orange, New Jersey) on his incredibly unique 'Sonic Divide' documentary/music composition project. Make sure to check out www.sonicdivide.com for the trailer and updates on when the film will become availible for download.

After four months away, our much-loved podcast is back! Ryan sits down to chat with Lindsay and Neil Beltchenko (of Bikepacker.com) on their inaugural summit in Golden, CO. They also get into newly married life, Neil's 2018 race plans, and an update on Ryan's chemotherapy.

Ryan provides an update on his health and the future of Bikepack Canada. A very special thank you to all of our podcast listeners. See you at the summit in September!

Chatting with Justin Chadwick and Trevor Anderson (of Calgary, Alberta), co-organizers of the Hurt'n Albert'n bikepacking event. We get a little backstory, a recap of the inaugural run, and changes in-the-works for this years event. 

Chatting with Kerry Staite (from Newcastle, Australia), founder of K-Lite, the most powerful dynamo lights on the market. We get into Kerry's diverse do-it-yourself background, an understanding of the technology, its history, and finding success in the niche bikepacking market.

Chatting with Kathy Schoendoerfe (of Ovando, Montana), co-owner of the Blackfoot Angler. The fly shop is part of one of the more enthusiastic communities along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Population, 65. 

Chatting with Sarah Hornby (of Canmore, Alberta) on trading in her triathlon bike for a knobby tires and a view of the Rockies. We get into the anxiety and elation of learning to mountain bike, overcoming a fear of bears, why you should use a sleeping bag liner, and more. A conversation that rookie bikepackers will definitely appreciate.

Host Ryan Correy shares a variety of tips that he has learned over the last five years, including drinking beer. Seriously. Could alcohol be an unconventional race strategy? 

Chatting with our buddy Josh Kato (of Cashmere, Washington) before the start of the 2017 Tour Divide.

From the archives of the original 'Adventure Cycling' podcast, please enjoy my conversation with JD Pauls (of Hamilton, Ontario) after completing the 2013 Tour Divide. You will be missed, brother. 

Chatting with Canadian Cycling editor, Matthew Pioro (of Toronto, Ontario). We get into a friendly debate on whether bikepacking should just be called bike touring. For emerging writers, we also review some helpful freelance tips. 

Chatting with Matthew Lee (of Chapel Hill, North Carolina) and Scott Morris (of anywhere, USA) on the evolution of live tracking events and their business, Trackleaders.com.

Chatting with organizer Lennard Pretorius (of Kamloops, British Columbia) on how the southern BC event came to be. Lennard also provides a great description of the region, a tease for his Buckshot offshoot, and some insight into new collaborative efforts. I apologize in advance for the muffled audio. It is an informative listen, nonetheless.

Chatting with Jonathan Hayward (of Hinton, Alberta) on his motivations behind creating the Alberta Rockies 700, being on the forefront of organizing events that seemingly have no organization, and what to expect for this years reverse route from Coleman.

Chatting with director Mike Dion (of Denver, Colorado) on how he got into filmmaking, some of the stories behind ‘Ride the Divide', ‘Inspired to Ride', and of his journey getting to know bikepacking legend, Mike Hall.

Ryan tackles the bikepacker diet, training in winter, the ideal Tour Divide bike, will his crew ever run another supported tour, what's next for Bikepack Canada, and an unconventional answer

Chatting with owner Cricket Butler (of Whitefish, Montana) on the evolution of her unique retreat, its significance along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, and the Joe Cosley Pancake Ride that they are hosting for the first time this year.