The Gravel Junction Podcast

Rolling Perspectives Episode 1! Here we go! The first episode of our new show - Rolling Perspectives. A show that still talks all things Cycling, Adventures and the Stories that follow. Except this time, it's not just Gravel, its wherever we find the stories! AND we are no longer just audio; that's right, we will be moving over to a video podcast-based show (wherever it is possible!). Make sure to check out our links below and subscribe while you are there. This show can also be found on our Substack platform, so sign up there to make sure you don't miss out on any news and posts! Our first guest is well-known photographer Michael Blann who sat with us to have a little chat about his beautiful book "Mountains - Epic Cycling Climbs" as well as the state of cycling photography in general.  Let us know in the comments on www.thegraveljunctionpodcast.com  or YouTube about what you think of the new show. Enjoy! Youtube: www.youtube.com/@RollingPerspectivesMedia Podcast: www.thegraveljunctionpodcast.com Substack: https://charldettmer.substack.com Michael Blann: www.michaelblann.com

Welcome to the first Gravel Junction episode of 2023! Our guest today is Finley Newmark, former road racer, now film-maker, photographer and ultra gravel rider. Although relatively new to filmmaking and photography, Finley is quickly making a name for himself.  We sat down and talked about everything from joining a race team just before the pandemic to Chihuahuas and the exciting world of being a documentary filmmaker. Enjoy! Finley Instagram: www.instagram.com/finley.newmark/?hl=en Mind Mapping Film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldZTh-lPhTk Badlands 2022: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnfh-66qUX0

We are taking a walk on the Geek side in today's show, and who better to help guide us down this path than the venerable Mr Dave Rome? Dave is an authoritative voice, opinion leader and bike industry expert with world-class technical knowledge and experience. We sat down and had a chat about some essential maintenance tools as well as some great tips and tricks.  A slightly longer show than usual because, as it turns out, talking tools is fun and time flies!! Enjoy! Instgram: www.instagram.com/romeandstuff Placeholders Podcast: For more Dave Rome, search your podcast platform for "The Placeholders Podcast", a great new show hosted by Caley Fretz.  Well worth a listen! 

Part three of our "Where Be Boru" series as we track down Boru McCullagh on his epic "Mind Mapping" round-the-world bike ride. In today's show, we find him in Vietnam. Please check out the links below and consider donating to the wonderful cause that Boru is supporting. Enjoy. Instagram: @marlboru_ Where is Boru: www.followmychallenge.com/live/mind-mapping-2022 Where to donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mindmapping What is Mind Mapping: www.albioncycling.com/2022/09/mindmapping  

The RHINO RUN UNPACKED! Joining us today for his second appearance on the show we have friend of the podcast Kevin Benkenstein. Benky sits down with us to unpack his impressive performance at the recent Rhino Run ultra-cycling race.  You are not going to want to miss this one! - instagram.com/kevinbenky - instagram.com/bekyrides - instagram.com/the_rhino_run  

Imagine going out for a bike ride in the forest. The fresh air, the silence, the anxiety. Thats right, anxiety because you are not sure when you get back into phone signal if there will be messages that your town has been bombed. Thats exactly the sort of thing todays guests are dealing with.  We first encountered the Ukrainian bike-packing bag company 7 Roads bags at the recent Bespoked bike show where there were being represented by a customer of theirs, Artem. After speaking to Artem and hearing the 7 Roads story we knew we wanted to hear more and more importantly we knew we wanted to HELP more. So please take the time to listen to the stories of Elena, Stanislav and Artem and perhaps see if there is a way that you can help make it s slightly happier Ukrainian Christmas. A good place to start would be by supporting some of the great Ukrainian companies listed below!  https://www.instagram.com/7r_bags https://7rbags.com/   https://www.instagram.com/fablebag https://www.instagram.com/kzrz_limited https://www.instagram.com/liteway.equipment https://www.instagram.com/mr.catwheel https://www.instagram.com/kindred.uniform https://www.instagram.com/tserkovnij/ https://www.instagram.com/wanderwood.com.ua https://www.instagram.com/ellenrococo https://www.instagram.com/anna.lisova.jeweller https://www.instagram.com/leonchenko.store

Part two of our "Where Be Boru" series as we track down Boru McCullagh on his epic "Mind Mapping" round the world bike ride. In todays show we find him in Mumbai, India. Please check out the links below and consider donating to the wonderful cause that Boru is supporting. Enjoy. Instagram: @marlboru_ Where is Boru: www.followmychallenge.com/live/mind-mapping-2022 Where to donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mindmapping What is Mind Mapping: www.albioncycling.com/2022/09/mindmapping

This week we are bringing you news from the recent BESPOKED Handmade Bike show in London. Plenty of beautiful and inspiring designs and details at what is one of the worlds best hand built bike shows. We did the rounds and spoke to the people behind these amazing bicycles and accessories. Enjoy! Companies we spoke to: Bespoked - www.bespoked.cc Clandestine - www.clandestine.cc Condor Cycles - www.condorcycles.com Prova Cycles - www.provacycles.com Quirk Cycles - www.quirkcycles.com Sideways Bike - www.sideways.bike Tailfin Cycles - www.tailfin.cc  7R Bags - www.7rbags.com

TGJ News Show . A regular news round up show of whats been going on in the two wheel world over the past week or two. Think more "talking shop over beer" and less 'news desk' but you get the point. This week we unpack a bit about this past weekends UCI Gravel World Championships. Might have used the term 'Spirit of Gravel' more than is totally necessary. Oh well...Enjoy!    

What a great show we have in store today! We sit done with the wonderful Lael Wilcox and talk everything from eating ice-cream with a toothbrush and going many days between showers to her toughest ever ride and fighting for equality in our sport. It goes without saying this was a very enjoyable conversion and I hope you find the same. Not that you need it as I am sure you follow her already but I will put links to Laels various platforms and connections below. Instagram: @laelwilcox Website: www.laelwilcox.net Please also listen to the end to see where you can help The Gravel Junction Podcast (no we are not asking for money... yet) We also remind everyone to check out the GoFundMe page to support the family of the wonderful Sule Kangangi who was tragically lost to us in a recent racing event.  https://www.gofundme.com/f/sule-kangangi-memorial-fund

Part one of our "Where Be Boru" series as we track down Boru McCullagh on his epic "Mind Mapping" round the world bike ride. In todays show we find him at the end of a long very wet day,  in a little hotel in the Bosnian city of Mostar and hear a little more about why he decided to tackle to this exciting adventure. Quick note, for various technical reasons the audio qualitiy is not what we would normally want here on TGJ but like I say in the intro, we think the story is the most important part and so its well worth putting up with the less than ideal sound on this one! Enjoy. Instagram: @marlboru_ Where is Boru: www.followmychallenge.com/live/mind-mapping-2022 Where to donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mindmapping What is Mind Mapping: www.albioncycling.com/2022/09/mindmapping

Our guest today is Brady Lawrence, a Seattle-based documentary filmmaker. His first feature documentary, "Into The Rift" was selected for 'Best Event Documentation' in the Bikepacking 2020 Awards and tells the story of the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco. A gruelling event created by the one and only Nelson Trees, creator of the Silk Road Mountain Race.    It was the Silk Race that lead to Brady's next project in which he followed the 2021 version of this race releasing a film called "How to Bikepack the Silk Road Mountain Race".    We sit down with Brady and unpack what goes into the creation of these beautifully made films.    Enjoy.   FILMS: Into the Rift: https://youtu.be/e5k5ayE9iqU How to Bikepack the Silk Road Mountain race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7D_-0eg9W8 You Can't Do It Alone — Lea Davison at Unbound Gravel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxuV-GEPyEI&t=20s   CONTACT: Instagram: @bradylawrencephoto website: www.bradylawrence.com

Registration for the Ceder bike race was held at the cool Clubhouse venue so we headed down to catch up with a few of the riders taking part in this years race and see how they are feeling before the big day.  Make sure to follow @thegraveljunction @ thecederrace for race updates and information! Enjoy! Also check out the Clubhouse at @o_s_c_s_clubhouse.

In todays show we sit down with Adventurer, Bike Packer, Ultra-Racer, Film Maker and Guidebook Author Markus Stitz. Hailing from Germany but calling Scotland home for the last 13 years, Markus has plenty of stories to tell. From riding a single speed around the world in 2016 to starting bikepackingscotland.com to being a film maker and author. Thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Markus and I am sure you will too. You can find more information about Markus and his various projects and books through the links below! Check out his new book, which can be bought for £25 & signed by the Author: greatbritishgravelrides.com/ Bikepacking Scotland, for routes: Bikepackingscotland.com  Explore Your Boundaries - Argyll & the Isles film: https://youtu.be/VTSaS1uGI6s YouTube: youtube.com/reizkultur Instagram: @reizkultur For more information on the Ceder bike race check out www.theceder.com or @thecederrace on Instagram. Otherwise see you at the Clubhouse on Tuesday the 23rd of August @o_s_c_s_clubhouse) for registration, beers and banter!  

As promised, here is a short recap about my time at the recent Gallows gravel bike race. I thought I would sit down and chat about the event and my experience trying to ‘commentate' on the action as well as discussing how the race unfolded for the front running men and ladies. Enjoy! The Gallows : @the_gallows__ The Gravel Junction: @thegraveljunction

Todays guest is Freya Rawlins aka @Rockerawrrs, a UK cyclist (& Laywer - Objection!…Overruled!) now based in Girona, Spain. From being back in the competitive cycling arena to being your friendly neighbourhood environmentalist and co-hosting a popular podcast Freya is anything but one-dimensional. So we sat down and let the conversation flow. So sit back, grab a cup of joe and enjoy the show! Thanks also to todays sponsor - PRIVATEER - a supplier of best in class cycling industry products such as Apidura, Silca, Burgh & OPEN bicycles. They also produce a line of high quality sporting apparel. Check out www.privateer.co.za for more. Its gets better!!! Use discount code graveljunction15 for a 15% discount at checkout. T&C's apply.   For more info on todays episode, see the links below: Instagram - @Rockerawrrs  Substack  - www.freyarawlins.substack.com  Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCV9UNh_nw8d3XeGKGP_wEiw    Todays sponsor: PRIVATEER - www.privateer.co.za

In todays show I sit down with my good friend Raoul de Jongh. Raoul, an accomplished athlete in his own right has a long history in endurance sports having taken parts in events such as the Cape Epic and Ironman World Championship in Kona as well as some crazy event in the Italian Dolomites. Now settled in Girona we sat down to chat about all things riding, running, swimming as well as launching an athletic apparel brand that plants trees. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and hope you do to.  See links below for all the various companies and ideas discussed in todays show. Enjoy!   ACME Bikes - www.acmebikes.cc / @acmebikes Privateer -www.privateer.co.za South Industries - www.southindustries.cc  Cleanhub - www.cleanhub.com Ecologi - www.ecologi.com

It's been a minute but we are back and what a great show to kick off with! Taking advantage of a few days in Girona, Spain I managed to sit down with the one and only Sami Sauri aka Sami the Adventurer / Film Maker / Story teller and now Clothing Designer (more on this BREAKING NEWS in the show). I hope you enjoy this entertaining yet super relaxed conversation I had with Sami in her old town Girona photo studio. If you dont already, follow Sami on @samisauri on instagram for the latest news and adventures. Enjoy!

A bit of a different show today so join me as I discuss a few points of view on whether gravel should be in the World Tour including the beautiful new Spanish gravel race - Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior and finish off the episode with a bike packing short story I recently had published on The Gravel Union website. Let me know in the comments what you think of this format as there might be one or two more in the coming weeks before I make it back to dry land and normal programming can resume. Enjoy! https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/Far-not-far

Great show today, sitting down with Berlin based Raphael Albrecht. An ultra-endurance cyclist taking on events such as the Silk Road Mountain race & Atlas Mountain Race to mention but a few. Now working full time on Orbit 360, a gravel cycling festival and initiative where their homepage has the great line - "Welcome to the galactic future of (gravel)-riding. We are a bunch of friends who want to make ultra cycling accessible for everyone! We discuss a number of topics today such as Raphael's personal experience riding the Silk Road (great story in there involving a local herdsmen, a cycling jacket and freezing conditions).  We touch on the idea of unsupported bike packing races and how the idea of 'unsupported' can become a bit blurry in an age of winning and media exposure. Lastly and probably most importantly for me, we discuss the Ride For A Reason or #ridefar initiative. A great way of putting in some big miles and testing ourselves while at the same time helping those less fortunate than us to be able to join the wonderful world of cycling. So overall a great show. I hope you enjoy! For more details on all that was discussed in todays show please see below: Instagram: The Gravel Junction - @thegraveljunction Raphael Albrecht - @cyclingrapha Further Race - @furtherjournal Badlands - @badlandscc The Rhino Run - @the_rhino_run Sedgefield500 - @sedgefield500 Votec bikes - @votec_bikes Website: Orbit 360 - www.orbit360.cc Ride For A Reason - www.orbit360.cc/ride-for-a-reason Raphael's personal site - www.cyclingrapha.com

A great conversation with Sule Kangangi of Team Amani Cyling, a Kenyan road cycling professional now aiming at the world of gravel racing. We discuss the  difficult origins of a Kenyan cyclist in a 'country of runners' and how a 4 day gravel race in the Maasai Mara - The Migration Gravel Race with the likes of Ian Boswell and Laurens ten Dam has really started to raise the profile of african gravel riding. With lofty goals such as Unbound Gravel and the Cape Epic, we cant wait to see Sule battling it out with some fo the big hitters this year.  For more information on Sule and the exciting projects and races mentioned in the show, see the instagram accounts below: Sule - @Sulekangangi Amani Project - @teamamani The Migration Gravel Race - @migrationgravelrace

Welcome to the first episode of The Gravel Junction Podcast. We have a great first show for your today and to kick things off who better to talk to than Mr Kevin Benkenstein aka “Benky”. One of South Africa's ultra endurance cycling strongmen.  We sat down with Kevin to unpack his latest victory in the Munga Mountain bike race as well as a host of other topics. Enjoy!