Podcasts about Tour Divide

Op vrijdag 13/06/25 vertrokken om en bij de 250 fietsers in Banff Canada voor een fietstocht van 4300 km over de Rocky mountains naar de Mexicaanse grens in Antelope Wells.Aan de start 3 Belgen, Jens van Roost werd 2e, Maarten finishte als 7e en Bobby bereikte als 17e de grens.

This year's Tour Divide was one for the books - and the record books. With good weather and a very competitive field we saw dots moving so faster than anything we'd seen before, putting all the previous FKT's in potential jeopardy. Among those dots was Andrew Onermaa who was taking on the Tour Divide for the first time, and on a singlespeed! For much of the race Andrew's dot was ahead of the 2016 FKT set by Chris Plesko. It looked as though we were witnessing history as Andrew dug deep to stay ahead of the record. Towards the very end of the race reality would sink in as Andrew was forced to take the new CDT section (added since 2016) while Chris's dot took the highway to Antelope Wells. In the end Andrew would finish with a time of 15d 11h 15m, less than 3 hours behind Pleskos' FKT of 15d 8h 4m. Any way you look at it, this was a historic and impress run by Andrew, but we did take this opportunity to have a discussion about the differences in the routes and about FKT's in general on today's episode. A record would have been nice, but nothing can detract from Andrew's performance on his first Tour Divide attempt. He said on the podcast that the Tour Divide should feel like something you "have to do". Andrew rode like a man possessed by a feeling of need, not want. During his race he did not open Instagram or social media one time. He only took 4 selfies to send to his girlfriend Taylor, no other photos the entire race! He was locked in. But he did check Trackleader's often, especially Chris Plesko's dot. To say he was focused would be a significant understatement and the results speak for themselves. It was an easy decision for me to rent a car and drive 14 hours so I could have this conversation with Andrew in person and I'm glad I did. You can watch or listen to my chat with Andrew with the links below. Instead of Sponsors this week, we'd like to highlight ways you can help with the Texas Hill Country flood recovery and rebuilding efforts. TxORA Hill Country Relief Fund - The Texas Outdoor Recreation Alliance is accepting contributions that will bring critical, near-term relief and support restoration for the Central Texas Floods.  The small businesses, venues, parks, and fixtures of our recreation community along impacted areas of the Guadelupe River will be the recipients of these funds to align with our status as the Texas outdoor business alliance.   Kerr County Flood Relief Fund - Grants from the Fund will support nonprofit organizations, first responder agencies, and local governments actively involved in response, relief, and recovery efforts. While we are unable to award grants directly to individuals or families - or to fund repairs to private property or replace personal belongings - we are committed to channeling resources to the trusted organizations working tirelessly to help our neighbors in need. Together, we can make a meaningful difference during this challenging time. Central Texas Showdown - The CTS route/s go directly through the areas of Texas that were most impacted by these floods. Many of the families and businesses along the route are hurting right now. We will be doing everything we can to support the communities along the route through our event. For starters a percentage of all registration will go to the TxORA relief fund. We will also be highlighting businesses along the route that could use your support. We always have an opportunity to leave a positive impact in the communities we ride through. This year that opportunity is even greater, please consider joining us as a way to lift of and support these communities.

In this episode I bring you a conversation with British Columbia's Mike Martin. There Were a number of riders from British Columbia this year and Mike Martin stood out.Although Mike hasn't been in the ultra endurance scene for that long he might just be a rider to watch as he continues to push his limits in the sport.In this episode I get to know Mike a little bit. We talk about Fatherhood, his work life, Tariffs (sorry), his previous adventures, as well as some stories from the trail.It was great to get to know Mike.Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 PodcastSave 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Episode 7 and Quida made it to Antelope Wells. This adventure was intense!Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quinda's Tracker: ⁠⁠⁠https://trackleaders.com/tourdivide25i.php?name=Quinda_Verheul⁠⁠⁠Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Dario interviews Robin Gemperle, who rode from Canada to Mexico in under 12 days. We also chat about Eurobike highlights, Dario's vintage Kona Stab, and dig into some reader questions.

This is a cheeky bonus excerpt from the longer episode. To listen to the whole thing and future episodes become a member of The Pelo. You won't want to miss these exclusive chats dropping throughout the 2025 season! We're into July, and the Tour is about to kick off. The Tour De France is the biggest bike race in the world in terms of exposure and the sheer number of eyeballs watching the action but, at just over 3000k, it's dwarfed by the monster that is the Tour Divide.  A much smaller spectacle, with supporters watching dots on a screen rather than glossy TV coverage, but at 4000k in length and the added challenge of racing entirely self supported across the entire USA, The Divide is arguably the toughest race going.  If you caught last month's Chronicles, you'll know that Sveino was gearing up to head to the start in Banff, Canada, with 200 or so other crazy riders and tackle this absolute monster of a race. Well, Sveino's back home after having a stab at the Tour Divide and in this month's chronicles ep we're unpacking just what went down along the Continental Divide.  Sveino gave it his all, and prepped for this race like he was a full time pro again! But, in the world of bike racing, you can be totally prepared and still get thrown a curveball. In the words of Mike Tyson: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”  What happened to Svein out there? Well, you'll have to listen to find out. Sveino, mate, fair play for giving it a crack - what an epic journey.  The race was eventually won by Swiss ultra racing legend Robin Gemperle who absolutely smoked the record and finished in 11 days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes. That is ridiculously fast - and self supported, too?! Rather you than me, buddy. Chapeau.  Guys, thanks as always for being a Pelo Member. I really hope you enjoy these yarns between me and old Sveino as much as I do.  Cheers! Mitch P.S.

Episode 6 and four new days together with Quinda on her Tour Divide. Ups and downs plus a lot of stories.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quinda's Tracker: ⁠⁠https://trackleaders.com/tourdivide25i.php?name=Quinda_Verheul⁠⁠Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Eine Podcast-Folge mit emotionalen Momenten, ehrlichen Einblicken – und der puren Faszination für den Ultracycling-Sport!

Episode 5 and two new days together with Quinda on her Tour Divide. Ups and downs plus a lot of stories.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠⁠⁠⁠Quinda's Tracker: ⁠https://trackleaders.com/tourdivide25i.php?name=Quinda_Verheul⁠Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Reach out and touch us: shiftlesslive@gmail.comExploring New Gear, Legislation, and Epic AdventuresIn this episode, Brad and Kevin discuss a range of topics including new Texas legislation on THC and cottage food laws, exciting updates on the Tour Divide, and the intricacies of bike packing for the upcoming Race Across Texas (RAT). They delve into the specifics of bike mods and gear setups, including converting the Brompton G Line to tubeless and the pros and cons of using various bike packing accessories. Personal anecdotes about pets and travel experiences add a touch of humor and relatability. The episode wraps up with plans for future bike rides and preparations for upcoming adventures.00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:57 Weather and Personal Updates02:14 Excitement Over New Tent03:12 Tour Divide Achievement07:48 Top Secret Project Revealed09:48 Rat 1000 Stage Stops Discussion11:54 Mosquito Myths and Bananas28:36 Hut to Hut Adventure Plans46:57 Texas Cottage Food Laws and Business Ideas53:35 Navigating Group and Stage Week54:05 The Desire to Complete the Challenge55:31 Planning Future Adventures56:10 The Concept of Spin Street Chow57:44 Exploring the Bicycle Industry59:11 Innovative Meal Solutions for Bikepacking01:01:18 Dog Stories and Personal Anecdotes01:07:35 Brompton Bike Modifications01:09:40 Bikepacking Gear and Setup01:46:52 Heat Acclimation and Training Insights

Episode 4 and two new days together with Quinda on her Tour Divide. Ups and downs plus a lot of stories.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠⁠⁠Quinda's Tracker: https://trackleaders.com/tourdivide25i.php?name=Quinda_VerheulVoice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Episode 3 and two new days together with Quinda on her Tour Divide. Ups and downs plus a lot of stories.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠⁠Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Reach out and touch us: shiftlesslive@gmail.comn episode 107 of Shiftless, the crew delve into a range of topics from mountain bike crashes and tire choices to the ongoing Tour Divide. Special guest DJ Caleb joins the conversation, contributing stories and insights on various subjects including heat acclimation strategies, trail maintenance, and prepping for the Race Across Texas (RAT). The hosts discuss the challenges of long-distance bike packing and share their gear preferences, shedding light on the importance of proper planning and community support in the world of cycling.00:00 Introduction and Episode Milestone01:22 Welcoming DJ Caleb02:17 Fly Problems and Solutions04:10 Dragonfly Fishing Hack09:20 Mountain Biking Mishaps28:37 Garmin and Bike Tech Talk41:22 Tour Divide and Unbound Discussion50:29 Safety and Rest in Bikepacking51:11 Lyle Wilcox's Challenger51:53 Robin Gi's Strategy53:47 New Bike Gear: OTSO Fenrir55:58 Packing for the RAT01:05:26 Stage Racing and RAT Logistics01:24:47 Trail Maintenance and Community Involvement01:34:59 Heat Acclimation and Training

Listen every weekday for a local newscast featuring town, county, state and regional headlines. It's the daily dose of news you need on Wyoming, Idaho and the Mountain West — all in four minutes or less.

I've been getting loads of questions as this year's Tour Divide is underway – who is Nathalie Baillon? After leading for the first 4 days of the race, she suffered a major mechanical just after Fleecer Ridge, forcing her to return to Butte and get a new wheel. Back on the road, she's chasing hard to catch Lael Wilcox. Both women are ahead of Lael's record pace, and gunning to be the first woman to reach Antelope Wells. Originally released in March 2024, in this episode Nathalie shares about her entry into the world of ultra-racing and offers a deep dive on her mindset as a racer. She has quite an impressive resume, including joint first woman at Silk Road Mountain Race in August 2023, the fastest woman to ride across Europe, second woman at Atlas Mountain Race 2024 and more. I hope you'll join me in cheering her (and the rest of the Tour Divide racers) on. Watch the dots hereFollow Nathalie's on Instagram: @nathalie_baillonFollow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a repost of a conversation I had with Svein Tuft last year after he crushed the BCEPIC 1000 in 2 days and 2 hours. Svein is currently in second place on the 2025 Tour Divide and is in solid contention to setting a new record.My buddy Michael brought it to my attention that many might not know who this unassuming athlete is or his background and this podcast covers that.I hope you enjoy this repost.---------In this episode I have a chat with Svein Tuft, winner of the BC Epic 1000. Svein shattered the record riding 1,044 km with almost 12,000 m of ascent in a time of 2 days and 2 hours.Svein is a retired Canadian road cyclist who competed professionally from 2005 to 2019. He rode for several teams, including Symmetrics, Garmin–Transitions, SpiderTech–C10, Mitchelton–Scott, and Rally UHC Cycling. Tuft won the 2006–07 UCI America Tour and claimed thirteen titles at the Canadian Road Cycling Championships: twice in the road race and eleven times in the time trial.We chat about his childhood, his draw to doing hard things, what is was like riding as a professional cyclist and what drew him to unsupported bikepack racing, which is quite a departure from the pro tour but something that he has fallen in love with.Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 PodcastSave 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Episode 2 and two new days together with Quinda on her Tour Divide. A lot of food talk but also sounds and spooky stories.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_⁠Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Each year, on the second Friday in June, hundreds of riders gather outside the YMCA in Banff, Alberta, to begin what's widely considered bikepacking's most iconic ultra-endurance race: the Tour Divide. Riders follow the Continental Divide across 4,400 kilometers, tackling rugged dirt roads, remote wilderness, high mountain passes, and variable weather on their way to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.While more women take to the start year after year, they still only make up ~10% of participants. In 2025, 29 of the 238 riders registered on Trackleaders are women. This episode of Detours is dedicated to those women.In an effort to celebrate the women of this year's Tour Divide, and to inspire more to line up in the future, I collected voice notes from riders across the globe—sharing who they are, why they're racing, and what brought them to this start line. Inevitably, I wasn't able to capture everyone's voices despite my best efforts and internet sleuthing.You'll hear from first-timers, returning riders, dot-watching converts, and those chasing the Tour Divide women's record. Their stories speak to why representation matters, why adventure is worth the risk, and why more women belong at the start line.I hope you'll join me in cheering them on and watching their dots as they make their way from Banff to Antelope Wells.Follow the dots here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first 2 days of Quinda's Tour Divide, from her live voice on with comments of Calamaro's Telephone Voice.Enjoy Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠⁠Music by: Bonus Point ⁠⁠https://bonuspoints1.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

A long chat with Quinda, mostly about Tour Divide, training, planning, gears and stories. But of course, we talked about way more, including breakfast and the wonderful project we will be tackling together with the BroomWagon Podcast: a live chronicle of Quinda's Tour Divide through her voice notes during the race.Episode notes:Quinda Verheul: https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_Voice by: Stefano Nucera aka Calamaro ⁠https://instagram.com/calamarocc⁠Photos by: George Dibble https://www.instagram.com/georgedibbsMusic by: Bonus Point ⁠https://bonuspoints1.bandcamp.com/⁠The BroomWagon Podcast

Dans cet épisode touchant et inspirant du podcast JAMAIS ASSEZ, je reçois Marie-Soleil Blais, ancienne cycliste professionnelle, et aventurière dans l'âme. Pendant près de 2 heures, on plonge dans les coulisses d'un parcours hors du commun, de ses ambitions olympiques à ses défis personnels, jusqu'à ses multiples participations au Tour Divide, une course de plus de 4 000 km à travers les montagnes Rocheuses, en autonomie complète.

In dieser Podcast-Folge geht es um die Vorbereitung auf das große Gravelrennen Unbound XL in den USA, bei dem Robin Gemperle erstmals die 560 km lange Strecke fahren wird – mit dem Ziel, gegen starke Konkurrenz wie Lachlan Morton zu gewinnen. Nach dem Gespräch mit Robin gibt es einen Ergonomie-Tipp vom Radlabor zum Thema einschlafende Füße.

"The Log Driver's Waltz isn't a race; it's an invitation. An opportunity for anyone curious about bikepacking to show up, ride at their own pace, and share the experience. It brings people together—whether you're pushing yourself against the clock or taking time to enjoy the landscape and small communities along the way.”That's how Jen Adams and Eric Betteridge describe the Log Driver's Waltz—a stunning 800-kilometer bikepacking loop weaving through Ontario's Ottawa Valley and into Quebec. For them, it's all about community, shared experience, and adventure at your own pace.In this episode, Jen and Eric share how decades of adventure together—17-day canoe trips, countless rides through their home region, and racing the Tour Divide—led them to create this unique route. The Log Driver's Waltz isn't just about the terrain (though with 75% unpaved roads, forested trails, and rugged paths, it's no joke). It's about inviting riders to show up, ride how they want, and share the experience.We also dive into what it's like to ride as a couple, how they balance different rhythms on and off the bike, and why building an inclusive bikepacking community matters. Plus, Jen and Eric explain how the Log Driver's Waltz became part of the St. Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown and how they've intentionally created stepping stones—from accessible rallies to the full 800k loop—to help more people get into bikepacking.If you've ever been curious about lining up for a Grand Depart, wondered how to build confidence for your first bikepacking trip, or thought about what it takes to ride (and create) a route like this, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we talk about:The story behind the Log Driver's Waltz and its ties to Canadian cultureHow decades of adventure—from canoe trips to the Tour Divide—shaped Jen and Eric's approach to route buildingRiding as a couple: balancing different strengths, rhythms, and goals on the bikeThe creation of the St. Lawrence Bikepacking Triple Crown and fostering connections across the regionWhy community-building, safety, and accessibility are at the heart of the Log Driver's WaltzHow the route offers something for everyone—from those chasing FKTs to riders seeking a leisurely multi-day adventureTips for tackling the route, including bike setups, resupply points, and managing its surprisingly punchy climbsDetails & Links for the Log Driver's Waltz2025 Grand Depart: August 23rd,8 AM, Almonte Hills, Ontario, CanadaSpring Rally: For those who want to experience the route in more digestible chunksLog Driver's Waltz Official WebsiteLog Driver's Waltz Tips & Planning Facebook GroupFollow Jen & Eric's updates and rally details on social media @thelogdriverswaltzAs always, a huge thank you to Albion for supporting Detours this year. Follow along:Follow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cycling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February's Highlight miniep features a rider from the Tour Divide bicycle race

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Alex Ackerley, an accomplished strength and conditioning coach based in Squamish, BC, Canada. Alex shares his journey from high-performance rugby to coaching elite mountain athletes, including World-Cup level mountain bikers, Tour Divide gravel riders, and ultra-marathon runners. With 15 years of experience in the Vancouver fitness industry, Alex offers deep insights into training, programming, and the unique demands of mountain sports. Topics Covered: Rugby Background & Athletic Foundations: Alex's experience playing high-level rugby and how it shaped his approach to strength and conditioning. Training Mountain Bikers: Insights into the unique physical demands of downhill, enduro, and cross-country mountain biking. Strength Programming: Alex's go-to lifts for building power and resilience, including front squats, deadlifts, and power cleans. Metabolic Conditioning: How Alex designs high-intensity circuits to build capacity for 3–5 minute downhill efforts. Upper Body Training & Injury Prevention: The importance of upper body strength for downhill riders and strategies for building grip strength. Plyometric Progressions: Building impact resilience through progressive plyometric training. Screening and Assessments: Alex's approach to movement screening and individualized programming. Off-Season Training: The role of hypertrophy blocks and aerobic conditioning during the off-season. Training Philosophy: Balancing strength and endurance while maintaining athlete engagement. Lessons Learned: Alex shares personal and professional lessons from his experience training athletes and competing himself. Lightning Round Questions: Best Total Body Lift? Landmine Clean and Press (one-handed) Best Lower Body Press? Front Squat Best Lower Body Pull? Deadlift Best Upper Body Press? Incline Dumbbell Bench Press Best Upper Body Pull? Pronated Pull-Up (strict) Favorite Grip Training? Carries and Hanging Most Overrated Exercise? Box Jump Most Underrated Exercise? Bench Press Overrated Equipment? Kettlebells Check out Alex's Gym: nxft.ca Alex's Instagram: @coachackerley Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams  

This weeks guest, Kurt Refsnider, is one of the greats when it comes to super long, difficult, mountainous and often cold and snowy bikepacking adventures. He's been to Nome Alaska on the Iditarod Trail, finished the Tour Divide in 15 days and has reached Master of the Universe status on the Arizona Trail! We also talk about his podium finish at the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships! In his years of bike packing, he figured out a way to combine his passion for teaching geology with cycling, leading students on a Geology Through Bikepacking course at Prescott College in Arizona. Since then he's been busy with, not only his coaching at UltraMTB but has now chosen to direct his energy toward co-founding the Bikepacking Roots organization to help grow and advocate for the bikepacking community. A recent success of Bikepacking Roots was helping develop and pass a new national law: the BOLT Act - which is part of the larger, very outdoor recreationally friendly EXPLORE Act, passed in early January of 2025. And if he hasn't been busy enough with all of that - he's also an athlete ambassador of POW - or the Protect Our Winters organization. Bikepacking Roots: https://bikepackingroots.org/UltraMTB Coaching: https://www.ultramtb.net/Protect Our Winters: https://protectourwinters.org/This episode is brought to you by Pogie Lites. Keep your hands warm and dry when riding this winter and spring! Available now at www.pogielites.com or on the online store at www.bikeiowa.comBIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

For the past 8 years Indiana aka "Drive by Dildo" has been focused on bikepack racing. He's got a laundry list of accomplishments to his name. Including being a Triple Crown Challenge finisher. He's one of only 23 people in the world to have accomplished this feat. I met him in 2018 when we were both participating in the GranGravel 500 and he was the first (and only to-date) to Yo-Yo the East Texas Showdown in 2022. Since the age of 6 he's dreamed of traveling the world. Once he discovered bikepacking he soon decided he wanted to fulfill the dreams of his 6 y/o self by cycling around the world. Over the past 8 years he's been dreaming, scheming, planning, and selling everything he wouldn't need to take on his bike. In May of 2024 Indy's planning and preparing was done, now it was time to ride his damn bike around the world. He set out on this adventure starting in Deadhorse, Alaska on the Dalton Highway. Now, almost a year later I catch up with him in La Paz, Mexico on a rest day. Indy is living a dream of mine, to one day live on my bike and see the world. It was so great to see my old friend again and get to hear more about the journey that I've been living vicariously through him online. Tune in to today's episode to hear about how and why Indy choose to live on his bike and travel the world and how his trip has been going so far! EPISODE SPONSORS  Old Man Mountain - This week we are highlighting their Tour Divide rack. Use code "mountainsordeath" at checkout to receive 10% off your order! New Patrons  None this week, but we'd like to thank the 356 patrons that support this show monthly

If you're listening to this, there's a pretty good chance that you love to ride your bike. That can manifest itself in all sorts of different ways. Some of you like to do shuttle runs with your buddies on the weekend or go to the bike park. Some of you like to pedal up the hill. Some of you like to go down the hill. Some of you like to race your bike for a few hours. And some of you… Well, some of you like to race your bike for over 4,000 kilometers through sand, snow, hopefully, more than a little bit of sun, and everything else in between. Today, Mike Levy talks to Meaghan Hackinen. Meaghan won the 2024 Tour Divide, and she's also a two-time 24-hour world time trial champion, which sounds absolutely insane. We're going to talk about those things, and we're also going to get to sleeping alone in grizzly country, waking up to a scorpion, strategies for doing these ultra-distance events by yourself, and I might have even slipped in a UFO question or two. Meaghan Hackinen isn't just an adventure seeker; she's a heck of a writer, too. Find her latest work here: meaghanhackinen.com Read an abbreviated transcript and see a whole bunch of photos here: velo.outsideonline.com/gravel/gravel-culture/velo-podcast-meaghan-hackinen/ See more on Velo: velo.outsideonline.com/featured

When I think of women in bikepacking, Alexandera Houchin is one of the first people that comes to mind. She's raced the Tour Divide countless time and been a steadfast figure in encouraging more women to take on these big challenges. As an Indigenous woman and member of the Fond du Lac tribe, becoming a sponsored athlete, heck an athlete at all, was not necessarily a pathway she saw for herself growing up.She joins me on the podcast to share about her journey to the bike, and how she's made a career of this niche sport. We discuss what keeps her returning to these races year after year, her experiences navigating body image as someone with a bigger body, and how she's redefining what success looks like in this next chapter of her career. Alexandera shares incredible insights on community, representation, and how showing up with her full heart have shaped her path in bikepacking.Trigger Warning: We discuss topics related to body image and disordered eating between the 19:00 and 25:00 marks. If these are sensitive topics for you please feel free to skip this portion of the episode.To keep up with Alexandera's adventures follow her on Instagram @alexanderahouchin and read her writing on her SubstackIn an effort to bring you even better episodes in 2025 please fill out our audience survey and share your honest feedback on the show — your support is so appreciated ❤️As always, if you loved this episode, please leave us a review, follow wherever you listen and share it with a friend. Even better you can make a one time pledge of your support and any funds raised go back into creating this show.A big thank you to Ben Crannell for mixing the audio for this episode.You can find us on Instagram @detourscycling and Mel @melwwebb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS POD: Keep It Peripheral—Eszter Horanyi of iRunFar. Nolan's 14, The Tour Divide, And A Life Of Possibilities. Kia ora e te whānau! Sometimes it happens. You speak with someone cool and interesting then you come away with a nagging stem of a question that you should have asked. When I spoke to Eszter Horanyi this was some variation of the following. “What does Coddiwompling even mean??” Well if you must know, to Coddiwomple means to travel purposefully to an unknown destination. And goodness me if that isn't a raison d'etre for Colorado-based Horanyi. Growing up in the mountains as a free-range kid, and then racing bikes for a decade, including a 19-day Tour Divide FKT, transitioning to two feet to focus on the shiny things in the periphery and not “big goals”. Splitting her time between Colorado and Te Waiponamu  Eszter embodies the true spirit of adventure and freedom that our sport can (sometimes) only touch on. Please Enjoy this bonus podcast while we are away in the Snowy Mountains. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running. Sign up to the DCR AidStation Episode links:Eszter Horanyi Instagram iRunFarDirt Church Merch!SQUADRUNCurranzJulbo Eyewear UltrAspireDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake100% Natural Manuka oil Anti Chafe Gel from Aotearoa. Thatsit.nz

Justinas is back on Detours sharing all about his wild 2024 season where he set a new record on the Triple Crown of bikepacking: The Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race and Arizona Trail Race. Justinas completed all three of these races in a cumulative time of 25 days, 5 hours, and 30 minutes (2d:13h:3m ahead of Jay Petervary's record from 2015). We caught up while he was recovering in Arizona just a few days after winning the Arizona Trail Race. We shared so many good laughs about his season and everything it took to complete these races. From eating a double cheese burger at the bottom of the grand canyon, to sourcing a ground sheet from construction sites to managing disappointment from route closures, this conversation covers it all. To keep up to date with Justinas' adventures be sure to give him a follow on Instagram. If you loved today's episode, please leave us a five star review and share the episode with a friend. It truly does help this show get in the ears of more listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corrine Leistikow is a 65 year old family physician living in Fairbanks, Alaska. Her passion is being physically active outdoors. She started doing endurance biking and skiing events at age 50, when her children became teenagers. She continues to push her limits as an older athlete. Corrine tells host Elizabeth Emery about her adventures, pushing ourselves as older athletes, staying, why more older women don't do endurance bikepacking, strength training, her own severe stomach issues while racing, and hostess donuts. Corrine's first event was the Fireweed 200. Since then she has done the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, White Mountain 100 -- twice on skis and once on a fat bike, the Smoke N Fire 400, BC Epic 100, Tour Divide (a 2700-mile bikepacking race from Banff, Canada to the Mexico Border in New Mexico), the 700 mile Trans South Dakota, and 700 mile Cross Washington. And she has tried twice to finish the 350 mile Unbound Gravel XL. Get involved and support the show directly at https://bit.ly/supportWsports Find all episodes http://www.hearhersports.com/ Find Hear Her Sports on all social @hearhersports Follow Corrine through her blog at https://notquiteoverthehillcorrineanderic.blogspot.com/ Find Corrine on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corrine.leistikow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Roadman Podcast, we welcome former pro road cyclist Laurens ten Dam to dive into his incredible journey riding the Tour Divide, a 2,745-mile self-supported mountain bike race from Canada to the Mexican border. We explore his training adaptations, equipment setup, and strategic approach to navigating, pacing, and managing rest over the brutal terrain. Laurens discusses memorable highs and unexpected lows from the race, including facing mechanical issues, remote trails, and extreme weather. He offers insights on handling isolation and staying motivated for days on end, plus how his road racing background prepared him—and at times surprised him—on this incredible adventure. Tune in to hear Laurens' reflections on resilience, risk, and the powerful growth of ultra-endurance cycling. WHOOP Your health underpins EVERYTHING you do in life, and WHOOP helps you understand and proactively improve it through 24/7 monitoring.  Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join.whoop.com/Roadman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a free month's WHOOP membership on me! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ROUVY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROUVY replicates terrain, gradients, and resistance, giving you the most authentic indoor cycling experience possible. Explore, train, and ride with ROUVY—visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ROUVY.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your adventure today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4iiii Powermeter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The PRECISION 3+ Powermeter from 4iiii is a compact yet powerful unit & is  packed with features that set it apart, including integration with Apple's Find My network PLUS It's got up to 800 hours of battery life.Learn more by visiting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4iiii.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HUEL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can order Huel Ready To Drink directly to your home,  go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠huel.com/roadman ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeCol⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For amazing cycling kit go check out LeCol at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lecol.cc ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code roadman20 to get 20% off your LeCol order The heart beat of our community & best place to reach me is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to watch full interviews on video? Check out our new Youtube Channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/roadmancycling?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

When Justinas Leveika raced the Tour Divide for the first time last year, it was, according to him, “a disaster.” But despite having done almost no preparation, he emerged from two weeks in the wilderness in second place behind Ulrich Bartholmoes. His bike barely made it, and he resolved to put the event behind him. This year, however, he returned, and not only did he win the race, but he beat the official record that has stood for nearly a decade. All this is just par for the course for Justinas, who says he prefers to race with heart rather than numbers and forge his way through chaos rather than planning. He sat down with Payson to talk about heightening the adventure of every race through minimal preparation, stopping to take in the view every so often, and whether he considers “the real world” to be the time he spends off the bike or on. He also talks about his favorite gas station food, getting disqualified from the Colorado Trail Race this year on a technicality, and why he's going for the Triple Crown anyway. You can follow his dot on the third and final installment, the Arizona Trail Race, starting this Thursday. Register to attend Payson's free Red Bull event in Bentonville, Chasin' Payson, here.Instagram: @theadventurestacheYouTube: Payson McElveen

In September 2024, Lael Wilcox rolled into Chicago completing a three month, 18000 mile odyssey. Lael had just broken the world record for circumnavigating the globe, breaking the previous best time by more than two weeks. This isn't the first time the Alaskan native has set a new bar for others to meet. She's twice been the fastest finisher at the Tour Divide - racing from Banff in Canada to Antelope Wells in New Mexico and beat everyone, including to the men in the TransAm bike race from Oregon to Virginia. But Lael is more than just her record breaking feats, she's now one of the biggest names in her sport, and is using her platform to get more women and girls into the sport. Lael joins Bobby and Jens on The Odd Tandem to discuss all of this and more. Check out the video version of the podcast on our youtube channel. Join our Patreon now to get an ad free version of the podcast and your name in the titlespatreon.com/OddTandemFind us on social media by searching ‪@OddTandem‬ on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

In this episode, Alex and Meredith have author and ultra-endurance cyclist Meaghan Hackinen on the podcast. Meaghan shares her experience in the formidable Tour Divide race, an intense 4,300-kilometer ride from Banff, Alberta to the Mexico border, in which she won the 2024 women's division. Meaghan shares her journey from bike commuting and roller derby to long-distance cycling, and discusses essential aspects of race preparation including managing sleep, nutrition, and the mental hurdles of extended events. She emphasizes community-building within the sport, highlights women's contributions to ultra cycling, and outlines her upcoming plans for the Arkansas High Country race. Meaghan's reflections encapsulate resilience, adaptability, and a zest for adventure.— Cycling Adventures and Community Events— Journey into Ultra Cycling— Nutrition and Training for Ultra Cycling— Indoor Training and Endurance Strategies— Challenges and Adjustments During Races— Mental and Physical Struggles on the Road— Post-Race Recovery and Reflections— The Intersection of Cycling and Creativity— Future Plans and Women's Participation in Ultra Cycling— Upcoming Races and Community EngagementResources Mentioned in This Episode:· Follow Meaghan on Instagram @meaghanhackinen· Check out Meaghan's Website· Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race by Meaghan Hackinen· South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels by Meaghan Hackinen· Cranbrook Gravel Grind· Watch Ride the Divide· Listen to Afternoon Snack: Adventure, Endurance, and Giving Back with The Queen of Pain: Rebecca Rusch────────────────────────────Want to work with Tactic Functional Nutrition? Check Out Our ServicesLearn More About Us Here and be sure to follow Tactic Nutrition on IG!Stay in the loop with us by signing up for our email list!

On this episode meet Meaghan Hackinen. She is an ultra endurance cyclist who recently completed the Tour Divide which is over 2,700 miles of self supported bike racing that follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, from Banff Canada down to the US/Mexico border. Not only did Meaghan finish this grueling race 7th overall with a time of 15 days and 23 hours, she nailed first place in the women's division! Meaghan is tells us a bit about how she embraced the grittiness of the race by staying what she describes as consistently consistent. In addition to being an ultra endurance athlete with countless wins and FKTs, she is also a writer with two books focused on two wheeled adventures. Both South Away: 'The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels' and 'Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race' are available for purchase. https://meaghanhackinen.com/ www.murphologypodcast.com https://tourdivide.org/

We are back with another round table conversation, this time focusing on the 2024 Tour Divide and, in particular, the two Rodeo Lab-affiliated riders who took on the challenge this June. Both Cade and Edyn had a massively successful outing with Cade arriving in Antelope Wells as the fourth finisher and Edyn finishing a few days later as the youngest-ever finisher of the Tour at just 15 years old. Nevertheless, on the Continental Divide success is still filled with many ups and downs that come with some of the highest, wildest terrain in the United States. Stephen and Logan dug into it all with the pair of intrepid athletes, recounting the run-ins with lightning, mud, wind, and technical choices that went into the effort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We zijn er weer! En hoe. Lau, Stefan, Jim. Jim Bakkum. Live vanuit de Specialized pop-up store, hartje Amsterdam. Welgeteld 40 dagen sinds de laatste podcast. En de mannen staan de popelen om samen te beppen. Beppen over de Vuelta, vakanties ver weg en dicht bij, de Olympische wegrit, het leven van Mathieu van der Poel. Maar ook is er heimwee naar Tour Divide. En er wordt gebept over Ons Sam. De cirkel is rond. Wat heerlijk om weer terug te zijn. En hoe zat het nou met het magische getal 40? NordVPN proberen? Ga naar⁠ nordvpn.com/ridefast ⁠voor een kletser van een korting + vier maanden extra gratis! Risicovrij, snel en veilig. En: 30 dagen geld-terug-garantie. Dus ga naar ⁠nordvpn.com/ridefast⁠

Justinas Leveika is fresh off an impressive Colorado Trail Race finish. This was his first time at CTR and he finished in 4d 7h 17m, which was over 8 hours faster than the next rider. However, due to a rule violation, which was unknown to him at the time, he was not the official first place finisher. That honor goes to Xavier Chiriboga with a time of 4d 15h 55m. Going into Leadville Justinas destroyed his rear wheel on a gnarly decent which shattered the wheel, rendering it unrideable. To get it fixed he hiked to a trailhead, hitched a ride into town, replaced the rear wheel, and hitched a ride back to where we left the trail and continued on. Unlike other solo self supported bikepacking races like the Tour Divide, you are not allowed to get in a vehicle at anytime during the Colorado Trail Race. Justinas was unaware of this rule at the time, but it didn't stop him from putting on an impressive performance. After returning to the trail with his shiny new wheel he quickly started packmaning his way through the field and finished ahead all the other riders. The broken wheel wasn't the only challenge he had to overcome on the race this year, but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear the whole story. Regardless of an unfortunate rules oversight, what Justinas did was undeniably impressive. Even more so considering that he broke the long standing FKT on Tour Divide less than 2 months ago. Now, he sets his sights on the Arizona Trail Race in an attempt to complete the Bikepacking Triple Crown. EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN - Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order for being a loyal listener! New Patrons  Alliy G Julian Strait Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

Cycling photographer and videographer, Avery Stumm, joins the podcast to talk about his progression from Michigan BMX kid to full blown professional photographer shooting at events like the Olympics, his extremely successful partnership with pro cyclist, Alexey Vermeulen, and his recent attempt at the Tour Divide.

In 2000 Chris Smith was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease, by 2009 he was declared legally blind. No longer able to drive he turned to the bike as a way to get to work 3 miles from his house. At the time he tipped the scales at over 300 lbs and the 3 mile ride to work was a real challenge, but Chris wasn't discouraged. He kept at it, joined friends for group rides, and eventually went on to earn a buckle at Leadville in 2019, to mark his 10th year of blindness. He went back the following 3 years, each time earning a buckle. For his 15th anniversary of being declared legally blind he set his sites higher, much higher. After watching Ride The Divide he decided to take on the holy grail of bikepacking, the Tour Divide. An ambitious goal for anyone, but particularly so for Chris since he hadn't done a multi-day bikepacking trip, and he's blind. Undeterred, he hired a coach, and started training for the Grand Depart, only 8 months away. It took him 47 days and 10 hours, he was the 2nd to last finisher, but nothing stopped Chris from accomplishing his goal, and after riding the Tour Divide, I doubt anything ever will. Chris was riding to bring awareness to blindness and raising money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Through his efforts he was able to raise $28,000 which will go to help finding cures for blindness diseases like his. You can find out more about Chris, and donate, on his website. EPISODE SPONSORS Red Granite Grinder - Epic gravel race in Wisconsin on Oct. 12th, 2024. Smash the link for more information and registration. Follow My Challenge - The official tracking service for Texas Showdown Series any many other premier events. New Patrons  Nathaniel Ray Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin Simoni aka the Long Ranger. In addition to established routes like the Tour Divide and Nolan's 14, Justin also creates his own - he's traversed the Sangre de Cristo Range, Mosquito and Tenmile Ranges, and from Milner to Berthoud Pass along the divide. And while summiting all of Colorado's 14,000 ft peaks is an effort in itself, Justin summited the top 100 highest mountains in the state after biking to them from his home in Boulder. We talk about all of the nitty gritty details of taking on these ridgeline routes, why he lives car-free, a detailed measurement of how much weight and water he lost over the course of a grueling day hike, some of his current favorite gear, and more. We wrap the show with an overview of some of the best loop hikes in the United States, what we would telepathically say to all 8 billion people on earth, and the triple crown of things on our bedside table. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com.  Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10”  for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek. [divider] Interview with Justin Simoni aka the Long Ranger Justin's Website Justin's Instagram Justin's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:04:50 - Reminders: Mark your calendar for our Brooklyn, NY meetup on September 16, support us on Patreon, check out Chaunce & Elise's TCT hike on Youtube, and leave us a voicemail! 00:13:10 - Introducing Justin 00:14:10 - Tell us about your water loss experiment 00:19:15 - Have you done other similar studies? 00:20:25 - What was your food intake like during the experiment? 00:22:15 - What is your primary focus in your personal trinity of mountain arts? 00:24:20 - You don't own a car? 00:26:00 - How did you originally get into the outdoors? 00:28:50 - How many times have you summitted Green Mountain? 00:31:50 - Tell us about the Milner to Berthoud Pass Traverse 00:34:25 - Is it stressful to do high consequence moves while trying to go quickly? 00:35:50 - How does this traverse compare to others that you've done? 00:37:40 - Did you notice an uptick in FKTs in 2020? 00:38:31 - What was the most challenging part of the Vanishing Point? 00:41:00 - What instrument do you play? 00:43:00 - What's your camping setup? 00:43:30 - How do you avoid thunderstorms? 00:47:00 - What does spike your anxiety? 00:48:00 - How do you prevent making careless errors? 00:50:10 - The Mosquito/Ten Mile Range Traverse 00:53:03 - How many scouting trips did you do for the Vanishing Point project? 00:54:12 - Do you get bored while hiking? 00:56:00 - What do you do for work? 00:57:50 - What are your thoughts on sun hoodies? 01:00:25 - How did it feel to be the first person to complete the Vanishing Point project? 01:01:33 - What are the most significant ways you've changed after completing projects? 01:03:00 - Do you experience post trail depression? 01:04:30 - What do you do for water on your trips? 01:07:50 - Tell us about the Sangre de Cristo Range Traverse 01:11:15 - What was the technicality like on this traverse? 01:13:44 - How should someone get familiar with class 5 pitches with a heavy pack? 01:17:30 - Have you noticed any drop in fitness as you've aged? 01:19:36 - Nolan's 14 description 01:21:35 - Discussion about sleep apnea and asthma 01:24:00 - Tell us about the Slowlans Traverse 01:27:40 - What is it about the ridge hikes that keep you coming back? 01:29:00 - Discussion about popularity trends 01:30:15 - Tell us about the Mosquito/Ten Mile Range Traverse 01:35:00 - Could someone who doesn't like exposure find an alternate route? 01:36:10 - Tell us about the Highest Hundred 01:39:44 - How did you logistically tackle this? 01:43:00 - Biking from Boulder to Longs Peak 01:47:45 - Do you feel pressure to keep coming up with new projects? 01:48:30 - Do you see your guides as an act of service? 01:52:00 - Discussion about the Colorado Trail FKT 01:56:00 - Do you have to train to sleep less for an FKT attempt? 01:59:45 - Do you ever plan trips based on the moon cycle? 02:00:20 - Kumo Question: What is the most useless skill you've ever learned? Segments Mail Bag Trek Propaganda:  12 Epic Multi-Night Loop Hikes in the US by Kelly Floro Dead Weight: 13 Thru-Hikers Reveal the Gear They Sent Home by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: If you could telepathically say something to all 7.95 billion people on earth, what would you say? Triple Crown of things in your bedside table Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

Edyn Teitge, at 15 years old, just became the youngest person to complete the Tour Divide solo. He set out with a goal of finishing in 20 days and was able to complete the race in 19d 13h 14m. An accomplishment that may be shocking to outsiders, but for Edyn, this just feels like the next step in his progression as a cyclist. Edyn first joined me on the podcast in September of 2022 after he finished his first ultra bikepacking race, the Smoke and Fire 400. He didn't just finish, though, he came in 6th place, 8 hours after legendary Jay Petervary. At that time he was only 13! Since then he's been busy entering, and gaining experience, in many other ultra events, including, Fat Pursuit, Stagecoach 400, and Drift 100. All of which gave him the confidence and experience to tackle the Tour Divide. When we recorded today's episode Edyn showed up on Zoom with his hands completely covered in car grease. He had been working on replacing the radiator on a Ford Astro Van that someone gave him as his first car. So while he may be doing things that are very uncommon for a 15 year old boy, he's also a kid who's excited about cars, going to school, and riding bikes with his friends.   Episode Sponsors LIVSN - Use code "BOD10" at checkout to get 10% off your order for being a loyal listener Support the show directly: Patreon - Monthly Donation Paypal - One time Donation

Eight years ago Mike Hall made history and etched his name in the record books, and in the hearts of an entire community, with his record setting Tour Divide time of 13d 22h 51m. Since then, hundreds of others have lined up for the Tour Divide grand depart to chase his dot to the US/Mexico border. This year, on his second attempt, Jusinas Leveika became the first person to best Mike Hall's record with an official time of 13d 2h 16. Justinas entered the world of ultra bikepack racing in 2021with a 4th place finish at Transpyrenees. Since then, he's racked up too many podium finishes to list, in the hardest bikepack races our sport has to offer. Last year, at Tour Divide, Justinas came in 2nd to Uba Bartholmoes and was plagued with mechanicals and bad weather. This year he came back with one goal, fix his mistakes. While weather played a major role in this year's Tour Divide, nothing was going to stop Justinas. He got an early lead over his competitors and Uba, in particular, put on a hell of a chase, but in the end Justinas wouldn't be caught. On today's episode we get to know the man behind the dot, the man who has the honor of besting Mike Hall's time, Justinas Leveika. EPISODE SPONSORS  7mesh - Get 20% off your next order with code "7MESHXBOD20" Old Man Mountain - Get 10% off your next order with code "mountainsordeath" New Patrons  None this week, but you can change that  Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In the last few years, Alexandera Houchin has become a force in the world of ultra endurance mountain bike racing. As a Native kid growing up in northern Minnesota, she never could have predicted the ways that racing her single speed would prove healing to both her mind and her body. In 2023, she set out to complete the Triple Crown Challenge– racing the Tour Divide, the Colorado Trail, and the Arizona Trail– all on a single gear.  Support comes from Kuat Racks  AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20% Incogni Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries Pre-Order States Of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book! http://geni.us/StatesofAdventure Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Last year Ulrich Bartholmoes, aka Uba, won the Tour Divide on his first attempt. This year he came back to do it again, but with a larger goal of completing the Bikepacking Triple Crown. We will be following Uba's Triple Crown attempt at each stage along the way. This is the second episode in the series, you can listen to our first chat we recorded just days before the Tour Divide Grand Depart on episode 182 of this podcast. This was a record setting year on the Tour Divide and one that will go down in the history books. For the past 8 years the late Mike Hall's record has stood up against hundreds of others who have tried to beat his dot to the border of Mexico in Antelope Wells. This year Justinas Leveika set a new FKT (fastest known time) besting Mike Hall's time by over 20 hours! I'll be releasing an episode with Justinas about his recorded breaking ride in the coming days, but today we turn our attention to Uba who put on brilliant ride and also came in ahead of Mike Hall's time. The friendly competition between Uba and Justinas is a fun one for fans of the sport. Last year Uba won the Tour Divide with Justinas coming in second and they've had other similar epic battles in races like Atlas Mountain Race. This year on Tour Divide Justinas got a small gap early in the race and Uba was hot on his heals with sometimes only a few miles between them. Weather played a big factor in the ultimate outcome, but you have to admire and appreciate the epic battle to the finish line from both of these amazing competitors. On today's episode we hear about the race from Uba's perspective and next up we get to hear from Justinas. EPISODE SPONSORS  Arkansas, The Natural State ~ Check out Episode 183 of this podcast to learn all about the inaugural Arkansas Graveler, a 6 day bike tour across the state.   New Patrons  None this week, but you can change that :) Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Last year Ulrich Bartholmoes, who goes by Uba, won the Tour Divide in his first attempt with a time of 14d 2h 23m. This year he's back to defend his title at the Tour Divide, but he's got bigger goals than that. This year he will be attempting to complete the Triple Crown of Bikepacking (Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race, and Arizona Trail race) and he's gunning to beat the current record time of 27d 18h 33m set by Jay Petervary in 2015. Uba's approach to ultra bikepack racing is different from most. He's incorporated advanced training methods inspired by pro tour riders and driven by his passion for optimization of himself, his equipment, and his training. And he seemingly attacks his training and preparation with the same detail and veracity that he applies to his racing. I caught up with him days before the start of the race at his hotel in Calgary. We dived into his plans for this year, his goals, and his unique training protocols. It seems that he's left no stone unturned, no bolt un-torqued, and no bearing un-greased. But as he says in the episode, it's a long race, and training and preparation can only take you so far.   EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ You will see OMM racks and axle packs adorning many of the bikes on the Tour Divide this year. Check out what all the hype is about at OldManMountain.com and use code "mountainsordeath" at checkout to get 10% off your order. Use our BoD Affiliate link and we get a little commission :) Arkansas Graveler ~ A 6 day bike festival in the Ozark Mountains that offers not only amazing riding, but also activities, live music, food, and so much more. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone out there. Don't be shy come up and say hi if you see me!  New Patrons  Chase Bauduin Garret Hall Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Daniel Connell has become a regular on the bikepacking race scene and in the cycling community. You will often see him on Trackleaders under his trail name, Dirty Dan. It was under this pseudonym that he recently set a new FKT on the Race Across Arizona and will be lining up in a couple of weeks to race the Tour Divide for the 4th consecutive year. Each year he's done it he's been able to shave a day off his finish time. This year he's on a new bike and gunning for a 15 day finish. His entry point into cycling was a 4,000+ mile bike tour with a buddy from California to Columbia in 2017 after graduating college. Armed only with a bike, some gear, and very little planning of what was to come. It was on that trip that he found the bike to be the "perfect form of travel". Since then he's only progressed as a traveler and cyclist racking up credentials too numerous to list, but to give you a taste, here's what he's done so far in 2024: Baja Divide Transcordilleras race (Colombia) Bikepacking trip all over Colombia Double Everest Stagecoach 400 Tour de Los Padres Race Across Arizona He's packed more into the first 6 months of this year than many will experience in a lifetime. It feels like every time I log into social media he's on another trip or lining up in another race. I've grown fond of following him on all of his adventures. He brings with him a big smile and a big appetite for adventure, fruit, and white milk. All of which we discuss on today's episode. EPISODE SPONSORS Central Texas Showdown - Four distances to choose from, 28 spots left, 100% Texas. Come find out why the call this part of Texas the Hill Country on Oct. 25th, 2024. Register here! New Patrons None this week, but you can change that :) Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath