Bikes or Death

My guest today is the winner of this years Arizona Trail Race 800, Alex Schultz. Alex is no stranger to bikepack racing or the AZT. In 2019 he entered his first bikepacking race, the Colorado Trail Race, and was hooked! In 2022 he entered the AZT 300 and won it. This year he came back to take on the 800 with only the goal to finish and do his best. It turns out his best was good enough to win and set a new FKT (Fastest Known Time). His time of 9d 5h 43m was five hours faster than the previous FKT set by Nate Ginzton in 2022. By the sound of it Alex is just getting started with his bikepack racing career. With a lot of adventure sports experience and some good results under his belt, I have a feeling we'll be seeing his name at the top of other big races soon! EPISODE SPONSORS Lectric eBikes - Get hundreds of dollars in free accessories with any Lectric eBike purchase this holiday, including America's best-selling eBike, the XP 3.0 AG1 - Go to www.drinkag1.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 None, this week, but thank you to the 316 patrons that support this show! Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Last month Natalie and I took on the Ozark Rando 120. This is a new event by Ozark Gravel Cyclist and hosted by Experience Fayetteville. As the name suggests, the format of this ride is a Randonneur -a non-competitive long-distance unsupported endurance cycling event. I used this ride as part of my training for an attempt at the 475 mile Central Texas Showdown Route. I've also been really interested in doing a Randonneur ever since Cheech with Crust Bikes came on the podcast. And, I never turn down an opportunity to ride my damn bike in Arkansas! Natalie on the other hand would be taking on her biggest ride, by a long shot! Previously, her longest ride was 60 miles in Texas with only 1,200' of climbing. The Ozark Rando boasts over 12,000' of climbing over 122 miles. For her, this would be a huge physical and mental undertaking. By signing up, she committed to the unknown, and that's scary. Spoiler alert: We finished Dead Fucking Last, and I couldn't be more proud of her and us. As the day unfolded, the miles passed slower and slower, and the finish time goal post kept moving, but we kept riding our damn bikes. On today's episode, join Natalie and I as we embark on an epic day (and night) in the Ozarks on our bikes. EPISODE SPONSORS Experience Fayetteville ~ To start planning your next cycling vacation just visit experiencefayetteville.com where you'll find a large selection of curated routes for every riding style including road, gravel, mountain bike, and urban adventures. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Buck Crockett Borden Mann Blake Marquis James Brodhurst Katherine Helbig Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

After I scouted the Central Texas Showdown route by car it was time to ride the damn thing. Last time I did an ITT of the ETS route my editor, Ben Crannel, joined me, but aside from the start and finish, we never saw each other. That experience taught me how much different an ITT is vs a group start. I still wanted to do an ITT of the CTS, but this time I wanted to invite some people. Invitations went out, but my friend Ariel was the only person to accept. I'm not surprised, texas, like much of the country, has been under a heat wave, with much of the state experiencing 100 x 100º days of heat. For a full writeup on todays episode, and a gallery of images from the ride, please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Lectric eBikes ~ Fun, Functional, and Affordable eBikes! AG1 ~ Go to www.drinkag1.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Rose Shivers Anonymous Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Ultra-endurance and bikepacking legend, Jay Petervary set out on his solo and unsupported FKT attempt of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route which he called "Great Divide Ride Unearthed". Over 2,000 miles into his ride he was struck by a motorist. Suffering multiple series injuries, Jay's resilience is unwavering. He may be battered, but he is not broken. He continues to inspire with his mantra "ride forward" and reminds us that he's not done with this ride yet. Watch or listen to this episode, link in bio! ️⚡️Episode Sponsors ⚡️ ️ Fred Bars - Used on the inaugural run of the Tour Divide in 2008, read the article here. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 None this week, but you can change that! Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

By now I'm sure you are familiar with Hannah and her quest to take on the Bikepacking Triple Crown. She's agreed to share her journey with us at each stage along the way. So far she's been able to complete the first two races, the Tour Divide and Colorado Trail Race. In this episode we follow up with her after finishing 6th on the CTR and only a month before taking on the 800 miles of the Arizona Trail Race. It's been amazing to follow along as she takes on the biggest challenge our sport has to offer. EPISODE SPONSORS Lectric eBikes ~ Fun, Functional, and Affordable eBikes! AG1 ~ Go to www.drinkag1.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Andy Fields Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Ten years ago Phillip Crosby and Jedidiah Jenkins set out on a bike trip that started in Oregon and traversed Central and South America and ended in Patagonia. Jedidiah, was an aspiring author at the time and was on the trip to have an experience worth writing about as he grappled with his sexuality and Christian faith. He wrote that book, and it's titled, "To Shake the Sleeping Self". For a full write up and and photo gallery from their trip, please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ Check out their new line of bikepacking bags and panniers. Use this link and get 15% off your order! **Must use https://oldmanmountain.com/bikesordeath to get 15% off order. It's the only way to beat the robots! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Paul Mendricks Matthew Trinneer Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Katya Rakhmatulina just won the 2023 Colorado Trail Race and set a new FKT in the process. With a time of 5d 1h 53m she beat the previous time of 6d 1h 34m set by Alexandera Houchin in 2019. Prior to this she placed Second at this years Tour Divide behind Lael Wilcox. For a full writeup please visit BikesorDeath.com, this episode is available to watch on our website as well. New Patrons Spencer Snider Dan Perez Alexander Getty Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In 2022 Miron Golfman set a new FKT on the Baja Divide. Then he set his sites on an even bigger challenge in 2023 by attempting to race the Iditarod Invitational, the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail, and the Arizona Trail Race, all in a calendar year. A feat that I've never heard of anyone attempting before. For a full write up on todays episode along with photos and links from todays episode please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS None this week, but you can help sponsor next weeks episode! Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Payson McElveen probably needs no introduction. Among many of his achievements he is a Red Bull Athlete, 2x Marathon National Champion, 2x MidSouth Campion, and he is the host of the popular Adventure Stache Podcast. He's also a wizard at production and social media which has added to his visibility. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup, show links, and photo galley from todays episode! EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz ~ Get $20 off any pair of Ombraz, just use code "bikesordeath20" at checkout. As a bonus, Ombraz will send $20 to BoD as a thank you 🙂 OZARK Randonneur - A new event by Ozark Gravel Cyclist and Andrew Onermaa. Two route options, 120 or 200 miles. I'm signed up for the 120 and would love to say how to as many of you as possible! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Peter Mergaerts Jaque Parisien *increased monthly pledge Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Last month McKenzie Barney peddled her bike into Colombia, the last country in her Cycle the World project that started years before. In total McKenzie cycled 18,000 miles, through 28 countries and 5 continents, and most of it was solo. Her travels would take her through Africa, South America, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and South East Asia. For a full writeup on McKenzie's episode and for photos of her journey, please visit BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz ~ Get $20 off any pair of Ombraz, just use code "bikesordeath20" at checkout. As a bonus, Ombraz will send $20 to BoD as a thank you :) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 McGraw Coaching Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

This June James Collins became the first person to attempt the new Central Texas Showdown route as an ITT. James is a 3 time veteran of the East Texas Showdown and will be leaving Texas before the CTS group start this October. Not wanting to miss out on this new route in his backyard, he decided to tackle it as an ITT (individual time trial). This episode is a great introduction to that route and to James, who's been such a large part of the Texas Showdown Series. After you listen to this episode if you want to take a deeper dive, I recommend you check out Jame's Ride Report about his ITT. He goes into great detail and is an excellent resource for anyone looking to ride or race that route! ⚡️EPISODE SPONSORS⚡️ AG1 ~ Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Wren Sports ~ A special offer ONLY for BoD listeners... get their Beefcake Carbon Plus Gravel Fork at a MASSIVE 50% off just use code "HaveCakeEatItToo" at checkout! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Scott Folland Andreas Hagbarth Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In todays episode we catch up with Hannah Simon two weeks after finishing tied for 3rd on the Tour Divide Race. If you've been following along you'll know that Hannah has committed to attempting the bikepacking Triple Crown, which is the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail, all in a calendar year. With only four weeks left to prepare for the Colorado Trail I caught up with her on a park bench in Austin, TX to hear about her Tour Divide experience and how she is preparing for the next leg of the Triple Crown. If you didn't listen to my first episode in this series, I recommend you listen to that one first. This conversation will pick up where we left off before Hannah left for the Tour Divide. EPISODE SPONSORS Jefe.bike ~ Your source for reliable and hard to find gear for bikepackers and adventure cyclist. Including a full line of kLite dynamo products! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Jacob T. Rex Robert Watson - Increased pledge! Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

GRUSK or Grave Ride up Spruce Knob is a bike race that has been taking place in West Virgina since 2016. It's evolved over the years and now offers distances from 25 miles up to 260 miles. Each route features a long out and back up Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virgina at 4,863'. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full write and a large gallery of images from my weekend in West Virginia! EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz ~ Use code BOD20 for $20 off ANY pair of sunglasses, plus Ombraz will send BoD $20 as a thank you! Stans No Tubes ~ On todays episode I unbox a new MK4 wheelset from Stans. Spoiler alert, I'm in love 😍 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 None this week, help change that, won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Chris Burkard is a well known photographer and storyteller who has brought his passion for life and his dedication to be successful to the endurance cycling world. The results are hard to argue with. In 2019 he set a world record of the WOW Cyclothon in Iceland traveling 844 miles in 52h 36m 19s. He then put together a team and did the first ever interior travers of Iceland on the bike. This time Chris entered arguably the hardest cycling race in the world, the Tour Divide. For a full write up and a Gallery of images Patrick took of Chris' Tour Divide finish please visit www.BikesorDeath.com. If you've enjoy this episode I've recorded two others with Chris that you may enjoy. Ep. 17 - Chris sets a new WOW Cyclothon world record Ep. 58 - Chris assembles a team to do the first ever interior traverse of Iceland by bike EPISODE SPONSORS Jefe.bike ~ Your source for reliable and hard to find gear for bikepackers and adventure cyclist. Including a full line of kLite dynamo products! AG1 ~ Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Jason Willis Patric Brown Kevin Lang Amanda Shih Quig Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Yesterday Ulrich Bartholmoes aka "Uba" finished the 2023 Tour Divide in first place with a time of 14d 2h 23m. For much of the race he was head of the record setting pace of Mike Hall. In the end he would finish only 4.5 hours behind that record setting run. Considering the rain, mud, and wind on this years Divide his time is beyond impressive. I sat down with him the morning after his win at the Bike Ranch in Hachita, NM to capture this interview. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com to view a full gallery of images I captured of him during his ride and at the finish line. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ Bikes are tools to help facilitate your next adventure. OMM wants you to get creative and they have the gear to help. Use code "racksordeath" at checkout to recieve 15% off your order and use this fancy afiliate link and they will send BoD a little something as a thank you :) Jefe.bike ~ Your source for reliable and hard to find gear for bikepackers and adventure cyclist. Including a full line of kLite dynamo products! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Therros Western Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

This week we are talking with Jesse Turner who is the custom bike maker and artist behind Slow Southern Steel based out of Fayetteville, AR. Jesse started this new company less than a year ago and I've been following with interest since the beginning. I love to showcase and support people who are following their passion and doing things to make the cycling world a better place. I'd certainly include Jesse in this category. His first job was in a bike shop as a mechanic, he would go on to get an Art degree, and then become a welder. If you mix all that with a person who is passionate about bikes and an Arkansas native you get Slow Southern Steel. For a full writeup and photo gallery of Jesse's original shop, plus lots of bike photos, check out www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz ~ Use code "BOD20" at checkout to get $20 off any pair of Ombraz armless sunglasses and Ombraz will send BoD a $20 as a thank you :) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Jesper Thunstedt The following Patrons increased their pledge 🙏 Robert Rupp Manuel Busse Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In less than 2 years Hannah has established herself as a real contender in endurance bike racing. Somewhere along the way she decided it was time to take it to the next level, or maybe the next next next level! This year she will be taking on the biggest challenge that Bikepacking has to offer, The Triple Crown. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on today's episode and photo grallery from Hannah's three East Texas Showdowns. ***** ****** EPISODE SPONSORS AG1 - If a comprehensive solution is what you need from your supplement routine, then try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase. Go to www.drinkAG1.com/BIKESORDEATH GRUSK - Join me in West Virgina this July 6-9th for the 7th edition of Gravel Ride Up Spruce Knob! Check out the details here and come hang out with me in West Virginia! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 None this week, but you can change that! Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

At the end of last year I was encouraged and inspired to get my passport by my girlfriend, Natalie. It's something I always thought I would do one day, but had never made it a priority. I've been so enamored and satiated by the wild and natural beauty of North America that I hadn't even really started to think seriously about international travel. Natalie is a very well seasoned and experienced traveler with many international stamps in her passport. Her passion for international travel is only equalled by her love for Latin America. It wasn't long before she had sufficiently wet my appetite to experience it for myself and we were booking tickets to Oaxaca, Mexico. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on todays episode and how that trip to Oaxaca lead to a trip to Jaco, Costa Rica! EPISODE SPONSORS Wren Sports - They've been hard at work on their new Perseverance Bars, which now come in Flat bar, Drop bar, AND aero pads are available as well. Check them out at Wren Sports and save 15% when you use the code "BOD15". Stans No Tubes - Stans has been protecting tires for 20+ years. For the past 15 years they've been perfecting their Race Sealant and it's now available to the public! Top of your tires with their Race Formula if you want extra protection on a bike trip or a race. School of the World - Located in Jaco, Costa Rica they offer Surf, Spanish, Photography, and Yoga classes. The owner is a bikepacker and he'd be happy to put a route or two together for you as well. Just tell'em Bikes or Death sent you :) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 None this week, but you can change that! Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

I don't know about you, but dealing with injury and being sidelined while I watch all my friends go play bikes is not my idea of a good time. As I've started to get a little older I'm starting to notice that injuries are happening with greater frequency and staying longer than I'm used to. The real motivation for me is to have a healthy body and prevent injuries when possible and deal with them appropriately when they do occur. Enter Maria Osowski, PT, DPT, who is a licensed Physical Therapist and lifelong Athlete. She has been on the podcast before on Ep. 133 ~ Red Granite Grinder Recap when she won the 144 mile version of that race. This time she's back to help keep us injury free so we can enjoy the sport we love and the bodies that move us! Today's episode is also available in Video Format at www.BikesorDeath.com. To contact Maria directly with questions regards physical therapy you can email her at [email protected] EPISODE SPONSORS Today's Episode is brought to you by the Patrons that support this work! Jon Rice Christopher Throop Ryan Odell Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

I started following Lindsay Shepard's journey when I saw on social media that she had built her own bike frame and was planning to race on it. To my surprise the first race she signed up for was my East Texas Showdown! Right after that, she turned her van North East and did the Gravel Doom race, in Arkansas. When she finished that race, she wasn't done. She turned her bike around to ride the course in reverse. Thus becoming the first person to complete the DOOM Yo-Yo! For style points, she did it on a SS bike, that she built!! For a full writeup and photo gallery please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and wellness routine and a great way to provide the nutrients your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Lance Putnam Patron's that increased their pledge... Kevin Lee Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Eric House joined our community during the pandemic, like many others. However, two and a half years later, I don't think this pandemic-born-bike-baby is going anywhere, but up! His first bikepacking race was the 2022 East Texas Showdown. He packed light, read "nothing", went fast, placed 9th, and learned a lot, but most importantly, he got hooked. This year he leveled up. He completed the MidSouth 50k run and the 100 mile gravel race. The next weekend he lined up at ETS and took 10th place, then a couple weeks later he went to Arkansas for the DOOM race and placed 9th there. For Eric, the year will culminate with an attempt at the infamous Leadville 100 in August. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on today's episode and photo gallery. EPISODE SPONSORS Stan's NoTubes - Stan's has been keeping my tires inflated since 2001. Now they are keeping the podcast inflated by becoming a sponsor! Do yourself a favor and trust your tire sealing needs to the sealant I use, Stan's! Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and wellness routine and a great way to provide the nutrients your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Skyler Martyn Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Ever since I started the podcast I dreamed of one day recording an episode in front of a live audience. Fear kept me from pursuing it. Fear that no one would show up. Fear of having an audience that amplifies the pressure and anxiety. At one point that dream progressed into a goal. And a goal needs a plan. And a live event needs a venue. Austin, TX seems like the obvious choose as a Texan. It's two hours east of me and has a rich cycling culture and community. Nestled on the east side of Austin is Cycleast, a bike shop that I've been a friend/fan of. They do so many great community events, including bikepacking group trips. A couple months ago a met with Russell Pickavance, the owner of Cycleast, and told him my idea about BoD Live. He was immediately receptive to the idea and offered to allow me to host them at his facility after store hours! The timing worked out to make doing an East Texas Showdown episode a no-brainer. Three of our guest this week are employees of Cycleast and One is a friend of the shop. My guest this week are Hannah Simon and Stephanie Hall who are veterans to the ETS and this year shared a first place finish. Also joining me are Russell Pickavance and Ariel Marlowe who both completed the LOWdown, which is a new 160 mile bikepacking group ride and not a race. We had about 30 people join us for the first BoD Live and it really made for a great atmosphere. I want to thank the Austin community for showing up and supporting the guest and this event. Its so great to see bikepacking thriving here in Texas. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ Use discount code "bikesordeath" for 15% off site-wide and use this affiliate link so BoD gets a Thank You check in the mail :) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 CycleNuts USA Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

During the pre-race meeting for the 2022 East Texas Showdown Hannah Simon asked me, "have you ridden the entire course?". Even though I'd ridden many of the roads over the years and was very familiar with the area and the route, I had to say "no". I hadn't ridden this particular route. The fact that I couldn't answer that question in the affirmative stuck with me. It ate at me. So I decided to do something about it. Two weeks before 200 riders descended upon East Texas, I set out to pre-ride the course as an ITT. For me, ITT stands for Individual Timed Tour. While I wanted to push my own personal limits, I knew that it wouldn't be anywhere near what most people would consider "race pace". On this episode I take you along for my journey. _________________ Support our work at www.patreon.com/bikesordeath

Rebecca Rusch is an accomplished endurance athlete with 40 years of experience. Her list of accomplishments over that time period has been impressive. Among other things, she is a 7x World Champion Adventure Athelete, 2x Iditarod Trail Invitational winner, MTB hall of fame inductee, and a Red Bull Athlete. On today's episode we tackle the topic of Winter Riding. Some of the topics discussed are layering, eating, keeping water from freezing, managing electronics, and going potty. The information is this episode is invaluable and it's a result of Rebecca's extensive personal experiences. We are honored to have Rebecca back on the podcast and grateful for her willingness to share some tips she's learned over the years. EPISODE SPONSORS Red Granite Grinder – It's time to register for the RGG that takes place on October 14th in Wausau, Wi. I did an episode about last years event that you can check out here. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Johnny Napoli Ales Zavoral Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Jerry Kopack followed the "laminated playbook" that many Americans are familiar with; go to college, get a job, buy the house, save for retirement, have the family, etc. etc. While he was on the path to a traditional standard of success, he wasn't fulfilled. In 2016 he set out on a 4 week bike tour in Zimbabwe with the goal of resetting himself in search of what's next. That 4 week trip turned into 2 years through a chance encounter with a mindset of "alway saying yes". Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and gallery of images from Jerry's travels. Jerry's Book: The World Spins By EPISODE SPONSORS Ombraz – Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you! Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and wellness routine and a great way to provide the nutrients your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Kevin Lee ~ Spinistry Zac Ramsey The following Patrons increased their pledges! Mathew Wells Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Ronnie is roaming around the states on a much deserved vacation. He was in Austin for a few days and we were able to meetup at Cycleast for a little chat. A lot has happened since the the last time we spoke back in the Fall of 2019. During the pandemic he moved back to Connecticut and ended up staying there and ramping up on his entrepreneurial efforts. What he's been able to accomplish in the cycling industry is truly inspirational. One may be tempted to say he got there by being counter culture, but I'd argue that he has created a cycle culture that is unique to himself. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ Since 1996, Old Man Mountain has made durable, functional cargo racks for all types of bikes. We're excited to continue the legacy! Ombraz ~ Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Andy Stockman The following Patrons increased their pledges! Mike Christensen Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

As the East Texas Showdown heads into it's third year the excitement is growing and so are the questions. To help answer the questions we brought in a few past participants who are also competing again this year. Our guest are Kuya Takami who won the Showdown last year, Emily Miller who is hoping to ride the Slowdown without sleeping, and Brendan Hare who was our Pro Slow winner last year and is stepping up to the Showdown this year. EPISODE SPONSORS Gravel Ride up Spruce Knob aka GRUSK - Join me in West Virginia on July 6-9th for one of 6 gravel rides they have to choose from. Find out more at www.MountainRides.net or Register Here Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and wellness routine and a great way to provide the nutrients your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Mindaugas Urbontaitis Julien Millan The following Patrons increased their pledges! Corey Eichelberger Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

On today's episode Holden and I chat about a little bit of everything. His day job is at a hot rod shop in Ft. Worth and he's owned a few pretty rad cars over the years. He put his mechanical abilities to use and built hims a rad Tall Bike, which is the fodder for many of my questions on this episode. When he's not tooling around on his tall bike you may see him on his fixie cruising the streets of Ft. Worth with a cycling syndicate that goes by the name of "Smash Bros Plus One". Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup, plus pictures of Holden's Tall Bike, Cars, and more. EPISODE SPONSORS Panorama Cycles - Patrick is stoked to be riding and representing this forward thinking Canada based company. They build Backcountry Bicycles for the adventure cyclist and they are the only Certified Climate Neutral Bike Company on the market. Patrick is the new U.S. Sales Rep, so if you're interest in learning more please reach out at [email protected] Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and welness routine and a great way to provide the nutriens your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Christopher Rahilly Michelle Jensen The following Patrons increased their pledges! Ash Werner Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Scarlet & Flint Ziegler just made waves in the bikepacking community when word got out that they had completed the Tour Divide Route in 42 days. The Tour Divide is a well established route that many have done, but what sets this father daughter duo apart is that Scarlet was only 13 years old when she completed it. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on todays episode and a photo gallery of Scarlet and Flint! EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain - Since 1996, Old Man Mountain has made durable, functional cargo racks for all types of bikes. We're excited to continue the legacy! Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and welness routine and a great way to provide the nutriens your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 MTB Shenanigans Ville Haataja Patty Short Steve Lindemann Steve Thompson Keith Buchanan Gary Cors The following Patrons increased their pledges! Alfred Lau Chris Hodgkins Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In October my friend Connor (Natalie joined us on day one) and I were the first ones to ride a new route I created as part of the East Texas Showdown. This one is called the Lowdown and is for participants who want to ride (not race) and enjoy the East Texas Piney Woods with a group of other riders. It's 160 miles with a little over 5,000 ft of elevation, with four camping options, and plenty of resupply points. Of course, you don't have to wait to ride it, the route has been vetted and you can find it on BikesorDeath.com. For a full writeup on today's episode, a gallery of images from this trip, and the finialized Lowdown Route, please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – An important part of my health and welness routine and a great way to provide the nutriens your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Ombraz – Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Zachary Loudon Holly The Dog Grant Beauprez Travis Olson Jared Proegler Patrons who increased their pledges! John Hickman Allen Boardman Johnny De Martin Shane Hitz Nick Marzano Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Today's episode is a hodgepodge of topics as we look at the year in review, reveal the winners of the BoD Awards, and I answers questions from the listeners. 2022 was a year of first, of growth, both personally and for the podcast, and I can't wait to do it again in 2023. As I reflect on the previous year, and over the past four years, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to share these stories and podcasts with a community that I love. While we had a ton of success, it wasn't without it's challenges. For long time listeners, supporters, and fans of BoD I have a special request at the end of todays episode, please listen to the end if you can. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens - An important part of my health and welness routine and a great way to provide the nutriens your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Ombraz – Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Joó Árpád Amelia Waves Join them won't you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In Oct. the first iteration of the Rhino Run took place in South Africa. After being delayed by covid for 2 years the first 32 adventurous souls lined up at the starting line. Among them was Abdullah Zeinab and Kevin Benkenstein who would establish and early lead in the race that they were able to keep until the end. Their battle for first place is the stuff of Hollywood movies, caulk full of drama, despair, hope, and, of course, an epic battle at the very end that would result in Abdullah pulling ahead by a mere 17 minutes. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full write and picture gallery from today's episode. EPISODE SPONSORS Embark Maple has teamed up with MidSouth to offer a FREE entry into the 2023 MidSouth Race! They are requesting application for entry by December 19th and a winner will be selected by December 24th. Find out all the details and apply here. Kuat doesn't just make amazing racks, they also make a difference! In 2015 they partnered with the National Forest Foundation as well as other tree planting organizations like One Tree Planted and Trees For The Future to plant over 592,875 trees to date, most of which have been planted in fire-damaged national forests within the US. So when you buy a Kuat Rack you get a great rack and Kuat makes an investment in the future of our forest! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Rob Adams jake ramos Jo Raber Paul Vidovich Katrina Hase Denver Luttrell Monica Baumgartner Join them won't you? You can find details at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Eddie O'dea recently became the first person to complete the Eastern Divide Trail which runs through Mulberry Gap in Georgia, which was also the location for the first BoD Takeover. This made him the ideal candidate to be my first guest with a live audience. This conversation took place on Saturday morning at the Mulberry Gap Barn with about 40 bikepacking enthusiast in attendance. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full write up and gallery of images. Eddie did this ride as a way to also raise money for the Georgia Cycling Association. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Gilmer Chamber of Commerce – One of our title sponsors for the BoD Takeover at Mulberry Gap. Help support this podcast by becoming a Patron!

On Sunday before the group start of the Arizona Trail Race Katie Scott was texting her friend who was doing the race with the typical well wishes. That short interaction sparked something in Katie that had been brewing for years. After thinking about doing the AZT for years she decided in that moment that this would be her year. So she threw fears and doubts to the wind and moved forward with her last minute decision and started to gather everything she need. A process that would continue up till the morning of the race. For a full writeup and gallery of images please visit www.BikesorDeath.com. Meditation Institue Katie mentioned in the episode. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Gilmer Chamber of Commerce - One of our title sponsors for the BoD Takeover at Mulberry Gap. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Miles Brown Jake Thurston Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Ernie Lechuga is no stranger to cycling success at a high level. He began his road cycling career in the 90's and earned a spot on the coveted Team Jelly Belly. After retiring he moved to NW Arkansas where he now helps other cyclist unlock their potential through his coaching business, Leborne Coaching. In recent years he's been signing up for more endurance cycling events. He's done Silk Road twice and this was his fourth attempt a the Arkansas High Country Race. Last year he had to pull out of the ARHCR due to liver problems that almost cost him his life. This year, he came back with a plan to set a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) with a goal of 4 days, 8 hours. The previous FKT was set by Ted King in 2020 with a time of 4d 20h 51m, Ernies goal would put him well again of King if he was able to pull it off. Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup with a gallery of images. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Ombraz - Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 No new Patrons this month 😔 Sign up to help me produce these episodes 😊 Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

This week we are taking a peak over the preverbial cycling fence to see what's going on in the world of gravel racing. We've seen Ted King, Payson McElveen, Lachlan Morton, and many other gravel racers dip their toes into the bikepacking waters. Now it's our turn to take a peak into their world. After coming on the podcast to tell us all about Wisconsin Bikepacking & Gravel, Shane Hitz invited me out to experience the Red Granite Grinder for myself. The RGG is a mixed terrain gravel race that starts/finishes in Wausau, WI. One very unique feature about this route is the 20+ special land access options that are available only during this race. Shane has been busy chasing down land owners and managers to make this route a reality and by all accounts his efforts have paid off. Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and a gallery of images from my trip to the RGG. EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover - We are a little over two weeks away from the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap Nov. 10-13th. We'd love to have you join us! Check out the registration info and if you have questions we'd love to hear from you! Kuat - Not just great bike rack, check out their lineup of racks to transport your snow equipment too! And with their No Worries warranty you don't need to worry, because Kuat has your Rack and your Back! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Tim Rowand Steven Bishop Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

RJ Sauer is no stranger to big trips, big challenges, and big adventures. I've been following him and his work for years with great interest and a tinge of jealousy. Last year he set out to take on a new challenge, this time with his 3 year old son, Ollie, in tow. They settled on the Rexy Gravel Race, a 200 mile mixed terrain race starting in Fruita, CO and ending in Moab, UT. The catch? You've got 24 hours to complete it! Before you dive into today's episode you may want to watch his film first. Along For The Ride - Film For a full writeup and gallery of images from today's episode please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Kuat - Have you seen Kuat's Piston SR? It's essentially the single rail version of the Piston Pro X.Same great features like all metal construction, Tiger Drylac (dry-lack) automotive powder coat, Genuine Kashima (kash-ee-ma) Coat, hydro-pneumatic ratchet arms that hug the tires and don't touch your bike frame. Kuat took the Piston Pro X and elevated it, literally. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Alsksandar Radan Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Edyn Teitge just completed the Smoke n' Fire 400 at the age of 13. He didn't just complete it though, he came in 6th place only 8 hours behind Jay Petervery with a time of 2d 15h 31m. When I asked him how he felt after he finished, he didn't think he could go any faster, but he thought he could go for another couple of days at that same pace! Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and picture gallery from todays episode! Quote of the Week - "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." ~ Mark Twain EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens - Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Grepp - Home of the reusable bar tape! Grepp just stepped up to be a sponsor of the BoD Takeover and we couldn't be more stoked to have their support and their grepp ;) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Sky Tettero-Crosby Ian Rhoat Taylor Evans Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

My guest today is Gemma Baird who recently set a new Singlespeed FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Highland Trial 550 in Scotland. After battling breast cancer, surviving homeschooling her three kids through the pandemic, and turning 40, Gemma needed a big goal. That's when she set her sights on the 2022 HT550 group start. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to make the group start, but that' didn't stop her. In August she lined up at the start line solo for an ITT (Individual Time Trial). She finished with a time of 5d 9h 48m which was good enough to best the previous SS FKT by Isla Rowntree. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on this episode with an amazing gallery of photos from the HT550. Quote of the Week: "Until you make the unconcious consious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate" ~ Carl Yung Gemma pinned an article about her ITT for Bikepacking.com that is refrenced in today's episode. EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask! Ruby Coffee - Ruby is our official coffee sponsor for the BoD Takeover! If you can't make the Takeover you can try any of their coffee and get 20% off when you use the code "BIKESORDEATH". 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Doug Armfield Kenny Young Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Seth DuBois just completed his biggest bikepacking challenge yet at the 2022 Silk Road Mountain Race. SRMR has quickly captured the attention of racers and fans from around the world. The stunning imagery and landscape that is Kyrgyzstan seems to lure people in. Seth felt that pull and he answered the call. This year, he joined 154 other brave souls from around the word to challenge themselves on the 1,120 mile course that scales over 100,000 ft. While the landscape may be breathtaking it is also relentless. This race has an attrition rate of 50% or more (depending on the year). Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and gallery of todays episode. Quote of the week ~ "Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain." ~ Jack Kerouac EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask! Red Granite Grinder - Oct. 15th in Wausau, WI. Listen to my chat with Shane Hitz all about this event and bikepacking in Wisconsin, then register to race. I'll be there on the media team, so come out and say hi! Ombraz ~ Get the shades all the cool kids are wearing! Ombraz is offering a special deal to BoD listeners, use the code "BOD20" to get $20 off your order, PLUS Ombraz will send BoD $20 too! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Matthew L Annabel Cedar Blanchard Christopher Bartling Jeff Hehn Christian Meinke Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

What were you doing at 17? Whatever it was, it's probably not as cool as my guest today. PJ Terry just shared first place at TNGA with a time of 2d 12h 30m. He crossed the finish line with Andrew Weidrich who shared the win with PJ. Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup! This weeks quote ~ "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." ~Albert Einstein EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask! Ruby Coffee ~ The best damn coffee can be yours at a 15% discount, just use code "BIKESORDEATH" at checkout! Ombraz ~ Get the shades all the cool kids are wearing! Ombraz is offering a special deal to BoD listeners, use the code "BOD20" to get $20 off your order, PLUS Ombraz will send BoD $20 too! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Schwan Hardi Travis Krzyminski Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Shane Hitz has been busy building routes and putting on gravel races in Wisconsin for many years. This week he's here to tell us all about his routes, the Red Granite Grinder, and Wisconsin gravel riding and bikepacking. After this conversation I'm even more excited about at the Red Granite Grinder on Oct. 15th! The Red Granite Grinder is quickly making a name for itself in the gravel world. What makes this route really special is the hard work that Shane and his counter parters at Ironbull to get access to private land that you can only ride if you enter this race! Listen to today's episodes for all the details and when you're ready to sign up head over to Ironbull.org. I'll be there this year covering the event from a media perspective and riding the 25 mile group ride on Friday. So make sure to ride over and say hi! Ready to sign up for the Red Granite Grinder - Sign up here and I'll see you there in Oct! This weeks quote ~ "Pay attention! This is your life. You're going to want to know what it feels like." EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask! Passchier ~ These handcrafted, bamboo laminated beauties give the rider a comfortable experience never felt before. With a slight amount of flex the rider has reduced jarring and a more relaxed ride, allowing you to ride on and on… Use Code "passchierordeath" at checkout for 10% off your order! Kuat ~ Best racks on earth with the best No Worries Warranty. Kuat has your Rack and your Back! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Veiko Vettik Kevin Shaffer Join them won't you? Now is a great time to sign up on patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

This week I'm joined by Ana Jager who just became the 2022 Tour Divide winner on her Rookie attempt! Most of the questions for todays episode came from women who answered the call on social media! Hillary, Laura, Tatiana, and Katheryn all called in with their questions and many more women sent me questions to ask! Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on todays episode! EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover - Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th - 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask! Ombraz - You get $20 off your purchase, BoD get's $20, everybody wins! Use code "BOD20" at checkout and watch the magic happen. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Manu Cattrysse Richard miller will gouty Colin Schindler Andy Field Joar Adrien Garnier Nico Olmedo Fabio Guarrasi Join them won't you? These episodes aren't possible without support from our listeners.

Aleś Zavoral from the Czech Republic just won the 2022 Bike Nonstop US Race with a time of 18d 11h 51m. Aleś is no stranger to racing, he's logged 136 races in the past 13 years. I did the math, that's 10.4 races a year! Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full write up and photos from Aleś' race! EPISODE SPONSORS Embark Maple - Maple syrup tapped right from their farm made by, and for, bikepackers, adventurers, and outdoors people. For 30% OFF use code "bikesordeath30" at checkout Mulberry Gap - Tired of the heat and ready for fall? Me too! Start planning now for your fall get away to Mulberry Gap! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Thomas Subritzky Michael Young Join them won't you? These episodes aren't possible without support from our listeners.

Nick Marzano is back! And this time he has joined the ranks as an official Tour Divide Finisher with a time of 20d, 9h, 1m, which was good enough to secure 22nd place. Nick first appeared on the podcast while he was still racing the Tour Divide. We chatted when he was at mile 1,250 in Pinedale, WY at about the halfway point for the race. If you haven't already, you may want to give that episode a listen first. Read the full writeup at BikesorDeath.com Local Nation Podcast - Nick's passion podcast from 2018 EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens ~ Good for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Abe Kaufman Darryl Carpenter Join them won't you? These episodes aren't possible without support from our listeners.

We continue our Tour Divide coverage with an interview from this years 2nd and 3rd place finishers, Manu Cattrysse and Adrien Liechti. This year I drove to the finish line of the Tour Divide to meet with finishers and record some podcast with anyone who was willing. On last weeks episode I chatted with First Place finisher Sofiane Sehili. This weeks episode takes place at Jeff Sharps kitchen table in Hachita, NM the day after Manu and Adrien finished their Tour Divide. Visit BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and pictures from the end of this years Tour Divide. EPISODE SPONSORS Ruby Coffee - Ruby is a big supporter of coffee outside for hikers, campers, cyclist, and bikepackers. Check out their amazing selection of instant and steeped coffees. Use promo code "bikesordeath" for 15% of your first order or the first order of your subscription! Kuat - The Pivot V2 is the perfect accessory to your rack that allows you to swing the rack and your bike away from the back of your vehicle making it easier to access. Learn more about this great accessory on their website. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Mark d knight Tom Kom Boni from Hungary Alan Hanley Dave Crumpton Hal Arbor Eric Graham Josh Stair Yasmin Boakye Dexter Kopas Chelsea Gay Join him won't you? This weeks episode was a result of 28 hours of driving, 5 days away from home, and over 2,000 miles driven. Your support makes these episodes possible!

This past weekend Sofiane Sehili became the 2022 Tour Divide winner with a time of 14d 16h 36. This concluded a journey that started 8 years ago when Sofiane toured the Tour Divide for the first time. He would return in 2016 to race it for the first time and claim a very respectable 3rd place, while Mike Hall would go on to win and set a new course record in the process. A record that stands to this day. In 2019 Sofiane came back to try again. Everything was looking promising as he was leading the race and contending with Mike Hall's record until a massive snow storm stopped him in his track, forcing his return to Brush Mountain Lodge and taking him out of the race. Please visit BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and gallery of images from patricks time at the end of the Tour Divide. Episode Sponsors Quad Lock ~ The best phone case and bike mount combo in the known universe! Athletic Greens ~ Good for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Jeremy Chesler Huckansawyer (Kevin) Join him won't you? This weeks episode includes over an hour of raw conversations between Sofiane and I, available only to Patrons!

Last week I put a call out to anyone currently racing the Tour Divide to come on the podcast. I knew it would be a bit of a challenge, but I thought it would be really neat to hear from someone who is currently racing to give us a live account of this years Tour Divide. Nick Marzano answered the call via instagram and after a few days trying to make our schedules align we were able to chat while he was posted up in a hotel room in Pinedale, WY. Nick Marzano - Trackleaders / Instagram EPISODE SPONSORS Embark Maple - Maple Energy Adventure Packs for the Modern Explorer. Use code "bikesordeath" to receive 3 free samples! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Daniel Heaton Join him won't you?

In 1997 the Adventure Cycling Association released the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. What was billed as a touring route, caught the attention of ultra distance mountain biker John Stamstad. In 1999 John set out on the first ITT (individual Time Trial) of the GDMBR and set a the first FKT (fastest known time) of 18 days and 5 hours. His record stood until the 2007 edition of the Tour Divide Race. Visit www.bikesordeath.com for a full writeup on todays episode EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens ~ Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Quad Lock ~ The toughest phone case and mounting system on the market 💪 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Andrew Holt Join him won't you?

This year the East Texas Showdown welcomed 100 riders from all over the US, but it was two road cyclist from nearby Austin that would push the pointy end of the race. Kuya Takami was our 2022 East Texas Showdown winner with a time of 23h 56m, setting a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) and Dennis Lastochkin was the second person to cross the finish line, but his time did not officially count after he accepted assistance on course. Read the full report with a full gallery of pictures at www.bikesordeath.com Community Spotlight Velo Cruces, 'Every Body Rides with Grace' is hosting adaptive cycle parade in Las Cruces, NM on Saturday June 4th. Please click the link for more info on how you can attend and be part of the important work Grace and her family are doing. Episode Sponsor Kuat doesn't also make great racks, they give back too. One way that do this is through their Future Forest Initiative through which they have planted 592,875 trees today. Visit Kuat.com today to learn more about what they are doing for our forrest and check out their racks while you're there...wink...wink... 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Todd Crafter Thomas Sumter Join them won't you?