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This week I’m speaking with Stefan Barth, Coach at SBU Coaching and Author of Ultracycling & Bikepacking. Stefan is an entrepreneur who started his coaching business after being dissatisfied with his path. His coaching business is unique as he takes a whole-body approach to training his athletes. As a Medical Fitness Coach, he can pay particular attention to athletes’ physical imbalances and problem areas and quickly relieve acute tension and pain symptoms via personal training and acupressure. As an author, Stefan wanted to write a scientifically based book about the physiology of ultra-distance cycling. Dissatisfied with the response he received from publishers, he created his own company to self-publish his book. It’s a wealth of information, sharing insights from athletes like our very own, Meaghan Hackinen. Stefan also gathered insights from athletes such as Christoph Strasser, Lael Wilcox, James M. Hayden, Jenny Tough and many more. Stefan has started a Kick Starter Campaign in order to get the book translated into English. Please chip in and help Stefan. He has already raised over $6,000 but has a ways to go. You can find the link to the campaign in the show notes. This was a great chat that I’m sure you’ll enjoy. We touch on a lot of topics from nutrition to physiology to motivation. There are a ton of takeaways in here, so enjoy. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

The last couple of days have been hard. Last evening I decided I’d put on Ride the Divide and escape into that world for a bit. It was very cool to see places that I had been, long desolate roads and the rider’s struggles as they navigated the trail. Despite being separated by a big screen and that over a decade has passed since the film was released, there is familiarity and timelessness to it. Like comfort food for the eyes, watching it stimulated my parasympathetic nervous system and my body became calm. I fell asleep shortly after I posted an inspirational quote from Matthew Lee on my social feed and indicated that I was on a low part of the emotional rollercoaster at that moment. When I awoke at 3:30 in the morning on the verge of emotionally falling apart, I looked at my phone and found that people had reached out to see if I was okay. It helped immensely and I was inspired to get up and record this short solo podcast to share, ask for help and to thank everyone for their support. The podcast has been a meaningful venture for me and to be able to connect with all of you, even if it’s only a one way interaction sometimes, is therapeutic. Thanks for being there… Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week, I bring you a conversation with Jerry Kopack. Jerry reached out to me a few weeks ago requesting to connect on the podcast. He wanted to share his personal adventure and how the simple act of riding a bike, provided him with invaluable insight. This is from the bio he sent me. After 10 soulless years in corporate America, Jerry founded a hospice and learned first hand how precious our time really is. Following a series of his own crippling losses and armed with those lessons learned from working with people at the end of life, he set off on what was supposed to be a 2-month bike tour, that turned into nearly 2 years. Along the way, Jerry started to say, "bikes always win" because of the freedom they give people and the places they take you. With an optimistic curiosity, he found my way through Madagascar, India, Nepal, China, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, and Israel. Jerry soon realized that this time was a gift. That every day is a gift. Lessons learned from running a hospice became lessons lived. And with that, a continual question propelled him: “Am I using my time well?” Jerry’s book “The World Spins By” is an account of his escape from corporate America and the road to discovering himself. In this episode, we take deep dive into his stories and the lessons learned along the way and I’m certain you’ll enjoy listening to this conversation. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Those of you following the Iditarod Trail Invitational may have noticed a couple of riders heading back to Anchorage, RJ Sauer being one of them. On the heels of just publishing a podcast with RJ, he messaged me to let me know that his heart just wasn’t in it. I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to connect with RJ, while it is all fresh, to talk about what happened and why. Just showing up to an event like this is an endeavour in and of itself, but when so much time and energy is spent on preparation and logistics, not finishing an event can be devastating. In RJ’s case, he was able to find peace in his decision and in the episode, he shares his mindset. RJ first rode the 1000 mile ITI back in 2001 as a 26 year old Film Maker producing the film, Thin White Line. It was his first bikepacking race and the catalyst for many adventures to come. You can read more about his adventures over at rjsauer.com or on his Instagram page, where he more or less journals his life. There are lots of great takeaways in the one. Scratching is always a possibility and sometimes it can’t be avoided. Listen in as RJ shares some wisdom that we can all learn from. Enjoy this conversation. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

One of the fringe benefits of doing this podcast is having my guest’s phone numbers. I saw that RJ Sauer was getting ready for the Iditarod Trail invitational, 350-mile race across Alaska, so I reached out to him to wish him luck and to keep the rubber side down. The next day, I was thinking to myself “Is he in Alaska already?”. When I found out that he was, I figured this would be a great opportunity to talk to RJ. The last time we spoke was back on 002. RJ Sauer - Perseverance Personified.   This conversation was one for the books and one in which we covered a ton of topics. We talked a little about the Iditarod Trail Invitational but then, as my podcast goes, we took many tangents along the way. We talked about presence, groupthink, the Tour Divide, and selfishness. I asked him about his writing process. We also covered imposter syndrome, storytelling, and what’s your “why”, a hot topic for many endurance athletes and a question we often ask when we’re suffering in an event. RJ first rode the 1000 mile ITI back in 2001 as a 26 year old Film Maker producing the film, Thin White Line. It was his first bikepacking race and the catalyst for many adventures to come. You can read more about his adventures over at rjsauer.com or on his Instagram page, where he more or less journals his life. You can also track his progress in the ITI 350. It’s been too long since I last spoke with RJ. I always find our conversations a joy and a great learning experience. His humble nature and willingness to share make for a great conversation and I hope you find some takeaways as well. Enjoy Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week, I chat with Jonathan Hogg. Jonathan is riding the Tour Divide in 2023 and wants to raise a million dollars for Rocky Mountain Adaptive, a charitable organization that creates and provides accessible adventures for individuals living with physical and/or neuro-divergent challenges. Jonathan discovered the Tour Divide during his recovery after breaking his leg. During that time, he also wanted to start giving back to the community somehow and hobbled into Rock Mountain Adaptive to volunteer. In this conversation, Jonathan shares a lot about himself. He talks about his struggles with depression and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He discusses the tools that he uses to combat his condition, namely how cycling is “medicine for the brain”. How doing hard things and finding purpose in ones life is vital to his mental health. I so appreciated Jonathan’s vulnerability in this conversation and I hope you find some takeaways while listening. Please visit Jonathan’s Gofundme to donate to his cause and please share this around to your family and friends so we can all help him raise money for Rocky Mountain Adaptive. And don’t forget to follow him on Instagram to stay up to date on his progress! @jonathan.hogg.127 Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Joy, Habits, Life Obstacles, Validation, Trauma, Human Design. This chat with Ryan Draper, despite being truncated by family duties, is a doozy and one of my favourite ways to podcast. No framework, just conversational flow. We get deep fast! I know I just re-posted a podcast with Ryan, but I think the topics here are fresh and interesting. I share quite a bit about my current circumstances and how I’m navigating it. I talk about my experience with my Mindset Coach Paige Royal @paigeroyalcoaching, of Paige Royal Coaching with whom I’m learning how to let go of unhealthy emotions that have been holding me back. Ryan shares his journey through coaching and talks about his ethos. He speaks about Human Design and how he uses that to help him navigate coaching athletes with specific personalities. I hope you dig it. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

From time to time Ryan and I connect for a chat to catch up on things that are going on in our lives and there are great things happening for him. Namely the birth of his son, Maxton. Ryan started coaching as a passion project in 2000 as athletes in his community were asking him for help with their training. In 2014, he took the leap and Cycling 101 was born. As the name implies, Cycling 101 is your number one resource for all things cycling. They offer Coaching, lessons, guiding, and if you just picked up a new whip, what better place to have it fit than in his newly renovated bike fitting studio at his home in Canmore, Alberta. Ryan’s strategy regarding growth in his business is organic, and his approach to taking on clients is the same. He wants to make sure the there’s a good fit between himself and his client in order to provide a friction free relationship which maximizes results. His intuitive approach to coaching and training as well as his ability to shape a program around an athletes lifestyle has been paramount to his success and the success of his athletes. In this episode we chat about his new adventures in fatherhood, forming good, long lasting habits, self care and vulnerability. We talk about some of the exciting things that are happening at Cycling 101 and effective strategies in maintaining work life balance. We also cover the importance of knowing your limits so you can ride another day. We are hoping to make these chats a more regular thing, so if you have any questions you’d like us to cover on the podcast, reach out and we’ll put together a special AMA episode. Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code VIP50 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Lakeside Bikes

In this episode of the podcast, I connect with Meaghan to talk about some of her 2022 cycling highlights, including the World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships, The trans Continental Race and Mallorca 312. Meaghan Hackinen is a bikepacker, writer and adventure seeker cyclist from Kelowna, BC, whose two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads. She is a 4X Everester as well as wells as a Transcontinental Race, Trans Am Bike Race, NorthCape4000, Alberta-Rockies700, and Paris-Brest-Paris brevet finisher. Meaghan holds the women’s FKT for The Big Lonely, BC Epic 1000, and World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships. Her debut travel memoir, South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels (NeWest Press, 2019) was shortlisted for two Canadian book awards; her upcoming memoir about competing in the Trans Am Bike Race is forthcoming from NeWest Press in late 2023. Meg is always a joy to talk with and I hope you enjoy this conversation. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Thanks to Blivet Sports for their support. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week I thought I would chat a little about Fat Bikes and why you need one. I have had a Fat Bike in my quiver for the last 8 years or so and it’s one of my favourite bikes to ride. I mostly roll her in the winter but summer riding with a fatbike can be equally as fun! In this episode I reflect back on the Divide. Memories that were bought back to life after a voice memo I received from Brian. I chat about fat biking, gear, layering and some of the preferences I have acquired over the last handful of years of riding in deep winter. As much as I see the value with in-door trainers, I still think that riding outdoors is a much better way to maintain over-all fitness. Not only are you stressing your body in more variable ways, you’re also exposing it to cold temperatures and other adversity that I think is super valuable. I couldn’t remember the names of the folks who offered AJ and I lodging and food in Horca, so I went back through my posts. Thanks again to Jason and Stacey from Red Bear Lodge in Horca for their kindness and generosity! I hope you enjoy this episode and of course I value your feedback and opinions. Feel free to send me a message and let’s start a conversation. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

In this episode, I speak with one of my Mindset Coaches, Paige Royal. Paige and I have known each other for a many years. Last year, after being disconnected from her for a long time, I stumbled across her online. We connected for a conversation, which turned into a personal coaching opportunity. Coaching and Therapy have been vital for me over the last few years and I have preached the benefits of having someone to talk to and give you perspective that you may not have had before. For me, it has validated my sanity and the work that I have done while I navigate my own personal growth. “Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out or you're still working your day job and building your business on the side, I genuinely give a shit about helping people just like you get unstuck and out of your own way so you can take your business and lifestyle to the next level. I specialize in working with your mindset and help you bridge the gap from where you are now to where you desperately want to be so you can clearly, confidently and calmly work on your business taking the inspired action you now feel good about taking to move your business forward.” https://www.paigeroyalcoaching.com/ Paige specializes is Neuro Linguistic Programming and helps entrepreneurs and business owners get out of their own paths to success by changing the way they talk to themselves. As a person who suffers from negative self talk, Paige’s specialty really resonated with me and I have benefited greatly from working with her. This is one of my typical meandering chats that covers a ton of different topics about how to navigate our lives and dig down to the things that are holding us back. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

In this episode of the podcast, I bring you a fantastic conversation with Valorie Masuda, Psychedelic Therapist with Roots to Thrive, “Roots to Thrive is Canada’s first and only multidisciplinary, non-profit healthcare practice to legally offer evidence-informed, multi-week, group therapy programs that use a community of practice model, uniquely designed to address trauma and to promote resilience, and to also include the option of psilocybin-assisted and ketamine-assisted group therapy.” source: https://rootstothrive.com/about-us/what-is-roots-to-thrive/ Valorie is a palliative care physician and general practitioner in oncology working in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of British Columbia currently working on a clinical trial demonstrating the feasibility of delivering psilocybin therapy in a group set, setting and integration model with Roots to Thrive. She is certified in psychedelic medicine through the California Institute of Integral Studies and has also received training through Therapsil and Roots to Thrive. Valorie is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians, specializing in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care. I am really excited to bring you this conversation. Those of you who have listened to the podcast know that, as a self experimenter, I have dabbled with the use of Psilocybin in microdoses as a way to manage depression and anxiety. Although we don’t discuss microdosing in this episode, you will still find a ton of information and insight here as we discuss the use of psilocyban mushrooms in larger doses as a way to help patients deal with existential end of life mental health difficulties. The common thread through it all is that humans have lost their connection to one another. Human connection used to be vital for survival but is something we have lost through the way we now look at our lives with a colonial lense. We also discuss how our dismissal of indigenous culture has negatively affected our long term mental health with our disconnection from community and nature. We chat about how poor mental health is addressed with pharmacology rather than digging down to the roots of trauma and how natural medicinal compounds such as psilocybin can help. I’ve been wanting to share a conversation like this for some time and I’m so happy to be bringing this to you now. TherapsilRoots to ThriveMultidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I just wanted to check in to give some thanks to everyone for all of their support while I navigate some murky waters. It’s been super tough for me so all the love that I’m receiving has been welcome. Thank you. I neglected to thank Mason for his voice into, as I recorded my part before I inserted his. Thanks, Mason. It’s gratifying to hear that you appreciate the work I’m doing here on My Back 40 and that you’re finding some takeaways. If you want to send me a voice intro, like Mason did, whip out your device, record me something and send it to myback40podcast at gmail dot com. I love hearing voices from the community and I think it brings us all closer together. If you find value in the work that I’m doing, please consider supporting me financially. Check the support link in the header. Consider buying me a pint, coffee or lunch once a month by signing up to my Patreon. You can also PayPal me! As an independents podcaster, it’s easy for my platform to get lost in the millions of other podcasts that are out there, especially the bigger ones. It’s a saturated space, so your support means the world to me. I love this podcast and your help is appreciated, especially during these times of uncertainty. I thank you in advance. I’ll have more chats coming your way soon so stay tuned. Subscribe, share, rate and review so you don’t miss any. Also, there are tons of conversations in the archive so why not check out ones that you may have missed. Talk to you soon. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I was privileged to receive a Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem in the mail the other day, thanks to my buddy Jim from MTXC in Missoula, MT and Dylan at Redshift Sports. As a purist, it’s a little outside of the box for me but I had heard from other Divide riders, who had run this stem, that it’s a game changer and I was pretty stoked to try it out. In this Episode I connect with Erik de Brun, co-founder and mechanical engineer for Redshift Sports. We talk about how the company got started and their process for developing products. We chat a little about some of the challenges they faced as a startup and where they find inspiration for new projects. What stood out to my most about Erik was his passion for what he and his team are doing. As avid cyclists themselves, they are always switched on and thinking about new components when they’re out riding. If you’re looking at these stems but you’re still on the fence, pull the trigger and get one. It’s really going to make your ride much more comfortable and could mitigate a lot of the issues us endurance riders have with sore necks, backs and hand numbness. Learn more about the ShockStop Suspension Stem and their other accessories. I’m super excited to bring you a new offer code! @redshiftsports wants go give the My Back 40 community 15% off! I’ve been riding their suspension stems and absolutely love them. You will too. Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me! Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me! Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me! Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me! Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me! Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Hey everyone! It’s been pretty quiet out here at My Back 40. I tend to withdrawal when things get hard in life. Finding the balance during these times can be challenging so I thought I would chat a little about some topics that have been top of mind lately. Motivation can be challenging when you’re experiencing the lows, and I try to practice what I preach to just get out there and ride. Sometimes though, the body just needs what it needs and if that is rest, that’s what I plan to provide. Selfishness is something that many passionate endurance athletes experience. Doing what is best for you can often feel like you’re taking away from others. It is said that if you can’t be your best self, then you can’t show up for the ones you love and sometimes being selfish and filling your own buckets is the only way to do that. What do you think about this? Send me a message to let me know. The last topic I talking about is microdosing. The use of compounds like cannabis, LSD and psilocybin in smaller doses can have profound effects on the human mind. Here, I talk a little about my experience with microdosing psilocybin and some of the benefits I have experienced with this natural compound. The landscape is changing when it comes to various psychedelic compounds with studies being conducted at various clinics around the world. And as certain compounds’ status are being moved away from schedule 1 and becoming legal, more of these medicines will become available to the public. Mother Nature has always provided what we need to be strong in mind and body and this is being proven in scientific settings. For more information, check out the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPS. Also, here are some great reads. Some of them take a deeper dive into what I talk about on this podcast. https://zumgarden.ca/ Dopamine NationHow to Change Your MindWaking UpAtomic HabitsThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a FuckThe Master and His Emissary Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week, I bring you a conversation with Steve Halligan @halligan.steve about his experience on the Silk Road Mountain Race, A grueling 1895km route, with around 34,500m of elevation gain, which he finished in 8 days 6 hours and 35 minutes, taking 3rd place. Steve’s resume of events is impressive having tackled the Tour Divide twice and has crushed other events such as the Timaru and the Tour Aotearoa. Steve takes a holistic approach to his racing and his life and shares some of his wisdom for a successful ultra endurance experience and the challenges he faced doing that in a country like Kyrgyzstan, where resupply options can be quite limited. Steve is the co-owner of the Vibrant Living Retreat in Hanmer Springs New Zealand which he operates with his wife, Mary Jo. On offer are relaxing, replenishing, pampering, transformational and educational Wellness Retreats that support and inspire body, mind and soul. Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

It has been a while since Kyle @kyle_mess and I connected on the podcast, and this one, where we discuss his recent win on the Alberta Rockies 700, did not disappoint. After scratching on this year’s BC Epic 1000, due to stomach issues, Kyle knew he had to make some changes. He delved deep into his training and nutrition, learning more about his physiology and how his own body reacts to the stresses of endurance events. Many athletes suffer from debilitating digestive issues in these races. Consistent fueling is one thing, but keeping the gas in the tank is another. On top of that, you want to make sure you’re putting the right kind of gas in the tank to support what you’re asking your body to do in the moment. This can change over the course of the day and it’s important to stay mindful of this as you’re riding. Ultimately, Kyle was successful, completing the 679km route in just over 52 hours. Alberta Rockies 700 master mind, Jonathan Hayward @stuffandthingscanada, is known for stitching together rather challenging routes and his name can often be heard echoing through the Rockies, generally preceded with a string of expletives. That being said, we love you buddy!! In this episode, we chat about his experience this past summer and the things he learned while he dove deep into tuning up his physiology enabling him to crush this route. We talk about his gear and Kyle shares stories about his experience on one of Western Canada’s most iconic routes. I hope you dig it. Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

The image above always takes me back to my first bikepacking event, the 2017 AR700. Here, head hanging low, I soft pedal my way to Canmore where I decided that I would scratch. My mental outlook had been declining throughout the day, and despite advice given to me by Greg Van Tighem while on the trail to sleep on it, the decision had already been made. That was the first and last time I have scratched on a race. I’ve been thinking a lot about failure lately. Failure is defined as a lack of success or the inability to meet an expectation or to reach a predetermined goal. We can read too much into failure. Too often, we tie it to our sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-acceptance. By preparing ourselves for the what ifs, you’re reframing the effort and giving yourself some breathing room. We also need to look at failures, or set backs, as learning opportunities. If we can learn to extract lessons from our set backs, we can at least claim a small victory and move on. In this episode I read from a couple of my posts that were inspired by a couple of voice intros that were sent to me. I always feel so much gratitude when I receive voice messages from listeners. The engagement inspires me. Not only that, it connects me to you, the listener. I have mentioned on the podcast many times now that, despite this feeling like a one way relationship, me talking to you, it’s more than that. Engagement makes this humble project very meaningful to me and drives me to continue to connect with you. Don’t be shy! It doesn’t have to be profound, just tell me what you’re up to. Maybe you want to get something off your chest, in which case you may want to be anonymous. Just say so. So, whip out your device, record me something and DM it or email me. Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

On this episode of the podcast, I bring you a conversation with Shawn Cheshire, United States Army military veteran and para-athlete. This past June, Shawn and her team tackled the Tour Divide. The Divide is hard enough, but for Shawn, who lost her sight due to a head injury sustained at her job as a paramedic, it was the hardest thing she has even done. Personally, I can’t even fathom the difficulty of having to traverse some of the terrain on the Divide blind. The constant surface variations and variable weather conditions cracked even the most hardened athletes, but Shaun finished the route in just over 50 days. Shawn grew up a multi sport athlete but losing her vision didn’t stop her. She has competed at National and International levels in multiple para-sports, including adaptive rowing, adaptive biathlon, tandem road para-cycling, and tandem track para-cycling. In this episode, we chat about her background in sport, her time in the US Army and the events that led to her losing her vision. We discuss the challenges she faced while overcoming this set back and how it almost drove her to the brink of taking her own life. Shawn also shares stories from the Divide and some of the logistical challenges her and her team faced while trying to get her to Antelope Wells in one piece. It was an honour and privilege to be able to connect with Shawn and to share this with all of you. I hope you are moved and inspired like I was by her grit and determination. To learn more about Shawn, you can visit her website http://www.shawncheshire.org/ Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!