MTB Hall of Fame inductee, John Stamstad, is an Ultramarathon cyclist living in Seattle, Washington.

For those of you unfamiliar with John, he was the first to race the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in 1999 as an individual time trial finishing in just 18 days, 5 hours. Considering the bicycle technology at the time and the fact that he navigated the route using paper maps, this time is nothing to scoff at, even by today’s standards.

While attending the 10 year Ride the Divide Anniversary event last month, where Mike Dion interviewed John, I resonated with his philosophy about participating in these ultra endurance events and leaving our comforts behind as vital for human health and well being.

Since being struck by a car, John has been off his bike but has since returned with a passion to get out there and test his limits again.

I really enjoyed this conversation. John brings a vast outdoor skill set and a positive attitude toward the growth of bikepacking and cycling in general. I know you will find lots of wisdom in this podcast.