Chainwheel Diaries

Hola bike travelers and bike packers, welcome to anotherepisode of the Chainwheel Diaries, stories about bike travel told by the travelers themselves.

I’m your host, Brian Berlin, coming to you from the PalosVerdes Peninsula, home to some of the best bicycling scenery and climbs in Southern California.

And by the way, Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! May it be a year of fulfillment and happiness for you and yours.

Today’s guest is Chris Compton, who has been a frequentguest and is joining me today as we relive our epic Katy Trail Ride last July.

If you’re not familiar with the Katy Trail, it's the longest continuous rail trail in the U.S. measuring 237 miles from Clinton to Machens, Missouri.

Chris and I rode from Clinton to St. Charles in time for thefourth of July celebrations on the riverfront, but we started the ride in our own adventurous way. We met lots of great people and I was fortunate to have visits from my Missouri relatives.

So have a seat at the coffee bar, sit back and enjoy theepisode.

Katy Trail adventure, coming up next!

The latest episode of the Chainwheel Diaries podcast features an interview with Gregg Beytin, an experienced bike adventurer who runs a Meetup group for bicyclers who want to experience bike camping on weekend overnight rides. 

Gregg also has extensive experience with bike travel, the evolution of touring styles, and the community aspects of bike camping groups. The discussion covers Gregg's personal history, equipment choices, the dynamics of group rides, and the challenges and joys of bike touring both in the U.S. and Europe.

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

"You don't stop riding your bike because you get old. You get old because you stop riding your bike." 

That's Ken Francis, my guest on this episode of Chainwheel Diaries. Not only has Ken been bike touring since he was 13, but he's also a Warmshowers host for over 13 years, hosting more than 326 guests at his Long Beach home, often welcoming cyclists from diverse routes such as the Pacific Coast and Route 66. He values the reciprocal hospitality culture, sharing stories of hosting multiple visits from German cyclists and connecting with hosts in Europe, including Brussels and Amsterdam. Ken's hosting enriches both guests and hosts by fostering community and cultural exchange, and he also served on the Warm Showers board for five years. His experience as both a host and guest demonstrates the supportive network available to touring cyclists worldwide.

Ken recounts numerous adventures, including cross-country rides in 1985 and 1986 that were transformative personal growth experiences. One notable story involves enduring hypothermia in Death Valley during an unexpected snowstorm, where he and a friend huddled in a sleeping bag roadside, highlighting the unpredictable challenges of bike touring. Another touching moment was when a stranger in Yellowstone gave him $20 with words of encouragement, reinforcing his belief in human kindness and inspiring him to continue solo after his companions dropped out. Ken emphasizes that despite hardships like headwinds, mechanical failures, or weather, his determination always sees him through.

You'll enjoy hearing from Ken about his bike travels and his engaging manner. Enjoy the episode!

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Geoff Morgan, living just north of London and still employed full-time, started bike touring about five years ago, inspired by Simon Doughty's "Long Distance Cyclist Handbook" and encouraged by Covid lockdown circumstances. His initial tours began with simple weekend trips using an old tent found in his shed, gradually evolving into longer and more ambitious rides across the UK and France. Geoff emphasizes the accessibility of bike touring in his region despite some logistical challenges such as train travel restrictions with bikes.

Geoff describes several favorite rides, including the Outer Hebrides' Hebridean Way, known for stunning scenery and strong winds, and the Coast and Castles route along the northeast coast of England into Scotland, featuring historic castles and coastal paths. He also recounts a two-week bike tour in France along the D-Day beaches, praising the region's bike infrastructure and commemorative sites. His rides often involve a mix of paved roads, bike lanes, and grass paths, requiring adaptability and physical endurance.

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Greetings! Bikepackers and Bike Travelers, welcome to another episode of the Chainwheel Diaries Podcast.

Stories about bike travel told by the travelers themselves.

I’m your host Brian Berlin

Ever confronted a Mormon Cricket? Well my guest today has, and cleverly assigned the highest level of bike travel body odor to this critter. 

His name is Robert Hickman. He’s an artist and teaches sculpture at college, and hails from Brooklyn NY. 

Robert has undertaken many epic bike adventures, including 4 crosses of the U.S., the Great Divide, the Baja Divide, Trans Mexico and most of Japan. In this episode he shares what he’s learned from his bikepacking and bike travel adventures, and there’s good advice in there for my listeners. 

With that, let’s meet Robert Hickman. 

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Greetings bike travelers and bikepackers, welcome to another episode of the Chainwheel Diaries podcast – stories about bike travel told by the travelers themselves. I’m your host, Brian Berlin.

My guests today are Dave Morriss and Wendy Holmes, a seasoned bike traveling couple that have ridden on several continents. They are an absolute delight, and in the interview, we trace their beginnings from their time together in Britain’s Royal Air Force to starting their bicycling adventures in British Columbia Canada. 

Dave and Wendy are living proof that we can continue to explore the world by bike even in our golden years. I found their stories inspiring and you will too. 

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. But how many times have you seen it written on a poster or you’ve heard it from a fellow bicycler, that going on a great bike adventure is all you need to work through your mental health challenges.

That’s certainly not true for everyone. And my guest today, Bryan Rogala, can attest to that. Bryan wrote an article that was published last December in the Adventure Cycling magazine where he opened up about his mental health challenges and his discovery that just riding is not a cure for deeper issues. Therapy and medication have helped him find balance in his life.

Perhaps you’ve struggled with depression and/or anxiety and getting outdoors and being active has only temporarily provided relief. If so, you’ll want to listen to Bryan’s story, and hopefully you’ll find the inspiration and support you need to ask for help.

Because our mental health is important to ourselves, and to our friends and family members. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Welcome bike packers and bike travelers to another episode of Chainwheel Diaries, stories about bike travel told by the travelers themselves. I have a special treat for our listeners today, but let’s start with some trivia.

Think you know everything about George Washington? Not the first President of the US, but the town of about 900 people in Western Washington State. For real, there’s a George, comma, Washington. And my guest today, Chris Compton, has overnighted in George comma Washington en route to completing his corner-to-corner epic bike ride across America. He’s even met the mayor of George, and there’s a really good story about that with video.

But first we’ll revisit some clips from my first two interviews with Chris in February as he laid out his plan to ride across the US and his motivation for doing so, which is awesome, And then a livestream we did together April 29 when he began his journey. Finally, the interview where Chris tells the story of his epic adventure, followed by a bonus feature.

And now, on to the show! 

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Unless you’ve been living on another planet, you should know about Ryan Van Duzer, one of the most prolific bike travelers and bicycling advocates anywhere. He does not own a car and rides his bike everywhere, leading by example that we can get around without automobiles.

He is famous for his mantra “No Whammies, No Flatties, and No Crashies” and his slogan “Get Out There”.

Adventures are well-documented and you can be inspired by them by joining his Patreon Channel, like I did, or following him on his YouTube Channel. Links provided in the show notes and on my YouTube channel.

For this episode of Chainwheel Diaries, I didn’t want to hear his stories about his bike adventures, but rather engage in a discussion about bicycling and politics. We kick around ideas about the empowerment of bicycling in a world dominated by cars. Hopefully our conversation will inspire you to advocate for bicycling, better bicycling infrastructure, and making the world a better place. 

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!

Welcome to Episode Ten of the Chainwheel Diaries podcast. Stories about bike travel told by the travelers themselves. I’m your host Brian Berlin.

Today’s episode features an interview with Greg Frisliie, former bike shop owner and 50-something bicycler who, along with his friend Adam Kidd, will participate in the inaugural Great American Wheel Race, which kicked off today, June 9 2024. Great American Wheel Race is a self-supported bike event of 3,600 miles, from Seattle to Washington DC, and utilizes a mixture of Rails-to-Trails, gravel and  paved paths and roadways.

Greg tells us about what attracted him to this event and the charity Small Miracles he will support through his participation. 

And now, on to the show! 

Chainwheel Diaries is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the podcast, please say so!