Groadio - The Premier Gravel Cycling & Racing Podcast

Russell Finsterwald joins Amanda and Bill to chat about setting aside a successful cross-country mountain bike career to become a pro gravel racer, his switch from the Specialized program to Trek Driftless, successfully figuring out how to race his bike and be financially secure, and his friendship/rivalry with Keegan Swenson.

You can follow Russell on Instagram at @Finsty.

Follow the Bikeflights Vlog on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@finsty9.

The Pikes Peak APEX gravel race in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a brand new gravel race with two distances to choose from. It will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025. For more information, visit www.pikespeakapex.com.

Visit buycycle.com/groadio to start listing your items. For a limited time only, sellers can save 30% on the seller protection fee when they list their bikes on buycycle.

Groadio is also sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @CXHAIRS. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Amanda and Bill recap the second annual Valley of Tears gravel race that took place in Turkey, Texas, this past weekend. They also preview The Mid South.

Visit buycycle.com/groadio to start listing your items. For a limited time only, first time sellers can save 30% on the seller protection fee when you list your bike on buycycle.

Groadio is also sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Emily Newsom joins Amanda to chat about finding the bike through running and piano playing, her transition from road to gravel, and why the Life Time Grand Prix needs a transparent selection criteria.

Follow Emily on Instagram at @emilyjoynewsom.

Visit buycycle.com/groadio to start listing your items. For a limited time only, you can save 30% on the seller protection fee when you list your bike on buycycle.

Groadio is also sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Amanda chats with Lelan Dains about riding in Emporia and his history with Unbound, the induction into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, and his long history of promoting community in cycling and beyond.

Visit buycycle.com/groadio to start listing your items. For a limited time only, you can save 30% on the seller protection fee when you list your bike on buycycle.

Groadio is also sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Ruth Holcomb joins Amanda for a conversation about Ruth joining the HT.SQD, finishing first at Rock Cobbler, growing up racing mountain bikes before dabbling in road and track racing, and her first foray into the gravel scene.

Follow Ruth on Instagram at @woofholcomb.

Visit buycycle.com/groadio to start listing your items. For a limited time only, you can save 30% on the seller protection fee when you list your bike on buycycle.

Groadio is also sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

On Episode 101 of the Groadio Podcast, Amanda chats with Tobias Kongstad about switching from road racing to gravel, his standout performances at the Traka and Unbound Gravel, and racing at a high level while also working full-time as the PAS Racing sports coordinator.

You can follow Tobias on Instagram at @tobiaskongstad.

Groadio is sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

It's Episode 100 of the Groadio Podcast, and we're celebrating with two-time U.S. Gravel National Champion Lauren Stephens. Amanda and Lauren chat about various topics, including Lauren's introduction to bikes and bike racing, balancing road and gravel racing, and the experience of racing the world championships.

You can follow Lauren at @lollyis_lauren.

Groadio is sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Brennan Wertz joins Amanda to discuss a wide range of topics, including winning the U.S. Gravel National Championship and this year's World Championships.

You can follow Brennan at @brennan.wertz.

Groadio is sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Griffin Easter chats with Amanda about transitioning from road to gravel, struggling with the discipline in 2023 and his 2024 breakout season. Griffin also talks about the team he started with his brother to promote the OpiCure Foundation, which they also run.

You can follow Griffin on Instagram at @gmeaster91.

To sign up for the OpiCure fundraising ride Amanda and Griffin talk about in the episode go to:

https://resy.com/cities/san-francisco-ca/venues/mattina/events/elevate-ride-series-lunch-at-mattina-with-guests-griffin-cullen-easter-2024-11-16?

Groadio is sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.

Kyleigh Spearing chats with Amanda about her progression from triathlete to road racer and gravel specialist. They touch on Kyleigh's on-the-job training in the gravel peloton and her experience racing the UCI Gravel World Championships.

You can follow Kyleigh at @kykylovestri on Instagram.

Groadio is sponsored by Hammerhead. Right now, our listeners can get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code GROADIO at checkout to get yours today.

This is exclusive for our listeners, so don't forget to use promo code GROADIO! You'll get a free Heart-Rate Monitor with your purchase of a Karoo. Go to Hammerhead.io today, add both items to your cart, and use promo code GROADIO.

You can follow Amanda on Twitter at @_amanda_panda_ and on Instagram at @amanda_panda_.

Follow Bill at @cxhairs on Instagram and Twitter. Subscribe to the CXHAIRS Bulletin at cxhairs.substack.com.

Follow the show on Twitter at @groadio and also on Instagram at @groadio.

Email the show at [email protected].

Groadio is part of the Wide Angle Podium network. Please consider becoming a member. Go to www.wideanglepodium.com/donate to learn more and contribute. If you join and support Groadio, screenshot your receipt and send it to [email protected] for a free pair of socks.