Send us a text

Eric Schlange is one of the most well known Zwift riders on the platform, and he comes to the notoriety honestly. When Eric started Zwifting in 2015, the engineer and web master immediately identified a need for a Zwift knowledge base to address the nuances of riding in the brave new virtual world. Exponential traffic growth led to an official Zwift sponsorship, cementing Zwift Insider's credibility. This story does not entail scale-at-all-costs entrepreneurship. Instead it is one of a self-professed community builder who understands the need, power and commercial value of niche online hubs. In fact, Zwift Insider was not Eric’s first rodeo - that was www.banjohangout.com - THE banjo enthusiast destination for more than 20 years!

Sure enough, Eric is exactly the kind of guy you’d hope to be riding and racing with on the platform: friendly, witty, competitive and resourceful. He demonstrates the core values and class of a true esport ambassador and this interview reflects his passion and ability to articulate both soft and hard reasons that Zwift earns precious hours of devotee training. This interview covers Zwift Insider’s adolescence before organized platform racing, broad usership data, and a taste of the product roadmap, with Eric’s insider insight and stories sprinkled throughout.  You would be so lucky to race alongside Eric in Watopia, Richmond or Glasgow. RIDE ON! 

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Mikey Thompson is hard to miss in Austin’s endurance community because he’s everywhere at once as a core member of the Breakfast Club cycling group and longtime High Five events associate, which organizes Austin’s major endurance events. You’ll immediately notice Mikey’s bubbly personality and the sparkle in his eye, which is partially due to his battle with pediatric cancer and then with addiction to his “pain management” regimen. In short, Mikey is happy to be here because so many of his fellow cancer patients have fallen, and guess what, he wants you to maximize the good in your life too. Mikey’s story is one of a young man finding his career calling, which took him to a masters program in communication theory and has culminated in the imminent publication of his memoir and ethos, "Finding Good." His MO is based firmly in three tenets of self love, good company and a motivation to leave the world better than how you found it. Mikey crafted this ideology after a remarkable career that started in the Costco checkout aisle, moved to fundraising for LIVESTRONG and other cancer related foundations, and recently landed at senate hearings to make a case for legalizing medicinal use of cannabis. And let's not forget, Mikey is an accomplished triathlete who competes without his left fibula, which was used to reconstruct his mandible after chemo caused a tumor on his jaw. There's a lot in here and plenty more in his new book! Please enjoy.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Our branding was borrowed from Sub Zero, THE preeminent Philadelphia skate shop of the 90s, where I spent a lot of time and a little money when I was a kid. The shop’s owner, and one of my childhood heroes, was kind enough to give me his blessing for the logo AND to share his incredible story.

Schane Von Hartleben started Sub Zero as a response to his passion for skateboarding, a knack for pre-internet guerrilla marketing AND an innate urge for extended family. Schane’s family history is unconventional, and what he lacked in structure, he made up for in motivation to build his own. At 17 years of age. 

This isn’t an episode about cycling per se, but I guarantee you’ll appreciate Schane’s thoughtful messages and clear perspective on living life with purpose. Along the way we have a great time discussing some of the similarities between the two sports and how Schane got his business going as a teenager. In the name of community and family, please enjoy,

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

If you’re racing bikes in Austin, TX, welcome to Tolleywood. The timing of this episode could not be more opportune given the slate of projects Chris Tolley has planned for 2024, and what I love most about this race promoter, is that he understands the value of branding, not just for individual races but for the sport of cycling on the whole. Chris’s background is firmly entrenched in BMX riding, where style, technical ability and strength are all required. “Style” is the component that is frequently missing from road races and Tolley has vowed to take the extra steps to make his races look good by anyone’s standards. These branding and digital marketing skills have come through years of cultivating an egocentric online persona that both mocks influencer culture while it effectively influences culture. All of these qualities on top of elite crit racing accolades make Tolley a VERY effective hype man, and one that Austin is lucky to have. Tolley is the race director of Driveway Series, America’s most prolific race series, and he has a burning desire to deliver an exceptional experience to all parties that seems to be driven mostly by the challenge of making it as good as it can possibly be. This is not an episode about business so much as passion for culture, two wheel motion and community. 

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Interview Part 2/2 takes all the context that we collected in Part 1 - Doug's upbringing in a creative household, brief flirtation with a serious cycling career, and epic journey pioneering the craft coffee industry - and gets to the good part. That is, how Doug rediscovered bikes after a decades long hiatus and hatched a brand that blends his flare for hospitality into a cyclist's haunt. The Meteor's path to a delightful multifaceted space has been circuitous, but as Doug points out, every misstep has helped his team focus the mold. This model was always meant to be a repeatable one, and The Meteor has ambitious plans for new locations across the country over the next couple years. Don't miss the finale when Doug shares how hard bike racing mirrors the seemingly insurmountable challenges in entrepreneurship.

Doug Zell is the cofounder of various businesses including Intelligentsia Coffee, Allied Cyle Works, and of course, The Meteor, where you can find him fastidiously attending to the smallest details of the cafe, bike shop and wine bar.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Doug Zell is the cofounder of various businesses including Intelligentsia Coffee, Allied Cyle Works, and of course, The Meteor, where you can find him fastidiously attending to the smallest details of the cafe, bike shop and wine bar. What unfolds in part 1 of our 2 part interview, is a story about racing bikes in the midwest in the 80s, pioneering the modern coffee industry in the 90’s and discovering an appreciation for design in the aughts. If you listen closely, you’ll notice that Doug was at the forefront of the "direct trade" movement, which nurtures relationships directly with native growers in order to enhance businesses on both sides of the transaction. This first installment, with its focus on establishing a consumer aesthetic, sets the stage for why Doug is an outsized contributor to Austin’s bike community. We’ll cover that in Part 2. Please enjoy this remarkable episode, as Doug’s experience and vibe make him a special addition to our guest list.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Instead of taking a well beaten path after attending UT Austin, Caitlin Cash taught English in France and Thailand, but her travels did not stop there. For the next 5 years she guided cycling tours all over the world and upon her return to Austin, she took up bike racing, but she also yearned for the sweet and refreshing Milk Tea she enjoyed in Thailand on hot days, so she set about making it herself and testing the results on friends. It wasn’t too long before she was bottling her milk tea and selling it in stores. 

Not only has Cash made remarkable strides with Kinship Milk Tea, she also understands the power of her business. And the potential it has. Cash focuses on empowering women and minorities with leadership, hiring, and sourcing and sharing her struggles so others can benefit. On the product side, Cash seems to be doing many things right because she was accepted into a very exclusive Whole Foods accelerator after the taping of this episode. Tune in to hear how the Kinship story started with bikes, and how Cash's entrepreneurial successes have not come without learning the hard way.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

What started in 2017 with casual Sunday rides from a Philadelphia neighborhood barbershop has become an internationally recognized cycling club and brand called, KRT, short for Kings Rule Together. As co-founder, Curran J. Swint, emphasizes, the club makes waves because it chronicles the lifestyles of chronically under-represented riders. The fresh content and positive energy reflected by KRT/QRT on socials in infectious, which helps membership grow and reinforces the club motto, “Strength in Numbers.” It also helps cycling industry titans like Trek, who Curran represents as a brand ambassador, rethink what is possible through a full paradigm shift of what a club can offer. Curran’s story begins with a streetwear brand that fed his love for fashion and actually had nothing to do with cycling. Tune in to learn how KRT/QRT grew from the cofounders inclusive message of community, fun and multifaceted lifestyles. 

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Nick Weber fell in love with Texas crit racing as a young man and his extraordinary commitment to training made him a contender in the competitive and dangerous arena. This dedication pushed Nick's heart over the limit while making a dig during a practice race—at 22 years old, Nick suffered Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), which is a tear in the heart's arterial wall. This life-altering event compelled Nick to  reevaluate many aspects of his life, and the antiquated cardiac rehab options in front of him inspired him to develop a personalized rehab program influenced by budding cycling technologies like Zwift and Trainer Road. After dedicating years to education in public health and VC/PE, Nick founded his own virtual cardiac rehab company, Ucardia, with the financial backing of the Texas cycling community. Today, Ucardia is closing the gap between cardiac patients in need and available rehab solutions. Tune in for Nick's incredible story and how cycling has taken on new meaning for him throughout his journey.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik

Send us a text

Four friends at different stages of life bond over triathalon and bikes, and share a real passion for bringing people together. They’re NOT hardcore roadies and so identify a gap in the Austin cycling community—accessible rides that welcome veterans and newcomers equally. The point and message is not just to bury yourself in a workout then go home (the norm), but to enjoy being outside on two wheels and make friends over...breakfast, you guessed it. In just 2.5 year history, Breakfast Club's monthly group rides frequently  attract as many as 500 people,  they've grown an impressive brand and online following, sold through a number of merch drops and hosted two destination weekend trips (many attendees have tattoos to show for it). Maintaining a cycling brand built on group rides has its challenges so during the show we dive into those, as well as the clubs origins, the special sauce (Austin gets some credit) and what the future holds.

We had so much fun at our the first annual hill climbers summit in Nov that we decided to run it back for SXSW on friday march 13. We're talking about a live audience podcast with 75 other cyclists that share your passion for bikes and business. The big news is that we've confirmed Lucas Borgoyne - US Crit National Champ - and Nate Williams, a VC who is also on the USAC tech council - to weigh in on tech innovation in cycling. More info on tickets coming soon...

Hill Climbers is more than just a podcast, it's a growing business network for cyclists. You can tap into our event by following our Linkedin and Instagram, and subscribing to our newsletter.

www.hill-climbers.com
Instagram
Linkedin

Theme Music: Summer Vibes by Rizik