I RIDE A BIKE — THE PODCAST

Season 4 / Episode 9: With Tira Denny's race season in full swing (and an energetic toddler at home), I was so appreciative that she shared a bit of her valuable down time to chat bike stories on the mic. We start with an early memory, where a long bike ride and a bit of bribery turned into a brand new bike thanks to her dad. Then we travel across the Atlantic to a time when an ambitious London adventure turned into a less-than-exciting UberX ride. And I particularly enjoyed hearing how endurance racing began with a rather simple goal of self-fulfillment through competition, and how her partner Mike and their daughter Zoey have now honed her focus and determination to the level of a champion.

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Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

BIKE SHORTS Episode 4: Last October (‘22) I sat down with my good friend and adventure buddy Eric Brackett to record this episode of Bike Shorts. He said he had a story he’d been holding on to, and wanted to get my honest reaction while we were on the mic. And this one certainly didn’t disappoint! Without giving it all away, it’s a stolen bike story that doesn’t go exactly as you might expect when a man known as Wolf enters the picture.

Sadly, in January of 2023, Nicholas “Wolf” Gardner’s life was cut tragically short. After learning of this, I wanted to give some time before releasing this episode. I also took some time to read about Wolf through words written by his family. It’s yet another reminder that we never know the true story behind those we may have a chance encounter with. So please listen to the episode, then read his obituary and some of the notes people left. There’s also a video at the bottom to see his life in pictures.

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WHAT IS BIKE SHORTS? I often chat with fellow cyclists that say they don’t have enough bike-related stories to fill a full episode, so the idea of BIKE SHORTS was born! Still a bit rough around the edges, I hope you find it interesting and follow along as I work through the process.

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Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 8: When looking back at his childhood, Michael's single greatest Christmas was when we walked into the living room to find a beautiful gold and silver bike from Montgomery Ward leaning against the wall. And he's been hooked ever since. As he grew, so did his style of riding and the types of bikes that where associated — from BMX with giant back-yard jumps to a Schwinn Varsity that he took for a 100-mile ride when he was only 12 while listening to 38 Special on repeat. Later in his teens he found inspiration watching the Tour de France on The Wide World of Sports and still has a special fondness for John Tesh which he's more than happy to admit. These days you can find him riding with his sons or helping kids find the joy of MTB racing through the Southern Maine Mountain Bike Syndicate, which he helped to start.

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 7: Eric Desautels wasn't really into T-ball as a kid, so when his dad convinced him to take his first group MTB ride at the age of 6, it was on a bike that he discovered what would become his life's passion and joy. He quickly started entering some local races, and by the time he was in his early teens, he was already winning championships up against kids several years older. In addition to the races, there were healthy doses of your standard backyard BMX shenanigans, riding miles and miles to buy a Coke, and just the pure joy of summer adventures. And even as he competes at the Elite level now, the simple pleasure of riding a bike maintains the base for living a happy, healthy life. Follow Eric on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.desautels.73/

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

BIKE SHORTS Episode 3: When local kite-boarding legend and amazing trail builder Scott Furr first shared his story of an unexpected encounter with a porcupine while on a night ride, I knew I had to get him on the mic for an episode of Bike Shorts. It’s one of those things you just have to hear (and see) to believe.

Want to learn to kite board? Scott will show you the way. And there's no porcupines involved: www.KiteMaine.com

--

WHAT IS BIKE SHORTS? I often chat with fellow cyclists that say they don’t have enough bike-related stories to fill a full episode, so the idea of BIKE SHORTS was born! Still a bit rough around the edges, I hope you find it interesting and follow along as I work through the process.

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 6: Bike-riding enthusiast, author, and super rad mom Leah Day was kind enough to share a few great bike stories between her Friday group ride and opening her bike shop to the public. Her fire for adventure was ignited at an early age while living in Philadelphia, and when you hear her stories of a cross-country bike tour with her son Oakley, or her recent solo ride over the Andes Mountains, her energy and excitement is sure to inspire. And if you're one of the listeners that may not have ridden in a while, do yourself a favor and head to Lighthouse Bikes! Leah would love to help you remember what it's like to feel like a kid again on two wheels!

FROM THIS EPISODE:

Read her book "Changing Gears" (Familius Publishing) available at your local book store, on Amazon, Audible or Kindle:

Visit her shop: Lighthouse Bikes, South Portland, Maine: www.lighthousebikesportland.com

Bike Route Planning: www.Kamoot.com

Find places to camp: www.iOverlander.com

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 5: Artist and photographer Mardi Millay rode her bike over on a beautiful spring day to share stories of her life's journey — which began in a Cambodian orphanage in the late 1980s. After an arduous beginning, Mardi and 9 international siblings were adopted by a family on the coast of Maine, where cycling really began to take hold. She recounts first memories of riding bikes around the Bar Harbor area, but it’s when she moved to Portland that she really got her first taste of the freedom and independence a bike would allow. Now she rides as often as possible; always learning, looking, listening and most importantly — finding adventure and treasure wherever she goes. Her ultimate goal is to ride her bike around the U.S. — to discover and document what America means, from her own unique perspective.

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 4: Last minute sessions are some of the best. So when critical care nurse (and wannabe home remodeler) Garrett Curtis took a quick buzz through Southern Maine before heading back to Fruita, Colorado, we set up the mics and hit record. Originally from the booming metropolis of Bangor, Maine, Garrett recounted his early years on two wheels — from the time he accidentally invented the removable handlebar for a particularly memorable jump, to bombing around the aptly-named "no man's land" behind the old junkyard. And though he rode quite a bit growing up, it was while on a job assignment in Utah that the undeniable love of mountain biking really took hold. Now he spends as much time as he can ripping the red rocks and dirt trails of Colorado and Utah with his dog Rosie, girlfriend Sarah, and anyone else with the energy to tag along. Speaking of Sarah, thanks for the intro, AND for the mid-session beer delivery!

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 3: He was in the middle of a move back to Vermont, but Dave Cohen took some time to put down the boxes and share some stories about his history and passion for bikes. We start in Queens, NY where he grew up as an adventurous young bike rider heading into Manhattan — much to the dismay of his mother. And how over the following years, no matter where life took him, the bike continued to grow as an important aspect of his day-to-day life. From the first Critical Mass rides in San Francisco, to first experiences riding a bike through a Vermont winter. And no, he didn’t use his cargo bike to move. Though he most definitely thought about it.

LEARN MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:

Motherload movie: http://motherloadmovie.com/welcome

VBike Solutions: http://www.vbikesolutions.org/

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.

SEASON 4 / EPISODE 2: Jesse Abbruzzese joined me on a beautiful day in February to chat bike stories, and when you sit down with the “Director of Music and Entertainment” for the Portland (Maine) Bike Party, you know it’s going to be a fun conversation. We start with his early years in Illinois, recounting the thrills and injuries associated with an adventurous childhood in the country. As he rode into early adulthood, there were tornados, parties in corn fields, bikes flying off car racks, and plans for bigger things including a sculpting apprenticeship with an artist named Timeless. And as his creative endeavors began to overlap with riding bikes, we learn where Jesse finally found his passion for all things bike party and how he found his place with the growing crew of like-minded riders in Portland, Maine.

LEARN MORE about Portland Bike Party:

On Instagram: @portlandbikeparty

On Facebook: Portland Bike Party - Maine

Website: https://www.portlandbikeparty.com/

--

Now ranked as one of the ⁠Best Cycling Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Follow on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠

⁠⁠Follow on FACEBOOK⁠⁠

⁠⁠Visit iRIDEaBIKE.com⁠⁠

--

A Production of I RIDE, LLC

Theme Song by Spencer Albee. Want to hear more? Visit @SpencerAlbee on social media and streaming platforms.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally speaking, episodes of I RIDE A BIKE are NOT "explicit"... but due to the passionate nature of our guests, there may be language and stories that aren't appropriate for all listeners. Therefore, sometimes we are required to label as explicit.