Lauren's story of winning Unbound and having one of the most successful years the sport of gravel has ever seen is as impressive as it is improbable. Her comeback from a TBI is a journey through uncharted territory. Over the span of about a half dozen years, she went from being a professional road cyclist to a (very) traumatic brain injury to an intense recovery period to then earning a Masters in Public Health to next pivot to a career as a professional cyclist once again -- see, that's not the standard! But it sure is working for Lauren, so why mess with a good thing?!

You'll find Lauren's social at: @laurenissima

Don't forget, get your hands on 5 free sample packs, plus a year's supply of vitamin D with this offer from Athletic Greens. Just visit: AthleticGreens.com/tedking

Hillary Allen's story is one for the ages. Her 150 foot fall off of a cliff while leading the skyrunning race series, where she broke 14 bones and risked never walking again, is the kind of story you see in the movies or read in a book. Well, you can read it in her book, Out and Back. 

We touch on that today, as well as the mental and physical struggles she faced in the aftermath right up through the present. We discuss where her fervor for life comes from, her endless curiosity, her pursuit of science (like real science; organic biochemistry and neurology), and where cycling now fits into her life since her first ever bike race was a little thing called the Unbound 200.

You'll find all things Hillary at HillaryAllen.com

Her social is @hillygoat_climbs

Get your hands on 5 free sample packs, plus a year's supply of vitamin D with this offer from Athletic Greens. Just visit AthleticGreens.com/tedking

Alex Dowsett is a recent retiree after a dozen years in cycling's professional ranks where he tallied 15 victories, including 2 in grand tours; Alex set the world hour record, owns two Commonwealth Games medals (gold and silver, since you asked), and probably has a dozen other accolades omitted here. He's a father, soon to be married to his fiance Chanel, and does tremendous work with the organization he created, Little Bleeders, helping young kids diagnosed with hemophilia. This conversation hits on all that and loads more.

Check out Alex: www.instagram.com/alexdowsett

www.littlebleeders.com

And his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexDowsettOfficial

Pete stepped away from the World Tour and planted his flag as a pro's pro, using professional road techniques to highlight speed and results. Gravel is a fluid sport and Pete's come to recognize the importance of some not so tangible aspects of gravel, such as chivalry, a moral code, unwritten rules, and more.

As gravel takes a look into the mirror, so do Pete and I as we dive into this conversation. Enjoy!

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One hundred episodes! Thanks for listening to King of the Ride my friends.

What can be said about Laurens Ten Dam that hasn't yet been said? Well, a lot, actually. Tune into this conversation late in 2022 where LtD again returned to North America for another gravel race, this time Gravel Locos Pueblo. His schedule has seemingly gotten more complicated since retiring from an extensive World Tour career. He jumps across the Atlantic more often than some international pilots.

To check out the $0 deductible, on-the-bike injury coverage with the Ride membership by USACycling, visit: memberships.usacycling.org/products/member 

Also, please visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking to get your hands on a gift from Athletic Greens. I've given up stacks of multivitamin bottles and think you would benefit from that too!

Ian Boswell returns for the second time as a guest on King of the Ride. Over that time since 2019, he got married, retired from the World Tour, had a daughter, won Unbound, and has seen the screaming hot arch of gravel grow with meteoric speed. 

So where does it go from here? This conversation covers lots of topics, but most of them revolve around where we see things going as gravel continues to evolve. Just two dudes sitting around a table talking shop.

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Our guest today is an icon in the endurance running space, Anton Krupicka. Winner of the Leadville 100 as a fresh faced 23 year old in 2006, fifteen years later he was once again on the podium in 2021 at Leadville after a spate of injuries, but not a shortage of adventures over that time.

Early in his career, Anton's blog became requisite reading material for all aspiring runners. His social media attracts millions of views. He writes prolifically and travels minimally… by that I mean, check out his stunning social media channel which features his bikepacking ventures.

Anton's IG: www.instagram.com/antonkrupicka

Anton's Strava: www.strava.com/pros/antonkrupicka

And don't forget Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/tedking

Jan Heine is the president of Rene Herse Cycles and editor in chief of Bicycle Quarterly. He's a builder, an engineer, a story teller, a photographer, and as it turns out is pretty handy on the bike too with a recent FKT on the Arkansas High Country Race's southern loop which spans 475 miles across northwest Arkansas!

I've wanted to have Jan on the podcast for years and this seemed like just the right time. Congrats to Jan and welcome to the show.

www.ReneHerseCycles.com

www.BicycleQuarterly.com

Jan's ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/7953986189

To try out Athletic Greens, visit: www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking

Carl Decker has been a professional cyclist for longer than many professional cyclists have been alive. This 47 year old pro has been a mountain bike racer, cyclocross racer, Super-D extraordinaire, road racer, and now a stalwart gravel racer in the scene that is both burgeoning and reaching its adolescence.

Thanks to Athletic Greens for supporting this episode and simplifying my nutrition routine. Don't forget to try out AG1 with a hard to beat offer using the website www.athleticgreens.com/tedking

This conversation is one for the ages. It took place on Kiel's sailboat, fresh on the tail end of a bike ride around Seattle, and right before both Kiel and I set off for Rebecca's Private Idaho. 

Kiel is a great friend, a father, a husband, a sailor, a retired World Tour cyclist and a current gravel racer... err, rider? Naw, he's a racer at heart even though he has the completely right ethos for this fledgeling sport.

This hour long conversation feels like what could easily be part one in a five part series. I hope you enjoy listen as much as I enjoyed recording it. Please sit down and enjoy!

If you're interested in learning more about Athletic Greens, just visit https://athleticgreens.com/tedking for more.