My Back 40

In this episode of My Back 40, I sit down with Graham Mann of Mannmade Cycles.

Graham's story starts with a titanium hammer. From there, he turned an obsession with building things out of titanium into a life spent creating thoughtfully designed, high-performance bicycles for people who care about how their bike fits, rides, and is put together.

RollingDale Cycles was founded in 2016 by Dale Marchand with a pretty simple idea: custom bikes should be about more than just having something unique. The rider should be part of the process. The fit, the details, the decisions that go into the build—all of it matters.

Now Graham is carrying that philosophy forward under his own name with Mannmade Cycles. It's a new chapter, but the commitment to thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and building bikes around the rider remains.

And there's some interesting stuff coming with that new chapter. Graham gives us a glimpse into something he's working on that could make truly custom bikes considerably more accessible to riders who might not have thought a custom frame was within reach. I'm not going to give it all away here, but I'm pretty excited to see where he takes it.

Graham is one of those people who clearly loves what he does, and that comes through in this conversation. We talk titanium, custom bikes, the process of building something specifically for one rider, and what happens when you decide to take everything you've learned and build something of your own.

Thanks for sticking around while I've been figuring some shit out.

My Back 40 isn't going anywhere.

I love you all.

Mannmade Cycles – Proud sponsor of the My Back 40 Podcast.

Level Ground Coffee Roasters – Save 15% on orders of $50 or more with promo code MB40.

Dynamic Cyclist – Save 25% with promo code MB40.

Redshift Sports – Save 15% with promo code MB40.

Supporting these companies helps support the podcast. Thanks for listening!

Nic Darwin (Darwin on the Trail) returns to My Back 40 for an honest conversation about about adventure filmmaking, backpacking, bikepacking, and what happened during his 2026 Tour Divide attempt. We unpack the lessons that come from scratching one of the world's toughest ultra-endurance races, the role failure plays in growth, and how creativity shapes both adventure and storytelling. Nic also shares the story behind Evolved Supply Co., his new outdoor gear company, and what it takes to build products for people who live for the trail. If you're into bikepacking, backpacking, endurance cycling, thru-hiking, the Tour Divide, and meaningful conversations about resilience, this episode is for you.

It's always a pleasure speaking with Nic. Lots of laughs in this one so I hope you enjoy. Remember to send voice notes: Whip out your device, record me something, and send it to [email protected].

A huge thank you to the sponsors who help make My Back 40 possible.

Mannmade Cycles – Proud sponsor of the My Back 40 Podcast.

Level Ground Coffee Roasters – Save 15% on orders of $50 or more with promo code MB40.

Dynamic Cyclist – Save 25% with promo code MB40.

Redshift Sports – Save 15% with promo code MB40.

Supporting these companies helps support the podcast. Thanks for listening!

In 2024, Meaghan Hackinen became the first woman to complete the Grand Départ of the Tour Divide in under 16 days. Two years later, she returned with unfinished business.

In this episode of My Back 40, Meaghan and I talk about her record breaking ride from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. She claimed the overall women's victory in a provisional time of 14 days, 10 hours, and 12 minutes, setting a new women's record with her well known smile on her face. Her ride eclipsed her own 2024 Grand Départ record by more than a day and surpassed the previous women's fastest time by over 12 hours.

It’s always a pleasure to chat with Meg and I hope you enjoy this one.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Andy Ward is an accomplished endurance cyclist and bikepacker whose riding spans every season and some of North America’s toughest backcountry routes. He has crossed four provinces on the Great Northern Bikepacking Route, completed both indoor and outdoor Everesting challenges, and is a two-time sub-three-day finisher of the BC Epic 1000 Grand Depart. Andy also holds the current westbound Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the BC Epic 1000 and set the event record at the Lost Elephant, a benchmark that has stood despite the course becoming increasingly difficult each year.

When winter arrives, Andy continues to excel, earning victories at the 2025 and 2026 Cranbrook Cold Ride Big Chill, the 2025 Drift in Wyoming, and the 2024 Actif Epic in Manitoba.

Of all his accomplishments, however, the ride he treasures most wasn’t a race. Last summer, Andy and his son Leo spent three days riding 150 kilometres from Cranbrook to Fernie on backroads; A reminder that the most meaningful adventures are often the ones shared with the people we love.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

In this episode I connect with a listener to chat about all things Tour Divide. Mat reached out to me wondering if I'd be open to answering some questions about the Divide. I finished the Divide in 2022 and it was one of the most impactful things I have ever done. To say I came back changed would be an understatement.

My caveat to Matt was that even though I am considered a TD vet, I certainly wasn't the fastest and could only speak subjectively about my experience; gear, planning (or lack thereof), favourite sections, etc.

Matt is a math tutor and you can learn more about that at his website. merschmathtutoring.com

I enjoyed meeting and chatting all things Divide with Matt and I hope you dig it.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

In this episode of the podcast I reconnect with Mikey Coulter of Yeti Adventure Films. His latest video, FOOL'S GOLD: 4 Days of Winter Bikepacking the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail, is a recount of a winter adventure along the longest off-road trail in BC, The Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail which stretches 463km through BC’s Cariboo, tracing the same route that once carried fortune-seekers north more than a century ago. Mike’s work captures both the grit and unpredictability of these cycling adventures, while highlighting the strong sense of community and camaraderie within this tight-knit world of adventure seekers.

We chat about his film making ethos, the logistics and challenges of making such films, as well as a number of other topics. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did and I hope to work with Mike again in the future.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Not much to write here. This long overdue episode fills you in in what I have been up to this past summer. A new hip, travel, adventure, bikes and boards, school and major life changing considerations.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed making it. It’s been too long.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Listen in as I speak with Stephan Kesting—martial artist, author, and serious outdoor adventurer. In this episode, we’re diving into highlights from his incredible solo 1,000-mile canoe journey from Missinipe, Saskatchewan to Arviat, Nunavut. He paddled and portaged through some of Canada’s most remote wilderness, following the Churchill, Reindeer, Cochrane, and Thlewiaza Rivers, crossing massive lakes like Reindeer and Nueltin, and making his way down through the Barren Lands all the way to the shores of Hudson Bay.

It’s a wild story of grit, solitude, and survival.

If you want the full trip report, check it out at grapplearts.com/solo, and if this kind of adventure speaks to you, Stephan’s book Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic is a must-read. https://www.amazon.ca/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Today’s guest is Nathalie Baillon, a French ultra-distance cyclist with an inspiring story of passion and perseverance. After spending a few years working as an engineer in Munich, she took a leap—packing up her bike and heading off on a solo cycling trip through New Zealand. That journey sparked something big.

Back in Europe, she bought a new bike, strapped on some panniers, and knocked out her first 1,000-kilometre ride in under 60 hours. That was just the beginning.

Soon after, Nathalie moved to Isère, picked up her engineering work again—but also signed up for her first official ultra race: the Race Across France, a grueling 2,600-kilometre ride. And she crushed it.

From there, things took off. She entered international ultra-distance races, landed multiple women’s wins, and regularly placed in the top 10 overall—competing with the best in the field. Eventually, she left her day job to go all-in, building a life around the sport she loves.

To learn more about Nathalie, chek out her website. https://www.nathaliebaillon.com/home/en

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

In this episode I bring you a conversation with British Columbia's Mike Martin. There Were a number of riders from British Columbia this year and Mike Martin stood out.

Although Mike hasn't been in the ultra endurance scene for that long he might just be a rider to watch as he continues to push his limits in the sport.

In this episode I get to know Mike a little bit. We talk about Fatherhood, his work life, Tariffs (sorry), his previous adventures, as well as some stories from the trail.

It was great to get to know Mike.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!