My Back 40

I scheduled this podcast to come out on June 23rd and for all of you riding the TD right now, I hope this one inspires you.

It amazes me to think that while I’m loosely shooting for a 3 week finish of the Tour Divide, in 2015, Josh Kato wrapped it up in just a hair over two weeks!! Don’t let that discourage you, if you currently on route listening to this.

Originally published on November 29th, 2020, this podcast dives into Josh’s racing history, what the Riding the Divide means to him and also gets into what happened in 2019 that may have set his racing future on the back burner.

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I’ve been wanting to have a chat with this dude for a while now and we finally were able to connect. Those of you who are even mildly interested in the Tour Divide, a self supported race that takes riders 4,400 km down the continental divide and has them climbing the equivalent of Mt. Everest 7 times (nearly 61,000m), will know who this man is.

In 2015, Josh Kato had the fastest time and finished this track in 14:11:37. Like other riders, he has returned again and again to challenge himself on this amazing route. While racing in 2019, a series of events occurred that would profoundly shake things up for Josh, forcing him to scratch.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress-induced cardiomyopathy can strike even healthy individuals. In general terms, it is caused by extreme cardiovascular stress. Those who followed the race that year will remember how Sofiane Sehili and Josh were burning the track up. While a number of riders hunkered down at Brush Mountain Lodge due to very extreme weather, Josh was one the riders who persevered and pressed on. To say that he left everything out there would be an understatement.

Josh grew up in the mountains in Washington and spends most of his time exploring with his wife Val and his superstar dog, Winston. As a nurse, he has been working the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic and for that we owe him, and all the other medical professionals, our gratitude.

It was such an honour to connect with Josh to get to know his story. He’s a great story teller and there are some great tales from the trail in this conversation. If there is one thing I took away from this chat, as I get ready for my own crack at the Divide, It’s to have fun! This goes for any of you too. Ride bikes, have fun and your journey will be a success no matter what the outcome. Oh, fun fact! I also learned that you can break your fibula and still ride 800 miles. What a bad ass!!

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This was a fun one that I recorded back on the Bikepack Canada Podcast #54. Originally published on June 27, 2019, I connected with Sofiane Sehili @sofianeshl while he and a bunch of other riders were held up at Brush Mountain Lodge while Mother Nature had her way, something to be expected when riding such an immense route.

I hope this podcast will keep you in good company while you’re out writing your own Tour Divide story.

In this episode, I chat with Sofiane Sehili.

Sofi was one of the many elite riders held up by Mother Nature at Brush Mountain Lodge. After being turned back by heavy snow and technical issues, he and other riders sat in armistice at BML. He later scratched. Sofi is a passionate, driven guy with very definitive goals.

Enjoy, while he shares some of the lessons learned and just how much the Tour Divide inspires him.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Since I’m out on the trail with all y’all, I thought I would republish a couple of Tour Divide related conversations from the My Back 40 Archives. Hopefully this conversation will entertain, enlighten and inspire you while you’re out on the Divide!

This podcast was originally published on 6/7/21 and is one of my favourites.

See you out there!

This past winter I received my first gift from a listener. Michael sent me his book, Divide by Two Wheels: Racing a Mountain Bike Unsupported, 2,700 miles from Canada to Mexico on the Continental Divide. This book told stories, in great detail I might add, of Michael’s experience during his race in 2016. Why we hadn’t connected until now I have no excuse for, but let me tell you, this is a conversation full of inspiration that, if you’re planing on riding the 2021 TD Classic starting on June 11th, you must listen to.

Michael lives in Boise Idaho and works at his private Physiotherapy clinic, Focus Physical Therapy . He grew up in an active family and was inspired by his father, who lived his own dream of riding across the United States while he was between jobs. As the idiom goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Despite his father’s failing health, he was always there as part of the support crew, cheering the family on and shuttling them to and from their adventurous activities, such as running the Grand Canyon, rim to rim. When his father passed, the family spread his ashes in these meaning places so that he would always be there to cheer them on from the great beyond.

As a natural storyteller, Michael’s writing was a joy to read. An invitation to the reader to take a ride on the TD roller coaster. A type 2 amusement ride full of highs and lows that continually challenge an athlete’s resolve, especially when things fall apart, like his rear hub did. Trail magic and the kindness of strangers was a common theme on his adventure and in this conversation.

One particular topic that we dwell on is the meaning behind pushing ones limits in whatever one does. Whether that be athletics, a major career change or public speaking. It’s part of our personal growth and an important aspect of living a full and satisfying life. Another interesting topic was how adventure racing connects us back to nature in a primal way, causing a “remembering”. The reminiscence of primal feelings of movement through nature, self reliance and vulnerability. Something that modern life has stripped from us but something that is so innate, it’s triggered easily under the right circumstances.

This is one for the books, my friends (pun intended) and one that I think could be listened to again and again. If you’re inspired by this chat, please visit the link above and purchase a copy of Michael’s book. And if you happen to be listening to these words while you’re on your own personal journey of the Tour Divide. Savour every moment, relish in the new relationships you’re going to make and please keep the rubber side down.

Enjoy

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Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

In this episode of the podcast I bring you a conversation with Mountain Bike Hall of Fame’s, John Stamstad. I wanted to talk to him about the evolution of Ultra Distance Bikepack Racing and how the rules have changed over the decades.

This conversation was inspired by many of the conversation that I have had with race organizers since the Arizona Trail Race, where Lael Wilcox claimed a new fastest known time, despite being out of bounds with the rules that were set.

Again, the divisiveness of the community came to a head and many stones were thrown at John Schilling about his decision to note Lael’s effort as supported due to the fact that she had a media crew, which included her wife, along for the ride.

The debate arose from people pointing out that having a media crew present, which is in violation of the rules, and visitation by family members, also a violation, gives an unfair advantage to the athlete. John and I discuss this and other topics as we try to navigate the nuance around this issue.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Me again.

I just wanted to share some thoughts and some audio I dug out of my phone from last year’s Yoyo. (drink)

My intention was to record audio every day, but I totally dropped the ball so this is all I had. I suppose since I was posting so much on IG, the audio wasn’t really required. This year on the Tour Divide, I plan to record every day before I turn in as a way to archive the journey and then to later share it with you.

It’s blowing my mind that we’re just over a week away! Nervous, excited and terrified…

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Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I’m so excited to bring you a conversation with Team Amani’s, Nakaggwa Florence. @florence_nakaggwa

Back in March, she was signed to Team Amani’s gravel squad, which makes her the first female Ugandan cyclist to sign a professional cycling contract. This is history in the making and for everyone involved with the Masaka Cycling Club, this is a huge point of pride.

The Masaka Cycling Club’s purpose is to create fair and equitable opportunities for cycling talent in developing African nations and their vision is to bring global cycling together to remove barriers and fight for a more inclusive cycling community free of inequality. The Masaka Cycling Club is a launching pad to prepare talented athletes for the world’s stage, and that is what’s happening.

In this conversation, Florence speaks to the cultural stigma that girls face when it comes to riding bikes. She also drops some pretty inspirational words about living one’s best life, writing one’s own story and how hard work, no matter what you’re working for is the path to success.

I so enjoyed speaking with Florence and hearing her story. The Masaka Cycling Club has been a huge success and for everyone who has chipped in to this nobel project, be proud, as you’re changing people’s lives in more ways than you know.

If you would like to support this incredible project, visit the Masaka Cycling Club and learn more about how you can donate.

Enjoy!

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

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Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week, I want to bring you a catch up conversation with Bonnie Gagnon to see how things were going as she tries to recover from Spinal Fluid Leaks sustained during the investigation in how to treat some severe head pain.

Bonnie’s journey hasn’t been an easy one, battling injuries and a bout with Lemierre’s Syndrome in 2010 that nearly took her life. Through it all, her infectious smile and desire to spread positivity while sharing her struggles inspires many.

There are a couple of fundraisers going on for Bonnie right now. You can check out her GoFundMe Help Bonnie Ride Again, you can grab a 2 pack of Bonnie Gagnon Adventure Chocolate Bar stickers, and Cycling 101 put together a Blivet winter riding helmet as well as a cycling 101 hat, that can be found on the store. 100% of the proceeds will go to Bonnie. There are lots of ways you can help her, so please do what you can.

I always find inspiration when I speak with Bonnie and I hope you enjoy this short catchup conversation. To learn more, check out our previous chats on episode 27 as well as episode 79.

U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name

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With the 2022 Tour Divide less than 3 weeks away, I haven’t had a lot of time to connect with folks to have conversations. That said, I did get a great voice memo from Jim Sevaly. He had some questions that I thought I would address.

I also wanted to tell a couple of stories, thank some listeners for their engagement and read a wonderful email that I received as I was recording. There are also a couple of great tunes to break things up.

It’s you, the listener, that inspires this and all of my podcasts. Don’t be shy. I love hearing from all of you, whether via email or, my favourite, voice memos. As I always say, whip out your device, record me something and send it to [email protected], and I’ll cut it into the show.

And if you find value in what I’m doing, consider supporting me financially. You can one time PayPal me or, for the cost of a cup of coffee, lunch or a pint, you can join my Patreon.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

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Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Inspired by Anthony Walsh’s recent podcast episode, Can Cycling Cause Erectile Dysfunction on the Roadman Cycling podcast, I wanted to break the ice a little with the guys and talk about ED.

I wanted to break the stigma and talk a little about something that guys really hate talking about. It is said that almost 30%-50% of all men deal with some sort of ED and that generally, changes in diet and lifestyle can mitigate it.

Cycling has been shown to NOT cause ED, so that numbness you might feel after a long ride isn’t indicative of the syndrome. That said, this discomfort can be dealt with by getting yourself a proper bike fit, as well as the proper saddle and riding attire.

Before that awesome topic, I wanted to chat about waxing. No, not that kind of waxing. Chain waxing. I’ve been running a factory waxed chain for a few hundred maintenance free Km’s and I wanted to share that experience with you. If you’re looking for more info, check out Ottalaus’s Instagram or reach out and bug Jay!

Enjoy!

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

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

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week I am speaking with Adam Hokin and David Harper from PedalCell. I have only been using a dynamometer since last year and there’s no going back. Being able to charge electronics and generate light on the fly is a game changer for longer rides.

Adam, David and co-founder Vishaal Mali wanted to make it easier for people to get into the dynamo game and saw a niche. Their mission is to give people one less excuse for not riding a bicycle. PedalCell is a journey-enabler, allowing cyclists to ride freely, untethered from outlets.

These guys built this technology from the ground up. It’s not just a power source, it’s smart and is constantly monitors power generation so that, whatever device you’re trying to charge, will be done safely and efficiently.

In this episode we chat about Adam and David’s background and how they found one another. We get into the science behind this kind of power generation and the challenges they faced while creating this kind of technology from scratch. We chat about the challenges of entering a global market as well as other topics.

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!