This is a repost of a conversation I had with Svein Tuft last year after he crushed the BCEPIC 1000 in 2 days and 2 hours. Svein is currently in second place on the 2025 Tour Divide and is in solid contention to setting a new record.

My buddy Michael brought it to my attention that many might not know who this unassuming athlete is or his background and this podcast covers that.

I hope you enjoy this repost.

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In this episode I have a chat with Svein Tuft, winner of the BC Epic 1000. Svein shattered the record riding 1,044 km with almost 12,000 m of ascent in a time of 2 days and 2 hours.

Svein is a retired Canadian road cyclist who competed professionally from 2005 to 2019. He rode for several teams, including Symmetrics, Garmin–Transitions, SpiderTech–C10, Mitchelton–Scott, and Rally UHC Cycling. Tuft won the 2006–07 UCI America Tour and claimed thirteen titles at the Canadian Road Cycling Championships: twice in the road race and eleven times in the time trial.

We chat about his childhood, his draw to doing hard things, what is was like riding as a professional cyclist and what drew him to unsupported bikepack racing, which is quite a departure from the pro tour but something that he has fallen in love with.

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.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m so happy to finally be bringing you a conversation with my dad, Darrel O’Shaughnessy. If you want to get to know someone, often meeting the parents is the best way to do that. Let’s just say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You can also listen to a chat I had with my mom back in Episode 14.

Born in Bancroft, Ontario in 1946, Darrel O’Shaughnessy grew up in the post war era of opportunity, which he didn’t take for granted. He has worn many hats, from being a chef, to being an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. He was the Director of Security at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. where something like 80% of the worlds isotopes were derived, and later, branched out on his own to share his security expertise as a consultant. My Dad was always a hard working dude, travelling often to seek out new challenges and opportunities to make a better life for our family.

Darrel never fully retired. Later in life, he and my mom built a Dragon Boating community in Kelowna, B.C. Later, when they moved back to Arnprior, Ontario, they founded the Arnprior Dragon Boating Club, dedicated to inspiring health and fitness, for all ages through the sport of dragon boat racing. Dad became an active board member with the Senior’s Active Living Center in Arnprior, which led to him developing “Men’s Sheds”, non profit entities that support senior men by providing a place of camaraderie, purpose and meaning. Members of Men’s Sheds are active in the community and work hard on projects such as building toys for fairs and markets, picnic tables and benches for parks and were active in building screens for various public facing services during the Pandemic.

Being in service to others has been an extremely meaningful path for my dad and he has been recognized for his efforts. He was recently named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.” Humbly, he accepts this award on behalf of the team of hard working people he surrounds himself with.

Dad was always an active guy and considered being active and staying fit very important. He played and coached hockey and was an avid tennis player, classic cross country and downhill skier and, if I’m not mistaken, did pretty well in the Silver Spoon Ski Fest that the Deep River Cross Country Club has been hosting for the last 50 years.

I couldn’t be more proud of my dad and am so happy to be sharing this conversation with you. Despite it not being cycling centric, this chat still reverberates with the importance of being in service to others, finding meaning and purpose in one’s life and the importance of living an active and stimulating life.

Envoy.

Driving Home for Christmas
K-Lite
Light & Motion

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In this episode, by popular demand, I connect with Alex Burk. This was one of those cold call episodes where we connect and just shoot the shit about... well, about a ton of things!

Topics include; Cycling, bikepacking, her journey to becoming a Veterinarian, the "why" of doing hard things, the inclusiveness and safety of bikepacking events, her Lost Elephant experience as well as her recent ride of Caves and Coves.

I had a blast connecting with Alex and I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.

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 another great conversation with  Dr. John Ogrodniczuk. This is the third time he’s been on the podcast and it’s always an honour to speak with him.

John is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program, one of North America’s largest medically based psychotherapy training programs.  His research program focuses on a variety of psychotherapies and patient populations, with a particular focus on personality disorders and men’s mental health. Dr. Ogrodniczuk has held several grants to support his research, which has led to over 300 scientific publications. John is also the Founder of HeadsUpGuys, a leading global resource for supporting men with depression. This episode marks a special occasion as his organization, HeadsUpGuys, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

In addition to his research, Dr. Ogrodniczuk is involved with teaching medical students and psychiatry residents, serves as a mental health consultant for various organizations, and maintains a psychotherapy practice.

We had a lot to talk about in this episode, including a Heads Up Guys campaign called Step up for Him a campaign taking action in support of the millions of men across the globe – our brothers, fathers, partners, sons, friends, colleagues – who struggle with their mental health, often in silence. Clink the link to learn more about how you can get involved.

HeadsUpGuys is the world’s leading online resource for men’s mental health. Over 10,000 people use it every week—but they have so many more men that we need to reach.

STEP UP FOR HIM

Hey there! Want a simple way to support men’s mental health while also taking care of your own? Heads Up Guys has something for you — it’s called Step Up For Him, and it’s all about moving with purpose.

Here’s how it works:

First — get moving.

Walk, run, hike, bike — whatever feels good. You can join in anytime between June 1st and 15th. Do it once, every day, or just when you can. Totally your call.

This two-week stretch includes Men’s Health Week and wraps up on Father’s Day, so it’s a meaningful way to show up — for yourself, and for the men in your life.

Next — bring a buddy.

Grab a friend, coworker, partner, whoever. Movement is always better with someone else, and sharing the experience does wonders for mental health. It’s a simple way to build connection and have some fun along the way.

Then — share it.

Take a photo or video of your movement, add some of our custom “HeadsUpGuys” stickers (just search us up), and post it using the hashtag #StepUpForHim. Tag some friends to join in, and help spread the word.

Head’s up guys will be on the lookout for your posts to share on our socials — so yeah, you might get a shoutout!

And finally — if you’re able, consider donating.

Every dollar goes directly toward programs that help men heal, cope, and thrive. Just $1 helps us get self-check tools to 8 guys. $5? That can help one man connect with a qualified therapist. That’s a real impact.

So, however you choose to Step Up — by moving, sharing, donating, or just talking about it — you’re helping change the conversation around men’s mental health.

Let’s do this together. Let’s Step Up For Him.

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!

Just a short solo podcast to express my gratitude to the My Back 40 community for their support as I wait for some chassis repairs.

I often encourage people to reach out and open up when things are difficult. We all go through difficult times and it’s okay to share those struggles. Being temporarily disabled has been difficult for me and when I reached out to share, you all stepped up to give me hope and encouragement.

This is just to say thank you.

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 chat (finally) with Mikey Coulter, ultra endurance athlete and the filmmaker behind Yeti Adventure Films.

Mike started bikepack racing only a couple of years ago but is known for his grit and tenacity as a competitive cyclist. At the same time, he is able to film his adventures, demonstrating the rollercoaster that accompanies this type of racing.

Mike and I cover a ton of topics in this conversation but the common thread are the stories. It's not surprising that, as a filmmaker, he's also a fantastic story teller sharing tales from his adventures.

I really enjoyed this chat - I say that a lot, don't I. I think you will too.

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 speak with Drew Raney - Educator, bikepack racer, and supporter of All Kids Bike, a not for profit organizations whose mission is to get kids on bikes setting them up for confidence and leading athletic lives.

We chat about his Stagecoach 400 race, his rig, and stories from the trail. We also talk about his life as an educator and the value I think he brings to kids lives in supporting them to lead active lifestyles. We also talk about the money he has raised via his bikepacking efforts as well as through the All Kids Bike Organization to get kids the equipment they need for success.

Thanks for your continued support! This one will come out a little early for supporters like you, but because of the importance of this week in Canadian Politics, I wanted to get it out to everyone as soon as possible.

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!

On February 20th, I lost my mom, Betty O’Shaughnessy, to cancer. She fought hard but in the end, cancer won the battle.

I was encouraged to write while I was in Ontario with my family to support my mom during her final days, as a way to remain grounded. It was cathartic and despite writing being considered a distraction, it actually helped me to remain even more present and observant to all the tiny moments leading up to her death.

I needed time to process my Mom’s passing before publishing this novelette. Still, it was hard to get through as this piece captured moments that, when re-read, whisked me back to the event and the raw emotions shared with my family.

I won’t go on too much here as I want the story to speak for itself. Even though I thought I finished writing it, I feel as though I missed some important moments. One such moment was when my sister and I were going through old family photos, organizing them for the memorial service that took place only two days after her passing. This brought so much love and laughter into the space and I’m so grateful to have been able to share that with my family.

Though this is a sad account and a chapter of my life that will forever be forged into my heart, I wanted to share it with you. I have never experienced loss like this before and I wasn’t sure how I would cope. Luckily, I have a number of loving and supportive people in my life and a community of My Back 40 listeners to lean on. If I haven’t already thanked you for reaching out with your thoughts, know that every word I received bolstered my strength and enabled me to get through this.

Perhaps this is a little outside the box for My Back 40. For those of you who have been with me the last 5 years, you’ll know that part of this project is to not only share stories from amazing people, but to also share a little bit of my life too. Or maybe a lot. My hope is that by being vulnerable here, it will encourage others to do the same. Life is too short to not be our authentic selves.

Update: To maintain privacy, the doctor’s original name has been changed.

Huge thanks to Rollingdale Cycle for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

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

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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 converse with, 83 year old, Bob Fletcher who holds the World Record for longest e-bike ride. Bob Started in Alaska and pedaled himself all the way to Panama Covering 13,500km in 5 Months and 5 Days.

We chat about his young life, his career in the educational system, and his first foray bike touring in Europe. We discuss how he built is record breaking team and the logistics of traveling such a long distance by e-bike. He also shares his secret-not-so-secret tip for living a long and healthy life.

If you want to head out to meet Bob, you can do so April 17, from 6pm to 8pm at Ebike Edmonton, Reserve your spot now, or at his book signing on April 22nd, from 12pm to 2pm at Audrey's books also in Edmonton.

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!

I love Trish. We always have great chats and this one is no exception.

We connected a few weeks ago as I wanted to hear about her Baja trip as part of my own recon to want to tackle the route with my adventure buddy in the future. How much water do you need to haul? How much food? What are the people like? The wildlife? What tire volume? Trish shares all and adds a few stories in as well.

This is Trish’s 3rd time on the podcast. Check out these other chats to get to know this cycling power house better…

012. Trish Holt - Experiencing the World by Bike
145. Trish Holt - The Big Sky Spectaculaire & Sobriety

I hope you enjoy this chat. If you find value in what I do, please consider signing up to my Patreon for as low as a cup of coffee.

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!