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.

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 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!

Just catching up… Lots to share about life and politics.

We live in crazy times right now and I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t affecting me. Life changes aside, the world seems to be slipping into an abyss of Oligarchy. It’s as if these politicians are taking queues from apocalyptical sci-fi movies. These scripts of billionaires taking over the world, oppression of it’s citizens, dictatorships, and US federal governments lawlessness are leading to catastrophic times.

It’s hard to remain hopeful but all we can do is vote with our wallets and our feet and, in the upcoming Canadian Federal Elections, vote for the person who is most likely to lead our country to prosperity and not kiss the ring of the spoiled rich kid overseeing the destruction of the United States and possibly, if not stopped, the economic and natural world as we know it.

Stay strong, Canada. And for my US listeners, I’m sorry this is happening to 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!

These are pretty fucked up times, so what better way to break the tension than with a conversation with Scott Losse.

Uncle, Comedian, Biker, Snowboarder, IT guy - After seeing a string of laughable Reels about gravel bikes, anodized parts making you a better rider, and the joys of chihuahua ownership, I had to reach out to connect for a chat to get to know him better.

Scott started doing stand-up in 2009 after being motivated by a person you wouldn’t expect, and since then has been featured on Dry Bar Comedy, Laughs on Fox, and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. You can also check out his album Popular Doughnuts on Spotify

This renaissance man was a blast to talk to and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

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.

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!

Andy Ward is a ferocious beast with the energy and fervour of a Scottish Red Squirrel.

His speed and race results may be the first thing that catch attention, but it is his boundless positivity and joy that everyone remembers. Andy is the first to offer encouragement. He loves nothing more than discussing gear choices and ride strategy, and he is right there to celebrate everyone's victories with equal stoke.

Mr Ward single handedly blew the doors off of the Lost Elephant by turning what was once a 2 plus day race into a 35 hour race, many people will never forgive him for this, but we will all respect him for it. The aspect of Andy that may have surprised me the most is his attention to detail and preparedness. He seems to always be tinkering and finding ways to make his setup more efficient. I really admire his grit and determination, his fitness speaks for itself, but most of all I am thankful for his friendship.

This bikepacking world is a funny one filled with even funnier individuals and at the outer edges are the extra unique ones. Andy is leading the parade of that fringe group within the fringe. He is one of our fiercest competitors, our most courageous adventurers and our most eager cheerleaders. Thank you Andy for being you. There is no one that could do it better.

Hugs and kisses.

Nathan Siemens.

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.

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 about winter riding, politics, motivation and mental health.

This can be a hard time for many folks dealing with S.A.D.D. Thanks to the earth's tilt, we're seeing colder temperatures and less light. Just keep in mind that as if December 21st days are going to start to get longer again, so hang in there.

Another significant date that is coming up is Blue Monday which happen on January 20th, 2025. Here's a Wiki about it. Deemed the saddest day of the year based on a multitude of factors, it's a time of higher than normal suicide levels. With this in mind, keep an eye on your loved ones.

My advice? Try to find beauty in all things this winter. Layer up and get outside, especially on those blue bird sunny days. I guarantee it will give you a lift.

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.

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 Nathan Siemens and Dean Dahl about their winter ultra ride called Cold Ride happening February 1st, 2025 with two options.

FREEZIE 55km. 870m. Roll through beautiful single-track trails and quiet backroads for a fun adventure with amazing people. You got this!

THE BIG CHILL 130km. 1700m. Take winter adventure to the next level riding epic backroads and trails showcasing postcard views of sweeping East Kootenay vistas. This route will challenge your limits in one of your most unique cycling adventures! Race for podium cash, or take your time to savour this unforgettable day out.

We all know Nathan and his crew who develop the lost elephant ultra series so we don't need to go on about him haha. Dean is the founder of Have a Good Ride haveagoodride.com. They build experiences that connect great people, and beautiful places and help you accomplish good things in the world by doing something you love.

All Goodride events support local charities who serve their community. Proceeds from your event registration will contribute to the good work of local volunteers who you will meet at the event!

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.

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.