My Back 40

I was privileged to receive a Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem in the mail the other day, thanks to my buddy Jim from MTXC in Missoula, MT and Dylan at Redshift Sports. As a purist, it’s a little outside of the box for me but I had heard from other Divide riders, who had run this stem, that it’s a game changer and I was pretty stoked to try it out.

In this Episode I connect with Erik de Brun, co-founder and mechanical engineer for Redshift Sports. We talk about how the company got started and their process for developing products. We chat a little about some of the challenges they faced as a startup and where they find inspiration for new projects.

What stood out to my most about Erik was his passion for what he and his team are doing. As avid cyclists themselves, they are always switched on and thinking about new components when they’re out riding.

If you’re looking at these stems but you’re still on the fence, pull the trigger and get one. It’s really going to make your ride much more comfortable and could mitigate a lot of the issues us endurance riders have with sore necks, backs and hand numbness. Learn more about the ShockStop Suspension Stem and their other accessories.

I’m super excited to bring you a new offer code!

@redshiftsports wants go give the My Back 40 community 15% off! I’ve been riding their suspension stems and absolutely love them. You will too.

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

Hey everyone!

It’s been pretty quiet out here at My Back 40. I tend to withdrawal when things get hard in life. Finding the balance during these times can be challenging so I thought I would chat a little about some topics that have been top of mind lately.

Motivation can be challenging when you’re experiencing the lows, and I try to practice what I preach to just get out there and ride. Sometimes though, the body just needs what it needs and if that is rest, that’s what I plan to provide.

Selfishness is something that many passionate endurance athletes experience. Doing what is best for you can often feel like you’re taking away from others. It is said that if you can’t be your best self, then you can’t show up for the ones you love and sometimes being selfish and filling your own buckets is the only way to do that. What do you think about this? Send me a message to let me know.

The last topic I talking about is microdosing. The use of compounds like cannabis, LSD and psilocybin in smaller doses can have profound effects on the human mind. Here, I talk a little about my experience with microdosing psilocybin and some of the benefits I have experienced with this natural compound. The landscape is changing when it comes to various psychedelic compounds with studies being conducted at various clinics around the world. And as certain compounds’ status are being moved away from schedule 1 and becoming legal, more of these medicines will become available to the public. Mother Nature has always provided what we need to be strong in mind and body and this is being proven in scientific settings. For more information, check out the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPS.

Also, here are some great reads. Some of them take a deeper dive into what I talk about on this podcast.

https://zumgarden.ca/

Dopamine Nation
How to Change Your Mind
Waking Up
Atomic Habits
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
The Master and His Emissary

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 bring you a conversation with Steve Halligan @halligan.steve about his experience on the Silk Road Mountain Race, A grueling 1895km route, with around 34,500m of elevation gain, which he finished in 8 days 6 hours and 35 minutes, taking 3rd place.

Steve’s resume of events is impressive having tackled the Tour Divide twice and has crushed other events such as the Timaru and the Tour Aotearoa. Steve takes a holistic approach to his racing and his life and shares some of his wisdom for a successful ultra endurance experience and the challenges he faced doing that in a country like Kyrgyzstan, where resupply options can be quite limited.

Steve is the co-owner of the Vibrant Living Retreat in Hanmer Springs New Zealand which he operates with his wife, Mary Jo. On offer are relaxing, replenishing, pampering, transformational and educational Wellness Retreats that support and inspire body, mind and soul.

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!

It has been a while since Kyle @kyle_mess and I connected on the podcast, and this one, where we discuss his recent win on the Alberta Rockies 700, did not disappoint.

After scratching on this year’s BC Epic 1000, due to stomach issues, Kyle knew he had to make some changes. He delved deep into his training and nutrition, learning more about his physiology and how his own body reacts to the stresses of endurance events.

Many athletes suffer from debilitating digestive issues in these races. Consistent fueling is one thing, but keeping the gas in the tank is another. On top of that, you want to make sure you’re putting the right kind of gas in the tank to support what you’re asking your body to do in the moment. This can change over the course of the day and it’s important to stay mindful of this as you’re riding. Ultimately, Kyle was successful, completing the 679km route in just over 52 hours.

Alberta Rockies 700 master mind, Jonathan Hayward @stuffandthingscanada, is known for stitching together rather challenging routes and his name can often be heard echoing through the Rockies, generally preceded with a string of expletives. That being said, we love you buddy!!

In this episode, we chat about his experience this past summer and the things he learned while he dove deep into tuning up his physiology enabling him to crush this route. We talk about his gear and Kyle shares stories about his experience on one of Western Canada’s most iconic routes.

I hope you dig it.

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!

The image above always takes me back to my first bikepacking event, the 2017 AR700. Here, head hanging low, I soft pedal my way to Canmore where I decided that I would scratch. My mental outlook had been declining throughout the day, and despite advice given to me by Greg Van Tighem while on the trail to sleep on it, the decision had already been made. That was the first and last time I have scratched on a race.

I’ve been thinking a lot about failure lately. Failure is defined as a lack of success or the inability to meet an expectation or to reach a predetermined goal.

We can read too much into failure. Too often, we tie it to our sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-acceptance. By preparing ourselves for the what ifs, you’re reframing the effort and giving yourself some breathing room. We also need to look at failures, or set backs, as learning opportunities. If we can learn to extract lessons from our set backs, we can at least claim a small victory and move on.

In this episode I read from a couple of my posts that were inspired by a couple of voice intros that were sent to me. I always feel so much gratitude when I receive voice messages from listeners. The engagement inspires me. Not only that, it connects me to you, the listener. I have mentioned on the podcast many times now that, despite this feeling like a one way relationship, me talking to you, it’s more than that. Engagement makes this humble project very meaningful to me and drives me to continue to connect with you. Don’t be shy! It doesn’t have to be profound, just tell me what you’re up to. Maybe you want to get something off your chest, in which case you may want to be anonymous. Just say so. So, whip out your device, record me something and DM it or email me.

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!

On this episode of the podcast, I bring you a conversation with Shawn Cheshire, United States Army military veteran and para-athlete.

This past June, Shawn and her team tackled the Tour Divide. The Divide is hard enough, but for Shawn, who lost her sight due to a head injury sustained at her job as a paramedic, it was the hardest thing she has even done. Personally, I can’t even fathom the difficulty of having to traverse some of the terrain on the Divide blind. The constant surface variations and variable weather conditions cracked even the most hardened athletes, but Shaun finished the route in just over 50 days.

Shawn grew up a multi sport athlete but losing her vision didn’t stop her. She has competed at National and International levels in multiple para-sports, including adaptive rowing, adaptive biathlon, tandem road para-cycling, and tandem track para-cycling.

In this episode, we chat about her background in sport, her time in the US Army and the events that led to her losing her vision. We discuss the challenges she faced while overcoming this set back and how it almost drove her to the brink of taking her own life. Shawn also shares stories from the Divide and some of the logistical challenges her and her team faced while trying to get her to Antelope Wells in one piece.

It was an honour and privilege to be able to connect with Shawn and to share this with all of you. I hope you are moved and inspired like I was by her grit and determination. To learn more about Shawn, you can visit her website http://www.shawncheshire.org/

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.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Jillian A. Brown is a Canadian born Explorer, Photographer, Writer, Mental Health & PTSD Educator, and Public Speaker.

After being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome a few short years ago, and after discovering ways to cope, Jillian wants to share her experience to help connect people to nature, adventure and themselves as a path to healing their own PTSD. One of her main tools to deal with mental health struggles is doing hard things. She shares her adventures with stunning photography and detailed accounts through her writing.

Her endeavors include paddling a Tandem sea kayak down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and becoming the first Canadian to paddle across the United States. Both, world first achievements. Jillian knows no boundaries.

In this conversation, she shares the life events that led to her escape from a toxic relationship, where she found herself living in a tent with her dog. On the verge of taking her own life, it was an adventure with her canine friend that turned things around and opened doors to a new life and finding love again.

Follow Jillian:
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram

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.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I have another TD conversation with you. I know, I know… I just put one out with Bonnie, but the two conversations are a little different and talk about different aspects of the TD, so I figured you might find some value in another chat.

Ty Domin @tydomin raced the Tour Divide in 2017 finishing in 19d 8h on a singlespeed and it’s always fun to hear about his experience. Ty is also a talented sewer who designs and fabricates his own Bikepacking luggage. He and is partner Chelsea are just gearing up to ride around the world and plan on making Canada their new home, so expect to see some great posts on his Instagram feed in the near future.

As usual, Ty and I chat about all sorts of different topics and I think you’ll enjoy it. He shares stories from his own TD ride, and we talk about different aspects of the Tour Divide that weren’t covered in my podcast with Bonnie.

Thanks for listening.

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!

I had the pleasure this past week to have two great conversations about my Tour Divide experience.

In this episode, Bonnie takes over hosting duties and interviews me about my ride. She asked some great questions and it was a pleasure to share some of my memories of this gargantuan adventure.

Bonnie raced in 2016, 2017 and 2019. In 2017, she fractured her hand on Koko Claims and had to scratch in Butte. Her fastest time was 27:23:08

Next week, I’ll bring you a conversation I had with Ty Domin, who finished the 2017 TD in 20 days on his singlespeed. A huge accomplishment! Ty and I delve into different aspects of the race and speak more to the technical side of a big adventure like this.

I hope you enjoy these episodes and that they are a valuable resource for you as you plan your own crack at this life changing journey.

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!

Originally published on September 5, 2019, on the Bikepack Canada Podcast, this conversation was one for the books. I wanted to schedule this podcast to come out late in June to inspire folks that are still out there (like me, likely) and need a little boost.

Enjoy this chat as you rollow towards Antelope Wells.

Nat Rainbow is all about spreading positivity. When she decided to tackle the Tour Divide this year, she had no idea she’d be riding the Lanterne Rouge and was blown away by the Bikepacking community’s support. Nat shares what she did to prepare for her epic journey and some of the tools she harnessed to maintain a positive mindset through all the challenges she faced to get to Antelope Wells.

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!