Ope! Bikes.

My guest today is someone I stumbled upon rather naturally. Over the last few weeks I’ve been reflecting on my journey as an athlete especially while preparing for UltraMegaJoy in March of next year. For those who weren’t aware, I spent several years as a competitive powerlifter and strongman athlete post graduate school. However, once I found the bicycle the rest was history. And I’ve always wanted to chat with someone about this athletic progression and, low and behold, Nino Giganti arrived at the forefront of my brain.

I first met Nino through a mutual friend in St. Louis and he’s been someone I’ve kept in touch with off and on over the last few years. As I got to know Nino a little more, I discovered he also came from the realm of strength sports and, much like yours truly, recently discovered all the joy to be had while riding and racing a bike. So, I texted Nino, got him to say yes to this mess and, before I knew it, we had another episode recorded and ready for publishing. 

In this conversation, Nino and I wax nostalgic about our powerlifting days and how we both ended up ditching the weight room for long days in the saddle. Nino also takes me through his formative years as a strength athlete and the people and events responsible for converting him from muscle man to an accomplished cyclist. However the most enlightening part of the conversation comes when Nino discusses his recent move from Missouri to Utah and how that transition has continued to influence his progression as a cyclist and budding bikepacker. Lastly, Nino shares an intimate story about how he was able to more deeply connect with himself and his late father during his 6 day, 600 mile bikepacking trip across the state of Utah. This conversation with Nino really resonated with me and I think it’ll hit home with you…

My guest today is Stephanie Hall. Stephanie is someone I met a few years ago at the Arkansas High Country Race and has been someone I’ve admired and enjoyed keeping up with as the calendar turns. Plain and simple, Stephanie is an ultra distance athlete and is someone who continues to push the envelope on what’s possible during the events she’s competing in.

In this conversation Stephanie and I discuss her recent move from Austin, TX to Vermont and what that transition has been like for her, we chat about her experiences at Vermont Super 8, we chat about how Stephanie manages life and racing bikes as a Type 1 diabetic, we dive into some mental health related topics, and then finally we close the conversation with Stephanie’s plans for the 2024 season.

My guest today is Mike Weiss, owner and founder of Big Shark Bicycle Company located right here in St. Louis, MO. If you ride or race bikes in St. Louis there’s a very significant chance you’ve come across an organized event or race that is sponsored and supported by Big Shark. With three store-front locations in the St. Louis area Big Shark’s mission has always been to share the adventure and passion of cycling with members of all age groups. 

Not only is Mike the owner and founder of Big Shark but he’s also a founding member of the American Criterium Cup, a Professional Crit Series composed of several races held across the United States.

In this conversation Mike and I talk about the history of Big Shark, how it was founded, and what motivated Mike to take the leap of opening the shop at 23 years of age. We also touch on the oral history of cycling in St. Louis, the people who laid the foundation for our community, we hit on some of Mike’s personal racing experiences, and lastly we wrap up the conversation with the history of Gateway Cup and how Mike sees criterium racing, and the American Criterium Cup, evolving in the coming years.

It was a pleasure sitting down with Mike for this conversation however I felt like we simply scratched the surface of the stories, history, experience and knowledge that he possesses.

My guest today is Olivia Reeve from St. Louis, MO. Olivia and I sat down earlier this week to celebrate and discuss her recent signing with Women's Domestic Elite cycling team, United Cycling.

In this episode we dive into Olivia's journey from a Category C racer at Tuesday Night World's to competing in the Women's Pro peloton. We also discuss how Olivia plans to find balance between her professional and athletic careers next season,  her past athletic experiences, and what the process of joining United Cycling looked like.

At just 23 years old, Olivia's wisdom, character, and unwavering drive for success are truly impressive, and I believe listeners will find her story inspiring.

Back again to tell us their personal tales of the Arkansaw High Country Race are my good friends Zach Smith and Matthew Roeleveld.

Zach and Matthew raced the South Loop this year which features 487 miles of gorgeous, backcountry Arkansawyer roads mixed with a healthy 32,000 foot dose of elevation gain. In Part 2 of Talkin' High Country, Zach and Matthew revel us with their experiences while on the course, the long days and longer nights they endured, the new friendships they forged, and their renewed sense of appreciation and connection for riding bikes in Arkansaw.

I couldn't be more proud of these two for their valiant efforts and I hope you enjoy this intimate conversation with two of my closest friends!

Hey everyone! And welcome back to Ope! Bikes. My guests this evening are Zach Smith and Matthew Roeleveld from St. Louis, MO. Zach and Matthew are both small business owners and two dudes who are genuinely stoked on riding and racing bikes. Not only do they excel at cycling, but they’re also amazing fathers, friends, and family men. I’ve known these guys for a few years now and I’m grateful to be included in our “DaddyFriendGroup” activities which includes racing bikes, talking about bikes, and doing our best to raise our wild children in this wild world.

In two weeks time, Zach and Matthew are headed South to Hot Springs, AR for the 2024 rendition of the Arkansaw High Country Race. Both of them are registered for the South Loop this year which boasts 487 miles and 32,000 elevation gain of pure Arkansaw joy and pain. Having completed the course last year, Zach comes into this conversation with a little more knowledge and understanding of what awaits each of them. However Matthew, having never completed the course or participated in an ultra-distance bikepacking event in Arkansaw, comes into the conversation with an open heart, open mind, and a bit of 'what the hell did I get myself into?'.

During the conversation, I question Zach and Matthew on their bike and bag setup for this year’s race, what their mental and physical preparation has looked like, their overall strategy while out on the course, and what feedback they hope to get out of this year’s event. If you’ve done the Arkansaw High Country Race before then you understand how challenging yet rewarding it can be, and I love hearing what each racer hopes to learn about themselves in the process.

My guest today is none other than Chuck Campbell. Chuck is a retired science teacher who lives in Russellville, AR and is someone who is passionate about the state’s natural and human history. This passion Chuck possesses is something that inspired him to create the Arkansaw High Country Route, a 1,000 mile tour through some of the most beautiful and challenging parts of The Natural State. Not only is this route recognized and established by the Adventure Cycling Association, but since 2019 riders and racers from all of the world have been descending upon the great state of Arkansas to try their hand at completing the route while vying for the opportunity to call themselves the holder of the Fastest Known Time. That honor has been held by legends of the sport including Rebecca Rusch, Ted King, Scotti Lechuga and, most recently, Ernie Lechuga.

In this conversation Chuck takes listeners back to the days of gravel riding and bikepacking before it was cool and before anyone knew what the Arkansaw High Country Route even was. Chuck also peels back the curtain on his passion for teaching and showcasing the beauty of his home state and we also sit in the saddle with him as he details his experience on The Tour Divide. To close out the conversation, Chuck and I chat about this year’s race, how it’s evolved over the last few years, and what racers can expect as they roll into Hot Springs for the grand depart on October 7th. Chuck has been someone I’ve admired and have been curious about since I first started racing in Arkansas a couple years ago…and I hope Chuck’s passion and cycling background captivates you as much as it did me.

Today’s episode features the one, the only Lindsay Shepard. I met Lindsay in 2021 while riding together during the Arkansaw High Country Race. Since then Lindsay has been one of the most inspiring and most influential members of the bikepacking community that I’ve had the opportunity to follow and become friends with.

Lindsay is no stranger to hard things. She’s been adventuring on her bike since 2014, having completed the Tour Divide, the French Divide, and the American Trail Race. Most recently Lindsay set sail on what we’ll call the Arkansaw Singlespeed Yo-Yo Extravaganza which consisted of Ozark Gravel DOOM, the Quachita Triple Crown, and the Arkansaw High Country Race. A 'Yo-Yo' is when a rider or racer completes the course in one direction and then turns around to finish the course in the opposite direction. Altogether, Lindsay racked up an estimated 3,200 miles and 280,000 feet of elevation gain before it was all said and done.

During our conversation, Lindsay and I touch on how she was introduced to riding a bike, her entrance into ultra-distance bikepacking, why she chooses to tackle such difficult events, and what she discovers about herself in the process.

Do you know Kayce Peters? You should.

Kayce is a friend, cyclist, USA Cycling official, and a pillar of the St. Louis cycling community. Not only is Kayce from St. Louis but he's been around long enough to see the community evolve and grow. Kayce's contributions extend far beyond his personal pursuits. As a USA Cycling official and dedicated advocate to the cycling community, you can find Kayce scoring points races on Thursday evenings at Penrose Park Velodrome or officiating our local, and regional, criterium races.

In this episode we dive into Kayce's formative years as a fixed gear bike messenger, Big Shark employee, and how he's grown into the position he's proud of today. We 'wax nostalgic' on what the St. Louis cycling scene looked like in years past and talk about what we think lie ahead.

Recording is easy when it's with your friends. Enjoy the show!

My guest for today’s episode is Maggie Livelsberger from Erie, PA. Maggie is coming off an impressive showing at DOOM where she took 1st place in the women’s category and became the first woman ever to complete the route on a singlespeed. Maggie finished the 390 mile course with a time of 3 days 4 hours and 3 minutes. Maggie has an impressive ultra-distance resume. She took 1st place at Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder in Michigan, 1st place single speed and 3rd place overall at Gravel Worlds, and 1st place at the Arkansas High Country South Loop.

In this conversation Maggie and I get into how she was introduced to bikes and ultra distance bikepacking, how she interacts with and supports the cycling scene in Erie, her stories and experiences while racing DOOM, and how she’s able to connect with the child-like, adventurous part of herself during these ultra-distance events. I’m incredibly grateful to have met Maggie last year during the Arkansas High Country Race and I’m honored to have her as a guest on the show.