The Average Watts Podcast

In E27, I chat with Stefano Barberi. Stefano is a professional mountain biker and gravel racer. Stefano was born in San Paulo, Brazil and started his career as a mountain biker but switched to road racing shortly after moving to the USA. After a lengthy career as a professional road racer, Stefano made his way back to the mountain bike. Now Stefano is known for racing endurance mountain bike and gravel races all across the world.

This episode is packed full of cool stories during his time as a professional road racer and how he found his way back to the mountain bike.
 
You can find out more information about Stefano on his social feeds,  Instagram & Facebook.

Current sponsors:
Kenda Tires
The Black Bibs
Starlight Apparel
Fizik
ALBA Optics
LEM Helmets
ESI Grips
Xpedo Pedals
Handup Gloves
Flow Formulas
 
Phil Gaimon worst retirement ever - Video
The Fat Cyclist - Video

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

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In E26, I chat with Felt Bike's newest Gravel Pro, Travis McCabe. Travis is an American former professional cyclist, who rode professionally between 2013 and 2020, for the Team SmartStop, Holowesko Citadel Racing Team, UnitedHealthcare, Floyd's Pro Cycling and Israel Start-Up Nation teams.

I met up with Travis  shortly after he made the announcement that he signed with Felt Bikes, and  would be turning his sights to the gravel scene. Travis joins a very long list of ex-road pros who have turned to the gravel scene. Other notable pros: Ted King, Peter Stetina, Colin Strickland, and TJ Eisenhart.

Travis currently rides for: Felt Bikes, Shimano Gravel, FSA, First Endurance

Career Highlights:
4x stage winner The Larry H.Miller Tour of Utah  ('18, '17, '16)

3x stage winner Le Tour de Langkawi  ('19, '17)
stage winner Colorado Classic  ('18)
stage winner Herald Sun Tour  ('17)

2nd Philadelphia International Cycling Classic  ('16)
Winston-Salem Cycling Classic  ('14)

2x stage winner Tour of the Gila  ('19, '16)

2nd stage  Amgen Tour of California  ('19)

2x 2nd stage  The Larry H.Miller Tour of Utah  ('19, '18)

3x 2nd stage  Colorado Classic  ('18, '17)

You can find more information about Travis at the following:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Strava


Links:
Chino Grinder Gravel Race

MT Lemmon Gravel Race


Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

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In E25, I chat with Juliana's newest Pro, Rose Grant. Rose is a 5x US Mountain Bike Marathon National Champion.

In this ever changing world, Rose switches from the Stan's Pivot Team which dissolved in 2020, to Juliana,  for 2021-22.  This is a big move for Rose, who admits she doesn't like change. But with Santa Cruz and Juliana due to release a new version of their very popular Blur in 2021, this has the potential of being an very exciting partnership.   

I met up with Rose at the Cactus Cup , on the heels of her 4th place over all placing at this season's opening race. Rose and I have a very relaxed and candid conversation where we talked about her times at Stan's Pivot, her transition to Juliana, as well as life, family and her passion for baking .

Rose currently rides for: Juliana, Sram, Maxxis Tires, Reserve, Smith, ESI,  Bikeflights, Camelbak, GU, Cleary, Wahoo.


Career Highlights:

5X Mountain Bike Marathon National Champion 
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019

4X World Championship National Team member
2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019

Leadville 100 MTB Champion
2019

2nd Place Isreal Epic Stage Race
2019

1st Place Belgium Waffle Ride-Cedar City, UT
2020

You can find more information about Rose at the following:

Instagram

Wep Page

Facebook

Recipes with Rose


Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

Spinergy Wheels, discount code for 10% off: Spin10

In E24, I chat with TJ Eisenhart.  TJ is a former road cyclist who broke away from the mold of traditional road racing and found his way to gravel and mountain bike racing. In the world of cycling, TJ is one of the brightest stars you will see, and we are not just talking talent. TJ has a personality that glows like the sun, which intern brings life, joy and hope to the sport. Not wanting to conform to the traditional model of cycling teams and sponsorship, TJ created his own team "The Imaginary Collective".

TJ is not just a cyclist though, he is also an amazing professional artist, a businessman, a husband and father. 

In this episode, TJ has a very raw and unfiltered conversation with me about the power of meditation, art, and how he has no bad days, only goods ones,  and he does his best to inspire others by spreading love and good vibes to everyone he meets.

*Because of how TJ does his best to be true to himself and live life in the moment, I decided this episode will be raw and unedited out of respect for TJ.


You can find more information about Stefanie at the following:

Instagram

The Imaginary Collective

Facebook


Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

Spinergy Wheels, discount code for 10% off: Spin10

In episode 23, I sit down with Stratton Delany of "The Black Bibs" and "Starlight Apparel". "The Black Bibs" is a side project of Starlight Custom Cycling Apparel. Starlight Apparel has been  doing custom kits for shops and teams for a long time, so they know how to make quality cycling apparel that fits great. That being said, Stratton believed  good cycling apparel has become inaccessible to many everyday riders, so "The Black Bibs" developed a simple and scaled down line of basic kits with no labels. The fit, fabrics, and chamois are chosen based off their years of experience with elite riders. Stratton told me "The Black Bibs" will never offer dozens of different pieces, just a few that are needed. Stratton believes that no one should be kept from enjoying the sport that we all love because of financial barriers.

"No labels. No B.S".

Well-known riders such as, retired Pro and current KOM crusher, Phil Gaimon, Gordan Wadsworth, Dylan Johnson, Elliot Baring and Stefano Barberi

 
You can find more information about "The Black Bibs" and "Starlight Apparel" at the following:
 
The Black Bibs

Starlight Custom Apparel


Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

Spinergy Wheels, discount code for 10% off: Spin10

In E22, I chat with Stefanie McDaniel. Stefanie is a Professional Enduro racer and mountain bike skills coach out of Phoenix, AZ. Stefanie currently rides for Pivot Cycles, Stan's NoTubes, Action Rideshop, Sparks Systems, Stillwell Performance, Fox Factory, Maxxis Tires, Industry Nine, Shimano, Cushcore, and Troy Lee Designs.

In this episode, Stefanie talks about how she owes much of  her success on the bike to continued  professional instruction. She also talks about how that passion for her progression in the sport has grown into her now teaching others how to progress  as well and become more confident and skilled riders.

In late 2020 Stefanie started the Slaydies Mountain Bike Skills Clinics as a way to pass on her knowledge and stoke for bikes onto all her students.

Career Highlights: 3-time Arizona state Enduro champion and 2019 Nevada state Enduro champ, and 1st Overall Pro Women 2020 Big Mountain Enduro Series.

You can find more information about Stefanie at the following:
 
Instagram

Slaydies MTB Skills Clinics

Facebook

Adrenaline Coaching

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

Spinergy Wheels, discount code for 10% off: Spin10

In E21 I chat with Jonathan Lee of  the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast. Jonathan is a Level II USA certified cycling coach and the host of the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast. Not only is Jonathan a go to source for cycling training, Jonathan also is a top US XC mountain bike racer as well as a road / criterium racer. 

In this episode, Jonathan talks to me about his passion for motocross and how the skills he acquired in motocross translated to top notch skills on the mountain bike.

This was an extremely fun interview with Jonathan because I have listened to his takes and opinions for the past couple years on the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast as well his former podcast, MTBR podcast.

You can find more information about Jonathan at the following:
 
Instagram

Facebook

Trainerroad

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

Spinergy Wheels, discount code for 10% off: Spin10   

In E20, I chat with YouTube personality, Shane Miller aka GPLama. Shane is from Melbourne Australia and is known for his popular YouTube channel “GPLama”. 

If you’re at all a cycling fan, and cruise YouTube you’ve no doubt come across videos from Shane Miller, aka GPLama. Shane’s channel covers all things bike tech, but he has become a resident expert on everything in regards to power meters,  Zwift and indoor training.  

Shane talks to me about how he went from an accomplished amateur cyclist, to making a business out of cycling tech news. Shane also pulls back the curtain to the Lama Lab and shows a back stage view of the lab, and just what goes into producing his YouTube videos, as well as where the name and logo of “GPLama” came from...I bet you will be as surprised as I was. 

 You can find more information about Shane and the Lama Lab at the following:
 
Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters 
 
Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel 

AND Newest supporter!! Spinergy Wheels 

In E19, I chat with Andrew Lespy. Andrew is a professional World Cup mountain biker for the Norco Factory Team and is the longest standing member of the Norco  XC team. Andrew is also the husband to Haley Smith who is also a world cup XC racer.

In this episode Andrew and I talk gravel bikes, 2020 world XC racing, and racing and training with your mate.

Career Highlights: 6-time World Championships team member. Canada Cup Overall winner. Multiple US Cup podiums. Epic Israel stage winner. 3-time UCI stage race podium finisher (Crocodile Trophy, Epic Israel, Salamina Epic).

You can find out more information about Andrew on his social feeds,  Instagram, Facebook, and website. You can also learn more about Norco bikes and the Norco Factory Team at www.norco.com

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters

Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel

In E18, I chat with Spencer Powlison. Spencer is a former writer and editor at VeloNews, as well as a personality on the VeloNews Podcast. Currently Spencer is the Content Marketing Manager at the Pro's Closet. I had a blast getting to have a coffee shop style chat with Spencer to learn a bit about his adventures in cycling , as well as his new adventure with the Pro's Closet. 

Some of Spencer's articles include:
Propelled by generosity at Dirty Kanza 200
Hanging with the pros at Grand Junction Off-Road
Even with a singletrack chaser, Whiskey Off-Road still burns
Boulder cyclist to ride Leadville 100 on 35-year-old, vintage mountain bike

Average Watts Podcast supporters and sponsors:

As ALWAYS the AWP is powered by 4iiii Power Meters

Tifosi Optics, discount code for 15% off: averagewatts

AWP kits are provided by Jakroo Custom Apparel