The Cyclist Pod

Woooah, so... where have they been? Well, due to the lag between recordings and publishing, you'll have to wait until show 91 (ninety one!) to find out, but in this episode Stephen and Raya autopsy the 2nd lockdown and how the cycling world has gone nuts. And bolts. And stems, cogs, pins, derailleurs... they've all gone. It's the great parts shortage and we're only a few weeks from fist fighting in the aisles of Evans Cycles for a brake cable.

We review the New Year's Resolutions we have made (in hope more than expectation) and we hit you with a surefire way to lose 3kilos. No joke - it's the best way to improve your climbing, acceleration and braking. This is why Raya is a top UK coach. Also: This is why nobody takes us seriously. You'll have to listen to find out. Come for the giggles, stay for the pro-tips.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

It's been a while, hasn't it? Which is why, like a grocery delivery driver who's beyond apologetic for missing the last week's package, we're turning up absolutely full to the brim of podcast goodness.

So in one of our busiest and most jam-packed episodes, well, ever, we cover, in no particular order;

Raya's new watch (yeah that Wahoo jobby, she got it before ANYONE, the jammy b*tch), needles (listen to find out), axles (also listen), and we put our tail between our legs and apologise for what can only be described as our most complained about innaccuracy ever discussed. Oh God we're sorry. Can you please stop complaining now? 

But our main topic today - and it's a GEEK-OUT of Herculean propotions; is talking to Tim Brownstone, Athlete and Biochemist and CEO and inventor of the Kymira smart textiles collections. That's right, smart clothing. I don't mean a pocket to put your phone in with a little hole to put the charging cable through, I mean, actually clothing that makes you recover faster by making your body work differently. Witchcraft? Sounds it. But listen. It's genuinely beyond fascinating.

It's a busy show. Want to know how busy it is? We ran out of time for the Velominati. RAN OUT OF TIME! Frank will be devestated. 

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Don't let the show length fool you. Stephen and Raya are covering all subjects cycling, purist and tenuously related to the world of two wheels.

Socially distanced as per usual; some of the subjects covered include cycling in fog, breaking spokes mid-ride, how our podcast strategy is ruled by dog pictures, and Raya's deathwish.

Got cycling Christmas presents? We'll tell if you the're good or not. Are we the self-appointed authority? Yes. Do we have any reason for this? No. Stop questioning us, we're doing our best.

Velominati wise it's all about the thrills of hills and pils. No, that's not a typo. It's a pun. Listen on.

Certificiation-wise, we're a South American "15", so themes of a sexual nature are normalised but blasphemy will result in you being ran out of town.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod are coronabored. As we imagine you are too, so we're aiming to be the antidote. If not the vaccine.

Stephen and Raya are socially distanced as ever - and attempt some public service broadcasting to help explain what you can actually do cycling-wise during a lockdown.

It's light and shade an equal measures in this pod, as we get to have an amazing chat with the incredible renowned athlete Claire Danson whose survival and reboot from a spectacularly horrific cycling accident is a lesson in positivity and courage.

Velominati wise - we hit a big one - and come out of it with the only word anyone needs in 2020: Twatwaffle.

Oh yeah, certificate 18, yada yada yada 

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Love is in the air! Or the bin. The Cyclist Pod is back  and Stephen discovers his love of the bicycle has been cited in his divorce. Yes, genuinely.

Cycle clothing when not cycling. We answered this 2 years ago. Nothing like an update. Have our views changed? Is it Acceptable or excessive?

Speaking of which... the Velominati's back and things are going downhill pretty quickly. Which is the idea. 

On top of all this, the kitbag is back in force. We're geeking out on new fabric technology and also, diving into the new dhb winter range. Is this a big advert? No, we've bought it with our own actual money. It's genuinely that good. 

Ample compensation for a binned relationship based on a bike obsession, don't you agree?

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod attempts to provide an important public service: Letting the travelling cyclists know where, in these pandemic times, you can actually go cycling. Note that this advice is probably rubbish now thanks to lockdown 2. Grrrreat

Anyway. Come for the advice, stay for the abuse. Raya's facing off to a double whammy: she can't head to Ironman Turkey, and the Velominati is covering one of her biggest bugbears. Does she lose it? Is this show a certificate 18? Damn effing right. 

So Stephen's broken from lockdown overaction but he's gone to get a sports massage. A sports massage, it turns out, does not include essential oils, hot rocks, or Enya in the background. It involves being beaten up, and, inevitably, not being offered the kind of extras those other backstreet massages seem to favour so heavily.

There's still some Raya spleen leftover so Garmin gets a kicking from both of our guys (it's deserved) and Stephen is asked to do an impression of Raya. How do we think that turned out?

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod talks to Romesh Ranganathan!

In an episode that was initially going to just be about Peloton, we hand over the assessment to someone who actually uses it - a lot - and that's Romesh. Its cutting, surprisingly enthusiastic, and very very funny.

We've still got time for some aimless silliness, a more serious (ish) look at why Peloton might be a serious option for keen cyclists, and a quintessential Velominati. In fact, it's so Velominati, it's a rule that has it's own rules. You can't miss this, despite us still having a few technical gremlins with Stephen's voice. Though it might just be Stephen's voice.  Oh and there's a kitbag where formal dinner wear might now become your go-to Autumn cycling apparel. This is not a windup. But of course, it's all about Romesh. Strap in, this is a corker.

Well. All about Romesh - and a tiny bit about toblerone. Yeah, you heard. 

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod is back; distanced but never distant!

And we're speaking to Peter Walker; the author of the cycling book "Cycling can save the world". He also happens to be the Guardian's political correspondent. Cycling and politics? Does that mix? Listen and find out.

But now, an apology. This short delay was down to some noteworthyly major tech hurdles; firstly, Raya was hacked. Like, held to ransom. Big time. Top social media honchos, the police, everything. We've never known lockdown drama like it.

Secondly, our show had to be completely recorded after everything went AWOL. Hacked as well? No. Stephen can't work out how to use his new remote recording software and now it sounds like he's drowning. And if he does this again, then that's what'll happen when Raya next sees him in a pool.

Note: the interview with Peter might be a little weird sounding. But then if you've not heard Stephen before, then you'll think that anyway.

Hang on, isn't this a cycling podcast? Of course. So allow Stephen to introduce the best permanent British Audax/Sportive circuit. Open 24h, all year round, and it's free. Why isn't everyone doing it? Also, cue a money saving triathlon. We're full of ideas.

And there's a Velominati that blows right up in your face. No, literally.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod comes back after an extended break with a distanced but IN THE SAME ROOM podcast. Baby steps guys, baby steps.

It's a general catchup though so hold tight and Raya and Stephen chew the fat generally. All is looking good and friendly until Raya announces Zwift's new Tour de France challenge... until she realises a key detail of it. Then she goes BOOM. Listen up.

Plus the kitbag, AND, a crowdfunder invention. We're quietly impressed. Will YOU be?

And as ever, the Velominati.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

The Cyclist Pod - now with Cyclist Magazine special offer included! It's sunny - so Stephen and Raya are out. Cycling. OBVS.

Though they still have time to chew the fat of cycling related lockdown observations... including how the warehouses of Europe are running out of cycling kit and what this has done to the 2nd hand market. Never repaired an inner tube? Now might be time to learn.

That said, while there's less kit, there's still a kitbag. Despite barely earning, we've been buying. IT'S AN ADDICTION YOU CAN'T HELP US

And our main story - Strava. They've moved loads of stuff to pay only. Is this good? Bad? Ugly? We dive in and tear their business plan to SHREDS! (Exaggeration)

And as ever, the Velominati.

Oh, and wildlife have got cocky. They think they own the roads. Err, guys, that'll be the cyclists. Fight you for it.

Plus! An offer from super-glossy sponsor (Cyclist Magazine yeah!) which is in the end credits, in case you wanted to fast forward the whole pod (sob). Also: In this description.

* OFFER!!! *

Try 3 issues of Cyclist for just £5 + free Juice Lubes First Aid Kit (gift RRP £29.97) - just head to https://cyclistmag.co.uk/cyclistpod

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell sponsored by dhb www.cyclistpod.com

Voices by Marcella Vincent / Produced by Stephen Grant and Jimmy Ward Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3