Stephen and Raya celebrate a half century of the Cyclist Pod with a bumper edition show; and if you ride bicycles (or even horses), this one is a must.

In this massively drawn out podcast (and conversation), it's all about the terrain. Snow? We cover it. Riding huge organic beasts? We cover that too. Saddles both of the tiny triathlong shaped carbon and the massive 15th century leather variety are covered, and the velominati has a say on that too. OBVS. Who wins in a race of horse vs bike? Want the answers? Erm. So do we.

But our major topic today is taking your bike off the road; as we discuss mountain biking, as a sport, as a pasttime, and as a way of roadies to get back to nature. And with that, MTB World Cup commentator Dan Jarvis is on the phone to tell us how you can get into it, and who is doing the business at the top end of the sport.

LET'S OFF ROAD! Etc. The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell www.cyclistpod.com

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Stephen and Raya appear to be on a mixture of helium and amphetamines as they squeeze a bucket load of content into the most packed of hours.

In a nutshell: The Cyclist Pod sportive 'Beat the train'... unsurprisingly, has delays. Stephen still going to do a triathlon (he was hoping Raya had forgot), Strava news is BACK - and so is The Bike Price is Right, where the rules on cost have been blown out of the water.

But most impressively, Stephen's got a new equipment idea. Stand back cycling world - you're about to be reinvented.

And we have a new sponsor! Err... actually, no. Raya does. Almost.

You'd think they'd be tired after they went for a run together. You'd be wrong.

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Stephen and Raya decide to knuckle down after 47 shows of faffing about and concentrate on making the listener... a better cyclist. It's taken over a year, but yes, that's what they're finally doing.

And they're not doing this by making you stronger, or faster, or lighter, or all that gubbins countless, coaches, articles, trainers or interviews are doing. No. They're making you the most important thing of all: Skilled.

With the help of listeners and social media followers, Stephen and Raya go through the abilities you need to prosper on the bike - and the ones you don't. OK, I know this is sounding all sensible, but it's a sensible as it is a laugh. So take notes.

Oh, and the Velominati rules pitches bicycles versus families (who wins?), and a surprisingly comprehensive review of the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt bike computer.

The pod is bordering on useful. It's all gone a bit weird.

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Stephen and Raya go into a subject frenzy as British Cycling come into the crosshairs for what could be seen as a severe lack of humour. Details to follow.

On top of that, this show's a maelstrom of topics; including

* Expectations of the name Chris * The 'Pelotan' advert * Protein powders. Beefy ones. * The Velominati is DOWN * Lanzarote report * Cycling when ill * Why SG lost a Strava follower * And look out for our extra bit: SG channelling his inner Gay German Cyclist.

But finally, this pod grapples with the news that inferred porn marketing is not welcome in the world of cycling. Do they have a point? We tackle it. Head on. Though we can't, because the pun potential is so great we just can't stop laughing. Sorry guys. Serious journalists, we aint.

So with that, we talk to Chris, the team boss of the Porn Pedallers. He makes some good points, and we try not to laugh like schoolchildren. We discuss it all with Chris; the team, the cyclists, how they manage to squeeze into those jerseys, and riding generally. Oh, and PS - his pornos. Which is an anagram of 'sponsorship'. MIND BLOWN, RIGHT?

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen go from judgy judgy to matchy matchy as we delve into the world of cyclist clobber.

From the practical, to the stylish, to the outlandish, our duo's chat is all wardrobe as cycling's most contentious industry is dived into. Not in any detail of course; the Pod isn't about journalism. It's about opinions that are at best guessed at and worst, wildly inaccurate.

Thankfully, we're joined on the Pod by cycling clothing supremo Pete from the Discerning Cyclist. He's got the low down on the clothing to not sweat in when you slow down. Can you be a stylish, succesful, and yet practical cyclist out of lycra? He thinks so.

On top of that the Pod goes off piste repeatedly, covering all the subjects from Raya's new bike's name (thanks to you the listeners!), when chocolate milkshake is not chocolate milkshake, and news on the Chase The Train Sportive. Yes, that's the Sportive we're organising, despite not having done any organising yet.

Finally, the Velominati socks it to the beardy weirdies. You're both welcome, and ostracised. Confused? Frank is full-on velonazi today, so brace yourself.

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen take their advocate role as seriously as ever as a magazine article listing the 17 worst kind of cyclists is disseminated, interrogated, autopsied, and mostly ridiculed.

Side issues from this lead to discussions as to if a Penny Farthing is actually the world's most efficient bicycle (it should be), and we touch on the BIG questions in cycling. Red lights, and helmets. Yeah, we go there. Strap in. Or don't. (Apparently safety is a personal issue).

Plus, all the news (both on and off course) from Raya's recent trip to the Dubai Triathlon (she's a complete soldier don't you know), and a feelgood kitbag that's going to make you want to hug someone near you. Go on, do it.

Finally, the Velominati devolves into why Americans can't use their hands correctly (or maybe European's can't?), and the signalling question no cycling rulebook ever tells you: the best way to call someone a w*nker from a bicycle.

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen hit the reset button as they go over the 12 fundamental habits of cycling; a great introduction to those of you who are starting out, and a reminder to those existing cyclists of the bad habits they have to avoid.

This leads to some fairly hilarious anecdotes as our duo recount their failings in their early days of cycling. Worth a listen for just the clip-in problems.

Tips and advice include where to get involved, how to go about getting into it, where and who with to ride... changing gears, changing tyres, and changing position... and joining clubs, and not overdoing it.

Plus! A welcome return for the Strava segment (not literally), a new kitbag category, and everyone's favourite - You Drive Like a Dick. Beware, crap drivers, we're back onto you.

Plus, as ever, the Velominati presents us with a rule that riles Raya to the point of explaining how she slammed a fellow cyclist on social media. It's a bit sweary, but you've gotta love that girl when she's angry.

Show 44 - it's a must listen for cyclists of all level! Though the 'must' bit is sort of a marketing thing. They're not going to literally come round and make sure you've done it. They've got stuff to do, we're sure you have to also.

(and listen out for the bonus bit at the very end)

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

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen are back in a celebration of the mankind's greatest invention. No it really is, did you not know that? Steve Jobs worked it out. He said that 'computers are the bicycles of the mind', which makes bicycles the computers of the body. Erm. Actually we'll get back to you on that.

Anyway, it's another jam packed podcast. Yes, we're not that frequent right now (we are BUSY!) but we still pack them in when we do them. So we cover two main subjects in just the one podcast, with...

Naming conventions. Does your bike have a name. SHOULD your bike have a name? And where does it come from. And is it an it, or a girl or a boy? And has somebody cleverer than us already answered that? Almost definitely. Let's not forget, bikes are our babies. So Raya won't hard a nasty word said about them, protective bike mum that she is.

And then! Another major topic. Mountain biking - when you do it competitively, where do you go next? Paul Davies - who has done exactly that - has the answer(s). He's our main interview.

And added to all that, is details of our first ever Cyclist Pod ride out! "BEAT THE TRAIN" will be on Sunday June 16th and start in East Anglia (ish) and end in Sussex (ish). It'll involve a train. Or more likely than that, a bus replacement service. Listen for details.

Anyway, Raya and Stephen hope you enjoy it. Throw your hands up in the air!!! Or maybe don't. Because the Velominati has something to say about that. In fact, we've got something to say about the Velominati - including our new challenge to break as many rules as possible.

We've got our naughty helmets on, and this show is all the better for it.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell

www.cyclistpod.com

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen throw open the doors to 2019 and dive into theirs, and cycling's, plans for the year.

The events, the sportives, the training, the holidays, the imminent kit... it's all covered. Well, not all, but it's sauntered through, for sure.

This inlcudes details of the Pod's first ever trip overseas (well, Raya and Stephen cycling together overseas, specifically) and how you can get involved! (You can't. But if you listen closely enough there's enough details for you to stalk us. But please don't).

And a lighthearted chat about Park Run starts to snowball into a set of promises Stephen makes that will shape his 2019. Sadist BFF Raya is going to ruin him. Sorry, coach him. Still. Same thing.

Oh! And it's kit kit kit today! Proper shoes, proper pedals... and gloves. Oh the gloves. Listen out to one of our most favourite kickstarters of all time.

Also, a fairly innocuos Illuminati leaves our duo discussing superstition in cycling and making lots of unimpressed noises.

Finally, those noises turn to horse noises when some innovative laws to stop close passing by traffic are discussed alongside some fairly extreme, yet similar, ideas. Lights? Sticks? Defecating mid-ride? Check.

#BeMoreHorse. It'll make sense, we promise.

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell

www.cyclistpod.com

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3

Raya and Stephen are joined by car journalist and keen cyclist Ben Oliver as they decamp to the pub for their Christmas party.

To keep things moving along, they start with two drinks in them (aka their usual limit), and things get ... messy, rude, offensive, and most of all, hilarious.

Discussed, in borderline slander terms, are the Rapha sale, overseas cycling, alcohol and cycling, cycling and sex, more cycling, and we exchange Cycling related Christmas presents. To cap it off, they narrate Raya's Strava end of year video live on the pod.

But listen out for their new listener challenge, which will be hidden in their Stravas in 2019. It's... incriminating, childish, and will come back to haunt them.

They're drunk, it's rude, you've been warned.

Merry Christmas!

The Cyclist Pod (c) Stephen Grant and Raya Hubbell

www.cyclistpod.com

Music 'Zazie' c/o Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3