The Paceline Cycling Podcast

While some of the country enjoys a final summer hurrah, the reality is, winter is around the corner. Changes in bike technologies (disc brakes, especially) and lubes have made planning for the winter necessary in a way it didn't necessarily used to be. Patrick and Lori discuss the steps that are helpful to take if you plan to ride through the winter.

Revel Bikes is one of those rare brands that enjoyed a acclaim within days of their launch, followed by such a meteoric rise that the only way founder Adam Miller could keep up with the company's growth was to sell a majority stake in the company to private equity. It didn't take long for things to sour, though and not long after Miller's departure, the owners filed bankruptcy. Miller saw an opportunity to buy the company back and after accomplishing what should have been a longshot, he began rebuilding the team that had established the brand as one not just to watch, but to own. Lori and Patrick talk with Miller about the bumpy ride Revel has experienced, what he's learned along the way, and what drew him to license the Canfield CBF suspension design.

This week Lori and Patrick welcome Katy Bryce, the CEO of the Robert Axle Project (a maker of thru-axles) and Old Man Mountain (a maker of touring and bikepacking racks and bags.

The Fit Kit was the first truly systematic fitting system available to riders here in the U.S. Prior to that, bike fit was more alchemy than science. And while there will always be an element of art to it, John Higgins of Fit Kit Systems has evolved the brand and the mission to make bike fit something riders can improve at home. Once marketed strictly to bike shops, the Fit Kit is now primarily a consumer-facing business.

Being a bike mechanic is a tougher job than most people think. But it's one thing to be a bike mechanic, and quite another to be a race mechanic. Vince Gee has been a pro mechanic for more than 20 years and worked for some of the biggest and best teams in the business, including the U.S. Postal Service Team. Patrick and Lori talk to him about his experience as a race mechanic, World Champion on the track and cancer survivor.

This week Lori and Patrick welcome Tom Boss, the Executive Director for the Redwood Trails Alliance, a mountain bike advocacy organization based in Sonoma County, California. Tom talks about the three counties they serve as well as the scope of their work, which ranges from collaboration with park officials to trail maintenance to the construction of new trails.

This week is the second half of Lori and Patrick's two-parter on ebikes. This week they look at "out-of-class" ebikes and some of the problems they pose as well as California's response to them, in addition to a class-action lawsuit filed against ebike maker Super73.

Ebikes have been in the news lately for reasons both good and bad and Patrick has been fielding gripes and advice from friends on the topic of Class 2 ebikes. Patrick and Lori discuss the three classes and why some ebikes include a throttle and whether or not that's a good idea.

What's it like to be a travel writer—not just a travel writer, but one who focuses on cycling? Alex Crevar is a New York Times contributor who specializes in stories about the Balkan region. His resume includes a variety of outlets, including Adventure Cycling, but when you can say you're an ongoing contributor to the New York Times, your resume need not be long, but part of what makes his story so interesting is the way he has used his expertise to improve the experience of the cyclo-tourist visiting the region.

Lori and Patrick examine how sometimes the bike is a great way to recover from an injury, but sometimes it can be the cause of the injury itself. And other times, our overeager natures result in the bike prolonging an illness or injury. What's a dedicated rider to do?