Who were the formative figures in your cycling life? For John, it was more Evel Knievil than dad. Patrick discusses how cargo bikes and utility bikes never caught on in the U.S. but now, thanks to e-bikes, they may finally get their moment.

This week John talks about what is involved in taking up mountain biking, especially as it applies to roadies. Patrick takes on a listener question about how to choose gravel tires.

Riding bikes with another person, especially if that other person is important in your life, isn't easy. Witness our host John. Speaking of riding with people important to you, Patrick is planning to get back on his tandem and has been considering strategies to make it work well.

This week's episode of The Paceline will be delayed due to some technical issues; it will be back next week. In it's place we have an introduction to make, our new podcast, The Long Way Home.

The Long Way Home is a different sort of podcast, at least, for cycling. The Paceline Podcast and Revolting are based on conversations. We're pleased any time someone tells us that they feel like they are at post-ride coffee with friends. The Long Way Home takes a different approach.

The Long Way Home features written works that we've published here at The Cycling Independent, on Red Kite Prayer, and a few other outlets, like Bicycling Magazine. These are magazine features, essays, meditations and more. Think of it as akin to Audible. It's one voice, one story.

For our first episode, I've recorded my feature, "My Day With Ilya," which I published in Peloton Magazine, Issue 15. The feature went on to win silver from the Society of American Travel Writers for "special-purpose travel."

This week, John wonders what the UCI's cumulative effect has been on cycling. Have their rules helped cycling's advancement, or hindered it? Patrick discusses just what a recovery ride is and why someone would want to ride their bike with as little effort as possible.

This week John confesses that only now is he putting his money where his mouth has long been. He's spending money on advocacy. Patrick has a question about waving, but not the one listeners might guess.

Today we discuss the discussions that come before rides. Very meta. Then we get into whether or not it's ok for bike riders to wear earbuds while riding. Are there any good scenarios? Are there any ways to do it responsibly.

Mindful that they are cyclists first and experts maybe, John and Patrick trade stories of cycling pratfalls, times they got it wrong and wound up, well, not on the bike anymore. They've had some doozies, and yes, clipless pedals are among them.

It's the "off-season," which means many of us are riding less. One of the ways to stay connected and even increase motivation is to dig into the rich canon of cycling literature. Patrick finally puts some numbers to his belief that on-the-bike is one of the happiest places on Earth.

Conditions are wet in many parts of the country, making mountain biking a terrific way to damage trails. John proposes a solution. Patrick received a great many questions in the run-up to Christmas about e-bikes, particularly what to look for when buying one.