“Send It” Culture vs Real Control - The Most Dangerous Thing in Cycling

Jan 19, 2026

The podcast delves into the gripping themes of risk and consequence in cycling, inspired by the documentary 'Free Solo.' It challenges the obsession with minor controls while normalizing dangerous behaviors on the bike. The discussion emphasizes the importance of preparation, contrasting it with the false sense of safety from repeated small risks. Listeners are encouraged to distinguish between performance risks and real-life consequences. Lastly, the hosts advocate for honest decision-making to avoid relying on luck.

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INSIGHT

Consequences Shape Risk, Not Just Thrills

Cycling shares the same relationship with consequence as Free Solo: it's about choices when there are no second chances.
The episode reframes risky acts as an issue of consequence awareness, not thrill seeking.

INSIGHT

Preparation, Not Fearlessness

Alex Honnold isn't fearless; he reduces uncertainty through meticulous preparation.
Treating risk as a system of variables is more useful than labeling situations as simply safe or risky.

ANECDOTE

The 'Uh-Oh' Group Ride Moment

The host recalls moments in group rides where a sudden stack of problems leaves you thinking 'I'm totally screwed'.
Those near-miss moments are common and then often get filed away as 'it's fine', which teaches bad habits.

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Free Solo is the documentary about climber Alex Honnold attempting to climb El Capitan — a 3,000-foot rock wall — with no rope.

I watched it last night and it did that thing great films do: you don’t just enjoy it, you start auditing your own life. Not dramatically — just noticing I was still tense afterwards, like my body was holding onto the consequences. Because it’s not really a film about climbing. It’s about consequence — and the choice to move forward when there’s no second chance.

As cyclists, that lands close. We obsess over control in tiny details, yet accept familiar risks without thinking. This episode is about getting honest: separating performance risk from consequence risk, spotting the “uncertainty stack,” and making smarter decisions before luck runs out.

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