Leadville, The 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race Podcast p/b Shimano

There are dozens of training apps out there and nobody knows the intersection of training and tech than DC Rainmaker (Ray Maker IRL). Hottie, Fatty, and Ray talk about which apps can make the biggest difference in your training, which will give you the most Leadville-like experience as you prepare for the race, and where virtual training is heading in the future. It's a great episode with a ton of useful advice.

We take a hard look at the logistical and ethical questions that come with staging the Leadville Trail 100 this summer. Our guest is Kevin Brooks: COO of Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He's a 2018 finisher in the Leadville 100, has crewed for his wife as she successfully raced the Leadwoman, and is the founder of a race promotion company. With a deep understanding of community, racing, health infrastructure, and the town of Leadville, there may be no better person to weigh in on the implications of a 2020 Leadville 100 Race Series.

Jonathan Lee of Trainer Road is back to finish up his 2019 Leadville Trail 100 race report and tell us about what he's learned from the Race Across the Sky. We've also got some great info on riding a virtual LT100 while you're training to do the real thing. Last week to get your Leadville Podcast Kit! bit.ly/leadvillekit

Before we begin: the Leadville kit is now available! Get it now at http://bit.ly/leadvillekit We're not being sarcastic with this title; Jonathan Lee really is a smart guy. In fact, he's a co-host on the incredibly popular and well-informed Ask a Cycling Coach podcast, by TrainerRoad. Jonathan's been on this show countless times, but until this episode, he's always been on the outside looking in. In this episode he tells his story — and key learnings — from doing the Leadville 100 in 2019. It's a good story and a deep dive, so this is part 1 of a two-part show.

Nobody can really say with absolute certitude that they'll be lined up for the Leadville 100 this August 15. However, that doesn't mean you can't be READY for your big race — whether your big race is this August in Leadville, next August in Leadville, or at some other date in some other place. Jonathan Lee of TrainerRoad joins us to talk about strategies for training in place and making smart decisions on being both fit and safe.  Hottie and Fatty also talk about the big Question of the Week: Shorts or bibs? We talk about which is better for men and women, and discuss some of our favorite brands. Big thanks to our Season 3 Sponsors: Floyd's of Leadville: Use the code for a 15% discount on any order! DNA Cycling: Get 10% off the price of your custom kit! Also, try out their comfortable and affordable Gravel Bibs — the value-leader price, premium quality, and side pockets make them perfect for racing the LT100 (or for any long day in the saddle) Shimano: Shimano XTR is the best drivetrain and components available for mountain bikes. And especially for big all-day races like the Leadville 100. The Feed: Leadville podcast listeners get 15% off their orders when they sign up! ENVE: The best wheels. The best seatposts. The best bars. The best stems. Don't let your race end early because you cheaped out on the most important parts of your bike.

Hottie digs deep into getting your bike fit just right with Nate Loyal, one of the best-known and respected coaches and bike fitters in the US (loyalcoaching.com). From saddle height to bar width to crank length to the effects of a dropper post on fit and beyond, Nate has details on it all. 

After the 2019 Leadville 100, Fatty conveniently (?) skipped over miles 60-75 in his race report. Now he finally (?!) tells the story of how he lost twelve minutes in this relatively flat and fast section of the race. Warning: it is not a pretty story. Big thanks to our Season 3 Sponsors: Floyd's of Leadville: Use the code for a 15% discount on any order! DNA Cycling: Get 10% off the price of your custom kit! Shimano: Shimano XTR is the best drivetrain and components available for mountain bikes. And especially for big all-day races like the Leadville 100. The Feed: Leadville podcast listeners get 15% off their orders when they sign up! ENVE: The best wheels. The best seatposts. The best bars. The best stems. Don't let your race end early because you cheaped out on the most important parts of your bike.

It's an answer-packed episode of the Leadville podcast! Hottie and Fatty talk with Life Time's Michelle Duffy and ask the questions on everyone's minds. What caused the 2020 registration snafu? What options were discussed to handle the problem? How did they wind up with the current solution? How many people will be on the starting line this year? Will wave starts be used to solve the larger number of white-corral racers at the starting line? What are the pros, cons, and logistical hurdles of a wave start? How will this affect the 2021 lottery? Will the Coronavirus affect the spring / early summer qualifiers and camps? And...believe it or not, there's a lot more. Big thanks to our Season 3 Sponsors: Floyd's of Leadville: Use the code for a 15% discount on any order! DNA Cycling: Get 10% off the price of your custom kit! Shimano: Shimano XTR is the best drivetrain and components available for mountain bikes. And especially for big all-day races like the Leadville 100. The Feed: Leadville podcast listeners get 15% off their orders when they sign up! ENVE: The best wheels. The best seatposts. The best bars. The best stems. Don't let your race end early because you cheaped out on the most important parts of your bike.

This is it, the final episode of Season 2. We're closing out the show for the year with Alison Tetrick, 3X World Gravel Champ, DK200 Record Holder, and signed up for the 2020 Leadboat Challenge...in spite of the fact that she doesn't (yet!) own a mountain bike.  Hottie and Fatty also talk a little about Season 3 of the Leadville Podcast, so be sure to stick around after the conversation with Alison!

We catch up with Canyon pro racer Jeremiah Bishop, holder of one of the five fastest times ever recorded in the Leadville 100. One of the highlights of the season in this show was getting Jeremiah’s insights, both in our regular show and in the live show we did in Leadville this year. We are unashamed to say we were totally rooting for Jeremiah to take the top spot on the pro podium in Leadville this year. Fate, sadly, had other plans for Jeremiah this year, but he's still got a great story to tell.