Bikes or Death

Today's episode is a hodgepodge of topics as we look at the year in review, reveal the winners of the BoD Awards, and I answers questions from the listeners. 2022 was a year of first, of growth, both personally and for the podcast, and I can't wait to do it again in 2023. As I reflect on the previous year, and over the past four years, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to share these stories and podcasts with a community that I love. While we had a ton of success, it wasn't without it's challenges. For long time listeners, supporters, and fans of BoD I have a special request at the end of todays episode, please listen to the end if you can. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens - An important part of my health and welness routine and a great way to provide the nutriens your body needs on the go and on bikepacking trips. Go to www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to take advantage of a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Ombraz – Use code “BOD20” for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Joó Árpád Amelia Waves Join them won’t you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Abdullah Zeinab, the first Rhino Run endurance cycling race winner in South Africa, shares his thrilling journey as a vegan ultra-endurance athlete. He details the dramatic head-to-head battle with his rival that kept listeners on the edge of their seats. The discussion also delves into his transformation from weightlifting to cycling, insights on balancing strength with endurance, and the mental fortitude required for extreme conditions. Abdullah's experiences highlight the personal growth and resilience that come from facing daunting challenges.

Eddie O'dea recently became the first person to complete the Eastern Divide Trail which runs through Mulberry Gap in Georgia, which was also the location for the first BoD Takeover. This made him the ideal candidate to be my first guest with a live audience. This conversation took place on Saturday morning at the Mulberry Gap Barn with about 40 bikepacking enthusiast in attendance. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full write up and gallery of images. Eddie did this ride as a way to also raise money for the Georgia Cycling Association. EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Gilmer Chamber of Commerce – One of our title sponsors for the BoD Takeover at Mulberry Gap. Help support this podcast by becoming a Patron!

On Sunday before the group start of the Arizona Trail Race Katie Scott was texting her friend who was doing the race with the typical well wishes. That short interaction sparked something in Katie that had been brewing for years. After thinking about doing the AZT for years she decided in that moment that this would be her year. So she threw fears and doubts to the wind and moved forward with her last minute decision and started to gather everything she need. A process that would continue up till the morning of the race. For a full writeup and gallery of images please visit www.BikesorDeath.com. Meditation Institue Katie mentioned in the episode.   EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Gilmer Chamber of Commerce - One of our title sponsors for the BoD Takeover at Mulberry Gap. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Miles Brown Jake Thurston Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Ernie Lechuga is no stranger to cycling success at a high level. He began his road cycling career in the 90's and earned a spot on the coveted Team Jelly Belly. After retiring he moved to NW Arkansas where he now helps other cyclist unlock their potential through his coaching business, Leborne Coaching. In recent years he's been signing up for more endurance cycling events. He's done Silk Road twice and this was his fourth attempt a the Arkansas High Country Race. Last year he had to pull out of the ARHCR due to liver problems that almost cost him his life. This year, he came back with a plan to set a new FKT (Fastest Known Time) with a goal of 4 days, 8 hours. The previous FKT was set by Ted King in 2020 with a time of 4d 20h 51m, Ernies goal would put him well again of King if he was able to pull it off. Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup with a gallery of images.   EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens – Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Ombraz - Use code "BOD20" for $20 off your order AND BoD will get $20 from Ombraz as a thank you 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 No new Patrons this month 😔 Sign up to help me produce these episodes 😊 Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

This week we are taking a peak over the preverbial cycling fence to see what's going on in the world of gravel racing. We've seen Ted King, Payson McElveen, Lachlan Morton, and many other gravel racers dip their toes into the bikepacking waters. Now it's our turn to take a peak into their world. After coming on the podcast to tell us all about Wisconsin Bikepacking & Gravel, Shane Hitz invited me out to experience the Red Granite Grinder for myself. The RGG is a mixed terrain gravel race that starts/finishes in Wausau, WI. One very unique feature about this route is the 20+ special land access options that are available only during this race. Shane has been busy chasing down land owners and managers to make this route a reality and by all accounts his efforts have paid off. Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and a gallery of images from my trip to the RGG.   EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover - We are a little over two weeks away from the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap Nov. 10-13th. We'd love to have you join us! Check out the registration info and if you have questions we'd love to hear from you! Kuat - Not just great bike rack, check out their lineup of racks to transport your snow equipment too! And with their No Worries warranty you don't need to worry, because Kuat has your Rack and your Back! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Tim Rowand Steven Bishop Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

RJ Sauer is no stranger to big trips, big challenges, and big adventures. I've been following him and his work for years with great interest and a tinge of jealousy. Last year he set out to take on a new challenge, this time with his 3 year old son, Ollie, in tow. They settled on the Rexy Gravel Race, a 200 mile mixed terrain race starting in Fruita, CO and ending in Moab, UT. The catch? You've got 24 hours to complete it! Before you dive into today's episode you may want to watch his film first. Along For The Ride - Film For a full writeup and gallery of images from today's episode please visit www.BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Kuat - Have you seen Kuat's Piston SR? It's essentially the single rail version of the Piston Pro X.Same great features like all metal construction, Tiger Drylac (dry-lack) automotive powder coat, Genuine Kashima (kash-ee-ma) Coat, hydro-pneumatic ratchet arms that hug the tires and don't touch your bike frame. Kuat took the Piston Pro X and elevated it, literally. 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Alsksandar Radan Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Edyn Teitge just completed the Smoke n’ Fire 400 at the age of 13. He didn’t just complete it though, he came in 6th place only 8 hours behind Jay Petervery with a time of 2d 15h 31m. When I asked him how he felt after he finished, he didn’t think he could go any faster, but he thought he could go for another couple of days at that same pace! Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and picture gallery from todays episode! Quote of the Week - "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." ~ Mark Twain EPISODE SPONSORS Athletic Greens - Great for bikepackers on the go! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/bikesordeath to get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Grepp - Home of the reusable bar tape! Grepp just stepped up to be a sponsor of the BoD Takeover and we couldn't be more stoked to have their support and their grepp ;) 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Sky Tettero-Crosby Ian Rhoat Taylor Evans Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

My guest today is Gemma Baird who recently set a new Singlespeed FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Highland Trial 550 in Scotland. After battling breast cancer, surviving homeschooling her three kids through the pandemic, and turning 40, Gemma needed a big goal. That's when she set her sights on the 2022 HT550 group start. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to make the group start, but that' didn't stop her. In August she lined up at the start line solo for an ITT (Individual Time Trial). She finished with a time of 5d 9h 48m which was good enough to best the previous SS FKT by Isla Rowntree. Please visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup on this episode with an amazing gallery of photos from the HT550. Quote of the Week:  "Until you make the unconcious consious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate" ~ Carl Yung Gemma pinned an article about her ITT for Bikepacking.com that is refrenced in today's episode.   EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don’t hesitate to ask! Ruby Coffee - Ruby is our official coffee sponsor for the BoD Takeover! If you can't make the Takeover you can try any of their coffee and get 20% off when you use the code "BIKESORDEATH". 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Doug Armfield Kenny Young Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on Patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com

Seth DuBois just completed his biggest bikepacking challenge yet at the 2022 Silk Road Mountain Race. SRMR has quickly captured the attention of racers and fans from around the world. The stunning imagery and landscape that is Kyrgyzstan seems to lure people in. Seth felt that pull and he answered the call. This year, he joined 154 other brave souls from around the word to challenge themselves on the 1,120 mile course that scales over 100,000 ft. While the landscape may be breathtaking it is also relentless. This race has an attrition rate of 50% or more (depending on the year). Visit www.BikesorDeath.com for a full writeup and gallery of todays episode.   Quote of the week ~ “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” ~ Jack Kerouac EPISODE SPONSORS BoD Takeover – Join us for the first ever Takeover happening at Mulberry Gap in Ellija, GA from Nov. 10th – 13th. Visit MulberryGap.com for all the details and to register! Have questions? Don’t hesitate to ask! Red Granite Grinder - Oct. 15th in Wausau, WI. Listen to my chat with Shane Hitz all about this event and bikepacking in Wisconsin, then register to race. I'll be there on the media team, so come out and say hi! Ombraz ~ Get the shades all the cool kids are wearing! Ombraz is offering a special deal to BoD listeners, use the code “BOD20” to get $20 off your order, PLUS Ombraz will send BoD $20 too! 🎉 New Patrons 🎉 Matthew L Annabel Cedar Blanchard Christopher Bartling Jeff Hehn Christian Meinke Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up on patreon. For a limited time Jefe Velo will be matching all new pledges made at Patreon.com/bikesordeath.com