Professional mountain biker Payson McElveen sits down with some of the biggest names in sports and adventure to get an inside look at what sets them apart. With no script, the casual conversations are as diverse as the guests, with topics ranging from harrowing tales of survival, to debates on current events, to everyday tips and tricks and everything in between. As Payson travels the world for his two-wheeled day job, listen in as he rubs shoulders with and learns from some of the most inspiring athletes, entrepreneurs, academics, and others as they chase and inspire greatness.
Justinas Leveika on his Tour Divide record and choosing chaos over preparation
When Justinas Leveika raced the Tour Divide for the first time last year, it was, according to him, “a disaster.” But despite having done almost no preparation, he emerged from two weeks in the wilderness in second place behind Ulrich Bartholmoes. His bike barely made it, and he resolved to put the event behind him. This year, however, he returned, and not only did he win the race, but he beat the official record that has stood for nearly a decade. All this is just par for the course for Justinas, who says he prefers to race with heart rather than numbers and forge his way through chaos rather than planning. He sat down with Payson to talk about heightening the adventure of every race through minimal preparation, stopping to take in the view every so often, and whether he considers “the real world” to be the time he spends off the bike or on. He also talks about his favorite gas station food, getting disqualified from the Colorado Trail Race this year on a technicality, and why he’s going for the Triple Crown anyway. You can follow his dot on the third and final installment, the Arizona Trail Race, starting this Thursday.
Register to attend Payson’s free Red Bull event in Bentonville, Chasin’ Payson, here.
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