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.
Chris Burkard, Rebecca Rusch, and Gus Morton on their fat bike trek across Iceland
Today on the show, Payson is joined by photographer/adventurer Chris Burkard, “Queen of Pain” Rebecca Rusch, and adventure filmmaker Gus Morton to discuss their recent fat bike expedition across Iceland’s interior to forge a new route from North to South. The journey lasted six days and involved -23ºC temperatures and punishing wind and snow. In their first interview after the journey, they talk about how they prepared for conditions which are impossible to replicate outside of Iceland, and the gear, sunscreen, water bottles, and deck screws that got them through it. They talk about the unique skills that each brought to the team, and how they worked together to get through the most challenging and dangerous moments, such as the night that Gus got frostbite in his fingers during a mechanical fix. They also talk about the profound interactions that are a feature of adventures like these, and which are lost in race settings, and why sports remain such an effective way to communicate stories of the human experience.
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