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.
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Russell Finsterwald, off-road cyclist
Russell Finsterwald holds five national titles in mountain biking but stepped away from the World Cup relatively early in his career to pursue longer distance XC races in the US. When gravel became the dominant force in the off-road scene, he thought about retiring as soon as he finished the remainder of his contract. But in preparation for the Lifetime Grand Prix last year, he created a 350-mile route across southern Arizona that he dubbed the Spirit Tour. The goal was to answer some burning questions about the new discipline, such as, "What are gravel bikes capable of?" "What does it take to flat them?" And "What is the spirit of gravel?" In the process, Finsty and his fellow tourers Keegan Swenson, Kerry Werner, and Ryan Standish came up with a few answers and kicked off an annual tradition. Finsty finished 3rd in the inaugural Grand Prix, took a commanding victory at Big Sugar, and just completed the second Spirit Tour in preparation for the upcoming season.In this interview, he and Payson chat about the hours he spends scouting trails and devising routes (including the one they rode just before recording the episode), and how the Spirit Tour evolved this year. They discuss the difficulty he had early in his career racing the World Cup circuit and why he’s hooked on pushing the boundaries of gravel. They also talk about his FKT ambitions, his burgeoning real estate side hustle, and why the most dreaded race in the Grand Prix is the one he’s most looking forward to. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Ellen Noble on early retirement and starting conversations about mental health
In 2018, 2x cyclocross national champion Ellen Noble was coming off the best season in her life when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. After another season of racing, she went all-in on training in 2020 and was ready for her comeback, but a crash early in the season left her with a broken back and a resurgence in symptoms from her disease. Even under these circumstances, she never considered retirement until her coach, Allen Lim, told her that she didn’t have to be a professional athlete anymore. With this life-changing conversation, Ellen stepped back from racing and started a new chapter.In this conversation, she talks to Payson about why the idea of retiring was so foreign, why she needed “permission” to end her professional racing career, and how she navigated the months that followed. Since 2021, she’s started a podcast and dipped a toe into race commentary, appearing as a live broadcaster for multiple events including the Cyclocross World Championships. She also talks about why she's chosen to speak openly about depression and her use of SSRIs. Though many professional athletes struggle with the emotional toll of their careers, there remains a stigma around talking about it. By starting conversations about her own journey and those of her podcast guests, Ellen hopes to make it easier for others to open up.Ellen's podcast: This One's for YouInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Off-season Adventures: 2x Olympian Ruth Winder and Enduro World Champion Jesse Melamed
In the third installment of our series about pros in the off-season, Payson chats with two cyclists from different sides of the racing world: former WorldTour rider-turned-gravel racer Ruth Winder, and the 2022 EWS World Champion Jesse Melamed. Ruth talks about recuperating from a mentally grueling season. After retiring from the WorldTour, she decided to compete in the Lifetime Grand Prix last year but came up against some unexpected hurdles. She talks about the work she’s done in the off-season to rediscover why she began riding her bike in the first place, and her newfound love of skiing. Jesse talks about the exhilaration of winning the Enduro World Series and wanting to jump straight back into training. But with a trip to Spain and some celebrating back home in Squamish, BC, he managed to take some time off before packing in the miles in Arizona and California. He talks about why Enduro racers put in so many hours on the road, and how he’s prepared for moving teams this season. Our long-form interviews with Ruth and Jesse can be found at the links below:#70 Quarantine Companion #12 with Ruth Winder#160 Jesse Melamed, enduro racerInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Off-season Adventures: Keegan Swenson, Russell Finsterwald, Savilia Blunk, and Chris Blevins
This week, Payson chats to some fellow pros about what they’ve been up to during the off-season. From snorkeling in Hawaii to meditation retreats, they’ve used their brief period of unstructured time to do the things they couldn’t do during their busy race season. Russell Finsterwald and Keegan Swenson talk about their adventures in Tucson that require meticulous route building and asking permission from local ranchers to use their land. Savilia Blunk talks about her trip to Hawaii with her partner, Cole Paton, and getting to know her new European-based team. And Chris Blevins talks about surf culture in Santa Monica and the creative outlets he’s using to unwind from a challenging season. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Hillary Allen, ultrarunner and endurance athlete
Hillary Allen was one of the top-ranking trail runners in the world in 2017 when a 150-foot fall off a mountain in Norway during a race nearly ended her life. She broke 14 bones, including both feet, both arms, her back, and five ribs. Despite being told she would never compete again, she slowly eased back into running and eventually went back to conquer the race that nearly took her life. These days, she’s racing at an even higher level than she was before her accident, and just won her first 100-mile race, the Ultra-trail Cape Town in South Africa. In addition to running, Hillary is a sponsored cyclist, author, and former college science professor. In this interview, she talks about the long road to recovery that involved multiple setbacks (including more broken bones) and a focus on mental resilience. She discusses why she decided to write a book about her experience, and what it’s like reliving such a traumatic moment in her life nearly five years later. She talks about her favored discipline, Skyrunning, which features rough terrain and extreme elevation gain, and explains why, even though her goals are bigger than ever, she prefers not to think about her trajectory as a comeback story. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Off-season Adventures: Payson and Nichole in New Zealand
In this week’s episode, we’re closing out our series on Australia and New Zealand and kicking off a new series about what athletes are up to this off season. During their trip to the Southern Hemisphere this winter, Payson and Nichole traveled to the South Island of New Zealand to do a four-day bikepacking trip, linking the historic Paparoa and Old Ghost Road trails. The goal was to slow things down after a busy racing season and discover some of the best landscapes that New Zealand has to offer. On their journey, they came across locals and fellow travelers and recorded mini-conversations with them that are woven throughout the episode, including a trail builder, the owner of a hotel in the tiny town of Charleston, and a pair of hikers who they met in a hut on the Old Ghost Road.In addition to reflecting on the route and their planning process, Payson and Nichole talk about how a random encounter in Tasmania dictated their choice of trails, the car accident that got things off to a terrifying start, national opossum poisoning, giant snails, the history of the area, and some memorable ferry rides. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Steve Bein: A chance encounter with a bikepacker in New Zealand
Payson and Nichole met Steve Bein earlier this week at a hotel in rural New Zealand while on a bikepacking trip. Steve is a Philosophy professor in Ohio who decided to use his sabbatical to cycle the 1,800 miles across New Zealand. Before starting the trip, the farthest he'd ever ridden was about 30 miles. Naturally, Payson wanted to sit down and record a conversation to learn more about what drew Steve to the land down under, how he's adapting to the harsh conditions and physical demands of such a long journey, and the personal encounters he's had along the way. They discuss why he decided to ride his bike instead of hiring a van as he'd originally planned, the painful warm-up ride in Tasmania that made him uncertain about whether he could finish, and the cultural differences he's noticed between the US and New Zealand. Steve's blog: https://www.philosofiction.com/stevebeinfictionInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Crossing Tasmania Q&A
Payson answers listener questions about his 32 hour, 360 mile traverse across Tasmania earlier this month. He talks about gear, wildlife, why he's drawn to island crossings, and much more.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Emma Flukes, Tasmanian adventure cyclist
Emma Flukes is an adventure cyclist and bikepacker from Tasmania who was instrumental in developing the 360 mile route across the island that Payson undertook earlier this month. With her guidance, he ended up with a ride full of techy singletrack, gravel roads, river crossings, and lots of wildlife. In this episode (recorded shortly before Payson’s crossing), they talk about the specifics of the route, gear choices, and a few uniquely Tasmanian considerations. They also talk about Emma’s riding history. Born and bred on the island, she has explored just about every inch of her home state by bike, no matter how rugged. They talk about why she feels compelled to do such grueling rides, how her work as a scientist complements (or doesn’t complement) her cycling adventures, and why she prefers solo weekend trips over races. She also discusses her own bikepacking event, Tassie Gift. Dubbed “a scenic trip to Hell,” it’s 1,115 miles with 114,829 feet of climbing. According to Emma, it could be a lot harder. She explains why she tries to keep the event small and unsanctioned, and the mindset that determines whether participants finish all 1,000-plus miles or drop out on the first day.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Crossing Tasmania crew recap
Less than a day after riding 360 miles from coast to coast across Tasmania in 32 hours, Payson sits down with the crew that made the ride (and the upcoming film about it) possible. They include three seasoned filmmakers, two Tasmanian locals with an intimate knowledge of the trails, an award-winning photographer, and an experienced adventure cyclist and logistical wizard. Each talks about their highlights, lowlights, and most memorable moments of the effort, including overdosing on coffee, playing with lizards, hitching a ride with a local farmer, and the challenges of staying awake for 32 hours. Then they turn the tables and ask Payson a few things, from the nitty gritty details of bike set-up to managing bodily functions on such a long and rural adventure.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Veronica Ewers, top 10 finisher at the Tour de France Femmes
Veronica Ewers didn’t start riding a bike seriously until a few years ago when she joined a local cycling club. In 2019, she participated in her first race, and just over two years later, she came in 3rd at Nationals while still technically a Cat 2. Veronica’s rapid rise through the ranks of professional cycling has led her to the very top: a contract with the WorldTour team EF and a top 10 finish at the inaugural Tour de France Femmes. Earlier this month, she renewed her contract through 2025.Payson sits down with Veronica to talk about how her life has changed in such a short space of time. Not long ago, she was working 7-4 at Seattle Children’s Hospital fighting denied insurance claims. The work was mentally and emotionally draining, and her discovery of cycling and the cycling community gave her a necessary respite. She talks about her early athletic experience as a soccer player, runner, and weightlifter, how WorldTour cycling has actually made her more flexible than she used to be, and what it was like racing her idols at Road Nationals. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Big Sugar recap, with Paige Onweller and Russell Finsterwald
In our final Grand Prix recap of the season, Payson sits down with the winners of Big Sugar Gravel, Paige Onweller and Russell Finsterwald. Paige was the dark horse of the women's race, having picked up cycling only last year. Despite her newness to the sport and a rocky season, she finished six minutes ahead of second place. She tells Payson about her college running career, balancing racing with her full-time job as an ER physician assistant, and the mid-season knee surgery that dashed her high hopes for this year's Grand Prix. Russell has been a heavy-hitter in the US off-road scene for years, but had a disappointing run at the inaugural gravel series. He talks to Payson about his motivation to win Big Sugar, and the calculation that went into his victory. We also hear some of the highlights from our favorite stories from the Grand Prix. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Red Bull Rampage Special
This weekend, 18 of the world's best freeride mountain bikers will compete at Red Bull Rampage, the legendary event held in the Utah desert. Each rider has four days to build the perfect line to showcase their skills and send it on the big day. In this episode, we hear from the riders taking on the event this year, from first-timers to 20-year Rampage veterans. We also hear from the behind-the-scenes people who make the event possible, including diggers, photographers, and the mechanic who makes sure four-time winner Brandon Semenuk's bike is up to the task. Payson also sits down for longer chats with two Rampage riders, Dylan Stark and Tyler McCaul.Click here for the Path of Logic annual auction.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Sarah Sturm on UCI Gravel Worlds
Sarah Sturm returns to the show to talk about the inaugural UCI Gravel Worlds which took place in Italy last weekend. The event sparked controversy when it was announced, with fears that the UCI would tarnish the spirit of gravel. This, along with the fact that it wasn’t being held in the US where the discipline took root, and the fact that the women’s course was significantly shorter than the men’s, prompted many top racers to skip the race altogether. Sarah explains why she chose to go despite having similar reservations. From buying her own USA kit to riding in an all-female peloton, she gives a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly of this first attempt at a gravel world championship. In the end, she came away with more optimism for the future of the UCI’s involvement than she expected. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Keegan Swenson talks about racing UCI Road Worlds
Keegan Swenson returns to the show to talk about his experience racing the UCI Road World Championship in Australia at the end of September. Though he spent years racing on the mountain bike World Cup circuit, this was his first experience competing in a WorldTour level road race, and it came just a week after securing his win for the overall Lifetime Grand Prix title at Chequamegon. He talks about his whirlwind preparation, the white-knuckle tactics that the rest of the racers were throwing down, the mistakes he made early on, and why he thinks gravel racing is harder. He also reveals where he’s taking his career in 2023. After a commanding performance throughout the gravel Grand Prix, he received multiple offers from WorldTour teams to switch to the road. He tells Payson what his decision is and how he finally reached it after months of deliberation. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc