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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Abi Robins, Unbound Gravel’s first non-binary category finisher
Abi Robins competed in Unbound Gravel this year as the first finisher of the non-binary category. In this interview, they talk to Payson about being the only person to compete in the category, how that knowledge fueled their ride, and how they hope other races will follow suit. They also talk about the struggles of the race itself, from helping fellow riders with spare co2, to a chance mid-race encounter with Lael Wilcox. Molly Cameron calls into the show to ask Abi an all-important Unbound question, and Abi and Payson discuss their mutual fascination with the mental aspects of long races, especially for the vast majority of riders who are not competing for a first place finish. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Unbound recap: Winners of the 200
Today in the first part of our Unbound recap series, Payson talks to Lauren De Crescenzo and Ian Boswell, winners of the 200 mile race.Lauren talks about the traumatic brain injury that she suffered in 2016 and the long, steady road back to cycling. She talks about going to Unbound with a winner's mindset, why she's already doing intervals again, and her Everesting record from last year. Ian joins Payson again to talk about his surprise Unbound victory, how that final sprint played out, and whether or not his life has changed since the win. He also talks about where he hopes to take his newfound gravel career, and why keeping cycling in perspective is so important. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Rule of 3 Q&A, with special guests
Today on the show, Payson answers your questions about his first race of 2021, Rule of 3 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He talks about nutrition, race etiquette, the challenges of a packed racing schedule, and much more. He's also joined by a few special guests who each share their own experiences of Rule of 3. Andy Chasteen, co-founder of the race, talks about why he decided to create an event, how he helped foster community spirit during the race's first year, and his other event, 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell, the 'Burning Man of rock climbing'. Payson is also joined by Crystal Anthony, the winner of the women's race, who talks about moving to Bentonville, the tactical decisions that led her to victory, and her plans for the rest of the season. And finally, we play an excerpt from Payson's interview last week with Ian Boswell, who talks about choosing Rule of 3 as his first ever gravel race after leaving professional road racing in 2019. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Ian Boswell, pro road cyclist turned gravel racer
Ian Boswell is gravel racer who formerly raced for WorldTour teams such as Bissell, Trek-Livestrong and Team Sky. During his road career, he raced in the Vuelta a Espana, Giro d’Italia, and Tour de France. Following a series of traumatic head injuries, he stepped away from the sport in 2019 at the peak of his career. Now a year and a half later, he is back to racing, but this time on the gravel scene. Last weekend he placed second at the Rule of Three, his first race since he suffered a concussion at the end of 2019. In this conversation, he and Payson discuss racing each other at the Rule of Three, what he loves about gravel, and why Payson thinks Ian is a contender for winning Unbound next month. Ian also talks about his decision to leave pro road racing, why concussion awareness in sports is so important, and his new life working full-time at a ‘normal’ job and living on a farm in Vermont.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Darian Harvey: Professional mechanic and DH racer
Darian Harvey is the service manager of Mountain Bike Specialists in Durango, CO and a former downhill National Champion. The list of pro cyclists who entrust her with their bikes include Ned Overend, Sepp Kuss, Riley Amos, Ruthie Mathis, and Todd and Troy Wells. Payson has also relied on her expertise ever since he moved to Durango over ten years ago. In this conversation, she tells Payson about how the bike shop has adapted to the pandemic and the current boom in the cycling industry that has caused component shortages and months’ long delays from manufacturers and suppliers. She talks about her early career as a professional downhill racer, where she won back-to-back national championship titles in 2008 and 2009. They also talk about how she stays on top of rapidly evolving cycling technology which now requires her and her coworkers to be electricians and tech experts as well as mechanics, and she also talks about the head injuries she suffered during her racing career and the consequences she’s experiencing decades later. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Michelle Duffy, Marketing of Life Time events and Amy Charity, co-founder of SBT GRVL
Today on the show, Payson talks to two influential behind-the-scenes figures in gravel racing. Michelle Duffy is Associate Marketing Director for Life Time, and oversees its off-road events such as the Leadville 100 and Unbound (formerly Dirty Kanza). She came to cycling after spending years as a marketing manager for the New York City Marathon. Amy Charity is the owner and co-founder of SBT GRVL. She raced professionally as a road cyclist and spent 15 years in the financial sector before founding SBT GRVL. In this interview, they talk about how they turned a major scheduling conflict between two of gravel’s biggest races into a collaborative opportunity. When it became clear that Leadville and SBT GRVL fell on consecutive days, they created LeadBoat, a 250 mile stage race combining the two events which is set to take place later this year. They also talk about expanding the gravel community, and what it’s like being women in a sport which is still dominated by men. They also share their uniquely difficult experiences during 2020, when Amy lost her business partner and Michelle suffered from a life threatening health event. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, stars of HGTV's home renovation show 'Bargain Block'
Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas are the stars of HGTV’s home renovation show, Bargain Block, which premiered last month. In it, they buy, transform, and resell properties that have fallen into disrepair in Detroit. Evan comes from a science background and carries the technical aspects of their projects, and Keith is the artistic mastermind, tailoring each home to his specific creative vision, all on a tight budget. In this conversation, they talk about how the ongoing history of redlining and bankruptcy in the city has shaped their work there, how they’ve navigated the stress of being business and life partners during the intense pressure of filming, and why they do a lot more of the actual hands-on work than audiences might think. They also talk about why they chose to move to Detroit from their previous home in Denver, DIY tricks for improving the style and value of your home with minimal time and cost, and how Keith incorporates his love of Surrealist painting into his work. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Payson and Nichole answer questions about their trip to Uganda
Payson and Nichole answer your questions about their recent trip to Uganda to work for her non-profit, Path of Logic. They answer questions about Nichole’s career, how she came to work with pathologists in Uganda looking to expand the country’s cancer diagnostics facilities, and how she avoids the “white savior” problem. They also talk about Payson’s epic gravel ride through the rift valley, their favorite monkey encounters, and marriage proposals. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Maghalie Rochette, cyclocross racer
Maghalie Rochette is a three-time Canadian Cyclocross Champion, three-time Pan American Cyclocross Champion and Cyclocross World Cup winner. After racing for the Clif Pro team for six years, she decided to strike out on her own as a privateer in 2018. In this interview, she and Payson talk about what prompted her decision to leave her position on such a legendary team, how she learned the hard way to negotiate sponsorship contracts and advocate for herself, and where she hopes to expand her career outside of racing. They also talk about the exhaustion that comes with running your own program and why she makes sure to set aside time to do nothing. She talks about the difficulties of racing in Europe that go beyond jet lag and the language barrier, how she wants to bring cyclocross into the mainstream in Canada, and why she’s grateful to be racing as a woman at this point in cycling. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
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.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Brad Copeland, Kate Courtney's mechanic
Brad Copeland is Kate Courtney’s mechanic of over seven years. But while “mechanic” may be his official title, he is so much more. Bodyguard, grocery shopper, and fan favorite are just a few of the many other roles he plays when he’s with her on the race circuit. Kate even wrote a song about him. He’s also one of the most experienced and respected mechanics on the World Cup circuit. In today’s episode, recorded before the pandemic, Payson and Brad discuss the unique position he holds in Kate’s racing life and within the bike mechanic field more broadly. He talks about why their working relationship has lasted so long, why it’s important to make friends with everyone at races, and his worst experience working with Kate so far. He also talks about his wife, Sarah (guest on episode 54 of the show), a leading expert in nuclear nonproliferation, and why her career is not so dissimilar from Kate’s as it might appear. He ranks his three favorite tools (he has over 85), talks about the time he got food poisoning in South Africa during the Cape Epic, and tells an epic story of a prank gone wrong which led to a prank gone very right, featuring World Champion Nino Schurter, the White House, and an FBI agent. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Chris Blevins and Cameron Mason (Cape Epic Series 4)
In this final installment of our Cape Epic series, Payson is joined by Trinity Racing teammates Chris Blevins and Cameron Mason. Chris won the U23 cross country Pan American Championships in 2019 and placed second at the UCI U23 World Championships last year. Cam is a cyclocross racer from Scotland who placed third in the U23 European Championships last year. Both of them are at the forefront of the new generation of multi-disciplinary pro cyclists, which their team, Trinity Racing, as made its hallmark. In this interview, they talk about the prospect of racing as a team in the Cape Epic even though, due to the unusual racing conditions brought on by the pandemic, they have yet to meet in person. Chris talks about why he chose to join Trinity this year, and how he’s finally finding the right balance between college and professional racing. He also talks about his latest creative side projects including poetry and music, and being a member of the advisory board of Silver Stallion, a non-profit in Gallup, New Mexico that provides bikes to Native American reservations in the area. Cam talks about the ups and downs of his 2020 season which was cut short by a broken collarbone in November, but which has allowed him to dedicate more time to creating videos for his popular Youtube channel. He also talks about stepping outside his usual cyclocross training by dipping a toe into ultra distance bikepacking over the summer. And both talk about why having creative outlets makes them better racers. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Alex Howes and Lachlan Morton (Cape Epic Series 3)
Alex Howes and Lachlan Morton are teammates on the UCI WorldTeam EF Education-Nippo. Alex is the reigning American road National Champion, and Lachlan has won stages at the Tour of Utah and the Tour of the Gila, among others. In addition to their road credentials, they’ve been making a name for themselves doing off-road races including Dirty Kanza (now Unbound) and the Leadville 100. They’ve been teammates off and on for over ten years, and have raced together on six continents. Last year they were slated to race the Cape Epic, but had to postpone when the event was cancelled. In this interview, they talk about their long friendship, how they've managed to incorporate off road racing into the historically regimented world of professional road racing, and how they think they might conquer the Cape Epic. Lachlan also talks about some of his ultra-endurance experiences from the past year including doing the 500+ miles of the Colorado Trail in four days, and what bikepacking challenges that are still on his bucket list. And Alex talks about recently becoming a father, and whether “dad watts” are a real phenomenon. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Nino Schurter and Lars Forster (Cape Epic Series 2)
In this second episode of our Cape Epic series, Payson is joined by Scott teammates Nino Schurter and Lars Forster. Nino is the reigning six-time World Champion with a few Olympic medals under his belt, and Lars is a multi-time Swiss cyclocross National Champion and winner of the 2018 European Mountain Bike Championships. Together, they won the 2019 Cape Epic and the 2020 Swiss Epic. They joined Payson a couple weeks ago at the end of their Italian training camp to talk about their memories of the Cape Epic from mechanicals to the after party, what races they wish they could participate in, their plans for 2021, and which of them is a half-wheeler. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Annika Langvad and Kate Courtney (Cape Epic Series 1)
Annika Langvad and Kate Courtney join Payson to talk about their experience racing as a team in the 2018 Absa Cape Epic, an eight day stage race in the Western Cape of South Africa spanning over 435 miles. When they teamed up for the race, Annika had won it three years in a row, while Kate was still an up-and-comer on the UCI circuit who had never participated in a stage race, let alone one that has the reputation of being the hardest mountain bike stage race in the world. From the first day, however, they were dominant, and went on to win the overall by 46 minutes. In this interview, they talk about their different levels of experience going into the Cape Epic, and how they managed to solidify their team dynamic from the first stage. They talk about mechanical mishaps, brutal press conferences, and their favorite memories from those eight days in the desert. They also talk about Annika’s recent transition to retirement and how she managed to complete a dentistry degree while competing as one of the top mountain bikers in the world. Kate also talks about preparing for the Olympics and staying sane, thanks to her dog, Monty. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc