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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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
Safa Brian: Filmmaker and cyclist
Brian “Safa” Wagner has carved out a niche for himself within cycling as one of the fastest road descenders outside of the pro peloton. Through his Youtube channel, he shares films of his most nail-biting descents that see him maintaining average speeds of nearly 50mph over the course of 15-minutes. Safa started out as a bike messenger, navigating the crowded streets of cities such as London, Sydney, Glasgow, and Mexico City as fast as cycling allowed. Over time, he elevated this to an art form, and pioneered the bike messenging scene in Mexico City, where he lived for six years. He now lives in Los Angeles, producing films and pushing the limits of fast descents. In this interview, he talks about why he’s chosen to make Los Angeles his home, being passed over by potential sponsors who think his riding is too dangerous to promote, and why his new film, Pray for Speed, is a special one. He also talks about why he isn’t too fussy about bike setup, his thoughts on the UCI ban on the “super-tuck,” and why he thinks all cycling is equally dangerous.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Chris Cosentino on being a restaurateur in the pandemic
Chris Cosentino is a celebrity chef and avid cyclist, best known for his many television appearances on shows such as Top Chef Masters (which he won), and for owning restaurants across the US. Chris first made an appearance on the podcast in episode 16, and returns this week to talk about the state of the restaurant industry. Perhaps no area of the economy has been hit harder by the pandemic, and Chris has experienced this first hand. Last fall, he made the decision to close his San Francisco restaurant, Cockscomb, which had been a labor of love since it opened seven years ago. Chris tells Payson about how he finally came to the difficult decision to close the restaurant, the painful process of letting go of such a major part of his life, and how long he thinks it will take the industry to bounce back. He also talks about how he’s learning to embrace the time away from the kitchen, some his new chef-related ventures, and how cycling his helping him move through it all.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Jolanda Neff, XC World Champion
Jolanda Neff is one of the most decorated cross country mountain bike racers in the world. In addition to winning the XC World Championship 2017, she has won 12 XC World Cups, five Swiss XC national championships, and competed in both XC and road races at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She now has her sights set on the 2021 season and the Tokyo Olympics. In this interview, she talks about how she got stuck in the Canary Islands following a successful winter training camp with the Swiss national team, and her misgivings about the next few months of racing. She tells Payson about her love of travel, and how she’s kept perspective during the pandemic despite suffering a career-compromising crash in early 2020. She also talks about why she decided to join Trek Factory Racing after spending much of her career moving teams every couple of years, and the pros and cons of having a partner who is also a professional cyclist. They also discuss her love of shopping, motocross, and Joe Rogan.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Ted King on bikepacking and the uncertainties of the 2021 season
Ted King returns to the show to talk about the uncertainties of 2021, leaning into the Vermont winter weather, and why he isn’t stressing about perfect training conditions. He also tells Payson about his first bikepacking experience at the end of October when he won the 1,017 mile Arkansas High Country Race. They compare the battle scars they each sustained from their 2020 adventures, as well as their unshakable excitement to embark on even rougher bikepacking challenges in the future. They talk about how they’re strategizing for an unpredictable 2021 racing schedule, how Ted's life has changed since becoming a dad at the beginning of last year, and the time he caught a pass from Tom Brady. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Episode 100 Special: Justin Williams on signing with Red Bull (with Colin Strickland)
In this very special one hundredth episode, Payson, Justin, and Colin are reunited nearly a year after their first conversation on the show. They talk about their plan to revolutionize American cycling, and, of course, the moment that Payson, Colin, and Kate Courtney got to present Justin with his Red Bull helmet (a day that featured celebrity cameos from Reggie Miller and Chris Froome). This full interview can be viewed as a film on YouTube beginning tomorrow, and includes footage from Justin's helmet presentation and more. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc