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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Anna Greetis on being the go-to mechanic for the pros
Anna Greetis is a mechanic and race technician for SRAM and one of the unsung heroes who helps to keep athletes on track during big events. As part of her role, she travels around the world to gravel events like Unbound and the Traka, road events like the Tour de France Femmes and Paris-Roubaix, and occasionally to cyclocross races and triathlons. Anna sat down with Payson last week after the Durango Derby to talk about what it’s like being a female mechanic in a male-dominated sport, why even she feels unwelcome at bike shops sometimes, and some of the on-the-fly fixes she’s done over the years that she’s most proud of. She also talks about the equipment she recommends everyone bring to a race, her experience at Migration Gravel in Kenya this year, and her not-so-secret horticultural skills. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Christian Bagg on racing Leadville by handcycle
When Christian Bagg crossed the finish line at the Leadville 100 this year, he became the first rider to complete (and start) the notorious high alpine race with a handcycle. He did it with a bike he created through his company, Bowhead Corp, the leading purveyor of adaptive mountain bikes. Taking part in Leadville was part personal challenge and part broader statement — he wanted to make it clear that cyclists with mobility disabilities can race alongside able-bodied riders at the toughest events in the world, no matter the terrain. After an injury left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1996 at the age of 20, the machinist from Calgary spent over a decade contemplating how to design a bike that could handle narrow singletrack, loose ascents, and rutted descents. Nearly two decades and countless iterations later, he and his team have done just that. Christian sat down with Payson to talk about the long road to designing the bike, racing the Sea Otter Fuego XL to get into Leadville, and how he managed to assuage the race organizers’ fears that he might not be able to complete the 100 miles and nearly 12,000 feet of climbing that Leadville covers. They also discuss the potential controversy of para-athletes using motor-assisted bikes in competitive events, why having one is necessary, and why he wants to be the first line of defense in the debate. Donate to Howard Grotts' recovery here:Howard Grotts' road to recoveryHoward Grotts recovery fundInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Melisa Rollins, Leadville 100 winner
There are many riders who dream of winning Leadville, but few if any have spent as much time working toward it as Melisa Rollins. She’s done the mountain bike race seven times, the stage race twice, the Leadville Trail Marathon once, and the back-to-back 50-mile running and mountain biking races. She even completed the Leadville 100 running race in 2018. She was the very last racer on the course for that one, making her perhaps the only participant to have finished first and last at Leadville events. This year, she conquered the mountain bike course for a decisive victory. Melisa sat down with Payson less than 24 hours after finishing the race to talk about her extensive history with Leadville, how taking a year to race exclusively on the road helped her finally win the off-road race, and what it was like passing her parents (who were also racing) on the way back to the finish. Use code adventurestache20 at Maurten.com for 20% off. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Leadville recap with Michaela Thompson and John Gaston
To recap this year's Leadville, Payson sits down with two riders who had some of the most impressive results on the day, Michaela Thompson and John Gaston. Michaela rode to third place this year, a full hour faster than her time last year. She talks about returning to Leadville ready to change the narrative, gives a play-by-play of the race, and talks about the emotional moment she shared with Sofía Gómez Villafane at the finish. John Gaston placed second at Leadville, even though cycling isn’t his main sport. He tells Payson about his aspirations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in skimo, how racing with the Grand Prix riders fulfills one of his childhood dreams, and how he managed to place second despite riding solo for much of the day. We also hear from listeners about their experiences at this year's race.Watch the Leadville race highlights here.Donate to Howard Grotts' recovery fund here.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
David Spindler on brain chemistry and mental health for athletic performance (with Riley Amos)
Dr. David Spindler has been working as a high-performance cognitive specialist for over 25 years, helping top-level athletes unlock their brain chemistry and reach new levels of achievement. Cyclists he’s worked with include Mark Cavendish, Sam Gaze, and recent podcast guest, Riley Amos. Last week, Dr. Spindler stopped by the podcast studio in Durango to talk about why he prefers to spend time with athletes on their training rides instead of just in an office, what cycling teams can learn from Formula 1 about accountability and trust, and how he helps athletes balance their professional goals with personal fulfillment off the bike. Later, Riley hops on the mic to recap his seventh-place finish at the Olympics, how his work with David helped him achieve the result, and how they’re looking ahead to World Championships and his first Elite season. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Savilia Blunk recaps the Olympics XCO race
Just a few days after returning home from Paris, Savilia Blunk sits down with Payson to talk about her experience competing in the XCO race at the Olympics. After years of targeted preparation, she had a lot riding on the race. In the end, she was disappointed with how it all went down. In this conversation, she tells Payson about the things she sacrificed to make it to the start line in Paris and whether, in hindsight, she thinks it was all worth it. She also gives her verdict on the course, talks about the athlete’s village (including those viral cardboard beds), and gets candid about how it felt watching US teammate Haley Batten win silver. Later, her partner, Cole Paton, jumps on the mic to talk about what it’s been like to watch Savilia chase the Olympic dream and how they've navigated their respective cycling careers (and relationship) from different countries. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Riley Amos on the Olympics and a dominant World Cup season
After going nearly undefeated on the World Cup circuit this year, U23 XCO rider Riley Amos returns to the show to talk about the season and the lead-up to the Olympics, which have just gotten underway in Paris. He talks about the heated points pursuit that the U.S. team undertook to snag two Olympic slots, and how this goal was at times in conflict with his personal quest to qualify. He talks about what it’s like having his first elite race be the Olympics, why going home to Durango was an essential part of his preparation, and how he and fellow Durango local Chris Blevins avoided the awkwardness of Olympic qualifications to punch their tickets to the big event. Riley also tells Payson about how his strategic skills have improved over the past year, and why he thinks he’ll never match the hunger and tenacity he had when going head-to-head with the top domestic pros when he was a kid.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Sarah Sturm on Migration Gravel, plus Crusher cancellation analysis
Sarah Sturm is back, fresh off of winning Migration Gravel in Kenya. As usually happens when she and Payson start chatting, the conversation covers a broad range of pressing topics. Did Sarah watch Cole Paton ride to his doom in a rainstorm just before recording the show? Will Cole reply to Payson’s texts? What is tempo? Why did the runners at Hardrock 100 wear bucket hats? Will Payson make his dinner reservation? They also talk about the grueling, exhilarating experience that is Migration Gravel, including the white-knuckle van ride to the start of each stage, beautiful cows, and the "princess palace" that the pro men stayed in. Sarah also talks about why she almost skipped the Grand Prix this year to focus on the Gravel Earth series (which she’s currently leading), how she’s managing to pursue both, and her latest efforts for Protect Our Winters. But first, Payson recaps the race that wasn’t -- Crusher in the Tushar -- which was canceled due to wildfires. He talks about where the cancellation leaves the Grand Prix standings, who benefits and who suffers, and how changing the points structure from best of 7 races to best of 6 will make the final event in Bentonville all the more exciting.Register for the Rad Dirt Fest here. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Dylan Stucki on aid station chaos, Single Speed Worlds, and the Durango Derby
Dylan Stucki has dabbled in just about every bike-related career out there. He's worked as an equipment tester, mechanic, and race promoter, and even found the time to do some pro racing along the way. These days, one of his main roles is team manager/mechanic/and all-around support system for his fiancée, Sarah Sturm. Payson caught up with Dylan this week to talk about what it’s like maintaining a personal and professional relationship in the non-stop world of pro racing, his trajectory from bike shop grom to cycling Renaissance man, and racing alongside Sarah at Migration Gravel in Kenya last month. He also gives a glimpse into the stress of manning aid stations at Grand Prix events, talks about the merciless battle he waged to bring Single Speed World Championships to Durango in 2022 (shock collars and hot dogs were involved), and how he and other members of the Durango cycling community are trying to revitalize mountain bike racing with the Durango Derby, which takes place in September. You can register for the Durango Derby through July 15th at durangoderby.comAlex Roszko's metal album recommendation: Manifesto 1.0: Stages of Grief - OrphanInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Samara Sheppard on her Grand Prix debut, Olympic disappointments, and Cape Epic podium
New Zealand cyclist Samara Sheppard has found success in multiple disciplines, including cross country (she won a U23 World Cup in 2012 and is a multi-time New Zealand and Oceania champion), road (she nearly landed a contract with one of the most prominent WorldTour teams in 2019), and marathon (she’s placed 5th and 6th at the marathon world championships). This year, she’s taking on a new discipline — gravel. As one of the new riders in the Grand Prix, she wasted no time in showing that she is one to watch when she placed second at Sea Otter in April. Despite her many successes, however, Samara’s career has been full of near-misses. From seeing her long-held Olympic dreams dashed when the cross country spot was given to a reserve track racer to losing out on a road contract at the last hurdle, she has had to constantly find creative ways to pivot. Samara sat down with Payson in Durango this week to talk about chasing World Cup success by herself in Europe as a teenager, getting a Master’s Degree in Public Health when racing stopped in 2020, becoming the first athlete from Oceania to podium at the Cape Epic, and how the online riding platforms Zwift and MyWhoosh have provided some of the biggest opportunities of her career. She also talks about why she had everything riding on a top result at Sea Otter and why she chose not to race Unbound. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Chef Biju Thomas on cycling, food, and emigrating to the U.S.
As co-founder of SkratchLabs and co-author of the FeedZone cookbooks, Chef Biju Thomas has played a major role in how cyclists fuel themselves. He and his family emigrated from a rural part of Southern India to Colorado when he was 10. As a teenager, he fell in love with cycling right around the time he started working in restaurants, and dreamed of combining his two passions. Decades later, he’s done just that, cooking for top cyclists, authoring cookbooks that have changed the way the cycling industry thinks about fueling, and starring in his own TV show for Outside. Payson caught up with Biju in Bentonville earlier this month to talk about moving to the U.S. as a kid, falling in love with cycling after the 1984 L.A. Olympics, and finding a kindred spirit in future business partner Allen Lim. You can follow Biju at @bijuthechef on Instagram or find out more about his latest projects at chefbiju.com.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Paige Onweller on her surprise Unbound success after ankle surgery
A year and a half ago, Paige Onweller was working as an emergency PA and racing bikes on the side. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she won Big Sugar. Recognizing that she had a fraction of the racing experience that her competitors had, Paige quit her job, built out her sprinter van, and got to work racing weekend after weekend around the country. She tried everything from time trialing to mountain biking, eventually deciding to commit to gravel and the Grand Prix. At Unbound this year, despite having spent barely any time on the bike since undergoing major ankle surgery, she placed third overall and first in the Grand Prix. Paige sat down with Payson in Bentonville shortly after the race to talk about how her nerdiness and curiosity have helped her go from amateur to top pro within a mere 18 months, the rare ankle injury she suffered during a crash in February that brought her season to a standstill, and how she played to her tactical strengths during Unbound to ensure she would stay at the front despite having almost no training under her belt. They also talk about how groundbreaking the race was for the women’s field and how the past four months have taken her to the darkest and brightest places of being a professional athlete. Paige's YouTube video: How to Survive Unbound GravelInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Lea Davison on putting the “tired” in retirement and being an advocate within the sport
Lea Davison thought long and hard about her retirement, but even when she finally decided to bring her mountain biking career to a close, she didn't have any intention of slowing down. During her racing career, she won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Championships, placed third overall in the 2015 World Cup series, and went to the Olympics twice. Now in "retirement," she's working as a race commentator, mountain biking coach, and public speaker. Last year, she traveled more for work than she did at any point during her racing career. Payson caught up with Lea at Unbound earlier this month to talk about how busy her work has been since stepping away from the World Cup circuit, why she was devastated to miss out on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team, and how racing Unbound in 2022 forced her to confront the weight of her retirement. She also talks about a turning point a few years ago when she decided to go all-in on advocating for women in cycling, the difficulty of coming out as one of the few openly gay athletes in the sport in 2018, and her elaborate routine for preparing for the grueling 15 hour day of commentating for Unbound. Get 15% Dometic.com with code PAYSON15Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Payson's 10 craziest moments from Unbound
Trains, a moto crash, the hero pull of the day, and two peeing mishaps are just some of the crazy moments from Unbound that make the cut in this episode. As the race expands every year, so does the potential for chaos within the peloton. Payson rounded up some of the most striking examples that you didn't see in any on-the-day coverage. Click to WIN: TIME XPRO 12 SL Pedals + Sockeloen x Payson Aero SocksYou can find out more about TIME pedals here Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Unbound recap with Pete Stetina and Lauren De Crescenzo
This year’s Unbound was one of the most dynamic and exciting in the event’s history, featuring two new winners, separate starts for the elite men and women, and a nine-up sprint at the women's finish. Payson caught up with two of the top riders to get the lowdown from inside the men’s and women’s fields. We also hear from some of the riders across the other categories, from 50-milers to the Unbound XL.Payson and Pete Stetina discuss how the men’s race played out, including Lachlan Morton's crowd-pleaser of a win, how Gravel World Champ Matej Mohorič ended up being less of a threat than expected, and why starting separately from the amateurs and elite women actually impacted the race in a big way. Lauren De Crescenzo joins Payson to talk about her ill-fated solo breakaway, why the new rules for the women’s race didn’t go far enough, and which Grand Prix riders over and under-performed. Watch the Unbound race highlights hereClick to WIN: TIME XPRO 12 SL Pedals + Sockeloen x Payson Aero SocksYou can find out more about TIME pedals here Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc