King of the Ride: Recent Episodes
Ted King
Welcome to King of the Ride, hosted by Ted King. A professional road racer turned gravel, I‘ve taken the top step at Dirty Kanza twice and often visit the podium, but more than anything it‘s the gravel community that makes me happy. Slinging maple syrup, leading rides, hosting camps, and just enjoying life on two wheels, I now have the chance to chat with athletes, entrepreneurs, and all walks-of-life who love the bicycle. Hop on board and please enjoy the ride!
When Ryan Cochran-Siegle came home with his second Olympic medal in as many Olympic games and Ben Ogden earned two silver medals at Milan this winter, I knew I wanted to pick their brains. Better yet, Ian Boswell is friend and located nearby in Vermont, so we decided to have four pro athletes enjoy a conversation talking with each other, learning from another, learning about each others' sports, the history, the customs, the nuances.
This episode is supported by UnTapped.cc. Check us out at www.UnTapped.cc
Thank you Bicycle Accident Law for supporting this show as well.
Noah Dines is the world record holder of most human powered vertical feet of skiing in a year. At more than 3.5 million feet skied, that's 124 times up Mount Everest from sea level, that's more than a the Tour de France if it were raced for the entire year rather than just three weeks, that's probably a whole lot more than you!
Noah is a Vermonter, a skier, a biker, and a general athlete. This conversation is a long time overdue and I think you're going to enjoy it!
- Keep your eyes peeled for the Gravel Rendezvous 2026 at The Ranch at Rock Creek
- Check out bicycleaccidentlaw.com if you find yourself in an incident or accident on your bike.
- Get your AG1 at drinkAG1.com/tedking
Roger Brown is the most frequented guest on King of the Ride podcast and HE'S BACK! With 5 episodes prior to this one, covering the thousand-plus miles he's ridden across the Flint Hills, what Roger lacks in training he makes up for with ignorance and enthusiasm. Here in 2026, however, it's not just Roger, but he's riding and podcasting with his wife Jenny who took on her first 200 miles of Unbound gravel this year!
We sit around the back deck, catching up in the days after Unbound to hear the blow-by-blow how it all shook out. This is a great one, stay tuned!
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Taylor Phinney, once one of the biggest names in American cycling is back!
In this wide-ranging conversation, Ted and Taylor reconnect in Monterey, CA at Sea Otter shortly after Taylor’s announcement of a return to cycling with eyes on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Recorded in two parts; part one in the chaos (and comedy) of a busy Sea Otter afternoon and a second via Zoom ahead of gravel’s Holy Week, Unbound. The episode blends reflection on his early career, his 2014 injury, life outside cycling in Girona, and what’s driving his comeback now.
- Check out Ted's time at Holy Week!
- Part 1 -- Flanders: https://youtu.be/8p3Rxgi5EaY
- Part 2 -- Paris-Roubiax: https://youtu.be/FYlJzsvGaaY
- Improve your sleep by visiting LagoonSleep.com/king and use the code KING for 15% savings
- Thanks Bicycle Accident Law for supporting this show! Visit https://www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com/bicycle-accident-legal-articles/ted-king-podcast
- Support gut health and overall health with www.DrinkAG1.com/tedking
Today’s guest is cyclist and business owner Jenna Rinehart. Her career is one of many chapters and she's still at the front of the pack, currently leading the Life Time Grand Prix wildcard standings.
What makes Jenna especially unique is that she balances elite racing with ownership of a bike shop in her hometown of Minnesota. We talk about that juggling act, her early success in mountain biking, and this unexpected phase of life that brought her back to the top level of the sport.
Hey thanks so much to our sponsors for supporting this show:
- BicycleAccidentLaw.com
- AG1
- PERCCoffee.com
- Try UnTapped's AMAAAZING new Recovery at: UnTapped.cc
I wish I were neighbors with Matej Mohoric because I'd like nothing more than to hang out and talk bikes, talk not about bikes, just be able to share stories and insight with him. Heck, when we hung out last week, he showed me his videos of kids, talked about raising a family while in the World Tour as much as we talked about aerodynamic watt savings. I love it.
On the eve of Paris-Roubaix 2026, I got the chance to hang out and talk with Matej. Here is that conversation.
- Want to improve your sleep? Visit www.LagoonSleep.com/king and use the code KING for 15% off your next purchase to improve your sleep the simplest way possible.
- Bookmark www.BicycleAccidentLaw.com in case you find yourself in an incident or accident.
- Visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking and get yourself a welcome pack, travel packs, a shaker and more. Don't miss it!
It's Holy Week here in northern Europe and that means we're smack between Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. A few days out from Roubaix, I thought it would be a great time to launch this episode with George Hincapie as he talks his way through the history of the upstart American pro team, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling. You've likely seen their eye catching kits, you've seen them headed out in the breakaway of some of the biggest races of the year this year already, now it's time to dig into a conversation with George to hear all about this team, where it's from and where it's going. Plus lots more!
Big thanks goes out to our sponsors:
- Matt Scarborough and Bicycle Accident Law, visit them at https://www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com/bicycle-accident-legal-articles/ted-king-podcast
- Lagoon Sleep and their incredible pillows! Check them out at LagoonSleep.com/king and use the code KING for 15% off your next piece of the optimal recovery puzzle.
- AG1. Visit drinkAG1.com/tedking for a welcome kit and those great travel packs!
A recent World Tour retiree, Michael Woods is taking a stab at a whole variety of endurance sports. This Tour de France stage winner just took on "the Tour de France of ski-mo", has aspirations to race Ironman, has a sub-4 minute mile to his name, and still dabbles in bike riding... fairly often.
There's a whole lot more than endurance sports to Mike's life, gear up because this is a great one.
Follow his shenanigans at www.michaelwoods.cc and @rusty_woods.
Do yourself a favor and check out O-Liv and earn 55% off by using the code ted55.
Thank you Bicycle Accident Law for continuing to support the show.
Earn those travel packs and other AG1 goodies by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking.
Cam Jones is on a tear. As the reigning Unbound champion and taking top honors at the Life Time Grand Prix in 2025, he's a man on a mission. This conversation comes at the tail end of Cam's summer back home in New Zealand, on the verge of his upcoming trip to North America to kickoff the 2026 campaign.
Cam's story is one of perseverance. It's not easy to make the trip from the other side of the globe to try your hand among the world's best, but Cam did that starting in about 2022 in the pursuit of the mountain bike world cup circuit. Through some misadventures, perhaps a trip to a detention center through a misunderstanding and stern border patrol agent, he ultimately found his way to the wild card spot at the 2025 LTGP and of course the rest is well recorded history.
- You can follow Cam on his instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/camjonesnz/
- Please check out O-Liv olive oil and polyphenol supplements. www.o-liv.com and use code ted55 for 55% off!
- As always, thanks to Matt Scarborough and Bicycle Accident Law for supporting the show. www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com
With the recent release of Pete's documentary "Feeding the Rat" I was eager to get some time with Pete to discuss the entire expanse of his career. We sat down in 2019 as he was a World Tour pro eyeing a segue to gravel and now seven years later he's expressed an interest in doing this his own way as he segues away from the 10 out of 10 competitive level. Look, I understand it. Once a racer, always a racer. It's hard to step away and Pete is juggling a whole lot.
Please check out his recent film, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op_C8Ar7oNI
Here is a video of my time in California: https://youtu.be/h6VfahVLuRI
Check out Matt Scarborough and www.BicycleAccidentLaw.com
Visit AG1 and get a free gift: www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Bill Humphreys has lived an audacious life throughout his 81 years. The author of The Jersey Project and now fresh off the press, What If -- A Collection of True Stories from an Audacious Life, Bill spins many tales of life on two wheels and eighteen wheels.
You can find out more about his book at www.TheRealWhatIf.com, find out more about Bill at www.TheRealBikeGuy.com
If you need help with anything related to cycling and the law, visit www.BicycleAccidentLaw.com.
And why not make today the first time you try AG1. Visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking to unlock a welcome offer.
Andy Ording might be a name known in the cycling world as the one time owner of Zipp. He was in cycling well before that time period and now continues with the love of the bicycle now well after Zipp was sold with his work at Fundracer. Andy is an innovator through and through and this cycling entrepreneur has stories to tell that will keep you entertained from the start to finish of this episode. Please enjoy this episode with Andy Ording!
- If you need the services of a lawyer relating to anything cycling related, visit Matt Scarborough and his team at BicycleAccidentLaw.com. Thanks for supporting this episode.
- My morning routine is dialed with AG1, not AGZ helps me wind down in the evening and sleep soundly through the night. Check out drinkag1.com/tedking for more.
Welcome UCI Women's Road World Champion, Magdeleine Vallieres! She won this title in Kigali, Rwanda in incredibly impressive fashion storming away from her breakaway companions as well as a hard charging group of favorites. Canada got their first elite world title and the entire world got a new hero to cheer for.
There are some fun connections Mags and Ted share over the years and her early introduction to cycling. You can follow this world class and world champion rider on her instagram: www.instagram.com/magdeleinevallieres
- Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4voJPNEHFc
- Check out Mags and Ted on the same results sheet once upon a time! https://802timing.com/results/18results/bikeresults/4.21.18overallrasputitsa.htm
- Thank you very much Matt Scarborough and Bicycle Accident Law.com
- Try AGZ by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
He'll be the first to point out that it's masters world champion, but a win's a win and he has more gravel world championship titles than I do! Probably more than you too ;)
Nicolas Roche has plenty of good stories to tell and lots of great insight from his years in pro cycling. As a World Tour racer to the trenches of a gravel race -- the literal trenches, as he broke his hip earlier this year -- Nico's year has not been easy, but he's ended on a high note. Lots to cover so please enjoy this episode.
Visit www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com and call up Matt Scarborough for any cycling incidents or accidents.
Get a free gift with your next purchase of AG1 including their new AGZ at www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Miguel Crawford started hosting friends and then friends of friends on gravel rides throughout Sonoma County in the mid-1990s. Now he's just wrapped up his 28th year of hosting the Grasshopper Adventure Series, and best yet, he just wrapped up his first Megahopper. The Megahoppier is a route I first rode in 2021 and I was back this year for the first Grand Depart, the first mass start of this event. 414 miles across Sonoma County with trips in Lake, Marin, and Napa Counties as well. What an adventure.
- Check out Grasshopper Adventure Series and specifically the Megahopper, here
- Thanks Matt Scarborough and Bicycle Accident Law
- Try AGZ by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
I don’t know whether to say thank you to Michael... or to say congratulations... or to apologize, because Michael, at 24 years old I think brings home the title as youngest guest ever on King or the Ride podcast. He’s packed plenty of life into those 24 years, as you’re going to hear about today. He’s had an illustrious road career including national championship titles won. More to the point, he represents the new breed of what it means to be an American bike racer. He’s very handy in a gravel race having just taken 2nd at the US national championships, he’s crafty on a mountain bike, and he’s a force in the US crit scene.
Sit back and enjoy this one with Michael Garrison.
- Try a 10% savings on ExposureLights.com using KING10
- Bookmark BicycleAccidentLaw.com and talk to Matt and his team if you're in any kind of cycling accident
- Try out AGZ and AG1. Visit drinkAG1.com/tedking for a $76 welcome package
There's a lot more to the Zwift story than "riding a bike in a virtual world". From the very beginning they're revolutionized cycling. Think of it, they're the single biggest entity to why we enjoy the women's Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift the week after the traditional Tour.
More to the point, Eric Min co-founded Zwift thanks to a lifelong love affair with cycling. His life story has taken him all over the map from South Korea to New York City to calling various parts of Europe home to setting up Zwift's HQ in southern California.
Eric and Ted share connections and stories... like when Eric reminds our host that he was Zwift's first ambassador!
- Give the new lineup of lights from Exposure a try! I love my experience with the Toro 16 and the Diablo 16. Try them out at exposurelights.com and use code KING10 to save!
- I don't know if you need legal help, but if and when you do, give Matt Scarborough of Bicycle Accident Law a call.
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John Day is the creator of Race Day XC, a new mountain bike race series in New England. And while everyone who likes bike racing thinks they can start a bike race or better yet, a bike racing series, John has the experience and chops to make it happen. See, in his previous line of work, John created one of the biggest, most successful motocross race series in the United States. It started with a passion for racing motorcycles and a similar passion for mountain bike racing has lead him to the world of MTB race development.
- To find out more about Race Day XC, visit RaceDayXC.com
- To see my YouTube video about my time racing there, visit https://youtu.be/NZx6OYVXCPg
- As always, should the need arise, give our friends at Scarborough Bicycle Accident Law a visit at BicycleAccidentLaw.com
- Try out the newest varieties of AG1 with drinkAG1.com/tedking
And cycling isn't even the most interesting bit. John is a professional skier with aspirations to make his debut in the Olympics the same time as his sport makes its debut. That's right, skimo is on the verge of becoming an Olympic sport in 2026 and John is one of America's very best. But he didn't grow up on skis, nor on bike (at least on bicycles). Nor was it in his plans to start and run an outdoor apparel company. Nor was it his plan to be a perennial presence on the Leadville podium. And yet, there John is!
- Keep Bicycle Accident Law in your rolodex just in case you need it!
- Try out the newest flavors of AG1 and get a $76 free welcome pack by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
The bike racing action across France doesn't end when the men hit the Champs-Élysées. Heck, it's just getting warmed up for the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!
It's long overdue that women's cycling is hitting its stride right now and the fact that it's earning its due is thanks in part through the work of Kate Veronneau, the Director of Women's Strategy at Zwift. This former NCAA Division 1 college basketball player and professional cyclist has helped the TdFFaZ earn such a high place in global recognition.
Kate was kind enough to check in during a very busy week in France to help spread the word about what all she's doing right now, this week, and year round to elevate not just women's cycling, but women in general.
- This episode is supported by Bicycle Accident Law. If you're involved in any kind of cycling incident or accident, be sure to contact Matt Scarborough and his team.
- Get your hands on the latest batch of AG1. Their next gen formula is out and its something I use daily. Visit drinkAG1.com/tedking for a free welcome pack on your first purchase.
Former Pro Tour professional cyclist, recent UCI gravel worlds qualifier, Global Cycling Network host, former team director, infrequent -- and perhaps former -- race commentator, Dan Lloyd has worn many hats in cycling. And now he has King of the Ride guest on his resume!
- Join my Kelly Brush Ride!
- Also visit kellybrushride.org/ride and use code TEAMKING25 to save $20 off registration!
- Need cycling legal advice, visit BicycleAccidentLaw.com
- Get yourself the newest generation of AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
Florian Vermeersch is a Belgian cyclist with some very impressive palmares to his name. 2nd place in Paris-Roubaix as a 22 year old, a pair of silver medals at the UCI gravel world championships, a handful of wins, a whole bunch of podiums, not to mention he's often the right hand man to Tadej Pogacar in plenty of races on the UAE Emirates squad.
This was a really fun conversation to learn more behind the scenes with Florian on his ride through the World Tour ranks.
- If you have any need for a cycling lawyer, I can't recommend highly enough that you reach out to Matt Scarborough at bicycleaccidentlaw.com.
- AG1 is my daily go-to for general wellness. Give them a try at drinkAG1.com/tedking
Our most frequent guest is back! Roger Brown brought a new training technique to UNBOUND XL and that was a mix of training, not training, waffling on whether he would do the event or not, a trip to Europe, and ultimately a successful go at the 359 mile UNBOUND XL!
We'll talk all the usual song and dance about his preparation, how it all shook out, how he bought a shirt (for free!) in the town of Alma, seeing things deep into sleep deprivation, GLP-1, and why we weren't at the Formula 1 race in Montreal this weekend.
- Thanks very much to UnTapped for supporting this episode. Get your hands on all new Mint UnTapped and use the code "RogerXL" for 20% savings on any mint product at untapped.cc.
- Visit join.whoop.com/ted to get a free one month of the new WHOOP 5.0 plus a free band.
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Rob Britton stole the show Saturday morning at UNBOUND. He not only passed Lachlan Morton after a 200km chase, but he forced the UNBOUND organizers to rethink their morning strategy because he crossed the line just before 9am, when there's traditionally a 50 mile roll out. He rode the nearly 360 mile in smoking fast pace!
Rob is not new to racing, as he's won some of North America's biggest road races. With the switch to gravel in 2022, he's has big results in the LTGP and plenty of other big events. With success at Badlands, the BC Epic, and others, the ultra distance is nothing new to Rob either. Sit back and enjoy this fun conversation picking apart the very long day (and overnight, and the next day too).
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- Give the newest edition of AG1 a try by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
Mads Würtz Schmidt has national titles, world titles, and World Tour pro wins but going into 2025 he's taken his skillset to gravel off-road to gravel. He's already racking up wins taking two UCI wins, the prestigious Traka 200 title, and now he's here on North American soil to try his hand at Unbound. Mads and I met up two days shy of the boiling hot Gravel Locos for this face to face conversation.
Covering his time in rainbow stripes, his World Tour career, struggles with physical and mental setbacks, how therapy helped him rebound to the incredibly positive (and productive) place he is now.
- Follow Mads @madswurtzschmidt
- Change your shaving game entirely with Bolt Skin + Shave. Use the code KING15 for handy first time buyer savings! And give them a follow at @BOLTskinshave
- And give the newest generation of AG1 a try by trying out drinkAG1.com/tedking
Bike racers don't come much friendlier than Emily. They also don't come much more fierce, much more driven, they generally don't juggle as much, their palmares are usually shorter and they probably didn't have a first career as a professional pianist. But this professional athlete is all of those things which makes her an amazing podcast guest, which make for a really fun conversation!
Enjoy this conversation with Emily Newsom and follow her at @instagram.com/emilyjoynewsom
Get your hands on a Straz Components Sealant Funnel at www.StrazComponents.com and use the code king15 for some handy savings!
As always, boost your health with my favorite bit of greens, the newest generation of AG1. Visit drinkAG1.com/tedking for your welcome kit.
Fresh off hosting the 2nd annual Growler bike race and the 16th annual Levi's Gran Fondo, Levi sits down with Ted to talk about the state of cycling here in North America. The Growler has the crown of the highest purse of any one day race in the world... let that soak in for a second. Bigger than winning Paris-Roubaix or a Tour de France stage. $156,000 is up for grabs and the race draws road racers, the top gravel racers, mountain bikers, and more.
Ted and Levi raced Tours of California together, lived in Girona at the same time, and were members of the same peloton so there's some interesting overlap that they can discuss and dissect in today's episode.
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Try out AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
Ted sits down with a return guest, Jan Heine of Rene Herse Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly, to discuss how to be fast in the modern age of cycling. "Get low and pedal faster", right? Well... there's a lot of truth to that, but there's a lot more nuance to it. Tire widths, frontal exposure, riding with aero this and that, this dynamic duo talks through lots of the hot button issues on the tip of gravel racers tongues these days.
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to scroll back to episode 97 where we talk lots of other fun anecdotes from other the years together.
Save some money on your next bike light purchase! Visit ExposureLights.com and use the code KING10 to get your hands on the best lighting system on the planet.
As always, try out AG1 -- and earn a free gift with your first purchase -- by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
Quoc Pham has the work ethic of a World Tour pro cyclist, the design savvy to walk a Parisian runway, and an upbringing that’s extremely unique in the cycling world as a refugee from Vietnam. He launched his eponymous shoe company, Quoc, back in 2009 which has seen many iterations from a dapper commuter, to a fashionable boot, then with the release of the Grand Tourer he ventured into the backpacking and gravel space which has been his launch pad all the way to the feet of Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.
Chase Wark and I set out on a pretty wild adventure on Sunday March 26, separately but for the same purpose. Purposes, rather. We were both seeking an FKT on the Mega Midsouth and in a much bigger picture, we were seeking to raise funds for the United Way of Payne County.
This podcast is in conjunction with The Stable Cyclist and covers a lot from a very busy weekend in Oklahoma. Please enjoy.
I am continuing my fundraising through the end of March by sending money to my @iamtedking Venmo.
Get your Viair Recon Mini by visiting this website and using the code TEDKING10
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Maghalie is a supremely successful professional cyclist with a lengthy list of palmares including nearly 50 UCI wins, World Cup podiums, and loads of national titles. She's in the midst of being a cyclocross racer with her heart and soul in the sport that is thriving in Belgium and is trying to find its legs elsewhere.
- You can find Maghalie and her Dirty Talks podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rtdEydjqc4E38onNx5Lql
- Watch her CX Fever show here: https://www.youtube.com/@maghalierochette
- Get your hands on a $76 value from AG1 at www.DrinkAG1.com/tedking
- Get a FREE UnTapped water bottle by using the code "bottle" when you spend $50 of UnTapped at www.untapped.cc
Hello and welcome back to King of the Ride!
Today is a bit of cross-pollination. I am drawing from a recent Gravel Kings podcast, where Laura, Stu, and I sit down to dissect Race Around Rwanda in a two part recap. But here we've distilled it down into one episode.
So, please do yourself a favor and hit SUBSCRIBE on Gravel Kings. We're three hosts with radically different cycling backgrounds talking about what matters to you in the cycling world.
I'm excited to have created a vlog from my time in Rwanda. Please check that out here:
https://youtu.be/mKWJMqNM9lE
If you are a watch-a-podcast kind of person, then check out this exact show here:
https://youtu.be/2ax09zLeJMs
One of my favorite things to do in this podcast is to talk with the How I Built This style, namely to chat with the movers, shakers, and entrepreneurs to hear how they started their business. Amid being a professional athlete and then coach, Dirk started TrainingPeaks, which at this point has to be among the most popular pieces of training software on the planet. Every single Tour de France team, World Tour team, pro rider and aspiring professional uses TrainingPeaks.
Hey, don't forget to get your free Ted King signature water bottle by visiting www.untapped.cc, putting $50 of product into your cart, and punching in the code BOTTLE. A free water bottle will be added to your cart, plus you'll have earned free shipping. Offer valid until March 1 or while supplies last!
You likely know Cam Wurf from his exploits on a bike. He set record after record in the Ironman World Championships on the bike leg, then stepped back into the UCI World Tour after a six-year hiatus and has been working his way into headlines since. He's an Ironman winning athlete, generally found somewhere on the podium when the race is a wrap, but he's also known for wild exploits like running a half marathon for training the evening after riding Paris-Roubaix. Let's not forget that he's an Olympic and world champion rower from his first foray into athletics, so he's basically been an endurance athlete his entire life. This conversation is not one to be missed, thanks for tuning in!Follow Cam at @cjwurfGet that $48 value from AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedkingAnd follow the Kristian Blummenfelt excitement here and here!
They don't get more genuine than Chase Wark. Maybe that's those northern midwest roots, now living in the hallowed Driftless region of Minnesota (...home to the US national gravel championships, as we'll discuss today). No stranger to big results, to gravel beef controversy, to aero gains, and diving deep in search of the spirit of gravel, Chase brings a lot to the table as you'll learn today.
Follow Chase's journey at @chasethebiker
And get yourself some AG1 for goodness sakes. Visit drinkAG1.com/tedking to get your $48 value on the house.
While you're at it, give yourself a month of WHOOP for free, plus a free band. Visit join.whoop.com/ted
Finding a single word or short phrase that encompasses all that Christian does is easier said than done. Furthermore, I'm not sure in which order to put those three words, Cyclist, Ultrarunner, Entrepreneur, because over his life he juggles all three. Christian is a long time professional cyclist turned race winning ultra trail runner. He's also started a number of successful businesses in beautiful Girona, Spain. He's the founder/owner of
- La Fabrica Girona
- Espresso Mafia
- Chance Run Apparel
- Overland Run Shop
On today's episode we'll talk about each of these items, plus translating a pro road career to professional running, compare gravel and trail running, talk about highs and lows of starting businesses, the grind of an entrepreneur, and how to deal with injury, among other topics.
You can follow Christian at @christianmeier
Please enjoy the show!
Bond Almand just rode a record setting pace from the northern tip of Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. Over 75 absolutely wild days, Bond rode into ferocious headwinds, among throngs of cities, highways, oil fields, high mountains, great plains and desert, and so much more to make it to Ushuaia, Argentina.
More than 13,500+ miles later, he made it.
Keep his website nearby: www.bondalmand.com as you'll want to cross reference it often.
Check out drinkAG1.com/tedking
Melisa Rollins is our esteemed guest today. She’s been in the game for a handful of years, but she’s quickly turning heads, especially here in 2024. Earning the most acclaim was a smashing victory at Leadville, the hallowed 100 mile mountain bike race scraping across some of Colorado’s highest peaks. She just won Iceman Cometh. She was second in the life time Grand Prix. She’s won Chequamegon, she’s podiumed the overall at Redlands. She has seven Leadvilles to her name. And she's seemingly just getting warmed up!
Follow Melisa at @melisa_rollins
Check out the Gravel Kings podcast
And try AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/TedKing
Luke immediately proved his worth stepping into the World Tour, coming third in his first ever race with Soudol Quick-Step having helped deliver his teammate to the victory. He finished 7th at Kuurne Brussels Kuurne, won a stage of Czech Tour, and has a boatload of results coming up through the ranks prior to this year, including back to back to back US criterium national titles. As if it doesn't get better, he's just an awesome guy.
Tune in with this fun conversation that wraps up his neo pro year and see where Luke takes it from here.
Follow Luke at @lukelamperti
And get your hands on the $48 value from AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking
In particular, "Brussels Gravel" is on topic today. There has been lots of chatter about the course itself. The less than enthusiastically dubbed bike path world championships. In this conversation, Laura and Ted break down their perspectives on the course itself and what Belgium has to offer; the astounding level of World Tour competition (looking at you Lotto Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel!); the type of support from USACycling, and how the race shook out... among other things.
Don't forge to visit drinkAG1.com/tedking to try AG1 and get five free travel packs and one year's supply of vitamin D.
Jessie Diggins' name is synonymous with success for US cross country skiing. She broke the drought for all of American skiers as she and Kikkan Randall (episode 36) won the first gold medal for the United States in 2018.
Jessie is a four time Olympic medalist, a six time world champion medalist, an author, and activist working with The Emily Project and Protect Our Winters (POW) as a winter athlete alliance. Among other accolades.
She is a great follow on Instagram where you can find her at @jessiediggins
Smack in the middle of finding success (and the yellow jersey!) at the Green Mountain Stage Race, I wanted to sit down and talk with Sam Boardman about all things contemporary professional cycling. From his days at UCLA through the wild times at Wildlife Generation and Legion, right up through the present in his impressive European debut with Project Echelon, Sam has stories to tell! And if you can't get enough here, then be sure to read what he's written at The Escape Collective in his Rookie Report.
Check out the King Challenge and please please join us if you're available October 12: KingChallenge.org.
Help out my fundraising for the ride here: https://www.pledgereg.com/5124/tedking
And get your hands on that jumpstart to the day you're looking for with drinkAG1.com/tedking
Welcome one of the world's very best at cyclocross (and pretty handy on all types of bikes), Joris Nieuwenhuis!
Joris is a multi-time national champion of cyclocross for the Netherlands, he earned a silver medal at the 2023/24 UCI cyclocross world championships, he's raced the Tour de France twice, has won on the World Cup stage, and plenty of others.
We met up in Sweden as we were taking part in the Grit n Grind gravel race as part of the world championships qualification.
Follow along on Joris' ride at @joris.nieuwenhuis
Don't forget to give AG1 a try, visit drinkAG1.com/tedking
Adam Roberge is on a tear. By my count, he's won the past three consecutive races, four out of the past five, plus plenty more to his tally this year alone. Today we'll talk about all the things you might imagine, the two of us racing together and landing in identical spots on consecutive weekends, how he got into cycling, what's happening with the general state of cycling in Canada, and his national championship win this year. We'll talk about the more controversial topics like using logic and game theory (i.e. tactics) to win races, aero socks, and aero bars. That and so much more coming up!
You can see my Nepomuk Narly race recap here: https://youtu.be/Tnsn_vs5we4
And get your hands on some AG1, gosh darn it, by visiting: drinkAG1.com/tedking
Follow along on Adam's adventures here: @adamroberge
It’s July so it’s Tour de France time! I’m thrilled to have our guest on the podcast, Sam Bewley. A Tour de France rider himself, a Tour commentator and sports director, we're here to shed light on what's happening now two weeks into a very exciting Tour.
Sam is a New Zealander living in Europe, courtesy of the bicycle. He won a world championship medalist on the track, then graduated to the World Tour and had a successful, lengthy, thirteen year career there.
Sam is now a sports director with Israel Premier Tech as well as a new father. Yeehaw!
Don't forget to get your hands on AG1 by visiting www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Daniel Oss is the man. This long time World Tour professional raced on some of the biggest teams alongside some of the biggest names in the sport. From Liquigas to BMC to Bora-Hansgrohe to TotalEnergies, he was easy to pick out from the bunch with his rock-star long hair. He was also nearly always at the front and often pulling Peter Sagan along to victory.
He's now a gravel privateer as well as a commentator for EuroSport, taking on UCI races as well as Unbound.
Ted and Daniel were teammates for two years beginning in 2011 and this was a very fun catch up at a brewery in Emporia, KS a few days before Unbound.
Follow along with Daniel's adventures at @daniel87oss
Check out WHOOP, try it out for yourself with a free WHOOP 4.0 band your first month FREE at join.whoop.com/ted
And be sure to get your free offer at drinkAG1.com/tedking
Roger Brown has a fan club. He's a four time Unbound rider, has accumulated more than 800 miles across the Kansas plains (which marks a considerable portion of his lifetime mileage). He's a father of four, a co-owner of mine at UnTapped, and he back for another edition of Unbound and another podcast!
If you enjoy this show, check out his previous three episodes number 113, 91, and 75.
Also, check out AG1 by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking to get your five free travel packs and a year's supply of vitamin d3k2
Your 2024 Unbound 200 men's champion, ladies and gentlemen!
Lots to talk about in this episode as Lachlan and Ted chat for nearly 90 minutes on all things bikes. From Lachlan's entry into the sport, his tough time in the World Tour, Lachlan and Ted's shared time in gravel and its enigmatic future, and of course ample race analysis from Unbound.
Follow Lachlan's wild exploits at @lachlanmorton
And get your hands on some goodies from AG1 by visiting www.drinkAG1.com/ted
While you're at it, get a free WHOOP band and one month of membership included by visiting join.whoop.com/ted
There are certain people to watch for the win on any UCI road race start line and Matej Mohoric is certainly among them. He's won the road world championships as a junior and then u-23 rider, he's won three stages of the Tour de France, plus one stages each in the Giro and Vuelta. He tallied a monument, dramatically winning Milan-San Remo, dramatically in the first known case of a race win on a dropper seatpost. Last fall he took home the rainbow jersey in the UCI Gravel World Championship and this weekend he will race his second ever gravel race at Unbound.
Tadej is a former teammate of mine and I loved talking to this young whippersnapper a decade ago with a new fresh perspective to cycling. He's always been wildly curious and brought a freshness to cycling well ahead of his time.
And if you haven't seen his post Tour de France stage win interview, it's the kind of thing that will melt your heart. Watch that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTROQR9pHQ
Follow Matej this weekend and the rest of the season at @matmohoric
Many people who end up among the infrastructure of cycling begin as cyclists themselves. If they make it to the professional ranks, they often segue to professional cycling as mechanics, team directors, team managers, or soigneurs. It's rare that the timetable is reverse and they go from a professional soigneur to a professional cyclist, but that's exactly the scenario which "Gee" has experienced.
Now one of the fastest women in gravel, Gee raced under the SD Works banner and has taken wins and podiums in UCI races and... well, quite frankly most of the gravel events she's raced. She podiumed at the Traka 360 this year, has bounced around between Europe and the United States this spring, and that allowed this meet up in Emporia, Kansas one week away from Unbound.
Follow along with Gee at her instagram, @geegeertje
And give AG1 a try by visiting www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Christopher Blevins is on a tear. Winning the opening round of the UCI cross-country mountain bike race in Brazil here in 2024, he finished with the silver medal the next week in round two. Wearing the stars and stripes as the reigning US national champion, Chris has the Olympics high on his mind this summer going into Paris.
From his early days on the BMX bike to showing stellar results on both the road and mountain bike in the U23 ranks, Christopher had to make a big decision going into the last Olympic cycle heading into Tokyo. We'll talk about that decision and how it's paid dividends since then.
In addition to being extraordinarily fast on all things two-wheels, he's also a very fun, engaging, creative person. We'll talk about Stilspoke, an outlet for community building and storytelling, which is just launching now! Check that out at www.stilspoke.com
You can follow all of his adventures at @christopherblevs
And don't forget to get your hands on those five free travel packs plus a year's supply of vitamin D at www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Laurens is a vibe. His Live Slow, Ride Fast mantra is a media company and it's a way of life!
He has very big plans for 2024, so listen in as we talk the Portugal N2 trip, his target of Tour Divide, how he stays fit at 43, and what it takes to compete at the pointy end of World Tour bike races in this modern age.
N2 trip in summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7I4RBIlp9c
Follow Laurens at: @laurens_ten_dam
And why don't you buy yourself some AG1 at: www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
The multi-disciplined Tobin Ortenblad joins us on the podcast today. The former u23 national champion in cyclocross, the recently tattooed SSCXWC victor, the often bearded and fun loving Tobin Ortenblad, that is!
We talk all facets of cycling from his early days right up through the present at Levi's Gran Fondo. The state of road cycling, his favorite genre of cyclocross, gravel, and everything in between. Join us for this riveting conversation.
Follow along on @mctubbbin's via his instagram here.
This conversation started with a social media post. Namely, this one: https://www.instagram.com/p/C40wy-_Oh5Z/?img_index=1
You could argue that Noah is not your average MidSouth competitor, unless it's argued that he's the exact, prototypical MidSouth competitor. On a lark, Noah hatched the idea of doing MidSouth on a $2 per day beach cruiser rental bike and then he went ahead with the idea. Follow along over the course of this unique and hilarious conversation.
Try AG1 by using the following this link: www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Our guest today is Michael van den Ham. Michael is a long time staple to the North American cyclocross circuit, he’s a four time Canadian national champion, he’s tallied 6 UCI cyclocross race wins, he’s raced the world championships on an impressive seven different occasions, and he's supremely handy on a gravel bike. Not only that, he's recently retired from the professional 'cross circuit to focus on a wider variety of disciplines and to take the reigns of the Canadian national team for cyclocross as their newly appointed head coach.
Don't forget to visit drinkag1.com/tedking to get your hands on some AG1.
Derek Teel is on the podcast today. His strength training platform, Dialed Health, has become the gold standard among amateurs and pro cyclists alike. His following is prolific at @DialedHealth which perhaps has helped echo the story he's going to tell on today's episode of being hit by a car at 65mph and left for dead.
This is a heart-wrenching story of challenges and overcoming obstacles, no matter who you are or what you're up against. Derek's story is one of positivity and strength.
Check out the first chapter of Ted's 2024 comeback story here on YouTube.
And Ted's vlog from the start of the season here.
And give AG1 a try by visiting drinkAG1.com/tedking.
Neilson Powless is just getting warmed up. His rise through the sport starts decades ago, when he and his sister Shayna were playing games secretly engineered by their parents to help encourage their endurance engines. Winning the XTerra World Championships in 2012, for example, indirectly shuttled him to picking up wins in the World Tour today. Recently becoming a father, Neilson reflects on the change of perspective that comes with racing knowing there's someone(s) very special back at home. His humility is matched by his friendliness, Neilson is one of a kind and makes cycling fans both at home and abroad very proud how he performs. Check out Ted’s newest podcast venture, Gravel Kings here: https://gravelkings.podbean.com/
Ben Hoffman is an amazing athlete. This born Coloradan, now Arizonan, is an 8 time Ironman champion, 7 time Ironman 70.3 champ, has finished as high as second at the hallowed Kona Ironman World Championships, as well as 4th place twice. He's a monster on the bike, duking it out on what's dubbed the fastest group ride in the country, there in Tucson, Arizona, and has toed the line at gravel races and Cape Epic in South Africa. He's training for the Paris 2024 Paralympics with hopes of bringing home a medal. Better yet, he's a father and wonderful of father of two young kids.
As I start my journey into 40 and beyond, I saw a lot of parallels with Ben and wanted to sit down for a fun chat.
Ben thinks that AG1 is great and so do I. So visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking to try elevating your health in the coming year.
Matteo Jorgenson is a young, powerhouse professional road cyclist. Born in Idaho, he's made his way all over the world racing his bike, and ultimately onto arguably the best team in modern day cycling, Visma-Lease A Bike. At just 24 years old, he's quickly and stealthfully tallied one of the strongest list of palmares American cycling has ever seen. With a focus and results already rolling in during the spring classics as well as stage races like Paris-Nice, Tour of Romandie, and overall victory at the Tour of Oman, Matteo's future looks very bright.
You can follow Matteo at his instagram page, @matteojorgenson.
All details for the inGamba trip across Portugal can be found here.
Don't forget to recalibrate your health with the simple step of starting your day with AG1. Get your free year's supply of vitamin D plus five free travel packs with your first purchase. Visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
Special ASK ME ANYTHING episode! You sent questions in, we answered. From van life to real life to gravel in the casual sense to gravel in the hellbent racing sense, lots of UCI questions, and everything in between.
Please visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking to get those five free travel packs and a year's supply of vitamin D.
To submit more questions, visit www.iamtedking.com/contact
Tanner Putt has spent the majority of his life spent in cycling. I’ve known him as a bike racer — a very successful one in the u23 and domestic scene, especially. But it was when I was reading a recent Outside magazine article about Americans racing the Tour de France and in particular the atypical pathway that seemingly every American has to travel to make it from here in the states to the start line at the Tour, that I knew I had to talk to Tanner. He’s quoted in the article about how to make that path to success simpler.
Tanner overseas the Road Racing program at USACycling which is a very impressive ship to be navigating and it's one I'll be watching closely as I'm a fan of his and a fan of American road racing.
Don't forget to visit join.whoop.com/ted to get your free month of WHOOP
And drinkag1.com/tedking to get a year's supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs.
Try them both now, thank me later.
There's rumor of someone coming out of South Africa who's an absolute machine in off-road racing. He's cleaned up in his home country and now he's on the move to North America. That person is the very affable Matt Beers.
On the heels of his recent sprint to second place at the inaugural Little Sugar in Arkansas, Matt is lining up for the season finale Big Sugar this weekend. Between these big late season races we caught up, talked shop, talked global gravel and lots more.
Be sure to visit www.drinkag1.com/tedking to get yourself a year's supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase.
Ben Delany has a career in cycling media to his name. He's seen the sport soar, he's been there during troubled times, and he's excited to break out on his own and expand what cycling media is. As gravel has taken off, he's now a bit of a cycling media privateer himself with the advent of his YouTube channel and the ways he interacts with brands.
Join me on this conversation with someone who shares a rich history of cycling knowledge.
To see Ben's YouTube channel, visit TheRidewithBenDelaney
To try out WHOOP, visit join.whoop.com/ted
To join the King Challenge, visit KingChallenge.org
To support my King Challenge fundraising efforts, visit pledgereg.com/4715/tedking
Dave Wiens is a Coloradan. He's an outdoorsman. He's a mountain biker and skier. He's a father, husband, and hall of famer. He carries the torch of the International Mountain Bicycling Association as their executive director and has a vision for cycling, hiking, and just being outside that makes people want to be part of this vision.
This is a very fun one and I know you'll enjoy it.
Don't forget to visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking to make all your hopes and dreams come true!
Not all professional athletes are one dimensional and Alexey is proof of that. This busy body has a lot going on, both on and off the bike. After an impressive 2nd at Leadville and 3rd at SBT, he's only whet his appetite for an action packed end of the year.
We caught up on the eve of SBTGRVL and had this terrific conversation about the state of the (gravel) cycling world and where he's placing his piece of the puzzle. I really enjoyed this conversation and I know you will too!
Please do yourself a favor and visit www.drinkag1.com/tedking
Anna Greetis is always on her toes. She looks after seemingly anything resembling a road bike, gravel bike, or cyclocross bike here in America for SRAM athletes, and then still has time to head off to Europe for some of the biggest bike races in the world. Anna is an all-star as she's helped keep my fleet of bikes in tip top shape for years now and does it all with a genuine smile and easy conversation.
We cover her globetrotting schedule, her entry into the sport, the hurdles of being a female mechanic in a male-dominated profession, and an optimistic look at the future of a more welcoming cycling.
We caught up at SBTGRVL amid her whirlwind travels before jetting off to the next one!
Please visit www.drinkAG1/tedking to get those 5 free travel packs plus a one year's supply of vitamin D. You need vitamin D, so why not get it for free, right?
There are many chapters to Ryan Standish's path through cycling, but beginning in Australia at the age of two straight up through the present, there are a book full of anecdotes along the way. From the pursuit of Olympic mountain bike dreams to a shot at the World Tour to the current ambiguous endurance off-road scene, Ryan mixes his passion for cycling with close-to-the-heart interest in giving back with his fledgeling company, Rocket Sloth. Check that out at www.rocketslothco.com
Visit www.drinkag1.com/tedking to try out AG1
Roger Brown has four bike races under his belt. He's raced Unbound 200 twice, some random race in college that he discusses today, and now the Unbound XL! Admittedly, neither Roger nor Ted finished the XL, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come without stories.
Drop in on these two friends catching up on an epic overnight in Kansas.
Use code "podcast" at untapped.cc to get some handy savings on all UnTapped active nutrition!
And visit www.drinkag1.com/tedking to finally try out AG1!
The Tour Divide didn't go my way, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. I had hours and HOURS of alone time to ponder everything under the sun -- before, during, and after my race -- and it was fun to condense it and talk about it here with the one and only Rebecca Rusch.
If you're curious about my packing list, please check that out here, www.iamtedking.com/blog/td-packing
And don't forget to give AG1 a try, visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking
On the eve of Tour Divide, I thought it would be wise to talk to the friendliest character in bikepacking, Lael Wilcox. We caught up with Lael on her ride TO THE START of the Tour Divide, as she rides from Tucson, Arizona to Banff, Alberta, Canada.
There are loads of questions on my mind as it seems like this event is intentionally cryptic. For example, the Tour Divide is a ride along the Continental Divide Trail... which is also called the Great Divide... which starts in Banff... unless you consider the start in Jasper, Alberta... and the route usually stays the same... but sometimes changes year to year?
I'll be relying on Athletic Greens to seek daily nutrition thanks to AG1 all throughout my ride. If you're interested in trying Athletic Greens visit www.drinkAG1.com/tedking to get on the fast track to simplified nutrition!
Paige Onweller stamped her name as a contender in the gravel scene by winning Big Sugar 2022. Lots of podiums and top 10 results also live on her palmares, despite a very short list of total races that she's ever done. Given her greater life story of selling her house, buying a van, and pressing pause on her career as a PA makes her transition to gravel all the more impressive.
Visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking and pick up those 5 free travel packs!
What's path to victory look like in the hotly contested 2022 Unbound 200? That's what I set out to find out with our guest Ivar Slik. Ivar is a member of the Dutch Mafia, as amalgamated by Laurens Ten Dam and his introduction to his Dutch countrymen (and women) to the American gravel scene. Although Ivar's name is forever tagged to the win in the most storied gravel race of them all, he's been dabbling in the scene for years, and boasts a lengthy list of palmares prior to that. Like winning the sprint jersey at Tour of Turkey. Finishing second in the Netherland junior national championships. He rode a stagiere year with Belkin and was part of the hallowed Rabobank development team.
Follow Ivar at @ivar.slik
And help improve your day with a daily dose of Athletic Greens. Just visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking and you'll earn an annual supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packs.
Cole Paton is one of the good guys. He happens to be one of the good guys who's off to a screaming start to 2023. With international wins to his name this spring, second at Whiskey Offroad, and sitting third overall at the Life Time Grand Prix, we're hearing his name a lot and should expect to see him near or at the top of the podium for many years to come.
Follow Cole at @colepaton
And give yourself the same daily boost of nutrition that I do with AG1 by Athletic Greens. Visit www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Russell Finsterwald is our guest today. Professional mountain biker, crusher on a gravel bike, Russell wrapped up 2022 in third place in the Life Time Grand Prix and is looking for more this season. With a big year ahead, I wanted to check in to hear more from Russell, his background and history, plus his goals and ambitions for 2023 and more.
Don't forget to get your FREE flask at www.untapped.cc just by adding a bottle of bulk UnTapped then inputting the code KOTR.
Also for your five free travel packs plus a year's supply of vitamin D from Athletic Greens by visiting www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Nicolas Roche is a pro's pro. This long time Irish born, French raised, global savvy individual has a lengthy list of impressive results. Twice finishing in the top ten of the Vuelta a España, Nico is a two time Irish national champion, and represented Ireland at the UCI road world championships seven times, the Olympics once, and just recently at the inaugural UCI gravel world champs.
He's got a heck of a lot going on, so I'm pleased as punch to have carved out the time in Oklahoma at MidSouth for this chat. Clearly there's room for another couple hours of conversation, hopefully later this year.
To start your day off right, try AG1 by Athletic Greens simply by visiting www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Heather Jackson is putting up smashing results as she just enters the world of gravel and ultrarunning. Which is as much a surprise that a "neo" pro would be able to accomplish these things as much as it's totally expected as she's been a triathlete for 15 years, expertly honing her 10-plus hour endurance.
But let's talk about her time in Thailand! Or her medals from the US track national championships! Or growing up playing hockey... with me in small town New Hampshire!
This is a great conversation that I know you'll enjoy.
Don't forget to give Athletic Greens a try by visiting www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking to jumpstart your day the best way possible.
Lauren's story of winning Unbound and having one of the most successful years the sport of gravel has ever seen is as impressive as it is improbable. Her comeback from a TBI is a journey through uncharted territory. Over the span of about a half dozen years, she went from being a professional road cyclist to a (very) traumatic brain injury to an intense recovery period to then earning a Masters in Public Health to next pivot to a career as a professional cyclist once again -- see, that's not the standard! But it sure is working for Lauren, so why mess with a good thing?!
You'll find Lauren's social at: @laurenissima
Don't forget, get your hands on 5 free sample packs, plus a year's supply of vitamin D with this offer from Athletic Greens. Just visit: AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Hillary Allen's story is one for the ages. Her 150 foot fall off of a cliff while leading the skyrunning race series, where she broke 14 bones and risked never walking again, is the kind of story you see in the movies or read in a book. Well, you can read it in her book, Out and Back.
We touch on that today, as well as the mental and physical struggles she faced in the aftermath right up through the present. We discuss where her fervor for life comes from, her endless curiosity, her pursuit of science (like real science; organic biochemistry and neurology), and where cycling now fits into her life since her first ever bike race was a little thing called the Unbound 200.
You'll find all things Hillary at HillaryAllen.com
Her social is @hillygoat_climbs
Get your hands on 5 free sample packs, plus a year's supply of vitamin D with this offer from Athletic Greens. Just visit AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Alex Dowsett is a recent retiree after a dozen years in the professional ranks of cycling where he tallied 15 victories, 2 in grand tours, he set the world hour record, owns two Commonwealth Games medals (gold and silver, since you asked), and probably a dozen other accolades. He's a father, soon to be married to his fiance Chanel, and does tremendous work with the organization he created, Little Bleeders, helping young kids diagnosed with hemophilia. This conversation is hits on all that and loads more.
Check out Alex: www.instagram.com/alexdowsett
www.littlebleeders.com
And his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexDowsettOfficial
Pete stepped away from the World Tour and planted his flag as a pro's pro, using professional road techniques to highlight speed and results. Gravel is a fluid sport and Pete's come to recognize the importance of some not so tangible aspects of gravel, such as chivalry, a moral code, unwritten rules, and more.
As gravel takes a look into the mirror, so do Pete and I as we dive into this conversation. Enjoy!
Don't miss out on a chance to start your day better. Visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking to see how.
One hundred episodes! Thanks for listening to King of the Ride my friends.
What can be said about Laurens Ten Dam that hasn't yet been said? Well, a lot, actually. Tune into this conversation late in 2022 where LtD again returned to North America for another gravel race, this time Gravel Locos Pueblo. His schedule has seemingly gotten more complicated since retiring from an extensive World Tour career. He jumps across the Atlantic more often than some international pilots.
To check out the $0 deductible, on-the-bike injury coverage with the Ride membership by USACycling, visit: memberships.usacycling.org/products/member Use code King20 for $20 savings!
Also, please visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking to get your hands on a gift from Athletic Greens. I've given up stacks of multivitamin bottles and think you would benefit from that too!
Ian Boswell returns for the second time as a guest on King of the Ride. Over that time since 2019, he got married, retired from the World Tour, had a daughter, won Unbound, and has seen the screaming hot arch of gravel grow with meteoric speed.
So where does it go from here? This conversation covers lots of topics, but most of them revolve around where we see things going as gravel continues to evolve. Just two dudes sitting around a table talking shop.
Try Athletic Greens! Visit www.athleticgreens.com/tedking
Our guest today is an icon in the endurance running space, Anton Krupicka. Winner of the Leadville 100 as a fresh faced 23 year old in 2006, fifteen years later he was once again on the podium in 2021 at Leadville after a spate of injuries, but not a shortage of adventures over that time.
Early in his career, Anton's blog became requisite reading material for all aspiring runners. His social media attracts millions of views. He writes prolifically and travels minimally… by that I mean, check out his stunning social media channel which features his bikepacking ventures.
Anton's IG: www.instagram.com/antonkrupicka
Anton's Strava: www.strava.com/pros/antonkrupicka
And don't forget Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/tedking
Jan Heine is the president of Rene Herse Cycles and editor in chief of Bicycle Quarterly. He's a builder, an engineer, a story teller, a photographer, and as it turns out is pretty handy on the bike too with a recent FKT on the Arkansas High Country Race's southern loop which spans 475 miles across northwest Arkansas!
I've wanted to have Jan on the podcast for years and this seemed like just the right time. Congrats to Jan and welcome to the show.
www.ReneHerseCycles.com
www.BicycleQuarterly.com
Jan's ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/7953986189
To try out Athletic Greens, visit: www.AthleticGreens.com/tedking
Carl Decker has been a professional cyclist for longer than many professional cyclists have been alive. This 47 year old pro has been a mountain bike racer, cyclocross racer, Super-D extraordinaire, road racer, and now a stalwart gravel racer in the scene that is both burgeoning and reaching its adolescence.
Thanks to Athletic Greens for supporting this episode and simplifying my nutrition routine. Don't forget to try out AG1 with a hard to beat offer using the website www.athleticgreens.com/tedking
This conversation is one for the ages. It took place on Kiel's sailboat, fresh on the tail end of a bike ride around Seattle, and right before both Kiel and I set off for Rebecca's Private Idaho.
Kiel is a great friend, a father, a husband, a sailor, a retired World Tour cyclist and a current gravel racer... err, rider? Naw, he's a racer at heart even though he has the completely right ethos for this fledgeling sport.
This hour long conversation feels like what could easily be part one in a five part series. I hope you enjoy listen as much as I enjoyed recording it. Please sit down and enjoy!
If you're interested in learning more about Athletic Greens, just visit https://athleticgreens.com/tedking for more.
World Champion rower turned gravel cyclist, that's right, Brennan Wertz is our guest today. A linguist, a world traveler, a Stanford graduate, an incredibly friendly individual, Brennan is a speedy and excellent addition to the gravel peloton. At just 23 years old, the sky's the limit with the power numbers he's able to produce. Please enjoy the show!
Here's the summary of my Last Best Ride exploits: https://youtu.be/_mRv_b7JMW4
Sports cardiology is a well known field, but it really didn't exist prior to 2008 when our guest, Dr. Aaron Baggish put it on the map by creating Massachusetts General Hospital's Cardiovascular Performance Program.
Dr. Baggish serves as team cardiologist and physician for numerous athletic organizations including as medical director for the Boston Marathon and cardiologist/team physician for US Soccer, US Rowing, Harvard University, Suffolk University, the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the New England Revolution.
After more than a dozen years establishing this program in Boston, he’s recently taken a full time position as Professor of Medicine and Chief of Sports Cardiology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Dr. Baggish is an accomplished runner and cyclist. Plus he visits Vermont frequently so we know he's a good'n.
The titles of these episodes usually have a little blurb to describe the guest. This ended up as "Professional Cyclist" but I thought of "winner of bike races all the freakin' time" or "winning bike races like it's his job" or "champion of all kinds" because frankly he's winning everything in sight. But better yet, Keegan is a super kind person and doesn't just ride bikes with a number of his handlebars but sets cool records like the White Rim FKT or Everest world record or chasing the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo.
Sit down and enjoy this podcast on the heels of another recent victory as Keegan just won the Crusher in the Tusher. Let's hear all about it.
He just couldn't get enough, so back he went in 2022. Roger Brown is my friend, business partner at UnTapped, and among the least trained riders for this grand daddy of all gravel bike races, Unbound 200. Let's hear from Roger how his second time taking on the mammoth gravel race across the Kansas countryside went.
To save on Saris, use code Saris-Social-1522 for 15% off anything at Saris.com
Brendan Quirk took the reins as CEO of USA Cycling late in 2021 with the hopes of reinvigorating the organization with the energy and enthusiasm that he remembers from his first races as a card carrying USAC member in 1986. Looking at the state of the cycling union: American racing needs help and hopefully Brendan is the person for the job.
Brendan is the co-founder of the biggest cycling e-tailer, Competitive Cyclist, which segued to a position as EVP at Backcountry.com. He ran Rapha North America for a handful of years as well as being the cycling program director for the Runway Group, a project spearheaded by the cycling nuts in the Walton family.
Brendan now splits his time between home in Little Rock, Arkansas and USA Cycling HQ in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He's the father of three children, a husband, and a terrific conversationalist. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
Don't forget to use code King25 at www.teamZealios.com to protect yourself this summer with the finest skincare designed for athletes out there.
Charles Aaron is the owner of America's longest running professional cycling team, Human Powered Health. Having spent a lifetime in cycling -- from the heyday of pro mountain biking in the 1990s through to the present -- Charles certainly has some stories to tell. The women's team will compete in this summer's Tour de France Femmes and the men's team has been making their way up the hierarchy of pro cycling teams with hopes of being in the grandest tour soon as well.
You can follow along with his team, www.HumanPoweredHealth.com
And please check out Zealios at www.TeamZealios.com. Don't forget to use code King25 at checkout for some terrific savings.
I don't have a Best Episode of the Year category, but this conversation would be in the running.
Meg Fisher is a decorated athlete across a variety of disciplines. A walk-on division 1 tennis player in college, she was involved in a tragic accident at the age of 19 that took the love of her life and resulted in an amputated portion of her leg. Not one to watch the grass grow and sit by the sidelines, she's only sped up since then, winning world championships and all shades of Paralympic medals. She's also earned a PhD in Physical Therapy as she helps spread the message that movement is medicine. Meg is a Cannondale athlete and is leading the way for parathletes competing in gravel races of all types.
This conversation is one for the ages and one I know you're going to enjoy.
To watch the Dark Side of the Subjective, you can do so here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeSVMG4GkeQ
Check out the ride Meg and I spoke of, the King Challenge. www.KingChallenge.org
I like beer. You like beer. Beer is great!
Hangovers, poor decision making, reduced performance, and alcohol induced accidents aren't that great.
Bill Shufelt had a very successful career in finance, but he found that he inspired at work. It was work for the sake of work and he wasn't making healthy decisions. He saw a void in the craft beer market, specifically for non-alcoholic beer and leapt at it.
After (nearly) countless attempts, along with his business partner, John Walker, they created the genre of North American craft NA beer.
The proof is in the pudding; in 2020, Athletic's Free Way IPA won the award as Supreme Champion Beer at the International Beer Challenge, the first non-alcoholic beer to win the award, beating over 500 other entries.
Don't miss out on performing at your best. Go to www.therabody.com/king and check out their RecoveryAir JetBoots to be able to be at your best, wherever your day/training/travels take you.
With MidSouth now in the rearview mirror it's time to look back at the season opener. This conversation bookends the MidSouth festival amid a lovely Sunday brunch with my dear friend Bobby. Bobby Wintle is the event director of MidSouth as well as District Bicycles, the iconic bike shop in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
His voice is shredded, the racers are left dusty with the telltale red Oklahoma dirt, but boy oh boy did we have fun with this conversation.
Don't miss out on performing at your best. Go to www.therabody.com/king and check out their RecoveryAir JetBoots to be able to be at your best, wherever your day/training/travels take you.
I'm excited introduce Olympian, current double national champion in both the road race and time trial, World Tour race winner, dancing queen and internet sensation Alison Jackson!
I caught up with Alison Jackson while she was home in Canada before making her late winter pilgrimage to Europe and the traditional bike racing scene. We chatted shop that spans her careers, the highs and lows, the trajectory her career has taken, and the interesting trends the entire sport is taking.
Be sure to follow @aliactionjackson to up your social media game.
Tejay van Garderen is one of the best cyclists America has ever produced. With stage wins in the Giro, the Tour de Suisse, Volta Catalunya, and plenty more, overall wins at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and the Tour of California, plus best young rider and 5th place (twice) at the Tour de France, Tejay's palmares are lengthy.
He's also a fascinating conversationalist, is knowledgeable about wine, introduced me to burrata, knows his NFL, is a father to two girls, and husband to Jessica.
Tejay has lots of knowledge and experience to share and we do so over this conversation.
Like, comment, share. Thanks for listening!
-Ted
This is one for the ages. Every guest on this podcast has the thread of the bicycle woven through their lives and Mike Cohen is no different. He's just had a much different life unfold than perhaps he was expecting as a 17 year old.
Mike is as upbeat as they come and as both a leukemia survivor and recipient of a heart transplant, he's got some very wild stories to tell. Mike is a cyclist, he now works in the industry from his home in San Diego, and among other adventures, he's ridden across the country. Twice.
If you want to watch this podcast, you can do so on YouTube or with this link: https://youtu.be/qOaW1ju1-18
Don't forget to join the 12 Days of DIYgravel between now and January 2, 2022: www.iamtedking.com/diygravel
You can follow Mike's adventures on his instagram: @MrMikeCohen or his website has all kinds of impressive material, www.mrmikecohen.com.
The world of professional cycling is full of characters and they don't get much more interesting than Mitch Docker. Between his many iterations of mullets and mustaches, he was a standout, but it's his hard work and talent that made him a stalwart member of the pro peloton.
This Australian made his way to Europe in 2006 to start his pro cycling career which has extended right up until the present, although Mitch is retiring from pro cycling here at the end of the 2021 season.
Mitch and Ted will talk shop about the state of cycling, the changes over the years, the good, the bad, and the ugly at the top echelon of cycling, being a parent in the pro ranks, plus plenty more.
Be sure to follow Mitch on social media, @MitchBowen, and definitely check out his podcast, Life in the Peloton.
Haley Batten stormed onto the professional scene in 2021. She earned a spot on the podium in her first ever World Cup race, won a short track World Cup soon thereafter, and had a red hot streak all through the rest of the calendar year. She is America's top finisher at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and she's just getting warmed up!
It's fun to catch up with Haley who you'll soon realize has one of the most energetic, curious personalities out there. She took a quick break from academia, where's she's studying at Quest University in British Columbia for this conversation. Enjoy!
Let's welcome back Dr. Kevin Sprouse!
It's no coincidence that the bigger issue topic Dr. Sprouse and Ted discuss here is recovery, as Ted is two weeks into healing from a surgically repaired elbow.
What all goes into repairing a broken bone? Why is sleep disrupted, why is sleep a hot sweaty mess (literally), why do resting heart rates skyrocket, what the heck is HRV, and how are they all tied together during injury? This duo will discuss these topics as well as the bigger picture of recovery with the perspective of athletic performance, independent of injury.
Whether you as a person or athlete has suffered an injury or not, this is a fascinating dive into absorbable information that will help improve your day to day performance.
With a trained background in Emergency and Sports Medicine, Dr. Sprouse is the team physician of EF Education First-Nippo as well as leading Podium Sports Medicine in Knoxville, TN.
Ted is very excited to announce his partnership with Ride with GPS. This is the only mapping software Ted uses, moreover, it's the only software he's used for the past ten years or more. It's terrifically simple and user friendly, but offers plenty of opportunity for a deeper dive into analytics, compare surface types on particular routes, and combine multiple routes into one with very simple editing tools among plenty of other features.
If you want to save 25% off either monthly or yearly subscriptions, just visit the link http://ridewithgps.com/dc/iamtedking
If you'd like to give WHOOP a try, just visit join.whoop.com/ted to get a brand new WHOOP 4.0 for free, that's a $30 savings.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle is one of America's best alpine skiers and on his day, he's one of the World's very best. Ryan is a Vermonter and learned to ski just down the road in at the community centric and petite Cochran Ski Area. He's a junior world champion in both the downhill and combined. He's steadily moved up the ranks, enjoying high highs and dealing with the lows that come with any professional sport. Ryan has speed in his genes; 2022 marks the 50th anniversary since his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won an Olympic gold medal in skiing.
Be sure to follow Ryan at @rc.s
Don't forget to try out WHOOP for free just by visiting join.whoop.com/ted
Buckle up folks, because this is a good'n!
Ashley and Jered Gruber are a husband and wife team of cycling photographers with a fascinating story to tell. Especially if you ask them! We sat down in Italy for this hour long conversation covering their genesis through the sport, the business model of photography, and the philosophy of how their work fits into the bigger picture among other things.
This being 2021, you can find them on instagram:
@JeredGuber - https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber @AshleyGruber - https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber
Sarah Sturm is a verb. She's a rider, a racer, a mentor, a coach, a happy bundle of energy. She's the inaugural 2021 Leadboat champion, then the very next week won the Last Best Ride in Whitefish, MT which is where this podcast was recorded just a few short hours after she won.
Covering all aspects of a busy race season, how she got into the sport, the development and direction of gravel, plus plenty of other hilarious tidbits this conversation doesn't quite cover it all, but it comes mighty darn close.
Follow Sarah on instagram at: @Sarah_Sturmy
Photo: @roszko
Congratulations to Emma Langley, the winner of the 2021 Rooted Vermont p/b UnTapped! Not a bad result for her third ever gravel race. She's picking the big ones as her team, Tibco-SVB, has seen her line up at Unbound, BWR, and now Rooted Vermont this year. We're thrilled to have hosted Emma and her teammates, plus ALL riders at the 2021 race.
Emma shares her perspective on the state of cycling. This neo-pro has a refreshing view of things as pro road racing comes out of a bit of a funk and now can dabble in some off-road events.
You can find and follow Emma on Instagram at @elangs1
Let the history books show, Roger Brown is an "Unbound 200 finisher"!
I don't know if anyone completed the 206 mile Unbound race on less training than Roger, but I sure don't know anyone who accomplished what he did on as little training as he did.
Roger Brown is my friend, a co-owner and co-founder of UnTapped, he's a pillar of the Richmond, Vermont community, father of four, and a man who's always on the go... to the next kids' practice. He somehow fit in the time to ride for and "train" for Unbound and has the stories to tell.
- Visit untapped.cc for information on saving 15% your next UnTapped purchase.
- Visit join.whoop.com/ted for $30 savings on your WHOOP.
If you're a fan of US cycling then Coryn Rivera is a household name. One of the most accomplished cyclists in the entire world, this Filipino-American racer, Coryn is a ferociously fast sprinter who now races for the UCI Women's WorldTour team, Team DSM.
This is one of the most fun interviews I've been part of as I play the second ever edition of Twenty Questions with Coryn. Enjoy!
To see the near crash where Coryn deftly doesn't hit the deck, follow THIS link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r398keDaCl0
For more from Coryn, find her website: CorynRivera.com Or on instagram: @CorynRivera
Lael Wilcox is one of the most accomplished ultra endurance cyclists in the world. From the Trans Am to Tour Divide, she knows how to cover massive distances in a speedy amount of time. But she's not hellbent on racing, her attitude and perspective offers a refreshing view on competition in the newest age of cycling. She's opening doors for people of all walks of life as she rides from her home state of Alaska all over the world.
Follow Lael's adventures at @LaelWilcox.
For obvious reasons, I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for my dad. But that line goes well beyond the literal. My dad was tremendously supportive throughout my upbringing and that includes during and after he suffered a stroke on March 23, 2003. Fast-forward to 2021 and dad has just returned home after a two month stay in a rehab hospital after suffering yet another brain injury.
Not fun, not good. But dad has a penchant for finding the good in a situation and this is no different. Part oral history, part just interesting conversation, please enjoy this episode with (the other) Ted King.
For more about the Krempels Center visit www.krempelscenter.org
For more about the King Challenge visit www.kingchallenge.org
Professional cyclist Ben King has had a lot on his plate lately. With the birth of his first child last fall, this stalwart of American cycling with twelve years in the professional ranks, still didn't know if he would have a contract for 2021. Covid threw everything up in the air of the already wild schedule for a World Tour cyclist, and no one knew where it was going to land.
But Ben is back in Italy with his wife Jenna and baby Luca and the timing is absolutely bananas. That's professional cycling in a nutshell.
Saddle up with these two Kings (and special guests Jenna and Luca!) as they chat life, parenthood, bike racing and training stories, and much more.
This episode is supported CushCore. Leading the way in tire inserts, you'll be provided better cornering, more speed, a more supple feel, and an all around better ride. For more about CushCore check out CushCore.com and definitely use the code KingCush21 at checkout!
Jack Thompson rides more in a week than most cyclists will do in a year. In fact, with the nickname "Ultra Cyclist", Jack holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of most distanced ridden in one week at 3500km! That's just the tip of the iceberg for Jack. Another unfathomable feat is that he's done three KOMs in three consecutive days in three different countries or the Taiwan KOM Challenge, four consecutive times in a row. But Jack is far more than just an ultra distance bike rider. His battle with mental health issues has sent him to a drug addiction and rehab and it has forced him onto his bike. Jack is chock full of stories and this conversation helps get the notion across that #itsoknottobeok. Follow Jack on instagram at www.instagram.com/jackultracyclist And be sure to check out his recent video documenting his Guinness record setting ride.
Your Guide for a Great Winter Ride!
This is a special one, welcome to King of the Ride podcast. Here we have return guest/sometimes-co-host Laura King and Ted talk about how to optimize your cold weather riding. You asked, we answered. After more than 1000 questions came pouring in, Laura and I summarized them and answer them today in this podcast.
Here in Vermont, where the sun rises at lunchtime and sets a few minutes later, we need to make the most of our riding window and that takes lots of hardware, software, and just the right equipment.
Here are some products mentioned in this podcast:
Velocio is the only clothing we use. From stifling hot to frigid cold, there is NO better clothing out there.
Alternating piping hot Ginger Mapleaid and Lemon Tea Mapleaid from UnTapped in a vacuum bottle is a definite.
Bar Mitts are our dropbar bike hand covering of choice, now with Extreme Cold models.
45NRTH is our go-to for winter riding boots. Their Ragnarok are good MTB shoes for the slush and their Wolfgar are great in the deep frozen tundra. We also use their Cobrafist for arctic riding on a flat bar bike.
Planet Bike SpeedEZ are the fenders currently on my bike.
SKS Xtra Dry fender is currently on Laura's bike.
Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge tires when I need some tread. Otherwise their Barlow Pass or Snoqualmie Pass are totally fine -- wide and supple.
45NRTH Dillinger 5 are 5" studded tires for fat biking.
More questions? Send them to @iamtedking or @lauracameronking.
In the world of ultra long distance cycling events, Jay Petervary has likely done the race, won the race, or set the course record. A pioneer in ultra endurance cycling in all facets of two wheels -- from gravel biking to mountain biking to an early foray in road cycling -- Jay knows how to cover massive distances in a short period of time.
Looking back on the strange year that 2020 was, Jay and Ted discuss the direction both bikepacking and bikepack racing are going, his philosophies on each, his traditional perspective as one of the originals of bike packing, as well as a dive into his experiences in the wild frigid outback for his series of events around Fat Pursuit.
You can find Jay at @jay_petervary on instagram.
This is a very special episode as Laura King takes the mic and hosts our guest, Ted. Fielding questions submitted by you about the grueling 1,020 mile, self-supported Arkansas High Country Race that took place in late October and into November.
Ted set the FKT (fastest known time) just a hair under 5 days in this nonstop affair. Sit down and enjoy this conversation to hear how he prepared for the gnarliest single event he's ever been part of.
Arkansas High Country Official Site: here.
Back by popular demand, my wife Laura King is a guest on today's show! We last caught up with Laura on episode 55 in early March when she was less than one week away from giving birth. So what are the first six month of motherhood like with little baby Hazel? Better yet, what's life like when we three Kings pack into a Sprinter van and hit the road for two months?! Listening to this podcast will help paint the picture into all of that and much much more.
Bonus info:
To learn all about our van life trip, Laura created this handy link HERE.
To support to my King Challenge fundraising ride -- and help me ride some absurd distance -- you can follow THIS link.
To learn all about the King Challenge, just head to KingChallenge.org.
And for all your DIYgravel needs, go HERE.
The list of accolades awarded to skiers doesn't get much more impressive than those belonging to Chris Davenport. Two-time world champion, X-Games medalist, Chris set an FKT on all of Colorado's 14ers and then all of Colorado's tallest 100 peaks. He's been in more than thirty ski movies by Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller, he's a commentator for ESPN, ABC, and Outside Television, plus he's pretty handy on a bike.
Ted caught up with Chris in his hometown of Snowmass, Colorado where this conversation took place in Chris's garage which is like a living museum of cool outdoor toys.
He's philanthropic with his time, as we'll discuss today, and is a husband as well as father of three terrific boys.
For more about Chris, visit www.chrisdavenport.com or on instagram, @SteepSkiing
Chances are good that if you listen to this podcast, you know Payson McElveen or know of Payson McElveen. Professional mountain biker, professional gravelisto, media maven, fashion guru, collector of shoes, podcaster, Payson knows how to stay busy.
With a quick visit to Durango on the cross-country trip for the Kings, they visited Payson and his girlfriend Nichole for a thorough high altitude fun weekend, whereupon Payson and Ted sat down to follow up on their first back-and-forth podcast with each other. This is purely getting to the knitty gritty of Payson's upbringing and what's brought him to where he is now on two wheels and otherwise.
Bonus offer for you:
I trust you've heard of WHOOP. Want a WHOOP for free? Just follow this link and you'll be on your way: https://glnk.io/ovrz/tedking
Jess Cerra is a professional cyclist with a handful of other feathers in her cap (...or helmet). A published, professional chef and entrepreneur as the owner of JoJé Bars, Jess has raced at the highest level of women's cycling and recently made the transition to gravel.
During the King family trip across the country, we visited Whitefish, MT for a trip to Jess's hometown where she showed us around the gravel scene in and around Glacier National Park.
That was stunning. This conversation is stunning. Jess has hilarious and heart-wrenching stories of what it takes to ride a bike for a living.
Welcome to gravel! Angela Naeth's story is one of tenacity and fulfillment. With high highs and difficult lows, she shares her fascinating trajectory through the sport of triathlon which coincidentally has her lining up for the SugarCane 200 in January 2020. With health now on her side, Angela is at a point where she's writing the script to her story rather than having it written for her. 2020 is wide open for possibility and that allows more gravel in her travel. Despite the global pandemic that we find ourselves in, despite not knowing about this pandemic when this conversation was recorded, Angela's positivity is almost tangible.
Find more about Angela at AngelaNaeth.com
Read about IRaceLikeAGirl at iracelikeagirl.com
And follow along #DIYgravel at iamtedking.com/diygravel
On a pleasant Friday afternoon in early May, Geoff and Ted cracked into bottles of Chimay beer, raised a glass, and sipped and chatted... from across a computer screen and across the country.
At his US home in Truckee, CA, Geoff Kabush tells tales that are quite frankly of legend -- and that legend spans more than two decades of professional cycling. From his time at three Olympic games, to how it came to be that he went head to head against Yao Ming in 2008 in Beijing to how he came about with this legendary Coach K cyclocross training techniques, we'll discuss a crazy ride at the Tour of Cuba, his time of Jittery Joes in a US Postal/Discovery Channel era at the Tour of Georgia, where the Dopers Suck campaign came from, chat about his brief but successful running career, who his heroes are from cycling, and much more.
Be sure to check out the YouTube video to see the amazing and hilarious anecdotes from this show: https://youtu.be/UzFUveyGZSU
Join the #DIYgravel revolution at www.iamtedking.com/diygravel
Holy moly, where does time go? Welcome to episode number 60 of King of the Ride podcast. And welcome a very special guest, professional mountain biker, 2x Olympian, Lea Davison!
Lea is a Vermont native from Jericho, the very next town over from where Ted lives now. She's a perpetual body in motion, having ran in college, skied division 1 in college, earned a degree in college and then segued all of that into a professional mountain bike career. With podiums at two world championships, Lea is still in the hunt for an olympic spot at the now very derailled 2020 games.
Forever the optimist, this round three of the 19-Questions series jumps all around Lea's past, present, and future, and you'll hear that bright shining happiness that helps fuel every ride she's on. Please enjoy the show!
(Standby, we're still working on the video upload. Meanwhile...)
Lea's amazing organization, Little Bellas: www.littlebellas.com
Lea on instagram: @leaeatsalot
DIYgravel: www.iamtedking.com/diygravel
In the latest round of covid 19-Questions, Ted and Toms are sitting in Vermont and Girona, respectively, catching up on what it's like from the perspective of a World Tour rider operating through coronavirus.
Toms Skujins is known for his affinity for potatoes, for winning heroic stages of Tour of California, and for proudly wearing the KOM jersey in the Tour de France. This conversation ranges from how he got into cycling in Latvia, how he's holding up all cooped up in Spain, how he foresees the rest of the year panning out, what an authentic multi-day Latvian wedding is like, and much much more.
To WATCH this podcast in enhanced video version, click and enjoy here.
Rebecca Rusch's accolades put her in a league of her own. This seven time world champion is back from a harrowing Iditarod Trail Invitational with stories to tell! This is a self-supported 350 mile race across the Alaskan wilderness in the heart of winter.
This is the second of the covid... 19-Questions series and this one especially is greatly enhanced with a video component. If you have the ability to watch this podcast as a video cast, just head to this link for a colorful conversation.
Big thanks to SRAM for the continued support, here on the podcast and life in general. For all things SRAM simply visit www.SRAM.com
Contemporary times call for a little restructuring, so amid coronavirus the King of the Ride podcast is introducing a new series featuring 19 hard hitting questions aptly titled The covid... 19-QUESTIONS! Will we get to all the questions? Only time (and listening) will tell.
Tim is back with his second appearance on King of the Ride, with 50 episodes spanning the time between visits. Zoom back to episode 7 for his first time on air. Staying above it all in Canada, Tim is safe and sound as he catches up with Ted at a safe, socially distanced 87 miles away.
If you want the video format, go no further than HERE.
As promised in this episode, here are the Coronavirus Distractions as recommended to help bide your time. The
- Geoff Kabush Push-Up Challenge: https://youtu.be/0yQZhJx_mZQ
- Better yet, Geoff Kabush and Yao Ming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk40YN1q4eU
-
RondeTreasures: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23rondetreasures
- Brandon Semenuk’s one shot super rad MTB video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ud5T5I4XcA
- Tim's suggested twitter accounts: @atrupar and @sarahkenzidor
- Ted recommends The Rider by Tim Krabbe
- Ghislain Lambert’s Bicycle: https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/ghislain-lambert-s-bicycle-1200553254/amp/
- And we don’t talk about it, but this is pure gold from vintage Tim Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTyRqFzdiII
- Be sure to check out all things Cannondale #Channel71
Veteran pro, Laurens Ted Dam raced professionally from 2003 through 2019 for the likes of Rabobank, Lotto Jumbo, Sunweb, and CCC. But unlike many of his European professional cyclist counterparts, he's so full of energy, he wears his two young boys out!
Now retired from the World Tour, Laurens and Ted catch up on all things that are part of the LTD lifestyle, which is "Live Slow Ride Fast". This budding entrepreneur has a coffee line, clothing line, host two gravel events, has a podcast, video series, and is the Dutch editor of Bicycling Magazine.
Over a couple of tasty beers part way through the Coast Ride in January, Laurens and Ted chat shop, the state of pro cycling, gravel racing, van life, and everything in between.
Check out UnTapped.cc for all your sports nutrition needs and in checkout, list your favorite shop so that we'll send a check for 20% of your sale price!
My better half, Laura King, is someone I mention often on this show. So it's probably no surprise that I've received a lot of suggestions that we should have her on the show! Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, Laura King to the King of the Ride podcast.
This episode covers Laura's background, where she found her athletic drive and general tenacity that sparks her every day. It explores how she ended up in California and then how she's made the transition to the polar opposite part of the country now in Vermont. We'll discuss where the idea to create Rooted Vermont came from, the never ending job that it is to be an event director, and how it's all gone amid her pregnancy.
Laura's insight has been sought out by pregnant people world wide as she tackles a job, athletics, and being pregnant. Here is a recent Velonews article that's been widely read and something she penned for ProKit.
Follow Laura's adventures in life on instagram at LauraCameronKing and of course follow the adventure we have going on at Rooted Vermont.
Meet Ashton. A two-time world record holder, once up a time the speediest man across Kansas, a Nebraskan by birth and world traveler by past time, Ashton Lambie carries the title bestowed upon him as The Most Interesting Cyclist in America quite well. Ted and Ashton once upon a time raced their first Dirty Kanzas against each other and this podcast took place on the eve of another great one, the Oklahoma Gravel Growler. The The World's Most Interesting Man drinks Dos Equis beer. What does Ashton drink? Guess you'll just have to listen in and find out... Don't forget to check out Ashton on instagram: www.instagram.com/bahamalongbottom And thanks very much to Laura for the great info on the east and west coast women's retreats. For more info there, visit: https://www.advancingathletes.org/clinics
In his prime, Rahsaan Bahati was one of the fastest cyclist in America. Rahsaan’s entry into cycling is far from typical having grown up in Compton, California. Successful from very early on, this conversation covers his early days through the present, a time period where he celebrates the number ten quite well: the ten-time national champion with collegiate, road, and track titles is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of the organization he started, The Bahati Foundation, this year. Designed to inspire, empower, impact and transcend young people's lives, you can check them out at www.BahatiFoundation.org. Now as the Social Impact Manager at Zwift, Rahsaan finds himself in a role that speaks to that passion -- empowering people through the bike. The sport of cycling is certainly not lacking in the demographic of middle aged white guys. Take a dive into this conversation with Rahsaan who’s a person of color in a sport that is not necessarily welcoming to minorities, young people, women, and people without economic means. It’s an interesting peek into a perspective not often seen. I mentioned my 2020 calendar in the intro and here it is: www.iamtedking.com/schedule
If Ted could just get slightly more curly hair, when he throws on some ROKA aviators he and Jesse could be twins. Jesse is a Stanford graduate turned Red Bull sponsored professional Ironman triathlete turned owner/operator of Picky Bars. His story of getting to the big leagues involves a broken neck among other crazy anecdotes. And yes, Jesse took fastest known time in the dinosaur costume 5k at The Running Event in early December 2019. This podcast is a great one and we know you'll enjoy it! If you enjoy this podcast, please take a quick minute to leave a review. 5-star reviews are appreciated! And we highly encourage you to take a quick minute to visit www.MTBAfghanistan.org
Kimo Seymour is the President of Events and Media at Life Time. Perhaps it's because of his soft spoken and easy demeanor, Kimo seems to operate in the "speak softly and carry a big stick" school of leadership. As you have likely noticed in the cycling world and especially the gravel scene, Life Time is becoming a household name and Kimo is at the helm as this happens. Ted and Kimo sat down during the launch of Life Time's first event they've created in the gravel world, Big Sugar, to see what the plan is here and going forward to keep gravel cycling as cool as can be! Sit back and enjoy the show.
When João writes a memoir, I'll be the first in line to buy it. Sit down and enjoy this conversation with João and Ted as he unwinds a story from being an illegal immigrant to elite cyclist to the international publishing world back to the World Tour and to a handful of booming entrepreneurial endeavors in between. João's memory is a lobster trap -- he's got stories to tell! The good, the bad, and the ugly. Huge thanks go out to all my sponsors who make this ride possible: Cannondale, SRAM, Zipp, ROKA, Velocio, Rene Herse, Saris, and of course inGamba!
What's a professional soigneur do? Do they rub legs and make small sandwiches? Do they spend thousands of hours driving across continents? Do they stand on the side of the road in France in July and get into arguments with police officers? Yes, they do this and so so much more! Welcome to the first King of the Ride episode with three guests simultaneously. On the eve of the Grand Prix Quebec City this September, Ted sat down with three soigneurs from the Education First pro cycling team. These three, Jon, Al, and Soso, are three of the best "swannies" out there who Ted had the privilege to work with in his racing days. Sit down for a crack up of a conversation and learn a thing or two about the behind the scenes of a pro cycling team.
This was a long time coming! Payson and Ted are not long lost brothers, but they share a boatload of traits in common. Originally a Texas boy, Payson and Ted met up at the behind the scenes Big Sugar in their shakeout event before the inaugural ride in 2020. Now residing in mountain bike mecca, Durango, Colorado, Payson is a professional cross country mountain biker with a particular knack for marathon races, as he's a 2x national champion in that discipline. So "riding bikes off road for long periods of time" is definitely his area of expertise, making gravel racing a particularly good format for him. Yup, he's a ripper! Unsure if Ted would interview Payson or Payson interview Ted, this podcasts takes an interesting turn when they interview each other. Covering the topics of modern media, naturally they delve into the conversation of podcasts, van life, and the politics of contemporary gravel racing, this hardly scratches the surface of what the two of these guys can dig up. Don't forget to hit up www.SugarCane200.com for some early season fun in Florida!
Edward Hult is a cycling enthusiast. He’s also a big reason that EF Education First came on board to the UCI World Tour and beyond. As the CEO of EF North America, Edward and his brother made the decision to not just sponsor the team, but purchase the team outright. This conversation talks about the politics and geopolitics of sports, how and why cycling hit their radar, the highs and lows of owning a professional cycling team. Ted (an Edward himself) and Edward Hult caught up on the eve of The Rift gravel race in Iceland to talk about cycling, gravel cycling, and all things on two-wheels. As mentioned in the intro: -- Check out all the cool work by Farid at www.mtbafghanistan.org -- A Pinkbike article: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-biking-picks-up-steam-in-afghanistan.html -- And a video wrapping up what they did at the Hindukish Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=563716514141393 A huge thanks to The Feed for supporting this episode! Head over to www.thefeed.com/king to save 15% on a box curated by yours truly or use the code KING10 to save 10% on everything else storewide.
Kate Courtney backs up her first podcast on King of the Ride with yet another stunner! On the underslept and overserved day after Grinduro, Kate found some time to catch up with Ted to talk shop. And while the first show was riveting, this one goes much deeper into her motivation, her drive, her team, her goals, her entire psyche and what makes her tick. Kate is as eloquent as she is screaming fast on the bike. Let's remember Kate won her UCI World Champion title and went on the pod in 2018. She clinched the UCI World Cup title just before being on the podcast in 2019. Coincidence? We don't think so. Shout out to some awesome events on the horizon: Registration opening for Rooted Vermont on November 1: www.RootedVermont.com inGamba's January trip: https://ingamba.pro/trips/the-coast-ride-2020 *January's 200 mile gravel spectacular: www.SugarCane200.com
On the recent heels of winning her seventh World Cup cyclocross victory (we think) in Madison, WI, Katerina Nash zipped out to Grinduro for a fun weekend playing around on the gravel whip. Kat is also one of very few people to win both World Cup cyclocross and World Cup mountain bike races, she dabbles in enduro mountain bike races, she consistently wins the brutally difficult BC Bike Race stage race, and just like this weekend of chatting, she puts a handful of gravel races into her schedule too. Perpetually smiling, always upbeat, and ready to take on any challenge on two wheels, this conversation opens up a lot about Katerina that we think you haven't heard before. Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Katerina Nash took to nordic skiing as a young girl and turned that into a career spanning two sports and taking her to five Olympic games! If you haven't seen Kat's heroics in Madison, which we reference in this podcast, I highly recommend watching the highlights of this foolishly muddy race here: http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/41942 Image credit: @cxhairs -- www.instagram.com/cxhairs
Mike Woods' is a bike racer, but Mike Woods is a storyteller! You probably know the traditional stuff -- he ran, he ran fast, he got tired of running, and became a Tour de France cyclists -- but there's so much more to learn about Mike. On the eve of his hometown World Tour races, Grand Prix Quebec City and Montreal, Ted and Mike sit down for a chat about bikes, world travel, and life beyond the peloton. After a podium finish at the 2018 World Championships Mike is building some great form going into the 2019 championship race in England. Please enjoy this conversation with Mike Woods.
Brent Bookwalter stands strong as America's longest running World Tour professional cyclist. Not just along for the ride, Brent has won UCI races, was second to Bradley Wiggins in the opening stage of the Giro, and even helped Cadel Evans win the 2011 Tour de France. Longtime friends, Brent and Ted have had careers run in tandem to each other. Teammates on the US national team, teammates on domestic pro teams, they migrated to Europe together, and even lived together in their early time racing abroad. On the eve of the Gran Prix Cycliste Quebec City, the two had the chance to catch up and chat all things under the sun, largely reflecting on a stalwart career at the highest echelon of the sport. The episode is presented by UnTapped. Pay them a visit at www.untapped.cc and use code king at checkout for some sweet savings.
On the eve of The Rift gravel race in Iceland, Colin Strickland and Ted sit down to a frosty beer and lively conversation. Covering the obvious topics like how Colin got into cycling, the convo veers to topics like his environmental studies major, on-air taste testing Icelandic fish jerky, and what it's like managing the first professional gravel cycling team. Colin is a scholar and this conversation is a great one. Colin comes from the fixed gear racing world and has segued those lightning fast criterium laps to a win at the 2019 Dirty Kanza 200. This podcast is presented by The Feed. For a personally curated box by Ted, featuring the nutrition he reaches for every day with a 15% savings visit www.thefeed.com/king or simply use the code king10 for 10% off everything else storewide. Upcoming events as Ted talks about early in the pod: September 21: www.PeachamFallFondo.com October 13: www.unPAvedPennsylvania.com October 19: www.KingChallenge.org If you'd like to support my King Challenge ride, you can do so here: https://www.pledgereg.com/229373
A stalwart member of the professional women's peloton, Tiffany Cromwell brings fun loving wit to the pro ranks as well as to this episode of King of the Ride. Tiffany and Ted catch up on the eve of this summer's SBTGRVL which is also on the early side of the Colorado Classic UCI women's stage race. This conversation ranges from her entry to the sport to how Tiffany sees easy and obvious changes being enacted to improve all aspects of cycling as well as to the female side. Tiffany sheds light on what it's like living in Monaco, her culinary travel tips, how her interest in fashion came about, her aspirations to this year's world championships and making the 2020 Olympic team. Check out www.thefeed.com/king to see a personally curated box with 15% savings -- complete with the finest suite of products from UnTapped as well as some special other ones. Also just visit www.thefeed.com and use code king10 for a quick 10% savings on your next order!
There isn't much to be said about Rebecca Rusch that hasn't been mentioned before. 4x Leadville champion, 4x Dirty Kanza 200 winner, 3x 24 hour mountain bike world champion, recent winner of the Alaskan Iditarod Trail Invitational, and an inductee into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Rebecca Rusch is a champion. Rebecca is also an advocate for youth cycling, empowerment through cycling, and spearheaded the biggest chapter in her life by riding the Ho Chi Mihn Trail via bike in search of her father's resting site, as documented in the Emmy Award winning film, Blood Road. For more on this film see www.bloodroadfilm.com. On the eve of Rebecca's 10 year anniversary of winning her first Leadville 100 mile mountain bike race, she and Ted caught up high up in the Rocky Mountains, 10,152' above sea level.
Leah Thorvilson's jump to the World Tour was "like learning to walk at the age of 38". Leah segued a world class running career to professional cycling in one of the more unconventional ways -- she beat out 1200 other women on Zwift Academy to earn her spot on the mighty Canyon-SRAM team. Leah's energy is real. Her drive, her ever smiling demeanor, her friendliness and ferocity all helped her land that spot and earn a second year contract extension. Now dabbling in the gravel scene, Leah and Ted caught up after Rooted Vermont, Ted and Laura King's inaugural gravel event! Stay tuned to www.rootedvermont.com for news about the 2020 event. Please keep those comments and reviews, 5-stars of course preferred, coming! Send your questions or comments to @iamtedking. Now please enjoy this awesome conversation with Leah!
Matt Accarrino somehow finds time in the day to not just train, but trains hard enough to be fast on a bike, amid a professional career as a Michelin starred chef at SPQR in San Francisco. Earning one star is hard; earning eight is exceptional. Ted and Matt caught up at Mill District this spring in Healdsburg (www.milldistricthealdsburg.com) to chat life, cycling, where Matt finds balance, how he fits it all in, and where he’s going on this wild ride. This episode is presented by Splats Sunscreen. Use code KING at www.splatssunscreen.com for 20% savings.
Ian Boswell is one of America's best professional cyclists. This recent Vermont transplant takes his profession seriously as much as he takes his Vermonting seriously. From driving his tractor in his hometown parade to taking down XXL maple creemees, in today’s King of the Ride podcast Ian sheds light on his philosophy to training and racing, who his mentors have been in his career, the benefits of marginal gains, and the benefits of just setting out on a gravel bike for a rip around small town Peacham, Vermont. Ted and Ian found some time on the tail end of tourXnewengland to catch up, share stores, and discuss what it's like coming back from injury to professional cycling. Definitely check out Ian and his wife Gretchen's ride, www.PeachamFallFondo.com this September 21, 2019.
Winning an Olympic Gold Medal in her final Olympics might be the most interesting thing about Kikkan Randall. But, after listening to this conversation, you'll hear why it also might not be. Kikkan is an incredibly insightful, thoughtful, well spoken, ambassador to xc-skiing as much as she is an ambassador to motherhood amid an Olympic career. She's a cancer survivor, wife, friend, and at least seventeen hundred other descriptors you'll pick up on today's pod; suffice it to say that Kikkan is a rockstar. Please enjoy this conversation that touches on the highlights, the low moments, the comebacks from injury, the importance and perspective of family, her ability to process and see this whole sport and life as an interesting process. Also, please spend five minutes and check out How the Race Was Won: https://vimeo.com/257323813 And when you're done there, visit her It's Going to be Okay socks store: https://shop.kikkan.com/collections/socks And all things Kikkan Randall, www.kikkan.com
Speak softly and carry a big stick. Eric Marcotte is a soft spoken monster of cyclist. Entering road racing later than most, he rose to become a two-time winner of US professional national titles. With an atypical background into the sport comes an interesting philosophy on the sport and life in general. Eric and Ted caught up after the 2019 Dirty Kanza in Emporia, KS to chat all things cycling, life, recovering from a massive accident, and nine hour hikes deep in the desert. This episode is presented by Splats Sunscreen. Visit www.splatssunscreen.com and use code KING at checkout for 20% savings!
The day after Dirty Kanza is a bit of a blur. It’s a page out of “The Hangover” where, with bleary eyes and foggy memory you ask, Wait... did that just happen? Well, it did and In whats becoming a DK tradition, Ted sits down with Dirty Kanza Promotions co-owner LeLan Dains to talk all things DK. This episode is enhanced by a friendly competition unbeknownst to Ted as he is challenged ON THE SPOT to a maple syrup chugging competition. Complete with video, you don’t want to miss this 2,000 calorie showdown:
https://youtu.be/cXURaqmSnfQ
This episode is presented by the best sponsors in the business! Cannondale, SRAM, Zipp, ROKA, Velocio, Rene Herse, and inGamba. UnTapped deserves fair mention here too but Ted co-founded the company so that’s less a sponsor and more an amazing all-natural energy fuel company.
Pete Stetina is a stalwart American professional cyclist. A billygoat of a climber, this Californian returned home from Liege Bastogne Liege and went straight into the Belgian Waffle Ride on Cinco de Mayo. Former colleagues out on the road, Ted and Pete caught up with one another to talk the strategics and logistics that make gravel a possibility amid a World Tour schedule. Check out the YouTube video of all the BWR action here: https://youtu.be/3gebox-sdQ0 Check out RootedVermont.com, especially on June 3 at 10am EST as the final 100 spots will become available. And a huge thanks goes out to Splats Sunscreen for supporting this podcast. Head to www.splatssunscreen.com and use code KING at checkout for a whopping 20% savings.
Dan from Nam is one of the most polite, diplomatic, energetic, positive forces in profession cycling -- not to mention he’s a two time Olympian. Amid a hectic two weeks at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Next Step program, Ted and Dan sat down and instituted their own happy hour to make this podcast a reality. This duo shares a variety of similarities in life which they tap into on today’s pod. From studying economics to joining professional cycling later in life to having a penchant for the entrepreneurial side of life with budding businesses and literally being born just one day apart, these two are like long lost twins. This conversation explores Dan’s rise through professional cycling, how he made the leap from Namibia to the World Tour, the fluid and fascinating state of gravel, plus his upstart company, Pangolin, and much more. This podcast is presented by iKOR. iKOR provides the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.
The best "studio" for a podcast recording yet: plowing through the late spring snow in Peter Voller's Land Rover! This King of the Ride conversation takes place while laying the trail for the 2019 VOMAR -- Vermont Overland Maple Adventure Ride. Leading a team of 6 through the rugged Vermont wilderness, Peter plows a path and takes Ted on an adventure unlike any other previous recording. With stories of early road racing, Peter's rise through the ranks and earning a national road race title, his foray into coaching and ultimately where he realizes that hosting an event will have a greater reach to preach the great word that is cycling to the masses, the Vermont Overland was born. One of this country's best gravel events and hands down one of the best house parties of the entire year, Vermont Overland should live on your calendar. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. You can experience meaningful improvements in your well-being through small lifestyle changes, which is why I appreciate the benefits of sleep, relaxation, and mindfulness. Head over to www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using the code kingoftheride.
Bobby Wintle is the owner, operator, and chief mastermind behind the Land Run 100. A Kansas native, Bobby wasn't part of cycling nor retail when he decided to move to a new state and open a bike shop. Bold. Now operating District Bicycles, a stunning shop in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he juggles District and Land Run amid a life full of family, fun, and gravel riding. Bobby and Ted tried to find time to chat at Land Run itself, but time was fleeting so the two of them caught up for this podcast over the phone, a first for King of the Ride, exploring the community Bobby has built. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. This is the highest quality, most effective hemp extract product available both iKOR and I want to help you try a bottle. Head on over to ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.
”Ted King killed my ride. That’s going to be the name of this podcast.” When the world of Gravel Cycling creates a Hall of Fame, Kristi Mohn will be among the first inductees. She's help boost Dirty Kanza from just double digit entries to well over 3,000 -- including the ectremelu popular 200 women, 200 miles campaign. Kristi lives life at a million miles per hour and in with the gravel season underway here in 2019, we talk about growing up in Emporia, Kansas, her world travels from there, we examine the state of bicycle retail with the shop she and he husband Tim own, plus 1,000 other things. Kristi is a great friend and exudes a love for life (and bikes). She was kind to take time in her pre LandRun100 preparation to sit down and talk in the Mohn Mobile. With all this talk of gravel, don't forget to head to www.RootedVermont.com! Entry spots are going fast for the first gravel event hosted by Ted and Laura King, so you don't want to miss out on this inaugural event taking place in Richmond, Vermont on August 4! A big thanks goes out to iKOR for presenting this episode. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. Their mission is to provide the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.
Switching things up today! Ted King plays guest on today’s episode as Jim Merithew, creative director of inGamba Tours, interviews our typical host. Taking an arch through the history of Ted’s... entire life, including stealing the family’s minivan for a little hit-and-run, how gosh darn friendly Ted’s mother is, his take on aero bars and more, this will help flesh out details of what makes Ted tick. This episode is presented by Strava. Please be sure to check out their new podcast, “Athletes Unfiltered” on all podcast stations or at blog.strava.com/podcast
The second in a two part series, Ted and the crew from the James Bay Descent chat after surviving their 10 day, 638km/396mile ride south along Canada's frozen James Bay. Braving temperatures as low as -40, blizzard white outs, and riding through polar bear country, they're back! Was this trip crazy? Ted thinks it's a bit out there. What's the rest of the team think? Guess you'll just have to wait and see! Check out the hard work of the James Bay Descent team who have raised more than $7500 for the Timmins Native Friendship Centre. See their progress here: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center This King of the Ride episode is brought to you by Strava. In particular, we encourage you to check out their new podcast, Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring stories of good people, just like you doing extraordinary things on their bikes, feet, or in their community. Simply visit podcast.strava.com for more.
The first in a two part series about the record setting James Bay Descent fat bike expedition through northern Canada, Ted sits down to talk with the rest of the team, Eric Batty, Ryan Atkins, and Buck Miller. This ride is a 600+km, ten day, self-supported ride from Attawapiskat in Ontario, to the Nunavut Territory in the James Bay, then south to Smooth Rock Falls. Weathering temperatures as low as -40 degrees C/F and pedaling through polar bears country, this ride has its risks. Today's episode is a precursor to how the team will tackle such an intrepid and out-there adventure. This episode was recorded the day they set out for two days of literally, "bike practice" to see what it's like to wield these 85-100 pound bikes and in temperatures well below zero up in the Adirondacks in New York. The ride was possible with the gracious thanks to Cannondale Fat CAAD bikes, Blackburn's Outpost line up of bags for the frame/handlebar/saddle bags, 45NRTH's Cobrafist pogeys and Wolfgar boots, Timmermade sleeping systems, Kombi's mittens and wool long underwear, a mountain of maple fuel thanks to UnTapped. Please check out the fundraising component of this ride, the beneficiary being the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Moosonee Office: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center A big thanks goes out to Strava for presenting this episode! Specifically, be sure to look up their new podcast Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring normal athletes, good, inspiring people, daring enough to share their journey day after day. If you like King of the Ride, you'll dig Athletes Unfiltered.
David Swain’s introduction to cycling was riding backwards on a banana seated bicycle to impress girls and it ultimately landed him as the Director of Communications at both Facebook and Instagram. David’s time in Silicon Valley is extensive, but it was in Napa Valley that Ted and David met for the first time, naturally on the bike. They chatted a bit then, and it was when David reached out to Ted about a podcast that the two of them caught up quite a bit more much more recently. Talking start ups and tech, the athletic vibe that’s rampant in the Valley, plus how to launch a bike into a lake to make the most of your summers, this podcast really has it all! This episode is presented by Strava. Visit strava.com/summit and use code "king" for one month free of Strava’s Summit Features. You can use live data, personalized heats maps, Summit perks including discounts from brands and particular products to help you make yourself go further, faster, better!
Sarah True and Ted braved some wicked tough elements to meet up and make this podcast a reality, and the result is well worth it. The two sit down for a lively podcast in a coffee shop/cafe/beer establishment, where they talk about Sarah’s Olympic career, her recent successful segue from ITU to Ironman, all the nuances in and around training from a New England homebase, plus entrepreneurial start-ups in her Linden and True Coffee company and plenty, plenty more. This episode is presented by Strava. To try out the Summit Features free for one month, visit www.strava.com/summit and use code “king”.
Alex Howes is a long time member of the Slipstream program, beginning his time on the development program, U23 team, and of course a long time member of the pro team. Alex and Ted were teammates in 2015, went toe-to-toe at Leadville the following year, and catch up in this episode with the lively banter found in a round of 20 Questions.
This episode is presented by Strava. Try out their incredibly helpful and insightful Summit features by visiting www.strava.com/summit and use code: "king" at checkout.
Going from making his own almond and peanut butters in his kitchen to borrowing $75k from his roommates' parents and ultimately now being found in virtually every grocery store across the country, Justin's is the modern day entrepreneurial success story. Justin's didn't succeed on dumb luck and a tasty product; he's a scrappy, tenacious, dogged hard worker with a love for the outdoors and mountain biking that it was only a matter of time before he and Ted crossed paths!
Already America's mountain biking sweetheart, Kate Courtney took the world of mountain biking by storm by taking the title at this year's World Championships. Just 22 years old and with a penchant for waffles and inspiring the next generation of cyclists -- while clearly kicking butt herself -- Kate is a bright, shining, smiling force to be reckoned with for a long time to come.
Despite Joe’s young age and being a bit later than some to the sport, he’s already had a storied career. Joe is one of the more thoughtful cyclist out there, so between chatter of winning the Baby Giro, his issues with iliac artery endofibrosis, the nuances of a fine Belgian beer, and lots more, there’s plenty about this conversation that you’ll enjoy.
Dr. Kevin Sprouse is one of the more interesting folks on the WorldTour. Lead team physician for EF Education First Drapac powered by Cannondale, Ted and Kevin go deep on this podcast, talking about cycling but much much much more beyond the two wheeled circus. This hour is definite one of the best King of the Ride pods.
Our first female guest, acclaimed sports journalist Bonnie Ford and Ted sit down in a park in beautiful Quebec City, amid the namesake UCI race, Grand Prix Quebec City, to catch up on life and cycling, then delve much deeper into the disparity between sexes in sports, sports journalism, and much more.
If you watched this year’s Tour de France, then undoubtedly you saw a whole lot of Lawson Craddock. He hung out at the back of the peloton for the entire first half of the race as he was reeling from a broken scapula suffered on stage one. If you know anything about me, you may remember I did the same thing on stage one of my first Tour de France. How he soldiered through July and what Lawson did afterwards to bring positivity to cycling and especially his local Texan community as outstanding.
Cycling meets How I Built This podcast, today’s guest loves bikes, is a spunky lifelong entrepreneur, and co-owns the smashingly successful Greek frozen yogurt company, Yasso. Ted sits down with Drew Harrington and talk shop after another outstanding summer ride through the mountains of Vermont.
Journalist, writer, unintended comic, Jason Gay is a sports columnist and editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal. You don't crack into the WSJ and expect a chuckle unless you're reading something penned by Jason. Ted visited the Big Apple and the two of them sat down in an actual sound studio for the most crisp and lively of podcasts covering topics on two wheels and many more outside of cycling.
Scott Speed is one of the most dynamic car racers of all time. Jumping from karting to Formula 1 to NASCAR to Rallycross -- with a smattering of championships thrown into the mix -- the guy is a jack of all trades on 4-wheels. Heck, he can mow a lawn faster than you! Scott and Ted ripped a ride, then caught up off the coast of Maine, before setting off north to continue their #tourXnewengland.
On the eve of Stephen Hyde’s final mountain bike race of the season, Ted and Stephen sit down to catch up on the goings-on of this well travelled, multi-faceted cyclist. Talking cyclocross in Florida, playing the guitar internationally, and his top tip to aspiring pros!
Want to see more people on bikes? Billy Starr has discovered the magic formula, bringing 6,315 into the 39th annual Pan-Mass Challenge! The event has raised just shy of $600 million for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Institute. Starting this podcast with a little final 2018 Tour de France summary and analysis, Ted and Billy talk shop, the past, present, and future of the entire sport of cycling.
Does texting and riding bikes have you down? Too many cars? Too few bikes lanes? If there's too much negativity directed towards cycling, you need some Richard Fries in your life! Richard is a livelong cyclist, has worked in nearly every facet of the sport, serves as longtime Executive Director of MassBikes, and now helps bring more people get into to cycling with the Best Buddies organization. Richard is one of the nicest and most well spoken people to ride a bike.
After the JAM Grand Fundo, Ted caught up with NHL champion, bike rider extraordinaire, and all around great guy Andrew Ference. Covering topics way outside purely bikes and hockey (although those get their fair play also), this is a conversation you don't want to miss.
Jeremy Powers has made a tear across the cyclocross scene. The most dominant racer for years, he's a master of his craft, and was crafty enough to start the JAM Fund to support development of cyclocross especially in his native New England. The ever smiling Jeremy and Ted sat down after the biggest fundraising event for that organization, the JAM Grand Fondo.
Farid Noori is the founder of MTB Afghanistan, an organization meant to bring empowerment to his native country of Afghanistan. Currently a student at Middlebury College, Farid reached out to Ted years ago with the intrepid hopes of building cycling infrastructure back at home as well as to pursue elite athletic hopes of racing in the Olympics under the Afghan flag. He's definitely on the right track.
Tim Johnson is a friend of the bicycle and a friend of Ted's. He taught Ted to brush my teeth after bike rides and he teaches hoards of people throughout the land why the bicycle is an incredible tool for change, for empowerment, and betterment. Tim is a lifelong racer with a sliver of fitness that he can let out of the bag now and again. Tim and Ted caught up on day one of the 6 day, 500 mile traverse, the #tourXnewengland.
Jim Merithew is a photographer by trade, a writer by talent, and one of the most creative minds you'll ever encounter. Jim started the website Element.ly, he was the photography director at Wired.com at the advent of the modern internet, and now his mind spins 1,000,000mph with ideas as creative director at inGamba tours. Jim is a crack up and spouts ideas with Ted how to improve the entire sport of cycling. Just a heads up, the audio hits a hiccup a 20 minutes, so apologies for the ambient noise.
Austin McInerny is the president of NICA, the coast to coast, high school mountain biking league. NICA is the leading feeder of young Americans getting into the sport of cycling and Austin is at the helm leading the charge. Austin and Ted sit down to a conversation at the NICA headquarters in Berkeley, CA where Austin has risen from coach to board member to head of the board to now president.
Amidst driving cross-country, moving from California to Vermont, Ted swings through an eyeopening Spearfish, SD. The original beacon was the Gold Rush Gravel Race, but Spearfish is also home to industry leader Quarq. Ted and founder Jim Meyer have been happily acquainted since as early as 2008, so the two had lots to catch up on across the cycling spectrum in their ten year history.
Lelan Dains is a co-race director of the gravel mecca that is Dirty Kanza. The day after DK 2018, Ted and Lelan sat down to decompress how the entire event went down.
On the 36 hour eve of Dirty Kanza, Ted catches up with the only male 4-time winner of the event, Dan Hughes. Dan is a father of three stellar young men, owner of the Sunflower Outdoor and Bike shop in Lawrence, KS, and is always up for a good time. Dan is an accurate example of the expression, Dan is the man!
21 years ago Miguel Crawford started the Grasshopper Adventure Series. What is the GAS? It's everything that's right about bike riding as we know it! It's fun, it's camaraderie, it's mass start, it's gravel, and it's badass. Ted sits down with Miguel and talk about all things bikes in the first of the King of the Ride podcasts.