Beyond the Ride: Recent Episodes
Rich Cramer
This podcast is to be a full spectrum look into Enduro Mountain Biking, and the world that is Big Mountain Enduro. Sometimes traveling with BME seems like a summer on tour with a rock band, or a little bit of a traveling circus of sorts. I am Rich Cramer, your host to the mountain bike podcast that will take the listener Beyond the Ride! Lets dive into race talk, industry news...lets chat to the pro riders, the groms; and lets get an inside look of what it is like to compete in North Americas biggest and toughest enduro mountain bike out there...the Big Mountain Enduro National Series.
This week I sat down with Riley Aguilar, his wife Fiona, and Aleah with Mountain Marauders. Mountain Marauders is a brand new mountain bike team, featuring seven women enduro athletes. We talk about how they got this team started, and what the process has been in creating a grass roots race team, and their mission and outlook for the team. It was so great to sit down and get some of the inside information on what it takes to start a new team. They just formed in November and they are off to a great start as they have received such great and positive response from the industry. Join me as I wish them luck at Purgatory Resort, the 3rd stop of the BME National Series! Thanks Riley, Fiona, and Aleah...it was a great conversation and best of luck !
https://www.instagram.com/mountain_marauders/
https://www.instagram.com/riley_a98/
https://www.instagram.com/aleah_austin5/
https://www.instagram.com/fiona_the_bikergirl/
This week I sat down with Stefanie MeDaniel, a pro rider for Pivot Bikes. Stef lives in the Phoenix area, where she performs a balancing act between running her family business, and still competing as a professional mountain biker. We talked about how her husband got her stared in mountain biking, at the same place as the last stop with BME. We just got back from Sunrise Resort in Arizona, where Stef took second place in a real close race with Bella.! We look forward to seeing her finish a strong season after taking some time off from racing. Thanks so much Stef!
After the second stop of the 2023 BME Series at Sunrise Park Resort in Arizona, I got the chance to sit down with the Men's Masters 50+ winner! With this week's guest, Rob Drew, we discuss his love for mountain biking, his moto background, his involvement with The Ride Series...and even about riding his local trails in Phoenix. Rob is well known in the MTB Community...as Rob and his brother Rich, have developed a world class teaching program with clinics and coaching for all levels of riding, called the The Ride Series. He has a champion background racing the Big Mountain Enduro Series and is now back this season to compete after taking a few years off. A huge congrats to Rich Drew on last weeks win over a stacked field of riders! Thanks for your time Rob!
This week we get back to the podcast after finishing up the first stop of the 2023 BME Season. We wrapped things up at Mt. Nebo, and heading onto the next stop at Sunrise Resort in Arizona. On this podcast I spend a few minutes reflecting on the race at Nebo, and then jump into a great conversation with Cameron Joye. Cam is riding for Cannondale this year, and he seems super excited to have a ride and be competing at the highest level this year. He talks about how he came from a cross country college racing career...to the world of Enduro! We talk about what it's like riding in the So. Cal Scene...and who he likes to ride and train with. He still has his favorites...but we talk about it all...including coming back from an injury, and how tough it is tough to maintain a strong racing career. Thanks so much Cam! Shout out to Nate Hills and his #followcamfriday. This guy puts out some banger clips and seems to have the follow cam thing down! In this podcast we catch up with Nate and Cam shredding some Colorado favorites.
As always...a special thanks to all our sponsors!
@iamspecialized
@massisbike
@fox
@dtswiss
@rideshimano
@stansnotubes
@industry_nine
@fsa_mtb
@pocsports
Vid Credit. ; Nate Hills
https://www.youtube.com/@natehills9388
Music: Iso Indes
This week we talked with Austin White, who owns USA Sport Inc...a full service media company that specializes in everything action sports. When Austin is not at home doing the super dad thing, you will find him at most of the biggest and baddest biking events and races across the nation. He seems to have an eye for getting the shots that matter, both video and still photography. This year, his focus is on working with BME and using his talents and equipment to put on a live show at Mt. Nebo...which will be a live streaming show that will highlight the races on the BME calendar, and showcase the athletes of BME and the enduro world. BME is extremely lucky to have Austin on board to produce some of the best media of the year....and we look forward to seeing what a pro media company will bring to our sport! Thanks Austin!
This week we have Ben Ferrante, owner of Rocky Mountain Wheel Works. He runs the most famous mobile bike shop on the MTB circuit and he has stories for days.! Find out how Ben became part of the BME scene, and other events...as we talk about what it's like traveling with the races and taking care of the pros, and amateurs alike. To me, Ben is one of the most interesting vendors I've come across in the industry...as he has taken his love for racing , riding , and wrenching to the next level. Ben is a savvy businessman that is a good friend and great guy to share a beer with! Please welcome Ben Ferrante, and enjoy the chat we have covering all things mechanical and business as he covers the racing scene one race at a time ! Thanks Ben....see ya at the races!
This week I talked with my good friend Logan Gallagher, a super talented sports photographer. Logan brings the all necessary vibe to the BME crew as one of the lead photographers. Please get to know Logan and make sure you give him a high five when you see in on the trails this season. Last year, when he wasn't taking epic shots of all the riders...he was helping the mountain ops crew dig in and set all of the trails for some of last years best races. He is a true free spirit that bring the whole vibe to life in general...Do what you love, and have a great time doing it! Thanks Logan!! See ya soon....!
This is what BTR is all about...unrestricted access to the best pro riders the sport of Enduro has to offer! Do not miss out when we talk with Nik about what it was like to race in the most demanding racing categories there is to offer in the MTB world. Last year Nik put down just about as many DH runs as Enduro runs. This year, he has committed to a full Enduro only schedule, and we are so happy to have Nik racing each stop of the 2023 BME season. Nik impressed us all last year, battling harsh conditions and a tough dual sport race schedule. So, what happens when a full DH racer commits to a full Enduro schedule!? He has brand new support with a set up from Fezzari Bicycles, and they are sure to put up some points.! Thank you Nik!
This week we sit down with Dee Tidwell, from Train to Ride. He now runs a popular and intense training program that is driven around the active athlete. Dee has his focus set on training, injury prevention, and how staying fit and living an active lifestyle is so important as we get older. Dee has a champion's history with the sport of enduro, and he won many podiums during his racing history with Big Mountain Enduro. We talked about his time training the Yeti Factory racers, and then how he has been involved with other mainstream sports like golf and moto. Seems like he has it pretty dialed in with fitness and training..and you can now try his program and find him online at Train to ride.
It's not too late to be ready to race! Grab Coach Dee's 90-day Enduro program and get started today and be ready by June! https://traintoride.com/programs/enduro-mtb-90-day/"Hope everyone enjoys our conversation and we hope to see Dee at the races this summer! Thanks Dee.!!!
This week we talked with Isabella Naughton, who is recovering from an ankle injury she suffered last year. We spoke about all things growing up as a race athlete...in both biking and skiing...and dealing with the ups and downs of finishing, and continuing her education. This year Bella is looking forward to a full schedule of Enduro Racing, and will be racing all this year's BME events. She is backed by Liv-Cycling, and with backing from the all women specific race team...she is sure to be in the points this season! Thank you Bella, for having an open chat and being yourself...we had a blast, and look forward to following you this year.!
This week I had the ultimate pleasure to sit and talk with my good friend and fellow BME employee....Jackson Lehrter !!! You will definitely love hearing this enthusiastic and vibing personality that represents everything we embody at Big Mountain Enduro! He is a legend in the making...he climbs, bikes, and he is everything that makes this guy a one of a kind! We talked everything there is to cover about what is like to be young, and full of stoke for enduro mtb with a nomadic lifestyle we all love and enjoy to hear about. He comes from a unique pedigree of bad ass parents that are totally involved in the sport of mountain biking, and they have paved the way for a for a true, up and comer in the enduro world. If you don't know Jackson....hold on for a great interview that will leave you wanting more and more.! Thanks to you Jackson...you bring live and breathe the world we all want to be a part of.
What a great time I had talking with Teresa Hughes! Come join us as we find out how she started mountain biking...and the secret to her quick success in the enduro mtb world. She won the women's amateur title last year at BEM, and now is ready to run with the pros. Teresa is an awesome personality to have on tour, and we wish her the best in the 2023 season.
In this episode, we connect with Robert to hear more about his journey as a racer, family man, entrepreneur, and Airline Pilot. When Rob isn’t flying, he lives and breathes life on two wheels and has been putting on races for over 20 years. In addition to the work he does with BME as he also owns and operates the Youth Enduro Series ( @youth_enduro_series )and Family Bicycle in Cedar City.
Tune in Wednesday morning to hear more about Rob as he speaks to his belief in the spirit of enduro racing, his backstory leading up to owning and running the BME, the 2023 BME Calendar, insider info on what to expect on our backcountry stages, and much more. You’re not going to want to miss this one!
We had a great time talking with Colton Peterson, who rides for Maxxis Factory and was last years mens BME Champion. He has been training hard during the off season, staying focused and getting ready for the first UCI World Enduro race. Thanks to Colton and his sponsor for giving us his time on Beyond the Ride!
Episode #1 of the Beyond The Ride Podcast by @bigmountainenduro and hosted by Rich Cramer is joined by special guest Porsha Murdock of the Specialized North American Enduro Team!!
Last year @porshamurdock joined the Specialized North American Enduro team as the sole female team member and raced in the events like the EWS, US nationals, Trophy Of Nations, and the BME series to name a few. Last year, her team placed 5th in Trophy of Nations where she represented the US for the second time in her career and she took the overall Pro Women’s field of the 2022 Big Mountain Enduro Series. Porsha spends the off season training in Bend, Oregon, and is currently getting ready for the 2023 season.
Porsha speaks about her experience of becoming and being a full time professional MTB athlete with team @iamspecialized_mtb.