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© 2022 Trek Bicycle, Better With Bikes Podcast
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On Better With Bikes, we explore the inspiring, unknown, and behind-the-scenes stories of people changing the world with bikes — sometimes in ways, you might not expect. This podcast is our way of pulling back the curtain and giving these extraordinary people a platform to share their perspective on cycling’s unique and varied culture.
28 Episodes
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Ellen Van Dijk always had a need for speed. Becoming a speed skater at eight and cycling since the age of ten, Ellen has been competing for most of her life. Ultimately Ellen found more success as a cyclist, having become a national cycling champion for the fifth time in 2007, so she quit speed skating and became a full-time cyclist. Racking up the world title successes, Ellen decided she would try her hand at claiming a world record. So in April 2022, Ellen announced she would try to break the hour record on May 23rd in Grenchen, Switzerland, and on May 23rd, Ellen did just that.In today's episode, we sit down with Ellen to talk about how she went from speed skater to UCI Hour Champion world record holder. We'll cover Ellen's backstory, how she claimed the UCI Hour Champion world record, including managing the nerves leading up to the race, and she'll even give advice for younger cyclists looking to turn professional.Ellen Van Dijk 2022 Season in Review: https://racing.trekbikes.com/stories/trek-segafredo-women/2022-season-in-review-ellen-van-dijk
Every fall, thousands come to Trek’s global headquarters in Waterloo, WI, for one weekend to witness riders from all over the world race at the Trek CX Cup. From juniors, to weekend warriors, to the top riders, everyone is welcome at Trek’s CX Cup. And all certainly feel welcomed when greeted with cowbells, people in costumes, a world-class course, food, beer, and one hell of a good time. But the Trek CX Cup that started in 2017 is more than just a good time; it has been instrumental in getting more people on bikes, the standard of equal pay between men and women professional riders, and exposing more people in the US to a very European-dominated aspect of cycling. In today’s episode, we sit down with Chad Brown, CFO of Trek Bikes, to break down what cyclocross is, how cyclocross began, the significance of Trek’s CX Cup, and even what the secret bar is.
Valentina Höll has been cycling for the better part of her life. Growing up in a rural town in Austria with parents who were avid cyclists, she soon found her way into the sport. Vali's journey began at just the age of three, but it wasn't until she won her first race against a bunch of boys at thirteen that she knew she had found her calling.By age twenty, Valentina Höll captured three World Championship titles, one of which was in 2022, just a few weeks before recording this episode. Fortunately for us, Vali was able to find time in her busy schedule to discuss the cycling journey that led her to such success and where she hopes to see her career go in the future.Read more here: https://racing.trekbikes.com/stories/rockshox-trek/interview-how-vali-holl-learned-to-let-loose
Each year one hundred and fifty thousand cyclists ride on Mount Diablo. Unfortunately, the risk they take is too familiar to cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians alike; the threat of motor vehicle collisions. Since 2000, Mount Diablo has claimed over 21 fatalities and counting. According to Alan Kalin, President of Mount Diablo Cyclists, California State Parks is not doing enough to prevent the resulting injuries to Park visitors who ride bicycles, so he’s decided to take matters into his own hands. It’s been a long journey, but Alan and the Mount Diablo Cyclists recently had a huge breakthrough! In this episode, Alan discusses his efforts to save lives on Mount Diablo. Since 2010, Alan’s organization, Mount Diablo Cyclists, has funded the installation of 45 bike turnouts, funded a signage and stripping plan, and implemented several safety improvements for Mount Diablo. They also recently raised $1.5M to support safety measures. Join Us: Oct 15, 2022, to Celebrate 45 Bike Turnouts on Mount DiabloLearn more: https://mountdiablocyclists.org/
You may not know, but last year, former Trek-Segafredo stand-out turned gravel racer Kiel Reijnen had one of the craziest weeks in sports. Not only did it include running 18 miles (on gravel) after his bike broke down, but he also embarked on a 5-day boat race with his daughter the day after. So what exactly happened? Who is Kiel Reijnen? And why is gravel racing cycling's fastest-growing discipline? In this episode, we kick back with professional gravel athlete, Kiel Reijnen, to answer that and more.Kiel Reijnen’s DNF at 2021 UNBOUND Gravel: https://racing.trekbikes.com/stories/trek-segafredo-men/kiel-reijnens-dnf-at-unbound-gravel-embodied-the-spirit-of-gravel-racingKiel Reijnen’s 2022 Unbound Gravel: https://racing.trekbikes.com/stories/driftless/inside-kiel-reijnens-storm-swamped-unbound-gravel
Imagine this—your job is to feed an entire team of athletes tackling some of sport’s most brutally taxing events on the road more than 200 days a year, you’ll be in a new kitchen every night, and you have to make sure that what you create satisfies their body’s needs as well as their tastebuds. Sound good?In this episode, we sit down with Trek-Segafredo’s team chef Bram Lippens to talk about one of the most important yet less visible jobs in all of pro cycling. Along with behind-the-scenes stories, Bram shares the process he goes through at each location, what the cyclists usually eat, who the pickiest eater on the team is, and what the highlight of his career has been thus far.Mads Pedersen Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mads-pedersen-why-pro-cyclings-biggest-shock-of-the/id1470460507?i=1000461991796
Jolanda Neff is known for many things, including winning gold in the 2021 Olympics, being a 14x World Cup Champion, being a 16x Elite World, European or Swiss National Champion, and being awarded Pink Bikes' 2021 Comeback Athlete of the Year. Jolanda has such an impressive resume that we had to split our conversation with her into two parts! If you haven't heard part one, be sure to check it out below.In part two of our conversation with Jolanda Neff, we fire Jolanda with questions about her life, her habits, and even where she keeps her gold medal (it's definitely not where you'd think!). In this episode, you'll get a sneak peek into the life of an elite athlete and get to know Jolanda on several different levels.Episode 20 - Jolanda Neff Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jolanda-neff-on-her-crazy-journey-to-the-2021-olympic/id1470460507?i=1000571259584Episode 9 - Jolanda Neff: Cycling’s Triple Threat: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jolanda-neff-cyclings-triple-threat/id1470460507?i=1000457252646
Back in 2019, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jolanda Neff. A cyclist known for her diversity in three different disciplines: road, mountain, and cyclocross. But as we welcome her back in 2022, she's now known for winning Gold for Women's Mountain Biking at the 2021 Olympics. Along with being an Olympic Gold Medalist, Jolanda is a 14x World Cup Champion, 16x Elite World, European or Swiss National Champion, and Pink Bikes' 2021 Comeback Athlete of the Year. We had so much to catch up with Jolanda on that we had to split this episode into two parts. In part one, we discuss what she overcame to win Gold last year, how her life has changed since, and what is to come for her and her team this season.Episode 20 - Jolanda Neff Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jolanda-neff-bonus-the-secrets-of-peak-athletic/id1470460507?i=1000571367428Episode 9 - Jolanda Neff: Cycling’s Triple Threat: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jolanda-neff-cyclings-triple-threat/id1470460507?i=1000457252646
Eric Bjorling is back for the revival of Better with Bikes with his new co-host, Richie Burke. The two discuss Richie’s rich history with Trek–considering he’s the son of Trek’s President, John Burke, there’s a lot to unpack here–what’s to come in future episodes, and our Better with Bikes giveaway! So join us as we explore diverse, unknown, and behind-the-scenes stories of people making the world a better place through cycling.To enter giveaway: https://kingsumo.com/g/aoylow/treks-better-with-bikes-podcast-giveaway Giveaway: To celebrate the revival of our podcast, we’re giving away a Trek Verve Hybrid bicycle to one first-place winner, a Bontrager Starvos WaveCel Helmet to three second-place winners, and a Trek Circuit Jersey to three third-place winners.To enter, visit https://kingsumo.com/g/aoylow/treks-better-with-bikes-podcast-giveaway *Giveaway ends 8/03 @ 11:59 PM CDT. Winner will be notified via email & announced on Trek’s Instagram story on 8/4. No payment or purchase necessary to enter. Must be 18+. Must reside in the US. This giveaway is by no means sponsored, administered, or associated with Apple or Spotify. Exclusions apply.
What started as a fun way to get out of the house during lockdown soon evolved into a community of over sixty people looking to make a difference. In 2020, Chad Bennett, Aquil Jannah, and Chris Harvell put together a Fathers Day ride consisting of just fourteen people riding eighteen miles. What they found was something far greater. With the spark of an idea and a passion for the camaraderie that cycling creates, they founded Black Watts—a group of cyclists that would work to help make cycling accessible to as many people as possible. From the start, Black Watts would be more than just a cycling club. It would be a group of dedicated husbands and fathers that would work to subvert stereotypes and improve mental health and wellbeing for black fathers and families through cycling. In this episode, Chad, Aquil, and Chris join us to discuss the mission of Black Watts and the difference they’re making in their community. Though it started as a club for husbands and fathers, they’re determined to make Black Watts an “everybody” group. They discuss the challenges people of color face when they get into cycling, how we can work to make cycling a more inclusive experience, and what their hopes are for the future of cycling.Check out Black Watts’ podcast, More Watts, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Kh2zr1dXjCHn6UK6yxYc5?si=6b3b12f0f6fd4426
Life is unpredictable and crazy, and very rarely, if ever, does it go to plan. Professional cyclist Lizzie Deignan can undoubtedly attest to this. When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Becoming a cyclist was never in her vocabulary; however, life had other plans.In the latest episode of "Better with Bikes," hosts Eric Bjorling and Richie Burke interview World Champion, Olympic medalist, four-time British National Champion, and 2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner, Lizzie Deignan. They cover everything from her surprising introduction to cycling, the decision to have a child mid-career, and making history with the 2021 Paris-Roubaix win.Though Lizzie has accomplished much throughout her career, she is far from over. She has a second child on the way but mentioned she's far from retiring and looking forward to the next adventure. Lizzie Deignan has proven herself to be a trailblazer in women's cycling and women's sports; we are proud to have her representing our team, and we look forward to what she will accomplish in the future.For more Better with Bikes content: https://www.instagram.com/trekbikes/
Very rarely do we have the chance to ask the inventor of something that changes the world what they were thinking. If you could talk lightbulbs with Thomas Edison, phones with Alexander Graham Bell, what would you say?That’s the conversation we’re having today with Gary Fisher — a man widely credited with the invention and popularization of an entirely new idea that would one day grow to an olympic sport enjoyed by millions across the globe. In this expansive discussion about Gary’s new biography Being Gary Fisher, we cover Gary’s Bay Area California amateur road racing upbringing, his time organizing the Grateful Dead’s first shows, and what led him and a collection of free thinkers to leave the pavement behind to “ride bikes in the woods.” Learn about the evolution of the mountain bike, its trial-and-error development, and rise in popularity. We’ll also talk about how mountain biking evolved into an olympic sport, how Trek got involved, and reveal some of Gary’s favorite places to ride, reminiscing on some of Gary’s most iconic bikes along the way.
On this episode of Better With Bikes, we’re happy to welcome Wall Street Journal sports columnist, author, and bike nut Jason Gay. Jason joined Mark and Eric, all from their respective living rooms, to talk about COVID-19’s impact on the cycling world, among other things.Together, they discuss the sports world as a whole during the pandemic, talk about what it’s like to be the “bike guy” in the office, and provide a few tips for other aspiring stay-at-home virtual cyclists.
Cycling has changed drastically over the last 30 years. Advances in materials science and engineering technology have propelled bike development to places folks previously couldn’t imagine. But despite this boom, a critical piece of the puzzle remained unchanged, stuck in the early 80s: helmet safety technology. Today on the Better With Bikes podcast, you’ll meet the three brilliant minds responsible for bringing WaveCel technology to the forefront of the cycling community.Our host, Mark, and first-time co-host, Eric, sit down with Dr. Steve Madey and biomedical engineer Dr. Michael Bottlang, creators of WaveCel. Trek’s Lead Helmet Designer, Tony White, joins the conversation to discuss how the new safety tech was brought to Trek Bicycle.Together, they’ll discuss how WaveCel came to be, how the technology works, and why it’s so important for the future of cranium protection across the cycling realm and beyond.
Eric Larsen is a seasoned adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher, and educator who’s spent the last fifteen years traveling to some of Earth’s most remote remaining places. That’s quite the rap sheet. But his greatest achievement has been sharing his passion for the outdoors with others, educating them on humanity’s impact on our planet. Today, we’re talking with Eric about his polar adventures and how he’s worked to bring awareness to the climate change conversation through his expeditions. There are plenty of inspiring, goofy stories, and Eric’s unique perspective and determined attitude is quite a treat. We sure enjoyed having him in the studio, and hope you learn something helpful while listening to our chat.
Cycling is always better when you’re doing it with the people you enjoy most. For Trek-Segafredo professional women’s team athletes and best friends Ruth Winder and Tayler Wiles, riding for the same team was the opportunity to create a friendship that goes far beyond bikes. On this episode, we’ll dispel some myths about women’s cycling, find out how the dynamic duo spends their off-season, and talk about how these two peas in a pod grew to become the “light-hearted core of the team”.
Cycling is a sport known for its rising stars, but it’s not often one of those bright young athletes finds himself shooting straight to the top. At just 23 years old, racing in some of the worst weather the world championship series has ever seen, Mads Pedersen stood atop the podium when the smoke cleared.People were shocked by the outcome, but if you really knew Mads — well, you wouldn’t be all that surprised. Mads, along with his Trek-Segafredo Men’s and Women’s teammates, stopped into Trek HQ for our annual Team Camp. While he was here, we found a few minutes to talk about racing, marriage, pastries, and learn what a world champion orders at McDonald’s.
On this episode of Better with Bikes, we sit down with country music star Luke Bryan. Luke stopped into Trek’s Waterloo, WI headquarters during his annual Farm Tour to spend some time talking bikes and sharing stories with the Trek Family. In addition to a Q&A with Trek employees, you’ll hear about how one of country music’s brightest stars became a passionate cyclist, got comfortable wearing “froufrou pants”, how cycling keeps him in shape when he’s on tour, and more.
1At only 26 years old, Jolanda Neff has already achieved a somewhat mythical reputation in the cycling world. Racing professionally in three — yes, three — disciplines (road, mountain, and cyclocross) brings its own set of unique challenges, but Jolanda still has plenty of fun.On this installment of Better with Bikes, we sit down with the former World Champion, European Champion, and multiple-time World Cup winner to discuss how Jolanda got her start in the sport, why she’s surprised to find herself in a professional career, and the differences between the three disciplines she races.We’ll also cover her growing acting portfolio, how she ended up a Tennessee state champion, and settle the “Swiss vs. Belgian chocolate” debate once and for all.
On this installment of Better With Bikes, Mark sits down with the legendary Bo Jackson. Widely considered the greatest athlete of all time, Bo’s not just a fierce competitor — he’s a caring, passionate person with an unshakable love for his community. When Alabama was torn apart by tornadoes in 2011, Bo knew he had to pull the community back together. Thus, Bo Bikes Bama was born.Listen in to hear about the origins of Bo Bikes Bama, the ride’s impact on the community, what Bo does to escape being Bo, and much, much more.
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This has to be one of the best podcast. Every episode was truly fascinating and interesting. I'm just disappointed that it isn't active anymore.