The Changing Gears Podcast

We’re coming at you with our last episode of this season of the Changing Gears Podcast. The first 49 episodes included some incredible people like Justin Williams, Brandon Semenuk, Blake Hansen, Jolanda Neff, Rebecca Rusch, and much more. In honor of our 50th episode, we wanted to do something special. And that’s exactly what we did. For our 50th episode of the Changing Gears Podcast, we host the co-founders of SRAM, Stan and F.K. Day.  Stan Day is the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of SRAM. F.K. Day is the EVP and Director of SRAM, as well as a long time Chicago businessman, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. Together, Stan and F.K. revolutionized biking forever. In this episode, Stan, F.K., and DZ talk about: Their first products The three keys to their success How World Bicycle Relief was started The difficulty and importance of innovation What’s next for SRAM and World Bicycle Relief Learn more about SRAM here. Learn more about the World Bicycle Relief here.  Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.

“In the quest of becoming the best version of me, nothing has made a bigger difference than biking.” Juan Pablo Raba may just be saying what we’re all thinking. Our guest today has found that biking helps him learn about respect, trying hard things, finding his zen, and ultimately, improving his health overall. On this episode of the podcast, we have our first actor, Juan Pablo Raba, who has become a bike aficionado, primarily downhill. He is a Colombian/Argentinian actor and producer with a broad international trajectory living in Los Angeles, California. You may recognize him from a little show called Narcos. In this episode, Juan Pablo Raba and DZ talk about: Growing up skateboarding and watching Tony Hawk His journey to finding acting  How biking has been an almost spiritual practice  for him Men’s mental health You can follow along with Juan Pablo on Instagram here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Most cyclists may never experience racing or winning at the elite levels. Our guest on this episode of Changing Gears breaks down why simply having access to a bike and being able to go out and ride is really the main point of all of it. To have that freedom, the ability to go far and fast, to feel childlike joy, that’s the real goal of cycling. Ashton Lambie (he/him/his) is an American track and gravel cyclist who is best known for being the first person to complete an individual pursuit in under 4 minutes. He currently rides for the Jukebox cycling team and is also well-known for his mustache.  In this episode, Ashton and DZ talk about: Ashton’s musical background What track cycling is like How Ashton became the first person to ever break 4 minutes in the 4KM individual pursuit His effort to make bike commuting more accessible Follow along with Ashton here. Learn more about bike commuting here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

In the age of distraction, scrolling and swiping minimizes how present we are with any given moment. Our guest today believes that stories are one of the most important parts of life, and that magazines are the best way to tell them. Zapata "Zap" Espinoza has been pedaling bikes since the late 60s and slinging words and opinions on all things cycling and moto-related since 1986. He was the editor of two of America's leading mountain bike magazines, Mountain Bike Action (1987-'93) and Mountain Bike (1993-2003), followed by a stint as brand manager at Trek Bicycles (2003-2007).  In 2007, he returned to the world of journalism as the editor of Road Bike Action and the Editorial Director for Mountain Bike Action and Electric Bike Action. Following the closure of both RBA and EBA, he has since taken up the role of freelance writer and brand content manager. Besides all things two-wheeled (especially racing), he is madly in love with his daughter, the great outdoors, and Mexican food.  In this episode, Zap and DZ talk about: Zap’s time racing motocross His education in politics and going to law school The start of his career and working for Mountain Bike Action Magazine The tension between website content and printed content Learn more about Zap here. You can learn more about Doctors Without Borders here, the ACLU here, and PeopleForBikes here.  Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Pushing up against the legacy of his father, our guest, Nico Roche, has always been striving to build his own path. From playing rugby to becoming a professional cyclist, he’s made a name for himself throughout his career. Nico is an Irish professional cyclist with UCI World Tour team "Team Sunweb". He is a former Irish National Road Race and TT Champion and is the son of Stephen Roche, a former World Champion and winner of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. Nico is also an Olympian and even spent some time on Dancing with the Stars. In this episode, Nico and DZ talk about: The influence of his father’s cycling career on his own career The four Olympics he participated in Nico’s experience on Dancing with the Stars The bike shops that Nico co-owns You can follow along with Nico on Instagram here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Our guest on this episode of the Changing Gears Podcast is trying to fix bike racing in the United States, learning from other major sports like basketball, baseball, and football, and using those models in a new and novel way. Paris Wallace (he/him/his) is the founder and CEO of the National Cycling League, the first majority-minority and female owned professional sports league in the United States. Paris has an incredible background in entrepreneurship and is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at Harvard Business School. He is an avid cyclist and he and his wife split their time between Miami and New England to keep riding bikes year-round. In this episode, Paris and DZ talk about: His first job as a kid working in a bike shop and how that stemmed into his entrepreneurial career How he started Good Start Genetics while in Business school The bold mission of the National Cycling League The race format of the National Cycling League You can follow along with Paris on Instagram here, on LinkedIn here, and learn more about the National Cycling League here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

What is the coolest job in the world? For Chas Christiansen, when he first found out about bike messengers, that was it. You’re going to pay me to ride my bike around fast and recklessly? Say no more. He was in.  Exploring the world in search of the stoke, Chas (he/him) is a bike racer, artist, and adventurer. Constantly on the move seeking new experiences and exploring new places, the journey has always taken precedence over the finish. From blue collar beginnings as a bike messenger to racing some of the longest ultra endurance races in the world, Chas has been inspiring us all along the way. In this episode, Chas and DZ talk about: Some experiences he had after high school that changed the direction of his life What it’s like to be a bike messenger How he started TCB Courier How to become a sponsored athlete You can follow along with Chas on Instagram or on his website here. You can also learn more about the orgnization Cycles for Change here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

This week’s guest on the Changing Gears Podcast is Andrew Shandro, the legend himself. From racing in Italy, his first pro contract, and the Freeride Movement, this conversation is not to be missed. Andrew (he/him/his) is an old-school mountain biker, a freeride pioneer. He is the Trek C3 Team Manager and the Trek Factory Racing Co. Team Manager. He owns and operates the Summer Gravity Camps based in Whistler which focuses on instruction in gravity, downhill, freeride, and slopestyle. In this episode, Andrew and DZ talk about: Some of his favorite places to ride in the world What it was like to be involved in the early years of mountain bike films What it felt like to be on a cover on Bike Magazine His position with Trek Factory Racing The Summer Gravity Camp and how he started it You can follow along with Andrew on Instagram here, and learn more about the Summer Gravity Camps here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Sports can teach us so much. They teach us how to work well with others, how to push our limits, how to stay humble, how to go after big goals. And on this episode of the Changing Gears Podcast, Paralympian Travis Gaertner shares his experiences in a few different sports and what he has learned along the way.  Travis was born without his lower limbs. He has adapted to what a fully active lifestyle looked like for him. He’s won two Paralympic gold medals and is now testing his limits in handcycling, while also managing a full-time corporate career and spending time with his family of five. In this episode, Travis and DZ talk about: What it was like to participate in the Paralympics  How he’s handled the pressure of competing on a world stage What the sport of paracycling is like His bike setup and how he trains for paracycling You can follow along with Travis’ journey on Instagram. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Thomas Frischknecht believes in simplicity and durability. Within this world of innovation, Thomas likes to keep things on the simple side as much as possible. This episode shares Thomas’ life philosophy and a deep exclusive look behind the scenes of the SCOTT-SRAM team.  Thomas is the Team Director for the SCOTT-SRAM Team with a full resume of Olympic and World Champion titles. He is often called the elder-statesmen of the European mountain biking world.  In this episode, Thomas and DZ talk about: Growing up admiring his father The fitness tests that were available during his race career Why Thomas doesn’t miss racing What it is like having his son on his own team You can learn more about Team Africa Rising here, see the film Rising From The Ashes here, and follow along with Thomas here on Instagram. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Mike Levy lives and breathes the biking world. Since he discovered mountain biking as a kid, he’s gotten at least 200 days per year every year. Now, that’s a passion. Mike is a prominent Canadian bike industry journalist known for his work with Pinkbike. As a reviewer and content creator, he is well-regarded for his in-depth knowledge, expertise, and passion for all things cycling, particularly mountain biking. He calls Squamish home these days and you’re more likely to find him wearing lycra on his gravel rig than baggy shorts on an enduro bike. In this episode, Mike and DZ talk about: Mike talks about looking up to Myles Rockwell growing up DZ and Mike discuss their philosophies on how to treat others Mike shares a story about following Danny Hart off a road gap Mikes opinion on current technology trends Follow along with Mike on Instagram here.  Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.

We all want to tap into our inner child, feeling the wind blow in our face, riding our bikes around our neighborhoods. Anthony Carter borrowed an old bike in his mom’s garage for a spin, felt the freedom of two wheels, and never looked back. Anthony (he/him/his) is a grassroots community organizer based in the DMV area (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia). His goal is to help his community and others through sharing his passion for cycling and fitness. Anthony has helped to build a local cycling club up to a national recognized organization of over 5,000 members. He also co-founded and developed the successful GII Race Team. He now mentors other cyclists on a larger scale through his Coach Carter Cares Clinic.  In this episode, Anthony and DZ talk about: Anthony explains how he got involved with Getting It In Cycling DZ and Anthony talk about getting more bike events on the East Coast Anthony talks about the challenge of getting more women into racing  He shares what Coach Carter Cares is and what the clinics involve  Learn more about Anthony on Instagram. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

How do you network and create meaningful connections within the bike industry at large? Caitlin Bernstein shares her perspective on being a positive presence, showing up with grace and kindness, on this episode of the show. Caitlin (she/her) grew up in a small town in Vermont and from a young age, pursued her dream of becoming a professional ski racer. After a series of knee injuries and some time ski racing in college, she found her way to the bike. First, for fitness, and eventually, for racing. She now works at SRAM as a contract recruiter and races gravel, XC mountain biked, and cyclocross for the Easton Overland team.  In this episode, Caitlin and DZ talk about: How she got married on a backcountry ski trip in a snowstorm Seeing more women get into mountain biking over the years How she has dealt with her challenging knee injuries  Her work with Protect Our Winters and how she’s working to reduce her impact on the earth Learn more about Caitlin on Instagram. You can also learn more about the Little Bellas here, the Eurocross Academy here, and Protect Our Winters here.  Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, Brandon Semenuk, and Payson McElveen.  

In the last 10+ years, we’ve seen an evolution of sports psychology and our guest on the show for this episode is at the forefront of these changes, coaching athletes through them. Robbie Ventura is the founder and owner of Vision Quest Coaching, providing expert training programs for endurance athletes of all levels from beginner to elite, including cyclists and triathletes ranging from 8 to 80 years old. After being a professional cyclist himself for 12 years, he decided to transfer all of his learnings into his own business, starting Vision Quest. In this episode, Robbie and DZ talk about: How Robbie found out his Dad used to race bikes Robbie shares about his passion for hockey Robbie talks about what it was like to train with Lance Armstrong DZ and Robbie discuss training techniques and the importance of rest and recovery Why Robbie decided to retire from racing Learn more about Vision Quest Coaching here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

When you have an opportunity, one that feels big and maybe even scary, just go for it. That’s what Emily Horridge did when the opportunity came to move from the UK to start skills clinics in France. And she’s been helping open up skills and doors for people ever since. Emily (she/her/hers) discovered mountain biking back in 1992 and was smitten from day one. Emily’s life revolves around bikes, from spending her 20s racing downhill to starting her own mountain bike guiding and coaching business in her late 30s. She is passionate about inspiring and helping other women to build their confidence, overcome their fears, and truly find the joy of riding bikes. In this episode, Emily and DZ talk about: Growing up biking with the boys How she started her own coaching company How weight lifting has helped her on the bike The work Emily is doing to help with trail advocacy Catch up with Emily on Instagram, her website, or YouTube. You can learn more about the Mountain Bikers Foundation here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Brandon Semenuk, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

What kind of athletes does a town like Whistler produce? From a culture of being out in the mountains and getting after what you love to do, it spits out tons of big mountain professional athletes. And our guest on this episode is certainly part of that crew. Brandon Semenuk (he/him/his) got into mountain biking at a young age and transitioned to free-ride very early on. In his career, he’s won three Red Bull Rampages, three FMB World Tour gold medals, and four Red Bull Joyrides. While biking remains a consistent passion, he has now expanded into producing video and production projects. In this episode, Brandon and DZ talk about: Growing up doing local races in Whistler How Brandon got into rally car racing His collaboration with MIIPs in an effort to improve helmet safety The production project that he’s excited about How Brandon is giving back to the community Catch up with Brandon on Instagram, his Website, or Facebook. Learn more about the High Fives Foundation, Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation, or Jordie Lunn Bike Park by hitting those links. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

What is a life well lived? How do our experiences and trials and tribulations train us to be stronger and better equipped for life? Fabian Cancellara shares his perspective with us. Fabian is a double Olympic champion and four-time world time trial champion from Bern, Switzerland. After leaving his professional career behind in the peloton in 2016, he looked at a new chapter. He now runs and owns the sports marketing agency and is the owner of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. David and Fabian talk about: What is means to win an Olympic gold medal How the freedom of cycling had him hooked at a young age Fabian’s role as the president of the Tudor Pro Cycling team How he’s using his role to give back to the bike community Catch up with Fabian on Instagram. Follow along with Sette Sports, Chasing Cancellara, or Tudor Pro Cycling Team. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Having and being able to use a bike is the ultimate freedom. Tim Johnson found that he was competing all over the world, bringing his expensive bikes along for the ride, but was struck by the inequity of biking right here at home. So he decided to help make a change. Tim (he/him/his) is a former professional American cyclo-cross and road racing cyclist who competed rom 1999 to 2015. He is widely considered one of the most accomplished American cyclo-cross racers of all time and has represented the United States in multiple World Championships and World Cup events. In this episode, Tim and David talka bout Tim’s time on the Cannondal-Cyclocrossworld.com team, his favorite memories while racing, how he rediscovered his love of cycling through his time racing on Jittery Joes team, and how he is working to improve bike infrastructure around the United States. Catch up with Tim on Instagram here and Strava here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

When it comes to the cycling world, the Merckx family name is infamous. On this episode of Changing Gears, Axel shares his experiences being part of the Merckx family cycling dynasty. Axel Merckx (he/him/his) is a world-renowned retired Belgian cyclist who retired to British Columbia, Canada, in 2007. Born in 1972 in Uccle, Belgium, he is the son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx. He began his professional cycling career in 1993 as a member of the Motorola Cycling Team. Most recently, Axel has become synonymous with the success of the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team as the squad’s director and now, owner. In this episode, Axel and DZ talk about what is means to be a stagiair for a cycling team, how he’s dealt with the pressure of having Eddy Merckx as his father, Axel’s decision to transition from racing to being a team manager, and the mental health aspect of racing. Catch up with Axel here. Learn more about Athina’s Ride here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.  

Lea Davison achieved her lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian, crossing the finish line not once but twice. She epitomizes the phrase, “never give up.” Lea (she/her/hers) is a mountain bike racer with a past in competitive downhill ski racing from Sunderland, Vermont. She started mountain bike racing in 2001 and has since competed in World Cups, as well as the Olympics. Lea is passionate about getting the next generation of females riding mountain bikes, which is why she co-founded Little Bellas, a mentoring on mountain bikes program for girls. In this episode, Lea and DZ talk about Lea’s educational background in environmental studies and her interest in sociology, her time growing up in Vermont and being a competitive ski racer, the moment she realized her Olympic dreams came true, and how Little Bellas creates opportunities for more girls to get on bikes. Catch up with Lea on Instagram or her website. Learn more about Little Bellas here. Learn more about SRAM here. Other popular episodes: Nino Schurter, Rebecca Rusch, Kate Courtney, Vali Höll, Kyle Strait, Kelli Samuelson, Blake Hansen, and Payson McElveen.