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Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast

Sports & Recreation Podcasts

Cycling stories from across Canada and around the world. We talk to pros who ride on the road and the trails. We also talk about gear, riding and training. It's bikes, bikes and more bikes, eh.

Location:

Canada

Description:

Cycling stories from across Canada and around the world. We talk to pros who ride on the road and the trails. We also talk about gear, riding and training. It's bikes, bikes and more bikes, eh.

Language:

English

Contact:

4169270774


Episodes

Road cycling myth-busting with Kevin Field

3/14/2024
Kevin Field is back on the pod. Longtime listeners will remember Field as Mr. Moneyball of Canadian Cycling. For years he’s been analyzing data to help riders perform at their best at the top levels of the sport. Today, he’s the chair of the board of directors at Bridge the Gap, an organization that works with riders as they progress toward their pro cycling careers. He’s also on the board of Team Ecoflo Chronos, an under-23 outfit that supports young racers. Field looks at some commonly held ideas about road cycling in Canada, and then takes a look at the numbers. The data shows interesting, and sometimes startling, trends. Is road racing really dead in North America? With our nation’s pros winning Tour de France stages and a Monument, is Canada truly in a good spot within the pro circuits? Finally, is road cycling all about the young superstars? Junior to pro—it’s the only way to go? Find out what the ever-insightful Field has to say about these topics. This episode of the Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast is supported by the No. 22 Bicycle Company, makers of fine titanium bikes. Founders Mike Smith and Bryce Gracey check in to discuss their unique approach to bike construction, which is all done in North America.

Duration:01:14:04

Year-end cycling inspiration with Sami Sauri

12/21/2023
Dirty Reiver, Migration Gravel Race, bikepacking in the mountains of Turkey and Across Andes—these are some of the big rides that Sami Sauri took on this past year. In this episode, Sauri goes in-depth into how she managed these events. She talks about her gear choices for gravel races, and how she’s adapted to the way gravel racing is evolving. Sauri is also an accomplished photographer who brings her camera along on her rides. Learn why there’s never a conflict between Sauri’s two passions—cycling and photography—except for one time. Listen to this extended interview with Sauri, presented with the support of YT Industries. Recently, YT released a 30-minute documentary about Sauri’s Migration Gravel Race, “The Wildest Gravel Race in the World.” Check out the doc and her one-of-a-kind YT Szepter gravel bike that she received for the challenging ride in Kenya.

Duration:00:53:12

Top Canadian cycling stories of 2023

12/7/2023
World championship wins in two disciplines, a repeat rainbow jersey on the track, World Cup wins in downhill and cross country, a Tour de France stage win and more—there were a lot of big performances by Canadian riders this past year. In this episode, Canadian Cycling Magazine‘s editors—Matthew Pioro, Matt Hansen and Terry McKall—present their top-five lists. You won’t believe what some of the editors cut, just to whittle their lists down to five top stories from 2023. You can also listen back to interviews with the year’s biggest newsmakers: A deep dive into Michael Woods’s Tour de France stage winIn-depth interview with Derek Gee on the Giro d’Italia and the seconds that count

Duration:00:33:17

Six stars of Canadian cyclocross

11/23/2023
Cyclocross nationals is just a few days away. The competition is returning to Victoria as are many of the athletes who competed at last year’s event. In this episode of the Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast, six riders not only reflect on the significance of nationals, but also look back at their races so far this year, as well as what lies ahead. There are former and current national champions—some of them multiple-time winners—Pan Am champions, champions in other disciplines and even a world champion. Two are actually not racing in Victoria, but their stories provide important context for nationals. In all the interviews—with Michael van den Ham, Sidney McGill, Luke Valenti, Evan Russell, Rafaelle Carrier and Isabella Holmgren—the stars of CX reveal what it means to be Canadian cyclocross racers and discuss the challenges they face as they practise that muddy art.

Duration:01:10:05

A team of six started a winter bikepacking trip, only three finished

11/9/2023
In March 2023, Nick Khattar and five others embarked on a 1,340-km bikepacking trip from Terrace, B.C., to Haines, Alaska. The riders pedalled hardtails and pulled trailers with splitboards strapped to them. They planned to ride, snowboard and record their adventures for a film. Not far into the trek, the team faced harrowing close-passes by trucks on the narrow highway. There was also bad weather, mechanical issues and the fatigue that comes with riding hard with heavy loads in the cold. Then, a true crisis happened in Jade City, B.C., about the halfway point of the trip. Three team members wouldn’t go on to Alaska. Listen to this extended interview with Khattar as he unpacks the trip. Also, find out what made the difficult journey completely worth it.

Duration:01:30:16

Go behind the scenes at the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal

9/21/2023
Derek Gee reveals a heartwarming story about how he came under the spell of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal. Isabella and Ava Holmgren, two stars of cyclocross and cross country, find themselves with race duties in Montreal. Canadian Cycling Magazine’s photographer takes a hit. Plus, heartbreak for some Canadians at their home races. All these tales and more are mixed with tips about how you can plan your visit to Quebec’s largest cities to take in the races to their fullest next year. Also, check out Nick Iwanyshyn’s photos from the races. Plus, scandal! An Israel-Premier Tech rider had St-Hubert ribs in the lead-up to the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. Episode Highlights 6:39 13-year-old Derek Gee, a ride from Ottawa to Montreal and Thomas Voeckler’s gloves 14:16 Benjamin Perry on the significance of the GPCQM 29:41 Pan Am champ Pier-André Coté breaks down the Quebec City race soon after finishing 40:31 How the 2026 road world championships course in Montreal is shaping up. 46:51 A few laps in the Team Canada car at the GP Montreal. It’s not a car race! 1:01:17 Charlotte of the Ottawa Bicycle Club and her bottle basketball net. 1:02:49 An old friend of the pod, and former co-host, makes an appearance. 1:06:54 Success for Charlotte! 1:07:28 Ava and Isabella Holmgren have a job to do at the GP Montreal. 1:12:21 In this case, it was No. 1 that affected Derek Gee.

Duration:01:17:06

A deep dive into Michael Woods’s Tour de France stage win

8/24/2023
He did it. But man, was it close. Michael Woods won a stage at the Tour de France this past July in a dramatic fashion on the Puy de Dôme. In this extended interview with Woods, the rider from Ottawa gets into the details of how it all came together, and how it all nearly fell apart. Find out about his relationship with Matteo Jorgenson, the rider whom Woods denied a win on Stage 9. Learn why Woods went for a trail run shortly after the Tour. Finally, who is the guy known as Disco and why is he so important to Woods? Also in this episode, the Matts, Pioro and Hansen, look ahead to the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal. The two one-day races return in about two weeks. The Canadian Cycling Magazine editors break down the routes and likely key riders at North America’s only WorldTour events.

Duration:01:14:36

Just how far can gravel champ Devon Clarke go?

8/3/2023
When Devon Clarke lined up for the national gravel championship race this past April, most riders and fans didn’t really know how fast she was. Sure, she’d won the provincial road race the previous summer, but still, she wasn’t as well known as her competitors Maghalie Rochette and Ruby West. At the end of the 108-km event in Ancaster, Ont., Clarke became the country’s first national gravel champion, a year after she started racing bikes seriously. Since then, she’s won the Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo—which qualifies her for the gravel world championships in Italy this October—and the Reggie Ramble. She now has her sights set on bigger gravel events. Find out more about this rider from Collingwood, Ont.

Duration:00:48:29

The uphill battles of gravity rider Kasper Woolley

7/20/2023
Enduro rider Kasper Woolley has had a terrible run of luck in the past year. In August 2022, a rider going the wrong way on a pump track smashed into Woolley. This past February, he crashed on a trail and damaged his spleen. The injury was so severe that he faced a five-month recovery. Woolley, who’s been on YT Mob since the start of the year, is now planning his return to competition at the end of July at the Cranworx’s Canadian Open Enduro. Later in September, it’s off to France for the final events of the UCI Enduro World Cup. It’s a late start to the season, but one Woolley is looking forward to. As he’s done in the past, he’s sure to be on podiums once again.

Duration:00:52:49

The Ottawa mechanic who’s worked at 21 Tours de France

7/6/2023
Motorola, U.S. Postal and Garmin-Sharp are some of the teams that Geoff Brown has worked on, preparing and fixing bikes for the biggest road races, including the biggest of them all, the Tour de France. His first Tour was in 1994. Since then, he’s amassed many stories, some hilarious and others tragic. Find out why he doesn’t like time trials, but does like tubeless tires. Also learn how a mechanic is often more than just a person who tunes a bike. While Brown hasn’t been back to the Tour since 2018, he is making a return this year. In just a few weeks, he’ll be wrenching at the Tour de France Femmes with his current team, Human Powered Health.

Duration:00:51:01

How to plot a 14,000-km bikepacking route from coast to coast

6/22/2023
Since 2018, Matt Kadey has been designing bikepacking routes. Some of his most popular tracks include the BT 700, the Grand Nith Ramble and No Winter Maintenance, all in Ontario. This past March, he launched the Great Northern Bikepacking Route, an adventurous way to get from Victoria to St. John’s, N.L. Kadey discusses why riders needed a new way to go west to east, why the route is not all in Canada and why—even though there are 16 Ride With GPS files that will help you to get from one coast to the other—there’s still work to be done on the route. Recently, Kadey hosted the fifth grand depart for the first route he designed, the BT 700. He talks about the importance of such send-offs. Kadey not only builds routes, but community, too. Also in this episode, the regular Matts (Pioro and Hansen) look back at recent races abroad and in Canada. One Matt competed against the other in a hill climb, using an ebike. It didn’t go exactly as planned.

Duration:00:58:51

Derek Gee, the Giro d’Italia and the seconds that count

6/1/2023
How did Derek Gee do it? How did he get into breakaway after breakaway at the recent Giro d’Italia? And what’s next for the Ottawa rider who impressed and entertained throughout his first Grand Tour? In this in-depth interview, Gee analyzes his four second-place stage finishes. He also talks about the feisty young Israel-Premier Tech squad that made it to Rome, the state of his apartment following his arrival from the Giro, getting slapped in the face, telling Thibaut Pinot to cool it, his relationship with mountains and what type of rider he might be able to become.

Duration:00:54:15

Olivia Baril has Grand Tour victories in her sights

5/25/2023
At stage races this season, Olivia Baril has been in the mix. Recently, the rider from Rouyn-Noranda, Que., sprinted against Demi Vollering, Annemiek van Vleuten and Katarzyna Niewiadoma for a podium place on the final stage of Itzulia Women. Baril was third on the day and finished fourth overall. Her result at that race and at La Vuelta Femenina show that a Grand Tour win is a possibility. The rider herself has the confidence in her abilities for such a feat. She'll have a chance this summer as the team recently informed her that she'd be heading to the Tour de France Femmes as UAE Team ADQ's general classification rider. In this episode, Baril talks about the dynamics within the women’s pro peloton, living and racing in Spain and her goals for the rest of the season. This episode of the Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast is supported by MS Bike. Register and start fundraising at msbike.ca. Also, check out MS Bike specific training advice and tips from Canadian Cycling Magazine experts.

Duration:00:48:06

Building a cyclist’s mental toolkit with Mark Beaumont

5/11/2023
Mark Beaumont has the world record for circumnavigating the world by bike. He also documents his big rides—down a massive volcano or from Cairo to Cape Town—on GCN. His latest book, The Complete Guide to Cycling Psychology (written with Dr. Jim Taylor), draws on his adventures and his co-author’s expertise to provide you with ways to boost your mental game on the bike. This wide-ranging and inspiring conversation with Beaumont will help you to start training your mind. The rider also talks about bike design as he’s consulted on the new Argon 18 Krypton, the Montreal company’s all-road bike. The two Matts chat about La Vuelta Femenina, prairie dogs and something you shouldn’t do with a cargo bike.

Duration:01:10:38

There’s more going on in a 4:16 team pursuit than you know

4/27/2023
From within the infield at the recent Track Nations Cup in Milton, Ont., athletes snagged medals, joked, made vows out of frustration and looked ahead to the world championships and Paris 2024. Find out about the off-track competition team-sprint members Kelsey Mitchell and Lauriane Genest had the day they rode to silver along with Sarah Orban. Learn about the psychology and tactics that go into a team pursuit race. Sometimes you can use an opponent’s strengths against them, which is what the Canadian women’s squad did in the bronze-medal race. Also, the two Matts talk Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Pan Am championships. Terry reports on the cool stuff he saw a Sea Otter, including carbon-fibre bottom bracket threads, new hubs and, yes, jean shorts.

Duration:00:40:28

The wisdom of Geoff Kabush

4/13/2023
On the eve of Geoff Kabush’s birthday, the mountain biker, gravel racer and underbiker covers a range of topics: the evolution of bike tech, the right amount of flare for handlebars, sarcasm, his relationship with cheaters from back in the day and even a plan for editor Matthew Pioro involving pushups. A word that pops up frequently during the wide-ranging discussion with the 15-time national champion from Courtenay, B.C., is balance, which seems to be a key to Kabush’s longevity. That, and fun. Editors Matt and Matt discuss Paris-Roubaix and Alison Jackson’s historic win at the Hell of the North.

Duration:01:03:44

Tips and advice for the riding season ahead

3/30/2023
As the snow starts to melt at various rates across the country, and with the recent release of the ride guide in the April/May issue of Canadian Cycling Magazine, editors Matthew Pioro, Matt Hansen (a.k.a. ’90s Matt) and Terry McKall discuss some of the hard-won lessons they’ve learned from doing various cycling events: gravel races, gran fondos and mountain bike challenges. Learn from their mistakes before you head into your outdoor riding season. Also, lots of talk about recent pro races abroad and a look ahead to the Tour of Flanders. Another lesson: always guess “Steve Bauer” for Canadian cycling trivia.

Duration:00:35:00

Top Canadian cycling stories of 2022

12/22/2022
A rainbow jersey on the track, multiple downhill World Cup wins, a Tour de France stage win—there were a lot of big performances by Canadian riders this past year. Canadian Cycling Magazine's editors—Matthew Pioro, Terry McKall and Matt Hansen (a.k.a. '90s Matt)—break down the top stories of 2022. You can also listen back to interviews with the year’s biggest newsmakers: The inside story of Hugo Houle’s Tour de France stage winRoad and criterium national champion Maggie Coles-Lyster is on the podium a lot

Duration:00:26:20

The inside story of Hugo Houle’s Tour de France stage win

11/24/2022
As Hugo Houle crossed the line in Foix on July 19, he pointed to the sky. He had accomplished a goal he had had for close to 10 years: win a Tour de France stage for his brother, Pierrik, who died after being struck by a vehicle while he was out for a jog. In this episode, find out what went into that victory, the decisions made out on the road and how a rider can be transformed. Featuring Houle himself, Michael Woods, Steve Bauer and Antoine Duchesne.

Duration:00:38:42

How an 18-year-old Canadian signed with Ineos Grenadiers

11/10/2022
In late September, it became official: 18-year-old Michael Leonard signed with Ineos Grenadiers for three years. About a month later, he returned home to Oakville, Ont., from his base in Italy. He was staring at his new team bike, but couldn’t ride it. In this episode, find out why Leonard wasn’t taking that sweet new Pinarello out, as well as how he landed on the pro cycling’s richest team. Also, the Matts talk riding in Italy—where Hansen was recently to check out Campagnolo’s facility—and masters cyclocross. Pioro had a short CX season riding across fields, sliding in mud and running through sand. Do you know what drivetrain was on his bike? It’s Classified. No, really. It’s Classified. Find out more.

Duration:00:40:13