Take a Listen

 On this episode it is all about biking in the state of Oregon. Dj Waldron is on the show to talk about some group rides in Oregon he has been part of along with some rides on the old bucket list. Oregon seems to have it all with mixed elevation, scenic views and rides that take you right to the ocean. I did a little bike riding in the Deschutes National Forrest when I was in Bend a few months ago and promised myself I would make a return trip to ride some more. And after talking with DJ I think I know which rides I will be signing up to be part of.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.ridetherimoregon.com
action.lung.org/site/TR?fr_id=22051&pg=entry 

 Recently I completed another RAGBRAI and wanted to provide a recap of the event. This is not a race event, but a bicycle tour with riders of all abilities. It is a supported event that showcases Iowa and small town living. It is a chance to slow down and take in miles and miles of corn and bean fields with over 10,000 cycling friends. It is a one of a kind experience I would highly recommend. This 7 day ride takes place the last full week of July each year and typically Iowa weather is steamy, with humidity and temps in the high 80’s. It started in 1973 when two Des Moines Register newspaper journalists decided to hop on their bikes and ride across the state of Iowa, with a plan to document the week and call it work. Daily mileage varies between 50 and 100 miles and a typical week is about 450 miles, traveling across the entire state. Today hear more about the event as well as some of the people who participate in RAGBRAI.
www.ragbrai.com
www.bicycleresort.com
www.nelsonvails.com
www.projectspeed.com
www.murphologypodcast.com 

  On the show today is Mandy Hansel who recently completed and won the Women’s Fat Bike Division at the Lutzen 69er. The Lutsen 99er is an ultra-marathon mountain biking event in Lutsen, MN. There are 4 distance options, catering to all riding levels and abilities. The course takes cyclists on snowmobile and ski trails, Forest Service roads, and a bit of pavement and single track. The event begins and ends at Lutsen Mountains. Mandy also runs a great non-profit called the Storm Trail Race Series in the Minnesota area. And I want to give Jacquelyn a shout out for becoming the newest Patreon. You can support my podcast at www.Patreon.com/Murphology
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.lutzen99er.com
www.thestormtrs.org 

 This week it is all about the Paul Bunyan Trail which stretches from the Crow Wing State Park to Bemidji in Northern Minnesota.
www.paulbunyantrail.com
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 Rob and Todd are on the show today to talk about their Great Divide Adventure through Montana. In early June these guys loaded up their custom Salsa bikepacking bicycles and headed north to ride a portion of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. They rode 10 days of forest roads, single track and other varieties of terrain which provided them with over 40,000 feet of climb. They were able to ride with some of the racers doing the Tour Divide which is a race from the border of Canada to the border of Mexico. I would consider both of these guys elite athletes who train and race bikes year round, but they made it clear that if people train properly, have the right equipment, the right attitude, and enough time, anyone can tackle this route. You can head over to the Adventure Cycling website for more information about the route and I also found a great website about the race called tourdivide.org.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.adventurecycling.org
www.tourdivide.org 

 Today meet Diane who is on to talk about some of her bike adventures utilizing charter services who handle all the prep work, logistics and hauling of her gear. What better way to see beautiful views of the United States by bicycle, without the hassle of planning the who, what, when and where. She hasn’t always been a cyclist, but got into cycling as a way to cross train for cross country ski racing. She is going to tell us about some of the places she has gone with her bike, and also get a bit into her other two sports which are cross country ski racing and racing high performance catamarans. Sounds like a great way to stay fit all year round!
www.birkie.com
www.pkbelly.com
www.bikemaine.com
www.cycleadirondacks.com
www.ragbrai.com
www.murphologypodcast.com 

  Today is all about the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. This unpaved crushed limestone rail trail stretches 63 miles through scenic southwest Iowa countryside, starting in Council Bluffs, Iowa and passes through some great communities including Mineola, Silver City, Malvern, Imogene, Shenandoah, Coin and Blanchard. Such a great way to generate tourism for small communities. The website is wabashtrace.org and a yearlong pass is only $20. Daily passes are $2. Most of the trail is lined with a tree canopy and this rail trail included over 70 bridges! On the podcast this week you will hear from a couple of the founders of this privately owned trail, who remain very active in keeping it maintained, and you will also hear from one of the participants in the recent Birds and Bees supported ride I did with the charter service called Pork Belly Ventures.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.wabashtrace.org
www.pkbelly.com 

 Today meet Damien Boley, he is the Race Director for Humphrey’s Gravel Grinder which is a gravel race that starts and ends in Smithville, Missouri and offers multiple distance options, from 25 miles all the way up to 200 miles. I recently went to Smithville to do the 50 mile Humphrey’s Gravel Grinder and had a blast. Damien is an avid cyclist who participates in some pretty cool bike packing events in addition to all kinds of local gravel riding. Along with his day job, and his role as race director, he owns a bike co-op in downtown Smithville, and guess what, he is also the mayor! No wonder the town is so bike friendly. Use code “Murphology” to get 50% off your registration to the next Humphrey’s Gravel Grinder. How cool is that! You can go to bikereg.com for more information. I can’t guarantee you good weather for the race, but if you go to Smithville, I am certain you will have a good time. 

Meet Scott Grow who is the Tour Director for a local bike club in Iowa called Hawkeye Bicycle Association. The HBA has been going strong since 1971 and the organization promotes bicycling safety and advocates bicycle friendly communities, roads and trails, as well as bicyclist rights. Scott is going to get into the ins and outs of group riding when not everyone is at the same speed. It’s great information if you are part of a club, or want to start a bicycle club in your community. If you are local and would like to join or ride with the Hawkeye Bicycle Association, or if you need some inspiration for your own bike club, check out hawkeyebike.org.
www.hawkeyebike.org 

 On the show today is gravel racer Kae Takeshito. Growing up in Japan, Kae always looked at the bicycle as a means of transportation rather than recreation and she didn’t get the gravel racing bug until adulthood. It is obvious she is a quick learner as she continues to embrace and dare I say she enjoys the sufferfest of endurance racing in terrible conditions like rain, cold and mud. On this episode she is going to give highlights of her most recent race, and 1st place win, of the Iowa Wind and Rock which is a 340 mile gravel race. I am so impressed with Kae’s physical and mental capabilities and you can bet I will be keeping an eye on what she does next. www.IowaWindandRock.com is the website if you want to find out more about this race. Also, if you go to Kae Takeshito’s Facebook page you can read her amazing and detailed recap of the event.
www.iowawindandrock.com 

 On the show today we have the Trail Manager for the Mickelson Trail, located in South Dakota, which has been a bucket list trail for me for quite a while. This Rails to Trail crushed limestone trail spans over 100 miles through the heart of the Black Hills. With 4 rock tunnels and over 100 bridges, this trail is open year round to bikers, hikers, and horseback riders. Dana Garry-Reiprich is the Trail Manager for the Mickelson Trail, and is on to tell us more about all that the Mickelson Trail has to offer.
To learn more, the website is www.mickelsontrail.com and is loaded with information about the trail itself as well as the communities the trail goes through. Events are listed as well. You can donate to the Mickelson Trail efforts at parkswildlifefoundation.org.
www.mickelsontrail.com
www.parkswildlifefoundation.org 

 Today meet Chris Van Roekel, a retired Veteran who is on to talk about off season training. So when RAGBRAI offered a virtual event in 2020, Chris saw this as an opportunity to rediscover his love of cycling. He completed Virtual RAGBRAI and enjoyed those miles so much he just kept on pedaling. What started as a mission to burn 1,000 calories of activity a day turned into something that offered Chris both mental and physical benefits that have paid off in many ways. Chris is shooting for 5,000 miles on the bike this year and by the sounds of it, he is well on his way to his goal. He is so right when he says the more training time you put in, the more capable you are going to be to do things you didn’t realize you could.
If you are on Facebook, check out his podcast called Disgruntled Veteran Productions
Justgobike – Episode-16-mountain-bike-flat-midwest
www.rwb.org 

 Today meet Tammy from the Pork Belly Ventures. For almost 30 years Tammy and her brother Pete, along with a top notch crew have been providing support to cyclists, supporting them during Iowa's 7 day tour called RAGBRAI along many other Midwest bike rides. Amenities with Pork Belly Ventures are many...from hot showers and bottomless coffee each morning, tent set up and take down, to PHAT trailers which feature a bed and air conditioning. Their support could mean the difference between a complicated, exhausting bike trip and a carefree athletic adventure. Be sure to check out the Pork Belly Ventures website at pkbelly.com for more information on all they offer as well as bike rides they support. And if you are listening to this episode before May of 2021, register to ride the Birds and Bees ride in Council Bluffs and you can ride with me! If you click on the 'Murphology Outfitters' tab on my website, you will find a list of rides I will be on this year.
www.pkbelly.com 

 This week meet Henry Gold. Henry tells the frightening story of how he came face to face with an angry elephant while cycling, and lived to tell about it. He is also Founder and Director at TDA Global Cycling, an adventure cycling tour company with some epic bucket list expeditions available. Many years ago Henry had a crazy vision to create Tour d’Afrique. A test of mind, body, and bicycle, it was to be a bicycle race in Africa that takes cyclists north to south, from the pyramids of Giza to Cape Town. This dream became a reality in 2003, when 33 riders saddled up for the 4 month expedition and Tour d’Afrique still exists today as a popular tour, along with many other options for the cycling adventurer. Be sure to go to TDAglobalcycling.com. There is so much information, inspiration and many tour options are available. And consider me available if you need someone to go on one of their tours. :)
www.tdaglobalcycling.com 

 This week I am going to respond to some listener mail. Questions about my sleep set-up, how to get stronger on the bike, first time bikepacking, and tracking miles are on the agenda.
Also, I have joined Patreon which is a platform loyal listeners can subscribe to for bonus content. It costs a few bucks per month and helps me keep the podcast going. Of course you can continue to listen for free!!
www.patreon.com/murphology
www.instagram.com/murphologypodcast 

All right Pork Tornadoes fans, this week Mike Schulte is on the show to talk about his perspective on what it is like to play in a band during RAGBRAI. The Pork Tornadoes is a popular band in the Midwest and cyclists who spend the last week of July each year pedaling across Iowa as part of the longest, largest and oldest recreational bicycle touring event in the world known as RAGBRAI, have most likely experienced this great band. Mike is the drummer and I can only imagine what it is like to be on stage, playing popular sing-a-long covers to thousands of high energy cyclists. I can tell you first hand that they are such a fun band to experience. And it is pretty cool to hear Mike’s story about getting back into cycling. Look for the Pork Tornadoes on any of the social media sites to find more info as well as contact info to get them to play at your next event.
linktr.ee/theporktornadoes
info@porktornadoes.com
www.stitcher.com/show/the-confused-breakfast
www.ragbrai.com
www.murphologypodcast.com

Did you know there is a bicycle themed resort at the base of a mountain in Colorado Springs?? I was lucky enough to spend a weekend at the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort and let me tell you, Torie the owner has it figured out! Torie Giffin, the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort’s visionary and intrepid leader, has always led with her heart and passion for others. Hospitality is at her core. So, when she decided to create a resort for cyclists there was no question she was going to make it great. During my visit, even though it was colder than normal and there was snow on the ground, the resort was buzzing with energy. 47 bicycle themed rooms on 4 acres of space. Along with bicycle events throughout the year, every Saturday year round Torie leads the Buffalo Lodge bike tribe on a bike ride so I was able to join in on the fun after our interview. She took us through Garden of the Gods and I was in awe the whole ride.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.bicycleresort.com
bicycleresort.com/event/daniels-wa…nstance_id=23437
www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/
www.ridetherockies.com/rtr-getaways/…-rush-gravel/
www.pikespeakapex.com/
www.lymevents.com/chasing-santa-5k…cycling-15k.html
www.granfondoguide.com/Events/Index/…rampart-rage

 Today meet Ray George. Ray founded the Ohio Gravel Grinders. He is based out of Columbus Ohio and went from creating a popular citywide bike tour of Columbus called "Bike the CBus" that still exists today, to The Ohio Gravel Grinders which is a club made up of over 3,500 members, and growing. He partners with great companies like Kenda Tires, Paradise Garage and Ride with GPS to provide events, maps, and a top notch resource for gravel enthusiasts. Be sure to check out their website, www.ohiogravelgrinders.com. It is a spectacular resource for all things gravel in Ohio and if you are looking to start your own club, this is the website to strive to be like. And if you are into gravel racing, check out the Ohio Gravel Race Series. Details are on the Ohio Gravel Grinders website.
www.ohiogravelgrinders.com
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 Sylva is on the show today. She’s an writer and a biker, and she has a can do attitude. She goes through life expecting good things, and good things come her way. Reminds me of the mantra: whatever you believe, you are correct. She checked off a bucket list item which was to ride her bicycle across the US, and she did it solo. A 4,000 mile bike tour across the US is an epic accomplishment that many people only dream about. She documented her epic adventure and then wrote a book to document it, but also to inspire and empower others. Her book is called Finding the Sylva Lining and you can learn more about it on her website which is www.thesylvalining.com. Thanks Sylva for sharing your story!
www.thesylvalining.com
Insta: www.instagram.com/the_sylva_lining
FB: www.facebook.com/thesylvalining
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 This week meet Brian O'Leary, executive director of the Dream Team which is a five month program that partners youth with adult mentors to provide a unique opportunity to build relationships, achieve personal growth, and learn life skills. They train and prepare as a team to ride every mile of RAGBRAI. Their mission is to use the power of a bicycle to assist youth in developing a positive approach to life’s challenges. Brian is going to give us more info on the The Dream Team, including how you can help this Central Iowa nonprofit group.
www.dreamteamdesmoines.org
www.ragbrai.com
www.murphologypodcast.com 

  This week meet Bonnie Gagnon. To quote Bonnie, she said there is something magical about riding a bike that helps us forget our misery. So true. Bonnie is a Lemierre’s syndrome survivor who has mastered how to suffer properly in epic bike events like Leadville 100 and Tour Divide which she called an amazingly grueling fantastic time. She’s also into adventure racing and is on a team hoping to do Eco Challenge which is affectionately called the World’s Toughest Race. Today Bonnie shares some adventure stories along with some great wisdom. I know l look forward to seeing what races she will do next and I will be cheering her on.
www.instagram.com/loves_to_mtnbike
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 This week meet Kymberly Byers, a cyclist, a bikepacker and a photographer who found purpose riding a bike and sharing the experiences with others. Kymberly pedaled into 26 states in 2020, was able to bikepack 100 consecutive days and shares some memories of this great adventure. We discuss bikepacking how-to and expert tips on how to bikepack in the most minimalistic way. Kymberly mentioned how important it is to stay in the moment and I find this simple advice quite meaningful, and more difficult to do than you think.
www.instagram.com/gypsy_cyclist_222
Also find Kymberly Byers on Facebook and YouTube by name
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 This week Leah Fuller joins us to talk about her vision to be part of a group of like minded women who enjoy being outside on bikes. She discovered the Fearless Women of Dirt, a mountain biking group started by Josie Smith of Decorah Bicycles. It was in 2015 Josie started Decorah's first women's mountain biking group: Fearless Women of Dirt which has now expanded to multiple states. Josie also created a stand-alone website, www.josiebikelife.com, with hopes of inspiring women to experience the joy, healing, and liberation bicycles could offer. Leah was able to reach out to Josie to become an ambassador and started a chapter in her own community. This is Leah’s story of how she brought the Fearless women of dirt to life for women of all skill levels. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your community, check out www.fearlesswomenofdirt.com.
www.fearlesswomenofdirt.com
www.josiebikelife.com
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.linnareamtb.org 

This week Dixon Novy from the Quad City Bicycle Club is on the show. This club has been around since the 60’s and their charter has been part of RAGBRAI for as long as the ride has existed. Dixon himself has biked a dozen RAGBRAIs and has been part of several overnight town committees who do all the planning and prepping for thousands of cyclists to camp. Dixon shares his take on what it is like to be part of the QCBC club and charter.
www.qcbc.org
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 This week Amy and Randy are on the show. This is a father daughter team that share a love of the high wheel bicycle, also known as the penny farthing. I am sure you have seen these bikes at some point, whether it was in a parade or some sort of historical event. The high wheeler was popular in the late 1800’s and both Amy and Randy have vintage bikes that they used to ride some epic adventures together. Most recently they biked from Michigan to Key West, averaging about 60 miles a day on their high wheelers. Today they are going to share their adventure. 

 www.highwheelride.wordpress.com
Facebook Page: Amy and Randy's Ride
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.
www.MurphologyPodcast.com 

 This week you get to meet author, cyclist, and Metro Atlanta Bike Mayor Pattie Baker who has written many books and blogs including the book Traveling at the Speed of Bike. She also has a great blog by the same name. A few months ago, after getting hit by a vehicle while riding her bike, she created the You Go Girl series where each day in August she blogged about an inspiring woman who makes it welcoming to ride bikes. She's an inspiration as well!
www.travelingatthespeedofbike.com
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.peopleforbikes.org
www.bikeleague.org 

  What do you do when you can't keep up on a group ride? My answer? Be first and and set the pace, or be last and ok with falling behind. This week I tackle some listener mail including how I am dealing with riding during a pandemic, memorable places I have ridden, and my favorite post ride snack. Email me your topic ideas at MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com
MurphologyPodcast.com .
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 This week we are connecting nature enthusiasts and cyclists through a nonprofit focused on pollinator habitat. For the last 5 or so years the gang at Milkweed Matters have set up booths on RAGBRAI in Iowa. They make seedballs made of dirt, clay and of course seeds and hand them out to cyclists who then toss them into appropriate places along the route. You may already know that the Milkweed plant is the only plant Monarchs lay their eggs on. I caught up with Founder and Chair of the Board Kelly to talk about how Milkweed Matters came to be, and what exactly they do for pollinators.
www.milkweedmatters.org
@monarchhabitatinitiative
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 Today you meet Kathryn Schartz from Lawrence, Kansas. Kathryn really enjoys getting out on her bike and it shows. In 2020 she gave herself a weekly mileage goal of 250 miles, and at the time of this recording she has already surpassed 12,000 miles, including 13 century rides. I found her energy and story inspiring and hope you do as well. Enjoy! 

 I recently completed an epic once in a lifetime adventure on my mountain bike with 7 friends, and wanted to tell you about it. The San Juan Hut System offers a variety of hut to hut backcountry tours including hiking, backcountry skiing and of course biking. We chose the Telluride to Moab trip which was about 200 miles spread out over 7 days, 6 nights and utilizing secondary dirt roads and singletrack. They provided multiple route options each day based on your skills that would get you to the next hut. The huts had no electricity or running water, but they provided shelter and they were fully stocked with food. Today I am going to give you the lowdown on the hut system, my bike and gear, and my thoughts on what each day was like. Be sure to check out sanjuanhuts.com for more information.
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCOVfW41A9lMX4KJNDyGrm7w
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.sanjuanhuts.com 

 Ward and Jacky Budweg are on the show this week. They recently published a book called The World at 10mph. This book is the result of a 3 year worldwide bicycle journey Ward and Jacky went on that started with a clever pre-nup, involved 7 years of planning and ended up being over 33,000 miles of bicycle travel. It is not only a great adventure, it is also a great love story. And Happy 21st Anniversary to the Budwegs! If you would like to get a copy of The World at 10mph, go to Amazon or your local bookstore. Or send Ward and Jacky a message via their social media sites and they may offer you a signed copy. You can also find Ward and Jacky on Facebook.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.amazon.com/World-10-MPH-Mast…ook/dp/B08CVTZYT5 

 Meet Coreen this week. She is a cancer survivor, a cyclist, marathoner, triathlete, and also a grandma. I caught up with her over on the Just Go Bike podcast to talk about some of her cycling adventures, with a focus on RAGBRAI. She has completed 30 RAGBRAI’s so far, which is the 7 day tour across Iowa that occurs every July. She rides each year with her brother, and even rode the year she was fighting (and beating) cancer. She has also done several cross country tours, races and rides that would make anyone envious! She calls her post cancer days...'Bonus Time'. Bonus time indeed. An amazing women to meet.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.ragbrai.com
www.pkbelly.com 

 Crystal Kovacs took the time to chat about her cycling experiences on this week’s episode. Crystal is a sponsored athlete who didn’t really get into cycling until her 40’s and it only took a couple of rides to get her hooked. Along with countless bikepacking and single track adventures with her family, she has also participated in some pretty intense gravel and dirt races such as the Dirty Kanza, the MAAH DAAH HEY singletrack race, and the Mid South Land Run. Cycling has changed her in so many ways and she even describes life as before biking vs now. Enjoy! 

 This week you get to listen to my recent interview on an episode of the Just Go Bike podcast. Along with most organized bike rides, the 7 day tour I talk about all the time, RAGBRAI, was a little different this year due to COVID. I tracked down a few people who participated in Virtual RAGBRAI to find out the what why when and how they spent their week. A big thanks to Josh, Gretchen, Sharon and Liz for taking the time to chat. It was fun hearing about how their week went and how even a virtual event can bring people together. Here are their stories.
www.murphologypodcast.com
www.justgobike.net
www.RAGBRAI.com 

 Today marks the 50th episode of the Murphology Podcast. 50! I did a bit of reflecting on all the people I have met and interviewed and I am amazed at the quality of conversation in each episode. It really is true that no matter who you meet, every person has a good story to share. Each interview gave me inspiration to try something new, or revisit something I hadn't thought of for awhile, and added to my growing list of places to visit. With almost 10,000 listens, I am so thankful for each and every listener who takes the time to tune in. This week I had my very first guest back on the show. Dana Fortier was on to talk about adventures she has been on and she ended up turning the tables on me and had some questions to ask me which was pretty fun. Enjoy! 

www.murphologypodcast.com

Ready? Today you are going to be listening to my interview with Reese Ruland who is a gravel racer living in Fort Collins, Co. She has a love for endurance racing that began as an ultra runner. Along the way she has had great opportunities to connect with inspirational guys like Allen at Scratch Labs and work with bicycle companies like Specialized before settling in to the life of biking in Colorado. She works and trains hard and it shows, she is kicking ass in the sport of gravel and has a fleet of Cervelo bikes to prove it. Along with a sponsorship from Cervelo, she is also sponsored by others including Fat Tire which is a tasty craft beer made by New Belgium Brewing. Um, yes please. Reese not only has a lot of passion for her sport, she also has passion for the cycling community through some pretty cool organizations like the Cycle Effect. It is obvious she contributes a lot to the gravel community. Take a listen to hear Reese talk gravel, nutrition and her French bulldog Loaf.
oldflowersoffroad.weebly.com/
www.outdoorvoices.com discount code: rrulanddoer
www.velocio.cc discount code: reesevip
www.murphologypodcast 

 This week is a great interview with Dave Puffer. Dave works at Bike World in Des Moines and he is on the show to talk about his cycling adventure riding the Great Divide Bike off-pavement route. The Great Divide is about 2,800 miles of pedaling from Alberta Canada, through British Columbia and then south through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and finally through New Mexico to the Mexico border. Dave’s expertise in long distance cycling tours along with the help of maps from Adventure Cycling, resources from bikepacking.com, and a book by Michael McCoy called Cycling the Great Divide, got him and his friend Gary through over 190,000 feet of climb in 33 days, and some of the best scenery he’s ever seen. So here’s is my interview with Dave Puffer. Enjoy!
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.bikeworldiowa.com
www.bikepacking.com
www.adventurecycling.org
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com 

 Meet Jeff Conaway. He got back into cycling just 2 years ago with a mission to lose a few pounds. He succeeded in losing weight, but in the process discovered how much he enjoys being on the bike. He now averages 30-50 miles per ride and has expanded his fitness to include triathlons. Recently he even started his own bike club to encourage others to give biking a chance and shares what is like to form a local club for cyclists.
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions. MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com 

 This week is a great interview with Veteran Aaron Martinez who is in his 4th season of a documentary series about veterans called Struggle Beyond the Decade. Aaron is an extraordinary individual with the desire and lots of motivation to help veterans find purpose and connection to community after they return to civilian life. He is also part of the Veterans Adventure Group that does epic challenges like bicycling and ultra running. So sit back and enjoy my interview with Aaron.
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions. MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com
www.strugglebeyondthedecade.org 

 Karen Matingou earned herself an award as Most Inspirational Rider and this interview proves that she is truly inspiring. Karen was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018 and decided to take up cycling by joining a training group and registering for a 2 day, 100 mile ride to support MS. That was 2 years ago and now she is hooked! She has been on an amazing journey and as she says....get out there and just do it!
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.nationalmssociety.org
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com. 

 Kenneth Rosales joined me for an interview on the JustGoBike podcast. We talked about the ins and outs of the bike team he is part of, Tall Dog Bike Club. This team has been doing RAGBRAI since 1976!! Kenneth tells us how it works to be part of a big team when it comes to getting gear to the route stops each day, to how that many people camp together. Kenneth also gives us the scoop on some of his cycling adventures!
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com. 

 Meet Chris Welch, an Iowa native and ultra-cyclist who recently moved to Colorado. He shares his Iowa adventures that include racing and riding gravel, fat biking, and mtn. biking. He gets into events like the Triple D, Spotted Horse, 24 Hours of Cumming, Dirty Kanza and more. The abundance of Iowa hills prepped him for the Colorado mountains and he talks about great places to go bikepacking in Colorado and Utah. Also a bonus story about his pup Farley!
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.bikeiowa.com
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.
www.MurphologyPodcast.com 

 Mountain biking in Bentonville, Arkansas is epic. The MTB scene in northwest Arkansas is considered an up and coming must-go type of place to take your bike and this week Chris Strobl is on to tell us all about it. They are experiencing major expansion and people are noticing. In 2021 they are even welcoming the cyclocross world championships. Chris considers cycling as a life saver, literally. He tells us why, and also about his experiences on both the mountain bike and the road bike. Great adventure stories from a great guy!
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.IMBA.com
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.
www.MurphologyPodcast.com 

 After this interview, I want and need to go visit Pueblo, Colorado! Full of scenic views, riverfront, and interesting history, it is also home to 45 MILES of singletrack! Meet Adam this week, president of the Southern Colorado Trail Builders nonprofit group. This guy is an expert on keeping the singletrack in great condition. He also bikepacks and has been working with his young daughter to enjoy the bike as much as he does. Great interview with Adam about Pueblo, bikepacking, singletrack, and good parenting!
www.southerncoloradotrailbuilders.org
www.murphologypodcast.com 

 Talk about a great story. Meet Marc this week, an avid cyclist who was just out of college when he was sidelined with a brain tumor that kept him off the bike for 15 years. Recovering from surgery and then diagnosed with MS several years back, Marc turned to yoga to help with balance and muscle strength. This also gave him the confidence to get back on the bike. Today Marc rides almost every day and he is on track to pedal 10,000 miles this year!! His can-do attitude is very motivating. If you would like to donate to MS on behalf of Marc, here is the link: main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Marc_Piane.
Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.
www.MurphologyPodcast.com 

 Jim Green (Greenie)was RAGBRAI Director for 15 years and his influence is still a big part of the yearly bicycle tour. He passed away last year so I sat down with his daughter Joanie to talk all things Greenie. Such a cool family full of fun stories. This interview was recorded for the JustGoBike.net podcast, where I was invited to be an occasional guest. Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.justgobike.net
www.ragbrai.com
MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.
www.MurphologyPodcast.com 

 Robyn Elliott knows Atlanta better than most people. There is a lot to see in Atlanta. Whether it is the rich history, the abundance of street art, or the best places to go via bike, she knows! She owns Bicycle Tours of Atlanta and this week she talks about how a bike ride with work friends turned into a vision and then became a successful bike tour business. She also tells us how she ended up in Cuba on private bike tours while helping out with the Spanky Project. Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
www.biketoursatl.com. 

Use code 'Murphology' on your next tour for a discount! 

 Todd Cowan is a visually impaired Veteran who isn't afraid to get out and explore by bicycle. He commutes by bike to work all year round, he bikes RAGBRAI, and he coordinates some pretty cool events in his town of Columbia, Missouri. Todd is also a volunteer for a great nonprofit organization called Team Red, White & Blue that is for veterans wanting to get active in their community. With over 200 chapters across the US and 192,000 members, this organization is free to anyone wishing to join and get active, and is focused on community involvement. To top that off, he has done 57 races including cycling, running, triathlon and duathlon, and has the bibs to prove it. Great guy to chat with!! Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.
www.teamrwb.org 

 Bogey is an 8 pound Maltese that loves to go for bike rides with owner Rich Keitel on the streets and trails of Pittsburgh. On this episode learn how Rich trained Bogey to be safe and comfortable on long rides. Rich also shares some of his biking adventures, and his strategy to ride more miles this year. Join us each week where we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 The founder of Velo Girls and Savvy Bike is on this week. Meet Lorri Lown, who is a bike fit specialist, gravel racer, head coach, and so much more! She teaches cyclists (men and women) basic street skills as well as the fundamentals of cycling. She also has clinics to help people learn more about climbing/descending, group riding, and mountain biking. Then there is Velo Girls which is an organization just for women who are at any cycling level...beginner to pro. We get into a few of Lorri's adventures too, including her week long San Juan Hut mountain bike ride.
www.velogirls.com
www.savvybike.com 

Are you a member of the new Facebook Group called Social Distance Cycling Club? If not, join! Creator Fred Zelt is on this week to talk about why he started the group, which is now has over over 3,900 members! Fred, a retired Geologist also talks about his epic long distance adventures including the Bike the US with MS tour. He is an inspiring guy and well worth the listen!!  

 -Social Distance Cycling Club:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/215255319880702/ 

-Bikes and Beers:   https://bikesandbeers.com/social-distancing-virtual-ride/
-Bike the US for MS general website:  https://biketheusforms.org/
-Bike the US for MS's current initiative on Facebook, Stay Home for MS:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/629628310936821/ 

-Fred's 2020 Stay Home for MS page:    https://ride.biketheusforms.org/fundraiser/2296090 

 Riding with the whole family can be amazing, it just needs a little different mindset. Meet Rob Knoth this week who does some pretty cool adventures with his wife and 9 year old son. They use RideWithGPS.com to plan and execute their rides. From the Baja Divide Cape Loop to overnighters by the river, Rob shares some of their biking trips and says 'the end experience is so much richer when you are out there with the whole family.' Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
Ridewithgps.com fatbackbikes.com bikepacking.com 

 This week hear about the birth of Bagger Vodka along with biking tales from a guy named Cheese who works at Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery. Bagger Vodka is a vodka with purpose. For every bottle sold, $1 goes to trails in Iowa. Cheese entertains us with some great bicycle stories and also gets into his knowledge of spirits...as in boozy spirits. Cheers to that! Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
baggervodka.com 

 This week's guest is Rambo, time trial racer and every day bike commuter who stops for shiny objects in the road. Just how did Rambo make $78 in street change? Well he rode his bike over 13,000 miles last year! 13,000!!! He stopped to pick up a penny here, a quarter there, and all that change added up. When not commuting, this guy is training for a life changing race....a chance to take back his track record at the Alpenrose Velodrome. Take a listen to hear his story. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
Rambo's Insta account: Rambobikeman 

 Take a Trek TT bike and turn it into a fat bike TT bike? It happened! Rob is on this week to talk about his love of fat bikes, and how the Fat Equinox was born. He races with fat bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, etc.... The guy can do it all! Rob also gets into his post retirement race schedule. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions.
More on the Fat Equinox.... bikerumor.com/2017/01/23/tt-bike…trek-equinox-born/

Would you hop on a fat bike and race in 8 below zero weather? How about mountain bike over rocks, rocks and more rocks? Kristen Heath is on this week to talk about her adventures, and pushing your limits on the bike. Her advice? If you want to, you can. And it's not the end of the world to fail.  Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions. MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com.

Listener Mail!  So IS riding an e-bike cheating? The short answer in my opinion...cheating what? This week I tackle some listener mail including what bikes I ride, my favorite podcasts, and of course the e-bike question.  Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me your topic ideas at MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com

 Alex Caicedo wasn't always into biking, but once the bike bug bit, it quickly became his preferred form of travel. Alex talks about how he has been downsizing to prepare for his upcoming 2 year tour. Downsizing as in selling, donating, or giving away almost everything including the tv, couch, even his bed! He shares some tales from previous tours, and shares his passion for cycling.  Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle 

 RAGBRAI Director Dieter Drake is on to talk about all things RAGBRAI. New to this great seven day Iowa tour and new to Iowa, Dieter discusses what he does and what we can expect on the ride this July. He also gets into being an elite cyclist and how that transitioned into running his own events and tours. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.  

 Pedaling to work, pedaling for fun, pedaling for fitness. For Carol Andersen, all those miles somehow added up to 5,400 miles last year. Whoa! This week Carol talks about living in Sacramento and how important bicycling is to her. Not to mention her bike stable grew from 1 bike to 7! Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 13,000 feet of climb in one day? That's Das Hugel in Texas. How about Leadville 100 MTB...a very difficult one day mountain bike race in high elevation Colorado. Bring on the pain! Michael Nelson tells us about cycling these rides, and more. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.  

Want to meet a real life World Record Holder? You can! Megan Hottman is on the show this week to talk about how, along with her team, she rode 28 straight hours on a spin bike, and lived to tell about it. She also shares her goal to pedal more miles than driving. Could you do that? Then I dive a bit deeper into People for Bikes, a great national nonprofit you can be part of for free. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

Some technical difficulties this week, but listener mail to the rescue! Enjoy this short pod about a few of the organized rides Murph will be enjoying in 2020. The Murphology Podcast is where we hear interviews about biking experiences from bicyclists who have pedaled to amazing places within the United States. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle .

 Do you know about Team Blue Line? It is a nonprofit set up to help the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This week meet Team Blue Line founder Chad Wallace who chats about his organization and also his passion for the bike. Also, my take on goal setting. The Murphology Podcast is where we hear interviews about biking experiences from bicyclists who have pedaled to amazing places within the United States. Each week we will get to know new people and explore great destinations to ride your bike. 

Holiday Edition. This week we take a break from routine and talk to Murph's relatives about bicycling. Mike shares how he tried to outrun the cops on his mountain bike and Ryan talks about the Ironman. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. Email me with your ideas and questions. MurphologyPodcast@gmail.com. 

 Veteran and cyclist Larry Ritland is on this week to talk about his epic adventures including the Alaska Highway Ride and his cross country tour raising awareness for the American Legion. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 Meet Adrian Martin this week. From Jackson, TN, Adrian pulled out of his driveway on his bicycle and completed a tour of over 10,000 miles within the United States! EPIC! He continues doing cool tours year round as an Adventure Cycling Association tour guide. The episode wraps up with some tips on becoming a stronger long distance cyclist. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 Erik Berg is on the show this week. Not only is he an avid bikepacker, he also owns a bikepacking gear company called Moosetreks. He has been to some pretty cool places so take a listen. Oh and he is also sponsoring this week's show! Go to Amazon and use promo code Murphology on the newest Moosetreks gear to get a sweet 20% discount. You are welcome. :) The episode wraps up with some of Murph's favorite bike rides. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

Meet Leah this week. She and her son Oakley rode across the entire United States together. Over 4,000 miles with a teenager! She shares her adventure ups and downs while biking 84 days. The episode wraps up with a chat about Murph's top 10 must haves on the bike. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.

 Angela Mittelstaedt Nelson is on the show this week to talk about her great adventure from Pittsburgh to D.C. via the GAP and C&O trails with her Team Good Beer teammates. It was only her third time bikepacking and she embraced it like a champ. Oh and she has the best luxury items. The episode wraps up with a chat about flat pedals vs. clipless pedals. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

Meet Dave Ihde on the show this week. This Midwest cyclist has done some pretty cool tours throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. Take a listen to hear about his adventures, his bike set-up, and more. Also learn how to make small adjustments to your bike to help you enjoy more time in the saddle. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

 Hacky Jedi is on the show this week. AKA Dave Wedemeyer, Hacky talks about the century rides he has done, and he has done many. The man has done at least one century ride in each of the 50 states, and plans to keep on doing them. We wrap up the episode with tips on a few century rides Hacky thinks you should try. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle. 

  Meet John Subtirelu this week on the podcast. He checked off a bucket list item by riding his bike across the US. That means coast to effing coast, on a bicycle. An epic adventure: he shares stories about how he did it, who he met, and some of the things that happened along the way! We wrap up the episode with tips on how to tour with a budget. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.  

   Meet Devin Cowens this week on the podcast. She is a high energy person who does a ton of group riding, creating a sense of community while encouraging new riders to give biking a chance, and she does it well. She also talks about her involvement in some great cycling groups in Atlanta, including WTFExplorersATL and Civil Bikes. We wrap up the episode with tips on ways to document your trip. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.  

  This week I met up with Duffy, co-founder of the Corvair Biking Society along with Bob, one of the Corvair members, to talk about the rich history of this great group. The episode wraps up with tips on training for a tour. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their adventures on the bicycle.  

 This week on the show, Katie describes a few of her epic tours with friends. Group bicycling etiquette tips wrap up the episode. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

  This week on the show, Dan talks about some great places to ride your bike in the Midwest. He also gets into his bike set-up, and why those bags are so heavy. Cool weather bicycling tips wrap up the episode. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures.  

  This week Kailey Kornhauser is on to discuss the great article she wrote for Bicycling Magazine about cycling and body positivity. You can read the article here. www.bicycling.com/culture/a2894361…tivity-cyclists/. Kailey talks about her relationship with her body along with some of the great places she has been on her bike. Find Kailey on Instagram at Kornhausersauce. Also tips on packing toiletries. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures.  

 This week Jesse is on to talk about short tours and what he brings along on the bicycle. Also tips on cadence and gears. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

 This week Heather is on to talk about transitioning from social riding to suffering up Mt Lemmon during triathlon training. Also, tips on bicycle lights. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

 This week my guest is Chip to talk about the social side of touring, along with why Chip's bags weigh so dang much. Also, tips on helmets. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

 This week my guest is Dale to talk about touring Ireland and bicycling from Denver to his wedding, in Iowa. Also, tips on camping outdoors. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

 This week my guest is Will to discuss some of his adventures by bike. He has also had his fair share of mechanical issues and discusses how he dealt with problems on the road. Also, tips on storing your gear. The Murphology Podcast where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures. 

 This week my guest is Dana to discuss her take on touring. Also, tips on cycling shorts. The Murphology Podcast is where we talk about group bicycling and bicycle touring for beginners, with a focus on biking in the Midwest. Learn tips and listen as guests talk about their touring adventures.