Episode 55: April 7, 2021: Vaccination First featuring Emma Bast and Dakota Topp of Levine Law Group Elite Cycling

The single biggest question facing a lot of us is when will it be safe to race. For Levine Law Group Elite Cycling that decision has a bright line-- when you are completely vaccinated. As a team, they have decided that it isn't right to race without being vaccinated amidst an historic epidemic which has now seen more than 550,000 deaths in just the United States. We are several months into the vaccine rollout; and it's not been even or smooth everywhere; but it's happening, with nearly 4 million people being vaccinated every day. Emma Bast and Dakota Topp tell us about this decision, how the team came to it, and why they felt it was important to speak out.

@llgwomenscycling

Episode 54: March 31, 2021: We Are Team CLIF Bar

CLIF Bar has been at the front, or more aptly put off the front, at many of the biggest USACRITS and domestic road events for the past couple year. In that time their roster, sponsors, and overall team ethos has remained largely unchanged. That level of consistency and stick-to-it-ness is commendable in sport. We sit down with four of the guys who have been a part of the organization to find out about how the team works, and how they've kept themselves focused during the down year.

@clifbarracing, @zacharylallison, @conormullervy, @kmullervy, @biker1stu

Episode 53: March 24, 2021: The Foodies with special guest co-hosts Matt "Little Guy" Allen and Micheal Boedigheimer

Matt Allen (The Slow Ride Podcast) and Micheal Boedigheimer (The Media Pit) help send our SEO into orbit with this discussion of food in bike racing. Topics: criteriums, cyclocross, Belgian cyclocross, Wout van Aert, egg sandwiches, breakfast, coffee, espresso, tea, gas station food, chicken-on-a-stick, Mpls, NOLA, DC, Giro (the ride in NOLA), Ant McCrossan, porridge, muesli, oatmeal, bad decisions, McDonald's, shame eating, beer, IPA, saison, Belgian country ale, pineapple, pizza, provel, Chicago, Ohio, topo chico, city museum, burritos, Chipotle, Pizza Hut, Mayor Pete, diplomacy, carrots, plums, light treason, handlebar bags, town line sprints, cafes.

Episode 52: March 17, 2021: Stare Decisis: The Pro Road Tour and American Cycling

Photo by Bruce Buckley

Seventeen days of criterium racing across some of the biggest and best events in the American calendar. We are one nation united by criteriums. Each event, as a standalone race makes perfect; but the union of events in a series or as part of a calendar is a touch lacking. Where is the story? Where is the drama? What links them all together? Right now it doesn't seem like too much.

Eric Hill of Project Echelon gives us his take as a racer and team director on what the PRT is, why his team does it, and what ways he thinks it can better serve our community.

Episode 51: March 10, 2021: Salaries in Women's Professional Cycling

Lily Williams of Rally Cycling and I discuss the recent survey on salaries in women's professional cycling published by the Cyclist's Alliance. More than that we confront a lot of issues in the women's peloton, including overcoming the taboo about talking about wages, the value of trade unions, and why having an attorney or someone with contract negotiations experience in your corner is a valuable asset when looking at offers.

Episode 50: March 3, 2021: Racing in Florida featuring Conor Delanbanque of Good Guys Racing

A lot to unpack in this episode, Conor Delanbanque of Good Guys Racing talks about his youth growing up as a mixed race kid in England before coming to the US. He tells us about what it's like to race on the islands and helps convince us that we should all give it a shot. And he also helps start the conversation that will occupy so much of 2021, which is whether to race our bikes while Covid is still a huge threat to our society. He's made the decision to race and tells us about that thought process.

@conor_del & @goodguysnyc

Episode 49: January 27, 2021: The Future is Alright (part 4) featuring Owen Gillot of Team CLIF Bar

In the final installment we speak with our eldest of the new generation of American/Aussie crit racers, Owen Gillot of Team CLIF Bar. At 25 years old he's reached a point in life where remaining at the top of the sport, and being a professional in the work force require compromise and balance. It's not impossible to do both; but it certainly requires making choices.

Follow on IG:

@owen_gillot & @clifbarracing

Pay no attention to how oddly similar or inspiring “United States of Criterium” and “Criterium Nation are as far as titles. They are in no way, shape, or form related at all.

All photos courtesy of Dylan Sequin.

Episode 48: January 20, 2021: The Future is Alright (part 3) featuring Céline Oberholzer of ATX Wolfpack p/b Jakroo

For our third installment in this series we feature Céline Oberholzer of ATX Wolfpack p/b Jakroo. When life as a professional dancer became impossible because of a series of injuries, she was fortunate to find bike racing through the Little 500 at Indiana University. She quickly fell in love with the sport and her passion led her to chase racing all across the country. 

The backstory of life before bike racing included struggles with an eating disorder. She talks about those struggles and her efforts at promoting social justice and equality. If you, someone you love, or simply someone you know is suffering with an eating disorder there are tons of resources for you. Kristen Arnold, MS, RD, CSSD, has been kind enough to provide us with a few resources like Eating Disorder Hope or the National Eating Disorders Association. There is hope and help.

Follow on IG: @celine_the_psychlist & @teamwolfpackracing

Episode 47: January 13, 2021: The Future is Alright (part 2) featuring Dalton Collins of Automatic Racing

In part 2 we take a look at faith, the faith that a team and veteran riders place the future and the younger riders in whom they see potential. Dalton Collins, of Automatic Racing, is just 21 years old; but he has the faith of the 2019 USACRITS individual champ, Tom Gibbons and the full squad of veteran heavy hitters on team orange. 

Follow them on IG:

@its_dalton_yoo & @automatic_racing

Episode 46: January 6, 2021: The Future is Alright (part 1) featuring Tyler Reynolds of First Internet Bank Cycling Team

A new year brings with it promise and potential; and, that is what this four part series of episodes is all about. We've linked together stories from four of the best and brightest hopes for criterium racing's future and present them to you at the beginning of this year. 

The first up is Tyler Reynolds of Pella, IA, and First Internet Bank Cycling Team. He's the 2017, 15-16 national road race champ, and is on year two of being on the verge of stepping up to the big leagues with his spot on a domestic elite team.

Follow them on IG: @tyler.reynolds20 and @firstibcycling

Episode 45: December 30, 2020: The Big Apple featuring Michael Tan of Good Guys Racing

There's nothing quite like New York City. It's got lights, life, culture action, and plenty of crit racing. Yes, you don't have to have miles and miles of open farm roads to have crit racing. You can do it right in the heart of the biggest city in the United States. Michael Tan of Good Guys Racing p/b High Water Womenis here to tell us all about it.

Follow them on IG

@the_michaeltan

@goodguysnyc 

Episode 44: December 23, 2020: Christmas with Starla Teddergreen

Photo by SnowyMountain Photography

We all have our favorite holidays, and Starla Teddergreen's is Christmas. There is something about gift wrap and the joy of opening presents that fills her with joy. For us, the joy has been watching her race the best criteriums and road races in the country. She's set to take on the world now, with a new contract with a Team Illuminate she will be taking her show on the international road in the coming future. Fortunate for us, we got a chance to talk with her before she set out on this journey.

Follow:

Starla on IG @starlat; or her team @illuminatethebike

Abi and Angus

Episode 43: December 16, 2020: Crit Queen featuring Kendall Ryan of L39ion of LA

The Lioness has found her way back to the pack. Kendall Ryan, now of L39ion of Los Angeles is focused on earning her spot on the the US Olympic team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the Team Pursuit and the Madison. However, that focus isn’t going to preclude her from pursuing her dreams of complete and total domination of the #critlife. The Crit Queen joins us to talk about how she’s taking the time to invest deeply in herself and preparing for the challenges that are going to face her in the coming year.

We also talk about her focus on recovery including the vital importance of sleep. She’s became an ambassador for ChiliSleep and cannot say enough good things about their product. And just for you she’s here to provide a promo code: Kendall22 to help save 22% off your purchase of a unit that she says has changed her sleep quality for the better.

Follow Kendall on IG @kendall_ryan92 or her team @l39ion.la

Episode 42: December 9, 2020: Mr. Ambassador featuring Allan Schroeder of CS Velo

When you think of the geography of crit racing in the US, you don't often put Boise at the top of your list . . . but you should. The guest on today's episode Allan Schroeder of CS Velo tells us all about why the Treasure Valley should be on your list of places to go, ride, race, and live. Allan is fresh on the scene; but he's already making an impact. That sort of energy gets noticed, and that's why he's been picked up by Philadelphia-based CS Velo. So come on board this week and learn more about Idaho and tacos.

Follow Allan on IG: @schroeder_allan

CS Velo: @csveloracing

Order your very own papas godras from District Taco

Episode 41: December 2, 2020: The Silver Fern featuring Olivia Ray

From the Cycling New Zealand Vantage Criterium Championship (left-to-right) Ally Woolston, Olivia Ray, Katie Richards.

From the 2019 Scranton Electric City Criterium

Olivia Ray is back on the show after completing her journey across the international date line and over the equator. She returns just in time to tell how she won the 2021 New Zealand National Criterium Championship and sealed a deal with Rally Cycling on a contract to ride with them for the coming year. We are also joined by her new sporting director Joanne Kiesanowski who fills in the details on how Olivia caught the team's attention and what their plans are for her now that she's a part of the team.

Follow Olivia on IG: @oliviaraycycling

Rally: @rally_cycling

Cycling New Zealand: @cyclingnewzealand

From the 2020 Cambridge Three Day track event, Olivia is the wee one.

Episode 40: November 25, 2020: Giving Thanks

This week's episode is Avenger's Endgame worthy. In this episode we bring together the guests from 2020 to give you a show about finding happiness and giving thanks in a year that was not designed for either. To do this we enlist the help of guest co-host Lily Williams of Rally Cycling and the 2020 Team Pursuit World Champion. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the stars of this year in order of appearance:

1. Robin Meidhof

2. The guys from The Gravel Lot

3. Lindsay Goldman, Eliel Cycling Apparel

4. Dino Piskopanis, ButcherBox Cycling

5. Adam Mills, Source Endurance

6. Madison Kelly, CWA Racing

7. Adam Pulford, DC Velo

8. Ali Sheehan, Team Tekkerz

9. Christina Gokey Smith, Team Colavita

10. Olivia Ray, ButcherBox Cycling

11. Zach Gregg, Project Echelon

12. Maize Wimbush, Team Twenty24

13. Jason Meidhof, Monster Media

14. Eric Hill, Project Echelon

15. Bruce Buckley

16. The guys from The Slow Ride Podcast

17. Amanda Nauman, SDG Factory Team / The Groadio

Episode 39: October 28, 2020: Community featuring Robin and Jason Meidhof

In summer 2016, the Meidhofs packed, 2 dogs, a cat, and their possessions into an RV and took off for California and a new adventure. Just a couple weeks after arriving, and without much in the way of a support system in LA, Jason was hit by a negligent driver and seriously injured. This is the story of his recovery, and return to form. Previously a master's world champ on the track, he was forced to rebuild his fitness and reconnect parts of his brain that were injured.

Fortunately he wasn't alone, and neither was his wife Robin. The two of them came closer together than ever before; and thanks to that bond, and the countless hours of help from others, they were able to get back to normalcy. And when you suffer a traumatic brain injury, normal is such a beautiful word.

Episode 38: October 14, 2020: What I Wish I Had Known

Tyler Reynolds, now of First Internet Bank.

Madison Kelly, CWA Racing p/b Trek, Gateway Cup, 2019. Photo by Dan Signer

Experience is a great; yet brutal teacher. The lessons we learn from it can make us stronger; however, we don't need to suffer the most onerous lessons ourselves. Rather, we can learn from others. In this episode we share with you some of the important ones to know when you line up for your first big race. Our teachers are the best of them all...the real life pros that light up the world's biggest crit stages.

Sit back and listen as your instructors Tina Pic, Kristen LaSasso, Christina Gokey-Smith, Whitney Allison, Kristen Arnold, Tyler Reynolds, Eric Hill, Stephen Vogel, Ricky Arnopol, Evan Hartig, Natalia Franco Villegas, and Cesar Gallego share what it is they wish they had known before signing up to race the best of the best. 

Clarendon Cup, Armed Forces Cycling Classic, 2019. Photo by Bruce Buckley.

Episode 37: September 30, 2020: She'll Be Back, Like Before

Olivia Ray, Gateway Cup 2019, photo by Dan Singer Photography.

Photo by Patrick Daly Photography.

Ata Marie, is good morning in Maori, the language of the native population of New Zealand, and the home of Olivia Ray. At just 22 years old, she already owns 16 U.S. and New Zealand national championships and a dominating crit racers. We met her earlier this year at the ButcherBox team camp in Southern California and knew we had to have a sit down with her to talk bike racing, the Olympics, and so much more. But our timing took a huge turn when she said she was willing to fly 26 hours, and quarantine for 14 days just to get back to Auckland to try her hand at the Vantage New Zealand national criterium championship in Christchurch. Cleary, Covid was also discussed.

Follow Olivia on IG @oliviaraycycling or her team @butcherboxcycling.

Olivia Ray, ButcherBox Cycling, Spring 2020. Photo by Patrick Daly Photography.

Episode 36: September 16, 2020: How it Would Have Happened.

Cory and Justin Williams of L39ion of LA at the 2019 USA Cycling National Criterium Championship in Hagerstown, MD. Photo by Bruce Buckley.

Starla Teddergreen of Hagens Berman/Supermint at the 2019 Armed Forces Cycling Classic. Photo by Bruce Buckley.

It’s been a rough year for us criterium racers. If some of us were lucky, we were able to sneak in a race in warmer climates or out west in March or February before the coronavirus hit our shores and shut everything down. It’s left a lot of us trying to figure out how to keep training and riding; or looking at other priorities in our lives.

For some of us, it has led to some incredible creativity and new discoveries like baking sourdough bread or that long-lost talent for guitar. However, for most of us it has left us frankly wondering what if.

Tom Gibbons of Automatic Racing, Littleton 2019.

Well look no further than this episode to answer that question. What if the 2020 crit season had taken place? Who would have walked away with the biggest prizes in all the land, from winning the USA Cycling criterium championships to the vaunted USACRITS overall in both the team and individual competitions. We’ve got that covered.

In addition, you’ve probably been thinking to yourself; what are the criteriums that can make a cyclists career? Why don’t we have the monuments of crit racing like the World Tour has its 5 monuments? Again, we’ve got you covered. We draft the top 10 essential criteriums in the US and Canada and explain why they’ve made our list.

And you might be asking, “we” who is we? This episode features a very special guest co-host. If you like what he does here please let us know and we’ll keep him around. So much going on in this episode, you are definitely not going to want to miss it.

The women of USACRITS at Littleton in 2019.