ShiftLess: Gravel, Bikepacking and Unpaved Bicycle Adventures

Safe Cycling Summit: https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/TX/Gainesville/NorthTexasSafeCyclingSummitJoin Club Spinistry: https://www.clubspinistry.com/In Shiftless episode 158, we return to Casa Verde and open with a Spinistry update: after a bicycle crash led to an ER visit, a kidney mass was discovered and one kidney is scheduled to be removed on October 6, disrupting late-summer plans and potentially limiting traditional event operations during recovery. They ask listeners to support Spinistry by joining Club Spinistry and to attend the free North Texas Safe Cycling Summit in Gainesville on September 19 (alongside the Evening Midnight Massacre), aiming to unite all North Texas cycling groups for advocacy and a Safe Cycling Initiative Routes network. They outline upcoming events (Midnight Massacre, Texas Gravel Champs Oct 3, a bikepacking clinic around Oct 17, and the Texas Chain Ring Massacre in January) and a membership-value guarantee. The conversation then covers Tadej Pogačar’s Vuelta crash, injuries, and the cause, debates generational athletes and cynicism vs optimism, and touches on NABS 2027 overlapping dates with the MADE show.00:00 Cold Open Banter00:17 Show Setup and Topics02:32 Spinistry Needs Support05:17 Accident and Surgery Plan07:20 Safe Cycling Summit Push11:51 Club Spinistry Events15:45 Pogacar Crash Reaction20:24 How the Wreck Happened23:28 Heroes Ego and Doping41:25 Streaming and Movie Talk47:01 NAHBS vs MADE Dates47:38 Date Clash Fallout49:44 Audience Versus Vendors53:19 Austin Or DFW Debate57:12 NAHBS Memories01:04:02 Travel Weather Catchup01:05:37 Bike Tune And Heat01:09:33 Kidney Surgery Limits01:11:13 Safe Cycling Routes01:19:09 Motorcycle Heat Gear01:23:32 Spinistry Membership Breakdown01:30:22 Final Ride Reminder

In Shiftless episode 157(ish), recorded at Dusty Roads Bicycles, the hosts discuss unexpected cooler weather caused by smoke from a rapidly spreading Palo Pinto County grass fire and how extreme conditions have hurt riding motivation. They recap trends from the MADE show, especially the surge in 32-inch wheels, and debate frame materials and carbon durability, with Nico weighing in. They cover Lynskey’s $795 titanium frame “fire sale,” and Dylan Johnson’s two-year collaboration with Silca to launch new gravel and road tires featuring claimed radial construction, a carbon bead, accurate sizing, and models like Protocol RCG and RCR in specific size ranges. They touch on Gravel Worlds and Leadville results (including Lauren’s third place and Justin’s 14th), rumors of 13-speed GRX, new 32-inch wheels from Industry Nine and Berd, the return of NABs in Austin in 2027, Dallas trail-connection funding issues, and a brief Mena trip to Burl’s Smokehouse.00:00 Cold Open Banter00:16 Episode Setup at Dusty Roads00:49 Smoke and Fire Weather02:34 Riding in Brutal Heat03:08 32 Inch Wheels Trend04:46 Lynskey Ti Fire Sale06:09 Frame Materials Debate07:43 Carbon Durability Reality Check09:40 Silca and Dylan Tires13:39 Gravel Worlds and Leadville Recap17:53 Silca Tire Lineup Explained31:42 Radial Tire Tech Homework34:35 When Silca Tires Hit Shops36:05 Industry Nine 32 Wheels38:37 Centerlock vs Six Bolt Rotors41:31 Berd 32 Wheels Approach43:25 GRX Goes 13 Speed45:37 32 Inch Gear Talk47:13 Scott Scale Gravel Debate48:15 Trainer Video Memories51:49 Race Pace Rabbit Hole54:02 MADE And NABS Return01:00:05 Mena Trails On Pause01:03:16 Big Bend And The Loop01:07:41 Dallas To Fort Worth Route01:12:25 Burls Smokehouse Quest01:15:03 Ham Sandwich Breakdown01:20:00 Wrap Up And Sign Off

In episode 156 of Shiftless, recorded at Dusty Roads Bicycles in Argyle, Texas, the hosts welcome Austin Whittington to recap his “Judgment Day” ride—DORBA’s 10-trail event—completed by riding between trailheads instead of driving, totaling 219 miles in just under 20 hours (17 moving) amid over-six-hours of 100+°F heat, headwinds, and support from his wife Stephanie. He details his route, key difficulty at Boulder, nutrition, and equipment choices (Niner ROCKET 9, Thunder Burt tires). The conversation also covers Tour de France and doping skepticism, a Tour de France Femmes “bra doping” headline, Leadville’s reroute and buckle time change, Justin Carey’s altitude-tent prep, hype and supply issues around Salsa’s 32-inch Fargo, and Austin’s upcoming Hotter’N Hell 100 USAC race plus other events.00:00 Ectoplasm Cold Open00:22 Guest Austin Returns01:59 What Is Judgment Day04:25 Riding Trail to Trail06:38 Heat Crux and Support08:09 Bike Setup and Speed12:07 Route Planning and Safety18:13 Bra Doping Debate21:02 Tour de France Talk27:17 Doping Era Hangover33:57 Doping Doubts Debate35:00 Alpe Record Breakdown35:38 Tech Gains Versus EPO37:48 Testing Rules Suspicion40:23 Hyperbaric Leadville Prep43:38 Leadville Reroute Math47:57 Rain Forecast Worries48:59 Dinner And Sponsorship Wins50:09 Dry Aging Brisket Science56:12 E Bikes And Pig Harvest59:19 New Kit And 32 Debate01:04:03 Radial Tires And Pressures01:07:34 HotterN Hell Race Plans01:08:59 Solo Breakaway Tactics01:09:40 Hotter Than Hell Plans01:10:39 Field Size and Strategy01:14:59 Doping and TRT Talk01:17:55 Bike Gear and Weight01:19:30 Fargo Fixes and Knee Pain01:22:04 Tuscany Food Tour Dream01:25:13 Next Races and Arkansas Route01:29:46 Pro Watts and Seven WPK01:35:36 Heat Hydration and Wrap Up

Kevin records solo and introduces Spinistry’s Safe Cycling Initiative, a practical effort to build safe, usable town-to-town cycling networks now by linking existing infrastructure and low-traffic roads rather than waiting for delayed funding, noting federal bicycle-infrastructure funds have been diverted to other projects. The plan leverages rural gravel “adventure routes” (including the USA Trail from Jacksonville to San Diego) and urban/suburban connectors starting in Dallas–Fort Worth to create point-to-point transit corridors and economic impact for communities. He recruits clubs, advocacy groups, businesses, and riders of all disciplines for the free North Texas Safe Cycling Summit on September 19 at Thirty-Five and Liberty in Gainesville, featuring speakers, an advocacy roundtable, vendor/demo areas, and a bike swap, alongside the Midnight Massacre that evening. He details route-building work (mapped/scouted/verified), current Roanoke hub-and-spoke routes, maintenance issues on existing paths, and provides a health update after a crash revealed a kidney mass, with upcoming scans and oncology visits affecting fall events.00:00 Solo Episode Intro01:13 Safe Cycling Mission02:59 Rural and Urban Networks05:46 Summit Announcement08:05 Route Building Focus10:22 Local Hub and Spoke16:08 Longer Corridor Routes20:04 Summit Logistics and Roles24:20 Health Update and Events27:33 Wrap Up and Thanks

In episode 154 of Shiftless, the hosts joke about not talking bikes enough, then discuss Salsa’s email confirming the Fargo 32 steel frameset arriving next month and a titanium option in the fall, plus related wheels, tires, and accessories, while expressing growing skepticism about 32-inch wheels beyond fit benefits for taller riders. They reference Ben Delaney’s 700c vs 32 real-world test video and debate whether marginal gains matter for most riders versus industry-driven “next big thing” marketing. The conversation shifts to the Tour de France: Pogačar won overall, scrutiny lingered after middle-of-the-night testing with no official follow-up, and Pogačar broke Pantani’s climb record amid discussion of pacing, technology, fueling, recovery, and doping suspicions, alongside doubts about motor doping. They also critique e-bike racing after a rider was reportedly disqualified at USA Cycling’s Marathon MTB Nationals over an unapproved Specialized Levo/firmware issue. Personal updates include AC trouble, upcoming pop-up dinners, bike maintenance plans, and Austin Whittington reportedly completing the full Judgment Day route.00:00 Cold Open and Welcome00:27 Salsa Fargo 32 Update01:48 32 Inch Wheels Debate05:12 Fit Versus Hype07:34 Industry Sales Reality09:06 Tour Recap Setup10:25 Midnight Testing Rumors12:36 Record Climb Breakdown20:36 Fueling Tech and Doping Gray25:04 Innocent Until Proven27:18 Peloton Trust Hangover28:39 Tour Course Favors Pogacar29:53 Motor Doping Line in Sand32:26 E-Bike Nationals Disqualification34:30 Can You Even Race E-Bikes36:12 Spec Series Dream Setup38:02 Karting Detour and Heat40:14 Ghost in the Machine Debate47:41 Tour Finale on Montmartre51:36 Dinner Plug and Bike Fixes53:21 Judgment Day Mileage Mystery56:33 Wrap Up and Next Ride Plans