Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure

Adam Baranski & Michael Sharp
  • 3.7 (32)
  • Leisure
  • Updated Biweekly

Adam and Michael’s friendship is built on a shared love of cycling. From tough trails to leisurely rides, their adventures are filled with stories, banter, and authentic connection. Their podcast blends entertaining anecdotes, heartfelt conversations, and cycling excitement—welcoming you into their community and the joy of the open road.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Tour De France Finale Breakdown And What It Means Next

    Send us Fan Mail The final day of the Tour de France is supposed to be champagne, photos, and a calm roll into Paris. Then the route gets shortened because of wildfire security concerns, the temperature climbs, and Tadej Pogacar decides he is not interested in coasting. We felt the Champs-Élysées snap back into “real race” mode, and it delivered one of those finales where tactics, pride, and timing matter just as much as legs. We walk through how the move formed, why the entire peloton ended up working like a single machine to close it down, and how Mathieu van der Poel turned the last kilometer into a masterclass by hitting the gas at exactly the right moment. We also zoom out to the results that shape the Tour’s legacy: Pogacar locks up his fifth Tour de France title at only 27, raising the historical question that won’t go away now whether he can become the first officially recognized six time winner. Then we talk about the podium story that deserves its own spotlight. Isaac del Toro makes history as the first Mexican rider to finish on the Tour de France podium, adding a stage win and the white jersey at 22 while still serving as a loyal teammate. We also get into what made the 2026 Tour feel different overall, including fewer huge crashes than many years and the way racing kept splitting into multiple groups day after day. To round it out, we share a quick history hit on why the Champs-Élysées matters, how the Tour’s finish moved there in 1975, and a nod to Greg LeMond’s unforgettable 1989 finale. If you like Tour de France recaps, cycling history, and the kind of listener community that feels like a town hall, come hang with us and check out the new hub at cyclingmenofleisure.com. Subscribe, share this with a cycling friend, and leave a review, what was your favorite moment from Paris? Support Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Tour De France Finale Breakdown And What It Means Next

  2. 2d ago ·  Video

    Should You Wait After A Crash Or Just Race

    Send us Fan Mail The Tour de France doesn’t hand out “hardest day ever” labels lightly, but Stage 20 made the case with brutal climbs, huge elevation, and a finale that punished every lapse in focus. We’re Michael and Adam, and we break down how a record-setting mountain day actually unfolded: why the peloton kept splitting into pieces, how the cold up high changes the feel of the racing, and why the last miles can be more dangerous than the first hundred. Richard Carapaz takes the stage for EF Education, but the win comes with real late-stage drama. We talk through Sepp Kuss’s heartbreaking sequence of two crashes, including a tunnel-to-daylight transition and a costly descent mistake that flipped the outcome in seconds. From there, we zoom out to the GC picture: the yellow jersey looks close to settled, yet the tactics still matter, especially when Tadej Pogacar rides more defensively and spends energy helping Del Toro up the mountain in a rare, team-first moment that fans will argue about for a long time. That argument becomes our central question: should a rider ever wait after a rival crashes? We dig into cycling’s unwritten rules, when the peloton has historically shown restraint, and why a queen stage finish can change the ethics and the expectations. Then we preview Stage 21, shortened due to wildfires and redeployed police resources, and ask what that means for the Paris finale on the Champs-Élysées: more aggressive racing, or mostly ceremony with a fast finish. If you’re following the Tour de France stage-by-stage, subscribe for the final recap, share this with a friend who loves cycling debates, and leave a review. Where do you land on the waiting question: race on, or show mercy? Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Should You Wait After A Crash Or Just Race

  3. 3d ago ·  Video

    Twenty One Switchbacks And One Absolute Monster

    Send us Fan Mail Alpe d’Huez doesn’t forgive anyone, and that’s exactly why this day hit so hard. We’re back with our Tour de France daily recap, breaking down a mountain stage that looks short on paper but feels enormous once the climbing begins. The breakaway forms, the chase groups fracture, and with about 10 miles left the yellow jersey sits minutes back. Then Tadej Pogacar hits a gear that makes the gap feel imaginary, picking riders off one by one and turning a messy finale into a clean, terrifying display of climbing control. We talk through what made the move so decisive, from timing and pacing to how the road itself shapes the racing. Alpe d’Huez’s 21 numbered switchbacks create natural reset points and launch pads, and we dig into why those hairpins matter when everyone is on the limit. We also highlight Adam Yates’s bounce-back ride, how a teammate’s pull can steady the effort on the steepest ramps, and what it looks like when the best climber in the race treats a legendary ascent like a rehearsal. There’s history baked into every corner here, including Dutch Corner and the way fans transform the mountain into a tunnel of noise. That energy can be electric, but it can also get dangerous. We cover the late crash involving a support vehicle braking to avoid spectators, and why crowd control becomes part of the conversation every time the Tour de France returns to its most iconic climbs. With the overall win and key jerseys looking close to locked, we’re also watching the real remaining drama: who takes second and third on the general classification podium. If you’re following the Tour, love cycling strategy, or just want a fast, lively breakdown of the biggest moments, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave us a review so more fans find the show. Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Twenty One Switchbacks And One Absolute Monster

  4. 3d ago ·  Video

    The Most Expensive Banana In Cycling History

    Send us Fan Mail A town where a cannonball is part of the museum, a harbor where money once fell from the sky, and a bike week across Iowa that’s “short” but still punishingly hilly. That’s the vibe as we settle back into a full-length hang after our daily Tour de France run and catch up on what we’ve been building, riding, and laughing about. We share a big update for anyone who likes to watch along: the show is now available on video across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Then we get into the real project, a revamped Cycling Men of Leisure website designed as a central home base for the community. Think listener spotlight pages with clues, episode archives, an easier path to our free Strava club, and a simple way to send fan mail or a 60-second voice message without hunting for links. From there, we ride through Listener Spotlight Lewes, Delaware, including the unforgettable 2013 helicopter drop that scattered $10,000 over the harbor. We talk RAGBRAI 53 updates, weather swings, climbing, challenge coins, and quirky on-route moments like vow renewals mid-ride. We also trade a batch of unusual cycling stories: the “most expensive banana” disqualification, camera-glasses drama, and why the rules around recording and self-support keep getting tighter. If you’re into cycling culture, endurance events, RAGBRAI, Tour de France chatter, and the kind of bike stories you only hear when nobody’s in a hurry, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more laid-back cyclists can find the community. Support Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    The Most Expensive Banana In Cycling History

  5. 4d ago ·  Video

    Can A Yellow Jersey Survive Without A Team

    Send us Fan Mail A single late attack can win a Tour de France stage, but a wave of illness can threaten an entire campaign. After an Alpine Stage 18 packed with climbing and chaos, we break down how Richard Carapaz nailed the timing on the final climb, cracked the day wide open, and rode away to a statement win. We also talk through why the GC group looked unusually conservative, and what it means when the top contenders choose patience over panic with only a few days left. Then the conversation shifts to the real drama brewing inside UAE Team Emirates. We unpack the stomach and flu-like issues affecting key riders, including Brandon McNulty’s difficult day and eventual abandon, plus Tim Wellens fighting just to stay inside the time limit. That becomes the perfect launching point to explain Tour de France team tactics in plain language: why domestiques matter, how leaders get protected, and what a “strong rider on paper” loses when the support network starts disappearing. We wrap by looking ahead to Stage 19 and the legendary Alpe d’Huez: a shorter, more explosive day where attacks can fly and pacing mistakes get punished in every hairpin. We also clarify the OTL outside the time limit rule and how officials can apply discretion when the race turns brutal. Subscribe, share this with a cycling fan, and leave a review if you’re enjoying the daily breakdowns. What’s your call for Alpe d’Huez: bold long-range move or controlled GC defense? Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Can A Yellow Jersey Survive Without A Team

  6. 5d ago ·  Video

    Why The Breakaway Still Makes The Tour Unpredictable

    Send us Fan Mail Stage 17 was supposed to be the sprinters’ last clean shot before the Tour de France hits the High Alps, and instead it turned into one of those days where the race refuses to behave. We talk through Jasper Philipsen’s long-awaited win, how a top-tier leadout from Mathieu van der Poel sets it up, and why the green jersey points race suddenly feels tight enough to change tactics at every intermediate sprint. If you love sprint strategy, positioning, and that frantic final-kilometer math, you’ll feel right at home here.  Then the stage gets weird in the best way: breakaways everywhere, a peloton that keeps fragmenting, and moments where it briefly looks like the general classification could get dragged into the mess. We dig into the key storyline of Adam Yates struggling with illness and what that could mean for UAE Team Emirates when the climbing turns serious. And we relive the late ambition from Jasper Stuyven, caught only a few kilometers from the finish, which is basically the breakaway experience in one scene: hope for hours, heartbreak in seconds.  We also slow down and make the breakaway make sense, from drafting and wind shelter to the way teams “keep the break on a leash,” plus why strong riders are not always welcome in the escape. To put it all in context, we share a few famous Tour de France breakaway examples, then pivot to a Stage 18 preview with big climbing, an uphill finish, and a blunt prediction about what needs to happen for the GC gap to stay interesting. Subscribe, share this with a Tour fan, and leave a review if the mini-series is helping you follow along. What’s your call for Stage 18: fireworks or steady control? Support Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Why The Breakaway Still Makes The Tour Unpredictable

  7. 6d ago ·  Video

    Space Helmets And Brake Checks On Tour

    Send us Fan Mail One brutal truth defines the Tour de France time trial: you can do everything right and still lose time. We pick apart Stage 16’s individual time trial where Remco Evenepoel rips the course at blistering speed, grabs the stage win, and claws back 28 seconds on Tadej Pogacar. It’s a big moment for Remco’s confidence and a clear reminder that against the clock, he’s one of the most dangerous riders in the world. But the yellow jersey story stays complicated. Pogacar limits the damage and carries a commanding GC lead of 4 minutes and 32 seconds into the next day, which forces a real question: is the Tour still open, or does it take chaos to crack that margin? We talk through what that gap means tactically, how two straight wins can shift a team’s mindset, and why momentum matters even when the standings barely move. Then the episode takes a darker turn with a reported road rage incident involving Brandon McNulty on the way to the start, plus the emotional gut punch of Florian Lipowitz crashing near the finish and abandoning the race. We keep it grounded in what’s known while also speaking plainly about cyclist safety and how moments like these can rattle a squad. We wrap by nerding out on time trial gear and marginal gains and then look ahead to Stage 17: mostly flat, likely controlled by sprinter teams, but still full of breakaway intrigue. If you like Tour de France analysis, cycling tactics, and smart takes with a little banter, subscribe, share the show with a riding buddy, and leave us a review. What do you think decides the Tour more often, legs or luck? Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Space Helmets And Brake Checks On Tour

  8. Jul 21 ·  Video

    Tour De France Rest Day Breakdown With Big Questions

    Send us Fan Mail They say “rest day,” but the Tour de France never really rests. We’re back with a mid-race reset from the 2026 Tour de France, recapping where things stand after 15 stages and why Stage 16’s individual time trial could still shake the leaderboard. Between huge mountains and unpredictable weather, the race has already delivered the kind of chaos that makes fans either fall in love with cycling or start yelling at the TV. We dig into the biggest storylines: Pogacar’s wins and the growing talk of cycling immortality, Evenepoel’s breakthrough road stage and his best shot to gain time against the clock, and Pidcock’s high-risk breakaway style that brings points, penalties, and controversy. We also talk crashes and the weird moments that can flip a Grand Tour in seconds, plus the reality that even proven winners can hit total exhaustion in the high mountains. Then we go where cycling always leads sooner or later: anti-doping. We unpack what it means when riders get woken up at 2 a.m. or 5 a.m. for testing, how the athlete biological passport fits into modern enforcement, and why storing samples for 10 years is both reassuring and unsettling. Along the way we debate what “fair” looks like when sleep, recovery, and performance are all tied together, and we ask whether today’s systems match what the sport needs in 2026. If you’re following the Tour de France, love time trials, or just want smarter cycling analysis without the fluff, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave a review so more fans can find our Tour de France coverage. Support Support the show Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable. and Remember, It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride! https://www.facebook.com/cyclingmenofleisure https://cyclingmenofleisure.com/ https://www.cyclingmenofleisurepodcast.com

    Tour De France Rest Day Breakdown With Big Questions
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About

Adam and Michael’s friendship is built on a shared love of cycling. From tough trails to leisurely rides, their adventures are filled with stories, banter, and authentic connection. Their podcast blends entertaining anecdotes, heartfelt conversations, and cycling excitement—welcoming you into their community and the joy of the open road.

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