ShiftLess: Gravel, Bikepacking and Unpaved Bicycle Adventures

ShiftLess Hosts Hooked on Gravel, Bikepacking and MTB
  • 4.7 (18)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to ShiftLess, the bicycle podcast where curiosity meets total confusion. Hosted by Brad and Kevin, we are a couple of "chuckleheads" easily distracted by new bike tech and adventure cycling gear. We ask the big questions (and the totally irrelevant ones) so you don’t have to. While we lean heavily into gravel cycling, bikepacking, and mountain bike adventures, we cover anything that rolls. We bring in the experts to explain the world of ultra-endurance riding and route scouting in terms even we can understand.

  1. 1d ago

    160: Don Walker on Bringing NAHBS Back (Reunion & Invitational) + Handmade Bike Culture

    We had to hold this one for a bit a edit out some details that are in flux at the moment. Updates coming soon!Shiftless episode 160 features guest Don Walker, founder of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS), discussing the show’s origins and return. Walker recounts launching the first NAHBS in 2005 in Houston with about 23–25 exhibitors and roughly 700 attendees, then rapid growth in San Jose (93 exhibitors and about 3,000 attendees), Portland (around 150 exhibitors and over 5,000 attendees), and Austin (about 160 exhibitors and nearly 7,000 attendees), including seminars and community-building that raised industry quality. He explains how NAHBS helped expand the handmade market, how big brands shifted mainstream preferences, and how builders often lead innovation. Walker details how the planned 2020 Dallas show was canceled by the pandemic, leading to major personal and financial setbacks, and introduces NAHBS 2.0 as a “reunion and invitational,” sharing goals for exhibitor and attendance targets and where to follow updates on social media.00:00 Welcome to Shiftless00:37 NAHBS Origins 200502:23 First Show Buzz04:16 Don the Builder05:56 San Jose Growth Spurt07:39 Seminars and Craft08:48 Raising the Bar10:27 Handmade Market Boom11:59 Community Connections13:22 Portland Peak Numbers14:49 Niche Within Cycling16:05 Big Brands Shift17:43 Builders Lead Innovation20:00 Bike Types and Trends21:17 Specialized Spying Story23:30 Choosing Host Cities25:07 Pandemic Industry Fallout28:39 NAHBS Cancelled and Loss31:54 NAHBS 2.0 Reunion34:31 Keeping It Handmade36:38 Chef Side Quest38:10 From Bikes to Boeing39:19 Welding Careers and Trade School41:11 Claustrophobia in Fuel Cells44:11 NABS Vendor Goals46:20 Moving Shops and Machines48:43 Where Did Sasha Go53:39 Custom Market Today56:48 New Builders and AI59:12 Why NABS Travels01:01:31 Attendance Targets and Austin Memories01:03:55 Framebuilder Dinners and Documentary01:05:20 NABS Updates and Socials01:07:42 Wrap Up and Ride

    160: Don Walker on Bringing NAHBS Back (Reunion & Invitational) + Handmade Bike Culture

  2. Sep 16

    Shiftless 159 Redux: Heat, Bike Routines, Tire Hype, and a New Mexico Escape

    In this redux episode of Shiftless, the hosts talk through an ongoing Texas heat advisory, drought conditions, and hopes for cooler weather, then shift to riding routines as one host returns to a 22-mile road spin while dealing with lingering knee and elbow issues. They debate cycling industry marketing around marginal gains, wax lubes, pricey chain products, Silca and WTB “aero” gravel tires, and Stan’s new road/gravel sealant, arguing the industry over-focuses on the “pointy end” instead of welcoming more riders as e-bikes grow. The conversation pivots to travel: a Labor Day van trip to New Mexico to chase cooler temps and manageable elevation for Jan, packed campgrounds around the Enchanted Circle, boondocking near Taos Ski Valley, scouting around Mountainair (including missions/pueblos), a standout green chile cheeseburger in Corona, disappointment in flood-damaged Ruidoso and a misleading campground, and a hot, hazardous return via Pecos to Davis Mountains State Park. They also discuss van gear upgrades (dual-zone fridge/freezer, shower, Starlink placement), basic tire preparedness, and an upcoming surgery delayed by insurance network issues, which may pause episodes while route verification continues.00:00 Rolling and Weather Check01:24 Trails and Roadwork Talk03:16 Mom Visit and ADU Plans06:31 Back on the Bike08:44 Routines and Heat Burnout11:37 Chain Lube and Wax Debate14:35 Aero Tires and Watt Hype23:39 Cycling Industry and E-Bikes32:20 Road Trip Escape Plan35:48 Holiday Traffic Mystery37:27 Tucumcari Coffee Stop38:48 Scenic Backroads to Taos40:08 Rio Grande Gorge Camping43:19 Red River Campground Chaos47:55 Last Minute Stream Pullout49:58 Elevation Limits Reset Plans50:59 Windy App Route Planning56:58 Mountainair Missions Reroute59:54 Corona Green Chile Burger01:02:05 Ruidoso Flood Aftermath01:06:47 Monsoons to Davis Mountains01:08:34 Pecos Heat and Truck Gauntlet01:09:47 Davis Mountains Letdown01:10:50 Escaping Texas Heat01:11:45 New Mexico Cycling Surprise01:13:49 Waiting for Cooler Weather01:15:59 Van Setup Dialed In01:18:14 Fridge Freezer Debate01:22:28 Packing and Preparedness01:24:32 Tire Repair and Plug Kits01:28:03 Motorcycle Tubes Mystery01:31:39 Sealant Marketing Rant01:36:45 Surgery Delays and Plans01:42:12 Route Verification and Wrap Up

    Shiftless 159 Redux: Heat, Bike Routines, Tire Hype, and a New Mexico Escape

  3. Sep 1

    158: Pogačar’s Vuelta Crash, Safe Cycling Summit, More MADE/NAHBS & More Routes Coming

    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

    158: Pogačar’s Vuelta Crash, Safe Cycling Summit, More MADE/NAHBS & More Routes Coming

  4. Aug 28

    157: Fires, Silca Tires, the State of Gravel Racing & HandMADE Controversies Coming?

    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

    157: Fires, Silca Tires, the State of Gravel Racing & HandMADE Controversies Coming?

  5. Aug 13

    156: Austin Whittington’s 219-Mile Judgment Day, Tour de France Doping Talk, and Hands On 32-Inch Bike

    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

    156: Austin Whittington’s 219-Mile Judgment Day, Tour de France Doping Talk, and Hands On 32-Inch Bike

  6. Aug 6

    155: Spinistry Safe Cycling Initiative & North Texas Safe Cycling Summit

    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

  7. Jul 30

    154: Fargo 32 Updates, Tour Finale Drama, and the Problem with Racing E-Bikes

    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

  8. Jul 22

    Shiftless Episode 153: Tour Drama, Texas Heat, Bike Wrecks, and Cycling Safety

    In episode 153 of Shiftless, recorded from Casa Verde amid rising Texas heat and humidity, the hosts discuss recent Tour de France stages, including a crash that broke Vingegaard’s collarbone at a roundabout bottleneck, Pogacar’s “classy” tactics in letting others take stage wins, and Remco Evenepoel’s mountain-stage win. They debate controversy over overnight anti-doping tests reportedly waking Pogacar and Vingegaard at 2:00 AM and what it implies about modern doping and testing timelines. They briefly cover a lack of cycling industry news, share personal updates about riding, a pool repair, cheesemaking from 10 gallons of milk, and bike mishaps leading to planned Fargo maintenance. The conversation turns to the killing of cyclist Hannah Rab near Bryan after a driver allegedly backed into her, prompting discussion of cycling infrastructure and anti-cyclist hostility.00:00 Episode 153 Kickoff00:48 Texas Heat Check02:09 Tour Heat Talk02:56 Crash and Class06:53 Pool Problems Solved07:22 Crash Breakdown09:00 2 AM Drug Tests11:07 Doping Doubts18:04 Rising Stars20:16 Testing Fallout23:14 Sleep and Fairness26:03 Conspiracy and Protocols33:51 Results and Privacy45:31 Lance Era Parallels46:44 Tour Controversy Talk47:27 Voice of the Tour49:25 Lance as Commentator50:41 Cycling News Drought51:16 Bike Parks and Weather52:03 Flooding in Terlingua55:44 Back to Riding Update55:59 Homemade Cheese Projects57:35 Bartering for Pasture Pork01:00:05 Milk Run and Local Roads01:01:37 Thumb Injury and Jokes01:02:40 Shows and Movie Plans01:04:39 Trail Crash Storytime01:07:30 Bike Overhaul Decisions01:08:27 Rich Waltsmith Sighting01:11:51 Midnight Massacre Weekend01:12:52 Cyclist Killed in Texas01:19:50 Advocacy and Infrastructure01:23:44 Wrapping Up and Sign Off

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4.7
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Welcome to ShiftLess, the bicycle podcast where curiosity meets total confusion. Hosted by Brad and Kevin, we are a couple of "chuckleheads" easily distracted by new bike tech and adventure cycling gear. We ask the big questions (and the totally irrelevant ones) so you don’t have to. While we lean heavily into gravel cycling, bikepacking, and mountain bike adventures, we cover anything that rolls. We bring in the experts to explain the world of ultra-endurance riding and route scouting in terms even we can understand.

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