Cycling Culture Club - Connections

Miles
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

Cycling Culture Club is a space within cycling to give voice to those from underrepresented groups, build community and promote diversity in cycling. Connections is our live feed, featuring interviews and commentary from our network of contributors and community members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Jul 20

    Ama Nsek on Racing Hard & Giving Back

    In this episode of Cycling Culture Club Connections, Miles sits down with Ama Nsek, three-time US national champion, privateer road racer, and one of the most thoughtful voices on diversity, development and the future of cycling. Ama shares his journey from mountain biking as a kid with asthma in Southern California, through racing in Europe on the US junior national team, to building a privateer programme that puts grassroots development and community at its core. He talks candidly about what it feels like to be a black man in a predominantly white sport, the mental friction of racing in Europe, and why he came back to cycling after nearly walking away for good. They also explore the racing scenes in Colombia and Mexico, the joy of salsa dancing, and why making the right friends might be the most important thing anyone can do in cycling. Key Topics Growing up with asthma and discovering the bike through mountain bikingThe US junior national team and racing in Europe as a 17-year-oldBeing a black man in professional cycling and the reality of racial barriersThree national championships and what they meantBuilding a privateer programme around racing, social media and communityYouth development and bridging the gap for the next generationRacing and riding in Colombia and MexicoWhy Cycling Culture Club felt like the right fitLinks Ama on Instagram: @amansekAma on YouTube: Amaette NsekRide for Racial Justice: @rideforracialjusticeFollow us: @cyclingcultureclubWant more from our podcast? Listen to CCC Connections on all the major podcasting platforms. For more episodes of Cycling Culture Club Connections

    Ama Nsek on Racing Hard & Giving Back

  2. Jul 6

    Makesi Duncan — DadBod Cycling, Brooklyn, and the Power of Shooting Your Shot

    Makesi Duncan is the founder of DadBod Cycling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, raised in Brooklyn, Makesi came to cycling post-pandemic and quickly turned a personal frustration into a community movement. From donating bikes to kids in his neighbourhood to competing at SBT GRVL three times, his journey is one of relentless positivity, community building, and an unshakeable belief that anything is possible if you shoot your shot. In this episode we cover: How Makesi got into cycling during the pandemic and why he was immediately hookedThe birth of Dad Bod Cycling and the kit frustration that started it allBuilding a nonprofit: grants, partnerships, and how to ask for the worldRiding in New York City — what it's really like versus the reputationThe DBC NYC Cycling Tour and why he's bringing riders to BrooklynThree attempts at SBT GRVL, including altitude sickness at mile 60Being a Black cyclist in the gravel world and disarming people with a smileRaising three daughters bike-adjacent and what that means for representationThe SRAM Community Program and what's coming in 2026Links: Dad Bod Cycling on Instagram: @makesiduncanDBC NYC Cycling Tour: wetravelTD Five Boro Bike Tour: fiveborobike.orgCycling Culture Club: cyclingcultureclub.cc

    Makesi Duncan — DadBod Cycling, Brooklyn, and the Power of Shooting Your Shot

  3. May 30

    Building Community Through Listening: A Conversation with Alisha Zellner

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Cycling Culture Club Connections, Miles speaks with Alisha Zellner, Community Specialist at SRAM and the driving force behind its global community programme. Alisha shares her journey from mental health and law enforcement into the cycling industry, and how her lived experiences shaped a programme designed to support underrepresented communities in cycling. From her research into systemic barriers, to leading initiatives that create real access and opportunity, this is a conversation about listening, trust, and building something that truly reflects the people it serves. They also explore the power of the bike as a space for healing, connection, and change, and why community work must start with those closest to it. Key Topics: The SRAM Community Programme and how it worksBuilding community led initiatives through listening and trustBarriers to cycling and representation in the sportFrom law enforcement to the cycling industryBike Ride for Black Lives and the role of cycling in healingCreating sustainable change through community partnerships

    Building Community Through Listening: A Conversation with Alisha Zellner

  4. Mar 31

    Wango Alfred: Creativity, Community and Capturing Cycling in East Africa

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of Cycling Culture Club Connections, Miles sits down with Wango, a Nairobi based multidisciplinary creative working across photography, design, and storytelling with Team Amani. Wango shares his journey into cycling through creativity, documenting riders across East Africa and capturing moments that reflect a bigger cultural shift within the sport. From the World Championships in Rwanda to life at altitude in Iten, this conversation explores what it means to tell stories from within your own community. They talk about representation, creative process, and why showing up matters more than anything else. Key TopicsStorytelling and documenting cycling in East AfricaTeam Amani and building pathways to the global stageThe impact of the World Championships in RwandaRepresentation in cycling media and creative spacesCreative process across photography, design, and artCommunity work and cultural storytelling in NairobiWhy showing up is everything

    Wango Alfred: Creativity, Community and Capturing Cycling in East Africa

  5. Mar 10

    Llori Sharpe: Racing for Jamaica and Building Opportunity Through Cycling

    In this episode of Cycling Culture Club Connections, Miles sits down with Llori Sharpe, former national champion of Jamaica and one of the Caribbean’s most inspiring voices in cycling. Llori shares her journey into the sport, from a childhood rooted in swimming and running to discovering cycling through triathlon. What started as an unexpected transition quickly grew into a competitive career that has seen her represent Jamaica on the international stage. The conversation explores the realities of racing from a country where cycling infrastructure and pathways are limited, the challenges that come with visas and international competition, and the pride that comes with representing Jamaica in the global peloton. Beyond racing, Llori reflects on the role of community in sport and why visibility matters for riders coming from underrepresented cycling nations. This is a conversation about resilience, opportunity, and the responsibility that comes with riding for something bigger than yourself.

    Llori Sharpe: Racing for Jamaica and Building Opportunity Through Cycling

  6. Feb 8

    Flipping the Script: Hear from the Founder of Cycling Culture Club, Miles Baker Clarke

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Cycling Culture Club Connections, we flip the script and Miles hands over hosting duties to Head Cheerleader, Merida Miller. She sits down with Miles, the founder and diversity advocate behind Cycling Culture Club to explore cycling as a space for connection, community and change. Miles shares how his relationship with the bike has evolved beyond performance and productivity, becoming a place to slow down, think, and reconnect with himself, his heritage and his own diversity. Together, they talk about community, letting go of expectation, and why cycling does not need to be loud or competitive to be meaningful. Do you want to know why Cycling Culture Club exists? This is the podcast for you. Key Topics: Building Cycling Culture Club around people and stories Cycling as a reflective practice Letting go of performance driven narratives Community, creativity, and connection Finding value in quieter rides Diversifying cycling and why that matters

    Flipping the Script: Hear from the Founder of Cycling Culture Club, Miles Baker Clarke

  7. 12/15/2025

    Inspiring Black Women to Go Riding: Meet the Iron Empress, Donna McConnell

    Cycling is more than movement. It is identity, connection, and sometimes resistance. In this episode, we share an open-hearted conversation with Donna, a journalist, rider, mum, and inclusive cycling ambassador. Donna speaks warmly about building confidence through group rides, holding space for underrepresented riders, and finding balance on and off the bike. Highlights: Discovering confidence and kinship through cyclingWhy visibility and representation matter, especially for older womenThe joy of breaking stereotypes with every pedal Subscribe for stories that explore cycling as culture, community, and empowerment. #CyclingCultureClub #InclusiveCycling #DonnaMcConnell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Inspiring Black Women to Go Riding: Meet the Iron Empress, Donna McConnell

  8. 11/01/2025

    Building Sisterhood Through Cycling with Samra Said | Cycling Culture Club Connection

    Cycling is about more than sport. It is about freedom, community, and belonging. In this episode, we speak with Samra Said, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Cycle Sisters, an award-winning organisation that empowers Muslim women to take up cycling and ride with confidence. Samra shares the story behind Cycle Sisters, from its beginnings in East London to the national network it has become. She talks about representation, visibility, and how cycling can create powerful change through community and shared joy. This conversation celebrates sisterhood, faith, and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels welcome on two wheels. Highlights: The story of Cycle Sisters and its missionHow visibility and representation inspire confidenceOvercoming barriers for Muslim women in sportThe importance of community and joy in cycling Subscribe for more stories that celebrate cycling as culture, connection, and community. #CyclingCultureClub #CycleSisters #InclusiveCycling #SamraSaid #CyclingPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building Sisterhood Through Cycling with Samra Said | Cycling Culture Club Connection
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Cycling Culture Club is a space within cycling to give voice to those from underrepresented groups, build community and promote diversity in cycling. Connections is our live feed, featuring interviews and commentary from our network of contributors and community members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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