Bikes or Death

Patrick Farnsworth
  • 4.8 (505)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Bikes or Death

Bikes or Death is a podcast centered around the growing sport of bikepacking, adventure cycling, and the outdoors. The show features the amazing people who participate in these activities and contribute so greatly to the cycling community. The Bikes or Death Podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories and experiences of these individuals with the hopes that it inspires others to get outside, get on their bikes, and experience what our natural world has waiting for them. At its heart Bikes or Death is more than just a podcast. Bikes or Death is a lifestyle. It’s the idea that a life without bikes is a life not worth living. Now go ride your damn bike!

  1. NOV 27

    Ep. 195 ~ Justinas Leveika, New Bikepacking Triple Crown FKT

    At this point Justinas needs no introduction. In 2024 he completed a total of 10 ultra cycling races, winning most of them. Among them was a win, and new FKT, at the Tour divide, where he bested the long standing record Mike Hall set 8 years ago. He then went on to finish first, but not win*, at the Colorado Trail Race. Followed by a first place finish at the Arizona Trail Race, a time that would have been an FKT if it weren't for a re-route due to fires. His total time for the Triple Crown was 25d 5h 30m, which was 2d 13h 3m faster than the previous record time set by Jay Petervary 9 years ago. What Justinas accomplished this year has left me speechless and fumbling to find the words to fully emphasize the magnitude of his accomplishments. Luckily for me, I was able to chat with the man himself and we can hear from him on his own reflections from an incredible year of bikepack racing. EPISODE SPONSORS  LIVSN - Shop their LIVDN line of products, the online marketplace to buy and sell pre-loved, repaired, and reimagined LIVSN clothing. Use code "BOD10" at checkout to get 10% off your order! East Texas Showdown – Take $20 off when you register when you use the code "blackfriday2024" at checkout. Sale ends Sunday Dec. 1st at 11:59pm New Patrons  Risto Sarvas Join them won't you at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

    2h 25m

  2. NOV 14

    Ep. 194 ~ Annabelle Bitterman, Central Texas Showdown 3rd Overall

    Annabelle Bitterman was our 2024 Central Texas Showdown (472 miles) 1st place female, which was also good enough to secure 3rd overall. This was her third time participating in a Texas Showdown Series event. Her first bikepacking race was the 2023 Central Texas Slowdown (297 miles) and was our 1st place female finisher. Next she signed up for the 2024 East Texas Slowdown (280 miles) where she was our 3rd place female finisher. She only started riding bikes seriously a few years ago and was quickly bit by the cycling bug and was further hooked by the cycling community. Hailing out of Austin, TX she's found a robust community of other rad cyclists that continue to ignite her passion for throwing a leg over the top tube and go for long rides. Those long rides led her to find ways to continually challenge herself which is when she discovered the Texas Showdown Series. Since then, she's become a staple at the events and a staple on our podiums. On today's episode we take a deep dive into CTS, ETS, and Annabelle's experience as a relatively new cyclist who's looking to challenge herself on her bike.  EPISODE SPONSORS Follow My Challenge USA ~ The preferred gps tracking service for the Texas Showdown Series New Patrons  Pierre Delecto Ryan Staffen Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon.com/bikesordeath!

    2h 5m

  3. OCT 23

    Ep. 193 ~ Tim Krueger, Esker Cycles CEO

    Tim Krueger has been in the cycling industry for almost three decades. He got his start at a local bike shop breaking down boxes as a teenager. After college he landed a job at Salsa Cycles as the Product Manager during the birth of the "Adventure by Bike" category. A pivotal time in the bike industry that ultimately led to an entirely new market and category of Adventure Bikes. After his time at Salsa he went on to start his own company, Advocate Cycles. Advocate featured a rad lineup of steel adventure bikes with a unique business model that donated all of its profits to philanthropic institutions. After attempting that business model for a couple of years it became clear to Tim that businesses needed their profits to sustain their employees and grow their company. It was at that time that the decision was made to transition the brand into Esker Cycles that we know today. Tim's contributions and commitment to the cycling community and influence in the cycling market at large has been nothing short of impressive. I've been following his career, and awing over the cool bikes he's helped bring to market, for years. It was a true honor to get to pick his brain about longstanding questions and curiosities I've had about him and some of the bikes he's brought to market. EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN – Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order! Bikepacking Roots - Check out their new Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network New Patrons  Daz Richard Hart Christopher T - Increased their pledge Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon.com/bikesordeath!

    2h 34m

  4. OCT 8

    Ep. 192 ~ Hannah Simon, Answers Listener Questions

    Hannah Simon is quickly becoming a dominant force on the ultra bikepack racing stage. She recently added another feather in her cap of accomplishments with a win at this year's Silk Road Mountain Race, with a time of 8d 20h 16m. At this point, Hannah probably needs little introduction, especially to the Bikes or Death audience. This is her 7th appearance on the show and this time we turned to you, the listener, to come up with the questions for Hannah! It's been so inspiring to watch Hannah's progression in the sport of bikepack racing. I had the privilege of being at the finish line when she won her first ever bikepacking race, the inaugural East Texas Showdown. Since then, she's been on an absolute tear, winning many of the biggest races bikepacking has to offer. Along the way, she's been kind enough to share her experiences with me and my audience. Some of you have been following along on her journey from the start, so it was only fitting to give you guys the opportunity to provide the questions this time around! I caught up with Hannah at CHUMBA headquarters in Austin, TX, where she is currently employed. A big thanks goes out to Vince Colvin, CHUMBA CEO,  for letting us commandeer his office for our conversation! Thanks to the listeners for all of the great questions. We had a blast using them as fodder for our chat! EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN – Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order! Old Man Mountain - Use code "mountainsordeath" at checkout to receive 10% off your order! New Patrons  None this week, this is a great time to sign up to support the show 🙂 Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

    2h 7m

  5. SEP 25

    Ep. 191 ~ Jen Kelly, professional poker player and winner of 3 bikepacking races this summer

    In her first year as a bikepack racer Jen Kelly has already racked up an impressive resume. She entered into 3 bikepacking races this summer and won them all! She's also a professional poker player who picked up cycling 4 years ago when she moved into a condo next to a rails to trails. She quickly fell in love with it and just wanted to ride further and further. Last year she put her career, as a professional poker player, on hold to focus on riding her bike. Her first bikepacking race was the inaugural Great American Wheel Race, a 3,600 mixed surface race across America which she placed 4th overall and 1st Female. Just 6 weeks later she entered the 900 mile Big Sky Spactacularie in Montana where she took 1st overall. Then only 5 days after finishing Big Sky she entered the 1,750 mile Montana Bike Odyssey and took the overall win again! Needless to say her gamble to focus on bikepacking is paying off! We had a great chat and it was great to talk to someone who is new to the sport and already having so much success. EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN – Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order for being a loyal listener! New Patrons  None this week, this is a great time to sign up to support the show 🙂 Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

    2h 30m

  6. AUG 29

    Ep. 190 ~ Nicolette Jones, 2024 Colorado Trail Race Female Winner

    Nicolette Jones just won the 2024 Colorado Trail Race on her first attempt. Not only was this her first time racing the Colorado Trail, it was her first bikepacking race ever! Which makes her finish time of 5d 12h 21m even more impressive. Although this was her first bikepacking race, she is no stranger to adventurous pursuits or the Colorado Trail. She is the only person in the world to have thru-hiked, skied, and biked the Colorado Trail. So she is no stranger to this trail and, in fact, probably has a higher familiarity with it than most people. In 2023 she toured the trail in 11 days with thoughts of racing it one day on her mind. This year, those thoughts turned to reality and she rolled out at 4am with about 75 other racer at this years CTR. She was able to get a lead on her competitors early on and then maintain it for the entirety of the race. On today's episode we talk about a host of interesting topics. From her jobs as an adventure guide and coach, to making your own bikepacking bags, her love for tandems, and a 7.5 month bike tour she did with her Husband, Mark, from Arizona to Argentina. And, of course, we talk about her impressive win at the Colorado Trail Race. At only 25 Nicolette has a huge adventure resume and it was a lot of fun getting to know her and hear about some of her adventures. If you'd like to learn more about Nicolette after you listen to today's episode you can take a deeper dive on her blog, WalkSkiCycle.com. EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN – Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order for being a loyal listener! Red Granite Grinder - Epic gravel race in Wisconsin on Oct. 12th, 2024. Smash the link for more information and registration. New Patrons  None this week, this is a great time to sign up to support the show :) Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon.com/bikesordeath!

    2h 3m

  7. AUG 23

    Ep. 189 ~ Justinas Leveika, Colorado Trail Race 2024

    Justinas Leveika is fresh off an impressive Colorado Trail Race finish. This was his first time at CTR and he finished in 4d 7h 17m, which was over 8 hours faster than the next rider. However, due to a rule violation, which was unknown to him at the time, he was not the official first place finisher. That honor goes to Xavier Chiriboga with a time of 4d 15h 55m. Going into Leadville Justinas destroyed his rear wheel on a gnarly decent which shattered the wheel, rendering it unrideable. To get it fixed he hiked to a trailhead, hitched a ride into town, replaced the rear wheel, and hitched a ride back to where we left the trail and continued on. Unlike other solo self supported bikepacking races like the Tour Divide, you are not allowed to get in a vehicle at anytime during the Colorado Trail Race. Justinas was unaware of this rule at the time, but it didn't stop him from putting on an impressive performance. After returning to the trail with his shiny new wheel he quickly started packmaning his way through the field and finished ahead all the other riders. The broken wheel wasn't the only challenge he had to overcome on the race this year, but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear the whole story. Regardless of an unfortunate rules oversight, what Justinas did was undeniably impressive. Even more so considering that he broke the long standing FKT on Tour Divide less than 2 months ago. Now, he sets his sights on the Arizona Trail Race in an attempt to complete the Bikepacking Triple Crown. EPISODE SPONSORS LIVSN - Use code “BOD10” at checkout to receive 10% off your order for being a loyal listener! New Patrons  Alliy G Julian Strait Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

    2h 9m

  8. AUG 14

    Ep. 188 ~ Chris Smith, Racing the Tour Divide Legally Blind

    In 2000 Chris Smith was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease, by 2009 he was declared legally blind. No longer able to drive he turned to the bike as a way to get to work 3 miles from his house. At the time he tipped the scales at over 300 lbs and the 3 mile ride to work was a real challenge, but Chris wasn't discouraged. He kept at it, joined friends for group rides, and eventually went on to earn a buckle at Leadville in 2019, to mark his 10th year of blindness. He went back the following 3 years, each time earning a buckle. For his 15th anniversary of being declared legally blind he set his sites higher, much higher. After watching Ride The Divide he decided to take on the holy grail of bikepacking, the Tour Divide. An ambitious goal for anyone, but particularly so for Chris since he hadn't done a multi-day bikepacking trip, and he's blind. Undeterred, he hired a coach, and started training for the Grand Depart, only 8 months away. It took him 47 days and 10 hours, he was the 2nd to last finisher, but nothing stopped Chris from accomplishing his goal, and after riding the Tour Divide, I doubt anything ever will. Chris was riding to bring awareness to blindness and raising money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Through his efforts he was able to raise $28,000 which will go to help finding cures for blindness diseases like his. You can find out more about Chris, and donate, on his website. EPISODE SPONSORS Red Granite Grinder - Epic gravel race in Wisconsin on Oct. 12th, 2024. Smash the link for more information and registration. Follow My Challenge - The official tracking service for Texas Showdown Series any many other premier events. New Patrons  Nathaniel Ray Join them won’t you? Now is a great time to sign up at Patreon!

    2h 9m
See All (196)

4.8
out of 5
505 Ratings

About

Bikes or Death is a podcast centered around the growing sport of bikepacking, adventure cycling, and the outdoors. The show features the amazing people who participate in these activities and contribute so greatly to the cycling community. The Bikes or Death Podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories and experiences of these individuals with the hopes that it inspires others to get outside, get on their bikes, and experience what our natural world has waiting for them. At its heart Bikes or Death is more than just a podcast. Bikes or Death is a lifestyle. It’s the idea that a life without bikes is a life not worth living. Now go ride your damn bike!

Information

  • Creator
    Patrick Farnsworth
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bikes or Death
  • Show Website
    Bikes or Death

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