Spinistry Chat For Adventure Cycling, Gravel Riding, Bikepacking and More

Spinistry
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Welcome to Spinistry Chat, your go-to podcast for gravel riding, adventure cycling, bikepacking, and ultra-endurance mountain biking. We dive deep into the off-road cycling world, covering everything from gear setups and bike maintenance to race recaps, training tips, and epic route planning. Basically, we’re here for those who are into things Long, Hard & Dirty… Subscribe and join the ride!

  1. Jul 16

    Hell of The North Texas and Health Update | Episode 071626

    Full crash and health discussion on ShiftLess Episode 152 Hell of the North Texas is 100% ON for this Sunday, but we have some critical logistical changes due to a recent bike crash and an unexpected health update. We're also hitting pause on most major Spinistry events until September so we can focus on health and build out a massive community vision for the Midnight Massacre weekend. Here is everything you need to know for this weekend's ride, what’s going on behind the scenes, and how you can get involved in our upcoming fall events. Due to physical limitations from my crash and potential Saturday rain, we have to adjust our weekend operations. Please read carefully if you are riding this Sunday: Course Marking (30 & 45-Mile Only): We plan to mark ONLY the 30-mile and 45-mile routes on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting. Self-Navigation for Long Routes: If you are riding the 75-mile or 110-mile routes, do not expect course markings. You must use GPS navigation. The routes were verified last week and are solid; final map adjustments will be released by Saturday morning at the latest. No Guaranteed SAG or Sweeps: I am unable to sweep the routes in the Jeep as I normally do. Please be self-sufficient and do not rely on a SAG vehicle. If you want to volunteer as a riding sweep for any of the distances, let us know Sunday morning—we’ll make it worth your while! NETT Trail Conditions Needed: We were unable to scout the Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) section between Bagwell and Roxton. If you have ridden this stretch recently or scout it before Sunday, please leave a comment or message us with condition updates. Aid Stations: Designated water tables, snacks, staging area support, and finish line refreshments will still be fully stocked and ready for you. Last Saturday, I took a ridiculous tumble on a bike path after clipping a signpost. While getting my thumb stitched up was easy, a massive hematoma developed in my left hip a few hours later. It requires 10 to 14 days for my body to process and is completely wiping out my energy levels right now. The blessing in disguise: During the ER scans to check the bleeding in my hip, doctors incidentally found an early-stage mass on one of my kidneys that is likely cancerous. While that is tough news to hear, finding it this early is the absolute best-case scenario for this type of issue—it rarely shows up on standard blood work. My oncologist appointment is set for July 29th to map out the next steps. Thank you all for the incredible messages and support; welcome to adulting! To give me time to sort out my health, standard Spinistry events are on hold until the Midnight Massacre weekend on September 19th in Gainesville. We are partnering with our friends at 35 & Liberty to turn that weekend into a massive, air-conditioned North Texas cycling community expo. We want to bring together local clubs, bike shops, keynote speakers, clinics, and vendor demos into one space. We need your feedback: Would you be interested in a massive community Bike Swap that Saturday afternoon before the ride? Let us know in the comments if you would want to buy, sell, or display! Summer Pop-Up Rides: While major events are on hold, we will still host casual, weather-dependent pop-up rides throughout July and August. Look out for impromptu night MTB laps at Knob Hills and Northshore, as well as some nighttime gravel grinders. Hell of the North Texas: Sunday UpdatesPersonal Health Update: The "Why" Behind the ChangesThe Future: Midnight Massacre & Summer Pop-Ups 00:00 Race Day Changes 06:15 Health Update 09:03 Midnight Massacre Weekend

  2. Jul 10

    Fort Worth Pop-Up Ride, USA Trail Updates & Orbea Occam MTB Test | Episode 07.10.26

    Welcome to Spinistry Chat! In this episode, we cover the essential details for our upcoming Sunday Pop-Up Ride out of the Fort Worth Stockyards, provide a major progress update on our transcontinental route project, and discuss how recent shifts in federal bicycle infrastructure funding might impact long-term trail projects across the country. Plus, we’re hitting the Horseshoe Trail in Grapevine to test out the Orbea Occam cross-country mountain bike as part of our ongoing full-suspension demo series and "riding every day" rebuilding phase. 0:00 - Intro & Horseshoe Trail Bike Testing 1:15 - Sunday Pop-Up Ride: Fort Worth Stockyards & Trinity Trails 3:10 - USA Trail Update: Beta Riders & Fall Planning 5:05 - Federal Bicycle Infrastructure Funding News (Impacts on NET & GART) 7:45 - Riding Every Day: Orbea Occam vs. Salsa Spearfish The Sunday Pop-Up RideStaging from the Fort Worth Stockyards Station, this self-supported, self-navigated group ride features 35-mile and 50-mile options primarily utilizing the unpaved sections of the Trinity Trails. This is a Club Spinistry members-only social ride, but single-day trial memberships are available for $25 (which can be applied to a full 12-month membership later). The USA Trail UpdateOur custom, primarily unpaved southern-tier route from Jacksonville, FL, to San Diego, CA, has been physically verified. We are currently coordinating with our first group of beta riders to tackle segments of this massive 4,126-mile transcontinental bikepacking route starting this fall. Infrastructure Funding NewsWith recent news regarding the reallocation of federal bicycle infrastructure funds, we discuss the potential indefinite delays for major planned routes like the Northeast Texas Trail (NET) and the Great American Rail-Trail (GART), highlighting the importance of viable, grassroots-established routes like the USA Trail. Bike Testing & RebuildingWe dive into the "riding every day" philosophy and how utilizing e-bikes for rehab is paving the way back to traditional mountain biking. Today’s featured bike is the Orbea Occam, marking the next step in our full-suspension technology comparison following our recent time on the Salsa Spearfish. Join Club Spinistry: www.clubspinistry.com Follow the USA Trail Project: www.theusatrail.com Listen to the ShiftLess Podcast: www.shiftless.org Providing off-road adventure cycling events since 2010. We specialize in ultra-endurance gravel grinding, long-distance bikepacking, and bringing riders together for unforgettable experiences on two wheels. Tags: #Spinistry #USATrail #GravelGrinding #Bikepacking #OrbeaOccam #SalsaSpearfish #MountainBiking #TrinityTrails #NortheastTexasTrail #BicycleInfrastructure #CyclingLife #EbikeRehab #FortWorthTexas ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps🚲 Episode Highlights🔗 Links & Resources🚵‍♂️ About Spinistry

  3. Jul 9

    Hell of the North Texas Routes and Sunday Pop Up Ride | Episode 07.09.26

    https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/TX/Paris/2026HellOfTheNorthTexas

  4. May 25

    Spinistry Debrief: Red River Riot Feedback, Navigation Issues, Membership Value, and the Gainesville Venue

    Kevin shifts the week’s video to debrief a recent Spinistry event and address social-media criticism about value and communication, focusing on an email exchange with “Joe” after Red River Riot. Joe cites GPS/navigation problems, not seeing arrows, missing emails, unclear inclusions (water stop, routes access, post-ride food/drink), and wanting mementos; Kevin explains the $50 fee is a trial membership, routes are released event-week due to changing road conditions, details are provided via signup pages and multiple emails, and cloverleaf routes with double-backs support a centralized manned water table and require riders to understand device limitations (with Ride with GPS as a backup). He also outlines membership tiers (steel, carbon, family, titanium, and trial options) and discusses budget constraints, reduced merch, and venue-specific costs. The episode ends with a tour of the Gainesville “old outlet mall” venue (35 and Liberty/Tractor Bob’s), parking/restrooms/food options, how to access routes via Bikerides.org, and ideas for future collaborations and Unbound-related training hubs.00:00 Why This Video Exists01:10 Route Conditions Preview01:55 Zebra Roadside Detour03:00 The Comment That Sparked It03:55 Reading My Facebook Reply06:43 Joe Email Breakdown11:14 My Email Response12:56 Why We Operate Differently15:28 Communication And Route Access20:48 Navigation Issues And Marking23:49 Cloverleaf Routes Explained24:53 Garmin Route Pitfalls28:04 Ride with GPS Backup29:04 Entry Fee Value30:59 Why Perks Vary34:01 Emails and Next Steps35:25 Road Washout Detour38:11 Membership Levels Explained43:48 Progression and Community45:02 Venue Tour and Future Plans

  5. May 10

    The Unpaved Origins of Gravel, Alt-Cycling Culture, & Unveiling The USA Trail

    Is the modern gravel scene losing its grassroots soul? In this kickoff episode of our "History of Gravel" series on Spinistry Chat, we take you back to where it all began for us in Texas: the legendary Windmill Hill. While out scouting routes for the 2026 edition of the Red River Riot—our signature event that helped define early alt-cycling back in 2010—we look back at the mud-soaked, endurance mountain bike origins of the gravel movement. Long before highly structured elite racing and hyper-specialized gear dominated the conversation, gravel was a haven for riders just looking for safety, community, and personal achievement away from the pavement. We also share a massive milestone for the unpaved adventure cycling community: the final route verification of The USA Trail, Spinistry’s coast-to-coast unpaved route stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific. As the bike industry faces stagnation in 2026, we discuss why keeping unpaved cycling accessible, inclusive, and everyday-rider-centric is the only path forward. In This Episode, We Cover: The 2010 Mud Fest: How a rained-out mountain bike race birthed the legendary Red River Riot and Spinistry's first true gravel grinder. The Endurance MTB Roots: Why the earliest gravel riders were mountain bikers escaping muddy trails and roadie culture. The USA Trail: Announcing our completed coast-to-coast unpaved route spanning the entire country. The Alt-Cycling Divide: The growing split between elite gravel racing and the grassroots, socially-driven rally rides that built the sport. Revitalizing the Bike Industry: Why keeping unpaved adventure cycling accessible is the key to the industry's survival in 2026. Join the Conversation:Who are the pioneers of the unpaved scene we should interview next? Drop your suggestions in the comments as we build out this History of Gravel series. Whether you're a seasoned ultra-endurance athlete or just bought your first all-road rig, the best thing you can do right now is simple: just ride your bike. Primary Search Keywords & 2026 Tags:Spinistry, The USA Trail, unpaved adventure cycling, grassroots gravel, alt-cycling culture, Red River Riot, gravel bike history, ultra-endurance bikepacking, all-road routing, cross-country unpaved routes, Texas gravel grinder, endurance mountain biking, gravel industry trends 2026, accessible cycling.

  6. 02/15/2025

    The Rattlesnake Gravel Grind Preview Episode

    www.rattlesnakegravelgrind.bike 2025_0214_1428In this episode of Spinistry Chat, we dive into the Rattlesnake Gravel Grind with special guest David King. David gives us a full rundown on the event, including details about the route, the community support, post-event festivities, and the purpose behind this unique gravel race in Sweetwater, Texas. Spinistry Chat also thanks its sponsors, Club Spinistry members, State Bicycle Company, and Gravel Worlds for their support. Introduction and Sponsor Thanks Special Discounts for Club Spinistry Members Welcome David King History and Origin of the Rattlesnake Gravel Grind Event Highlights and Details Sponsor and Community Support Routes and Challenging Terrain Volunteer Involvement and Safety Post-Event Festivities and Community Support Final Reminders and Call to Action

  7. 11/12/2024

    Get Back on the Bike

    This one's a ride along podcast. Let us know what you think of the format.

  8. 11/01/2024

    Veteran's Gravel Grind

    Registration at Bikereg Veterans Gravel GrindSat November 9, 2024 Colorado City, TX Facebook Discuss on SpinistryChat.com

    Veteran's Gravel Grind
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About

Welcome to Spinistry Chat, your go-to podcast for gravel riding, adventure cycling, bikepacking, and ultra-endurance mountain biking. We dive deep into the off-road cycling world, covering everything from gear setups and bike maintenance to race recaps, training tips, and epic route planning. Basically, we’re here for those who are into things Long, Hard & Dirty… Subscribe and join the ride!

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