King of the Ride

Episode 33: Pete Stetina — World Tour Professional (& Dabbling Gravel Racer)

Pete Stetina is a stalwart American professional cyclist. A billygoat of a climber, this Californian returned home from Liege Bastogne Liege and went straight into the Belgian Waffle Ride on Cinco de Mayo. Former colleagues out on the road, Ted and Pete caught up with one another to talk the strategics and logistics that make gravel a possibility amid a World Tour schedule. Check out the YouTube video of all the BWR action here: https://youtu.be/3gebox-sdQ0 Check out RootedVermont.com, especially on June 3 at 10am EST as the final 100 spots will become available. And a huge thanks goes out to Splats Sunscreen for supporting this podcast. Head to www.splatssunscreen.com and use code KING at checkout for a whopping 20% savings.

Episode 32: Dan Craven — Dan from Nam, Professional Cyclist

Dan from Nam is one of the most polite, diplomatic, energetic, positive forces in profession cycling -- not to mention he’s a two time Olympian. Amid a hectic two weeks at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Next Step program, Ted and Dan sat down and instituted their own happy hour to make this podcast a reality. This duo shares a variety of similarities in life which they tap into on today’s pod. From studying economics to joining professional cycling later in life to having a penchant for the entrepreneurial side of life with budding businesses and literally being born just one day apart, these two are like long lost twins. This conversation explores Dan’s rise through professional cycling, how he made the leap from Namibia to the World Tour, the fluid and fascinating state of gravel, plus his upstart company, Pangolin, and much more. This podcast is presented by iKOR. iKOR provides the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

Episode 31: Peter Vollers — Vermont Overland, Country Squire

The best "studio" for a podcast recording yet: plowing through the late spring snow in Peter Voller's Land Rover! This King of the Ride conversation takes place while laying the trail for the 2019 VOMAR -- Vermont Overland Maple Adventure Ride. Leading a team of 6 through the rugged Vermont wilderness, Peter plows a path and takes Ted on an adventure unlike any other previous recording. With stories of early road racing, Peter's rise through the ranks and earning a national road race title, his foray into coaching and ultimately where he realizes that hosting an event will have a greater reach to preach the great word that is cycling to the masses, the Vermont Overland was born. One of this country's best gravel events and hands down one of the best house parties of the entire year, Vermont Overland should live on your calendar. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. You can experience meaningful improvements in your well-being through small lifestyle changes, which is why I appreciate the benefits of sleep, relaxation, and mindfulness. Head over to www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using the code kingoftheride.

Episode 30: Bobby Wintle — Land Run 100 Mastermind

Bobby Wintle is the owner, operator, and chief mastermind behind the Land Run 100. A Kansas native, Bobby wasn't part of cycling nor retail when he decided to move to a new state and open a bike shop. Bold. Now operating District Bicycles, a stunning shop in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he juggles District and Land Run amid a life full of family, fun, and gravel riding. Bobby and Ted tried to find time to chat at Land Run itself, but time was fleeting so the two of them caught up for this podcast over the phone, a first for King of the Ride, exploring the community Bobby has built. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. This is the highest quality, most effective hemp extract product available both iKOR and I want to help you try a bottle. Head on over to ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

Episode 29: Kristi Mohn — Dirty Kanza Promotions and Serial Entrepreneur

”Ted King killed my ride. That’s going to be the name of this podcast.” When the world of Gravel Cycling creates a Hall of Fame, Kristi Mohn will be among the first inductees. She's help boost Dirty Kanza from just double digit entries to well over 3,000 -- including the ectremelu popular 200 women, 200 miles campaign. Kristi lives life at a million miles per hour and in with the gravel season underway here in 2019, we talk about growing up in Emporia, Kansas, her world travels from there, we examine the state of bicycle retail with the shop she and he husband Tim own, plus 1,000 other things. Kristi is a great friend and exudes a love for life (and bikes). She was kind to take time in her pre LandRun100 preparation to sit down and talk in the Mohn Mobile. With all this talk of gravel, don't forget to head to www.RootedVermont.com! Entry spots are going fast for the first gravel event hosted by Ted and Laura King, so you don't want to miss out on this inaugural event taking place in Richmond, Vermont on August 4! A big thanks goes out to iKOR for presenting this episode. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. Their mission is to provide the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

Episode 28: Ted is the guest! Interview the Interviewer

Switching things up today! Ted King plays guest on today’s episode as Jim Merithew, creative director of inGamba Tours, interviews our typical host. Taking an arch through the history of Ted’s... entire life, including stealing the family’s minivan for a little hit-and-run, how gosh darn friendly Ted’s mother is, his take on aero bars and more, this will help flesh out details of what makes Ted tick. This episode is presented by Strava. Please be sure to check out their new podcast, “Athletes Unfiltered” on all podcast stations or at blog.strava.com/podcast

Episode 27: James Bay Descent, part 2

The second in a two part series, Ted and the crew from the James Bay Descent chat after surviving their 10 day, 638km/396mile ride south along Canada's frozen James Bay. Braving temperatures as low as -40, blizzard white outs, and riding through polar bear country, they're back! Was this trip crazy? Ted thinks it's a bit out there. What's the rest of the team think? Guess you'll just have to wait and see! Check out the hard work of the James Bay Descent team who have raised more than $7500 for the Timmins Native Friendship Centre. See their progress here: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center This King of the Ride episode is brought to you by Strava. In particular, we encourage you to check out their new podcast, Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring stories of good people, just like you doing extraordinary things on their bikes, feet, or in their community. Simply visit podcast.strava.com for more.

Episode 26: James Bay Descent, part 1

The first in a two part series about the record setting James Bay Descent fat bike expedition through northern Canada, Ted sits down to talk with the rest of the team, Eric Batty, Ryan Atkins, and Buck Miller. This ride is a 600+km, ten day, self-supported ride from Attawapiskat in Ontario, to the Nunavut Territory in the James Bay, then south to Smooth Rock Falls. Weathering temperatures as low as -40 degrees C/F and pedaling through polar bears country, this ride has its risks. Today's episode is a precursor to how the team will tackle such an intrepid and out-there adventure. This episode was recorded the day they set out for two days of literally, "bike practice" to see what it's like to wield these 85-100 pound bikes and in temperatures well below zero up in the Adirondacks in New York. The ride was possible with the gracious thanks to Cannondale Fat CAAD bikes, Blackburn's Outpost line up of bags for the frame/handlebar/saddle bags, 45NRTH's Cobrafist pogeys and Wolfgar boots, Timmermade sleeping systems, Kombi's mittens and wool long underwear, a mountain of maple fuel thanks to UnTapped. Please check out the fundraising component of this ride, the beneficiary being the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Moosonee Office: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center A big thanks goes out to Strava for presenting this episode! Specifically, be sure to look up their new podcast Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring normal athletes, good, inspiring people, daring enough to share their journey day after day. If you like King of the Ride, you'll dig Athletes Unfiltered.

Episode 25: David Swain — Director of Communications Facebook & Instagram

David Swain’s introduction to cycling was riding backwards on a banana seated bicycle to impress girls and it ultimately landed him as the Director of Communications at both Facebook and Instagram. David’s time in Silicon Valley is extensive, but it was in Napa Valley that Ted and David met for the first time, naturally on the bike. They chatted a bit then, and it was when David reached out to Ted about a podcast that the two of them caught up quite a bit more much more recently. Talking start ups and tech, the athletic vibe that’s rampant in the Valley, plus how to launch a bike into a lake to make the most of your summers, this podcast really has it all! This episode is presented by Strava. Visit strava.com/summit and use code "king" for one month free of Strava’s Summit Features. You can use live data, personalized heats maps, Summit perks including discounts from brands and particular products to help you make yourself go further, faster, better!

Episode 24: Sarah True — 2x Olympian, Entrepreneur, Awesome

Sarah True and Ted braved some wicked tough elements to meet up and make this podcast a reality, and the result is well worth it. The two sit down for a lively podcast in a coffee shop/cafe/beer establishment, where they talk about Sarah’s Olympic career, her recent successful segue from ITU to Ironman, all the nuances in and around training from a New England homebase, plus entrepreneurial start-ups in her Linden and True Coffee company and plenty, plenty more. This episode is presented by Strava. To try out the Summit Features free for one month, visit www.strava.com/summit and use code “king”.