The Stable Cyclist

Christopher Stricklen is one of the most respected photographers in cycling, known for documenting the LA Sweat team as well as Unbound Gravel, the Lifetime Grand Prix, and many of the biggest athletes and brands in the sport. In this conversation, Christopher shares his journey from street photography to becoming a full-time photographer, how the pandemic unexpectedly launched his career, and wha...

In this episode of Ask Me Anything, JP sits down with good friend Chase Wark to discuss the Lutsen 99er, what a race day entails for both of them and then they address the elephant in the room: why JP and Chase are no longer working together outside of one offs like Lutsen. This is a light but honest episode between two friends who remain friends. If you’d like to ask JP a question for an upcoming...

Silca Video: https://youtu.be/nh9guZWo8NI?si=l2VI1a-4-vYO3pIM Paige Onweller's path to professional gravel racing is unlike almost anyone else in the sport. In this episode of The Stable Cyclist Podcast, Paige shares how she transitioned from collegiate running and a career as a physician assistant to becoming one of the top gravel racers in America. We discuss her breakthrough victory at Big Suga...

Cobe Freeburn has quickly become one of the most exciting young athletes in gravel racing. In this episode of The Stable Cyclist Podcast, Cobe shares his journey from growing up in Durango, Colorado, racing mountain bikes through the Fort Lewis College system, and struggling to find his place at the World Cup level before discovering success in gravel racing. We discuss the lessons learned from ye...

Owen's Foundation: www.kindhousefoundation.com Sink or Swim Documentary Info: https://www.stirlandraemediahaus.com/Films/Sink-Or-Swim Owen Vermeulen’s story is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the podcast. From heroin addiction, homelessness, and years of relapse to racing some of the biggest gravel events in the world, Owen shares how cycling became the tool that helped him reb...

Svenja Betz joins the Stable Cyclist Podcast after winning one of the most brutal editions of Unbound XL ever. What was supposed to be a 350-mile gravel race turned into an all-night survival battle through mud, lightning storms, headwinds, and nearly 6 hours of walking while carrying her bike across Kansas. In this episode, Svenja shares the full story behind winning her 2nd Unbound XL title, tra...

Deanna Mayles joins the Stable Cyclist Podcast to talk about her rapid rise through the mountain bike and gravel racing world, from casually riding trails in Tucson to racing the Lifetime Grand Prix, World Cups, and some of the biggest endurance events in the sport. We dive into what it was like going from complete unknown to lining up against the best riders in North America, how pressure slowly...

Hayden Christian burst onto the gravel scene after his breakout ride at Unbound 100, but the full story goes much deeper than one race result. In this conversation, Hayden opens up about growing up in motocross, finding mountain biking and gravel racing, and what it’s really like chasing a pro cycling career while living in a van and training full-time. We talk about the pressure of trying to make...

Former pro cyclist and researcher Dr. Traci Carson joins the Stable Cyclist Podcast to talk about strength training, performance, longevity, cycling culture, and the biggest misconceptions endurance athletes still believe. We dive into: Why cyclists should lift weights Strength training for endurance athletes Muscle mass and long-term health The culture of cycling and body image Recovering from RE...

Avery Stumm is best known for his work filming pro cyclist Alexey Vermeulen, documenting life inside the world of elite gravel racing, but Avery Stumm didn’t plan to build a career filming pro cyclists… He just sent a DM. In this episode, we sit down with Avery to unpack what it really takes to work in cycling media; from shooting BMX as a kid to building a full-scale creative partnership in the p...

After two serious crashes, Cynthia Carson wasn’t sure she’d ever race the same again. In this episode, we dive into the reality of ultra endurance racing — the physical toll, the mental battles, and what it takes to come back when everything goes wrong. From Unbound XL to the Traka to the Transcontinental, this is more than racing… it’s about resilience. 🎬 Watch Cynthia’s film: Two Steps Forward,...

What does it take to tell a story you can’t see? In this 100th episode of The Stable Cyclist Podcast, co-directors John Peter and Aaron Haugen break down the making of “MAAH DAAH HEY: BACK TO THE START” — a documentary about rebuilding life after a bipolar diagnosis. From filming a remote endurance race to trying to visualize mental illness on screen, this project pushed every limit we had — creat...

After 8 days of racing, crashes, mechanicals, and everything in between… they made it. Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden crossed the finish line of the Absa Cape Epic — one of the hardest stage races in the world — and this is the story of their final day. Stage 7 was no victory lap. A brutal climb, technical singletrack, and completely empty legs forced them to dig deeper one last time. But...

Stage 6 of the Cape Epic brought more chaos for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden. After a late-night bike issue left Leah’s setup questionable heading into the start, the day quickly unraveled with a puncture, a crash, and time lost early in the stage. Despite the setbacks, the pair fought their way back through the field, navigating tight singletrack, technical descents, and the challenges...

Stage 5 of the Cape Epic is known as the Queen Stage, and it delivered in a big way. Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden break down one of the toughest days of the race, with massive climbing, fatigue setting in, and the cumulative toll of multiple stages starting to show. In this episode, JP, Jenna, and Leah recap how the day unfolded, what made this stage so challenging, and how they managed...

Stage 4 of the Cape Epic didn’t go to plan for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden. Within the first five minutes, they were caught up in a crash that left Jenna dealing with a broken valve stem and the constant challenge of keeping air in her tire over the opening kilometers. Despite the early setback, the pair fought their way back through the field to finish 10th on the day. In this episode,...

Stage 3 of the Cape Epic brought early adversity for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden after a crash left Jenna without her Garmin, forcing them to adapt quickly in one of the longest and most demanding stages of the race. Despite the setback, the pair fought back to secure another strong 7th place finish on the day.   In this episode, they reflect on whether Cape Epic is the hardest stage ra...

Stage 2 of the Cape Epic took Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden from Montagu back to Montagu for a long, fast day of racing in South Africa. In this daily recap, they break down a strong performance on the results sheet while also opening up about the emotional side of racing as a team when one rider feels like she may have let the other down. JP, Jenna, and Leah talk about the psychology of...

Cape Epic Stage 1 Recap | The Stable Cyclist Daily Series Stage 1 of the Cape Epic delivered exactly what this race is known for — a brutal opening climb that immediately shattered the field and forced teams to settle into the rhythm of racing as a pair. In today’s daily check-in, JP sits down with Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden to break down their Stage 1 experience after another solid da...

The Cape Epic adventure is officially underway. In this first daily episode, Jenna Rinehart and Leah Vander Linden check in after the prologue stage of the 2025 Cape Epic, where they delivered a strong ride to finish 7th overall against one of the deepest women’s fields in mountain biking. JP sits down with the team to talk through the start of their South African adventure — from the logistics of...

Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden join The Stable Cyclist Podcast before heading to South Africa for one of the biggest challenges in mountain biking: the Cape Epic. In this conversation, they share how their friendship grew through the LifeTime Grand Prix, why they decided to race together, and what it takes to prepare for the hardest mountain bike stage race in the world. They talk about st...

Reid Burrows joins The Stable Cyclist Podcast for an honest conversation about endurance sport, mental health, and what it means to bet on yourself when life no longer fits. Reid shares his path from small-town Canada into triathlon, ultra running, and now a new crossover into gravel racing. Along the way, he opens up about trusting his gut, leaving jobs and sponsorship situations that no longer f...

Marley Blonsky is the co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes, a movement dedicated to making cycling more welcoming and accessible for riders of every size. But Marley didn’t set out to start an organization. She originally found the bike during a difficult moment in her life — navigating divorce, rebuilding her identity, and searching for community. What started as a way to get around Seattle quickly...

Sarah Lange has quietly become one of the most consistent athletes in the LifeTime Grand Prix, hovering around the top 10 overall the past two seasons.  But her path to professional cycling wasn’t linear. In this conversation, Sarah and JP talk about her journey from collegiate running to discovering cycling through adventure and eventually gravel racing. Along the way, they dive into the challeng...

Brendan Johnston is one of the most respected athletes in the LifeTime Grand Prix, but his story goes far deeper than race results. At just 17 years old, Brendan was diagnosed with testicular cancer — a moment that reshaped his life and left lasting psychological scars. In this episode, Brendan opens up about the PTSD that followed, the fear of recurrence, and the years he spent avoiding the emoti...