Cycling Together with Kristin & Steve

Inspired by the recent Bikes Fight Cancer Ride, as well as their own plans to ride in support of the Pan-Mass Challenge, Kristin and Steve are sharing advice for anyone thinking about joining a charity ride. They also discuss Steve's new Lego bicycle, the appearance of 32 inch wheels at a UCI World Cup MTB race, and media reporting guidelines for road collisions before they answer listener qu...

While Kristin and Steve take a short podcasting break, we are throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from the past year... Kristin and Steve hold a mirror up to Steve’s own bicycle purchasing decisions as they discuss something they’ve observed in the Shop – riders who have really (really) nice bicycles and gear, who may not spend quite as much on their partner’s bike. What may seem like...

As an experienced bike shop owner once told us - everyone rides a used bike! Steve and Kristin discuss what to look for (or look out for) when purchasing a pre-owned road or mountain bike, with a special focus on the things that are most expensive to replace, and how to know how much is "too much" to repair a used bicycle. Kristin even surprises Steve with a few real marketplace listings...

Whether its to maximize your efficiency or to increase your comfort and time in the saddle, being "fit" by a professional bicycle fitter can offer riders a lot of value. Steve breaks down the basics of a bike fit, including adjustments you may be able to make to get you into your "gray zone."  They also discuss Kristin's Everwild weekend at Hale Education and the value of...

An article in Cycling Weekly has Kristin and Steve discussing the rise and fall of women's specific bikes and whether we "need" bikes built for women, or more options for all  riders? Kristin also shares her experiences at New England Youth Cycling's Girls of the League Day, and Steve answers questions about flat top chains and Flight Attendant from Rock Shox.  Send us Fan Mail...

Group rides - whether informal gatherings of riders or organized events - are a great way to meet new friends, discover new routes and have a most enjoyable time on your bike. But joining your first group ride, be it road, mountain or gravel, can be a intimidating if you don't know what to expect. Kristin and Steve use their experiences both participating in, and leading, group rides to share...

We're pulling Steve out of the weeds of last episode to give a high level review of some simple bike upgrades that can make a difference. From front to back, top to bottom, we cover a little bit of everything. Kristin and Steve also discuss recent reactions to video shorts and why the hot takes and strong opinions make cycling feel intimidating. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Leave a comme...

Upgrading the parts and components on your bicycle can be a great way to improve comfort and performance – but what are the upgrades that will give you the best "bank for your buck" and when is the "juice not worth the squeeze." Kristin and Steve discuss what to look for when buying a bike including what can (and can't) be easily upgrade. They also discuss the Ozark Trail...

As Kristin and Steve wrap up the second week of traveling by van, they are taking a look back at all the places they rode including popular mtb destination, Santos Trails in Ocala, Florida. They share highlights from the trip, lessons learned, as well as the tools Steve packed "just in case." Send us Fan Mail Support the show Leave a comment, question or topic suggestion for future episo...

Kristin and Steve are taking a look back, addressing comments, questions and criticisms on a variety of topics including where to buy used parts online; New Jersey's new ebike laws; dork disks; finding the "right" mtb tires for New England XC riding and.... Erg Mode (hopefully for the last time). Steve also shares a Shop update – the new Spider from INTENSE and the new FITZ from ALL...

We are joined by Kelly Catale, Executive Director of New England Youth Cycling (NEYC) a "youth" development organization that supports racing and riding for kids in grades 5-12, plus a development riding program serving grades K-5. During our conversation, we discuss the basics - teams, practices, equipment - as well as how NEYC is helping kids and families build community and find the j...

Riders who are "Zwift-curious" - this (very long) episode is for you!  Kristin and Steve discuss the basics of Zwift, the popular virtual training app that gamifies indoor riding (and makes it slightly less miserable, or maybe even fun). Send us Fan Mail Support the show Leave a comment, question or topic suggestion for future episodes. Find Cycling Together with Kristin and Steve on You...

We are marking the end of a year of riding, and our first year of podcasting – reviewing the rides that were, as well as some of our goals for 2026. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Leave a comment, question or topic suggestion for future episodes. Find Cycling Together with Kristin and Steve on YouTube for Closed Captioned video version. You can visit CyclingTogether. Bike for show notes or to l...

'Tis the season for "listicles" of gift ideas for cyclists from every publication from Bicycling Magazine to Good Housekeeping looking to sell you something or make a buck through affiliate links. Steve and Kristin go through lists from several, discussing why some seemingly obvious choices actually make for terrible gifts (unless you KNOW it's what someone wants), as well as s...

As both riders and bike shop owners, Kristin and Steve get a lot of questions about bike computers as well as bicycle tracking phone apps. We share our experiences using examples from the Garmin ecosystem, to discuss the features and drawbacks of each as well how to decide what will work for you and your priorities. We also revisit the question – are e-mtbs ruinining mountain bikes – and share an...

Each year, Kristin and Steve organize the "Hallowed Groad" a self-supported, mixed-terrain scavenger hunt adventure ride designed to introduce riders to the trails in our area as well a local "sites" that may be missed by most. They discuss what goes into planning a route, as well as how they market the event. The change in season also has them sharing some of their favorite &q...

For the fourth year, Steve and Kristin joined riders and volunteers at PMC Unpaved, the Pan-Mass Challenge's annual gravel fundraiser which benefits Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Lenox, Massachusetts. In addition to reflecting on another amazing experience, we share our experiences, advice, tips and insights as well as thoughts for next year. During this episode we also discuss the proposed...

Hold on tight – We are letting Steve dive deep into the bicycle geekery with this episode! Inspired by not one, but two, titanium frames which had to be returned to their manufacturers for repair, we're talking about about what bike frames are made of (steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon, oh my), including the pros and cons as well as care and repair. You also may be surprised by the material S...

Inspired by our recent cyclocross activities – lending a hand at two introductory clinics, as well as supporting racers at Midnight Ride of Cyclocross – Kristin & Steve are sharing information about this most peculiar, but welcoming, type of bicycle racing. We discuss cyclocross race features and skills, as well as equipment options including bike and tire choices.  We also share recent experi...

For our 25th episode we welcome our college age daughter, Sophie, to the show! A listener comment about cyclocross has reminiscing about our racing days, and learning how to embrace the very embarrassing situations that can happen during a race.  Having just participated in the 20th anniversary Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnee to benefit Franklin Land Trust, we discuss "letting" her ride so...

We enjoyed speaking with Jeff so much - we had him on twice!  Jeff shares how he started riding with an epic race on a rented bike, and how the "cacophony of clicks" keeps him coming back to racing, events and group rides. We also discuss why cyclocross is the ultimate niche sport, but with the most welcoming community of riders, and a ew generation of riders on gravel bikes, the time mi...

If FOMO is the "Fear of Missing Out" then what is the term for when you know you missed out because you can't do all things all the time? With help from our friend Jeff we talk about their "guys trip" to take on The Rift in Iceland, and Steve shares his five tips for those who want to ride The Rift. Kristin and Steve also talk about some of the most common repairs made for...

Days after recording, Steve was on a flight to Iceland to take on “The Rift” with friends and customers. Inspired by the trip, Kristin & Steve talk about how to travel with your bicycle, specifically on a plane. We share when to consider renting bikes vs bringing your own, and options for packing your bike (bags vs boxes).  We also discuss Steve’s recent Lyme diagnosis, which threatened his tr...

Kristin and Steve welcome their best friend, and original members of the STBG Cycling team, Alex and Jason to share how they each started cycling. From Jason's teenage years, to Alex's introduction through triathlon, through their time racing cyclocross to today, we discuss their cycling evolution, couples rules and why we riders like to do "hard things." Separately Kristin and...

On our 20th episode of Cycling Together, Kristin and Steve, with help from members of the STBG Cycling Team, share some of the "underrated but essential" bike handling skills. Inspired by two recent bicycle events, we discuss skills to benefit road and gravel riders, whether riding alone, with a friend or in a big group. On our list... taking your hands off your handlebars; walking your...