Dirty Chain Podcast: A Cycling Podcast

Polar Roll 2024 - Ben Alter joins the podcast to share about his experience taking on BOTH the Polar Roll Mass Start and the Polar Roll Ultra (the unofficial Polar Roll Double).

The Michigan Gravel Race series has been a staple in the community for seven years now, so it was definitely big news late last year when series founders, Matt and Jenny Acker, announced they would be stepping aside - not ending the series, but rather passing the baton to Joe Cantwell and Jon Looman, race directors of the Cow Pie Classic and Raymond Passchier, race director of the Dirty 30. With t...

One of the most interesting and unique perspectives within the cycling community, Robbie Koets has been lead and sweep moto for many of the largest cycling events in Michigan since 2006 - Iceman Cometh Challenge, Barry Roubaix, Michigan Coast to Coast to name just a few. Robbie shares his story as well as the details it takes to accomplish this important role. Photo: Rob Meendering

The Iceman Cometh Challenge 2023 out of Traverse City, Michigan from three perspectives - first, Michigan favorite, Paige Onweller, shares about the pro women’s race where she took an amazing 4th place. Second, pro cyclist and YouTube mega-star, Kerry Werner, tells us about the pro men’s race and the absolute wild finish where he landed a strong 10th overall spot. And finally, the perspective from...

Race creator, James Morrow, three-time winner, Dan Teaters, and three-time competitor, Mitch Edbauer, join the podcast to share about the Lone Wolf Gravel Race out of Iron Mountain, MI.

Known as one of the hardest single-day mountain bike races in America (if not the hardest), Marji Gesick, out of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, pushes riders not only to, but beyond, their limits. Follow Trevor's journey as he takes on this event: from starting line, to sag stops, to #FINISHER. #blamedanny #blametodd Photo: Rob Meendering Photography

Jorden Wakeley, multi-sport athlete from Grayling, Michigan, joins the podcast coming fresh off his overall win at the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. Jorden talks about his Ore to Shore race, his 2023 season, and, of course, his love of canoe racing. Trevor also sits down with Scott Richard to process their recent ride through the RAMBA trail system in the Upper Peninsula in preparation for the...

Recent bikepacking converts, Tristan Smith and Sebastian Stankiewicz, sit down with Trevor to share stories all about their successful attempt at completing the lower peninsula leg of the MORE Route - the Michigan Off-Road Expedition. Also discussed was this year's Lumberjack 100, which both Trevor and Sebastian raced earlier in June.

The 2023 edition of the Mohican 100 was a muddy mess to say the least! Mitch DeYoung, Zach Nachazel, and Jason Kuhnle join Trevor post-event around a campfire to share all about their race experiences.

Brian Co from Veloworthy joins the podcast to share about his popular YouTube channel where he has been covering the most popular gravel races for the last few years, including Unbound Gravel, SBT GRVL, and Belgian Waffle Ride. YouTube, Instagram: @veloworthy

Pro cyclist and Lifetime Grand Prix athlete, Dylan Johnson, joins the pod to recap his Sea Otter Fuego XL experience. Photo: Danny Carpenter

With beautiful weather and near perfect conditions, Barry-Roubaix 2023 was another one for the books! Trevor, Sebastian, and Tristan crack a few beers and share their experience of the Psycho Killer 100. Photo Credit: Rob Meendering

The DIRTy Mitten Racing League is cooking up some of the most interesting and creative Zwift racing opportunities to date. Brad Hochstetler, the brains behind the operation, joins the pod to share how the league went from just a couple of his friends to now a vibrant racing community of dozens of riders that compete week after week during the cold winter months in Michigan.

Chelsea Strate joins the podcast to talk about her experience tackling the Polar Roll Ultra - the winter ultra fat bike race out of Ishpeming, Michigan. Photo Credit: Rob Meendering

Jill Martindale joins the podcast to talk all about Arrowhead 135 - the winter ultra race out of frigid northern Minnesota. We also chat about the Snow Angle fat bike race out of Canadian Lakes, MI and the upcoming Polar Roll event featuring the new ultra distance that Jill will be taking part in.

Jon Conkling and John Mosey from Tris4health join the podcast to talk about their stacked 2023 season of endurance events that consist of triathlons, gravel races, fondos, and running races.

Athlete, Emma Schwab and Team Manager, Justin Morris, join the podcast to tell us all about GLORi (Great Lakes Off-Road Racing Initiative)- the new mountain bike development team out of Traverse City, Michigan.

Iceman Cometh Challenge - 2022! We sit down and reflect on what turned out to be an absolute stellar of a day with ripping conditions and even better post-race activities. Iceman Passing Spreadsheet: https://bcs.medium.com/iceman-2022-pass-counts-insights-and-alternate-podiums-313eb5a8aaa Rob Meendering Photography: https://www.robmeenderingphotography.com/Iceman-Cometh KOM Cycling: https://komcyc...

Beautiful fall weather and gravel road perfection came together in what has quickly become one of my favorite races of the season - the Moran 166. Connor Grant re-joins the podcast to talk about his experience racing in the front group and his endurance preparations all year that culminated in his amazing 6th place finish. WARNING: WAY TOO MUCH TRIATHLON CONVERSATION

Tristan Smith joins the podcast to share about his 300+ mile experience at the 2022 Gravel Worlds - The Long Voyage out of Lincoln, Nebraska.

On this episode, Ben Delaney brings his 20+ years of experience in bicycle media to talk all about bike tech - focusing mainly on gravel bikes and gravel racing. Check out Ben's latest project on YouTube, The Ride with Ben Delaney, for high quality and informative reviews! https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRidewithBenDelaney

Michael Marckx, founder of the popular Belgian Waffle Ride series of un-road races, joins the podcast to share all about the history of BWR and its unique brand and model as it expanded from a singular event in San Diego to now events all over the country (including here in Michigan). Michael also gives a preview of the course for the upcoming Belgian Waffle Ride Utah in Cedar City. Reminder - sti...

This episode we talk all things Ore to Shore out of Marquette, MI with race coordinator, Nikki Dewald Swenson (with special guest appearance from pro cyclist and winner of the men's 48 mile race, Kerry Warner)!

On this episode we hear all the details about the most latest Belgian Waffle Ride edition, the Hell of the Great Lakes, out of Traverse City, Michigan. Race director and Michigan local, Jon Houlberg, shares all the details about not only BWR, but also the new MoMitt festival which features multiple races and cycling opportunities the entire weekend long. Use code dirtychain30off for $30 off any of...

Tour Divide finisher, Dr. Tracy Berman, joins the podcast to talk all about her epic bikepacking experience - from gear choice, preparation, perseverance, and single speed ratios (That's right, she rode a single speed).