It's Just A Hill: A Podcast About Bike Stuff

The Tour de France starts this weekend, and Jon’s flying solo to break it down. He previews the race, makes the case for why he’s tired of people complaining about how good Pogačar is (there’s a difference between witnessing greatness and being bored), and digs into the heat wave baking Europe and Rhode Island alike, Continue reading "Tour de France Preview, Hot Takes & a Hea...

For the eighty-fifth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling podcast, we’ve got a solo episode. Jon ditched his Garmin four days ago and is not looking back. In this episode he gets into why wearable data was messing with his head, then shifts into a rant about amateur cycling culture — the cosplay, Continue reading "A Fragile Middle-Aged Man’s Guide to Cycling Culture &#12...

Jon sits down with Andy Gould — ex-elite racer and 10-year president of State 9 Racing — to talk about Pavement Ends Gravel Ride and Race 2026. They cover how the event was built, what to expect from 39.79 miles and 5,743 feet of NH gravel, and what race day actually feels like at Pats Continue reading "Dirt Roads, Big Climbs, and Building Pavement Ends with Andy Gould | IJAH Pod&...

In IJAH POD 083, Jon sits down with athlete and coach Brian Cauti to cut through the noise of “bio-hacks” and “hero weeks.” As we head into the thick of training season, this conversation is all about sustainable performance—the habits and structures that actually stick when real life gets in the way. Brian shares his evolution from a pure Continue reading "Strength, Struct...

For episode eighty-two of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is back with his dad for a father son conversation that starts with a season recap and turns into a bigger discussion about cycling culture. They begin with John’s monster year on the bike and how it compared to 2024, a year shaped Continue reading "Monster Year After Injury – How My Dad Bounced Back | IJAH Pod 082...

For the 081 episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by returning guest Norlan Olivo to recap two IJAH community staples, the Bake-Off Ride and the ThanksGearing food drive ride, then shift into a practical winter cycling training conversation focused on consistency, cross training, and staying motivated without hero workouts. Continue reading "Winter Cycling Training P...

For the eightieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon recaps the summer and looks ahead to fall. He kicks things off with a thank you to everyone who made Sloppy Jon’s 2025 a success, from riders and volunteers to NBX Bikes for fueling the ride and providing prizes. Rider donations went Continue reading "Solo Late Summer Round-Up | IJAH Pod 080"

For the seventy-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, we sit down once again with longtime IJAH member Adam Carroll. This specific episode has been a long time coming — Adam took on Unbound XL back in May, and we finally had the chance to record while driving up to D2R2. He Continue reading "Unbound XL with Adam Carroll | IJAH Pod 079"

For the latest episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by Amateurs Talking Pros correspondent Hugh Ford for a two-part remote special. First up, they break down the first 10 stages of the 2025 Tour de France—GC shakeups, team tactics, sprint drama, and who’s already blown their shot at yellow. Then in the Continue reading "Ten Stages Deep & Dirty Money in the Pelot...

In episode 077 of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by returning guest and IJAH collective member Norlan Olivo for a conversation about what it means to train when time is tight. They dig into how Norlan is preparing for another run at the Marfa ride, what realistic training looks like for Continue reading "Marfa, Macros, and Making It Work with Norlan Olivo | IJAH Pod ...

For the seventy-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by friend of the club and returning guest Brian Cauti. Brian’s been on a bit of a journey lately—recovering from a long-term injury, training with the Rhode Island Track Club (yes, running), and opening a pizza shop. In this episode, they talk Continue reading "Placebos, Pain & Pizza with Brian Cauti | IJ...

For the 75th episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, it’s just me — and a whole lot of spring cleaning. In this solo episode, I reflect on my recent Pedal for Progress ride to Washington, DC — a five-day, 500-mile journey that taught me a lot about my limits, my motivation, and Continue reading "Spring Cleaning, Self-Discovery, and the New Garmin Varia Vue – IJAH Podcast 075"

For the 74th episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, I’m joined by Eliza Burke Lawson to talk about something we often take for granted: parks. But as Eliza points out, a park is more than just a patch of green space — it’s a vital part of how we live, connect, and thrive. We dive into Continue reading "Parks and Their Power with Eliza Lawson | IJAH Pod 074"

For the seventy-third episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down for a catch-up at the top of the show, diving into Jon’s thoughts on riding in northern Rhode Island since moving. The conversation shifts into helmet talk—what they currently use, how often they replace them, and whether they actually Continue reading "Helmet Chat, Creatine, and Pedaling for Progress &#124...

On this episode of It’s Just A Hill, Jon is joined by Jake Saunders to break down different ways to boost your fitness on the bike. They cover self-coaching strategies, navigating the endless sea of training apps and platforms, and their thoughts on supplements like beta-alanine, creatine, and ketones. Jon also shares some of his goals Continue reading "Self-Coaching, Ketones, and Training Strateg...

In the seventy-first episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Matt Bodziony, owner of NBX Bikes and a returning guest on the show, to discuss the challenges and realities of running a bike shop in 2025. As the cycling industry continues to evolve, small bike shops face increasing pressure from Continue reading "Talkin’ Shop with Matt Bodziony from NBX | IJAH P...

For the seventieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Jason Behringer from NBX for an engaging conversation about all things bikes. Jason shares his personal cycling journey, starting with his childhood love for the bike. The discussion delves into the period of Jason’s life where cycling took a Continue reading "Single Speeding, Endurance Events, and Local Gravel...

For the sixty-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down to talk all things pro cycling as the 2025 season gets underway. From major rider transfers to bold kit designs, they cover it all with their signature mix of humor and insight. But that’s not all—this episode also features a Continue reading "Transfer Market, Reviewing Team Kits, Tour Down Under | IJAH...

For the sixty-eighth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP are back in the new year and they are diving into the nuances of balancing inclusivity in the club. Jon also shares the details on his new gravel bike upgrades—because who doesn’t love some shiny new gear? Then, as winter Continue reading "Balancing Inclusivity, Trainer Season, Cleaning Your Dirty Bike –...

In this episode, Jon and BSP reflect on the Great IJAH Back-Off event and wrap up 2024’s pro cycling season. They dive into some of the biggest off-season transfers, including the buzzworthy Tom Pidcock drama with Ineos and Q36.5, and speculate on what’s ahead for 2025’s Grand Tour team selections. The conversation shifts to selling cycling gear online, covering platforms like Facebook Marketplace...

For the sixty-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with John Camara from NBX to dive into his unique journey in the world of cycling. They explore John’s long-standing history with NBX, his passion for building steel bikes right in his backyard, and his thoughtful approach to balancing aesthetics Continue reading "Bike Building with John Camara from NBX &#8211...

For the sixty-fifth episode of the It’s Just a Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP catch up a bit on each other’s riding and chat about the saga of BSP replacing the fork on his road bike. They dive into Strava’s controversial API changes, discussing how the new restrictions could impact smaller third-party apps and Continue reading "Strava API Changes and Riding at Night – IJAH Pod 065"

For the sixty-fourth episode of the It’s Just a Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by Jason Shuford from NBX. Jason shares insights into his bike shop background, recounting his history with cycling and how it’s shaped his perspective on the sport. He also reveals his favorite spot to ride here in Rhode Island and Continue reading "Bike Shop Backstory and a Mountain Biking Perspective with Jason...

For the sixty-third episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Ben Stone, service manager and mechanic over at NBX in Narragansett, RI. Ben dives into his background, sharing his journey with bikes—from his early experiences with riding to the way he found his calling in bike mechanics. With a Continue reading "Talking Tech, Marketing Tactics, and Temu Tools with Ben Stone...

For the sixty-second episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Seth Carlson from Rotation Engineering to explore his unique journey from racing cars and bikes to crafting high-performance components for cyclists. Seth shares how his passion for racing evolved into a thriving business, specializing in parts like bottom brackets. Continue reading "Bottom Brackets and Drivet...