My Back 40

In this episode of the podcast, I bring you a fantastic conversation with Valorie Masuda, Psychedelic Therapist with Roots to Thrive , “Roots to Thrive is Canada’s first and only multidisciplinary, non-profit healthcare practice to legally offer evidence-informed, multi-week, group therapy programs that use a community of practice model, uniquely designed to address trauma and to promote resilienc...

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40 Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout. Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout. Visit Rollingdale Cycle Thanks to Ottalaus Inc . for their support. Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support. Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I just wanted to check in to give some thanks to everyone for all of their support while I navigate some murky waters. It’s been super tough for me so all the love that I’m receiving has been welcome. Thank you. I neglected to thank Mason for his voice into, as I recorded my part before I inserted his. Thanks, Mason. It’s gratifying to hear that you appreciate the work I’m doing here on My Back 40...

I was privileged to receive a Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem in the mail the other day, thanks to my buddy Jim from MTXC in Missoula, MT and Dylan at Redshift Sports . As a purist, it’s a little outside of the box for me but I had heard from other Divide riders, who had run this stem, that it’s a game changer and I was pretty stoked to try it out. In this Episode I connect with Erik de...

Hey everyone! It’s been pretty quiet out here at My Back 40. I tend to withdrawal when things get hard in life. Finding the balance during these times can be challenging so I thought I would chat a little about some topics that have been top of mind lately. Motivation can be challenging when you’re experiencing the lows, and I try to practice what I preach to just get out there and ride. Sometimes...

This week, I bring you a conversation with Steve Halligan @halligan.steve about his experience on the Silk Road Mountain Race, A grueling 1895km route, with around 34,500m of elevation gain, which he finished in 8 days 6 hours and 35 minutes, taking 3rd place. Steve’s resume of events is impressive having tackled the Tour Divide twice and has crushed other events such as the Timaru and the Tour Ao...

It has been a while since Kyle @kyle_mess and I connected on the podcast, and this one, where we discuss his recent win on the Alberta Rockies 700 , did not disappoint. After scratching on this year’s BC Epic 1000 , due to stomach issues, Kyle knew he had to make some changes. He delved deep into his training and nutrition, learning more about his physiology and how his own body reacts to the stre...

The image above always takes me back to my first bikepacking event, the 2017 AR700. Here, head hanging low, I soft pedal my way to Canmore where I decided that I would scratch. My mental outlook had been declining throughout the day, and despite advice given to me by Greg Van Tighem while on the trail to sleep on it, the decision had already been made. That was the first and last time I have scrat...

On this episode of the podcast, I bring you a conversation with Shawn Cheshire, United States Army military veteran and para-athlete. This past June, Shawn and her team tackled the Tour Divide. The Divide is hard enough, but for Shawn, who lost her sight due to a head injury sustained at her job as a paramedic, it was the hardest thing she has even done. Personally, I can’t even fathom the difficu...

Jillian A. Brown is a Canadian born Explorer, Photographer, Writer, Mental Health & PTSD Educator, and Public Speaker. After being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome a few short years ago, and after discovering ways to cope, Jillian wants to share her experience to help connect people to nature, adventure and themselves as a path to healing their own PTSD. One of her main tools to d...

I have another TD conversation with you. I know, I know… I just put one out with Bonnie, but the two conversations are a little different and talk about different aspects of the TD, so I figured you might find some value in another chat. Ty Domin @tydomin raced the Tour Divide in 2017 finishing in 19d 8h on a singlespeed and it’s always fun to hear about his experience. Ty is also a talented sewer...

I had the pleasure this past week to have two great conversations about my Tour Divide experience. In this episode, Bonnie takes over hosting duties and interviews me about my ride. She asked some great questions and it was a pleasure to share some of my memories of this gargantuan adventure. Bonnie raced in 2016, 2017 and 2019. In 2017, she fractured her hand on Koko Claims and had to scratch in...

Originally published on September 5, 2019, on the Bikepack Canada Podcast , this conversation was one for the books. I wanted to schedule this podcast to come out late in June to inspire folks that are still out there (like me, likely) and need a little boost. Enjoy this chat as you rollow towards Antelope Wells. Nat Rainbow is all about spreading positivity. When she decided to tackle the Tour Di...

I scheduled this podcast to come out on June 23rd and for all of you riding the TD right now, I hope this one inspires you. It amazes me to think that while I’m loosely shooting for a 3 week finish of the Tour Divide, in 2015, Josh Kato wrapped it up in just a hair over two weeks!! Don’t let that discourage you, if you currently on route listening to this. Originally published on November 29th, 20...

This was a fun one that I recorded back on the Bikepack Canada Podcast #54. Originally published on June 27, 2019, I connected with Sofiane Sehili @sofianeshl while he and a bunch of other riders were held up at Brush Mountain Lodge while Mother Nature had her way, something to be expected when riding such an immense route. I hope this podcast will keep you in good company while you’re out writing...

Since I’m out on the trail with all y’all, I thought I would republish a couple of Tour Divide related conversations from the My Back 40 Archives. Hopefully this conversation will entertain, enlighten and inspire you while you’re out on the Divide! This podcast was originally published on 6/7/21 and is one of my favourites. See you out there! This past winter I received my first gift from a listen...

In this episode of the podcast I bring you a conversation with Mountain Bike Hall of Fame’s , John Stamstad. I wanted to talk to him about the evolution of Ultra Distance Bikepack Racing and how the rules have changed over the decades. This conversation was inspired by many of the conversation that I have had with race organizers since the Arizona Trail Race, where Lael Wilcox claimed a new fastes...

Me again. I just wanted to share some thoughts and some audio I dug out of my phone from last year’s Yoyo. (drink) My intention was to record audio every day, but I totally dropped the ball so this is all I had. I suppose since I was posting so much on IG, the audio wasn’t really required. This year on the Tour Divide, I plan to record every day before I turn in as a way to archive the journey and...

I’m so excited to bring you a conversation with Team Amani’s , Nakaggwa Florence. @florence_nakaggwa Back in March, she was signed to Team Amani’s gravel squad, which makes her the first female Ugandan cyclist to sign a professional cycling contract. This is history in the making and for everyone involved with the Masaka Cycling Club, this is a huge point of pride. The Masaka Cycling Club’s purpos...

This week, I want to bring you a catch up conversation with Bonnie Gagnon to see how things were going as she tries to recover from Spinal Fluid Leaks sustained during the investigation in how to treat some severe head pain. Bonnie’s journey hasn’t been an easy one, battling injuries and a bout with Lemierre’s Syndrome in 2010 that nearly took her life. Through it all, her infectious smile and des...

With the 2022 Tour Divide less than 3 weeks away, I haven’t had a lot of time to connect with folks to have conversations. That said, I did get a great voice memo from Jim Sevaly . He had some questions that I thought I would address. I also wanted to tell a couple of stories, thank some listeners for their engagement and read a wonderful email that I received as I was recording. There are also a...

Inspired by Anthony Walsh’s recent podcast episode, Can Cycling Cause Erectile Dysfunction on the Roadman Cycling podcast, I wanted to break the ice a little with the guys and talk about ED. I wanted to break the stigma and talk a little about something that guys really hate talking about. It is said that almost 30%-50% of all men deal with some sort of ED and that generally, changes in diet and l...

This week I am speaking with Adam Hokin and David Harper from PedalCell . I have only been using a dynamometer since last year and there’s no going back. Being able to charge electronics and generate light on the fly is a game changer for longer rides. Adam, David and co-founder Vishaal Mali wanted to make it easier for people to get into the dynamo game and saw a niche. Their mission is to give p...

It took a little longer than I anticipated, but I have hit the 100 mark. In this episode, I just wanted to thank you for letting me into your ears over the last couple of years and to share a couple of messages and tunes. This may seem like a one way relationship, but it’s not. Podcasting has been like therapy. The comments and engagement mean the world to me, even the not so positive ones. To be...

Today on the podcast I bring you a conversation with Documentary Filmmaker, Kris Wheeler of Liquid Coast Films about his adventure documentary, Grace and the Great Divide. Kris’ latest documentary, which is currently in production, focuses on Grace Ragland and her journey against time on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in 2018. Grace, who lived with Multiple Sclerosis, passed away in January...