Mi Duole Cycling Podcast

Callsign: HOLLYWOOD

Jake was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah all of his life. He played soccer and football competitively and went on to play both at the college level for the University of Utah. He has a natural ability to excel in anything that he chooses, in high school an article was written in the local newspaper appointing him as “the natural” and that phrase has stuck with him his entire life, even though he blushes still to this day if it’s brought up. He gets laser focused, and is one of the most dedicated people I know. I don’t know of a person with more grit and determination (err stubbornness) to finish, even if he is bleeding, cut and bruised while doing it. He pushes himself harder each year and always gives his best, while taking on all of the stress and responsibility of being a husband and a dad.  We joke with Jake that he always finds a hobby to throw all of his passion into and for him, biking is just that. 

When we moved into our house in the Mi Duole area, he got invited to bike with a few of the guys. Nearly six years later he still rides with the Mi Duole team. His hobby that “just was a warm weather hobby” has turned into a 12 months out of the year that sneaks its way onto every family vacation. He has even made friends with groups of cyclist in other states and continues to grow his circle of friends. He is the neighborhood and family “go to” guy for gear and bike questions and loves to take time to “talk shop” with anyone and anything biking related. He sets continuous goals to bike harder, faster, longer and better each year and has definitely made it a part of his lifestyle. It’s been inspiring to see him support and challenge his group and friends of cyclist and to always look out for the person who may need a friend or an enthusiast along the way. 

All joking aside about his ultimate hobby, he is the best dad to his four kids and a doting husband. He has 3 wild boys and one little girl who he is absolutely crazy for, who may wake up in the early hours of the morning to follow his beacon and wait patiently on the front porch for his morning return!  ~ BROOKE COOK 

The Winning Mindset

Welcome guest, Matt Bailey!

Matt Bailey, 41 years old and currently from South Jordan, UT. He has two daughters, 16 and 12, who are both on the high school/middle school mountain bike team. At 6’4” he’s pretty tall for a biker, and if it were up to me he would be 250lbs and look as much like Travis Kelce as possible, but we can’t have it all right? He used to be 250lbs before he decided to go crazy roadie on me. We have been together for about 5 years, and coming from Kansas this whole biking thing was something I knew nothing about. When we met, it was all about mountain biking but oh how times have changed. He started road riding in 2019, a couple years after we met and has never looked back. My least favorite part of biking by a long shot are the shaved legs, and even though this still doesn’t cut it, we have finally come to an agreement that he only shaves for the first race of the season through the last race of the season.

Most people say they come from a crazy family, but you haven’t met crazy till you meet Matt’s family. He is the oldest of 5 children and probably the least crazy, although that’s all relative because he’s a total nut job. 

Two things we love about Matt are that one, every meal he eats is literally the best thing he’s ever had and he goes to great lengths to point that out. And second, he is always eager to share what he learned whenever he doesn’t win. We tease him about it now, saying “well Matt what did you learn this time?” Gotta love him!

Off the bike he loves live music, skiing, the Utah Utes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Thank goodness the football season and the bike season don’t overlap much. We are big campers and also take pride in pretty much never having a free weekend. It’s always racing, camping, or going somewhere fun. 

In Chip We Trust

Spencer has grown up in Holladay, Utah most of his life.  Spencer has been married to Joni for over 20 years and they have 5 children.  3 girls and two boys ranging from a freshman in college all the way down to Kindergarten. These kids are very active and the Chipping family loves to be outside and work hard at their extracurricular activities. 

After graduating from Olympus High School, Spencer went on to attend Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah.  He graduated from the University of Utah and then went on to Westminster where he received his MBA. Spencer has always been driven. In whatever Spencer involves himself, he’s ALL IN. Right out of college, in 2001, Spencer helped start Diamond Wireless, a Verizon Wireless reseller and grew the business to 350 locations throughout the country.  He has always had a deep passion for entrepreneurship.

Spencer works with Stuart at the Crown Council and loves to work with the strategic partnerships of businesses throughout the country. 

Living a healthy lifestyle and athletics have always been a part of Spencer’s life.  At Olympus High School, Spencer played on the basketball and soccer team (and lost in the semi-finals all 3 years) sad. Spencer went on to play college soccer for 2 years. Spencer also loves being outdoors exploring the mountains, and snowboarding and skiing in the winter.  Spencer loves to share his passions and interests with his kids.  He is a Coach on the Olympus High School Mountain Bike Team as well as an Assistant Coach to his son’s competitive soccer team.  If he’s not there you will find him cheering on his kids at ski competitions or in dance performances.  In 2003, Spencer started cycling.  This quickly became his number 1.  Winter, spring, summer or fall…he’s got a bike for that!  Riding with Mi Duole for almost 20 years, he gained a great love for the team and the early morning challenges! Today, Spencer helps manage the team and loves every minute of it.  

Mountains vs. Corn

Meet local racer and pro gravel rider: Nathan Spratt! 

My cycling career got started out by racing triathlons in college (Boiler UP!) And decided running hurt too much and swimming was too boring.

Favorites:

Food - Cereal... All the cereal

Non-cycling Activity - Working on/building cars

Race - Wasatch All-Road

Cycling Highlights 

Winner - True Grit Gravel 2022

Tour of the Gila Men Cat 1/2: 1st Place 

2021 LOTOJA: 1st Place 

Goals:

Team: Get John on the top step of the Lifetime Series!

Personal: Podium Crusher, Win Wasatch All-Road

Formula 369 with Eric Ellis

Formula 369 was created by Eric Ellis, a local Cat 1-2 road racer, mountain biker, and runner.  He has a degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition, worked for over 5 years as a nationally certified personal trainer, has 7 years of experience as a cycling coach, and has shown his ability to coach himself by winning the the Utah State 50k trail running championship in 2016, and the Utah State Road Cycling Race Championship in 2019. 

Eric has worked the last 10 years in the Nutraceutical industry in R&D and formulation, and has formulated numerous nutritional products that are sold across the globe. Formula 369 started as a drink mix Eric made for himself because he was tired of paying the high prices for drink mixes he knew he could make better, and cheaper. 

Ellis is quoted saying: "Sports drinks are over complicated. They have all these "hype" ingredients added to them to help market them and set them apart in a crowded market, but the truth is, they do nothing to increase performance.  All they do is increase the price of the product."

This is why Formula 369 has only 3 ingredients making it endurance sport's purest and most potent source of energy plus electrolytes available.  

Race Reports: Leadville & Steamboat

After a big weekend of racing at some pretty rad events we thought it would be fun to hear some race reports. These are coming from both Leadville: Stu, Chip, Jesse and Taylor.  We are also hearing about Steamboat Springs Gravel: Dave Sharp and Cherell Jordin.  Enjoy the recaps of these events. 

Mrs. Duole

Since 1984, Mi Duole has always had a strong group of male riders. For several years now, Kristin Anderson has not only blazed her way through every dark, early, cold morning with the men’s training team, but she has become as strong as the group. Kristin has also been a gateway to bringing on new female riders and growing the Mi Duole team. Over the last two years, we’ve had 3 female Mi Duole racers on the podium at LOTOJA! In that same vein, she now helps drive new young female riders in the high school mountain biking programs. Kristin is major part of the day-to-day organization of the Mi Duole team. From designing kits, to hosting kit pick-ups, to planning team rides and attending all team rides … she does it all. She calls this group of cyclists, “family.” Kristin is KIND but GRTTY. COMPETITIVE but also COMPASSIONATE. She has been instrumental in the growth and success of Mi Duole’s culture! She brings balance and a level head to the sometimes-rambunctious actions of this group. Her perspective and strength are an example to all those who ride with her. Simply put, she is the epitome of what Mi Duole represents in every way both on and off the bike. For these reasons, her teammates and friends have nominated her to wear yellow.

Heather Van Boerum ”Flower Power”

Heather was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the 4th child of 6. As a child Heather was given the nickname of Flower. I don’t know why…maybe she can explain.  She attended Highland High School.  While at HHS she caught the eye of many a boys…one of whom would eventually become her husband. After high school she attended the University of Utah.  While at the U her older brother’s best friend Don Van Boerum finally got the guts to ask her on a date. Many dates and Sigma Chi formals later, Don and Heather were married.  Don was an inspiring doctor with big dreams…and brains.  Don attended medical school at the U.  After he graduated they hopped in their love bug and off they went to residency and all that other stuff aspiring doctors do.  They spent several years in Arizona and California where Don perfected the craft of saving lives.  During this time they became the parents to 4 amazing children.  Finally after all those years away, family members back home were able to persuade the Van Boerum clan to return to Zion.  They came kicking and screaming, but they came home.  Back home the call to procreate came a knockin and they had another kid. Don started working as a trauma surgeon at IMC and Heather was home herding cats.  Moving forward several years Heather and Don’s kids have grown up. Some are in college, some are married, and one is starting his freshman year at Olympus in the Fall.  Oh, and they are the proud grandparents to their first and only grandchild.  Wait until you hear that story from Heather.

Heather has always been a very active person.  She loves going to the gym…even if she hates to sweat.  She loves playing tennis with her friends in a local league.  You also cold find Heather on a hike, a walk and every once in awhile get her on a run.  Heather has never been one to sit around.

All kidding aside, Heather is an amazing person.  She has been her whole life.  Her family and those that know her will attest to that.  She has been a rock to so many people for so long.  Heather is always ready to help.  She can laugh with you, cry with you, give you amazing advice or just listen.  Her family is no different.  Don is always available when needed, even with his crazy doctor schedule.  Trust me, I have called him at all hours of the day and met him at the ER at all hours.  Heather and Don’s 5 children and 2 son-in-laws make up a tribe that is unbreakable.  Heather’s 5 siblings are lucky to have her in their lives and to call her their sister and friend.

On December 20th, 2021 Heather’s life, and her family’s life changed forever.  Heather was walking into Costco when suddenly and out of nowhere a car reversed into her and pinned her against another car.  I will let Heather tell the story but what proceeds from that event has been inspiring, amazing, jaw dropping, and any other word you can think of.  Most of all, it has shown what the power of positive thinking the love of family and friends can do. (It also was the inspiration of a pretty cool kit!).

Spandex. Suits. Sweatpants.

David was born in San Diego CA in March 1977.  He grew up in Southern California, riding motorcycles and playing sports – basketball, football, and he especially loved swimming. I guess this guy’s love for tight spandex-y clothes dates back to childhood. 

Fun fact: he has attended most of the Utah schools – BYU, Utah State, UVSC, and the U of U. He lived in England for 2 years as an LDS missionary, which he loved. He graduated from the U, got his MBA at Loyola Marymount, and then got a masters in banking at University of Washington. 

We met in Provo and got married in 1999, and early in our marriage I suggested that we get bikes to have something fun and active to do together. He laughed and said “the only bikes I ride go like this (revs his right hand, like a motorcycle.)” My how things change!  

We have 4 kids, ages 10-20 years old. David likes skiing and hiking, eating at restaurants and going to the movies, and tending to his newly acquired beehive. He’s on the boards of like a million different organizations, one of which is the U’s “Utah Presents” which focuses on bringing diversity to Utah through performing arts.  He’s a great dad and husband, and cycling has brought him so much happiness over the last decade. Oh and he hates deer. 

Modern Renaissance Man

When describing Todd to someone who doesn’t know him “Modern Renaissance Man” is the best way I can sum him up. One of my favorite things about him is his endless curiously for all things and people. He can (and does!) find the good and interesting in the people he meets and befriends and can ‘talk shop’ with anyone and everyone, whether they are a plumber, CEO, fashion designer or chef. He loves to know how things work and how to optimize any experience or process. 

I often tease Todd and tell him he reminds me of the mouse from the popular children’s book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” Todd began his biking journey about four years ago, shortly after our first child was born. As I suspected, he was true to his mouse characteristics in this new world of cycling. “If you give Todd a bike, he’s going to need some gear, nutrition, wheels, bike tools, trainer, race/event entries . etc. etc. - the bike was a small catalyst into an new entire world and he’s passionate about every new page he encounters. 

In the last few years Todd has thrown himself “all in” to cycling and become part of an amazing community with lifelong friends. I watched as he committed to 5-6 day a week early morning rides, constantly challenging himself to more miles or higher elevations each week. I watched as his body transformed and his focus grew into bettering himself physically, mentally and more. We’ve discovered the crazy world of Lotoja and it’s been thrilling to celebrate his hard work and successes through this grueling day-long race the past couple of years 

 A few months into riding, he found his people and has loved riding with Mi Doule ever since. It’s been inspiring to say the least to see him excel and grow with this group of cyclists that challenge and support each other every day. With the huge time and energy commitment Todd’s invested into cycling, I can honestly say it has made him a better person in all aspects of his life. He is healthy, present, energized and completely engaged with his family, friends and career. We welcomed our third baby last week and needless to say he’s had long, sleepless nights and still has  made time and put effort into early mornings on the saddle. I can’t think of a better way his cycling story could have landed and can’t wait to see where it leads from here. 

Links / Reminders: 

1) Register for the East Canyon Road race and then text me a copy of your registration for a reimbursement from www.cyclingupgrades.com Let's get a big group out. 

2) Kit order is open until July 5th: https://www.voler.com/Hubs/Team/MiDuole

Crush the Crusher

Three separate interviews about Crusher in the Tushar preparation and execution: Dave Sharp, Scott Miles, Spencer Chipping. Learn what they have learned about nutrition, tires, the course, weather, gear, clothes and training.  

The Tushars are among Utah's tallest mountain ranges, housing several peaks over 12,000 feet in elevation and featuring Utah's highest road at an elevation of 11,500 feet. Straddling Beaver and Piute Counties and nestled in the expansive Fishlake National Forest, The Tushars possess stunning vistas, palpable solitude and nearly unlimited opportunities for unconfined recreation. The toughest 69.9 miles on the planet. This uniquely-formatted race begins in historic downtown Beaver, the birthplace of  famed outlaw “Butch Cassidy” and finishes at Utah’s newest ski and Summer resort, Eagle Point. Featuring a 60/40 split of gravel to tarmac gravel sectors, it affords riders the opportunity to explore the stunning back country of Utah’s little-known Tushar Mountains and Fishlake National Forest.

https://tusharcrusher.com

Buy. Sell. Trade. Upgrade.

Meet the newest team sponsor of Mi Duole: www.cyclingupgrades.com and Korby Van Valkenburg.  They are here to help you buy and ride upgrades! CyclingUpgrades.com was born from a passion of riding and upgrading our own bike(s). With some of the best road cycling and climbing in the world at our doorstep, they can often be found out riding up grades as well as upgrades! 

They buy and sell high-end cycling equipment all over the world! While they specialized in high-end road bikes, they are happy to take a look at whatever cycling related items you might have for sale or trade-in - mountain bikes, TT/triathlon, vintage road bikes, and even lightly used gear such as clothing, shoes, and helmets are all fair game. Simply use our trade-in submission form to begin the pricing/trade-in process on your used bikes or gear!

They are located in Mapleton, Utah! While we are not setup to browse like a typical bike shop, with some advance notice we can pull items from inventory to see before purchasing or for local pickup at:

CyclingUpgrades.com

1641 W Alvey Drive Unit 1

Mapleton, Utah 84664

Ph. 801-900-3878

sales@cyclingupgrades.com

Don't miss the Mi Duole Instagram post RAFFLE that goes along with this podcast.  

Be Aware. Be Courteous.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 932 bicyclists were killed in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2020, an 8.9% increase from 856 in 2019. Bicyclists' deaths accounted for 2% of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities.

The canyons are busier.  More bikes are on the roads. Many cities throughout the United States reported increases in the number of bicycle accidents during the pandemic shutdown. The increase in bicycle accidents coincided with a steep decrease in the number of car accidents. 

You would think that bicycle accidents and deaths would decrease as the number of cars on the roads decrease. However, that was not necessarily the case when you review the statistics for bicycle injuries and fatalities during the pandemic.

When we called for an interview from a Canyon Patrol Officer we were introduced to Office Kyle Wilkins. 20 years on the force and currently patrolling the canyons on the east side of the valley. He shares some timely and thoughtful information on how to stay safe both as a cyclist and a motorist. He also let's us know if it is appropriate to give a box of donuts to a police officer as a gift...

$5 Per Hour To Race Bikes

Jessee Clapier, also known as Vinny, Jasper, and, by his father in law, Jeff, was born and raised in Holladay, Utah as the youngest of 6 kids. He attended Churchill Jr. High and Skyline High School where he met his one and only girlfriend at the age of fifteen. Jess proposed six years later after Eliza told him to NEVER talk to her about marriage.

Traveling is a priority to Jess because he is fascinated with varying cultures. Jess served an LDS mission in the Philippines and he and Liza once backpacked Southeast Asia for six months. Jess is a connoisseur of dried mangoes, Thai food is his favorite, and he loves flying his drone in the mountains. Jess is also an avid University of Utah football fan and was even found crying for his team at the latest Rose Bowl game. Yes, actual tears.

Jess went through an interesting phase in his early teen years of filming and starring in his own music videos. If you ever find yourself in need of some quality  entertainment on a Saturday night, check out jvclapier on YouTube. The Listen to your Heart Remix video is sure to brighten your day. 

Jess tends to jump around companies in his work purely because he gets bored and is consistently looking for the next challenge. He works as a web designer and has an eye for all things design. Jess is nothing short of brilliant and is always working on some random project. He has built standup arcades and as a child, a pulley system to turn off his bedroom lights from his bed.

Jess is a natural athlete and pain seems to only mildly affect him. From a young age, Jess played football, baseball, wrestled, and ran cross country. He goes so hard in flag football, that he once broke both pinky fingers in one day. Jess also placed second in state wrestling with broken ribs his senior year. However, Jess never could quite catch a break when it came to sports injuries and this was a large source of frustration for him. 

That is when he found biking. With the physical determination of a high school wrestler, and the social awkwardness of a high school choir boy, Jess was kind of destined to end up on a bike. Jess got on a road bike for the first time in 2016 after finding a cheap Giant on KSL. It was truly love at first ride. The next two years brought a lot of travel and moving around, so it wasn’t until 2019 that Jess was actually able to start investing time into biking. He has had setbacks, including a major crash in 2020 and a car accident previously that has caused nagging back issues. But, Jess is determined and has pushed on.

Jess is loved by all who meet him. He even crashed his in-laws car in high school and they still let him marry their daughter. He is mindful of others and always looking for ways to build relationships and bring joy into others’ lives. He has the biggest heart of anyone you will ever meet and is by far the favorite uncle to his 25+ nieces and nephews.

When not cycling, Jess can be found hanging out with his mother-in-law, tinkering with things around the house, watching formula one, or investing in crypto. Although he may not admit it, Jess loves a good bachelor night with a nice and cold swig drink and some fresh cookies.

Jess’ passion for biking is profound. He rides simply because he LOVES it. Biking is a way for him to experience the beauty of the world, cope with the stressors of life (especially those put upon him by his wife 😉), and to meet so many incredible individuals. Climbing mountains is his speciality, both on the bike and in whatever life throws at him. Jess’ only regret with biking is that he didn’t find it earlier in life.

The Competitive Edge

We built The Feed to share how the right nutrition at the right time can instantly improve your performance, get you more improvement out of each workout, and increase your enjoyment of training and racing.

I started 8 years ago while I was running a Tour de France team, I saw how better nutrition was giving our riders a huge advantage in their training (getting more out of every workout) and in competition (performing stronger in the last 20% of the race or the last week of a 3 week stage race).

We boiled this down to a simple formula of what to eat Before, During, and After each workout. Over the past 8 years we have refined this further with feedback from over 200,000+ athletes being feed by The Feed.

But one size doesn’t fit all. Which is why we are here to build you a personal Feed that will work for you and your sport, your diet, your flavor preferences, and your training goals.

We hand picked the best products on the market for you. We have have picked products from over 150 top nutrition brands (out over 400 brands we have tested).

One of my biggest gripes was always being forced to buy a whole box of the same flavor. So we sell everything as “single servings”. We believe variety between flavors and products is critical to better performance. Plus nobody wants to eat twelve bars of the same flavor! (plus you can save money by just getting what you really want).

Every product on The Feed has been rigorously taste tested by us. We get rid of all the cardboard tasting bars and chalky protein. We also do real-world testing of every product during our own workouts. We answer questions on whether it delivers on what it promises. Finally we are heavily biased towards natural products and we keep only a few weeks inventory on hand so everything is fresh.

We work with big companies (hello Clif Bar!) and small companies (we are looking at you Joje Bars). We are focused on quality products, that you can use on-the-go, that are good for you (ahem, we are not GNC).

We are also a great place to find the latest, newest hot products. Sometimes they are from brands you have never heard of (Vafels, are yummy) or even big brands that surprise us, the new plant based Clif Nut Butter Bars are, well, the bomb!

Need help, our feed coaches are here to help you for free, email us at hello@thefeed.com and tell us your sport, what you are training for, any nutritional preferences and flavors you love and hate.

You can order two ways from The Feed. If you are more of a stock the pantry kind of person, then make a big one-time order. If you want to make sure you have the freshest stuff and mix up flavors and products, then choose a subscription and get the freshest products delivered every 4 weeks.

- Matt, Founder of The Feed

We Can Do Hard Things

Meet the Brinton's...

CAMILLE: 

Camille has so many crowns on Strava, they had to buy extra space on the cloud just to hold them all. But seriously, she loves her crowns more than real jewelry. And speaking of real jewelry, her dad is a garbage man that showers her with diamonds so I don't have to buy her any. We spend most of our money on bikes and food. Two of her greatest loves, after me, her husband. I am known around these parts as Camille's husband. I have been the first gentleman of the Relief Society, the greatest honor of my life. She is a true native of the Valley, born and raised in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, graduated from Highland High School, then earned a Master's of Nursing from New York University.

She puts her all into everything she does. She has four strong children that she loves and serves daily, teaching them that they can do hard things and that failure is a wonderful opportunity to learn and press forward. She has embraced the mantra of the Mi Duole Mandolarian creed, THIS IS THE WAY, meaning she is hopeful and full of love, and endures until the end, whether that be the Wasatch 100 or an extremely long church meeting. She has been on the podium more than most. When the Master's National Road Racing Championship came to Ogden a few years ago, she ended up on the podium for the Criterum. She's been on the podium at LOTOJA, she's been on the podium for Tour de Park City, B4K, Tour de Sol. She's been on the podium for P2P, you get the point. She is kind of a big deal.

More impressive than her podiums though is the fact that she is the best wife I've ever had, a wonderful mother, a friend to all, a caring nurse, a delightful cook and a stone cold killer on the bike....

DAVE: 
Dave grew up in Salt Lake and went to Highland high school. He has an amazing father who was and is the ultimate outdoorsman who spent many hours coaching, mentoring and teaching Dave, his siblings and all of the young men in the Parleys area.  He is a legend for many of his epic adventures.  Dave's dad Ralph instilled in him a love for nature, the outdoors and being active.  Dave grew up playing Football, Rugby and wrestling. Dave played Rugby at the University of Utah and went on to play in Graduate School at Columbia University in New York.   Dave is currently the team doctor for the Utah Warriors Rugby team. Dave spent his youth exploring the Wasatch, rock climbing, skiing, hiking and mtn biking.  Every year for his dad’s birthday until recently they would ride the Wasatch crest.  Dave is an incredibly talented athlete. He excels at every sport he does. Dave ran the 100th running of the Boston Marathon with his dad in1996 qualifying with a time of 3:08 without much training. Dave has raced road, mtn and triathlon.  He has completed LOTOJA 3 times, True grit 5 times, ultimate challenge, tour of park city and run several marathons including Boston and New York. He has been coaching, ride leading, Mentoring in NICA with Herriman High for 7 years. Dave has always chosen to put our family first. He is the ultimate sponsor for the Brinton Clan. Dave is one of the smartest, most humble and honest people you will meet.   He is our example, leader and biggest supporter. You want Dave on  your team.  Everyone who knows  Dave loves him. 

Addicted to Progression

Meet Split Nutrition's co-founder, Jeff Mahin. Recently a friend and fellow cyclist (Corey Jensen) proposed our team connecting with SPLIT.  If you haven’t seen their product you can find it at Harmon's. If you where at team camp you got to dive into the very generous gift of products that Split provided us. Jeff Mahin (a chef with a passion for cycling) and Dr. Phil Goglia (performance nutritionist to the stars and professional athletes) discovered that nobody was making a convenient way to PB&J - let alone doing it with minimal ingredients. They wanted to create a delicious way to PB&J that was nostalgic, convenient and made with the best ingredients they could find to keep it at its realest - and better for you.

We are going to dive into the story behind Split and it’s founder. We are going to spend an hour with Jeff Mahin working through his journey and how. Let's get into Jeff's story a little bit, he's going to tell you about how he went from being kicked out of high school to being a successful entrepreneur, restaurateur, and elite level cyclist.

Split Pop Up Draper Harmons: 13-15 May, 2022

jeff@splitnutrition.com

Split can be found on The Feed https://thefeed.com/teams/mi-doule-cycling-team

Braver Than You’ve Ever Been

Hannah Finchamp has been racing for over half her life. She started at 9 years old, racing on a bike more than half her weight. Eleven years later she received her professional license in triathlon and mountain biking.

After winning the XTERRA Amateur World Championship in triathlon, she joined the CLIF Pro Team (then LUNA). And after winning the amateur title a second time, her sights became fixed on the bike. 

She has worked up the ranks starting as the two-time high school state champion on the mountain bike, earning podium positions at multi-Pro XCT and Epic races, and she finished off her college career as a 5x National Champion. 

She graduated from Lindenwood University with a degree in both Athletic Training (healthcare) and Exercise Science. She is a USA Certified Cycling Coach and Board Certified athletic trainer. 

I first met Hannah through Voler. I would watch her posts come through on their social page and then I noticed one day that some of her own social posts included pictures of Emigration Canyon. So, I pulled up Strava and did some investigative research … turns out she lives right down the street from me. Now I frequently honk and wave at her when she’s going out to do intervals in Olympus Cove.  She has also done some guest speaking for  our high school mountain team.  

One of my most favorite things you have said, “Last year, at the national championship, I had the letters B.S. written on my top tube, but it didn’t stand for what you might think. The letters were short for my mantra, “Braver than you’ve ever been, stronger than you even know.” Even after I removed those letters from my bike, it’s a mantra I continue to repeat to myself. There is something about being ‘braver’ and ‘stronger’ that inspires confidence. I think the mantra applies both on and off of the bike. Especially right now, we all need to be a little braver and stronger than we’ve ever been before. 

https://hannahfinchamp.com

https://www.strava.com/athletes/4924389

Instagram @hannah_finchamp

Cycling As You Age

Dan Mills of Performance Rehab Clinic is a MASTER at helping people heal. Learn how to be strategic about your cycling and fitness as you age. Learn how to still be killing it out there in your 70’s! Owner and operator of Performance Rehab Clinic. University of Utah Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Idaho State University. Dan is a HUGE part of the Mi Duole team both as a teammate and a sponsor. Big thank you for all he teaches in this episode and how much he gives to take care of the team’s health. 

http://www.prcpt.net

Team Novo Nordisk Pro Cycling: Lakota Phippen

After five years of racing with the Team Novo Nordisk development team, Logan Phippen made the step up to the pro team for 2021, realizing a long held dream and becoming the team’s only US pro rider. Valuable experience racing against WorldTour opponents was gained at the Tour of Turkey, Baloise Tour of Belgium and the Tour du Limousin as Phippen looks to push on in 2022. A challenging 2020 due to the Covid-19 restrictions and racing embargo meant for a shortened calendar for Phippen, but 11th overall at the Tour of Mevlana in Turkey after an all round selfless team performance confirmed Phippen’s development had come full circle and the time was right to move up a level. 2019 saw Phippen perform well in races like the Joe Martin Stage Race, Vuelta Independencia Nacional and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, but injury and illness blighted his calendar and limited his race days. One of four children, from a young age Phippen was involved in highly competitive endurance athletics, including Nordic skiing, running, and mountain biking. He fell in love with cycling while watching the European races on television and swiftly began harboring his own ambitions of becoming a cyclist. He promptly found progress racing with Hanger 15 Bicycles (formerly Canyon Bicycles) on the US domestic Pro Road Tour (PRT) circuit and gaining valuable experience in teamwork and leadership. In 2016, Phippen’s life changed drastically when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. That spring, he grew weak and frail and noticed he didn’t have the energy to keep up with his friends while out riding. The weekend after his 24th birthday, he saw how horrifically thin he’d become, and after a conversation with his father, Phippen went to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with diabetes. The diagnosis never disheartened Phippen as he knew it was a condition that he could manage. With the help from his medical team, he knew he could live the same active life and was back on the bike within a week. Because he had already seen Team Novo Nordisk riders in the peloton, he reached out to the team immediately to see if they had a spot for him on their elite mountain bike team. Instead, Team Novo Nordisk offered him a chance to race for the development squad, and Phippen instantly jumped at the opportunity. Phippen experienced a breakthrough season in 2018, earning 14 top 10 finishes including eight podium finishes with two wins and one overall victory. His proudest result came at the UCI Europe Tour of Bihor in Romania where he finished 11th in the individual time trial. Off the bike, Phippen loves literature, writing, and meditation. He says his life looks completely different than it did barely three years ago and loves being back racing full time and taking life by the horns.

#wantoverwatts

Prior to cycling, Tanner was a professional skier on the Telemark World Cup. He has a bachelor’s degree with honors in snow science mechanics (civil engineers but with snow) from Montana State University. Tanner has been a professional mountain bike racer since 2016 and coach since 2017. He tops the podium at many well known races, recently having won the Park City Point to Point. He has experience racing various lengths and technicalities all over the country, a true seasoned pro. Tanner works with a variety of athletes, from juniors to pros. He specializes in developing young racers and guiding them through the seasons that come. Using his experience from years at competing at the top, he develops racers holistically and inclusively in XC, marathon XC, gravel, and cyclocross.

1. Get out and ride your bike. If you are new to cycling, don’t worry about training metrics, having the best equipment, looking pro. Focus on building your engine and getting strong first. The rest comes later.

 

2. Get strong, not thin. There is a lot of toxic language in cycling about how thin is fast. Watts per kilo is king so if you lose weight you will get faster. This is NOT TRUE and this mentality is harmful to women AND men. There is no ideal body type in cycling.

3. Balance is key: life comes first, training comes second. Even if you are competing at a high level, prioritize things outside of your training. This may include spending time with friends, skiing on a powder day, practicing music, etc. If you miss a workout on your training plan to do something that is beneficial to your mental health, that is 100% okay. Life isn’t all about training

www.rockhornracing.com

Owner of Maui Cyclery

Donnie started cycling during his freshman year of college in 1983. He began road and mountain bike racing in 1985, and continued until 1999. In 2001, he started guiding bike tours in Maui, Hawaii. Donnie truly loves people and sharing cycling with them. Giving his guests the best experience possible every time they ride is his goal—whether that means tips to improve their riding or sharing extra information about Hawaii. He’s grateful he gets to do this job and meet amazing people from all over the world. So, what’s Donnie’s “job?”  

Donnie is the Founder of Maui Cyclery, he lives on Maui, he rides, he surfs, hikes and is an outdoors enthusiast!!  

“My goal is to help cyclists who come to Maui on vacation to experience what I get to do daily.  Today, "Go cycling Maui" is going on 14 years.”  

https://www.gocyclingmaui.com
99 Hana Hwy Paia, HI 96779h

Find Your Why

Andy has always been athletic and involved in sports his whole life.  As a boy He excelled in soccer until he moved from Southern California to a small town in southern Utah where soccer didn’t exist.  He then picked up a baseball glove and that became a passion for years and even earned him a college scholarship.  As a young father he developed degenerative disc disease in his back and was scheduled for surgery, but thought he’d try another route to heal his back and got into shape again.  He started running at the gym.  That led to running a marathon, which led to an interest in triathlon and then ultimately the pinnacle of triathlon…Ironman.

After years of running wore down his knee, requiring surgery, the doctor recommended the he hang up his running shoes and invest in  a good road bike instead.  He took that advice seriously and poured his heart and soul into biking and has never looked back.  He is well known and highly skilled in this sport, not only in racing, but currently shares his knowledge and passion with both teens and adults as a highly respected and revered coach.  His only regret with biking is that he didn’t find it earlier in his life.

Dirty Dino Gravel Grinder Discount Code: MIDUOLEDINO

”Give It a Go”

Former Amazing Race Winner and Pro Cyclist, Connor O’Leary. "As cliché as it sounds, the entire cancer experience really put things into perspective for me," says Connor. "I learned more about myself, my capabilities, and what it means to truly suffer in those eight months than ever before. Above all, it taught me how precious life truly is. I started living, taking advantage of every opportunity, and creating deeper connections with the people in my life."

Connor shares his story about becoming a pro and racing in Europe. He shares his cancer diagnosis and what he learned. Connor is part of Mi Duole and we can't wait for all the good things 2022 brings us.

Duole For Life

Meet Stuart Anderson in the newest episode of the Mi Duole podcast. Born and raised in Holladay. Attended Crestview, Oly Jr. and Oly High. Comes from a family of 3 kids, and is a middle child. Served an LDS mission to Ireland and Northern Ireland 1999-2000 then came home and got a Double Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Business from the U of U. Life long sport enthusiast. Attended every Rick Majaris basketball game as a kid and teen. Attended Ron McBride football camp every summer. Gloriously lost the 1997-1998 4A football state championship to Timpview. Married High School girlfriend Kristin Edge in 2004 and has two daughters: 14 and 8. Lives in Holladay and works for Crown Council … a dental marketing and consulting company.

Connect. Achieve. Recognize. Enjoy.

Meet Mi Duole team member, Dr. Dan Thunell, and enjoy his bio from his wife Meg 😎

"My name is Meg. And my husband Dan is an addict. A cycling addict. 

"When he proposed, I had no idea I would spend 40% of our marriage pulling wet Lycra out of the washing machine and hanging it to dry on every banister and railing in our house. Dan started off as a runner, but after an orthopedic surgeon told him he had the ankles of a 96 year old man, he started mountain biking for exercise. 

"Here’s Dan’s dirty secret: he was a complete snob who FOR YEARS refused to even try road biking. But after our last kid ended up being surprise twins, he was too scared to ask me for enough time to drive up the mountain, bike on the mountain, and drive back from the mountain. It wouldn’t have ended well for anyone.

"His older brother, Mark, had been a cyclist for years, & finally convinced Dan to give road biking a chance. One of his very first road rides was a century in Park City. 

"He almost died. 

"But he didn’t, and a monster was born.

"For the last 10 years, Dan has gotten up around 5 am almost every day so he can get his miles in and still be a dad to our six kids, eight chickens, and very needy dog. 

"He has ridden LOTOJA as a relay three times, and raced solo six. Only one of those solo races ended in the back of an ambulance, so that’s pretty good I guess. (I would please very much like you to ask him to tell you the story of why he ended up in an ambulance, by the way).

"For the last three years, he, his brothers, and his best friend have rented an RV and spent 24 hours in the wilds of Utah for the Kokopelli Relay. He’s climbed Pikes Peak, the Mt. Whitney portal, Mt. Evans, Haleakala, and many, many more. He also got a VPN so he can watch every monument, classic, and tour event at ungodly hours in languages he doesn’t speak, and he has as many bikes as he has kids.

"He even planned our 20th anniversary trip to Italy around the Giro, and promised if we went to one stage he’d go to as many museums as I wanted. 

"Professionally, Dan is a periodontist who is beloved by his patients, staff, and peers. He’s been awarded professor of the year by the dental residents at the University of Utah, and is constantly disappointing little old grandmas who want to line him up with their grandchildren. 

"The things that make Dan a great doctor, husband, and father are the same things that make him a great cycling companion. He is meticulous and detail-oriented, but more importantly, he is unfailingly and unyieldingly kind. There are no games with Dan—what you see is exactly what you get. 

"He’s extremely competitive, but only with himself. He loves riding with complete novices who wear their kids’ helmets and Nikes as much as he does racing as a Cat 3 cyclist.

"As long as he has a hill to climb, he’s happy. And because he is so kind and patient, and because he mostly tries not to make fun of me for almost totaling our car on an Idaho service road after I got lost driving Lotoja support last year, I keep pulling him shaking and shivering off the sides of mountains with a car full of hot tea and handwarmers or Cherry Coke and Reese’s.

"Also, this is completely unrelated, but I will never have a platform like this again. I want to make sure everyone knows that he has an unhealthy obsession with Vans shoes and currently owns 24 pairs. I had to give up a full shelf in our closet for his fancy footwear."

Peak State Fit

Pat Casey is a USA Triathlon Level 2 Coach, CSCS, Team USA Age Group Coach, and Retul certified bike fit expert. His background as an elite road cyclist stemmed into his consulting and coaching career, which allows him to combine his love of cycling and triathlon with his devotion to helping people improve their quality of life, and realize their athletic potential through endurance sports.

Pat grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where he spent the months he wasn’t playing ice hockey riding his mountain bike. He was introduced to cross country racing and joined the St. Louis-based cycling team when he was 15. At this time, Pat also got a job as an aspiring bike mechanic, and to this day, still wears his “mechanic hat” after 13 years in bike shops. 

During summer of 2012, Pat rode his bike from San Francisco, CA to Boston, MA in support of Partners in Health, a Global Health organization that had largely inspired his move to Alabama after graduation. Getting back to racing in Alabama, Pat found himself on the podium and moved up in Category quickly with help from his coach at the time, Heather. Instead of continuing on his path towards graduate school, Pat wanted to see where his dream of professional bike racing would take him. 

In 2014, Pat and Heather loaded up and moved their lives to Park City, Utah and Pat joined the Canyon Bicycles-Shimano Domestic Elite Cycling Team. He spent the following spring and summer months (2015 and 2016) traveling the US on the domestic PRT (Professional Road Tour) Circuit, followed by a year with the New Orleans-based team, Palmer Cycling who would help get him to a myriad of PRT events in the role of Rider and Director for the small squad. 

In this role, Pat found himself more useful as a team leader and coach than as a rider. In 2018, racing has become an outlet for competition, but Pat’s passion for coaching and devotion to his athletes has outdistanced his desire to spend as much time on the road. 

He still races as a Cat 1 in Utah, and you can find him at Tuesday Night Worlds races at RMR, and the occasional weekend criterium.

https://www.peakstatefit.com

pat@peakstatefit.com

Let Wins Be Wins

Join Cherell Jordin and Stuart Anderson as they spend an hour with professional cyclist Melisa Rollins for episode #38. 

Intro by Melisa's coach, Sarah Kaufman: Melisa was introduced to riding by her parents. You might be surprised to know that initially she hated it! It wasn’t until turning 18 and discovering how her work ethic rewarded her on the bike that she began to enjoy it. 

Melisa came to me for coaching in 2019, burned out from running and riding and with only a budding interest in racing. I recognized her willingness to work, and her coachability - a trait that encapsulates a lot of qualities, but to me largely means humble and curious. It took about a year to dig Melisa out of the hole she was in but after that, she really started to become the star on the bike that she is now. I have learned so much from coaching Melisa and, like everyone, I am so excited to see what else she can do. 

To date, some of her palmares include: wins at 2021 Chequamegon and Firecracker 50, 2021 PCP2P and Leadboat (Leadville and SBT) 2nd places, BWR 2020 5th. One thing to note here - as part of her Leadboat podium, she was 6th at Leadville. That may not sound like a huge result but the field this year was stacked - to date only 12 women have gone under eight hours at Leadville and six of them did it this year. Melisa was one of those six. 

#pedaltherapy w/ Charles Smart

Meet teammate Charles Smart!

Charles grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and is the oldest of six kids. He went to East High School where he met the girl of his dreams, then graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in economics, and now has been working in finance ever since! Charles has always loved to bike. He has been road biking for years, even before it became popular amongst our generation. 

Three things Charles loves besides biking:

1. Family — He is an amazing husband and the best father to our 4 children (Charlie 9, Ellie 7, Ruby 4, Caroline 2). Everyone is happier when he is around!
2. Skiing — He loves skiing and has has taught our kids to enjoy the sport as well - he and the kids have already been up 3 times this season!
3. A good nap — He can fall asleep anytime/anywhere... he has been known to completely pass out sitting up while chaos erupts around him!

Charles is a beef jerky connoisseur, Mexican food is his favorite and he lives for our yearly trip to Newport Beach... For some reason he’s always in the market for a new bike and spends unnecessary amounts of time on KSL shopping.

Quote from Charles, "Sister kidnapped when I was 16 years old. That was life changing for my family. Biking became a form of therapy for me during that time. My mind would race to all sorts of potential bad/scary outcomes when my sister was gone. Going out on the bike I was either suffering too much to worry about other things or too focused to think about anything other than descending (more so on the mountain bike). This was hugely therapeutic to me and to this day is a big part of why riding a bike is so special to me. Although the life variables have changed. I’m a believer in trying to balance some structure with just riding. Might not be the smartest method, but cycling is therapeutic for me physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Group rides and structure rides solve different pieces of that puzzle in my life"

Fit For Life with Paul Thomas {Hyland‘s}

We met Paul when he did LOTOJA in 2020.  Paul raced the pro category and we had a little back and forth via text.  Our real connection comes through Hyland's.  Big team sponsor has brought us together on some projects and gratefully we get to spend 45 minutes with Paul talking about his life as an endurance athlete and coach. 

Paul has supported the cycling initiatives of Hyland’s Powered, including coaching their cycling teams at the 2021 Belgian Waffle Ride Series. Hyland’s is an official sponsor of the Belgian Waffle Ride Series and fielded teams for the 2021 BWRs around the country - including Cedar City. 

One of Thomas’s primary roles was be to prepare the Hyland’s teams for the 100+ grueling miles of racing on dirt, gravel, and road.

A legendary endurance athlete, Thomas is certainly qualified for this leadership role, having competed at the national level for 40 years, first as a runner and now as a cyclist. He won his first U.S. championship at 11 years old with a 4:55 mile and followed that up with a national high school title in 1987. 

For the last ten years, Thomas has focused on cycling, winning 12 more professional and state championships. His most recent wins include the 2020 Arizona State Hill Climb Championships, El Tour de Tucson Tandem 2019, and the Arizona State 40K Time Trial Championship.

https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/press-releases/bike-press-releases/hylands-doubles-down-on-cycling-adding-paul-thomas-to-the-hylands-powered-family/

Spandex, Shopify, 2022 Camp

All team updates...

Five Training Pitfalls

Kyle has completed multiple Ironman events, half marathons, challenging century-length rides/races, grueling cycling stage races, CX mountain bike races, and other endurance events. He is taking his education, coaching background, and knowledge of strength training and applying the same science-backed principles and concepts to endurance sports with certifications from USA Cycling, USA Triathlon, IRONMAN, NICA, and the American College of Sports Medicine. He is constantly studying to be a better coach and athlete through continuing education and staying up to date on the latest research and training trends. 

Kyle has worked with everyone from beginners to elite athletes and is comfortable with all age groups. He loves helping adult athletes break through plateaus and achieve goals, and has a passion for coaching developing youth athletes - helping them grow their love for their sport while keeping in mind that junior athletes require a different approach to training than adult athletes.

WHY WHITE PINE ATHLETICS: I created White Pine Athletics because, as an athlete, I understood the necessity of being treated and trained like a unique individual, something I feel a lot of trainers and clubs forget. The idea was to start a company offering full-service training solutions focusing on the needs of each athlete, but also with a huge emphasis on mobility and injury prevention.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A TRAINER/COACH: From day one, I have always been passionate about the sports I participate in, and I have always enjoyed watching others grow as athletes. By becoming a trainer, I have been able to help athletes grow to become more efficient, stronger, and healthier than they were before, and that is a great feeling. I get to help people become lifelong athletes by focusing not just on the strength but on mobility and technique to achieve maximum longevity.

https://whitepineathletics.com/kyle-mcfarland

USA Cycling Coach, Level 2

USA Triathlon Coach, Level 1

Ironman Certified Coach

NICA Accredited Coach

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer

Training Peaks Level 1 Accreditation

 

From Rider To Racer

Spend an hour with Utah Cycling Events owner and manager, Dirk Cowley as he shares his thoughts about the Utah road racing climate and what he is doing to provide opportunities for better road racing events. He is also the Managing Partner at RaceDay Event Management. Dirk is prolific racer and has been for more than 30 years. Dirk earned the Stars and Stripes jersey as National Champion in the Masters 45-49 criterium. Dirk also travelled to the Masters World Championships in Tirol, Austria and finished fifth in the 116 km road race in the 45-49 year category. 

http://utahcyclingevents.com

https://www.road-results.com/racer/17169

A Progressive Winter Program

Learn from one of the best - Plan7 Founder, Dave Harward as he teaches about some key elements to a successful winter training program.  We spend about an hour going over the basics behind getting started and how to make these off seasons months productive and fun. 

A successful spring and summer racing season hinges mainly on one thing—your winter cycling training plan. The type of work you put in right now to prepare for it will pay massive dividends in the future.
 
Did you catch that? I said the type of work you put in — not how much work you put in. For most cyclists, winter cycling means it’s time to buckle down on long-duration, high-volume base training. 

https://plan7coaching.com/houseofwatts

Your Bike Sounds Like A Bird‘s Nest

Eric Flynn has been a part of Holladay cycling for years.  His shop is right in the heart of Holladay servicing all types of bikes: mountain, XC and road.  Eric has been part of the Mi Duole family for years.  He is filled with honesty and integrity.  His service and skills come into play helping us keep our bikes running smooth.  Eric works hard and puts in the hours to care for our community.  We are honored to spend an hour talking about his story.

From Eric's website: 
"We focus and specialize on incredible service, maintenance and repair of any brand of bike. The bulk of the bikes you see when you step into our shop are the bikes of our customers. We do sell new bikes but our focus here is impeccable service and attention to detail when it comes to our service work.

When you pick your bike up from us we want you to know things have been done with the utmost care and precision. There is nothing worse than paying for a service and then come to find out things were hurried and important details have been overlooked."

http://flynncyclery.com

We Are Iron Cowboy

James lives with his wife, Sunny, and their five children in Utah. After breaking several Guinness World Records, James wondered if he had truly found his mental and physical limits. He knew there was more: 50 Ironmans, 50 States, 50 consecutive days. 
 
After accomplishing the fifty, James knew he wasn’t done yet. Over the next five years, he rode his mountain bike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, ran 235 miles across Greece, competed in Xtreme Triathlons around the world, and raced the Xtri World Championship in Norway. He also competed in the T.V. World Premiere of The World’s Toughest Race – a ten-day adventure race through the back jungles of Fiji, and The Uberman, all leading up to his biggest project––Conquer One Hundred––racing a full-distance triathlon for 100 consecutive days, from March 1, 2021 – June 8, 2021. 140.6 miles a day, for 14 weeks, totally 14, 060 miles. 
 
James is now experiencing being the parent of four teenage girls and one son who is almost a teenager as well. After watching the documentary on Netflix for Operation Underground Railroad, he knew that he wanted to get involved. He contacted O.U.R. and was thrilled to create a partnership to raise money for the cause. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and James is excited to get involved in freeing modern-day slaves, particularly teenagers and children.

https://www.ironcowboy.com/conquer-100/

Queen of Gravel

Alison Tetrick is a cowgirl, a scientist, a storyteller, and a professional cyclist.

Growing up on a cattle ranch in California, Alison could dream as big as the boundless landscape. Being remote from the surrounding communities, she pursued excellence in her academics, solo sports, and was ingrained with a ranch life work ethic. Beginning tennis in high school, she used that and her Valedictorian status to earn a full scholarship to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX. She excelled in pursuing a B.S in Biochemistry with an emphasis in Molecular Biology and became a published scientific author in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Biochemistry for her research in cholesterol biosynthesis.

Alison’s scientific experience took her from Texas to Boston where she worked in a laboratory specializing in chemistry research and drug discovery and then on to the Bay Area where she currently resides in Petaluma, CA. Always seeking physical challenges to accentuate her professional career in biotechnology, she began triathlon winning her first races and qualifying for the 70.3 World Championships. Meanwhile, her Grandfather had become an avid cyclist in the later years of his life winning 17 USA Master’s National Championships and remarked that his granddaughter had the potential in the sport in which he could have unlocked decades earlier. Cycling was in her blood.

Despite the foray into triathlon, true riding to Alison still meant saddling up her horse to ride the trails of the Central Coast of California and it took some convincing from Grampy to race bicycles exclusively. A 6-month period that consisted of a few races, a call from the USA Cycling Talent ID, and joining the USA National Team, capitulated Alison into a career that both not almost ended her life, but also saved her life.

Finding the same sense of freedom on a bike that she had found with the wide-open spaces of the ranch, she uncovered what she needed to progress into one of the best elite women cyclists in the world. In 2014, she placed 3rd at the UCI World Championships in the Team Time Trial and won stages at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina and the BeNe Tour in Belgium. She represented the USA at the Pan American Games. She was ranked by the UCI, the global governing body for professional cycling, in the Top 10 professional racers in the world.

This successful career came hurtling down as a sequence of crashes that involved life flight helicopters, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken bones, hospital stays, months of rehabilitation, and side effects from the crashes that remain to this day led her to explore alternate outlets on the bike.

From the UCI World Tour, she began exploring all things gravel. She won her first gravel race at DK200, setting the current course record, and continued to become 3x Gravel Worlds Champion. In due course, Alison was crowned by event coordinators and the gravel community as the inaugural “Queen of Gravel”.

The TBI resulting from the crashes as a professional cyclist awakened her academic pursuits in the desire to understand the healing process of the brain. While continuing to race professionally and work as a consultant in biotechnology communications, she acquired her M.S. in Clinical Psychology.

Alison is dedicated to investing in the sport of cycling and serves on the Board of Directors of USA Cycling. You can find her all over the world enjoying life, riding bikes and inspiring. She maintains a career as a communications professional, specializing in biotechnology and the endurance sports industry. She was a pivotal part in the activation of the Amgen Tour of California, with her science, marketing, and cycling expertise. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Saga Ventures, LLC, a consulting firm based on curating meaningful community engagement and brand activation.

Be bold. Do work. Ride bikes.

Ventum CEO Diaa Nour

"Better Yourself. Believe In Yourself" 

An accomplished businessman and lifelong athlete, Diaa Nour cofounded Ventum LLC in 2015 after successfully exiting the telecom sector. Ventum began as a passion project seeking to change the bike industry by introducing new aerodynamic technology and the first triathlon-specific bike. As CEO of Ventum, Diaa has grown the business from a humble startup in Miami to its current headquarters here in Utah. He’s led the development of the innovative NS1 road bike and recent introduction of the GS1 gravel bike.  

Diaa has traveled the world developing and being involved in sport, and truly lives and tests the product that his company builds and provides athletes around the world.  We have met Diaa as our team has become loving customers of Ventum bikes and have had the opportunity to try and true their product.  Over the last year as inventory has been difficult to get for today’s roadies and gravel racers, the Ventum Team has equipped the team with all our needs - every time!

 

The Race of All Races

LEADVILLE RACE REPORT from Jesse Loper and Dean Walker. This is it, the race of all races. One hundred miles across the high-altitude, extreme terrain of the Colorado Rockies, this event was created for only the most determined athletes. Starting at 10,152 feet and climbing to 12,424 feet. These two both competed and finished the race in 2021 and this podcast walks through their experience.

Race Day Preparations

Spend an hour with Plan7 coaches Dave Harward and Breanne Harward as they dive into race day preparations.  Dave maps out what your final weeks before an event should look like and Breanne shares nutritional information to keep your levels topped off.

PLAN7 Endurance Coaching was founded in 2006 by accomplished road bike, mountain bike, cyclocross and distance running racer Dave Harward. He is a USA Cycling Level 1 (Elite) Certified Coach, a USA Cycling Certified MTB Coach, and a POSE Method of Running Certified Coach. Dave has extensive experience and background, having been trained as a BikeFit Systems Pro Fitter in addition to training as a Master Level Fit Technician with Body Geometry. Dave also co-founded the Utah High School Cycling League and served on the League Board as well as served as the course designer.

Breanne earned a BS in Biology a Masters degree (MS) in Nutrition and Sports Dietetics from the University of Utah. She is licensed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and is also certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) in group fitness, personal training, and pilates. Breanne works hard to teach the science of food and how our bodies use nutrients as fuel to achieve optimal performance.

As a PLAN7 Endurance Coaching athlete, Breanne raced for the DNA Pro Cycling Team. Accolades include 2nd and 3rd place at USA Cycling Hill Climb National Championship 2016 and 2017, 3rd place podium at 2015 Tour of the Gila, top amateur finisher in the US Pro National road race 2014, and she was awarded Most aggressive Rider at Tour of Utah Women's Edition 2014. Breanne has had podium or top 10 finishes NRC and UCI races such as the Cascade Cycling Classic, Redlands Classic Stage Race, and Mt Hood Classic. She was the overall UCA points leader 2013, State TT and Hill climb champion 2013, 2014, and 2018. She was on the TTT team at World Championships in 2015 in and rode in many UCI races: Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche in France, Gatineau Gran Prix in Canada, Philly International Classic, U.S. Pro Challenge, Vuelta Ciclista El Salvador, and the Giro della Toscana. On gravel, Breanne has been on the podium at Crusher in the Tushar multiple years and won Rebecca's Private Idaho 2017. She now represents PLAN7 as a local rider and strives to develop women's racing in all disciplines as the women’s advocate for Trek SLC.  

www.plan7coaching.com

Dave Harward | Founder & Head Coach
Email: dave@plan7coaching.com
Phone: (801) 661.7988

Breanne Nalder | Nutrition Coach
Email: breanne@plan7coaching.com
Phone: (801) 550.0434

Banana Sushi Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rFaL4_-qaSpiK-bv26oHfCY1eOKbxfLT/view?usp=drivesdk

Pedal It Forward

Brandon is a Paralympic Cycling National Team athlete who works for an accounting firm. In 2014, he dove into shallow waters at the beach and was left paralyzed from the chest down. Claiming ownership of his life with a spinal cord injury meant relearning all his daily activities from feeding himself to changing clothes and getting active again. He started using a handcycle for cardiovascular improvement and was immediately hooked. Brandon grew as an athlete and exactly three years after the accident, he was invited to join the US Paralympic Cycling Residence Program.

CAF has supported Brandon with competition travel and equipment costs over the years, helping him make huge strides in his athletic career and qualifying for his first world championships. Brandon is a two-time silver medalist at the 2019 Parapan American Games, silver medalist at the 2019 Paracycling World Championship, and earned multiple medals at the UCI World Cup and National Championships. Now he’s training full-time with the US Paralympic Cycling Team to bring home the gold from the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

We are grateful to spend an hour with Brandon Lyons and Kristie Boltz and talk about his journey.  Some important links: 

https://www.challengedathletes.org

http://support.challengedathletes.org/site/TR?px=1293395&fr_id=1760&pg=personal

Best Worst Day of the Year

Insider information from two Mi Duole legends: Paul Watson and Dave Sharp. These guys know how to navigate LOTOJA from training to nutrition to strategy to bathroom breaks. It takes so much to put everything together for this race and all that goes into preparing and riding but with the right mentor it's a little easier.  These two spend the year preparing for the big dance and share some of their most valuable tips for all us hacks. With 35 total races between the two of them hopefully you can find some nuggets to make the best worst day a little better.  

An Epic Autumn Day

Meet the race director of LOTOJA - Brent Chambers!  

The LoToJa was started in 1983 by two Logan cyclists, David Bern, a student at Utah State University, and Jeff Keller,the owner of Sunrise Cyclery. The two men wanted a race that resembled the difficulty of a one-day European classic like Paris-Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders. LoToJa's first year featured seven cyclists racing 192 miles from Logan to a finish line in Jackson's town square. The winning time was just over nine hours by Bob VanSlyke.

Since then, LoToJa has grown into one of the nation’s premier amateur cycling races and continues to be a grueling test of one's physical and mental stamina. Many compete to win their respective category, while others just ride to cross the finish line. At 200+ miles, LoToJa is the longest one-day USAC-sanctioned bicycle race in the country. Cyclists must conquer three mountain passes as they pedal through the scenic terrain of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming en route to a finish line below the rugged Tetons at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

https://lotoja.com

Red Bull + V8 + Milk

Learn from "The General" - Erik Olson. He is always one of the first Mi Duoles that any new member of the team meets.  He is gracious and respectful.  He is a skilled racer and brilliant tactician.  He loves Mi Duole and has financially supported the team through his business for years.  Erik Olsen is known to the younger riders as “The General” for his powerful leadership inside the LOTOJA peloton.  Erik loves cycling and has done much to create a culture on the Duole team that we hope can be modeled for years and years.  He trains hard and races smart.  Erik is “all in” for this team and is a trusted friend and advocate for all we stand for. 

Voler Cycling Apparel

We first connected with Brian Trapp in 2019 through our association with Voler. The Mi Duole team has used Voler from the very beginning - that’s 1986. Brian, his family and Voler are all in San Luis Obispo, California. Some things that Voler excels at that I am sure we will get into: customer service, product innovation, gear quality and personal connection with there athletes. The brand knows how to engage with our team so we feel a great since of pride in wearing the Voler label.

Brian manages the look and feel of the brand. He is an expert in telling the story of the brand and creating that connection with Voler. Whether is it through his marketing and advertising efforts. Through the Zwift race series. Through the social media, website and email campaigns - they all tell the story of cycling and that is Brian’s work. He builds the Voler brand and manages how they grow, interact and develop.

Brian is in the sport also. I follow his personal social media and Strava accounts and love to see him get after it by himself and also with his kids. Nothing better than a 5:00am Saturday start time? I even told Brian after he rode one of the Voler Zwift races this past winter the he is Duole because he seems to live and breath the same kind of life we do here in SLC.

www.voler.com

Volcanos To Climb

These two guys are Mi Duole All-Stars!  Spend an hour listening to Andy Welch and Scott Miles tell their stories about climbing Mauna Kea and Mauna Moa. What was is like and how did they pull it off?  Both of these men are warriors and excel at all the sports they take on. They are the foundation of the suffering that takes place on the Mi Duole team. 

Your Best Bike Upgrade

Over the last 3 years, the Mi Duole Team has worked with Chris Mogridge as he’s developed his wheel company, Mercury Wheels. Chris is the Founder and CEO of Mercury Wheels and they are local to Utah. Based in Ogden, Mercury has provided ongoing products for large businesses such as Backcountry.com to teams, like Mi Duole. In 2020, the Mi Duole Team members that were riding Mercury had very good feedback, and in 2021, the wheels have become a top choice for many of our team members. Chris is a cyclist himself, he’s passionate about the industry and now that his business is growing (even into Europe).

https://mercurycycling.com

Find The Balance

Alex Grant...We are grateful to connect with Alex and learn from all his years of experience in the cycling world. He is super wise and also willing to risk it for the biscuit! He shares some awesome nuggets with us about success on and off the bike.  Born in Richmond, VT in a small town about 20 miles from Burlington. Moved to Salt Lake City in 1998 for college and the snow.  Used to play lots of pond hockey as a kid. Loved to ski, snowboard and play soccer - he focused mostly on snowboarding through his late teens and 20’s. He started racing bikes in the late 1990s in New England.  Raced until he was 18 and then took a 4-5 year break to snowboard and travel.  In 2004 he picked it up again and got his pro license at the end of 2005.  He spends his days also managing Gear Rush:  A consignment shop that specializes in cycling and outdoor gear. They sell primarily on eBay and serve as an outlet for the local outdoor community to turn over their no longer needed gear to a new user. He has a beautiful family: two girls that are looking to be as adventurous has him! 

Connect with Alex: alexgrant411@gmail.com 

One of the Founding Fathers

Meet one of the founding fathers of the Mi Duole team. Ed Chauner is an all-star Wasatch Adaptive Ski Instructor and a key member of the Snowbird community.  Ed has taught every type of student, with every type of need, and been able to develop goals and accomplishments with those that need it most.  Cycling and Skiing have always been a large part of Ed’s life.  He has raced bikes since 1985 and mountain bikes since 1988.  He also competed in two Mountain bike XC World Championships and one US Road National Championship.  Ed has authored mountain bike clinic books, as well as owned the Intermountain Cup Mountain Bike series which carries on today!  In 1978, Ed started teaching skiing at Snowbird, and has been on the ski patrol team there as well.  Ed is a WAS Tour guide which is a very tough level to attain.  It basically means that this guy can do anything anywhere, and likely kick your butt getting there!  If you follow Ed’s Strava page, you will find that many of his rides include taking others out that have a goal of riding a bike again or skiing again.  Ed makes this happen, and I don’t know how that big heart fits in that small frame of his!!  To this day, if Ed decides to compete in the Porcupine Hill Climb, he will win his age group by a long shot!  We are grateful to have a true legend on our cycling team and appreciate his mentorship that he has had with many of us!! Side note:  Ed most recently joined our toughest ride of the year “The Scott Miles Crusher” but he did it on his road bike  - just try riding your road bike up over Great Western to Park City in the dirt!

https://wasatchadaptivesports.org

Give More Than You Get

Meet Sean Jager - he is a leader in every way. He has an incredible history in cycling with so much to learn from. There is nothing better than sharing a ride with Sean.  He shares his history, advice and LOTOAJ stories in this episode of the Mi Duole podcast.  

Sean's Cycling Advice: 

* Learn something from every cyclist you share the road/trail with.
I strive to spark a conversation with those I ride or race with for any significant amount of time. Not only does it help pass the miles, but I have learned valuable cycling skills & life lessons from so many people who I never would have met otherwise. Anything from shifting a gear down prior to standing so I don’t take someone out behind me, to Deep stuff that has helped me be a better husband, father and human being.


* Give more than you get from the sport.
I have received so much from cycling in the form of friendship, community, mental strength, purpose, health (mostly - haha) but most importantly- opportunity to serve others. This last LOTOJA was a prime example, I had very little of the fitness required to compete but plenty of reason to finish. Leaving Montpelier I met two guys, friends who took up the sport last season and made a goal to race LOTOJA together. They reminded me of my first one, full of excitement & energy and having no idea what to do with all of it. For the next few hours they picked my brain clean of stuff I had't thought of for years. It was a great experience for me to Give back.


* Empty the Tank and leave it all on the course.
There have been many times I have finished a race depleted, falling short of my goal or expectation. At times its a wake up call to train harder, or change up my routines, etc. Although I would prefer to have met or beat my goal times or placement, I still feel a sense of accomplishment and a path for improvement. I have also had the unfortunate experience of finishing a race knowing I had more to give and because I was either weak minded, lazy in tactics, or afraid of going too deep, I didn’t leave it all on the course. That’s a rough place to be. You leave a bit angry and disappointed. I would much rather know I gave it all than left something in the tank.