Cycling Chronicles: A Michigan Adventure, Remembering Kansas City and Celebrating Cycling's Journey

Speaker 1: 1:13

Well, it's time for Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure, the podcast for cyclists who understand that riding is not just about getting to the destination, but the experience along the way. Now here are the original Cycling Men of Leisure Adam and Michael.

Speaker 2: 1:27

Welcome to Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure. I am Adam and across from me, across a time zone, is my good friend and human being, co-host Michael.

Speaker 3: 1:39

Oh, Adam, good to see you again. I'm glad you're letting everybody know I am not AI.

Speaker 2: 1:44

Well, listen, the joke is, as you always said, I'm going to replace you with AI, and so not yet Not yet.

Speaker 3: 1:50

No, still here for another show.

Speaker 2: 1:52

Yes, who knows?

Speaker 3: 1:54

what you know the next one will bring, but I'm here now.

Speaker 2: 1:57

Oh, you're not replaceable. I mean, unless you start wearing it to brim, then I'll start worrying about you, and then I think that maybe AI did steal you. So yeah, no, I won't be doing that. All right, fair enough. So anything new?

Speaker 3: 2:10

I don't think so. You're looking good in the Dolmack shirt there, supporting that yeah.

Speaker 2: 2:15

This was one of the rides that you and I did with our good friend Brian, and we headed from Lansing to Mackinac. First two days, or day and a half, or maybe two and a half days, was Bill's farm and George's farm and a lot of farms, and then Michigan beauty. It was amazing actually.

Speaker 3: 2:41

So yeah, you said we're going up north and the first two days I was like up north isn't any different than back home. But I will admit after those two days it got really beautiful.

Speaker 2: 2:51

I mean, let's be honest, I mean every mile you pedaled. Well, most miles that you pedaled you were heading north, so I can't complain, can't argue with that.

Speaker 2: 3:02

If this is the first show you've ever heard and someone turned this on to you and you're like what are they talking about In Michigan? I only found out when I moved here in 1997, people from Michigan like to say they're going up north. And so when I first started here I was working for UPS. I was working on the line, the packages were coming down and two guys were like yeah, we're going up north this weekend and I'm like up north, how far up north you know? You go a mile. Two miles, turns out. If you know where Mount Pleasant is, anything north of that, is the unofficial official up north.

Speaker 3: 3:36

So so I've officially been up north, so you have.

Speaker 2: 3:42

This is true. I would. I can concur, I have it on Strava If it didn't happen. If it's not in Strava, it didn't happen, but I can prove that you were there.

Speaker 3: 3:51

So I mean, I think they should be passing out cards or something once you get up north, but just to say, yeah, he's been there. Maybe stamp my passport or something.

Speaker 2: 4:01

If anyone is interested in doing the Dolmack ride, they've got a wonderful website. We'll drop that in the link below. And my personal recommendation would be the five day west. They offer like a two day, three day, a four day offer. East, they offer central. You can do most Michigan you want, but only done it once and I can only give you an advice on one time. But I'll tell you that the five day west route for me what going by torch lake, tunnel trees, beautiful, beautiful. I betoski up and around to Mackinac and you into the bridge. So beautiful, round, beautiful round. So sad to see at your chief's rally that two guys decided that they needed to take something so neat and so positive for the city. And I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the loss of life and those are injured, and only mentioned it because you and I talked about the Super Bowl and the bedding before and everything. I'm really sorry to see that happen in your, your new year.

Speaker 3: 5:11

Yeah, exceptionally sad. I mean that shouldn't be happening anywhere. But you take this time when the whole city and the state of Missouri and the state of Kansas, everybody's like celebrating their team one second time in a row back to back, you know hundreds of thousands, if not a million people there, a lot of schools closed so kids could be there, and then you know someone has to decide that they're having some dispute with somebody and can't handle it like adults and winds up, you know, wounding a whole lot of people and it's I mean, it's just really, really sad because you know what tomorrow in the news it's not going to be this wonderful celebration and football team one at second year in a row creation of dynasty, all of that it's going to be. You know tragedy strikes and all that. So it's sad.

Speaker 2: 6:06

Yeah, it was kind of interesting. I mean, obviously we don't just do the show together, we're obviously friends and I came across somehow it came, you know, with my job. It came across breaking news and I was like what? So, if you don't know, I work for local government and normally the news is about the local traffic accidents and things going on in my area and it said residents are being asked to return home so you could clear the area to be able to take care of the wounded. And I was like what? And so I text you and you at that time you hadn't seen it yet I haven't. Yeah, so anyways, that's kind of a bummer, but I understand they caught the two gentlemen and that's what I understand.

Speaker 3: 6:53

Like I said, I haven't been able to spend a lot of time following the story and what's going on, but apparently they have two people in custody. Unfortunately there's been one death and then there's still a couple of people that are critically wounded. So, sad, sad day. And you know, thank you. You, jack Wiggins, who destroyed a really fun, good time for everybody.

Speaker 2: 7:18

Yeah, I mean, I mean you know those who are injured. I will say my thoughts and prayers and hope that they recover. But I mean, think about the gentleman who passed away. I mean he woke up this morning and he thought I'm going to go celebrate the chiefs here. My team or you would assume, if he was there, that he enjoys at least supporting the city, or camaraderie, or maybe a spouse or maybe something, and he just goes for a celebration and some.

Speaker 2: 7:43

Well, I won't say that, jack Wagon, yeah, thank you, because we promised to keep the show clean. So I'm sure you can fill in the blank. So, anyway, it's not to bring. I didn't try to bring the show down. I just wanted to say my thoughts for those injured and sorry for the family for those, for everybody involved. So, on a more positive note, on our last show we decided to start a new segment that we plan on keeping up with every show no matter if it's a Cycling Women of Leisure series show or a Cycling Women of Leisure show that we would highlight some sort of city area, region, something of people who are taking their, as you say, time, energy and effort to listen to us, and we want to honor those areas and we thought we'd name a few. You gave some hints to an area. I'll let you re-say those hints if you don't mind.

Speaker 2: 8:43

Okay, that's a good question what were those hints? Well, one was that there was a con.

Speaker 3: 8:51

Oh sorry, had to find it in my note. I was like, oh okay, I believe I said in the 1950s there was a major lake construction project that was completed and that lake plays a still today plays a big part in the local recreation of that community and the local communities. It was not originally named its current name but it was purchased by a gentleman after a couple of years and he went and renamed the town after him and it is the home of the county's first cotton gin. So what I've given you is there's a lake, a decent sized lake, there, a town that changed its name. It was founded in the 1840s. I did tell you that as well. So pre-Civil War, and I talked about a cotton gin.

Speaker 2: 10:00

So it's got to be somewhere in Georgia. You think, well, that would be my guess. I mean, you decided not to tell me, which is good, because I want to play along. Yeah, exactly, so I'm gonna say, when we met with Franklin and did the route announcement, we found some towns that were mentioned, the cotton gin, and so that's kind of where my, my mindset is going. So is it somewhere in Georgia?

Speaker 3: 10:24

It is not somewhere in Georgia.

Speaker 2: 10:26

What what?

Speaker 3: 10:27

what? Now? You did pick up on the cotton gin and I think I brought that up. The last thing, that that gives you some hints that it's not gonna be too far north, because they Don't produce cotton in a lot of places. You're close.

Speaker 3: 10:40

Okay, the town that I highlighted this week is Louisville, texas, louisville, texas, louisville, texas, yes, located mostly in Denton County. It's population is a hundred and eleven thousand, the, the town's local lake, which is called Louis Lake. Okay, 662 acres, big recreational hard. It's a big recreational hub because they're not that far from Dallas, so a lot of people from Dallas come over. One thing I thought was interesting since the 50s they've had a I Think they call it a fishing pavilion, which sounds some like like a dock and things, but they have indoor and outdoor fishing, so I don't know if part of it is enclosed. Sounded very, very interesting there. And they also have the Zion skate park and that host the Zion regional Amateur Tournament, which is a skateboarding tournament, and that's one of six tournaments that's held in the United States and I believe, thinking about it, that is close to Dallas.

Speaker 2: 11:58

Is that a suburb or near Dallas?

Speaker 3: 12:00

Yeah, it's just outside of Dallas.

Speaker 2: 12:03

Yep, cool. Well, to all those people listening from Louisville Texas, thank you for Listening. We appreciate you and even if you're not from Louisville Texas, we appreciate you as well. But cool to highlight an area. So at the end of the show we are going to pick a new city. Oh, I've got a good one for this next one. You do. Yes, sir, all right you want to wait.

Speaker 2: 12:30

You have to wait, I'll wait, I'll wait, I'll wait. So, since this is a cycling podcast, supposed to be cycling centric, we talk about other things once in a while, here and there. I mean, you're fine bedding skills with Taylor Swift. That was great in the last show, so. But what you and I thought we would talk about is some bikes and bike brands. I mean, a lot of people listen to us, probably are very passionate about their bike brand. I mean, I'm sure they all have tracks, like me, and and and for all you track owners great job.

Speaker 2: 13:12

No, don't disconnect me, and that's throwing the flag. There's actually a lot of good bike companies out there.

Speaker 3: 13:20

I mean, you know, I mean how many of those bike companies do you support? I'm gonna venture to say I've been here in your garage many a time and I'm gonna venture to say, mm-hmm, you've got at least nine, nine Bicycles in your garage. Yes, at least nine. Yes, how many of those are some of the brand other than Trek.

Speaker 2: 13:47

One.

Speaker 3: 13:49

And what?

Speaker 2: 13:49

brand is that a Schwinn, but it's an original Schwinn. It's an antique. It is, as my wife's grandmother's, the original Schwinn.

Speaker 3: 13:57

So Like a Schwinn stingray or something like that. It's like you know, or of a cruiser beach cruise.

Speaker 2: 14:04

Yeah, it's like a beach cruiser. Okay, yeah, but it's flashy purple buddy, I mean Can't go wrong and everything else is a track. It is, I was just curious.

Speaker 3: 14:16

Yeah, there's a talk about how there's all these good bicycle brands and you just always buy track. That's okay.

Speaker 2: 14:24

Listen, when you're good friends on a track store, you support your friends, understood. So, actually, I mean, if you, if you want to go back a little bit in history I have told the story before. It's been many, many moons since I told the story. I originally got into cycling as an adult for a weight loss activity. I was trying to be healthier and lose some weight and I was doing all kinds of walking and jogging and and my Neighbor said, oh, you ought to ride a bike. And I thought a bike, I had ridden the bike since high school.

Speaker 2: 15:01

So, speeding up the story, I decided it was time to buy a bike and because Friends owned the, the truck store, I went down about a hybrid bike and then I kind of outgrew that pretty fast. I wanted to go faster and I wanted to do more road. You know road stuff, and so then that's kind of kind of honestly how I fell into it, because I Got a little bit of a discount I mean not major, but a little bit of a discount and and also, again, you know, supporting what I knew and they had taken care of me the first time. You know, now I every now and then I start going down dreamland. I looked at a canyon I see some of those sometimes where I've I've thought, yeah, that'd be cool, and then my noble steed kicks in and says what are you thinking about replacing me? Already I want not going out to the pasture, so but one day, one day, I'm gonna have no choice, so I Fair enough.

Speaker 3: 15:58

Fair enough. I think I've got six in my garage and I am proud to say I Don't think any of them are the same brand. That's cool. I like to shake things up a little bit, that's alright, yeah so so you got a huffy I. Got it's. It's a darn fine huffy too let's. Let's not make any judgment about that.

Speaker 2: 16:22

If I remember right, your mountain bike is a trek, though. No, it's not, it's not okay.

Speaker 3: 16:28

My wife has a trek mountain bike. Oh, that's the one I saw in the garage. I'm sorry. I have it. I don't have the Schwinn, not quite as cool as you are, but I have the old Beach Cruiser Sears brand bicycle still hanging in my garage.

Speaker 2: 16:41

Okay, and.

Speaker 3: 16:43

Then my daughter's bike. I have no clue what, what brand that is. My mountain bike is a GT.

Speaker 2: 16:50

Okay and I have a performer when I was a kid and then I of course have my old road bike, the Lamon yes, yeah, this is fun because we do big rides.

Speaker 3: 17:05

I always look for one like it, so you know, last year at rag bride we actually seen a Lamon, just like the one that I have. You don't see him very often, yeah, certainly not in that color scheme, but we did see it. And then, of course, I have my Bianchi. So I like to spread it out, I like to shake things up, you know, like to ride something different than everybody else is riding.

Speaker 2: 17:30

I'm just curious on. I don't think I've ever asked you this what, what made you Okay? So I mean I know what made you replace the bicycle? You were looking for something you know. You know newer and better technology and probably easier shifting and easier to ride. What? What drew you to be on you? Because where I live, I wish I think is a pretty, pretty predominant area, I mean I see giant Stores, I see Trek stores, cannondale stores, I'm sure there's other. I'm missing and I'm sorry, but I Just don't see a Bianchi store. What drew you to that?

Speaker 3: 18:08

You know I was. I was looking at bicycles. I was going through like all the geeking out on all the geometry and All of this and all that, found a couple different brands I really like the geometry on and a couple of those I was able to find at bike shops, tried them. They were okay. I found an older Bianchi that I was able to try really like that and they hadn't changed the geometry much and and so I was like you know, I Like it. It's comfortable ride, you can't beat the color. So I Went ahead and purchased one of those. And yeah, there's no bike shop anywhere close to me that that sells that. So I Actually ordered it from California and had it shipped to me.

Speaker 2: 18:59

Oh, did you really? I didn't know that, sir. So did you have to put it together, or did you take it to a bike store the first time?

Speaker 3: 19:05

Oh, I took it to bikes for the first time. Yeah, I guess I'm not good at putting putting bikes together unless I'm in a like a Hotel room and there's a ride tomorrow. That I think done.

Speaker 2: 19:15

And they might, may or may not have been foul language. When you and I unpack those bikes and start putting together.

Speaker 3: 19:23

Yes, and, and there was some cussing and there was like whose idea was this? And yeah, being quiet, yeah, it's all good, we're getting to be pros at it at this point, so that's right. Yeah, I, you know, I like the color, I like the fit. Like I said, I'm not one of those people that like to be out there and like, hey, you know, I just passed 12 people that are Are riding the same bike with the same color scheme as me.

Speaker 2: 19:47

So Well, mine is nowhere near what I bought it it's. It's got different wheels, it's got different handlebars, it's got everything. Gooseneck. That's kind of been. The fun part is it's the kind of customize it. So it's. I Go back and look, I find pictures of when I first bought it and what it looks like now. I'm like, wow, that's two different bikes.

Speaker 3: 20:08

So well, and it was a lot brighter paint color than two it was, and you know it's funny.

Speaker 2: 20:13

You say that is the last time we flew to Georgia. The Taiwanese sticker fell off. I love the sticker on there, by the way. It says designed in Wisconsin, made in Taiwan and and that sticker fell off. And when it fell off the blue that was underneath there I was like, wow, it used to be so much blue yeah.

Speaker 3: 20:34

Anyway you know there's a lot of bike brands out there and there's way more bike brands and you really start thinking about, or you really even know about. I mean, you know what are, what are the big four?

Speaker 2: 20:49

I'm gonna cheat here Giant Trek specialized in Cannondale.

Speaker 3: 20:55

Yep, you know pretty much those are. Those are the four big ones out there, but there's so many other ones that I mean you wouldn't believe and it's it's a little interesting, a lot of these bikes. You know it's not like the old days, it's not like the old nineteen. You know, forties and fifties was Schwinn, and I remember this is how old I am I remember, you know, when I was really young they had Captain kangaroo on their reruns, but Captain kangaroo and they would show the commercials too and they would always have, like the Schwinn, the latest Swin bike, as you know. So I remember those.

Speaker 3: 21:36

But back in those days, you know, the bikes were made here in America and they made one brand and they made, you know, three, four, five, six different styles. But that's just not that, not the case anymore. You mentioned Cannondale, and Cannondale is actually Is not its own freestanding company, it's actually owned by a company called Durell Industries from Canada. Okay, and they make Cannondale GT. Funny enough, they own the Schwinn brand as well, yeah, which you know, if it was still in business, would be the oldest US bike brand in the United States. But back in the 90s, well, in the 80s, they started making some bad decisions in the 90s to declare bankruptcy and then.

Speaker 3: 22:26

You know, got sold, but.

Speaker 2: 22:28

Yeah, I mean, you know I'm, I'm in upper 40s and when I was a kid there was like Predator and GT performer and you know all all those kinds of bikes. And then you know diamond back and and then I would go to my local Dick's store and and I saw you guys have diamond backs, and then the guy would tell me like, yeah, but I'm back, sold the name and and so there's lot of, lot of change over. I didn't realize how much change over was in the manufacturing and you know industry, I guess, but but it looks like here, according to my notes, that Bianchi is the oldest, with a long history in cycling. The oldest bike manufacturer still still produce some bikes 1885 in Italy started making bikes.

Speaker 3: 23:21

Still making them today. I.

Speaker 2: 23:23

Mean. There's no better way to have your own description here. Here's what. Here's what it says known for its classic design and high quality road bikes. That's right. Uh, it does not say that for Trek, by the way. It says an American company that produces a diverse range of bicycles, including road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. They're known for their innovative technologies and high performance bikes, but now see if you're just buying a bike off of that.

Speaker 3: 23:51

Where are you going Off of that description? Where you going? Are you gonna take the Trek description or you're gonna buy the Bianchi?

Speaker 2: 23:59

If you're going on that I would. I would buy myself a Black Bianchi. I'm just kidding. I love, I love a word, some event and you're like black. Why did they go with black? You can only get Bianchi in one color.

Speaker 3: 24:16

Far as I'm concerned, it should only come in one color, but Bianchi was. It was interesting back in the 1880s. They are like One of the first companies that pioneered same-size tires and also Pneumatic rubber. We tires really, you know, because before that you had a lot of the you know Hi, the high-wheel type things and stuff like that, because I hadn't quite figured out gears and different stuff like that. So, yep, very innovative, glad to see they.

Speaker 3: 24:52

one of the teams brought back Bianchi last year to the Tour de France the year before it had left, but a team picked it up last year, so it was really yeah, Huh.

Speaker 2: 25:02

I would have just assumed I mean being the European Home that it would be in the Tour de France, but probably.

Speaker 3: 25:09

That is. There's so many different bikes out there and you know, and right now, now you're looking at about 200 different bike brands in the United States. Wow, and I will tell you, if you look down through the list, most of those bike brands you've never heard of. A lot of them are building Really customizable bikes. They don't have a very big share of the market but I mean they've got some loyal following where I mean they'll build out the bike to your specifications, that kind of thing. You know. Some of the other, you know makers, light speed have you ever heard of light speed?

Speaker 2: 25:46

I haven't.

Speaker 3: 25:46

No, yeah, they were a big road by and they still make road bikes, but they were huge back in the 80s Rock lobster cycles I'd never heard of them before. I just like saying that name because that's kind of a cool name. But and then you got like mosaic cycles in Boulder, colorado, which is big into mountain bikes. But you know there's like 200 of those that you really haven't heard of. Most of the big brands are being Made overseas. Like you said, trek Parts are made here, they ship them overseas and they put them together in Taiwan, that type of thing. So they're not really Domestically based. But I got a question for you. All right, do you know what the oldest cycle bicycle maker in the United States is that's still in operation? Because, like I said, schwinn would be it, but they bankrupt in Drop down. I.

Speaker 2: 26:53

Don't, I was gonna. I mean, I'm not being funny, but I Was gonna guess, like Huffy, but I'm sure that's no, I don't it is a company called work works men cycle in New York City. Hey, what's that I said? Like pace, picante sauce New.

Speaker 3: 27:17

York City. They've been making bikes and trikes since 1898.

Speaker 2: 27:23

Wow.

Speaker 3: 27:24

Yep, so huh, now you know, go, go, impress all your friends coworkers.

Speaker 2: 27:33

What about Marita bikes? According to my resources, a Taiwanese company that produces a wide range of bicycles, including mountain bikes, road bikes, naira bikes they're one of the largest bicycle manufacturers globally.

Speaker 3: 27:52

Really. Yeah, I don't know anything about them me neither. I don't know what brands, now I know. When I was doing research, one of the articles I came across talked about the three biggest producers of bicycles Was giant, the, a cell group, which is a Dutch conglomerate. They have like Raleigh bikes, ghost bikes have you ever heard that? I have air, yeah, some of those type of things. And then the Durell Industries, which, like I said earlier, cannondale GT.

Speaker 2: 28:26

Shrink of my ignorance, but our ghost bikes, the ones that like fold up I.

Speaker 3: 28:30

Don't believe so.

Speaker 2: 28:31

No, they're just, they're just a, they're just regular bikes.

Speaker 3: 28:35

Yeah, I forget what the name of the company is. It's big into those fold up bike things, but Maybe that's what I need. Save me from have to put my bike together in the hotel room. Yeah, just there was only once where you had some extra pieces well, and you know, like I said before, they always put a couple of extras in there just in case. So we're fine.

Speaker 2: 29:04

Except they probably did that the first time you got the bike, not Not worn a hotel in Georgia, so After it's been put together three or four times.

Speaker 3: 29:13

That probably shouldn't be. Is that what you're saying? A couple of extra pieces.

Speaker 2: 29:17

Yes, yes, I. It is interesting to put that bike together. It's, it's. It's definitely Different than mine, and so that one headpiece is always really weird. Oh yeah, it's. It's not not fun when it comes loose and it's only coming loose twice, but Figuring out how to tighten that. You think it would just be like an Allen wrench or something, but you got to get it just right. And makes me feel stupid, stupid. What happens something? How you do this.

Speaker 3: 29:47

That's why I have it here, adam, do this for me, you, yeah well, hey, you're the one right brother, you are the one riding it.

Speaker 2: 29:55

So if you want me to, I can do that. So you know there's.

Speaker 3: 29:59

There's a lot of a lot of bike brands out there that that we never come across, but there's a lot of cycle makers out there.

Speaker 2: 30:07

Oh, I'm sure they've passed me. I'm sure they've passed me, so all right, well, cool. Well, not everybody has a track, but should you have a beyond key? And I'm just kidding.

Speaker 3: 30:26

Why don't you? Why don't you invest in Trek? That's what you should do. You're a stock market guy, there's some money in there, and invest in Trek.

Speaker 2: 30:33

Our good friend Joe does.

Speaker 3: 30:35

He told me about so wait, are they a US company or are they a Taiwanese company?

Speaker 2: 30:42

I believe they're a US company. I mean they're in Wisconsin. They do all kinds of stuff there.

Speaker 3: 30:46

They don't. They don't put bikes together in Wisconsin. That's all I'm saying well, they do.

Speaker 2: 30:52

I just to be, just to be fair, if you get a project one, if you get one of their, one of their, well. And bikes.

Speaker 3: 30:58

they build that there, but everything else yeah you get the high because you know they don't want to be like shipping those expensive pieces over there and right, you know.

Speaker 2: 31:07

All right. Well, we've we've highlighted some of the brands. Santa Cruz was one that, when I came across my my searching Surveyor, surveyor, surveyor, surveyor. A Canadian manufacturer, yep, scott, sports, scott, yeah, o'bara so, and a Good friend of ours has one of those. He. He replaced it with a Trek, but he does still have it, I'm sure. So.

Speaker 3: 31:40

Yes, good older Mando, I'm sure he still has it.

Speaker 2: 31:43

I'm sure he has it as well, but Okay, well, that was cool. I Bring some highlights to the bike brands. I'm gonna take a second I know we have another segment, but I'm gonna take a second to plug Our Bragg team. I know I did this last episode but I'm gonna do it again For anyone looking to do a State long ride. This year big brag brag org goes from Atlanta to Savannah. Part of Bragg's marketing which I think is genius is is teams and focusing on some teams and If you get more than 10 you get a jersey. Well, we definitely have more than Jersey.

Speaker 2: 32:32

Gonna say we had 25 last year and we're, we're above that. So, and this year we have Seven ladies. Last year we had two ladies and we had two different jerseys. We had cycling men of leisure and cycling women of leisure. This year we have seven week-long ladies who are riding.

Speaker 3: 32:52

And both the ladies from last year returning to to the team.

Speaker 2: 32:55

So they are, they are, they want to make them the ladies captain so that would be awesome and so we can and that.

Speaker 2: 33:05

And, mandy, if you're listening, maybe we should make you captain. So, but there are seven ladies who have decided to do week-long rides with us. Cool thing is is brag will let me put the the Cycling women of leisure logo on their jersey. But I thought it would be cool if we could get three ladies who have either haven't signed up as you, as you were so correct To point out last time or have signed up and haven't chosen a team yet. Go in and edit your registration. If you have signed up to pick cycling women of leisure, you know you're getting the jersey. You know it's gonna say cycling women of leisure. You know there's gonna be other ladies. And, by the way, we always talk about joining the team. We should probably talk about what that really means. There's no obligation.

Speaker 3: 33:56

Yeah, I mean, it's not like you know you're joining the, you know sky team sky team sky. You know you've got to have a strict diet and you're training this and you're doing that.

Speaker 2: 34:11

I think goals.

Speaker 3: 34:14

Team yeah, air quotes For us is merely a group of individuals. You know, you go there. You don't have to ride together. If you want to ride, great. If you don't, you don't. We do like to try to get everybody together for a picture on like the day that we wear the jerseys, and it's just one of those things where you, we're all there, we meet each other. We want to hang together, great. If you don't, you don't. I mean, there was times last year where you know we would do stuff in town and then Whole bunch of people would break off and go down and listen to the band or whatever, and we did whatever it is that we did. So but, um, there's no obligation Other than you just want to hang out and have fun, and you don't even have to hang out with us if you don't want to.

Speaker 2: 35:03

No, I mean, I think we're pretty fun to hang out with, but at the same time, you don't have to. But and one of the questions that I've received via email is well, it looks like you and Michael are doing indoor camping. You know I'm doing outdoor camping. Can I still be on the team? Absolutely, some people may do hotels, some people may do outdoor camping, some may do indoor camping. The reason I mean no more, normally you and I do outdoor camping.

Speaker 2: 35:32

The reason we do the indoor camping option is we're flying in and Bringing the gear let's luggage, less luggage and less equipment, and so we're like well, we know there's a spot somewhere for us to throw an air mattress and and that's easier for us. So the answer is absolutely yes. I mean. So if you're looking to be on the team, great, please join us. Do you have to sleep next to us? Nope, do you have to do? You have to be in. You know, if you, if you're a person who does hotels, which amen, I plan on doing a hotel in the middle of the week, wednesday, absolutely so, but Just making sure that everyone understands that there's no real obligation, I mean, yeah, we'd love to get some photos. I mean, we'll use a hashtag for the week. If you hashtag your photos and people can share, we'll get some kind of texting thread going.

Speaker 3: 36:27

But besides that there's no and I'm gonna mention last year, at the layover day, we got a bunch of the team together who wanted to participate in. They had a Wine and chocolate tasting around the town and we got a bunch of people on the team wanted to do it. So we, we all got together and and did that Together. So it's just a chance to have fun, meet some new people you know, be part of the Cycling men or women of leisure a nation, so to speak and Normally from there the friendship that you will get.

Speaker 2: 37:06

I mean, look at the friendships that we've made with all the people that were, you know, on last year and and and then we've seen those people in multiple states after that. So I mean, it's a really a bonding thing. So I know sometimes people you know get apprehensive of the word team, like are we gonna have to do like drills ahead of time? And everything.

Speaker 3: 37:27

If you want to do drills, do drills, but I'm not leading anything.

Speaker 2: 37:32

No, no I. I'm usually at the back of the pack Just hoping and praying I make it.

Speaker 3: 37:40

Yeah, that was a beautiful thing. Hmm is, last year we did three rights. Yeah, and it's interesting because some of the people that we had in our team the year before in Georgia we actually saw in Iowa, in Georgia again and in Kentucky we did. So it's, it's cool, you know, you start seeing these people and and that type of thing.

Speaker 2: 38:06

It's like a cycling family. So it is, you know, you know, there's always that we have our course. There's always that one person, family you don't want to see.

Speaker 3: 38:16

But yes, Adam's gonna be there.

Speaker 2: 38:22

As my father says, I suck the oxygen out of the room. But by that time, usually by the end of the day, I'm the guy who's ready to get something to eat, enjoy a bourbon somewhere and and possibly a cigar. So that's, that's pretty much my, my mantra when we're out there. So, absolutely so, join us.

Speaker 3: 38:44

Or, if you know, we announced we're going up to Michigan and doing shoreline.

Speaker 2: 38:47

Yeah, we are.

Speaker 3: 38:48

Yeah, you guys one never been to Michigan want to do the Michigan? Come on up, we'll. We'll be up there as well, and and we are potentially looking at another shorter ride yeah, figured that out, or that but some opportunities for For free to come and ride.

Speaker 2: 39:07

Haven't haven't nailed that down yet, but we're going to, so I'm excited. And then, but before we go, I I know you've got something pretty cool lined up. You found an article from the travel channel and I thought it would be fun to highlight that article. Give the crowd travel channel, obviously, but Take it away.

Speaker 3: 39:32

I was doing some some reading and some research and travel channel in 2024 this year came out with the top cycling cities in the US and I was like, hmm, that sounds interesting. So I Peruse the the article a little more and it was interesting to see what their top cycling cities are. So they're not in any order, they're just here, the top cities. I think there's 13 of them. Some of them came as a shock, some of them did not Portland, oregon, I can see that I was gonna say not a shock. Chicago Illinois.

Speaker 2: 40:15

Okay, now that one's a little bit of a shock. I mean, I grew up in Illinois and, and the reason why I say that is, I know, on Lakeshore Drive they have the trails up against the lake and everything. Uh, besides that, I, I'm, I, you and I did the Illinois ride. But, um, I Guess I'm a little bit surprised just because the city and or or, assuming it's.

Speaker 3: 40:37

It's got to do with commuters and the access that cyclists have to getting around. Okay, uh, you know central parts of Chicago and things of that nature. I mean they do have, you know the nice trails right out along the lake and stuff. But I'm making that assumption because then the next two on the list are New York, new York, new York City and Washington DC.

Speaker 2: 41:03

Okay, okay, so these must be commuter friendly, bike friendly areas, and that's cool.

Speaker 3: 41:08

Yeah, and it didn't say, it didn't give any other information much on that, but San Francisco, hmm, totally see that one yeah.

Speaker 2: 41:16

I could too.

Speaker 3: 41:17

Yeah, Um Minneapolis Minnesota.

Speaker 2: 41:21

Wow, right to the Mall of America, or what?

Speaker 3: 41:26

You know Minneapolis I've only been there a couple of times but tends to be a very progressive City For the Midwest. You know, sometimes us people out in the Midwest are pretty conservative and you know we're not super progressive on things and we're kind of behind the eight ball and a lot of stuff. But Minneapolis, from what I've seen, tends to be Progressive and I could see them really getting into Promoting cycling, creating cycling club culture, that kind of stuff cool.

Speaker 2: 41:58

Tucson, arizona, I that one is not a surprise to me at all, we who live in this cold tundra. A lot of people like to go to Tucson to be active, whether it's hiking, biking, but that that makes total sense.

Speaker 3: 42:13

Except the, you know, 12 days in a row of 110 degrees.

Speaker 2: 42:16

But that's a dry heat, don't worry about that You'll be okay.

Speaker 3: 42:20

Just just hydrate, it'll be fine. Austin, texas Is that, what a?

Speaker 2: 42:26

hundred. Hell 100 is or near there. I know it's in Texas, but I don't know where it's at.

Speaker 3: 42:33

I don't know where it's at.

Speaker 2: 42:35

I don't think it's. You keep talking, I'll find it.

Speaker 3: 42:37

Okay, I Can see Austin again. Austin, you know, you look at Austin, you look at Minneapolis, look at San Francisco, you look at Portland. These are very, you know, progressive type of of cities. So I can see we're cycling and, you know, promoting the use of bicycles and things would be, would be high on the list. Another one Seattle Washington. The same way. Now here's one that did surprise me Missoula Montana.

Speaker 1: 43:09

I guess that's a big-sky country.

Speaker 3: 43:14

Yeah, I mean, I've been to Missoula a couple of times. I just, I don't know, surprised me. San Diego doesn't surprise me. Here's one that will not surprise you either Louisville, kentucky. No, no, that, that makes total sense, I mean that trail system that we were on the last day of Bourbon Country Burn was just fantastic and it kept going. I mean, they are very cycling centric and have that cycling culture. And then the last one on the list, and this comes as no surprise to me Boulder, colorado. You've ridden out there right.

Speaker 3: 43:53

Yeah, I lived in Denver for many years and I've been out to Boulder. They've got lots of trails ridden in Boulder throughout the town and the city. They've got a lot of trails there because there's like a river that goes through town and they got a trail system along that and then they are literally right there, face of the mountains, so you can just keep going up into the mountains and hit trails there.

Speaker 2: 44:20

Hotter than hell. 100, wichita Falls, texas, there you go.

Speaker 3: 44:26

It's on the list, by the way.

Speaker 2: 44:27

Yes, yes, it is one of these days and you've asked. We have been riding through different towns. You've seen the Jerseyans and said, oh, how was that? You've asked about that a lot of times.

Speaker 3: 44:43

So that's what I have. Those are the top cycling cities in the US, and Mine didn't make it. That's okay.

Speaker 2: 44:53

Brighton Michigan, didn't make it.

Speaker 3: 44:55

Nowhere in Michigan, made it nowhere in Kansas, made it Nowhere in a four state area that I live in. Oh actually, yeah, I guess, three state areas, Chicago's on there, illinois, so you know our friend Chris is from the Chicago area.

Speaker 2: 45:13

We should ask him next time. You know how he feels about cycling in the area and stuff. So I wonder if it's because you can get on the metro and take your bike on the train and then go out certain areas and then probably not that I think about that. There's probably lots of opportunities to ride your bike in multiple different areas in that area.

Speaker 3: 45:31

So I think would be. Another thing is having mass transit that supports bicycles, because I know there's a lot of cities that will have, like, the bike rack on the front. Yeah, but you know they have it there, but you know, as far as using it is not convenient and they don't really make it easy and this type of stuff so I'm hesitant to say this because, because I knew you'd have a comment.

Speaker 2: 46:01

But my cousin Mark, who is a very avid listener to the show Thank you, mark, absolutely when the show will come out. I get four o'clock and by like 445, he's texted me and he's like, oh, great show, I love this, this and this. But he unfortunately was on a city bus in the LA area and on the front of his bus was his bicycle and someone came up and stole the bicycle off the front of it. Unfortunately I'm laughing, but they just walked up and Got it.

Speaker 2: 46:32

Like it was at a stoplight or whatever, and took it and the driver had it all on camera. But I mean, just because you have it on camera, it doesn't mean anything. He got away so fast, so Luckily he was able to. He has a few bikes, he was able to get another one and so, but yeah, when you said that all I could picture is this literally just happened. Now, when he told me the story, I looked outside and it was like six inches of snow on the ground by me. I'm like I can't even think about riding a bicycle right now. But yes, I have been to areas where there's trains and where they have, you can bring your bike on. I can't bring a bus on the train, but you can bring your bike on the train. And then, of course, where I work, we do have bike racks on the front of the buses.

Speaker 3: 47:12

So yeah, I was really surprised Denver wasn't on that list. Denver has a incredible bike trail system. I mean you can literally get any place in town with enough time on bike trails.

Speaker 3: 47:27

I lived two blocks from a bike trail, I could get on a bike trail. I could go all the way down through Cherry Creek and into downtown Denver, and then I could go south all the way out there. I could go north. I mean, you could just go everywhere. So, but all right, I got one more thing. Okay, time now to talk about a new town. Where are people listening from? Are you ready? All right, we already highlighted Louisville, texas. Now we're gonna highlight another town. Okay, are you ready? Because I have not told Adam what this town is.

Speaker 2: 48:05

No, I mean, people probably think it's a show and you've told me and I, I, I ain't telling him no idea.

Speaker 3: 48:16

Created in 1834. It was the settlers were drawn to the area because of two large springs, so that's what got people to come to that area. The current name is not its original name. There's a lot of that renaming towns. It's original name was it was named after something that this town produces. Okay, it was renamed after the. It was renamed afterwards in honor of a revolutionary war hero and this town has connections to Charles Lindbergh, johnny Cash and a child's ballgame.

Speaker 2: 49:11

That's all you get. So if I have a guess right now, I mean, since I know this is a show, do you want me to hold my guests until the beginning of the next show?

Speaker 3: 49:21

Yeah, cause you'll be wrong and I'll be able to laugh at you now and then, so it'll be awesome.

Speaker 2: 49:27

I don't know. I think I got it. You do, yeah, I do. Well, then I'll text you behind the scenes. Okay, do that.

Speaker 3: 49:36

If you got this, I would be shocked, Totally shocked.

Speaker 2: 49:41

But Couple things you said resonated, so I will put my guesses behind the scenes.

Speaker 3: 49:48

So Okay, I would be surprised if you were ever within 300 miles of this place, at least I'm guessing. I mean, I don't know where all you've been. I know some of the places you've been. We'll see. You know where I grew up. I know where you grew up. I know where you spent the last what 15 years of your life.

Speaker 2: 50:15

Well, that was the prison system, but we're not gonna talk about that.

Speaker 3: 50:19

We just affectionately call it the state of Illinois.

Speaker 2: 50:26

To be fair, since this is on YouTube and our podcast. I have not been in prison for the last 15 years, but we do make a joke multiple times in public where we'll say something and then you know the public is, you know people are listening to none of their business and they start listening. I purposely will say well, you know what it was those years in prison you did and I just love to watch people's eyes like whoa.

Speaker 3: 50:51

Yeah, that one day these people you could tell we're listening to our conversation. It wasn't an exciting conversation and they had no clue who we were. And you said that. And then I think I started saying but you know what? That prison I really liked those rubber shoes I give you are like super comfortable. I wish I could find some of those commercially out here in the real world. And boy, let me tell you, they were like they started scooping the children away from us. Cindy Johnny. Time to go home. Time to go.

Speaker 2: 51:21

Time to go. What was that ride? Oh, in Iowa last year we rode by that prison and I screamed. You were way ahead of me. But I screamed and I'm like, is that the prison you were in? Ha ha ha.

Speaker 3: 51:33

Ha ha ha. We've ridden by a couple of prisons in Iowa, because we also rode by one in. Oh, yeah, where they had the how big the city was yes, and they had the big recreation, massive size recreation of the American Gothic.

Speaker 2: 51:53

Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 3: 51:55

That's right. In fact, you have a license plate that was actually pressed there.

Speaker 2: 52:00

I do, I do, and that was pretty neat, you got that for me. I got it to package after Raghbray.

Speaker 3: 52:08

Yeah, I got it for you. I didn't make it for you, I got it for you. Well, yeah to be clear you ordered it and the prisoner made it, yes, yes, and it's got like Raghbray on it and all that. So it's kind of cool.

Speaker 2: 52:20

That was definitely a neat present. I appreciate that. So, okay, Well, to review intro yeah, Highlighted Louisville, Texas, Good, good. We talked about bike brands. We plugged the Bragg team. We're going to Shoreline in Michigan. We talked about the 13 cities to travel to to ride your bicycle. You have now given hints which I actually think I know.

Speaker 3: 52:47

Okay, I'm looking forward to this.

Speaker 2: 52:49

Okay, and that's all I got All right.

Speaker 3: 52:53

well, that's all I have too. So, as you don't know, I don't know what it's like up there, but today was a really great day for a bike right here 60 degrees.

Speaker 2: 53:07

There are some people who went out, but I did not. I work and, but I did. I did get on the treadmill today, so that's good. So I am back in the training mode and getting ready for our adventure.

Speaker 3: 53:22

So I set right here in this trustee chair for my day.

Speaker 2: 53:29

Well, my chair is in Cherokee, wisconsin, and so that's a joke for another time. But and then I come home, and then I had a few years.

Speaker 3: 53:42

Yeah, your kudos to you. You're getting on the bike early and you're, and I know I need to, and I keep telling myself you got to get on the bike, you got to get on the bike. And you can't see it right now, but I'm working on a project in my office over here and it's been sucking up a lot of time. It's going to look great when I get it done. But so it's torn up and I've got to get that done.

Speaker 2: 54:05

But I will get on the bike Sounds good. So that way when we get to our friend and I saw one of our friends from Bragg on our Strava page he's like you boys better get some elevation. I don't think he's wrong. I think so, trip. Thank you for the encouragement.

Speaker 3: 54:24

We really appreciate it, my friend, and you're right, we need to get some elevation going, Tripp thank you for pointing out the fact that, A we're not getting a lot of miles and, B none of those miles have any elevation, so thanks.

Speaker 2: 54:36

That's true. I mean, he's just being real.

Speaker 3: 54:40

I can appreciate that. I mean I like it, but I can appreciate it.

Speaker 2: 54:44

That's right. Well, thank you very much, sir. Always good to be with you. Until next time, we will wish you the best, my friend.

Speaker 3: 54:53

Have a good one. I didn't do the best. Bye.

Speaker 1: 54:57

Thank you for coming along with Adam and Michael on Road Adventures with Cycling man of Leisure. If you have enjoyed this, please subscribe to the show and the podcast app of your choice.