Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure
Adam and Michael share a long friendship fueled by their love for cycling. Through ups and downs, they have pedaled side by side, creating a rich tapestry of experiences and playful banter that underscores their connection. Their adventures highlight the joy of authentic friendship, whether tackling tough trails or enjoying leisurely rides. If you're looking for a podcast that embodies friendship and cycling excitement, join them on this audio journey. They share engaging stories and welcome you to their cycling community, offering entertaining anecdotes and heartfelt discussions about the joy of exploring the open road. This podcast delivers an uplifting cycling experience.
Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure
Cycling Capers, Mysteries, and Mackinac Moments: A Journey of Laughs and Legends
Ever wondered how a smooth travel upgrade can contrast a chaotic flight experience? Join us as we catch up on our latest capers in Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure. Michael lucks out with a rare two-seat row upgrade on his flight to Kansas, while Adam humorously bemoans his packed flight and the Starbucks-less airport. We also reveal the unexpected reason behind our show's delay—Adam’s attendance at a stunning transit conference in Crystal Mountain, Michigan. Plus, we share a heartwarming listener message from Margaret, a fellow cyclist who loved our Brag recap.
Get ready for a fascinating Listener Spotlight segment as we play detective and unravel the clues to uncover Missoula, Montana’s rich history. From its origins as the Hellgate Trading Post to its firefighting legacy and vibrant craft beer culture, Missoula's story is a captivating journey. We initially guess Denver, Colorado, but thanks to listener input, we zero in on Missoula. The city’s gold nugget legend and the role of the Missoula Smokejumpers add layers to its intriguing past. Big thanks to all our listeners for the engaging hints and history lessons!
We also dive into the nitty-gritty of high-tech biking gear with a detailed review of Spingo inner tubes, sharing firsthand experiences of their resilience and practicality. Our adventures take us through scenic Michigan, navigating both logistical challenges and picturesque routes. From a quirky shopping escapade in Mackinac City to nostalgic moments on Mackinac Island, our journey is filled with laughter, playful pranks, and memorable encounters. We wrap up with a thrilling discussion on cryptids, adding a unique twist to our cycling tales. Buckle up for a ride packed with humor, history, and high-tech gear insights!
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Embarking on a journey of camaraderie that spans years, Adam and Michael have cultivated a deep friendship rooted in their mutual passion for cycling. Through the twists and turns of life, these two friends have pedaled side by side, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and good-natured teasing that only solidifies the authenticity of their bond.
Their cycling escapades, filled with laughter and banter, are a testament to the enduring spirit of true friendship. Whether conquering challenging trails or coasting through scenic routes, Adam and Michael's adventures on two wheels are a testament to the joy found in the simple pleasures of life.
If you're on the lookout for a podcast that captures the essence of friendship and the thrill of cycling, look no further. Join them on this audio journey, where they not only share captivating stories but also invite you to be a part of their cycling community. Get ready for a blend of fun tales, insightful discussions, and a genuine celebration of the joy that comes from embracing the open road on two wheels. This podcast is your ticket to an immersive and uplifting cycling-centric experience.
and Remember,
It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride!
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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:Welcome to Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure. As usual, I am Adam and once again join with me virtually again, not AI ai, but virtually from the great state of kansas, my good friend mr michael sharp adam, hello how you doing doing good, buddy doing good. Uh, how have you been?
Speaker 3:I have been very good very good, very good yes my, my travels did not require me to fly standby, uh, or anything like that, so it actually it's been good, wonderful, so no delays no delays. I got boosted up up, I got upgraded nice, and the beautiful thing about being upgraded is I got upgraded to a seat, and this has not happened to me in years. There was two on one side. There was nobody in the seat next to me, so I had two seats and an upgrade. Wow.
Speaker 2:No one was flying to Kansas, huh, or no one wanted to sit next to me.
Speaker 3:Whichever Didn't matter, worked out well for me.
Speaker 2:I tell you what the last time I flew home from Kansas, the plane was packed. Maybe people are using Detroit as a hub to go other places. So, um, I mean packed. Uh, I didn't even get a seat, I had to stand. No, I'm just kidding. Um, you know, the one problem with you flying back to your airport is they didn't, uh, didn't have any Starbucks in that airport, and that affected me. How Well, since you don't drink coffee, I guess none. But for those of us who enjoy a little beverage when we get somewhere, a nice roasted bean beverage, then that would have been nice to have.
Speaker 2:So I live just fine without it Feel better in the central time. It would have been nice to have. I live just fine without it Feel better in the central time.
Speaker 3:Everything is working in harmony here in central time.
Speaker 2:Okay, good luck with that.
Speaker 3:How have you been?
Speaker 2:Good, good, good. So our show is a little delayed this time, you know we. So our show is a little delayed this time. We normally like to get a show out every two weeks and pride ourselves on doing that. Where some shows would laugh and be like every two weeks, we put one out every week. Well, you know, I mean, there's not a lot of meat on the bone for cycling and we want to make it.
Speaker 3:Want to make it count.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know we take a lot of pride in the subject matter, and so I was a way Be honest. Yes.
Speaker 3:Be honest, do we really have time to record one every week? I don't.
Speaker 2:You would have to give up golf Wednesdays. I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen Exactly.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, go ahead. So another part of the delay was me. My annual transit conference is at a place called Crystal Mountain. If you've been in Michigan for a while, you would know that is a beautiful resort, so skiing in the winter and golf in the summer A beautiful place. So every year we go there, and that was this week. So you and I made the decision to put out a two-part episode, which we had enough information about our last adventure that we thought we could do that, and so sorry for the delay, but I'm doing well, I'm back. Um, I'm excited to be back and, uh, I'm excited to do these shows with you. It's been a while since I've, uh, I've been doing this with you, buddy, so yeah, it's good good to be back.
Speaker 3:So what are we going to talk about on today's show?
Speaker 2:well, first, of all we got? We got a couple of messages. Um, no, so far it's good, man, we are making some friends. So the first message we got was just a small little message, but uh, doesn't have to be big to be powerful. Um, I got a message from a lady by the name of Margaret. She says I met you on Bragg. I think the message was to us. But she said I too wear a Debrim. Of course I mean sorry, like all cool cyclists, mine's a visor. Only she says, got to keep myself protected. Exactly, margaret, you are a genius, it's called sunscreen.
Speaker 2:Carcinogen. Thanks, uh, margaret and I are smart enough not to put that stuff all over our face. Maybe she does, I'm just kidding. But um, she says I listened to your cmol brag recap. Uh, you all really know how to enjoy the week. Thank you, margaret. We sure do. We have time. She says I hope to see you in 2025. And as of now, I think that's our plan, so I don't see us backing down from that plan. And Margaret McDaniel 19 years of bragging and counting, she says, which is a lot of years of bragging.
Speaker 2:First year was in 93, skipped a few in there, but obviously she went to the important ones if we were there. So I'm now filling the room with BS, but at the same time. Thank you, margaret. Thank you for your, your wonderful message. And then a friend of the show, a gentleman by the name of Stephen Witts, we've. He wrote us. Now let me ask, ask you something. This is directly revolving our last listener, spotlight. Would you prefer to do the clues first and then me read his message, or would you prefer me reading his message and then do the clues?
Speaker 3:let me do the clues first, okay, but then you can read the message and I assume he, I assume he's got a guess, oh yeah, and then that'll kind of relate back to the clues.
Speaker 2:That sounds wonderful. Before you do that, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for Listener Spotlight.
Speaker 3:All right. This week's Listener Spotlight St.
Speaker 2:Louis, yes, just kidding.
Speaker 3:It's not St Louis, okay.
Speaker 2:Not St Louis. Yes.
Speaker 3:Just kidding, it's not St Louis, okay, fine, not St Louis, fine. The clues I gave are as follows the city started out as a trading post in the late 1800s. Okay, the city is an estate that was originally in another state's territory.
Speaker 2:Okay, originally in another state's territory.
Speaker 3:The city serves as one of the front lines for firefighting. If you are into craft beers, this town should be on your list to visit, and the city is world-renowned for a large rock, not St Louis.
Speaker 2:I knew it wasn't St Louis and just for reminders although if you listened to the last episode like three seconds ago and then you played this, you won't need a reminder but I did guess Denver, colorado, on our last episode. Last episode which, by the way, it was like three weeks, maybe even four weeks ago.
Speaker 3:Why did you guess denver, colorado?
Speaker 2:you said big rock, you said breweries territories. I just, I just went with that okay, okay and and so steven, our friend, wrote us and said hey, guys love the show, not only great entertainment. Hey, thanks a lot.
Speaker 3:Buddy Appreciate that Take it when we can get it.
Speaker 2:That's right. But you give out homework with Listener Spotlight, congrats on breaking the 1,000. He's talking about the 1,000 likes on Facebook, which we now have 1,145. So there we go. Now have 1145, so there we go, um. And then he said in the 12k, which was 12 000 downloads, which I think we're close to 13 now, but on youtube and the store mackinac island is on the bucket list, something other than a flying yugo listener spotlight, um, so many good new laptop processors coming out. I think he's alluding to with the homework. He's going to go out and buy a new laptop.
Speaker 3:Oh, there we go.
Speaker 2:So he'll be inquiring some intelligence with a new laptop when we get the sale at Thanksgiving. He's Black Friday, little Black Friday, and then he can do more homework on Listener Spotlight.
Speaker 3:I'm proud, proud that I can give him an excuse to go out and buy a new computer.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. But let's get into what he says. He said, just like last week's clues had to do with Lewis and Clark and the exploration of Louisiana purchase, this week, in my humble opinion, has to do with what becomes of the acquisition. By the way, I forgot about Sergeant Floyd and the monument in Sioux City. Guest for this week is Colorado Springs. Think Adam has the state right. Yes, I love it, so should be rewarded with half the points. Thank you, stephen, I appreciate that.
Speaker 3:Before we start giving out points, let's make sure you're correct.
Speaker 2:So why Colorado Springs? He says there were trading posts established during the 1860s, during the Pikes Peaks gold rush. True, the area became affluent and the town was established soon after there was a Colorado territory and there was a vast kansas territory as part of the purchase. So originally colorado springs was in the kansas territory, uh, and there was, uh, as the territories were being divided, part of the kansas territory east of the continental divide, the mofot, mofot or moffett, moffett, moffett thank you moffett tunnel, and denver was uh, succeeded to colorado and colorado became a state in 1876. Wow, what a great year. Um, the fire clue drew a blank for me, guys, there are 30 craft breweries in Colorado Springs and 360 in the state. So always close proximity to suds, the rock question mark. He says Garden of the gods, maybe. Thanks so much for everything, guys. Stephen, I really appreciate your willingness to write us. I love your guesses, appreciate your, your willingness to write us. I love your, your guesses. Uh, mr sharp, does steven have any, any, uh, anything going there?
Speaker 3:well, I do appreciate it, steven, uh, and I appreciate how thorough you are in your research and in coming up with the. Am the the potential answer? You are correct in the trading post. You are correct that it did that Denver and the Denver area and the Colorado Springs area did used to belong to the Kansas territory. Colorado's a big craft beer state, but Adam gets no points. I'll give you half points, steven, but Adam gets no points because it is.
Speaker 3:Thank you, it is not in the state of Colorado. Thanks for playing again this week, adam. I tried.
Speaker 2:So you want to figure out, you want to know what the town is.
Speaker 3:I always want to know what the town is. This week's listener spotlight is missoula montana oh, thank you listeners from missoula montana and let me let me explain how I got this for those following along.
Speaker 3:The city started as a trading post in the late 1800s as the Hellgate Trading Post Founded in 1866, the town was incorporated in 1883. The city was originally part of the Washington Territory, which originally included all of Idaho, parts of Montana and Wyoming before the boundaries were finally drawn in 1863. The firefighting is that the city serves as one of the front lines for firefighting. They are home to the Missoula Smokejumpers base. You know those guys that fly over forest fires and jump out of planes, fight it. You know from the inside out. Craft beers they rank fourth in the US for the number of craft breweries per capita. Craft breweries per capita and the large rock. The city is world-renowned for a large rock and that's because just right down the road, the Atlantic Cable Quartz Load produced what is claimed to be the largest gold nugget ever found and that sold for $19,000 in 1889. So a big piece of rock.
Speaker 2:There you have it, wow. So Missoula Montana, we thank you. We thank you for all listeners, but this week we're going to honor Missoula Montana.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. Thank you Perfect. Owner Missoula Montana.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Thank you, perfect. Well, thank you once again for giving us our listener spotlight. Of course, we've got a little surprise to the end, so we'll save that for later, but why don't we do our reviews, reviews that you can use? Okay, absolutely. On our last, last adventure, which we're going to get in a shoreline ride, the shoreline, um, we had a few products, you had some, I had some and we had some, um. And so a little recap we had the cyplus and the fend, the Fend helmet and the Cyplus pump. Yes, so this was the second trip, so let me not steal your thunder. This was the second trip with the Cyplus air pump. What do you think?
Speaker 3:Well, you know, the first trip after Georgia that was the first time we'd used it I was giving it two thumbs up. That was a great product. You and I both used it. We blew up completely empty tires. We topped off tires. In the morning Again, when we went to Shoreline, we did the same thing and we were even topping off other you know some of our team members' tires and other people's tires and you know I still give it two thumbs up. I think it's a great product. It was efficient, it worked really well, never ran out of juice.
Speaker 2:Even when I pulled the valve stem out by accident.
Speaker 3:That's true. You pulled the valve stem out, All the air went out. You refilled it up, no problems. So it's a great product. It holds a charge. It doesn't use a lot of charge to do it. It is a little loud. So it's not one of those things you want to be doing after like 10 o'clock at night, Quiet you morning, or 5 o'clock. It's not a product you want to use because I mean, it is a little loud but fills it up. You can set it to 100, 110, whatever you want the pressure to be. Click the button, it charges it up. When it hits that point it stops.
Speaker 2:So definitely a product that we're going to continue to use and I think it's great, and even to the point where the first night we got to camp in shoreline I saw the um, sag, sag people, the broom wagon and I saw their price for co2. I was like, oh man, I forgot my co2 cartridges and you're like and I was like we got that, we got the pump, so it definitely were, and sorry, but it even fell out of its holder because I don't know if you didn't have it as tight as you thought.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it fits where one of my water bottles, it's got a holder, that it fits where one of my water bottles and it's got a Velcro strap. And it was basically wasn't a product issue, it was Michael didn't get it strapped down tight. Basically wasn't a product issue. It was Michael didn't get it strapped down tight and we hit a really rough part of road and it went popping out and went flying across the road and stopped, went back, picked it up, continued working beautifully, no problems whatsoever, even after. I mean, we were probably going, I don't know, 16, 17 miles an hour along there, really rough. You know popcorn asphalt pops out, rolls across. Still works beautifully.
Speaker 2:So the other product that you had was your folding fend helmet. This was trip number two the fend helmet.
Speaker 3:Um, it's collapsible, you know, and I I used it in Georgia, didn't have any problems, and again use it up in shoreline, worked beautifully and I really, really, really like this product even more because the sides full up, so it's kind of just a rectangle. It fits really nice in my backpack or in my you know, my bag, cause I'm flying, so I need those. You know take up as least amount of space as possible and, oh, it's fantastic, I love it. I'm going to keep using it. So I give that two thumbs up as well. Definitely a great helmet to have, especially if you're a commuter or if you have to drag your helmet along, you know, stick it in a bag and stuff that just helps reduce the amount of space. So I'm going to keep using it.
Speaker 2:And now you've branded it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I did stick a right here cycling man of leisure sticker on the back, so it's officially branded. I waited because you know I don't want to slap our sticker on there, and then this failed miserably and then you know I've got to take our sticker off there, so but great product.
Speaker 2:So those were a recap of our reviews, but for this adventure, we had three new reviews of products that we've used. Reviews of products that we've used um, one is a repeat for me, but something new for you, which was, uh, you decided to go with carbon wheels and in just a second I'd like to hear how that went. I actually own carbon wheels and if you're an avid listener, know that, knows that I destroyed one in georgia. Um but um, in the nick of time, got it in for shoreline and actually a ride before charlotte shoreline, excuse me. And then our new jersey store. Um, if you haven't heard, we do have a jersey store and we've been adding. I cannot believe the design team is. I mean, they're working gangbusters. Uh, our store is growing more and more, uh, and it's funny we've got everything on there now I know it's gonna be mountain bike shorts and wind vests and sports hats.
Speaker 3:Oh, the women's sports bras which, let me tell you, my wife is like house come. I don't have one of those, it's like it just got up there.
Speaker 2:I'll order you one, not a big deal get the credit card out and buy your one buddy I'm I'm going to.
Speaker 3:I'm, but we've got a lot of great products and I I think there's a couple products that haven't got up there that we're working on getting on there, but, uh, just a wide variety. Uh, sleeves, we've got the sleeves now too, so anyway.
Speaker 2:So that's kind of cool. But our Jersey store you and I actually, for a couple of reasons, we purchased off the store. We wanted to see the level of expectation of shipping, we wanted to see the product so people could actually see the quality and and how. You know how did it hold up? Um, and so we're going to get into that. So, without further ado, um, what'd you think of carbon wheels?
Speaker 3:you know, I've been fighting carbon wheels, as you know, for a long time and uh, when you were in georgia you blew that one out. You've been telling me, oh, you really need to get carbon wheels, carbon wheels, carbon wheels, and um, so I finally decided, right after Georgia, I would go ahead, get myself a set of carbon wheels, got them from a company called Wheel Science, which is the same folks that produced yours. Very happy with them. They gave me the brakes, because you have to have carbon brakes versus the regular. Switched out my brakes, put the new wheels on there, put the new tubes, the wheel tape, all that put them up. Very impressed with them. I could definitely tell a difference in the carbon versus the aluminum and when I say tell a difference, tell a difference in a positive way. So, very happy with them.
Speaker 3:Color didn't exactly come out. I had them. You know specific color that I wanted them to produce wasn't exactly 100 on the mark but, um, the product itself great product and uh, I'm really happy. I spent the money and uh, and upgraded that's cool.
Speaker 2:Um, my review for this episode and this adventure is um people probably starting to notice these new tubes. They're they're like high tech. They're very thin, uh, like a vinyl material, if you look fake.
Speaker 3:They do, let's just say it they look fake they look fake.
Speaker 2:I mean, it looks like thick. I mean not thick. Forget the word thick, forget the. You heard the word thick. Think thin, thin, thin, thin like balloon.
Speaker 2:It looks like a balloon like a thin, yeah, yeah, very, very thin. Uh, I was concerned that I would either crease it or crinkle it by putting it into the tire. Um, on our last adventure we're going to get in a shoreline, obviously, but we had one flat tire, we being me, and you were definitely helpful by helping me. We always help each other when we're out there with the pump that you had and holding the bike and getting everything off, and you know little little when you're taking the wheel off the back, and so you know, we've done it a few times, so no problems. And putting that thing in there, it's supposed to be lighter tube, supposed to be not as heavy to carry, supposed to be four grams off. Yeah, like I can cycle in the amount of you were going a lot faster, minus that four grams. You know what I mean. It was like you know, there I was down on my bars having a good.
Speaker 2:No, I'm just kidding, but no, it was. I have to say that on purpose because I haven't been on my bike since we've been back. On purpose I have been going out there and kind of like squeezing it and testing it. I'm in the box. It says holds air longer than a traditional tube. I got to tell you before recording tonight I specifically made my wife dinner and then I went out there. I got to tell you I agree with the box, it definitely holds air longer than a traditional tube.
Speaker 3:So it's still holding the air that you put in it two weeks ago.
Speaker 2:Yep, I'm pretty impressed with that. I was worried because it's still holding the air that you put in it two weeks ago.
Speaker 3:Yep, I'm pretty impressed with that, so I was worried because it's really thin and it's really I mean it compacts down into really small. And what's funny is just before you showed me that you had that. I did see him on Facebook or something, and it's one of those things I'm like this looks like a total scam and when I was pumping air in I was like this thing is just going to explode at any time. I didn't really think it was going to hold air, so I was impressed that it's still holding air.
Speaker 2:I have a confession when we were holding that pump. So when you picture that Cyplus pump, if you go on Amazon you'll see that the tube that screws into the pump, that then screws into the tire, is about six inches long. I think it's right around six inches. Yeah, probably we were holding the tire making sure that there would be no pinch flats and that the um clinchers were going to clinch into the rim. And we're on the side of the road and we were kind of we first told the machine, I think we told it 20 psi.
Speaker 2:Then yeah, just to get it started yeah, and then we, I think we told it in 70, and then we told it whatever, and I think I like, I like it like 110 to 120, and so we were holding the tire the whole time and I was blowing up. I thought to myself is this where the adventure ends? Is this thing just gonna go boom?
Speaker 3:right, you know, so I had no idea but I was thinking the same. Thing. I was like okay.
Speaker 2:But I got to tell you a couple pros on those tubes. You know, you and I always use those Rock Bros bags, our top tube bag, and it's usually filled to the gill with like two tubes, and you know tire levers and CO2 cartridges and everything else. Um, I'm going to tell you I'm going to switch that whole thing over to those new tubes. I I'd be able to get three of them tubes. And, of course, once you go to carbon wheels, depending on how depth 60 millimeters or 80 millimeters the presto valve has to be long enough. So the average sag guy is not going to be like, oh, I got a tube. You're going to be like, no, you don't. So, um, so you got it, you got to make sure you carry your own. I'm, I'm going to switch over from the rubber tubes to these. It was amazing.
Speaker 2:So there's my review. I highly recommend it. If you've been thinking about it. Um, what brand is that? Do you know? You know what? I'll drop it in the notes. Uh, I'm not going to lie. Jeff Bezos has a space company that builds rocket ships. He also builds tubes, or sells tubes. So I bought it there.
Speaker 3:So, okay, yeah definitely get the name out there. So, so we know what, uh, what we're looking for. Yeah, we'll do that. Um, it was an offshoot brand, that's why I don't even remember. But um, when you can't give me a product, review without the name of the product. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I'm one of those guys exactly.
Speaker 2:Well, I'll tell you what. While I'm looking for that product, we will go ahead and and move forward, um, and we will talk about our jerseys, and the product name was Spingo Spingo Spingo InnerTube S-P-I-N-G-O Spingo InnerTube. So if you're thinking about new inner tubes, it says that let's see here what the description says. Anything in the descriptions?
Speaker 2:oh looks fake it doesn't look like it will hold air they're calling it a tpu inner tubes that are not only lightweight and durable, but also designed to reduce environmental impact. We understand the needs of professional cyclists and recreational riders alike, offering products that enhance performance while being easy to carry and install, which is exactly why I'm going to switch. Install was simple, because getting that tire over that little tube was amazing, instead of fighting that big piece of rubber. But I apologize for not having the name before, but Spingo.
Speaker 3:Spingo inner tubesingo Inner Tubes. And they're like a greenish blue color.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, almost like a neon, if you will. So if you're looking for it, I stand behind that Cycling man of Leisure stands behind the. Spingo Inner Tube. And last review would be the Jack Rue Kit. Now, and this one is a little bit difficult because I went with I traditionally like to wear bibs, you like to wear shorts, but we both popped on the jersey, both of us bought the ladies jersey, the Cycling Women of Leisure. We honored our ladies team out there and up there, I should say, in Shoreline.
Speaker 3:But let me clarify we bought the ladies jersey, but it was a men's cut jersey with the ladies logo. So we didn't buy the ladies jersey and wear it. Through Jack Rue, you're able to pick the style. You can have a regular sports cut jersey or you can have the shirtsy or whatever, and you can put either the men's or the women's logo on in honor of phoenix the jersey that's right and you can put whichever logo on.
Speaker 3:So it was a men's cut jersey with the women's logo, because we wanted to honor the women and and we had a lot of comments from the ladies uh writing that they uh liked the fact that we were honoring female cyclists, so you and I do not get a discount on the jerseys, which is kind of funny.
Speaker 2:And let me tell you it was worth every penny. Uh, because the day one we wore cycling men of leisure and you know, you'd see some people like what is that? We flew the flag at camp every night and and what's this all about? And then the next day, when we had the ladies jersey, people were like oh, you guys, support ladies too. I'm like it is never about not supporting anybody, so but but we have never not supported women cycling.
Speaker 2:I don't. If you, if you ride a bike and you listen to podcasts, you're a friend of ours. I don't care what gender you qualify for. You didn't have to listen to the podcast. You're still a friend of ours, yeah, but I like it better being on the show personally, because I'm selfish, but the product. Yes.
Speaker 3:The quality was really good. Typically, we have always went with another brand Yep, because of the fit and the consistency. For me, primal, yes, primal, yes, primal. Because you know what you're getting and it's very consistent. The sizing was very close to primals, if not right on. Yeah, as far as and I know you're going through a transition here with your slimming down Not a gender transition, but a slimming transition.
Speaker 3:Okay, hey, you know what? Don don't ask, don't tell um. So it was uh, right on on task as far as the size, I had the shorts. The shorts wore very well. I know we'd had some other brands, uh, that rides had had uh sold that weren't primal in the past and after a week of riding, uh, you could tell where there was some wear and tear, didn't have any of that. Uh, they washed really good because we washed midweek and uh, the jerseys were fantastic. Uh, they had the little side zipper pocket on it, which were really super convenient. And your Jersey was slightly different than mine on the women's jersey, I believe because uh, they do give you the option of doing the reflective material yep on the back pocket.
Speaker 2:I didn't do that on mine but uh, you did it on yours, which, when when you're riding, because, because we were going to throw people the you know the jersey and stuff but I could.
Speaker 3:I could see a difference in that when I was like coming up behind you and stuff, so, um, I think they were really great products and you and I haven't really talked a lot about this, so I, I bought the bibs and the men's, I bought the Jersey and the ladies.
Speaker 2:Um, and you know when I was first concerned about the chamois? But I have to tell you it's just because I was probably just used to the primal. My concern at first was the fit and I thought, well, is this going to be okay? But honestly, it was amazing. Everything was great, even one day I forgot chamois butter and I thought, oh no, I'm going to pay the price for it. No issues, concerns, didn't have any saddle sores or nothing throughout the week, and so I do contribute to having better. Almost everything I was wearing was new because, you're right, I've slimmed down, so everything didn't fit. I had to buy a bunch of new stuff. So, um, but yeah, I would like to give the, the jack rue, the store I like. I give the whole experience an a plus, um because the ordering was was seamless.
Speaker 3:you just go on to the store, you pick what product you want, you pick what logo you want, you pick what logo you want. If there's any additions that you can put on there, you pick whether or not you want those and it ships directly to you and, honestly, I got mine a day earlier than what they said it would that I'd be received. So you know, under promise, over delivered.
Speaker 2:On their site. When you go on there, you go to cycling men of leisure dot com, if you're trying to pay attention from home, and then you can do find our stores, and we actually have two stores. We have a store where we sell T-shirts and hats and then we have a store that has jerseys. But when you log on to the, the jersey store, it says if you ordered today, you'll get it on this day. And, like you, I got it one day before.
Speaker 2:I think I was even supposed to get it a day before that but regretfully, if you remember, we had a lot of rains and storms and and it and I got this email from them, great, great communication that said, due to, due to flooding in your area which we did have lots of flooding in our area um, that it was delayed by one day, but it still beat the level of expectation date. Everything was packaged well and then the product wore well and even though they are somewhat white you know some people get concerned of white and you're sitting down and you're resting, everything cleaned up beautifully.
Speaker 3:The other product I want to mention off there, which I've never worn before. They have a technical hoodie which is like a hoodie with lightweight technical material, and it was chillier up there than than what we were expecting, um, and so there was a couple of days that I wore just that over you know my outfit for a little extra layer and uh, it was fantastic. So I'm sold in the whole tech Jersey thing.
Speaker 2:Oh, you know a lot of people like this, for you know walking or you know, just as an average, you know average thing going to the store and some people like it for writing. And at first, when he said it for writing, I'm like writing has no pockets, had nothing, but there was a couple of days when we were up north, as they say, where it was a little chilly, a couple of months. So those are our reviews that you can use. Oh yeah, so those are our reviews that you can use. And if you're looking for a jersey and you want it to be branded like Cycling Men or Cycling Women of Leisure, please check out our store. You'll definitely love it. But just the quality itself, I would say, was amazing. So they make a great product, I think. With that, let me see, Let me check my notes here. We talked about Margaret McDaniel and her to brim. Thank you, Margaret. We talked about Stephen and his wonderful communications. I believe it's time to get into talk shoreline.
Speaker 2:Ride the shoreline, and we did, my friend, we did, um, yes, so you know when, when we, when you have a podcast, you, you, you think to yourself, okay, we're going to talk about, you know, our adventures and our rides and things that we've done, and so, um, I think it. So I think we need to be transparent. I think you and I have always said from day one that if we do a ride that we're willing to mention that we need to be transparent with our listeners. Our integrity is what we believe in, and so there were a few things that were amazing, there were a few things that were disappointing. There were a few things that were amazing. There were a few things that were disappointing. Um, there were a few things that were just as you would expect, and I think I think we can get into that. Um, I think, for me, I'll start with some of the some of the highlights we had.
Speaker 3:Let me, let me, can I back up for a second? Yeah, I think we need to set the stage. Okay, previous to, I think last year, this ride had been ran by volunteers. As I understand it, I think so, they had a volunteer ride director and it was all through volunteer staff that put this on through the what, the LMB League of Michigan Bicyclist Yep. Last year, I think, was the first year that they hired on an official paid position of a ride director.
Speaker 2:Correct.
Speaker 3:And I think this is important because we know a couple of things in this industry. As far as long distance, long touring cycling Number one we know that a lot of them are consolidating or going out of business. Hence we've talked about Ride the Rockies, those kinds of things, because of ridership. Right now we're going through a lull where there's not as many people out there wanting to do these kind of rides, and so that plays into this. But I also think the fact that the new structure that they have and the fact that this is only his second year, I think, also plays into it.
Speaker 3:So I just kind of wanted to set the stage that and this ride, although it's been around, has done some restructuring and is currently working on doing those restructures. So I wanted people to kind of keep that in mind that this is not like a ride that they've been doing 20 years, and I know some of the things that we'll be mentioning are things that I know he wants to work out out. But you know I want to be transparent again and be honest about it that there's some things that new to the position, new to the ride, you're going to have some, you know some issues come up that you wouldn't if you had been. You know you had a ride director that had been in there 10 years and things of that nature.
Speaker 2:I think that's very well said. I mean, from the moment that our team got there, we knew that something wasn't 100% meaning. It seemed very— Well, that was me but— True, it's true, he's telling the truth. I mean, I appreciate you finally being honest, but no, there was like this weird competition and and, and it was like you got to come over here. I mean, let's be honest, when you get that, you know, when you do these kinds of adventures, that you're going to take a bus and you're going to put your bike somewhere on a vehicle and transport it to the starting location, and you know there's a, there's a process, processes. You know there's a process that you know doing that and you know we're used to that. I mean, you know, go over here, check your bike in here, get your, get your luggage tags, and and you know, the one that I always think is so funny is how we got, like, asked three times for our license. I thought.
Speaker 2:Show your id I'm like I mean, listen, I get it. You may need it for some some lawyer or someone's told you to to get my id, but who in their right mind would be like you know what I'm gonna? I'm gonna sneak onto this bus and ride almost 400 miles, so give me a name off that.
Speaker 3:I'm Adam. I'm going to yeah, take his place. And yeah, there's not a lot of people doing fraudulent activity to get on bicycle rides like this.
Speaker 2:And I think we're so used to some other ones. Like you said, it's the director's second year and he was at the starting location, so you're trusting the rest of your staff and on the loading location to spread and send the same message that you're requiring or requesting that it's being there, and so that was just weird. When we got there, it was like over here and do this, do that, and I mean well what was funny is when they would contradict each other yeah, you know and and that's.
Speaker 3:And that's where you know, I think that maybe one volunteer had done it one way one year and the other volunteer done it another way, and they're just you know communication.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I think that's you're right. They were kind of fighting, even to the point when we got on the bus and they're like no, we're doing it this way. And it was so uncomfortable that I was like, okay, if you guys don't know what you're doing, I'm, I'm not, I'm nervous, you know. So, um, the stage was kind of set, kind of convoluted from the beginning. So the basic concept is we needed luggage tags and which bus to get on and where to put our bikes, and and, uh, you know, like here's an example. I've done this a lot of times with you. We've, we've every now and then we look at each other like here we go again. But this time we got there and they're like you got to take your pedals off. Maybe tell me at home I have to take my pedals off, and not when I get into a parking lot that my pedals have to come off to go into a truck, and it's just kind of because I had gotten off a plane the day before and put my bike together and put the pedals on.
Speaker 3:If you'd have told me that I had to just let the pedals off and but that's the first time I'd ever been asked to take the pedals off- yeah, I could see why, Cause they could load them closer together probably and and maybe less damage of swinging you know, but absolutely unfortunately you still had a little little damage. Yeah, they did ding up the bike a little bit but I have to tell you yeah it's, it's, those are.
Speaker 2:Those are character marks sure, italian, like in antiques.
Speaker 3:You know, you get a ding in your antique table or whatever. It's just character marks. That's patina tell story.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, so I love it.
Speaker 2:That sounds like a fancy word I've heard on uh it's a real deal I'll I'll educate you on patina and antiques later my favorite thing about pond stars is when people bring in coins. They're all shiny. He's like you didn't clean this, did you? And they're like yeah, he's like no, you never cleaned it. Yeah, but um, so you know, there was just a few things. And then you know we had already been asked our license like two times. And then we got on the bus and then they're like we need your license. I'm like again, like how many people, how many times do you need to see my ID? But then they're like, no, they already showed their ID. So there was just a little bit of a little bit of that which didn't set the stage, little bit of that which didn't set the stage, but we had fun with our, our driver, jesse, who had a husband, two dogs, a cat and seven chickens that were free range we used to be free range, but are no longer.
Speaker 2:No longer free range yeah, and and everybody knows I'm in transportation, we've said that many a time so we had a little fun because I'm very aware of what she, her requirements and job you know to do and and so we have a little fun with her and she. I'm sure she had a good story for her husband Like that that old boy wouldn't shut up but and and let me tell you, riding a bus with this guy is is, we'll just say, an interesting experience.
Speaker 3:We like to be right up front if we can get the front row so we get the good view right out the front window. We'll do that for sure the problem with it is is there's a silly yellow line.
Speaker 2:I get why they have the yellow line excuse me, the federal standee line is not a silly line, it's a safety concern and I get that.
Speaker 3:The problem with it is is, adam, we're sitting there and if you put your foot all the way, I'm sitting right next to the aisle. If you put your foot all the way to the left and it hangs over the lip of you, know you step up for the seat. It technically goes a little bit over that yellow line and I'm getting lectured that I'm over the yellow line.
Speaker 2:I mean I'm even the driver told you you had three strikes with the federal standing line that's because you kept pointing it out.
Speaker 3:I mean it's not like I was standing up over the yellow, I'm just saying it's always an adventure with adam when you're on a bus, because he will inform you of what the federal regulations are.
Speaker 2:And he will try to enforce them, even though he's not working that day and it's not his bus and whatever your wife's in the medical field, my wife's in the medical field Watch a movie that has something to do with medical and they'll be like that's not how it works. Or like my dad, who's a pilot, who'll be like this is just trash. He's watching a plane Like that would never happen. You'd have to call the tower and do this. I'm like Dad, it's a movie, but I digress but.
Speaker 2:Anyway. So but yeah, I mean, we made it across, had our bike.
Speaker 3:Got to Alpena.
Speaker 2:Got to Alpena, checked in and, couldn't you know it, we found a brewery within like less than a mile from camp, right down the street. But you know, I mean we got lucky. We had seven days of great weather. It was just the last day, unfortunately.
Speaker 3:We'll get to that in the second episode here. But beautiful days of the rides in Michigan are like riding through a really wooded Iowa. And I say that because you'll be riding along and there's corn and maybe here over here is Milo, and the further north you get in Michigan you know that Milo turns to potatoes or maybe there's an apple orchard, but uh, and then you'll move into like really forested parts, which is, you know, very beautiful. But when you go on shoreline it's like man, I want to see the water and I want to see all this. The first two days you start off on the water and then you go around and you hit water when you get to your final destination. I get why they do it, because if you just went straight up the road like that one day it was going to be like 24 miles. We would have been undone in you know less than two hours and that would have been our writing day. So I get why they do it.
Speaker 3:But Dalmec was the same way. You started down in Lansing and he had two days of this you know, wooded Iowa scenery before you got to like the really, really beautiful stuff. So, um, yeah, it's just the nature of the location of things. But the first couple of days, you know Alpena, you know beautiful Roger city, right on the water, beautiful, um. But the daily ride you're, you know, in the countryside and if you closed your eyes and you weren't in one of the really heavily pine areas, you wouldn't really know. You weren't like in iowa or georgia or something true, I mean that's.
Speaker 2:We kept saying, hey, I thought this ride was called shoreline, so uh. But we did get to see some lighthouses and uh, oh, yeah and um, I mean you knew that you could see on your gps, on your on your bike computer. You could say, like man, like right over there is a big body of water, but we were never near there, um so, but um, the in sheboygan, uh, after we we to Alpena, roger City, to Sheboygan, in Sheboygan, we got to see the lighthouse and go out and you could literally, I mean it looked like the Mackinac Bridge was like just right over there. I mean.
Speaker 3:Well, it was literally, I think, 24 miles away by the main road that went right up the coast. And but Sheboygan was great. We got to go to the Sheboyganboygan brewery, which they had a lot of of good beers. They didn't serve food, so you pulled out your phone, ordered us up a pizza. They delivered it, so we had pizza and beer there. And then we walked down to the sheboygan lighthouse, there, yep um, and took some pictures. But you're right, I mean you're looking right over there going.
Speaker 3:I believe that was on my nom, I'm looking at my notes, but uh, sheboygan crib light yes, small lighthouse right there, but uh, it was really cool and let me tell you it was very tempting to go. You know what, 24 miles. Tomorrow I could be in minac City.
Speaker 2:And ride the shoreline.
Speaker 3:And ride the shoreline. It was very tempting to go off script and, just you know, kind of banded it, but we stuck to it.
Speaker 2:I mean those RVs were just whipping by us.
Speaker 2:I mean because the director did a great job when you know the reason why we went out into those areas where there were some scenic things that he had, uh, booked on the on the trip, like um lake and and there was a waterfall, waterfall in a state park and yeah, but also is because it was not as well populated and less traffic and so, uh, safety was a concern, but as well as easier to set up sag stops, and so, yeah, everybody was getting back at camp, going, man, 24 miles we could be there, we could have camps set up, but of course it would have been unsupported and some of the few miles that you come into town and you go on some of those major tourist highways, oh my gosh, the two, the rvs and campers and I mean, uh, just just crazy fast and right by us. And so, or you'd hear like the rumble strips makes you nervous, like, oh my gosh, you know, get away from me, please don't come near me, but um, yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3:it's just very hard when you're thinking 24 miles, I can be there, but we stuck to the script. We did it. What was interesting? When we went from Sheboygan to Mackinac City, about three-fourths of the way through the day, we actually hit territory we'd been on before.
Speaker 2:We did In Dalmach. Yeah, we went by that polo field and at first, to be honest, I was like man, it just looks familiar, it looks familiar. And it wasn't until we made the turn where the Dalmac sag stop was from prior ride.
Speaker 3:There's like an old general store.
Speaker 2:There used to be a general store there.
Speaker 2:And then that's when it was like hey, and I looked at you and you looked at me of us about the same time we've been here and we've done this, so, um and then, uh, coming into mackinac, you and I knew what would be the best picture spot. The route actually took you right to the high school like some convoluted back way, and we were like we're not taking this, and so we told our team go up here, turn left. And so we had, we got a beautiful picture of the mackinac bridge and then then went and set up camp.
Speaker 3:So and the reason why we knew this. The last time we were through this stretch was at the end of the dolmach ride yep uh, because we ended in mackinac city and, ironically, we ended at the mackinac city high school yep which is where we were actually going to camp.
Speaker 3:Two blocks north of the high school is a small section of public access to the lake. Yeah, it's between two houses. I'm sure those people hate it, but they have a city public access there. So you just go that two blocks and you're right down there and you've got a beautiful uh view of the bridge. And that is actually where we took the final pictures for that dalmac ride when we were finished yeah, for sure, I mean, and this time we, we uh took, took our picture.
Speaker 2:This time, you know, with our, with our current team that was in michigan, with us, our team members that that made the jaunt, um, and then then at nighttime, um, on the, on the layover day, we got beautiful sunset pictures that stayed light like 10 o'clock at night, which was just amazing. And then, incredible, played with my phone features you know night night photography features on my phone and got this mackinac bridge picture. That was just awesome.
Speaker 3:So the beauty of this is we were down there for the sunset and we probably spent I don't know 45 minutes an hour there, um, setting on this sandy beach looking out onto. At that point it would have been lake michigan, um, to our left was the setting sun, to our right was the Mackinac bridge. So you know, you could just make, take these beautiful panoramic pictures where you got the sunset, scanning around, you see UP the upper peninsula, and then you hit Mackinac bridge and I mean it was just beautiful and gorgeous setting out there, hit Mackinac bridge and I mean it was just beautiful and gorgeous setting out there.
Speaker 2:I definitely couldn't, couldn't, uh, couldn't, agree more Um the the in between the layover day. One of the neatest pieces of this ride, um is getting to go to Mackinac Island. Part of the part of the fee is you get a ticket and a bike ticket, which we found out was about $55 street value. Um to be able to.
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, it was part of the walking around downtown Mackinac city going come here, buddy, I'll sell you for $55.
Speaker 2:You can take me on your bike across the way there, but um I'll tell you For $55,.
Speaker 3:You can take me and your bike across the way there. It is a nice perk of the ride.
Speaker 2:And so we jumped on the ferry. But before we do that I got to incorporate, I think I should tell the Jess story.
Speaker 3:You need to tell yes, you need to tell the Jess story. That is a very funny story.
Speaker 2:Okay, tell, yes, you need to tell the jess story. That is a very funny story, okay, so before we get to the mackinac island, mackinac city is a very touristy, um, little piece, the little town there, uh, right at the right, at the tip of the lower peninsula gateway to mackinac island and the mackinac bridge and and the shepard's ferry is there, which we took the next day, and then we were just kind of walking around Mackinac City and they got tchotchke stores and fudge stores and ice cream stores.
Speaker 2:Did I mention they had fudge stores?
Speaker 3:Yeah, they had more than one. Now let me explain one thing which I don't think a lot of people understand. Mackinac city sets right at the edge. Um, the mackinac city bridge does not take you to mackinac island. The uh bridge the mackinac bridge is five miles long from mackinac city takes you up to the what call the UP the Upper Peninsula.
Speaker 2:Lands in St Ignace and then up in UP.
Speaker 3:So the bridge you have to take the ferry to get to Mackinac Island. I just wanted to clarify that because I think that's a lot of people don't understand that I mean you don't have to, but it's much easier.
Speaker 2:You could swim, you could.
Speaker 3:I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2:When it freezes in the wintertime, you could ride, walk or snowmobile. I mean, neil rode his bicycle, that's right, um, but yes, good point, I'm glad that you mentioned that. Um, so when we were in mackinac city the night before, we were looking for some place to have dinner and we were walking around and we both had, uh, ideas of what to get our wives, because normally on these trips we like to do something for our, our wives. You have a family with kids. Mine was taking care of our cats, um, and so I said I want to find something, and so there was a a little little store that has like, like ornaments and ceramic things it was like a northern michigan uh home decor type store.
Speaker 2:They had, yeah, ornaments and ornamental things and yeah so we were walking around and my wife loves hummingbirds, always has and and um, I see this ornament hanging and it's like a hummingbird that looks like if you were looking twice you'd think it's a real hummingbird flying around and had a very nice beak and everything. And I said, oh, I'd like to get that for her. But I was afraid because I'm like well, we pack up our stuff every night and we take it on the truck and the bags get. I'm sure I wasn't ever there when they took them off, but I guarantee you they weren't like oh, and let me set your bag over here carefully. I wasn't there, so I'm sure like get out of here.
Speaker 2:So I was like, hmm. I said, well, can I ask you a strange question? When I went up to the desk and and the lady said very sarcastically, uh, depends on what it is. And I said, said listen, I'm on a cycling trip, I don't have a car. And she's like, oh, okay, I thought you were going to tell me you're on vacation. Like no, kidding, like because everyone's on vacation, it's a tourist area I was like that is so funny.
Speaker 2:I said that no, no, no, I said, and I just we just kick, hit it off right away. And I said, no, no, I'm on a bicycle trip. And well, what if I did this? And she got out some bubble wrap and a box and I said oh, that's great. Yeah, I'd like to purchase that.
Speaker 2:And another young lady was there and she started asking us questions and she said are you guys going out to the island? And I said yeah, yeah, tomorrow, part of this tour, we get a ticket out to the island on the ferry. Part of this tour is we get a ticket out to the island on the ferry. I said can I ask you? I said you just go over there with your bike. And she said, yeah, there's like a passenger door. You don't go where the cars are, you go, you know, and then that's how you get in line.
Speaker 2:And she's like oh, she says my sister works on the island. And I go like immediately, like the cynical, like evil Adam twin kicked into play. And I said would you, would you mind if I mess with your sister tomorrow? And she's like what do you mean? And I said I like to do this thing, like I used to be a wedding photographer and someone would give me someone's name, I would. I would be like, oh Jim, you and I went to high school together and they're like I don't know you from nothing I know. And then I find out some sort of information about this person and then I'm able to.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they were like you didn't go to. You know Lancaster High School.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, and I'm like I did Remember we were Lancasteraster, high home of the eagles, you know, or just and just just play with it. And so she's like yeah, and so I said well, I said um, I said what's her name? And she said jess. And I said, I said okay, and and she said joanne works. Uh, I mean jess works at the joanne's um fudge shop and I I was like is there just one fudge shop? And she's like the fudge shop.
Speaker 2:That's two blocks south, versus the fudge shop, that's two blocks north because they both had the same name, and so I said okay, all right. And I said all right, and so that was it. I mean, then we went back to camp and didn't think anything more of it, and in the morning we we had a plan we wanted to, um, we might be mac mighty mac, we, we, certain, certain shuttles uh, forgive me, certain ferries in the morning actually went under the bridge.
Speaker 2:so you actually start on on lake huron and then you go out and it goes underneath the bridge, which is the line, if you will that you then you get to Lake Michigan and then it comes back into Lake Huron and then in you get to go underneath the bridge and look up and they talk about when it was started and and how long it was five miles and all kinds of very cool. And so then we, you let you land, you you dock, so then you land you dock, I don't know where you were at.
Speaker 2:Well, you land on the island it's a plane, boss, I'm just kidding. But you dock at the island and then you get off and they hand you your bike and you know, you walk through the gates there and then now you're on the island and if anyone's never been to mackinac island or heard about mackinac island, they don't allow motorized traffic. Um, it is bicycles and horses only. And let me tell you, and more bicycles and more, more bicycles and lots of bicycles and lots of horse and and then, but it kind of smelled like the county fair when I got off the ferry and we got uptown.
Speaker 3:But I was just impressed at the crews that do these ferries. I mean they must have packed on I don't know 75 bicycles on our thing and literally you go up there, you hand them the bike and they just like passing it down the line A person's putting it. When they unload they're just like rolling them out and the the fencing along the dock is this metal fencing that's probably I don't know three, four inches wide and works beautifully for bike racks. So they're just grabbing them, rolling them out and just sticking them, you know, sticking them in there and they can unload and load that thing in no time at all. It was very impressive.
Speaker 2:So our, our team and some guests decided to do it's eight point two miles around the island. Beautiful trail, I mean that. Talk about shoreline that was shoreline the whole time, definitely. I mean talk about shoreline, that was shoreline the whole time, definitely. You were nice enough to bring your backpack and you carried our tennis shoes, and throughout there there's a natural bridge. It's like a wonder of the world almost, if you will. And so it was, I don't know, 400 or 500 steps up in the air, and so we stopped a couple of miles in and then we put our tennis shoes on and then we were able to climb these stairs. Beautiful pictures.
Speaker 3:You're welcome.
Speaker 2:I said you were nice enough, buddy, do you want me to? Ladies and gentlemen, I officially thank him. And then just kidding, just kidding, just kidding, just kidding. And then just kidding, just kidding, just kidding, just kidding. But so we then came back and rode around the rest of the island, and it's just a beautiful place. We had a special delivery for our buddy's daughter. She had turned 21. And so we had a license to deliver, and the only reason that's important is because in michigan your licenses are vertical until you turn 21.
Speaker 3:Then they're horizontal and people you know.
Speaker 2:No one wants a vertical license no, it's like, and plus, when you turn 21, they stamp all. I mean, they punch a hole in it and staple your new information. So, like you know she's 21, she's obviously it's a rite of passage. She's going out with her friends at night, probably having a cocktail, and they're like let me see your license. And she's like gets out like a 46 by 22 inch billboard. You know handing it, you know I'm just kidding, but I'm sure it's like six by eight, but still. But um, so we delivered the license and had lunch and then went up to the fort and went, went um, up by skull cave. Is that what that was?
Speaker 3:Yeah, skull cave, which, uh, was not really much of a cave and I don't know about you, but I didn't see any skulls.
Speaker 2:I didn't see any skulls either.
Speaker 3:I don't know where they got the name from. But we hiked up there and saw it. The fort was really cool. We didn't go into the fort but we walked around the fort. So that was beautiful, just the whole island was beautiful.
Speaker 3:And what I found interesting is, because there's no vehicles, they have several resorts there and so the people will get onto wagons with these big draft horses and they will, you know, kind of like 1870s. This wagon has taken these six people up to the resort and they'll hook like a cart on the back and shrink, wrap all their luggage on there and that'll go up. But there's just horses and carts everywhere and in fact you have to get the liquor from the ferry to the bars and things. They put that on a cart too. There was this big old cart that came by that had vodka and bourbon and and gin and beer and it was just on this horse drawn cart that was taking it to the bar and they were unloading it. So it was. It was kind of a cool experience from from that thing that I I really enjoyed.
Speaker 2:You and I were both in scouts, and so when we got to the top and you and I were both in scouts, and so when we got to the top almost I don't want to say at the highest level, but very close to the highest level there's like a Girl Scout camp there and these girls were crushing cans and they all had scout uniforms on and both of us kind of had a memory because we were both in scouts. Oh yeah, so I mean, that was pretty much it. But then you had bought me a birthday present of a templeton rye jersey and you had yours on, I had mine on, and we walked into winchester's um, and which was a bourbon bar, and, and wouldn't you know it, they had, uh, templeton rye, and so we shared this had to have one because we were wearing the jerseys absolutely and getting back to the j Jess story, when we finished that I got a quick work call and then I said, okay, I'm on vacation, I got to get off this call.
Speaker 2:And then I looked up and then I remembered Jess, because I saw the Joanne's sign and I was like, of course I had had a bourbon and so there's liquid courage. And so I said we got gotta go into joanne's. And so um, we, um, we walk into joanne's and I said uh, I said hey, is jess here now.
Speaker 3:Let me stop you right there, okay, this is a really good story, um, and I think we should save the rest of it to our next episode, because this story is funny. Okay. So I think we've set the stage. What's going to happen is just there. What's going to transcribe? What is Adam doing, looking for this total stranger that he's got a name for? So I'd say we save that. We have a couple of things to close out this episode, and I say we save the rest of that story for our next episode.
Speaker 2:I love it and I think that's very fair which comes out one week from today. So with further ado, let's. Why don't we finish up? We normally do. We said we have a little surprise. Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for Listener Spotlight.
Speaker 3:That's right. Even though this is a two-part series, we thought we'd still throw in another Listener Spotlight, so I've got some clues for you for this episode's Listener Spotlight. This community started out originally as a land grant and it is named for a local landowner. Iron was found in this area, which became a major financial driver for the community, and that iron was used, among other things, for the military. It is the home to a famous revolutionary war hero and, because of a former resident of this community, bugs have a reason to live in fear. I'll give you one more, and this is a good one. This town and community has its very own cryptid. You know what a cryptid is, don't you?
Speaker 2:Normally I would be a smart aleck and be like oh yeah, I know what it is. I really don't know what it is.
Speaker 3:Well, you know me, I watch TV all the time. I mean, you know, you're trying to sleep and I'm, like you know, over there watching TV and things of that nature. So I'm always watching TV and generally it's not great tv, generally it's. You know. Hey, let's go find bigfoot. Bigfoot is a cryptid. They're like creatures. Okay, that you know. They haven't proved that they exist, but there's a lot of like bigfoot and loch ness, monster and things of that nature. Those are all cryptids. This town has its very own cryptid.
Speaker 3:So, there we go All right. Not St Louis.
Speaker 2:I would say no, based upon what you just said. The land grant and everything else doesn't add up. So in that case, we will have the second part of this coming out in a week and we look forward to having you listen to that. And for sure, when we were in Michigan, it was a great day for a biker.
Speaker 3:It was indeed.
Speaker 1:Thank you for coming along with Adam and Michael on Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure. If you have enjoyed this, please subscribe to the show on the podcast app of your choice.
