Speaker 1: 1:11

Welcome to Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure, as usual. As you would expect, I am Adam and once again, I am lucky enough to be joined with my good friend, mr Michael Sharp. How are you doing, sir?

Speaker 2: 1:23

I am doing well. Thank you very much. How are you?

Speaker 1: 1:27

Good, good, good good. It's good to be with you. We've been together a little bit more and more recently, but I always look forward to it. A little pep in my step today knowing that we were going to record tonight. So this show is coming out on Mother's Day. So, first of all, on behalf of myself and Michael, happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Absolutely, Speaking of that, you not only have a mother, but you also have a wife who is a mother. What's the big plans?

Speaker 2: 2:03

Not a lot of big plans, honestly. She is actually working Saturday night, so Sunday she'll get home. She'll be pretty tired, but I'm sure we'll find something fun to do so.

Speaker 1: 2:17

So I asked my administrative aide and she's smart as a whip and very quick-witted and very quick I said so. I said she has three children and I said so what is the big hope? Like breakfast in bed, and she said no. I said take you out to lunch? And she said no. And I said what's the goal? She said if I'm lucky, maybe my husband will take care of everything and I get a date of myself. And I was like thanks for playing so close. That's not going to happen so close, just a bit outside.

Speaker 1: 2:55

Yeah close, that's not oh so close, just a bit outside exactly. Well, you are normally the history, uh, history buff, history guy, history connoisseur who brings all kinds of cool stuff to our show and and we'll get to that in a little bit. But I thought, in honor of you, who normally does all of the work, that I would do a little chat gbt. I'm going to be honest where I got, where I came from, you got man's gotta gotta be honest with the sources that appreciate that uh. But I went to chat gbt and said tell me some interesting facts about cycling and mother's day, and I have a few things for you. Wow, really yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:36

Okay, I'm impressed. Okay, you said you had something interesting for me and I thought, well, you're probably going to tell me you know Mother's Day, you know founded what? May 8th of 1914 or something, you know just stuff like that. But you've got it in association with cycling. So I'm excited. This should be good.

Speaker 1: 3:54

Okay, and one of the things is pretty cool happens when we're going to be at Big Brag 2020, 2025, if I can speak English. All right, here's some cycling facts. First, you're not going to be that surprised by the cycling facts. Okay, the modern bicycle design with two equal size wheels and a chain dates back to the 1880s. That's not surprising to you. You're a guy who knows that Cycling has some health benefits. Cycling is excellent for cardiovascular health, joint mobility and mental well-being.

Speaker 2: 4:29

Yeah, you're not surprised about that. I'm glad that I'm not doing this for nothing, so that's good, that's right.

Speaker 1: 4:35

Obviously, it has an environmental impact. Bicycles produce zero emissions, making them one of the most eco-friendly transport options. Popularity the Netherlands has more bicycles than it does people. But now this is interesting. This is what you're going to love, okay, on June 3rd, when you and I are in the middle of Georgia riding our bicycles, it is World Bicycle Day, which is celebrated on June 3rd, as declared by the United Nations. I had no idea.

Speaker 2: 5:06

That is awesome. We'll have to do something special in support of World Bicycle Day. Franklin should build that up a little bit, you know, I mean I know in the morning he's getting everybody rallied up.

Speaker 1: 5:19

It's like it's national or world bicycle day, whoo I know I was thinking for you I'm thinking to myself, buddy, you should, uh, maybe sell a special decal or something. So there you go. He will have enough time. This comes out on Mother's Day, so he's got time to order it. So Mother's Day facts. Now this was a little bit interesting. The modern Mother's Day began in the United States in 1908, thanks to Anna Jarvis, and became a national holiday in 1914. Did you know that?

Speaker 2: 5:56

In fact, I think that's just what I said at the beginning. Remember I said I thought you were probably just going to give me facts about, you know, may 8th, 19. What was?

Speaker 1: 6:04

it 1914. 1914. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:10

When it officially Congress. You know the president signed it. I think it would have been Wilson was the president about that time?

Speaker 1: 6:18

Oh yeah, he was great. He was great. I remember that Good president Woodrum. On global celebrations, countries celebrate it on different dates. In the US, it's the second Sunday in May. The most popular gift is flowers, especially carnations. Greeting cards and brunches are top choices. Phone calls is the busiest phone call day of the year Mother's Day. I can see that and the economic impact. Mother's Day is one of the biggest retail holidays, generating billions with a B in spending Now here are three.

Speaker 2: 7:01

You don't want to cheap it up with mom. I mean, come on, no.

Speaker 1: 7:04

No, of course not. I mean, this is mom who's been there cleaning up after you when you're sick and letting you watch the Price is Right. Oh, wait a minute. That was maybe just my house, sorry about that.

Speaker 2: 7:14

Oh, no, no, no, when you were sick, yeah, you got to watch the TV. The price?

Speaker 1: 7:18

is right and remember, spay and neuter your pet Little Bob Barker there. Yeah, now here are some facts about well, some things about cycling and Mother's Day together. Some cities organize Mother's Day bike rides or charity cycling events to promote health and togetherness with mom. How about active gifting? Bikes or accessories like stylish helmets or electric bikes are becoming popular gifts for active moms. But the biggest one is quality time with mom. While many choose to spend Mother's Day bike ride on a scenic trail very thoughtful, health way, healthy way to spend a day together and then the it's so funny, the chat gbt has a sense of humor because it says and afterwards, maybe take mom out for brunch, which totally takes away the fact that, well, it could be healthy brunch, I guess. But, um, anyways, I thought in honor, you're the one usually who does the deep dive and, looking, I thought it'd be a little fun to go down that path.

Speaker 2: 8:20

I am impressed and thank you. The chunk of that I did not know. So yeah, happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.

Speaker 1: 8:29

We appreciate it June 3rd, World Bicycle Day, so I will be one with my bicycle on June 3rd. You will you will, you will. We have a couple things. We obviously have our normal, but most people in this time wow, this is the biggest episode of guesses of Listener Spotlight. We have four independent guesses for listener spotlight are any of them right I?

Speaker 1: 9:02

I, I, I, uh, of of. There are two states represented with with the four guesses, and I would go one of the states has three guesses, okay, and I'm going to go with a V word with one of the states and we'll get to that here in just one second, okay. We also were finally able to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, oh yes, the man who runs Big Brag 2025, brag Spring Tuna, international Brag, all kinds of brag, all the brag. You can get A lot of brag, all the brags you could ever want. Executive Director, mr Franklin Johnson, and we'll play that in a little bit, but before we get to Listener Spotlight, I wanted to give you the floor. Did you have anything else?

Speaker 2: 9:56

No, I didn't. I did have a fun weekend last week, as you know, uh went up to see Berkshire Hathaway, which is Warren Buffett's stock. You know the Oracle of Omaha, uh, do that every year. Uh, it's something that's somewhat of a family tradition, and no, I'm not a. You know an a shareholder. That's of a family tradition, and no, I'm not an A shareholder. Those are worth like $850,000 a share, but it doesn't matter, you can have B and still go, you can have partial shares and still go.

Speaker 2: 10:23

So I went up there, had a lot of fun. He made the big announcement he is stepping down as CEO, so that was an interesting riff in the whole thing, but had a good time. Maya always likes to go up there, which it's always fun. And I think the cool thing is is, over the years I went about 15 years over the years from when I originally started going to now a lot more children, kids, young people are out at these things and I and I just get excited about that because it's like, yeah, that's cool. People are out there learning about okay, maybe you're not learning necessarily, but indirectly you're learning about investments and that type of thing. So that was cool to see. So you know kids are getting interested in some old school type stuff. You know like investing in that type of stuff. So maybe they'll start cycling more. You never know. I have two very important questions.

Speaker 1: 11:28

Okay, did you have any ice cream?

Speaker 2: 11:33

Did you have any ice cream? I had more ice cream than I really needed. Berkshire Hathaway for those who don't know owns a Dairy Queen and they have the big show up there where he answers questions for people and stuff all day, but then downstairs a lot of the different stock companies that he owns are down there hawking their wares. It's a brilliant way to, you know, boost your earnings. But yeah, dairy Queen was there and I had four or five Dilly bars and maybe a, you know, peanut buster bar.

Speaker 1: 12:14

But, yeah, a lot of ice cream. On the advice of my good friend, Mr Michael Sharp, the co-host of Road Adventures, of Cycling Men, of Leisure, I took a very large investment and bought B shares of Berkshire Hathaway and they have done very, very well. My question is is with the retirement, am I okay?

Speaker 2: 12:33

This is just my thought. I'm not a financial advisor anymore. This is just my thought. On the whole thing, we were really worried. A lot of us as shareholders are really worried.

Speaker 2: 12:42

Like you know, seven, eight, nine years ago because it was very secretive about who was going to take over, and so everybody got worried that it's like what happens if something happens to him and he doesn't announce who the next person is that's taking over. That would have thrown this stock into complete chaos who's taken over? And would have really, really hurt the business. Fortunately, the last three years or so he kind of had designated who would be taking over. It's just at this meeting he finally said hey, I'm stepping down, not retiring, stepping down, um. So I think we're in great shape now because the people that he's got in there, he's, you know, he's been grooming them for years, um, but I think if it would have happened, something would have happened to him like five, six, seven years ago. The uncertainty would have, you know, just crushed the stock. But you're okay, I'm glad, I'm glad to hear that Cause.

Speaker 1: 13:36

I didn't know where you're going with that. I was like, oh no, no, no, no, no. What's funny is is the, the. Uh, I'm not afraid to share the. The stock that I had was PepsiCo and you and I were on a ride and you said are you sure you want to keep that there? And I was buying it on cost allocation. So you know, we talk about investing a little bit on this show a lot. So cost allocation just means if you don't know what that means, I was just buying a share on a regular, scheduled basis, Dollar cost averaging Yep, yep Every now and then I would get a share. That would be. You know, I'd hit that out of the park the next week. I wouldn't pay way too much, but you and I kept talking about it. And then in Europe they decided to pull Pepsi out of a lot of the grocery stores and so you had made the recommendation and it's been a good recommendation, by the way, you and your wife have helped me out and my Casey's. I got to say my.

Speaker 1: 14:31

Casey's is still doing very, very well.

Speaker 2: 14:34

When do I start seeing my brokerage fees?

Speaker 1: 14:38

Just a bit outside, not today.

Speaker 2: 14:42

Yeah, let's you know. But I do have always caveated. I am not an investment advisor, not an investment professional. Years ago I was in the business. I'm not anymore, so what I say is just Michael Sharp's unprofessional opinion. So take it for what that's worth.

Speaker 1: 14:59

Ladies and gentlemen, file all complaints to Lewisburg, kansas. I'm just kidding, all right. Well, listen, I appreciate you sharing that, Believe it or not. My good friend and neighbor texts me and we always talk about investing here on the street, when we're, you know, like king of the hill, taking over the world, standing out with Warren Buffett's retiring, I said what if I told you my good friend is there and your wife had posted a couple of pictures on Facebook? So I went to Facebook and screenshot it to show that you were outside. He's like he really is there. I'm like he really is Not making this up. Well, all right, I'm excited. We got four guesses. Then we'll play the Franklin interview and then we'll come back and finish her off, all right? With that being said, I don't want to blow it. Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the listener spotlight.

Speaker 2: 16:11

All right, listener spotlight, the clues that I gave you for last episode were as follows this town was founded in the 1880s by a former Confederate general. This community was likened to Italy early on Major developments. Major development did not occur to this area for a good long time, however, during World War II. That's when it started to really develop and pick up. If you are into golf, this city is for you, and if you don't like golf, pickleball, this town loves pickleball. And then my final clue, which was maybe the giveaway, maybe the one that threw everybody off, I don't know. The Spanish conquistadors found no fountain of youth, but if they were there today, they might think that they had found the seven cities of gold.

Speaker 1: 17:22

We got four guesses. The two states that were represented in the guesses are Arizona and Florida. Just to kind of give that away, so I'm going to give you the guesses in order that we receive them. Okay, so first up is our good friend, friend of the show, matt Robinson. And Matt was the first to guess and he said I'm almost certain it's not, but I guess a town in my state of my birth. But I guess a town in my state of my birth, yuma, arizona, founded in the mid-1880s as a structured town, no real industry until World War II. Airfield Coronado and others passed through in the gold tie, via nearby mines and prospector routes, and now filled with retirees. Golf and pickleball Okay, solid, all right. The second guest we got is from our team member, debrim wearer, beautiful woman herself, who has a husband who also wears a Debrim, by the way, melanie Erickson.

Speaker 2: 18:33

Is the Debrim really important?

Speaker 1: 18:36

I'm the one reading. Just kidding Melanie, thank you reading it. I'm just kidding Melanie, thank you very much. She says two things, so first she has a guess and then the song Rome. Last episode we did Rome. It was supposed to be the B-52s which makes way more sense now.

Speaker 1: 18:53

And I do know the song because I said it and now it's like I don't know if I know that song or not. I do, but her listener spotlight guess is the Villages, florida. Golf and pickleball are huge leisure activities and they say people who move to the Villages live up to 20 years longer. Fountain of youth, quite possibly. I'm going with Melanie's guess guest. By the way, there's two other guesses, but I told you that I was going to go with one of the v's. I'm going to go with the villages. Okay, all right.

Speaker 1: 19:23

Our third guest I have to go to my phone here was our good friend and team member, armando armando. Uh, my guess is naples, florida. More holes of golf than any other city. It holds a major pickleball tournament and was a training site for Army Air Force. And then, last but certainly not least, another V word is Venice, florida, which is Jeff, who has guessed correctly before. He is our weather aficionado and saved our butt in Ragbri. So there you have it. You have Venice, florida, the Villages, florida, naples, florida and Yuma, arizona. Michael, tell us, how did our guesses, do you know?

Speaker 2: 20:16

what Someone got it right.

Speaker 1: 20:19

All hold on, hold on.

Speaker 2: 20:21

I don't get to do this very often all right, so I have to say congratulations to our good friend armando hey, all right, I'm gonna hit him with a double one.

Speaker 1: 20:42

Nice job. The answer was in fact naples, florida, naples, florida, so that that unfortunately means jeff, melanie and matt, sorry, oh, by the way, that that was Adam too, adams of the Villages Naples, florida, all right?

Speaker 2: 21:01

Yeah, let me give you a little bit more information here. It is known as the golf capital of the world. It has more golf holes per capita than any other place in the United States. You and I should probably go there sometime. You and I should probably go there sometime. Founded in the 1880s by a former Confederate general and Kentucky US Senator, john Stuart Williams, and his business partner. What else do we got? Yeah, during World War II, not much happening. And then, when World War II happened, the Army Air Force developed a training center there. Armando hit this one too. The pickleball there is a pickleball championship held there, and it has been held there every year since 2016. And the final one is the Spanish and the conquistadors. And the Spanish conquistadors found no fountain of youth, but if they were there today, they might think that they have found the seven cities of gold. Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States.

Speaker 1: 22:10

Well, I mean, I believe Armando was on vacation and gave the guests so very nice. So you, you, you, you boys were texting. I was in a meeting. I kept looking down like I have to. I have to look serious, but I want to look at what's going on here.

Speaker 2: 22:25

So and you notice I did. We were texting after he gave us the answer and I did not give it away. I said you know I, I, you know, I don't give anything away. So you have to wait and listen to the show to get the info.

Speaker 1: 22:41

No, I didn't want to hurt Jeff's feeling because when he guessed Venice, I've been to Venice. I've actually scuba dived in Venice. Manatees are in Venice, but there wasn't a lot of golf there, so I was at least not where I was, I should say. But well, listen, I think that's a record for us Four solid guesses. We appreciate all of you taking the time out of your day to write us and we definitely appreciate the correction Melanie in making me the. It's not the BB, it's the B-52s. She said she was using voice to text. So well, listen, we were able to sit down with Franklin. Now I have a confession.

Speaker 1: 23:29

I'd like to just preface this interview with something On the last episode. I was so excited, thinking that I had proprietary information, that that I knew something that, uh, that wasn't going to be out there and I did. I just missed my chance because he was traveling and and so, um, as soon as I said that, the next morning I got up and I saw that the facebook had pretty much all my, all my secret information. So I just wanted to be transparent, that, while I knew about it and was holding back, I think we missed our opportunity. We were trying to get him right between spring tune-up and him going to Croatia and due to my schedule we were not able to do that, so just wanted to be honest about that. But it was still wonderful to sit down with him.

Speaker 2: 24:18

It's just such a joy to have him on and we consider him a friend of the show so well let's go ahead and play that, okay, and what he's talking about here is the activities that he has lined up for writers on our off day off day.

Speaker 1: 24:38

There we go. So this is in Dawsonville A few other things that we hit on about big brag 2025, but most of this is specifically as, as he first told us when we interviewed him Austinville and Dawsonville. So I'm pretty excited. He's got a couple of things and then we'll come back with a couple of things, so we'll go ahead and play that now. All right, listen to it. Well, we have a very special guest today. We consider a wonderful friend of the show, the executive director if I could speak English of Bragg, Mr Franklin Johnson. Thank you for joining us, buddy.

Speaker 3: 25:17

Absolutely Happy to be here, happy to have you. Welcome.

Speaker 1: 25:21

Look at that the man's got a microphone Fancy.

Speaker 3: 25:24

This is compliments of a famous podcaster. I know he mailed it to me.

Speaker 2: 25:29

Well, listen, I wish we knew a famous podcaster. That'd be cool.

Speaker 1: 25:34

One of these days we're going to find one. So the last time that you joined us here on our Shenanigan podcast, you gave us a very cool little trivia road for Big Brag, with the Route giving us some distilleries, some breweries, some highlights, and I'm sure at that time you still had a little planning to do and we'd love to hit on that. But first I saw some pictures of you and Heather in Croatia. Can you tell us about that?

Speaker 3: 26:09

Croatia is probably the prettiest riding I think I've ever done. Just every turn, um, just every turn. You're looking out over the ocean. You know it's. It's very hilly, I'll start with that. So, uh, as you're going up and down, you just have views of the ocean and all the red roofs, all the. You know they did a lot of filming for game of thrones there, so you got a lot of historic, european looking buildings in the background, um, you're riding past vineyards, um, and olive trees and it's just. The water is absolutely beautiful. So, um, yeah, every every ride was probably like kept topping the prettiest ride I've ever done. So, um, can't say enough good things about Croatia. That's cool.

Speaker 2: 26:53

And I did see one thing let me interject here. I used to be a sales guy and I know you're into sales, but let me just tell you you don't want to start your sales pitch off with there's hills.

Speaker 3: 27:08

You might want to leave that to the back somewhere and go, oh by the way, there is some rolling hills or something.

Speaker 1: 27:15

Don't start off with the hills. Now hold on a second. I saw the advertisement on Facebook today. In clear yellow letters it says bring your spouse and or enjoy an e-bike. So something along those lines, right.

Speaker 3: 27:30

Every single person is going to be on an e-bike. There's just, you know my wife did it. She's not an avid cyclist, you know she's decently in shape. And you know there's a couple days she's not an avid cyclist, um, you know she's decently in shape and you know there's a couple of days where, like she was, she was like that was tough but definitely doable. And, uh, on the Hills, you just put it on turbo and keep going.

Speaker 3: 27:47

And I was thinking, I thought about, you know, before I went over there to do it, I was looking at elevation charts, studying it, looking at everything and thinking like, should I try and do this without an e-bike? And, man, I am so glad I chose to do an e-bike because it would, uh, you could have done it, but you just would not be able to keep up with the group. Um, if everybody's on e-bikes, um, yeah, but the e-bikes, you know, makes it fun, makes it pleasurable and you're not killing yourself. Um, you know you're not killing yourself out there. It makes it so you can actually enjoy yourself, which is really nice.

Speaker 1: 28:17

I just thought it was cool how, um you both had different posts and and um Heather was showing the boat and the accommodations and um, it was definitely definitely interesting looking at everything and and I'm sitting here in my doom and gloom office and I'm watching you guys smile and look like you're having the time of your life. So Michael, of course, said well, lucky you yeah well, you guys can join us.

Speaker 3: 28:45

Yeah, the accommodations are great because you stay on the boat. So we ride around or across six different islands, which is great. So you get there. Get on the boat. You don't have to. You know, you guys are used to cruising. It's not a cruise, but it's. You know, we're on like an 18 cabin yacht that we're on, so you unpack. Once you get off on one side of the island, we ride our bikes all the way to the other side of the island, boat picks us up there and then we sail to the next island. So there's a chef on board that's cooking all our meals. It's, there's a chef on board that's cooking all our meals. It's um, wow, it's really the only way to go and see that. A lot of people do tours in croatia and they stay like in between split and dubrovnik and just ride on the mainland. But man, the islands are just. The traffic is so much lower. Um, it's so pretty and it's like you get unique little culture on each island, which is really cool.

Speaker 2: 29:31

That's cool that's cool well I'm, if I can get Adam to I looked earlier today. Oh, go ahead. I said I'm in If I can get Adam to do it so well. Ironically, Especially on e-bike. Now, the hill thing doesn't matter if I'm on e-bike, so it does not.

Speaker 1: 29:49

Well, I still have to train, but I'm just kidding, that's September 11th. Through the 18th right, plus or minus travel.

Speaker 3: 30:00

Yeah, yeah, so you're going to have to leave a day earlier because you're going to lose a day getting over there.

Speaker 1: 30:04

Okay, well, okay Well. I mean I think I think it was really cool to to follow along. I liked how you guys shared, shared your research, uh, trip and um, I'm sure the kiddos were missing you by the time you got back. So, uh, by the way, uh, I text you personally, but I'm gonna say it here watching your daughter ski down those hills.

Speaker 3: 30:29

She's a freaking natural man, so oh well, you didn't see all the falls, but uh, that's okay, she's picking up on it, which is great. You know this is our third year taking her out there and that's um. You know that's one of the things I really enjoy is skiing, and you know, I was a snowboard instructor a long time ago. So, um, really trying to indoctrinate the younger ones so that every year winter time, it's their idea to go skiing rather than mine and my wife allows it then.

Speaker 2: 30:55

So that's cool that's my plan that's cool um, you are a sales guy.

Speaker 1: 30:59

Look at that well all right, we a strategic thinking there, strategic well, I forget who it was it was on dave, maybe dave letterman, it was a celebrity and he said, oh yeah. He said, well, my daughter loves golfing, so we got to take her. And and uh-huh, yeah right, you got loves golfing, so we got to take her. And, yeah right, you got to take her. Of course you got to take her. But well, I believe it or not, was reached out by a few longtime rag riders today because they listened to the last show and I said that we were going to try to connect with you and I was asked three times independently today whether you were actually coming on or not. And I said I'm talking to him tonight at eight o'clock, and so there's a lot of people who are going to Big Brag 2025 who are highly anticipating some updates. Can you give us some updates on Big Brag 2025? If I can speak English, man, I'm having a hard time talking today.

Speaker 3: 32:00

For sure what? Do you have any specific questions? Sounds like you got some specific questions. Maybe we can hammer those first.

Speaker 2: 32:06

I have one. Okay, go ahead. Um, it's not so much a question, it's a clarification. Uh, I hear you've got some great activities on the the layover day and I hear one of them involves a racetrack, and my question is if that is correct, do I get a ride around the racetrack on my bicycle?

Speaker 3: 32:28

Yes, and that's going to be awesome. Um, so there's actually quite a few race car themed things this year. It just happened to work out that way. But in Dawsonville there's Atlanta Motorsports Park, which it's clubs like this are popping up. It's like a country club, but instead of golf and tennis it's race cars. So it's a really cool, professionally designed, a little over two-mile F1 track just outside of Dawsonville. I got a friend who goes up there and drives on it all the time. There's actually a couple of riders who have a condo there, because you can get condos right on the track. Really, really awesome place, cool place to be.

Speaker 3: 33:09

So a really cool thing we're going to get to be able to do there is they're giving us a time slot to ride around the track, which will be really cool. So we're going to get there. Everybody's going to have to sign a waiver. Of course, it's a racetrack, so they're going to be very careful. Everybody signs a waiver and then we're going to have I think it's like an hour. We're going to have to be able to do laps around the track. It's really twisty, turny, kind of hilly, but it'll be awesome to do that, to actually ride on the F1 track on your bicycle, which would be really cool, um.

Speaker 3: 33:44

Second thing they do there is they have go carts. So they actually have an F1 style go-kart track that we're going to get to ride on or not ride on, excuse me, ride go-karts on, um. So they're going to have different time slots for us, um, and you can sign up for that ahead of time. It's actually in the newsletter now, um, and the one that's going to be going out so you can sign up for your spot, um, and you can do anywhere from one to three sessions, and they go 60 miles an hour. So, um, you get to ride around the racetrack on your bike and then you get to a separate track, go-kart track, but you get to ride around that at 60 miles an hour on a go-kart. So that's going to be awesome too.

Speaker 1: 34:13

Michael, I have some good news.

Speaker 2: 34:15

What's that?

Speaker 1: 34:17

You know I'm the planner between you and I traveling. You are, and that's why I love traveling with you.

Speaker 1: 34:23

What if I told you that we are already signed up, sir, to do go-karts? You and I are going to be going 60 miles an hour. First we're going to ride our bikes around the track and then we have the 1004 spot for two spots for the eight minute, uh. So if anyone's looking at it, it's it's eight minute sessions, uh, and, and the advertisement is can you last eight minutes? I'm like I'm lasting eight minutes I am lasting eight minutes.

Speaker 2: 34:51

So um so my rodeo or something here we.

Speaker 1: 34:55

We are signed up, my friend.

Speaker 2: 34:57

Awesome, that is going to be a blast. When I saw that, I was like nice, beautiful, so looking forward to it.

Speaker 1: 35:11

But you also have something non-racetrack themed. I saw on the Bragging.

Speaker 3: 35:14

Rights, you're having a tour going to the falls, yeah, so Dawsonville has really done a great job. They've got a lot of stuff going on and, um, you know this, foothills and falls. We have two waterfalls on this year. Uh, one is amicalola, which is the tallest waterfall in georgia. Um, so if you've never done that, I definitely suggest if you're not from georgia, definitely suggest, um, you know, hopping on there filling out the form to to hop on that bus and that bus is going to leave, uh, and if we get enough demand, there'll be multiple buses running from camp uh up to Amicalola falls. It's a little bit of a drive, not far. Um, definitely would not ride your bike up there just because of the roads up there are pretty tough. Um, but yeah, you can go see Amicalola falls. It'll drop you off. You can hike from the bottom all the way to the top if you want, and it's a really cool experience to see. It'll be really cool in the summertime too.

Speaker 3: 36:00

So you have time to do that. If you're doing go-karts early, get back to camp, you know, ride your bike back to camp and then hop on the bus and do both, which will be nice.

Speaker 2: 36:09

Now I have to ask and you don't know the backstory here, but this is a real waterfall, right? I mean, the reason why I ask is we were in Michigan and like, yeah, go visit the falls, and we rode over, rode off the route. It wasn't that far, but we rode off the route to see the waterfall and literally there was some rocks piled about six inches high across the stream and water was going over and that was their waterfall Very disappointing. So I'm hoping that we have some rushing water crashing over falls. Do we have that water crashing over falls? Do we have that?

Speaker 3: 36:43

You do have that, so it's. This is multiple cascades, right, so it's not a single unimpeded fall. And this is where the two waterfalls come to competition here. The one in Toccoa is the tallest unimpeded waterfall, I'm pretty sure, east of the the mississippi uh, don't quote me on that. It's really tall, but it is an actual like doesn't? The water doesn't touch anything until it's the bottom, you know where.

Speaker 2: 37:10

The one in amicalola is very tall and very impressive and it's still a waterfall, but it definitely has multiple cascades from top to bottom as long as it's not like this, far off the ground, a of rocks piled in a stream and water's flowing over it, and we call that a waterfall, I'm good.

Speaker 3: 37:24

No, it's like 700 feet tall. Yeah, it's impressive.

Speaker 2: 37:26

Good enough, that's a waterfall.

Speaker 1: 37:28

When we were in Michigan, two of our friends from Georgia, juan and Amir, came up and they're like that's not a waterfall. Waterfall it wasn't. Yeah, definitely, uh, definitely have to agree, and it was a decent, decent ride to get down to the quote-unquote waterfall. So, like we rode our heads for this, it's like you know. But um, so, michael, I also have good news. Yes, sir, we are signed up for the shuttle for one o'clock to go to go see the fall.

Speaker 2: 37:55

So and this is why I ride with Adam. He's like my travel agent, it's beautiful.

Speaker 1: 38:00

Well, I mean, I have to thank who. I assume Stephanie gives credit as due, or maybe Franklin. I don't want to be rude, but Braggin' Rights came out early Sunday morning and early Sunday or Saturday maybe, and it said sign up here. And I figured you know what Supply and demand, and I wanted to take advantage of the supply before the demand was gone. So, um, we are, we are signed up and we so we'll be riding our, even though normally on our off day franklin usually has us pinned down. We usually jump in a car and drive to a distillery. I can officially say we are participating on the off day.

Speaker 3: 38:38

So, um, a couple questions that came through to me before you throw me under the bus. Too bad on the distillery. Granddaddy mem's distillery is 100 yards from where the camp spot is, so you can go to amicalola, then when you get back then go to the distillery and you can walk there.

Speaker 2: 38:55

So well, it's going to be very cool. We already have that in our plans. So see, this is just nice. Before we had to like drive, you know, 60 miles to get to a distillery here. You just plopped one in our lap. So it's beautiful. We can just have the best of both worlds.

Speaker 1: 39:12

It's going to be a great day I think you quoted it because I obviously wasn't familiar but it's going to be an awesomeville day in Dawsonville. So there was a question. Oh, the question that came to me that if I was going to sit down with you is on your Strava, ride with GPS. Forgive me, ride with GPS. You have days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. And two questions came across my desk. That, if you're still a work in progress, your century ride is only showing up at 86 miles, and so is there a loop, was one of the questions.

Speaker 3: 39:56

Somebody made up that century day loop thing with 86, 80 miles anyway. But then, uh, yeah, so we're still working on a century to get it as close to 100 as we can. So still working on that. Okay, fair enough, there is a bridge out in takoa. Um, that's making us go around where we don't really want to go in south carolina, but kind of have to. Um, so, yeah, so we're still working on that, okay. And then, yeah, and then day four um, we had to wait till we got final approval on the track to. So, yeah, so we're still working on that, okay. And then yeah, and then day four um, we had to wait till we got final approval on the track to do that, but we're, that's going to be. The ride on day four is out to the track, have a rest, stop everything out of the track, go karts, all that, and then ride back.

Speaker 1: 40:29

So, okay so that's uh. That was the. There was two two route questions that came in um and then one of the questions that came in which I think I already know the answer to, but I'm going to ask you, since we're here, is will there be plenty of restaurants? Which I know the answer is yes, but I know people want to hear it On the layover days that people would like to sit down restaurants and stuff. Are there some options for the peoples?

Speaker 3: 40:57

Yeah, there's a bunch, uh, all within walking distance in dawsonville, which is great. Um, yeah, there's mexican joint. There's, um, the city hall is in a complex with the race car hall of fame where they've got racing simulators and the whole, you know, hall of fame trophies you can go see, which is really cool. You definitely do that while we're there. Uh, there's also a restaurant there. They're gonna be doing breakfast for us both days and they do, you know, lunch and dinner. You know, there's definitely a few fast food places around town. There's some in downtown I'll say downtown, but the more downtown part of Dawsonville and there's some more closer where we are. So there will be plenty. Plus, there's going to be shuttles that are going back and forth to Walmart and also the hotels and they've got, uh, restaurants over there. If you want to hop on that, it's just that's a, you know, 20 minute one-way bus ride, which makes it a little bit more difficult to get out there. Okay, yeah, so we got options, cool, cool.

Speaker 1: 41:49

no, those were. Um, those were some of the questions that came to me today. Um, so I have to tell, in the bragging rights I had a real brain fart, because every year we usually sign up for your shuttle and then we usually meet you at the end town, put our bikes on the trucks, the truck goes over. And so in the bragging rights, when it said shuttle, I'm like why haven't I got the shuttle email yet? Because I'm not taking the shuttle, you don't need the shuttle. Yeah, because I'm not taking the shuttle, you don't need the shuttle. Yeah. So this year I'm not taking it. But I know you. Usually you guys put out a nice communication email about when and how and where to meet the shuttle. So I'm sure that'll go out shortly.

Speaker 3: 42:31

Yeah, and there's one that'll be separate for just the folks on the shuttle too, because it's a lot of information for people who don't necessarily need it.

Speaker 1: 42:38

Yeah, for sure, for sure, Michael. Any questions from you, from any of the Bragg updates?

Speaker 2: 42:48

No, I actually answered a question to somebody because I have done my research on Dawsonville. But I took care of that question.

Speaker 1: 42:56

I felt kind of like well I know all about Dawsonville now care of that question. I felt kind of like, well, I know all about dawsonville now, so and I also saw um, not my thing normally, because I'm like to visit and communicate and socialize, but you're offering movies as well in dawsonville for those who may want to go see a movie I saw in the newsletter.

Speaker 3: 43:14

So yeah, we're gonna do that right. Uh, it's actually gonna be right in town park where we're camping, so, um, you'll be able to watch it, or, if you don't want to watch it, you might have to watch it if you're staying there.

Speaker 1: 43:29

Well, great. I don't know if you heard, but Michael's actually been training buddy. I'm proud of you. I know he rode a little bit the other day too. I saw that.

Speaker 3: 43:39

Yeah, I'm getting getting more in the normal um, so that's a good thing I hear some uh tension between the the indoor cycling, though you're not enjoying as much uh, you know, I'm enjoying it more this year than I have in the past, so it's getting better for me.

Speaker 2: 43:57

So nice, as long as I'm not looking. My problem was I was always looking at the clock or looking at the mileage because I didn't have anything else to look at. And uh, I just do away with those on the screen and just get into the music and so getting getting a few miles, so it won't be quite as bad as. Uh, what two years ago?

Speaker 1: 44:14

And oh my gosh little very little, and then you ran us through the mountains.

Speaker 2: 44:19

So yeah, my own wonderfully created torture there.

Speaker 1: 44:26

I share that story a lot, franklin. There were the police. The police leave us alone and you look at us and say you boys been training and we're like a little bit and you're like I hope you have. And the next day and he started- laughing just like that.

Speaker 2: 44:41

It was like, oh yeah, this isn't gonna be good yeah we're developing, we're growing, so that's good yeah we made it.

Speaker 1: 44:51

I had a 60 mile ride on sunday, 17 average, so I wasn't. That wasn't too bad, so not at all. Um, well, we, we appreciate your time. Um, we're gonna squeeze this in in between our next show. Uh, michael, obviously will have listener spotlights, for you know the bookends and front and back, and we've already got some guests guesses, so that's kind of cool. I always excited about that. Um, we got an offer from one of our team members to help us on our webpage, so stay tuned to that. I'm excited, michael, I was going to share with you after we record here.

Speaker 2: 45:28

Didn't even get that news yet, so that's cool, all right.

Speaker 1: 45:33

So, tripp, I hope you passed your final and I will share with Michael and I'm excited about it. So Trip has offered to help us and, listen, I'll take all the help I can get. Well, you guys, you heard it here Franklin has got everything planned for us. I mean, bragg is a great time. I have witnessed a few Facebook communications. If you're on the fence and you're catching this interview, I have to tell you that Bragg is one of not because the man is here with me, but Michael and I have been lucky enough to do many rides and this has got to be one of the most well-organized sag stops. And this has got to be one of the most well-organized sag stops support, just clean, easy, organized, no questions about what's going on ride that I've ever done. And if you're thinking about it and you're about to pull the trigger and you're like, oh, I'm available the 30th of May through June 8th, boom, just jump on it. So that's my. There's the official cycling men of leisure stamp of approval, so it's a good endorsement.

Speaker 1: 46:44

I appreciate that yeah absolutely well, buddy, we know that you, uh, you're a family man and you've been traveling. I'm sure you're exhausted from traveling. I'm just kidding.

Speaker 3: 46:53

So that's how we know well it's uh, so we got, you know there's spring tune-ups, all the getting ready for spring tune-ups. Spring tune-up was there and then the Monday after spring tune-up, hopped on a plane, went to Colorado and then got back from Colorado Three days later, went to Croatia and then we just got back this past weekend. So we've been, we've been at it nonstop for sure.

Speaker 2: 47:14

And if there's younger people out there looking for a career choice, I'm thinking bike director is a darn good one, because let me tell you, it doesn't sound like you're spending a lot of time at home, colorado.

Speaker 3: 47:26

Croatia, and then Bragg is here, and then, right after Bragg, a week later, we're in France for two weeks. So I mean, it's a packed calendar.

Speaker 1: 47:37

Yeah, except what I'm hearing is international bike director is the way to go, because every time we interview somebody the ride is dying. So I think international bike director is the way to go.

Speaker 3: 47:51

Well, I'm also hiring, so if any of you guys want to move to Georgia, let me know.

Speaker 1: 47:56

Well, franklin, we know and we appreciate all of your time. We so much appreciate you giving us a brag update. We're less than a month out, everybody's packing, everyone's getting everything, all their gear together. We just want to say thank you so very much for coming on, absolutely we appreciate it.

Speaker 3: 48:13

Yeah, thanks for having me.

Speaker 1: 48:15

And what is today?

Speaker 3: 48:16

It's a great day for a bike ride. Absolutely it is yes, it is.

Speaker 1: 48:23

It's always a good time to have him on, man, I'm so excited about Dawsonville. I'm excited about the kart racing, I'm excited about the waterfalls, I'm excited about everything. I really do believe Dawsonville is going to be awesomeville. So what do you think?

Speaker 2: 48:39

No, it's a great interview and we certainly, as always, appreciate him taking time, especially now I mean we're getting down to the wire him taking time out to come and talk to us Always a great time. We certainly appreciate it what did you think of his? Sound quality. His sound quality was really good.

Speaker 1: 48:56

The cycling men of leisure boys donated a microphone to Big Bragg 2025.

Speaker 2: 49:03

Yes, we did so. No, it sounds like a lot of fun, but you know what else? Dawsonville is going to be even more awesomeville because you and I have a couple of surprises for our team.

Speaker 2: 49:20

So the cycling men of leisure and the cycling women of leisure teams. We have a couple of other things that we are planning on doing when we get to Dawsonville, so we are hoping that a big chunk of the team would like to partake, come join us, do it, that type of thing, cause we've got a couple of things that that we're going to be doing, and I'm not going to say what, but it's going to be fun, it's going to be interesting, and I'm looking forward to that too. I'm just looking forward to the whole week.

Speaker 1: 49:55

I am too. I've, we've got, we've got some cool stuff and and we you and I have been doing some planning. So I'm, I'm really excited.

Speaker 2: 50:03

So if you are on the cycling men or cycling women of leisure team, just know, uh, this year, michael and I have hang out with us and we are planning on at some point later in the week having a speakeasy, and there may or may not be a bottle or two of something Fire water In my bags that get packed, that we'll be passing out for everybody to enjoy.

Speaker 1: 50:41

Well, there usually is. So if not, we got a credit card, we can go somewhere.

Speaker 3: 50:49

But you don't get the money.

Speaker 1: 50:53

Remember the Michigan store where I peddled 20 miles with a bottle of bourbon in my bibs? Yes, and that is not an exaggeration store where I peddled 20 miles with a bottle of bourbon in my bibs.

Speaker 2: 51:00

Yes, and that is not an exaggeration. He peddled from Charlevoix up to I don't even know where, but it was. It was like 20 miles, Cause that was the only we knew for a fact. We could get it there and thank God, it was Woodford reserve that had the flat bottle.

Speaker 1: 51:19

So it kind of fit better uh in the in the bibs, then you know something else would like a bottle of jack or something. But and I was a little bit of a bigger boy, there was more room in my bibs and but no, we sure did is that whiskey, whiskey. I tell you what boy, what he got there. And boy, it's a leisure. They bring the bourbon and the party with them. He got there.

Speaker 2: 51:47

He's got some whiskey there in those cycling bibs.

Speaker 1: 51:50

Well, so we definitely had a little bit of a beginning of the show middle of the interview, trying to keep it you, you know, within a reasonable amount of time. So also working on something else. One of our team members is helping us out with something and just, uh, just want to say we, we trip, uh, doesn't go unnoticed where we got something cool coming up and so we'll announce that when we're ready. Just wanted to mention that and to our subscribers thank you, thank you, thank you, and a couple of you. We get to ride with you in Georgia pretty soon. So thank you so much. With that being said, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for Listener Spotlight.

Speaker 2: 52:41

All right, got a good one for you. This episode, the community and the city that we're speaking of started out in a territory named for a different state in the early 1800s. Named for a different state in the early 1800s. The early major industry in the area was textiles. Okay, during World War II, the military established a very big presence in this area. The town changed its name Prior to the War of 1812. The original name was British in origin and with the War of 1812, there was some anti-British settlement, uh sentiment going around, so they decided to rename the town something less British. So that's what they did. Um, nine civil war generals were born in or very near this community, and I will tell you that these generals were not all on the same side. And here's the best one, the best, the best hint.

Speaker 1: 54:19

This city could have been the inspiration for a well-known Elton John song. Goodbye Elton. No, just kidding. Candle in the Wind, Rocket man.

Speaker 2: 54:30

Rocket man. This is where you need to put your Elton John belt on.

Speaker 1: 54:36

It's downstairs, I can go get it.

Speaker 2: 54:47

So there we are. Elton john started a territory named for a different state. Early industries were textile. Military came in in world war ii and established a large presence. That was um. That has been a. That has created a very long-lasting presence within the community in one way, shape or form. And then it changed its name. It's not St Louis.

Speaker 1: 55:13

No, all I'm going to say is in my head and don't respond, because people watch us on YouTube, so don't give your facial expression away either. When you say very famous Elton John song, I'm thinking of NASA communities with Rocket man, and that's all I'm going to say, ladies and gentlemen, on that note. But he's got a lot. I will that note. But he's got a lot.

Speaker 2: 55:41

I will say, though, he's got a lot of big songs.

Speaker 1: 55:47

This is true, he has a lot Anyway something to think about. But soon, for you and I, it'll be a great day for a bike ride For a bike ride. For a bike ride.