Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure

BIG BRAG Without Us

Adam Baranski & Michael Sharp Season 5 Episode 14

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0:00 | 10:12

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Big BRAG week is here, and we’ve got a confession: we’re jealous. We’re thrilled our cycling team is rolling deep with 23 riders, but it’s still strange not having our own gear spread across the floor and our bikes half-packed for travel. That tension sparks a bigger conversation about what a multi-day bike ride really is when you strip away the stats. For us, BRAG isn’t just a route, it’s the anticipation, the shuttle chatter, the packing tricks, the “please let my bike go back together” prayers, and the way a cycling community can feel like summer camp for grown-ups.

We also get real about why riding on a team makes everything better, even when people branch out into their own crews. The point isn’t whose jersey you wear, it’s showing up together, swapping stories, and keeping the stoke alive across the whole event. Along the way we share the small details we love, from social media updates and logistics talk to the inside-baseball humor that only cyclists appreciate, like how many “extra” screws are acceptable after rebuilding your bike (three or less, obviously).

Then we shift to what matters most: cycling safety. Keep the rubber side down, watch for tracks, stay alert on trails, and look out for pedestrians and other riders. We want everyone finishing the week healthy, proud, and already telling the best stories. We also have a challenge for the road: keep an eye out for the 2026 Guess the Route winner jersey, grab a photo if you spot it, and send it our way. And don’t forget to explore, find a great meal, and yes, maybe even a winery, brewery, or distillery, because making memories is part of the ride.

Listen, share this with a BRAG friend, and leave us a review if the show helps you feel more connected to the cycling life. What’s your favorite part of a big group ride?

Support the show

Adam and Michael’s friendship has grown through years of shared miles, challenges, and laughter on the bike. Their passion for cycling has carried them through life’s twists and turns, creating a bond full of stories, jokes, and unforgettable rides. In their podcast, they bring that same spirit to the mic—sharing adventures, trading banter, and welcoming listeners into their cycling community. Whether tackling steep climbs or cruising open roads, their conversations capture the fun, friendship, and freedom that cycling brings. Tune in for stories that celebrate the ride and the camaraderie that makes it unforgettable.


and Remember,

It's a Great Day for a Bike Ride!
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Quick Catch-Up And Big BRAG Talk

SPEAKER_00

Hey buddy, I get to see you again already. That's right. We're not gonna wait the full two weeks here. You get to see me uh a little quicker than than normal.

SPEAKER_01

I love it. I love it. And look at that, you have a brag hat on just like me. That's right.

SPEAKER_00

Sponsor uh supporting the uh the brag because what is next week?

SPEAKER_01

Big Brag 2026.

SPEAKER_00

And where are we gonna be?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, never never never mind.

SPEAKER_00

Where have we been for the last four years? Sad sad, uh yeah, we're not gonna be there, but that's okay. You know. We've we've got uh we'll be cycling men of leisure will be well represented. And cycling women of leisure.

SPEAKER_01

We've got uh our team captain, Scott Ledford, and we wanna we wanna thank him. Yes. Here in digital and video formats. Thank you, Scott, and support wife. We've got we've got twenty-three members this year on the on the team.

SPEAKER_00

That's that's not bad.

SPEAKER_01

I mean No, that's not bad, especially since you and I and you know we're not gonna be there, and we still have 23 members, which I love.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And some of our good friends even have their own teams, and so that's cool as well.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, some people that were on our team last year are doing teams this year, so uh that's awesome. Uh, like like I've always said, you know, these rides are better on a team, doesn't matter whose team, just a team. So happy to have our 23. And uh unfortunately we're not gonna be there, but we will be there in spirit, absolutely thinking about you.

SPEAKER_01

So absolutely. Um, we will hope that the rubber side stays down and may the wind be at your back.

SPEAKER_00

Always, always right and it all downhill.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, absolutely. And like you always say, you can coast forever. Actually, you can't coast forever.

SPEAKER_00

That's right. That's right. That's right. Don't misquote me. Because then I just sound you know, I already don't have a

Team Pride And Not Being There

SPEAKER_00

job. Ah, you can coast forever, doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_01

I feel bad for some of the people who are going to big brag this year.

SPEAKER_00

Why is that?

SPEAKER_01

They're not gonna be able to see a most awesome de brim going down the road. I mean, that is my signature look.

SPEAKER_00

No, no, uh it's a look. We'll leave it at that. But I don't really think anybody's gonna miss the uh the de Brim. I'm not gonna miss the DeBrim.

SPEAKER_01

I guarantee you. Hashtag no, I wish the DeBrim was here. Hashtag thank God the DeBrim is not here. But we'll see. We'll see at the end of the week. I'll search for both of those, so we'll see. All kidding aside, we uh we want to just tell everybody that we hope they have a safe week.

SPEAKER_00

Yes.

SPEAKER_01

I hope the weather is is great. Uh nothing, nothing better than having great weather when you're on these on these rides. And might I say, and I will I will confess this is my right hand. I don't know if cameras are reversing or whatever for those of you watching this. I'm gonna miss it. I'm not gonna lie. I I I'm I'm watching everybody pack. I I'm watching people talk about hey, put your stuff in ziploc bags, and hey, do this, and and you know, all of some of our packing moves, and and like today I was in my office and looking down going, man, I wish I was going. So right there with you, brother.

SPEAKER_00

I wish I was there.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I wish I was going to be there. Let's put it that way. Kind of weird, uh, because generally on my floor of my office, I have everything laid out and ready to go. But you know what? We've we've got other people to carry the uh carry the torch this year. It's just been a really weird and wacky year, so it didn't work out, but you know, you never know. We'll we'll be back at some point.

SPEAKER_01

I was gonna say, I was I was gonna ask, is this an exclusive?

SPEAKER_00

I wasn't committing to anything. Okay. That's because the inside joke is Adam's always like, it's like we go to all these rides, and

Missing The Rituals Of Bike Travel

SPEAKER_00

it's like, now don't say we're coming back because we don't know if we're coming back. Every ride Adam has ever gone to in the last 10 years with me, it's like, you know, day two, he's like, yeah, we're being we're coming back next year. It's like you didn't discuss this with me.

SPEAKER_01

You know, the executive director of of Bragg, who is now the international director of Brag, he he mentioned it the best. He said it's like summer camp. And I I think I just get excited. I I get like a kid in a candy store. I'm like, we're coming back, yeah. Except, except it sounds like this.

SPEAKER_00

We're coming back.

SPEAKER_01

Like that little pig in the backseat of the old uh what was it, Geico commercials? Yeah, yeah, exactly. I want to come I'm I mean, I get more excited about you know, and and it's not just you know, just like we say on the show for me, it's the whole experience. It's not just the ride, it's the travel, it's the adventure, it's the packing everything up, it's the flight, it's breaking the bike down and and hoping and praying to God that it goes back together wherever I might lay my head at night, and and then taking it apart and then putting it back together and you know not having extra screws in the box.

SPEAKER_00

And no, you can have at three, no more than three. That's right. That's right. Yeah, three or less, you're okay. Those are extras that the factory puts in there just for safety purposes.

SPEAKER_01

So I tell myself. I'm definitely uh definitely missing it, and uh I'm I'm excited for for all of our friends. I'm I'm loving the social media comments going back and forth, and I've saw, you know, I'm sure you've seen the same, which is like, hey, the shuttle time is this time, because that's usually a question. What time is the shuttle? You don't want to miss the shuttle, or uh, I'm selling my shuttle, I'm changing my plans, or and and some somber things too this week have been uh this year's not gonna work out for me. I have to have surgery, or I I was in an accident or whatever.

SPEAKER_00

So I've seen a couple of those, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I was thinking to myself, maybe there's two with bus passes, and maybe you and I just say, We're going.

SPEAKER_00

Well, at least as long as nobody, you know, hit a hose and broke their clavicle.

SPEAKER_01

So no, no, no, no. We don't need that. That's enough. Last time I was at Disney, I went by the escalator and saw the one that tried to eat you. And so you mean the one you shoved me down?

SPEAKER_00

That's my story. I'm sticking with it. Okay. You can't prove otherwise.

unknown

He shoved me.

SPEAKER_01

I think there might be indisputable video evidence that Disney downloaded, archived, and saved for the next 10 years.

SPEAKER_00

They were concerned I might sue them for for you pushing me down an escalator. It's like, oh, if I'm suing anybody, I'm suing that guy.

SPEAKER_01

That that that

Old Mishaps And Real Safety Reminders

SPEAKER_01

one manager was like, You sure you're okay?

SPEAKER_00

Oh man, she was there. I had barely got off the escalator and Disney management showed up. It's like, I'm okay. I'm uh you know, just have the paramedic. Oh, should you go to the hospital? You know, no, just clean up, you know, the biological, you know, stuff there, clean it all up, manage me up. I'm I'm good to go. So yeah, they were very concerned. But no, I'm not suing you for Adam throwing me down an escalator.

SPEAKER_01

My gosh. Well, listen, I I I do hope that uh everybody has a safe week. I hope everybody is is uh keep the rubber side down was trying to be like an old Irish quote, but on the serious note, please, please, please stay safe. Watch out for the tracks. I know you're gonna be on a lot of trails, so watch out for the oncoming bystanders. Yeah. Hey.

SPEAKER_00

One thing I will say is I would love it if members of the team would uh you know send some pictures our way, uh, hashtag us or drop us, you know, direct instant messages or however you want to get it to us. And it would really be cool if uh, you know, every day or every other day some people could maybe uh dump a brief message into our fan mail. Little recorded 60-second message, let us know how it's going, the highlights, things like that. Keep us informed. It

Photos, Fan Mail Updates, And Jersey Spotting

SPEAKER_00

would really be appreciated.

SPEAKER_01

For sure. And don't forget, they have something to look for when they're out there on the road.

SPEAKER_00

They do, and Jeff should have it at this point. It's the 2026 Guess the route route brag winner. Got a jersey. I'm also gonna post a couple pictures of the jersey because I tried it on just for the picture purposes, and uh that way you'll know what what to look for. And if you see it, you know, stop him, get your picture, take it with it, send it our way, we'd love to see it. But uh I'll brag a little, I think it's a sharp looking jersey.

SPEAKER_01

I also am going to tell people that find some distilleries along the way. This is not just about a bike ride. When you're out there, you gotta make memories, and I'm not saying just like sitting inside the indoor camping and staring at each other. Get out there, explore, find something to do. Winer, distillery, brewery.

SPEAKER_00

With an E on the end. So, yeah, absolutely. Enjoy it. Uh it is more than the ride, it is the fellowship, it is the new friends you'll meet, it's the old friends you'll see. Uh, it's just the overall experience. So uh go out and have a good time. Keep us in the loop, let us know how it's going, and uh, you know,

Make Memories On The Route

SPEAKER_00

maybe next year we'll be right back out there with you.

SPEAKER_01

That sounds good. And you know what it's gonna be when they're out there every day? It's going to be a great day for a bike ride.

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