Navigating a Privateer Life

The year is 1951 and the points have come down to the final race in Barcelona.  The greatest racer of all time lines up next to his rival in a newer more powerful Ferrari.   This was the culmination of the just the second official Formula One championship season.  The pre war Alfa Romeo's that dominated Grand Prix racing went head to head with Enzo Ferarri and his newly built monsters.    

Rivalries are essential to r...

We, cyclists, are a little crazy.  Finding new hills to put your lungs on the verge of exploding.  New trails that actively try to figure out new and creative ways to break your bones.  Even the bike that you call your best friend will seem to find the perfect moment to crush your spirit.

We all find ways to make ourselves continue on as the world does its best to destroy us.  Whether it's by having some internal conv...

 The epic finish of the 1989 Tour de France which ended in the tightest margin victory in the races history, just 8 seconds, was the culmination of a decades worth of rivalry, team camaraderie, and the career twilight of the racing master who took the young talents under his wing. While the decade ended with a dual of two champions, it started with Bernard Hinault, on the hunt for dominance. Powered by the French industry titans of...

Knowing yourself is probably one of the most difficult ways to become a better cyclist and most likely a better person in general.  The work will pay off though.  Knowing yourself means you'll know how to better yourself.  From knowing how to avoid poor racing situations or being able to manipulate the race to suite you.  This podcast can dive into a few reasons you should zen out and meditate your way into knowing who you are...

I was reading an article on Cycling Tips about Dr. David Spindler and how he helps pro cyclists in the peloton most notably the former Dimension Data team.

His interview was full of insight in what it was like to work with athletes at the highest level, with their needs and wants against their struggles with normal life.

The idea of how much we as cyclists ignore out mental state as we grind through training and r...

I dig into the benefits of being tied to a specific brand or staying free of influence. Being able to approach a sponsor by knowing everything there is to know about their product or having the ability to be a candid reviewer are two examples of being tied to a brand or not can bring.

 Also I want to know what goes through your head during those last 5 miles of a hard ride or race?  The things that drive you when your body...

This week I dip my toes into the dangers of the hyped up crowdfunded bike companies of SpeedX and Sick Bicycle Co.  Two companies with completely different paths but in the end the same outcome.  Pinkbike and Cycling tips did great journalism on these stories.

The privateer tip this week is to pick something unique and stick with it.  Do something that will set you apart from the masses on the line then keep with it as tre...

This episode focuses on Copy.  It's what advertisers use to sell product.  Learning how to create good copy will make you incredibly valuable to sponsors and help them sell product, which in turn will get you better sponsors.  Going through the different levels of copy and how you can utilize them is the key point you, as a privateer, can use to help your career as you grow.

I talk about Morvelo and their amazing adve...

This week I rant about how nature is what makes bikes great and how much I like air.  I also do a news segment that gives privateers takeaways from the Dirty Kanza, Leogang, Fort Willam, and the horrible state of bicycle retail tariff obsession.

The privateer tip for this week is about how you should prepare your mind for long solo days.  Don't let you mind over think your problems and sink you into a depression when ...

Hey everyone, sorry for the audio, I did this one all on my iPhone.
This week I tell the story of how I went for a ride and ended up bare assed in the rocks.  I also talk about the new XT and SLX 12 speed drivetrains, and how you should be carful just taking people on rides.  Sometimes they just aren't into it and you let your super enthusiasm wreck your ride and potentialy bicycles for them.

Support the show

In your life as a Privateer racer you have to get used to crashing at the worst times.  It doesn't elude even the highest level racers.  We will go through three racers and their crashes that all ruined great opportunities and how each one had a different outcome in their careers.

The privateer tip is to get you own personal jersey printed.  As a Privateer it will help you stand out and give you a sales platform to pi...