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No Ride Around

No Ride Around

By No Ride Around

An investigation of bikes, fitness, and small-business ownership aimed at making sense of the relentless pursuit of passion before perfection, actions from ideas, and the rag-tag community that makes it all possible.
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Trail Access, User Groups, MTB Specific Trails and The Golden Giddy Up w/ Race Director Jeff Watrobka - Pt 1

No Ride AroundJul 03, 2020

00:00
53:39
Cape Epic Pregame

Cape Epic Pregame

Justin and Amir are currently about half way through the legendary Cape Epic. We discusse strategy, expectations, and the scope of the biggest mountain bike stage race in the world.

Mar 22, 202459:30
Gravel vs Mountain for Your First Race

Gravel vs Mountain for Your First Race

Why does gravel have the reputation as being more accessible for first time racers? Should you consider a mountain bike race for your first time racing?

Mar 09, 202401:08:24
Justin Moved to Costa Rica?!

Justin Moved to Costa Rica?!

Green means go!!! **Don't worry, audio will improve massively next episode**

Jan 24, 202401:02:35
Is Lifetime Fitness Good for Offroad Racing?

Is Lifetime Fitness Good for Offroad Racing?

There's no disputing the good that Lifetime and the Grand Prix are doing for top tier off road racing right now, but can it last forever?

Jan 08, 202401:16:03
Age Group or Open?

Age Group or Open?

Can racing in harder categories bring out the best in you as a racer?

Dec 28, 202301:01:15
Marathon Nationals and Little Sugar Recaps

Marathon Nationals and Little Sugar Recaps

Yes, its late, we know.

Dec 28, 202301:16:37
4 Ways to Remain Engaged at the End of the Season

4 Ways to Remain Engaged at the End of the Season

Maybe 5 ways...

Nov 04, 202358:11
2023 Breck Epic Recap

2023 Breck Epic Recap

Spoiler alert, Breck Epic is amazing and you should definitely go do it.

Sep 22, 202301:20:58
Breck Epic Equipment Must Haves and Bike Fit Recon

Breck Epic Equipment Must Haves and Bike Fit Recon

Yeah, yeah. Breck Epic has come and gone, but there's always another one coming up. We dig into 3 equipment choices that we absolutely can't imagine hitting the BE start line without. Additionally, we get some pre-Breck Epic bike fits and share what our experiences where.

Sep 05, 202301:26:07
BIKE Transalp Recap

BIKE Transalp Recap

The international racing just doesn't stop. This time Justin, Amir, and teammate Shane head off to Europe for a crack at the 2023 BIKE Transalp stage race

Sep 05, 202301:19:10
Race Across Hildago Recap

Race Across Hildago Recap

Justin heads to Mexico to truly find the limits of what his body will tolerate in a race.

Aug 02, 202301:29:49
Gremlins

Gremlins

What are those pesky little things on your bike that can ruin a ride regardless of how amazing the scenery may be

Jun 23, 202349:47
Trans Andes Challenge Recap

Trans Andes Challenge Recap

Justin and Brian Elander head down to Chile to jump all the way into the deep end of the international stage racing pool.

Jun 13, 202301:05:33
Riding Your Event Distance Before the Event

Riding Your Event Distance Before the Event

We make the case for riding your event distance BEFORE the event, jump into the episode to hear our thought

May 23, 202344:41
The Baja Divide

The Baja Divide

You gotta do big things for your big birthdays (30, 40, 50, etc) and Justin decided to grab teammate and "go to" adventure buddy Brian Elander and ride the Baja Divide from beginning to end. He may have learned some things along the way.

May 04, 202301:33:12
How to Build a Race Season

How to Build a Race Season

We pick apart some methods in which you can construct a season of racing that is achievable, challenging, and fulfilling. We also announce this years race schedule and man is it a big one!

Feb 19, 202356:32
The Indoor Training Episode

The Indoor Training Episode

Our unofficial season premier! How and when to commit to indoor training season and build a plan for success in the upcoming season. We look into Wahoo RGT, Zwift, and Trainer Road give you what we think are the best programs and why.

Jan 31, 202301:15:28
Zia Rides Dawn to Dusk Recap and Season Finale

Zia Rides Dawn to Dusk Recap and Season Finale

Year number 4 was one for the record books, collectively we had an amazing season of racing. Check out our experience racing as 2 4 person teams in the Zia Rides Dawn to Dusk 12 hour event

Jan 31, 202301:04:48
NUE, National Championships, and Austin Rattler Recaps

NUE, National Championships, and Austin Rattler Recaps

October and November were busy months for the No Ride Around squad, lots of racing, lots of podiums, and lots of fun had by all.

Dec 13, 202201:26:11
Race Craft

Race Craft

Things you'll only learn from racing. Let us help you get ahead of the curve.

Oct 21, 202201:12:03
The Colorado Trail Race with Russ Patterson

The Colorado Trail Race with Russ Patterson

How long would it take you to ride 530 miles? Could you do it in 2 weeks? 3? Now think about RACING that distance over multiple mountain passes, challenging singletrack, and adverse weather conditions at 10k feet above sea level. You in or you out? Follow along with us as Russ tells the tale of his 7 days taking on the CTR.

Follow Russ on Instagram at @russrides29

Oct 06, 202201:45:53
Breck Epic Recap

Breck Epic Recap

Broken shoulders, dislocated fingers, and rain cancellations made this years Breck Epic one for the books. Forgive us, we experiences some minor technical difficulties early in the episode, but our sound engineer is a magician and made it mostly better and it doesn't last for long. If you're looking for a stage by stage breakdown, look back in our catalog to season 1 and there are 2 episodes covering every stage, day by day.

Sep 19, 202201:11:44
All a Matter of Perspective

All a Matter of Perspective

Are you the angry mountain biker that won't say hi on the trail? Maybe a little perspective is all you need.

Sep 19, 202201:04:00
All Part of the Same Tribe

All Part of the Same Tribe

Back when we still had 26" wheels along side 29" and 27.5", there was a joke: "Pick a wheel size and be a jerk about it". There are many ways to experience this sport and we dig into (almost) all of them.

Aug 24, 202254:47
The Space Between

The Space Between

Having an event on the calendar can be a day-to-day life defining experience. What to eat, what workout to do, when to go to bed is all informed by the training you need to do to accomplish your goal. But what about after the event?

Aug 23, 202243:27
La Ruta de los Conquistadores Recap

La Ruta de los Conquistadores Recap

Dang near 2 years in the making. We trained, we prepped, we planned, it got canceled, and we started over. Buckle up for a long one kids, we have a lot to cover, our La Ruta Recap is finally here!

Jun 16, 202201:56:26
We're Off to La Ruta! (Again)

We're Off to La Ruta! (Again)

For those that recall, this whole La Ruta project has been in the making since Fall 2020. Well, after one false start and a much earlier that anticipated rescheduling of the event, we're finally off to Costa Rica for 3 days, 165 miles, and almost 25k' vert. See you all in the race recap.

May 19, 202201:04:24
To Upgrade or Buy a New Bike

To Upgrade or Buy a New Bike

Let's take the bike shop out of the equation and get some ideas about if you should upgrade your existing bike or move on to the shiny new carbon bike sitting in the showroom

May 04, 202201:10:44
The FTP Episode

The FTP Episode

Justin gets stuck in Colombia and we break down FTP testing protocols, indoor vs outdoor FTP, and how to objectively approach using FTP for racing.

Apr 14, 202201:16:59
We're back!!

We're back!!

Yes, we said it would only be January that we were taking off, but life happens sometimes. We're back with lots of new episodes in the pipeline and an amazing season ahead of us. La Ruta is looming, new sponsors are on board, and the weather is just getting good. Let's frickin' go!

Apr 07, 202201:17:10
Season 3 Finale

Season 3 Finale

We revisit the year, share what we've learned, what we look forward to next year, and cover what can expected from our upcoming season. Thank you everyone for a killer year! 

Dec 31, 202147:28
Dawn to Dusk Mountain Bike Adventures

Dawn to Dusk Mountain Bike Adventures

Justin launches a new business venture, we talk about what got him there, why it's time to change things up, and what his goals are for the future.


Dec 04, 202101:05:39
MOAR International Racing at the Cruce del Istmo in Panama and The UCI Gets Involved with Gravel Racing

MOAR International Racing at the Cruce del Istmo in Panama and The UCI Gets Involved with Gravel Racing

Justin heads off to Panama to represent his 2020 and 2021 NUE National Title at Cruce del Istmo and we debate the merits of the UCI bringing gravel racing under their regulations.

Nov 19, 202101:04:42
Singlespeeds and Crash Hangovers

Singlespeeds and Crash Hangovers

Harley gets a new bike and we talk about working through the aftermath of crashing... a lot

Nov 02, 202137:27
La Ruta Gets Cancelled

La Ruta Gets Cancelled

It was always a possibility and now here we are. In true No Ride Around fashion, a cancelled race doesn't mean the end of that weekends adventure. 

Oct 31, 202144:07
Shenandoah 100 Recap

Shenandoah 100 Recap

We all know Justin can win races, but what happens when he has to employ new tactics and duke it out with some really fast riders? Shenandoah 100 would be the last win he needs to wrap up the overall title for the NUE series, listen as we cover the most exciting race recap we've ever done.

Oct 12, 202101:06:06
La Ruta de los Conquistadores Primer

La Ruta de los Conquistadores Primer

What is it going to take to get through La Ruta? A day by day break down of what to expect and how to prepare.

Sep 21, 202101:11:33
Leadville Trail 100 MTB Recap

Leadville Trail 100 MTB Recap

We head up to Leadville to get our buckles. The experience in Leadville never disappoints and this year was no exception. It was hot, the course was long, but we got through it and came away the heroes of our own stories.

Aug 25, 202101:23:24
Silver Rush 50 and Nationals Recap

Silver Rush 50 and Nationals Recap

The team heads to Leadville for the Silver Rush 50 qualifier for the LT100MTB. Fun was had, podiums were achieved, and coins were distributed. Justin goes at it with the big boys at Nationals.

Aug 25, 202101:04:29
Firecracker 50 Recap

Firecracker 50 Recap

The team heads out to our first BIG event with 18 riders lining up at the 2021 edition of the Firecracker 50. 

Aug 07, 202101:05:07
The Kitchen Sink Episode

The Kitchen Sink Episode

Event season finds us busy both in business and recreation, we sit down for a catch up and cover Firecracker 50 and LT100 prerides, more "on bike" nutrition advice, and we introduce a new sponsor.

Jul 18, 202101:00:31
Training and Recovering During a Racing Block

Training and Recovering During a Racing Block

Justin recently completed an intense block of racing (3 races, 3 podiums, 3 weeks) and we dig into the idea of how to race multiple events back to back and stay recovered and ready for them. Also, race recaps of Sarlacc, 18 Hours of Fruita, and 12 Hours of Royal Gorge.

Jun 14, 202101:23:07
The State of the Industry

The State of the Industry

Everyone loves a good rant, or that's what we're hoping for. We talk about the challenges of running a bike shop and a gym during a global pandemic. 

May 28, 202101:15:32
Maintenance Tips for a Successful Early Season

Maintenance Tips for a Successful Early Season

From suspension service and tune-ups to upgrades and spare parts, we advise you on how we ensure we have a successful early season and minimize down time while our bikes are being serviced.

May 03, 202144:23
Race Canceled? Vegas, Here we come!

Race Canceled? Vegas, Here we come!

In a story as old as 2020, 2 more races get canceled and the No Ride Around crew are forced to find adventure where they can. Tuck in for adventure time like only we can pull off.

Apr 05, 202157:27
3 Rides That Changed Us

3 Rides That Changed Us

We dig deep into the history books and try to identify the defining moments in our cycling past that shaped who we are as riders today.

Mar 20, 202101:03:20
MIssing Persons, Mountain Bikes, and Bigfoot

MIssing Persons, Mountain Bikes, and Bigfoot

We dive into the dangerous world of missing persons in wilderness areas discussing why getting lost is so easy, how state and federal officials tend to not be able to help as much as we would hope, and a number of cases when Bigfoot may have helped someone survive.

Feb 15, 202101:05:01
Listener Questions #2

Listener Questions #2

We don't do it often, but when we do, it's always fun. In this episode we answer training and racing questions submitted by our team members and listeners from all over. Enjoy!

Jan 29, 202101:23:15
2021 Race Schedule and Goals, Are Marginal Gains Just for the Pros?

2021 Race Schedule and Goals, Are Marginal Gains Just for the Pros?

Another race recap, this time for Dawn To Dusk in Arizona. We cover our upcoming race schedules and goals, and discuss if saving small percentages  of effort over many categories adds up to enough to make a big difference for the amateur racer.

Jan 15, 202101:07:13
How to Progress with Coach Andy of DirtSmartMTB

How to Progress with Coach Andy of DirtSmartMTB

Always bet on a good time when Coach Andy is on the show! So, you've done some skills coaching, you've done a race or two, what's next? We cover some ideas on how to progress as a rider and improve your skills on the bike.


Dec 31, 202051:17