Ben Leo Hollis | Environmentalist, Humanist and Feminist at 18 Years Old + Tips for young bike tourers

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I catch up with Meaghan Hackinen, the first woman across the line in the 2024 Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race (7th overall), becoming the first woman to complete the Tour Divide Grand Depart event under 16 days, with a finishing time of 15d 23h 00m.Meaghan Hackinen is a British Columbia-based ultra-cyclist, bikepacker, and writer whose two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads. She is a multi-faceted rider with a dozen women’s wins, several FKTs, as well as the course record at the World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships. Meaghan has an MFA in Creative Writing and is the author of South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels, a Kobo Emerging Writing Prize nominee, and Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race. She was the overall winner of the 2021 BC Epic 1000, 2023 Buckshot and Lost Elephant. In 2024, Meaghan was the first woman across the line in the Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race, Ozark Gravel Doom (3rd overall) and Buckshot (8th overall).I first got to know Meaghan when she was on the podcast in episode 120, was back in 2021. Meaghan was also the keynote speaker at the inaugural Canadian Shield Bikepacking Summit in 2023 and I was fortunate to host her for the month she spent in the region while getting out on some bikepacking adventures. It was awesome to follow her on this journey along the Tour Divide, not just as a dot watcher, but also through her captivating social media posts that allowed us a glimpse into her days on the bike.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Huge thank you to Marcus Walter for recently joining as a Patreon supporter.Thank you to Marcos Axelsson for supporting through Paypal.Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show:Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind Meaghan at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaghanhackinen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meaghanhackinen Website: https://meaghanhackinen.com/Author Page/Books: <a href="https://newestpress.com/authors/meaghan-marie-hackinen" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

11 Juli 20241h 11min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I catch up with Indiana Schulz, while he is taking a few days off in Anchorage, Alaska after starting his 7 years around the world Cycling Kindness Adventure on May 15th. Indiana's journey into bikepacking began in the mid-2010s and in that time he has competed in and completed some of the toughest bikepacking races in the United States, including the Bikepacking Triple Crown, which refers to the completion of all three classic dirt bikepacking routes in the USA: the Arizona Trail Race, Great Divide Mountain Bike Race, and the Colorado Trail Race. On the tail end of these adventures, Indiana decided to follow his passion and to go on a multi-year bikepacking trip around the world so as to share his most valuable resource with the people he meets along the way: kindness. I hope you enjoy this episode, and if you happen to live in the general area of where Indiana will be cycling, don't hesitate to reach out and take some time to ride bikes with him.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show.Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind them at:Instagram: Indiana Schulz ‘Indy’Trackleaders: 7 years around the world live tracking Find me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make...

1 Juli 20241h 35min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I chat with Fred Chagnon about a cycling specific sport that is fairly new to me: randonneuring. Fred got started in Randonneuring during the pandemic 4 years ago and is now wholly invested and wants to promote the growth of the sport, for a variety of reasons which we will discuss today. In many ways Randonneuring isn't so different from bikepacking, and in today's discussion, Fred and I share our insights into our respective worlds. Not surprisingly, the two sports have a lot in common and can actually work together quite well as a means of training.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show.Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind them at:Instagram: Fred ChagnonFacebook: Fred ChagnonFind me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make a meaningful difference to the riding experience. Use code BPA15 to save 15% at checkout. Tailfin Cycling --> Tailfin Cycling is a technical bikepacking equipment company that really thinks outside the box when creating new bikepacking gear. They create long-lasting products that have been testing in every way imaginable.<a...

17 Juni 20241h 43min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I'm joined by Rob Biron, better known as Salty Beard Adventures as we record the latest episode of Unpacking Bikepacking. In this series, we go over some of the gear we are using, discuss our biking plans, training wins and fails, things we are doing without setups and more. Hope you enjoy.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show.Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind them at:Instagram: Salty Beard AdventuresFacebook: Salty Bear AdventuresYouTube: Salty Beard Adventures - YouTubeFind me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make a meaningful difference to the riding experience. Use code BPA15 to save 15% at checkout. Tailfin Cycling --> Tailfin Cycling is a technical bikepacking equipment company that really thinks outside the box when creating new bikepacking gear. They create long-lasting products that have been testing in every way imaginable.Brockton...

9 Juni 20241h 35min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I'm thrilled to be recording an in-person podcast episode while sitting in the podcast studio I build in my garage. Sometimes things just work out and this happened to be the case with Boban Chaldovich, a Montreal based bikepacker with nearly 30 years' experience of bike travel. It just so happened that Boban was cycling home from Toronto, after a 6500km bikepacking trip in the Balkans, Colombia and Mexico. Having cycled over 100,000km since the mid-90's it was really exciting to have a chance to sit back, hear about some of his early travels, talk bikes and even pause the episode mid-way through just so I could go look at his setup once again. I hope you all enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show.Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind them at:Instagram: Facebook: YouTube: Find me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make a meaningful difference to the riding experience. Use code BPA15 to save 15% at checkout. Tailfin Cycling --> Tailfin Cycling is a technical bikepacking equipment company that really thinks outside the box when creating new bikepacking gear. They create long-lasting products that have been testing in every way imaginable.<a href="https://www.brocktoncyclery.com/" rel="noopener...

16 Maj 20241h 51min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I talk with Mat and Ali about their upcoming plan to cycle across Canada following the Great Northern Bikepacking Route. Mat and Ali both found themselves living in British Columbia, enjoying the outdoors in every which way. Ali was a seasoned mountain biker when she met Mat and learned about his passion for bike travel. It wasn't long before she caught the proverbial bug and joined him on a cross-Canada adventure. Last year while taking on the Eastern Divide Trail, they joked about riding the Great Northern Bikepacking Route, the longest point to point bikepacking route in the world, coming in at just under 15000km. Less than a year later, here they are, preparing to take on their longest and grandest adventure yet. I should warn you that there was some clicking sounds coming through in the recording and that we had to re-record the second half of the interview in order to get it done right. Thanks again for your time.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubUse these affiliate links to help cover the costs of running the show.Redshift SportsPanorama CyclesFind them at:Instagram: M A T & A L I || Canadian Adventure CyclistsFacebook: Trip LongerYouTube: Trip LongerWebsite: Trip LongerFind me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be...

8 Maj 20241h 43min

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I go into depth about the upcoming Canadian Shield Bikepacking Summit. This is the only Canadian based bikepacking summit, giving participants a whole weekend of group rides, presentations, activities and prizes. Hope to see you all there.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures Club Find me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make a meaningful difference to the riding experience. Use code BPA15 to save 15% at checkout. Use the affiliate link and they will give Bikepack Adventures a little something in return.Tailfin Cycling --> Tailfin Cycling is a technical bikepacking equipment company that really thinks outside the box when creating new bikepacking gear. They create long-lasting products that have been testing in every way imaginable.Brockton Cyclery --> Brockton Cyclery is a full-service shop in Toronto's west end. We cater to cyclists of every stripe. Whether you're commuting to work or prepping for the Tour Divide, we've got you covered. We strive to ensure that Brockton Cyclery is a safe and inclusive environment. RaceDay Fuel --> RacedayFuel’s mission is to ensure that you consume the very best and appropriate food or beverage for the task at hand - whether you are golfing, cycling, skiing, running a marathon, or scuba diving in the Red Sea. Use the code BPA10 to save 10% at checkout.<a...

29 Apr 202424min

In the 4th episode of Unpacking Bikepacking I dive into the some of the common issues that gravel bike riders have while taking on various bikepacking adventures, and how to make that gravel bike into the perfect rig for bikepacking. Throughout the episode I look into various things, such as suspension, handlebars, fenders, tire setup, and more.Enjoying the podcast? Consider joining Patreon to help keep it sustainable.https://www.patreon.com/bikepackadventures orhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bikepackadventures Join the Bikepack Adventures RideWithGPS club to have offline access to many of the regions bikepacking routes.Join the RideWithGPS Bikepack Adventures ClubFind me at…WEBSITEYOUTUBEFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMITUNESShow SponsorsPanorama Cycles --> They believe that cycling is a catalyst for adventures, no matter how small they can be. No need to travel across the world or to be a seasoned athlete to live epic outdoors adventures. Redshift Sports --> Founded in 2013 by a team of mechanical engineers who also happen to be avid cyclists, they've focused on taking a different approach to product development - drawing on their own experiences and needs to create components that make a meaningful difference to the riding experience. Use code BPA15 to save 15% at checkout. Use the affiliate link and they will give Bikepack Adventures a little something in return.Tailfin Cycling --> Tailfin Cycling is a technical bikepacking equipment company that really thinks outside the box when creating new bikepacking gear. They create long-lasting products that have been testing in every way imaginable.Brockton Cyclery --> Brockton Cyclery is a full-service shop in Toronto's west end. We cater to cyclists of every stripe. Whether you're commuting to work or prepping for the Tour Divide, we've got you covered. We strive to ensure that Brockton Cyclery is a safe and inclusive environment. RaceDay Fuel --> RacedayFuel’s mission is to ensure that you consume the very best and appropriate food or beverage for the task at hand - whether you are golfing, cycling, skiing, running a marathon, or scuba diving in the Red Sea. Use the code BPA10 to save 10% at checkout.<a...

6 Apr 202452min