King of the Ride

Leah Thorvilson's jump to the World Tour was "like learning to walk at the age of 38". Leah segued a world class running career to professional cycling in one of the more unconventional ways -- she beat out 1200 other women on Zwift Academy to earn her spot on the mighty Canyon-SRAM team. Leah's energy is real. Her drive, her ever smiling demeanor, her friendliness and ferocity all helped her land that spot and earn a second year contract extension. Now dabbling in the gravel scene, Leah and Ted caught up after Rooted Vermont, Ted and Laura King's inaugural gravel event! Stay tuned to www.rootedvermont.com for news about the 2020 event. Please keep those comments and reviews, 5-stars of course preferred, coming! Send your questions or comments to @iamtedking. Now please enjoy this awesome conversation with Leah!

Matt Accarrino somehow finds time in the day to not just train, but trains hard enough to be fast on a bike, amid a professional career as a Michelin starred chef at SPQR in San Francisco. Earning one star is hard; earning eight is exceptional. Ted and Matt caught up at Mill District this spring in Healdsburg (www.milldistricthealdsburg.com) to chat life, cycling, where Matt finds balance, how he fits it all in, and where he’s going on this wild ride. This episode is presented by Splats Sunscreen. Use code KING at www.splatssunscreen.com for 20% savings.

Ian Boswell is one of America's best professional cyclists. This recent Vermont transplant takes his profession seriously as much as he takes his Vermonting seriously. From driving his tractor in his hometown parade to taking down XXL maple creemees, in today’s King of the Ride podcast Ian sheds light on his philosophy to training and racing, who his mentors have been in his career, the benefits of marginal gains, and the benefits of just setting out on a gravel bike for a rip around small town Peacham, Vermont. Ted and Ian found some time on the tail end of tourXnewengland to catch up, share stores, and discuss what it's like coming back from injury to professional cycling. Definitely check out Ian and his wife Gretchen's ride, www.PeachamFallFondo.com this September 21, 2019.

Winning an Olympic Gold Medal in her final Olympics might be the most interesting thing about Kikkan Randall. But, after listening to this conversation, you'll hear why it also might not be. Kikkan is an incredibly insightful, thoughtful, well spoken, ambassador to xc-skiing as much as she is an ambassador to motherhood amid an Olympic career. She's a cancer survivor, wife, friend, and at least seventeen hundred other descriptors you'll pick up on today's pod; suffice it to say that Kikkan is a rockstar. Please enjoy this conversation that touches on the highlights, the low moments, the comebacks from injury, the importance and perspective of family, her ability to process and see this whole sport and life as an interesting process. Also, please spend five minutes and check out How the Race Was Won: https://vimeo.com/257323813 And when you're done there, visit her It's Going to be Okay socks store: https://shop.kikkan.com/collections/socks And all things Kikkan Randall, www.kikkan.com

Speak softly and carry a big stick. Eric Marcotte is a soft spoken monster of cyclist. Entering road racing later than most, he rose to become a two-time winner of US professional national titles. With an atypical background into the sport comes an interesting philosophy on the sport and life in general. Eric and Ted caught up after the 2019 Dirty Kanza in Emporia, KS to chat all things cycling, life, recovering from a massive accident, and nine hour hikes deep in the desert. This episode is presented by Splats Sunscreen. Visit www.splatssunscreen.com and use code KING at checkout for 20% savings!

The day after Dirty Kanza is a bit of a blur. It’s a page out of “The Hangover” where, with bleary eyes and foggy memory you ask, Wait... did that just happen? Well, it did and In whats becoming a DK tradition, Ted sits down with Dirty Kanza Promotions co-owner LeLan Dains to talk all things DK. This episode is enhanced by a friendly competition unbeknownst to Ted as he is challenged ON THE SPOT to a maple syrup chugging competition. Complete with video, you don’t want to miss this 2,000 calorie showdown: https://youtu.be/cXURaqmSnfQ This episode is presented by the best sponsors in the business! Cannondale, SRAM, Zipp, ROKA, Velocio, Rene Herse, and inGamba. UnTapped deserves fair mention here too but Ted co-founded the company so that’s less a sponsor and more an amazing all-natural energy fuel company.

Pete Stetina is a stalwart American professional cyclist. A billygoat of a climber, this Californian returned home from Liege Bastogne Liege and went straight into the Belgian Waffle Ride on Cinco de Mayo. Former colleagues out on the road, Ted and Pete caught up with one another to talk the strategics and logistics that make gravel a possibility amid a World Tour schedule. Check out the YouTube video of all the BWR action here: https://youtu.be/3gebox-sdQ0 Check out RootedVermont.com, especially on June 3 at 10am EST as the final 100 spots will become available. And a huge thanks goes out to Splats Sunscreen for supporting this podcast. Head to www.splatssunscreen.com and use code KING at checkout for a whopping 20% savings.

Dan from Nam is one of the most polite, diplomatic, energetic, positive forces in profession cycling -- not to mention he’s a two time Olympian. Amid a hectic two weeks at the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Next Step program, Ted and Dan sat down and instituted their own happy hour to make this podcast a reality. This duo shares a variety of similarities in life which they tap into on today’s pod. From studying economics to joining professional cycling later in life to having a penchant for the entrepreneurial side of life with budding businesses and literally being born just one day apart, these two are like long lost twins. This conversation explores Dan’s rise through professional cycling, how he made the leap from Namibia to the World Tour, the fluid and fascinating state of gravel, plus his upstart company, Pangolin, and much more. This podcast is presented by iKOR. iKOR provides the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

The best "studio" for a podcast recording yet: plowing through the late spring snow in Peter Voller's Land Rover! This King of the Ride conversation takes place while laying the trail for the 2019 VOMAR -- Vermont Overland Maple Adventure Ride. Leading a team of 6 through the rugged Vermont wilderness, Peter plows a path and takes Ted on an adventure unlike any other previous recording. With stories of early road racing, Peter's rise through the ranks and earning a national road race title, his foray into coaching and ultimately where he realizes that hosting an event will have a greater reach to preach the great word that is cycling to the masses, the Vermont Overland was born. One of this country's best gravel events and hands down one of the best house parties of the entire year, Vermont Overland should live on your calendar. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. You can experience meaningful improvements in your well-being through small lifestyle changes, which is why I appreciate the benefits of sleep, relaxation, and mindfulness. Head over to www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using the code kingoftheride.

Bobby Wintle is the owner, operator, and chief mastermind behind the Land Run 100. A Kansas native, Bobby wasn't part of cycling nor retail when he decided to move to a new state and open a bike shop. Bold. Now operating District Bicycles, a stunning shop in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he juggles District and Land Run amid a life full of family, fun, and gravel riding. Bobby and Ted tried to find time to chat at Land Run itself, but time was fleeting so the two of them caught up for this podcast over the phone, a first for King of the Ride, exploring the community Bobby has built. This episode is presented by iKOR. iKOR is a clean, natural source of recovery-enhancing hemp extract. They design their products with athletes in mind, and their goal is to protect your body from the stresses of training, improve recovery from intense efforts, and maintain a positive mental state. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. This is the highest quality, most effective hemp extract product available both iKOR and I want to help you try a bottle. Head on over to ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

”Ted King killed my ride. That’s going to be the name of this podcast.” When the world of Gravel Cycling creates a Hall of Fame, Kristi Mohn will be among the first inductees. She's help boost Dirty Kanza from just double digit entries to well over 3,000 -- including the ectremelu popular 200 women, 200 miles campaign. Kristi lives life at a million miles per hour and in with the gravel season underway here in 2019, we talk about growing up in Emporia, Kansas, her world travels from there, we examine the state of bicycle retail with the shop she and he husband Tim own, plus 1,000 other things. Kristi is a great friend and exudes a love for life (and bikes). She was kind to take time in her pre LandRun100 preparation to sit down and talk in the Mohn Mobile. With all this talk of gravel, don't forget to head to www.RootedVermont.com! Entry spots are going fast for the first gravel event hosted by Ted and Laura King, so you don't want to miss out on this inaugural event taking place in Richmond, Vermont on August 4! A big thanks goes out to iKOR for presenting this episode. iKOR nerds out on science to deliver the most bio-available product you can get. Their mission is to provide the highest quality, most effective full spectrum hemp extract products available, allowing you to have your best day possible. And I’m excited to share it with you. Try a bottle of iKOR at www.ikorlabs.com and save 15% by using code KingOfTheRide at checkout.

Switching things up today! Ted King plays guest on today’s episode as Jim Merithew, creative director of inGamba Tours, interviews our typical host. Taking an arch through the history of Ted’s... entire life, including stealing the family’s minivan for a little hit-and-run, how gosh darn friendly Ted’s mother is, his take on aero bars and more, this will help flesh out details of what makes Ted tick. This episode is presented by Strava. Please be sure to check out their new podcast, “Athletes Unfiltered” on all podcast stations or at blog.strava.com/podcast

The second in a two part series, Ted and the crew from the James Bay Descent chat after surviving their 10 day, 638km/396mile ride south along Canada's frozen James Bay. Braving temperatures as low as -40, blizzard white outs, and riding through polar bear country, they're back! Was this trip crazy? Ted thinks it's a bit out there. What's the rest of the team think? Guess you'll just have to wait and see! Check out the hard work of the James Bay Descent team who have raised more than $7500 for the Timmins Native Friendship Centre. See their progress here: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center This King of the Ride episode is brought to you by Strava. In particular, we encourage you to check out their new podcast, Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring stories of good people, just like you doing extraordinary things on their bikes, feet, or in their community. Simply visit podcast.strava.com for more.

The first in a two part series about the record setting James Bay Descent fat bike expedition through northern Canada, Ted sits down to talk with the rest of the team, Eric Batty, Ryan Atkins, and Buck Miller. This ride is a 600+km, ten day, self-supported ride from Attawapiskat in Ontario, to the Nunavut Territory in the James Bay, then south to Smooth Rock Falls. Weathering temperatures as low as -40 degrees C/F and pedaling through polar bears country, this ride has its risks. Today's episode is a precursor to how the team will tackle such an intrepid and out-there adventure. This episode was recorded the day they set out for two days of literally, "bike practice" to see what it's like to wield these 85-100 pound bikes and in temperatures well below zero up in the Adirondacks in New York. The ride was possible with the gracious thanks to Cannondale Fat CAAD bikes, Blackburn's Outpost line up of bags for the frame/handlebar/saddle bags, 45NRTH's Cobrafist pogeys and Wolfgar boots, Timmermade sleeping systems, Kombi's mittens and wool long underwear, a mountain of maple fuel thanks to UnTapped. Please check out the fundraising component of this ride, the beneficiary being the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Moosonee Office: https://www.gofundme.com/james-bay-descent-timmins-native-friendship-center A big thanks goes out to Strava for presenting this episode! Specifically, be sure to look up their new podcast Athletes Unfiltered. Featuring normal athletes, good, inspiring people, daring enough to share their journey day after day. If you like King of the Ride, you'll dig Athletes Unfiltered.

David Swain’s introduction to cycling was riding backwards on a banana seated bicycle to impress girls and it ultimately landed him as the Director of Communications at both Facebook and Instagram. David’s time in Silicon Valley is extensive, but it was in Napa Valley that Ted and David met for the first time, naturally on the bike. They chatted a bit then, and it was when David reached out to Ted about a podcast that the two of them caught up quite a bit more much more recently. Talking start ups and tech, the athletic vibe that’s rampant in the Valley, plus how to launch a bike into a lake to make the most of your summers, this podcast really has it all! This episode is presented by Strava. Visit strava.com/summit and use code "king" for one month free of Strava’s Summit Features. You can use live data, personalized heats maps, Summit perks including discounts from brands and particular products to help you make yourself go further, faster, better!