Ryan Birkicht, Communications Director for the organization People for Bikes www.peopleforbikes.org joins us to talk about Bike Month and Bike to Work Week. He's got some great advice on how to engage employees and others in the world of commuting and all the great things riding a bike can bring you whether you ride to work, the store, a coffee shop, with a group of friends or wherever your wheels take you! People for Bikes are champions of the belief that the simple bicycle can contribute significantly to healthier, happier and more sustainable communities nationwide. Your organization can get involved right now at www.peopleforbikes.org or personally at www.foundation.peopleforbikes.org.

For the entire month of May, we can all celebrate our love of cycling together during Bike Month! It is promoted by the League of American Cyclists, and there is a list of national and local events available on their website: https://bikeleague.org/events/bike-month/dates-events/

In Iowa, BIKEIOWA is your home for all things Bike Month related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

Information on the Ride of Silence can be found at www.rideofsilence.org

And if you want to donate to brain cancer research in honor of cyclist Gary Wiedenfeld at www.garysrideiowa.org.

And if you'd like to support our 200 mile ride at Break the Cycle you can donate to Dave's campaign at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6133171

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Crystal Anthony has been racing professionally for nearly a decade in cyclocross, mountain bike and gravel. With 21 UCI cyclocross wins, her transition to mountain bike racing came naturally. Today, in addition to racing in her fourth season of the Lifetime Grand Prix (where she currently sits in 15th), she shares her knowledge and experience with others through her coaching business (www.crystaljanthonly.com) as well as leading women's rides and clinics in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas with Women of Oz. www.woznwa.com. Today she shares a bit of her background as well as ways we can all support and encourage more women to join the fun of mountain biking!

May 3, 2025 is the IMBA International Women's Mountain Bike Day, a day to celebrate women's flat bar riding together and to build community. You can find information and local celebrations at www.imba.com

For the entire month of May, we can all celebrate our love of pedal power together during Bike Month! It is promoted by the League of American Cyclists, and there is a list of national and local events available on their website: https://bikeleague.org/events/bike-month/dates-events/

In Iowa, BIKEIOWA is your home for all things Bike Month related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Christopher Blevins, Specialized Factory Racing, was the first UCI Mountain Bike Short Track (XCC) World Champion! He's also won his fair share of UCI Mountain Bike World Cups as well. Most recently (as of mid-April 2025) the UCI XCC World Cup season opener in Brazil. He's raced in two Olympic games and is a multi-time national cycling champion in a variety of disciplines, from BMX and road to mountain biking, short track to marathon. In addition to his time racing mountain bikes, he's also an athlete ambassador for the organization: Protect Our Winters, or POW. We talk, today, about the importance of abundant public lands, clean air and clean water, and things we can all do to work together to this end.

POW’s mission is to lead the outdoor movement for climate action. We have a vision for clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet for future generations. We’re powered by the world’s most inspirational athletes, artists and brands. We advocate for transformative policy solutions to tackle the climate crisis head-on. Get involved at www.protectourwinters.org

You can follow Christopher's season on YouTube at https://youtu.be/drOwT4V_1JU?si=hPvwlFGi3aDetbUb

Christopher is also a talented musician and poet. Look for his music on Spotify and Apple Music.

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Levi's Gran Fondo, specifically, The Growler 138-mile elite road race, marks the first time since the USA Pro Cycling Challenge that U.S. road racing has been broadcast live. On April 19, the Growler, both men's and women's fields, will be streamed, for free, on the Levi's Gran Fondo website https://www.levisgranfondo.com/ beginning at 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time. In this episode we talk with Grand Tour veteran and Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer about the gran fondo that bears his name, the importance of live streaming events in the U.S. and a bit about his career and some of the many memories of riding at the top of the sport.

Watch The Growler unfold live at https://www.levisgranfondo.com/

Saturday April 19, 2025. 11:00 am PDL

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

The fourth annual Rattlesnake Gravel Grind, held in Sweetwater, Texas on March 22, was a hot, dusty and windy affair with repeat winners in both the men's and women's fields. Lauren Stephens and Joe Laverick repeated their victories from 2024. The infamous Bike Talk with Dave microphone emerged shortly after the podium presentation where Lauren as well as the top four men shared their thoughts on the day. (Top four men: Joe Laverick, Chris Mehlman, Hayden Christian and Justin McQuerry). We also enjoy the music of Nikki Heath (Beyond Destiny) and The Bo Barns, who entertained riders during the weekend's festivities.

To join the fun in 2026: https://rattlesnakegravelgrind.bike/

To get to know the riders and race better, catch these previous episodes:

Ep. 60: David King and Jimmy Hendrix - Race organizers

Ep. 68 2023 Rattlesnake Gravel Grind: the recap edition with Dave and Dee

Ep. 96 Emily Newsome, 2023 winner

Ep. 112 Justin McQuerry, Joe Laverick and David King

Ep. 113 Justin McQuerry

Ep. 120 2024 Rattlesnake Gravel Grind Recap

Ep. 138 Chris Mehlman

Ep. 153 Justin McQuerry & Chris Mehlman on Gravel racing prep, nutrition and equipment

These episodes and more can be found at www.biketalk.bike

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Justin McQuerry and Chris Mehlman are pros on dirt! Justin recently accepted into the Lifetime Grand Prix, Chris an all-pro endurance mountain biker and gravel racer share their thoughts on the training, nutrition and equipment needed to have a great day at your next gravel or mountain bike ultra! The conversation opens with talk about this weeks sponsor: the Rattlesnake Gravel Grind, held each March in Sweetwater Texas. Sign up for a great weekend of camping, food, music and riding at www.rattlesnakegravelgrind.bike

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Vance Fletcher has kept cycling central in his life for most of the past 15 years; as a competitor, race director, volunteer and now as the Regional Director for the Central U.S. at USA Cycling. USAC Race Directors, connect with Vance for help at your race on Linkedin. Or plop down your thirty bucks to race the Outland and Back Loop Cross at https://outlandgrvl.com/

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

This weeks guest, Kurt Refsnider, is one of the greats when it comes to super long, difficult, mountainous and often cold and snowy bikepacking adventures. He’s been to Nome Alaska on the Iditarod Trail, finished the Tour Divide in 15 days and has reached Master of the Universe status on the Arizona Trail! We also talk about his podium finish at the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships!

In his years of bike packing, he figured out a way to combine his passion for teaching geology with cycling, leading students on a Geology Through Bikepacking course at Prescott College in Arizona. Since then he’s been busy with, not only his coaching at UltraMTB but has now chosen to direct his energy toward co-founding the Bikepacking Roots organization to help grow and advocate for the bikepacking community. A recent success of Bikepacking Roots was helping develop and pass a new national law: the BOLT Act - which is part of the larger, very outdoor recreationally friendly EXPLORE Act, passed in early January of 2025. And if he hasn’t been busy enough with all of that - he’s also an athlete ambassador of POW - or the Protect Our Winters organization.

Bikepacking Roots: https://bikepackingroots.org/

UltraMTB Coaching: https://www.ultramtb.net/

Protect Our Winters: https://protectourwinters.org/

This episode is brought to you by Pogie Lites. Keep your hands warm and dry when riding this winter and spring! Available now at www.pogielites.com or on the online store at www.bikeiowa.com

BIKEIOWA is your home for all things bike related: News, Events, Trails, Gear and more! Make it your homepage at www.bikeiowa.com.

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable.

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!