Welcome to ShiftLess, the bicycle podcast where curiosity meets total confusion. Hosted by Brad and Kevin, we are a couple of "chuckleheads" easily distracted by new bike tech and adventure cycling gear. We ask the big questions (and the totally irrelevant ones) so you don’t have to.
While we lean heavily into gravel cycling, bikepacking, and mountain bike adventures, we cover anything that rolls. We bring in the experts to explain the world of ultra-endurance riding and route scouting in terms even we can understand.
Publisher
ShiftLess Hosts Hooked on Gravel, Bikepacking and MTB
163: Georgia Scouting, Arkansas High Country FKT, E‑Bike Chaos, and 32-Inch Wheels
In episode 163 of Shiftless, we catch up on past episodes and discuss cooler weather after days of rain, which disrupted a planned event and income. Kevin describes an upcoming van trip to explore North Georgia/Carolina/Tennessee as a potential long-term move closer to family, while continuing a nomadic, minimalist travel plan tied to the USA Trail. They celebrate friend Austin Whittington’s Arkansas High Country North Loop FKT—about 244 miles in roughly 14 hours, beating the prior mark by around three hours—and note Lachlan Morton pursuing the Pony Express route created by Jan Bennett. Other topics include Stans’ new plant-based drip wax lube, escalating e-bike and “e-moto” regulation issues highlighted by South Park and new laws, growing interest in 32-inch wheels, and frustrations with event calendar conflicts amid Kevin’s upcoming medical procedure.00:00 Episode 163 Kickoff00:44 Throwback to Episode 10002:04 Weather Shift and Rain03:02 Georgia Move Scouting Trip05:27 Grandkids and Travel Talk07:16 Road Trip Route and Stops07:58 Natchez Food Recommendation08:55 Austin Whittington FKT12:23 Lachlan Morton Pony Express15:05 Van Life and USA Trail Plans15:55 USA Trail Route Decisions19:06 Arizona Reroutes and Tuba Mountain20:48 Stans Drip Wax Lube27:27 South Park E Bike Satire28:49 E Bike Classes and Crackdowns36:52 Super73 Style E Motos42:32 Regulation Politics and THC Detour46:03 THC Law Confusion46:56 32 Inch Wheels Return48:24 Do 32s Change Parity55:11 UCI Rules And Road Bikes59:28 Who Actually Wants 32s01:04:46 Ken Potter Builds A 3201:07:54 El Nino Weather Talk01:13:54 Race Calendar Drama01:24:21 Listener Thanks And Feedback01:25:44 Movies TV And Netflix Picks01:28:13 Travel Plans And Brompton Debate01:32:41 Wrap Up And Call To Action
30 Sept 2026
162: Wasabi, Keto & Cancer Notes, NAHBS Delayed, 32-Inch Wheels, and No Hall of Fame
In episode 162 of Shiftless, Kevin and Brad cover listener Marcus Mead’s email featuring his custom Igleheart gravel bike, an offer to ship fresh wasabi in spring, and notes on ketogenic diets, cycling, and cancer; they discuss differences between Atkins and keto, sugar avoidance, and a warning about fiddleheads. They share an update that the North American Handmade Bicycle Show will not happen on the previously announced August 2027 dates and is instead pushed to early 2028 (Feb/March) with location TBD due to a conflict with MADE in Portland. They revisit 32-inch wheel racing, noting downhill rollover advantages and potential climbing drawbacks, and mention a planned guest appearance by Jordan Wakely. The episode also details Spinistry scouting vehicles over the years, problems with Texas trail reliability and bike-lane maintenance, a new Safe Cycling Initiative forum at spinistrychat.com, and Kevin asking not to be nominated for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, suggesting Club Spinistry instead.00:00 Show kickoff and agenda01:40 Gravel Hall of Fame talk03:28 Listener email and custom bike04:44 Fresh wasabi deep dive07:55 Keto and health discussion18:40 NAHBS update and timing22:51 32 inch wheels race insights32:13 State bikes and thinning fleet38:09 RAT reroutes and Net issues43:07 Safe cycling advocacy forum49:09 Adopt a Trail Idea49:45 Safe Cycling Summit Lessons51:57 Building a Maintenance Network55:49 Weather Shift and El Nino58:24 Scouting Vehicles Origins01:04:07 Mud Road Tow Truck Lesson01:12:51 Jeep Titan and Subaru Era01:20:23 Best Rig and KLR Setup01:23:28 Marking Routes vs GPS01:25:48 Events Changing and DIY Gravel01:30:20 Hall of Fame and Community01:36:02 Closing Stories and Ride Plans
25 Sept 2026
161 - Trek’s 32" Prototype Leak & Why Local Races Are Struggling
In episode 161 of Shiftless, Kevin and Chef Brad Green record together from Casa Verde while testing new remote-recording tech, then catch up on Brad’s busy holiday catering schedule and his excitement over making pad kee mao at home. The conversation shifts to cycling news, including spy footage of a prototype 32-inch dual-suspension Trek mountain bike raced by Evie Richards at Soldier Hollow and what it signals about big brands moving toward 32s, plus discussion of 32-inch wins and results tied to the Margie Gesick races and other 32-inch coverage. They also talk about the decline in participation at smaller local gravel and MTB events, the impact of e-bikes, reduced beginner and female turnout, and why the Ray Porter memorial event was paused this year. They close with notes on Pogačar returning to training after surgery and hopes for cooler weather rides.00:00 Episode Setup and Chaos01:40 Lazy Weekend and Catering Rush03:12 Tech Test Do Not Disturb03:57 Pad Kee Mao Home Win07:07 Trek 32-Inch Spy Bike13:42 Soldier Hollow Race Context18:06 Margie Gesick 32-Inch Wins29:02 Old School Endurance Racing31:04 Sorting Winners and Wrap33:00 Hunting Fiddleheads33:57 32 Inch Wheel Hype35:45 Gearing Math Breakdown38:45 Course Profile Reality41:19 Point To Point Racing42:56 Community Losses Update45:41 Event Attendance Slump50:13 E Bikes And Participation52:04 Women Racing Numbers58:01 Categories And Podiums01:00:58 Chef Schedule And Marketing01:07:20 Tech Wrap And Ride Plans
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
20 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
96
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
71
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