Eric Larsen is a seasoned adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher, and educator who’s spent the last fifteen years traveling to some of Earth’s most remote remaining places. 

That’s quite the rap sheet. But his greatest achievement has been sharing his passion for the outdoors with others, educating them on humanity’s impact on our planet. 

Today, we’re talking with Eric about his polar adventures and how he’s worked to bring awareness to the climate change conversation through his expeditions. There are plenty of inspiring, goofy stories, and Eric’s unique perspective and determined attitude is quite a treat. We sure enjoyed having him in the studio, and hope you learn something helpful while listening to our chat.

Pedaling through the cold: One polar adventurer & climate change activist’s ride to the South Pole

Cycling has changed drastically over the last 30 years. Advances in materials science and engineering technology have propelled bike development to places folks previously couldn’t imagine. 

But despite this boom, a critical piece of the puzzle remained unchanged, stuck in the early 80s: helmet safety technology. 

Today on the Better With Bikes podcast, you’ll meet the three brilliant minds responsible for bringing WaveCel technology to the forefront of the cycling community.

Our host, Mark, and first-time co-host, Eric, sit down with Dr. Steve Madey and biomedical engineer Dr. Michael Bottlang, creators of WaveCel. Trek’s Lead Helmet Designer, Tony White, joins the conversation to discuss how the new safety tech was brought to Trek Bicycle.

Together, they’ll discuss how WaveCel came to be, how the technology works, and why it’s so important for the future of cranium protection across the cycling realm and beyond.

The science of safety: A talk with the brilliant creators of the WaveCel helmet

On this episode of Better With Bikes, we’re happy to welcome Wall Street Journal sports columnist, author, and bike nut Jason Gay. Jason joined Mark and Eric, all from their respective living rooms, to talk about COVID-19’s impact on the cycling world, among other things.

Together, they discuss the sports world as a whole during the pandemic, talk about what it’s like to be the “bike guy” in the office, and provide a few tips for other aspiring stay-at-home virtual cyclists.

WSJ sports columnist Jason Gay talks writing, riding, and surviving in NYC during COVID

On Better With Bikes, we explore the inspiring, unknown, and behind-the-scenes stories of people changing the world with bikes — sometimes in ways you might not expect. This podcast is our way of pulling back the curtain and giving these extraordinary people a platform to share their perspective on cycling’s unique and varied culture.