Two #finishers, two with #unfinishedbusiness, one non-starter, and several beers all come together for a great conversation about this year's Marji Gesick - the infamous mountain bike race out of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Bob and Dawn Cooper, Rei Tallet, Teresa DeLisle, with hosting help from Scott Richard, join the podcast to share about their unique Marji experiences.

Dirty Chain Podcast

Episode 59: A Marji Gesick Roundtable

Iceman men's champ, Cole Paton, joins the podcast to talk about his incredible race win, his 2021 season, and his passion for youth cycling.
We also recap Iceman with friends of the podcast, Mackenzie, Sebastian, and Tristan, and hear about their experiences - from wave 36 to riding in the pro wave. 

Photo: Rob Meendering

Episode 63: Iceman Recap w/ Men's Champ Cole Paton

Pro mountain biker, Rose Grant, joins the podcast to talk about her recent Iceman win, her incredible 2021 season, and her life as an athlete.

Episode 64: Rose Grant - Pro Mountain Biker, 2021 Iceman Winner

Chelsea Strate joins the podcast to talk about her experience tackling the Polar Roll Ultra - the winter ultra fat bike race out of Ishpeming, Michigan. 

Photo Credit: Rob Meendering

Episode 86: Polar Roll Ultra with Chelsea Strate

Pro cyclist and Lifetime Grand Prix athlete, Dylan Johnson, joins the pod to recap his Sea Otter Fuego XL experience.

Photo: Danny Carpenter

Episode 89: Dylan Johnson - Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL and the Lifetime Grand Prix

Brian Co from Veloworthy joins the podcast to share about his popular YouTube channel where he has been covering the most popular gravel races for the last few years, including Unbound Gravel, SBT GRVL, and Belgian Waffle Ride. 
YouTube, Instagram: @veloworthy

Episode 90: Veloworthy with Brian Co

The 2023 edition of the Mohican 100 was a muddy mess to say the least! Mitch DeYoung, Zach Nachazel, and Jason Kuhnle join Trevor post-event around a campfire to share all about their race experiences.

Episode 91: Mohican 100 2023 - Mud! No Brakes! All the Beers!

Jorden Wakeley, multi-sport athlete from Grayling, Michigan, joins the podcast coming fresh off his overall win at the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. Jorden talks about his Ore to Shore race, his 2023 season, and, of course, his love of canoe racing. 
Trevor also sits down with Scott Richard to process their recent ride through the RAMBA trail system in the Upper Peninsula in preparation for the Marji Gesick 100.

Episode 93: Jorden Wakeley - 2023 Ore to Shore Men's Overall Winner

Known as one of the hardest single-day mountain bike races in America (if not the hardest), Marji Gesick, out of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, pushes riders not only to, but beyond, their limits. Follow Trevor's journey as he takes on this event: from starting line, to sag stops, to #FINISHER.

#blamedanny  #blametodd

Photo: Rob Meendering Photography

Episode 94: #FINISHER - Marji Gesick 2023

The Iceman Cometh Challenge 2023 out of Traverse City, Michigan from three perspectives - first, Michigan favorite, Paige Onweller, shares about the pro women’s race where she took an amazing 4th place. Second, pro cyclist and YouTube mega-star, Kerry Werner, tells us about the pro men’s race and the absolute wild finish where he landed a strong 10th overall spot. And finally, the perspective from the age-group waves where local Michigan rider, Jake Lombardo, helps me share about our epic battle for the podium. Long live Iceman!

Episode 96: Iceman Cometh Challenge 2023 with Paige Onweller and Kerry Werner

The Mid South 2024 - an event that never disappoints! 3T/Q+M rider Connor Kamm and now podcast regular Connor Grant join Trevor to share all about the incredible experience that is The Mid South. Welcome to gravel season!

Episode 100: The Mid South Gravel 2024 with Connor Kamm and Connor Grant

Trevor, Mitch DeYoung, and Dustin Derrick, sit down and reflect on their Cow Pie EX experience - the 236 mile adventure ride out of Ionia Michigan.

Episode 102: The Cow Pie EX - A Big, Dumb (and Fun) Ride

Lumberjack 100 - the iconic 100 mile mountain bike race through the Manistee National Forest. Tristan Smith once again joins the pod to take us through his first attempt and finish.

Episode 103: Lumberjack 100 - 2024

Michigan Coast to Coast! 200+ miles spanning across Michigan's lower peninsula, starting at Lake Huron and ending at Lake Michigan. Nick Stanko, Coast to Coast veteran, joins the podcast to talk about this year's monsoon-like conditions versus previous years, the Lumberjack/Coast to Coast double (LumberCoast), and why Trevor might finally need to accept aero bars into his cycling life.
Photo: Rob Meendering

Episode 104: Michigan Coast to Coast with Nick Stanko

Cycling photographer and videographer, Avery Stumm, joins the podcast to talk about his progression from Michigan BMX kid to full blown professional photographer shooting at events like the Olympics, his extremely successful partnership with pro cyclist, Alexey Vermeulen, and his recent attempt at the Tour Divide.

Episode 106: Avery Stumm - Photographer and Videographer

The Marji Gesick 2024 from three perspectives.
First, Trevor and Sebastian talk through their failed attempt at the 200+ mile Out and Back #QUITTER
Second, pro cyclist Jeremiah Bishop shares about his 100 mile 4th place race and his overall stoke for the race itself and the nonprofit, 906 Adventure Team, that organizes the race.
Finally, Matt Wilcoski takes us through his extremely impressive dead last finish of the Out and Back, earning him the title of DFL and winning a brand new 1Up bike rack.
Photo: Rob Meendering

Episode 108: Marji Gesick 2024 - Quitters, DFL Finisher, Jeremiah Bishop

Iceman Cometh Challenge 2024! Local Traverse City resident and avid cyclist, Tim Pulliam, joins the podcast to share about the inspiration of the epic jump over the race at the Make It Stick climb. 

Episode 109: Iceman Cometh Challenge 2024 - Make It Stick Jump with Tim Pulliam

Podcast regular, Sebastian Stankiewicz, joins the episode to talk about his attempt, finish, and buckle-ing of the winter ultra fat bike event, the Polar Roll Ultra!

Episode 110: Polar Roll Ultra 2025 with Sebastian Stankiewicz

We ignore the cold Michigan early spring and turn our attention to the warm Sonoran Desert to talk all about the 24 Hour in the Old Pueblo with first-time racers, Jim Owens and Jeremy Frew.

Episode 111: 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo w/ Jeremy Frew and Jim Owens

Episode 112: The Crusher 2025 - A Crusher in the Keweenaw. New year. New route. Same glorious bull$hit. Steve Rodgers joins to share about his mass start 175 adventure while Tristan Smith and Sebastian Stankiewicz take us through their 500+ mile point-to-point experience.
Starting line photo credit: Rob Meendering

Episode 112: The Crusher 2025

Michigan's own, Mark Kransz, returns to the podcast to talk about World Cup Marathon racing, Ore to Shore, and more!

Episode 113: Mark Kransz Returns

Sheldon is back, making his yearly podcast appearance (needs to be more btw). We crack some beers and talk what’s on his bike-mind - including single speeds, his latest weird-yet-beautiful bike builds, and recent, dumb bike injuries. 

Episode 114: Single Speeds! Bike Builds! Beer! Sheldon Returns...Again!

Ben Alter re-joins the podcast to share about his experience at this year's Salty Marie ultra race, RAMBA 24 Hour Shenanigans, and his general progression as an ultra endurance athlete.

Episode 115: Ben Alter Returns - The Salty Marie, RAMBA Shenanigans, The Crusher, Marji Gesick

The 2025 Marji Gesick saw something many people thought was impossible - three women finished the 100 mile bike in under 12 hours, earning them the coveted Marji Buckle. One of those incredible women, Kristy McBride, joins the podcast to talk about her several-year journey leading up to this historical accomplishment - from starting as a runner, why she bought her first bike, and why she chose to ride a single speed at this year's Marji.

Episode 116: Kristy McBride - Historic Marji Gesick Buckle Finisher

Brian Zajac joins the podcast to talk about Bootleg - the non-race downhill event that occurs the Sunday after Iceman in Traverse City. Brian also schools Trevor on all things pertaining to downhill and gravity biking and shares his super interesting background in the sport.

Episode 117: Bootleg with Brian Zajac

Iceman Cometh Challenge 2025! Time to nerd out with Ben Snyder and Stephen Spry - creators of the now infamous data set of pass counts, wave finishes, and alternative podiums for the Iceman Cometh since 2019. Hear how it all started, how they crunch the numbers, and the unique story the data reveals for this iconic race!

Episode 118: Iceman Pass Count and Wave Data Deep Dive with Ben Snyder and Stephen Spry

Gravel, endurance, and adventure cycling power couple Jenny and Matt Acker join the Midpack to discuss their love of the bicycle and how it evolved from hobby to career.

www.michigangravelraceseries.com
www.barry-roubaix.com
www.lumberjack100.com
www.fargosub48.com

#stravaart 
#buttcrackandthebeard

Photos by Nicole Cottom

Episode 18: Jenny and Matt Acker - Buttcrack and the Beard

The Midpack chats with Rob Meendering about his love of Michigan cycling and his life, process, and experience as a race photographer.

Also in this episode, Sheldon and Trevor announce the winner of the Glengravel Ramble giveaway, hear from a few participants from the Cinnaire/Auto-Lab indoor charity ride for Haven House, and chat with Iceman race director Cody Sovis at the registration party at Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo.

www.robmeenderingphotography.com

Episode 21: Through the Lens with Race Photographer Rob Meendering

The Director of Adventure himself, Todd Poquette, joins the Midpack to discuss the 906 Adventure Team, its roll in youth development through cycling, and the infamous trio of Upper Peninsula races - the Marji Gesick, Polar Roll, and The Crusher.
#blametodd

Episode 22: Todd Poquette and the 906 Adventure Team

Tyler Pearce, a.k.a The Vegan Cyclist, joins the Midpack to discuss his wildly popular YouTube channel, content creation, cycling, and his plant-based lifestyle. 

We also get an update with new details from Todd Poquette about this year’s enhanced gravel race, The Crusher.

Check out our new Website!
https://komcycling.com/pages/thedirtychain

Episode 28: The Vegan Cyclist - Cyclist and YouTube Content Creator

Midpack cycling and racing podcast with a strong emphasis on the gravel and off road scene. A Michigan Midpack Media production brought to you by KOM Cycling.

Dirty Chain Podcast: A Cycling Podcast

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