51 / Biking from Canada to Mexico / with Sam Westby

Sam Westby — touring cyclist, bike commuter, and content creator — is in good traffic this week to talk all things biking. We delve into Sam's recent Tour Divide ride, traversing from the Canadian border to the Mexican border on varying surfaces. The conversation also touches on the evolving bike culture in cities like Boston, and the impact of ebikes. We touch on an upbringing in a cycling-focused family. We also discuss Sam's PhD work in network science, with potential applications in urban cycling infrastructure. We discuss: 00:00 Sam's epic Tour Divide ride. 01:29 Bike touring preparation and decision making. 04:25 Diet and nutrition on biking excursions. 07:15 Bike community while on the road. 10:25 Urban vs. touring cycling. 16:27 Early beginnings and family influence. 22:03 Cycling amidst rapidly improving Boston infrastructure. 24:55 Boston's hardy biking culture. 26:29 Electric bike shares. 28:34 Social interactions. 30:04 The ebike debate and sufficient infrastructure. 34:09 PhD work in network science. 39:04 Navigating urban cycling via technology. 47:13 Best commutes and memorable rides. Further context: The Tour Divide ride. Sam's video on biking across the U.S. Connect with Sam: On Instagram. On YouTube. On TikTok. On Strava. Connect with me, Brad: ⁠⁠⁠⁠On Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On TikTok⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On LinkedIn⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠