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ABT058. Bikes From Hell episode artwork

May 15, 2026 1 hr 9 min

ABT058. Bikes From Hell

from The Accidental Bicycle Tourist Hosted by The Accidental Bicycle Tourist

Who needs a spoon when you have a wrench? Who needs a whole paddle when you have two blades and a firm, sturdy stick? Welcome to Roman Dial’s world. In this action-packed episode, the legendary Alaskan adventurer recounts some of the harrowing tales that led to the birth of "hellbiking" in the 1980s and eventual worldwide recognition for this type of travel in a 1997 issue of National Geographic. We dive into his pioneering multi-sport journeys in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, his transition into a Stanford PhD studying predator-prey interactions in rainforest canopies, and his obsession with ultra-lightweight gear. Whether he’s big-tree climbing or inventing the fat bike’s prehistoric ancestors, Roman is a versatile explorer who has been at the forefront of several outdoor movements. Tune in and prepare to feel both thoroughly inspired and incredibly lazy. You can view photos from Roman's expeditions on his Instagram. You can watch Arctic Alchemy on YouTube. For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram: https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist

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Who needs a spoon when you have a wrench? Who needs a whole paddle when you have two blades and a firm, sturdy stick? Welcome to Roman Dial’s world. In this action-packed episode, the legendary Alaskan adventurer recounts some of the harrowing tales that led to the birth of "hellbiking" in the 1980s and eventual worldwide recognition for this type of travel in a 1997 issue of National Geographic. We dive into his pioneering multi-sport journeys in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, his trans...

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ABT058. Bikes From Hell

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This episode is 1 hour and 9 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 15, 2026.

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