Ep. 19 — Gabriel Muller AKA Mehmet Şampiyon Bisiklet

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Gabriel Müller, professional cyclist, app entrepreneur, and the man legally known in Turkey as Mehmet Şampiyon Bisiklet, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life across borders, stay curious, and keep showing up when comfort tries to kill your edge.Gabi is one of my closest friends and someone I've looked up to since my Berlin days. He's currently training in Medellín, Colombia, racing under the Turkish flag, running an app business remotely, and navigating everything from cycling team politics to Armenian citizenship applications. This conversation covers a lot of ground, from the inner workings of low-level professional cycling to the mental traps that come with early success in business.If you're a founder, a creative, or someone trying to figure out how to design a life that actually fits you, this one's for you.🎙️ We dive into:Why Medellín might be the best city in the world for cyclists and what Colombia's service culture teaches you about qualityThe real story behind legally changing your name to "Champion Cyclist" in TurkeyHow cycling team owners pocket sponsor money and what that looks like from the insideWhy Gabi sponsors his own teams and the 50/50 gamble that comes with itThe Armenia citizenship saga, passing a handwritten alphabet test, getting denied, and the lawyer whispering answersHow multiple passports became a survival strategy during COVIDWhat digital nomad life in Bali actually does to people over timeThe naked tea parties of Berlin and why German culture around nudity is a mindfuck for everyone elseHow complacency almost destroyed a successful app business during COVIDThe therapist who pulled him back to reality and why entrepreneurship and mental health go hand in handWhy curiosity is the only thing that keeps you improving, in cycling and in businessHis five-year vision to own and run a cycling team the right wayGabi brings a perspective you don't hear often, someone who's lived in five countries, competed professionally in a brutal sport, and built a business entirely on his own terms. This is what building a life looks like when you refuse to settle.🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey📍 Fast Forward Podcast#FastForwardPodcast #ProfessionalCycling #AppEntrepreneur #DigitalNomad #MedellínColombia #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #MentalHealth #CuriosityDriven #BuildYourLife00:00 Introduction to Gabi and His Journey00:59 Life and Cycling in Colombia04:25 The Name Change: Mehmet Champion Bicyclette07:47 Inside the World of Cycling Teams09:59 Challenges in Professional Cycling16:30 Pursuing Citizenship in Armenia17:14 Navigating Immigration Challenges19:54 The Allure of Multiple Passports21:01 Living the Digital Nomad Life in Bali24:15 Cultural Reflections: Berlin vs. Paris31:52 Evolving Relationships with Cities34:49 Looking Ahead: Gabi's Future Aspirations35:47 The Demands of Competitive Cycling37:15 The Vision of Team Management39:30 Understanding the Top Cyclists43:23 Lessons from Entrepreneurship and Mental Well-Being52:05 Introduction to the Podcast