Episode 15 | Hoppers Kickoff + Gravel & Wine: The Season Starts With No Off Season

Episode 15 of Service Course Report features Ed Philbrick and Kurt Stockton in a free-flowing conversation that touches nearly every corner of modern cycling—on and off the bike. The episode opens with winter riding in “June-uary” conditions, why rain still matters for Southern California trails, and a deep appreciation for the often-unseen work of trail builders. From backyard berms to Red Bull Rampage-level digging, trail craft becomes a throughline that connects local riding to global events like Sagebrush Safari. Kurt recaps Velo Cosmos in Northern California—an event blending vintage bikes with powerful storytelling around women’s cycling—and previews the opening round of the Grasshopper Adventure Series in Ukiah. Ed looks ahead to Gravel & Wine in Temecula and why community-driven events continue to resonate. The conversation then shifts to the bigger picture: burnout in professional cycling, year-round race calendars, sponsor pressure, and the importance of “pivoting” between disciplines to stay engaged. The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on the Leadville no-drop-bars rule, innovation, and whether rules protect fairness—or limit creativity. A reflective, inside-baseball episode for riders who love the culture as much as the riding. Topics include: trail building, winter riding, Velo Cosmos, Sagebrush Safari, Grasshopper Series, Gravel & Wine, burnout, pivots, and Leadville. Chapters (00:00:00) - Service Report: January Fever(00:02:47) - Velo Cosmos(00:08:02) - The Sagebrush Mountain Bike Race(00:10:05) - Gravel Bike or Mountain Bike?(00:13:24) - Riding my mountain bike again(00:19:19) - Local cyclists talk about the sport(00:23:53) - 2026 Hopper Series(00:28:34) - Sportful(00:30:21) - Gravel and Wine Race(00:32:35) - Time trial riders(00:38:05) - Tom Dumoulin's Tour de France burnout(00:44:05) - Tom Dumoulin on Burnout(00:46:00) - Philip Swami on Pivoting to Downhill Cycling(00:51:52) - Gravel Athletes: The Need to Pivot(00:57:22) - Tom Dumoulin on His Next Pivot(01:02:37) - No Drop Bars at Leadville