Bikes or Death

A memorial ride and Celebration of Life are planned for Saturday, Sept. 19th.  More information can be found here: https://kimtopp.com/honoring-kerry-snow-alley/ Kerry's fight has left significant medical expenses behind. Funds are being raised to help cover those expenses and care for the person who spent these last years caring so deeply for her. Learn more here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-kerry-snows-memory It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my dear friend Kerry Snow-Alley. She is the person whom I credit most with not only introducing me to bikepacking, but also inspiring me to enter my first race in 2018. When I did my first century, she was there. When I did my second century, she was there. The second time I ever went bikepacking was with her. And the first time I raced, she was in the field. Behind the scenes, she was helping me in tangible ways as I navigated new ways to ride my bike and explore the world. Less tangible were the ways she inspired me on a personal level. After my first divorce, she and her husband, Christopher, took in my 6 year old daughter and me while we got back on our feet. During that time, I got to see where the results were really being made: at home, in quiet, and without fanfare. She was dedicated to this life and to putting her best foot forward in everything she did, always with a cheery disposition. On the bike, she was a beast. In 2017, she entered the GranGravel 500 as her first bikepacking race and came in 2nd place in the women's category with a time of 2d 6h 18m. Learning a lot from that experience, she came back the next year and finished 2nd overall, only two hours behind the infamous Indiana Schulz. She finished in 1d 19h 45m — almost 11 hours faster than her 2017 time. Side note: That was also the year I entered the GranGravel 500 — inspired by Kerry. I was a tad bit slower and literally limped into the finish with a time of 3d 10h 8m. Fast forward many years, and the spark and inspiration she instilled in me had turned into a full-blown obsession. Later that year, I'd go on to create Bikes or Death, and a couple of years later, the Texas Showdown Series. In 2024, she signed up for the East Texas Showdown 400 and crossed the finish line 2nd in the women's category and 10th overall, with a time of 1d 13h 46m. Two days after the race, she learned she had Stage 2 breast cancer. For some people, a diagnosis like that might resign them to the couch, but not Kerry. She never let cancer or treatment stop her from living a full life. She continued to work, do CrossFit, and ride her damn bike. In 2025, she again signed up for the ETS 400, this time while undergoing chemo — what she playfully referred to as "Chemo Doping." She wasn't just there to ride. She was there to compete. Two hundred and fifty miles into the race, sitting on the steps of a convenience store in Trinity, she recorded a video saying, "This is the hardest thing I've ever done on a bike, but I came to ride 400 miles and that's what I'm going to do." She and her good friend and training partner, Maegan Fitzgerald, rode straight through two nights, stopping only once for a brief five-minute power nap. When they reached the Bullet Grill, before setting out on the final 68 mile Death Star Loop, Kerry looked like she was in the midst of the hardest ride she'd ever done. I stayed back, gave her space to recuperate, and quietly rooted for her to continue. She did. Kerry and Maegan broke the Death Star into three manageable 23-mile sections. They crossed the finish line together around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, sharing 2nd place in the women's category and finishing 10th overall. After that performance, I took the opportunity to meet Kerry at one of our local mountain bike trails and record a podcast. The original episode, Ep. 200, aired in May of 2025. Over the past couple of days, I re-listened to that conversation and edited it in a way that allows Kerry to shine through even more. I did not edit Kerry. I didn't take out any of her umms or pauses. I just let her shine through. I did take out some of my commentary so that Kerry's story, her spirit, and her voice could be more present. I'm so grateful to have this conversation with her, and I hope it will also be a comfort to those who knew her. If you didn't know Kerry, I hope you'll find inspiration in her story, her accomplishments, and her never-ending optimism — even while fighting for her life. Kerry did not want to be defined by cancer. She was not defined by cancer. It was a part of her journey, but it was not the whole story. So let's remember Kerry for who she was and for the way she inspired us, pushed us, and showed us the way forward. Please join me on today's episode as we take a moment to remember and honor my dear friend, Kerry Snow-Alley. Ride in peace, Kerry. With love, Patrick  

When Justinas Leveika last joined Bikes or Death, he had just set a new Fastest Known Time for the Bikepacking Triple Crown. He wasn't done. In the 21 months since, Justinas has lined up for nine ultra-endurance races across an astonishing range of formats and conditions: The Accursed Race, Trans Balkan Race, Transcontinental Race, Arkansas High Country Race, GranGuanche Audax Trail, Tour Te Waipounamu, Iditarod Trail Invitational 350, Highland Trail 550 and Silk Road Mountain Race. That résumé stretches from road racing and free-route navigation at the Transcontinental to technical singletrack in New Zealand and Scotland, extreme winter riding on the Iditarod Trail, and remote, high-altitude racing through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The results include six victories, a second-place finish, three additional FKTs and, most recently, a commanding win at Silk Road. The longest and most demanding Silk Road course to date covered 2,052 kilometers through Kyrgyzstan, with more than 35,000 meters of climbing and a non-finisher rate of roughly 65 percent. Justinas entered the race claiming his expectations were "lower than the floor." He finished in 7 days, 16 hours and 56 minutes – more than 21 hours ahead of second place. In this episode, we catch up on everything Justinas has done since our last conversation, including his victory at the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 – an experience he describes as the hardest thing he has ever done. We also dig into Silk Road: how he erased an early 4.5 hour deficit, the enormous push that broke the race open, and the illness, river crossings and general chaos he encountered along the way. But the larger question is how Justinas continues to race so consistently across so many disciplines while remaining one of the most feared and successful ultra-endurance cyclists in the world. We discuss recovery, motivation, balancing life with cycling, and what continues to drive him toward such wildly different challenges. After everything he has accomplished, one question remains: Why is Justinas Leveika so damn good at this? After everything he has accomplished, one question remains: Why is Justinas Leveika so damn good at this? Maybe you'll get some clues in today's episode… Episode Sponsors Episode Sponsors Old Man Mountain and the new Manzanita Cradle - use code OMMORDEATH for 15% off Save the dates: Sept. 25th @ High Noon - ETS 7th edition registration opens Oct. 4th @ 6pm - Bikes or Death Live -- Night of Showdown @ Trek W. University in Houston Follow @bikesordeath and @texasshowdownseries for updates! New Patrons Clay Ditzend Join them won't you!? Patreon.com/bikesordeath

What had you accomplished by 17? Not what dreams did you have, but what dreams had you already made come true? One thing I know for sure: You weren't the youngest person ever to complete the Bikepacking Triple Crown…unless your name is Cruz Blue. When I was 17, I spent most of my time skateboarding, avoiding homework, and chasing girls. Not exactly my finest years, but I'd argue my experience was probably more closely aligned with that of the average teenage boy than Cruz's was. Over the past year, Cruz has quietly been making a lot of noise in the bikepacking world. He has no social media, no blog, and no YouTube channel. He seems motivated almost entirely by a sense of adventure and what he calls youthful ignorance. So, unless you've been paying close attention, you may not have realized that a star was rising in Flagstaff, Arizona. Cruz comes from an adventurous family and grew up inspired to seek out adventures of his own. For him, racing is simply another form of adventure. He isn't particularly concerned with times, watts, records, or results—but he does place a premium on finishing. His only DNF came in 2025, when he attempted the Arizona Trail Race 800 as an individual time trial at just 16 years old. But let's back up a little. Cruz entered his first bikepacking race in 2024 at age 15. Just two short years later, he finds himself among an elite group of athletes credited with completing the Bikepacking Triple Crown. A brief history of his racing career: Age 15 Pinyons and Pines — 2d 15h 53m — 14th overall Age 16 AZTR 800 ITT — DNF Pinyons and Pines — 2d 7h 23m — 10th overall AZTR 800 ITT — 17d 7h 42m — Youngest solo AZTR 800 finisher Age 17 Pinyons and Pines — 3d 5h 19m — 17th overall Tour Divide — 19d 11h 6m Colorado Trail Race — 6d 17h 49m — Youngest-ever CTR finisher In less than 10 months, Cruz completed the Arizona Trail Race 800, Tour Divide, and Colorado Trail Race, becoming the youngest person ever credited with completing what we call the Bikepacking Triple Crown. Technically, the formal Triple Crown Challenge requires completing all three races within the same calendar year. Cruz completed his within a rolling one-year period. But the keepers of the records at Bikepacking.net officially list him as the youngest Triple Crown finisher, and who am I to argue!  The results, however, are only a small part of Cruz's story. The real story is Cruz himself – and it's his to tell. On today's episode, I have the privilege of getting to know one of our sport's youngest athletes, who has quietly been making a whole lot of noise. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain & Robert Axel Project = use code mountainsordeath for 15% off  Central Texas Showdown = code ctsordeath for 15% off West Texas Showdown = code wtsordeath for 15% off NEW PATRONS 🫶🏻 Gabe Dillon Jarran Zen Support the show at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

In 2019, I joined a group of students from Texas Tech on a five-day bikepacking trip through Big Bend Ranch State Park. That trip is where I met Anna Claire. On the morning of day two, she and I sat down to record Episode 6 of the Bikes or Death Podcast. That conversation provides important context for today's episode, as it showcases AC's longstanding love for Big Bend. We play a clip from it in today's show, but the full episode is worth a listen if you want to join us on a journey through Big Bend in a pre-COVID world. Fast-forward seven years. Anna Claire is now a resident of Terlingua, Texas, which sits on the doorstep of both Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. As a result, she has had a front-row seat to the border-wall activity happening throughout the region. A full-time photographer and passionate lover of the outdoors, especially Big Bend, Anna Claire couldn't sit idly by. She picked up her camera and began documenting what was happening. It wasn't long before a coalition of residents and allies joined her to form No Big Bend Wall, a nonprofit organization established to inform, educate, and fight the construction of a border wall in Big Bend. While today's episode deviates from our typical bikepacking fare, it does so for a very real and important reason. Our public lands are under attack. We as trail users, outdoorsmen, and adventurers are able to enjoy these places because public lands were protected by those who came before us. Throughout history, when those lands have come under threat, coalitions have formed to defend them. Now it is our turn. Today's episode isn't about politics. It is about one of our nation's most sacred outdoor sanctuaries being under attack. Big Bend needs you right now. In this episode, Anna Claire breaks down some of the misinformation circulating online. We discuss the real-world implications of the proposed wall, explore alternative solutions, and provide tangible ways you can take action to help preserve Big Bend and keep it unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. TAKE ACTION Visit No Big Bend Wall to take a deeper dive into the topics discussed in todays episode and take action where you can! Are you a business owner against the construction of a Big Bend Wall? Sign this petition NOW! DEADLINE IS JULY 29TH Today's episode is provided ad-free courtesy of Old Man Mountain 🫶🏻 For 15% off at Old Man Mountain use code: OMMORDEATH  

Meaghan Hackinen just made history on the Tour Divide, completing the 2026 Grand Depart in 14 days, 10 hours, and 2 minutes. In the process, she lowered the previous fastest women's time, set by Austin Killips during a 2024 ITT, by more than 13 hours. She also improved her own Grand Depart record by nearly 37 hours, one of the largest leaps we've ever seen at the front of the sport. For a full write-up and photo galley of today's episode, please visit BikesorDeath.com EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain – Today we highlight the new OMM Manzanita Cradle. Use code OMMORDEATH at checkout for 15% off your order. If you enjoyed today's episode please consider supporting our work at Patreon.com/BikesorDeath

Daniel Connell, aka "Dirty Dan" is fresh off setting a new FKT on the Pacific Coast route from Alaska to the Mexican border. Dan ripped down the coast on his new, yet-to-be-released Trek Domane, setting a new time to beat: 6 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes. What some people may not know is that Dan is also preparing for a Guinness Book of World Records attempt on the Pan-American Route from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina this July. He initially approached the Pacific Coast ride as part of his training for Pan-Am, but it became much more than a tune-up. For Dan, this was a stand-alone achievement and a deeply personal accomplishment. It also gave him the perfect opportunity to test the bike, setup, systems, and mindset he plans to carry into July. By the numbers, and by his own account, it was a clean run — the kind of ride that should send him into the next big challenge with a whole lot of confidence. One thing that really stands out, besides the overall time, is his daily mileage: Day 1 — 280 mi / 11,738 ft / 16h 55m Day 2 — 212 mi / 10,019 ft / 14h 27m Day 3 — 240 mi / 12,423 ft / 16h 57m Day 4 — 198 mi / 13,174 ft / 14h 6m Day 5 — 238 mi / 15,679 ft / 17h 17m Day 6 — 492 mi / 20,471 ft / 32h 24m That's remarkably consistent… until the final push, where he absolutely emptied the tank. In today's episode, we talk about that monster final effort, how the ride unfolded, what he learned from the bike and setup, and what comes next as Dirty Dan looks ahead to his Pan-American World Record attempt. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain - Today we highlight the new OMM Manzanita Cradle. Use code OMMORDEATH at checkout for 15% off your order. If you enjoyed today's episode please consider supporting our work at Patreon.com/BikesorDeath  

Maddy Nutt just made her mark on ultra-cycling in her very first attempt at this year's Traka 560. She is no stranger to big efforts on the bike — or The Traka itself. Over the previous three years she competed in the 360km event, notably finishing 7th last year despite tearing her AC ligament only 100km into the race. She's also raced some of the biggest gravel events in the world including Unbound Gravel, Migration Gravel Race, and The Rift (among others). Coming into this year's Traka, Maddy believed the previous women's record of 28h 52m was within reach, but respected the field enough to know that anything could happen. She wasn't listed as one of the favorites, she shares in today's episode, and maybe that helped take some of the pressure off.  In the midst of the many conversations surrounding this year's Traka, Maddy's story stood out as something worth celebrating. Her ride was thoughtful, calculated, and deeply intentional. She visited Girona multiple times to prepare, pre-rode sections of the course, and even used Google Street View to scout water fountains and resupply locations. She left no stone unturned in her preparation. At the Traka 560, Maddy rode through the night for the first time. She rode farther than she ever had before. And in doing so, she rode herself not only into victory, but into an entirely new realm of possibility. She can now officially add "ultra-cyclist" to her already impressive list of accomplishments. Congrats Maddy…welcome to the club. Can't wait to see what comes next. Presented by www.OldManMountain.com Support at www.patreon.com/bikesordeath.com Ride your dam bike www.texasshowdownseries.com  

We're gearing up for the second edition of RYDB Fest in Fayetteville, AR. In today's episode, we're breaking down everything you can expect this year. So what is RYDB Fest? A bike festival? An ultra-cycling race? A friendly bikepacking overnighter? The answer is: yes. RYDB Fest is an open invitation to ride your damn bike, any damn way you want. Built by the bikepacking community, for bikepackers of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. Everyone is welcome to play bikes with us in NW Arkansas! In today's episode, you'll hear from the team and supporters behind RYDB Fest as we get ready to welcome you to Northwest Arkansas for a full weekend of Bikes… or Death. RYDB Fest is brought to you by Ozark Gravel Cyclists and Bikes or Death, with help from key partners and friends who are making this whole thing happen. Expect grassroots vibes, strong community turnout, and some of the best damn bike riding in Arkansas. ~Show Notes ~ More info about RYDB Fest click HERE Register for the Fayetteville Ultra Circuit HERE **Use code FUCBOD at checkout for $15 off reg Register for the Bikepacking Overnighter HERE **Use code bod_rydb_26 for 20% off reg Find out more about the Wander Outdoor Adventure HUB HERE Suppor the show on PATREON 

Something new came to Sea Otter this year, and I went to get the scoop. Sea Otter is widely regarded as the largest bike expo in the world, but calling it a "bike expo" doesn't quite cover it. With over 70,000 attendees, 1,000+ brands and exhibitors, and 10,000+ athletes competing across a huge variety of races, it's… a lot. And with all of that, it's hard to imagine anything was missing. Enter Old Man Mountain. Five years ago, Erik Fenner, OMM's Marketing Manager, attended Sea Otter for the first time. That night, he organically invited a few folks to join his campsite hangout. Nearly 30 people showed up. An idea was born. This year, that idea became reality with the inaugural OMM Bikepacking Campout and After Party at Sea Otter. OMM and their partners staked out a beautiful campsite about a mile from the main expo, tucked into a serene setting that felt worlds away from the chaos. People came from far and wide. Some rode their bikes. Some drove. Some flew. Some may have crawled. However they got there, everyone seemed to find what bikepackers tend to gravitate toward: a little dirt, a little community, and some grassroots vibes. It turns out, in the sea of Sea Otter, something was missing. Bikepacking is still a small but mighty corner of cycling, but it's clearly on the rise. You could see it in the growing number of adventure cycling booths, the people stopping by to ask questions, and the strong turnout for the first-ever OMM Bikepacking Campout. In today's episode, I take you into Sea Otter as a first-time attendee. But I wasn't there to see how many grams I could save if I sold a kidney. I was there to see what my friends at OMM were cooking up. Spoiler alert: it was really damn good. This episode is made up of five conversations with sponsors, vendors, and attendees of the OMM Bikepacking Campout. You'll hear from: Chris Kratsch — Co-Owner of Old Man Mountain Carley Boyce — Campout attendee who attempted the Great Divide with her dog Rowdy, then went back the next year to attempt the Tour Divide Noelle Battle — Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots Wade Green — Managing Partner for Tout Terrain in the U.S. Erik Fenner — Marketing Manager at Old Man Mountain I had an incredible time at this inaugural event. It was so good to be far from home, but still feel like I had a built-in community of "my people." Big thanks to everyone who took a little time to chat with me about their experience at Sea Otter. Let's do it again next year! SHOW NOTES As heard on today's episode, Carley is racing the Tour Divide for a cause. She is raising money to support the Autism Society of Oregon. Find out more at Racing for Awareness EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain would like to thank their supporting partners and sponsors that made this event possible: Priority Bikes Tout Terrain Ortlieb Swift Industries Outershell Sklar Feedback Sports Revelate Salsa ABUS Fayetteville Ultra Circuit: on today's episode Alex Kowalski, FUC race director, comes on the share a little more about the route. Take a deeper dive, and register, here. For being a loyal listener you can take $15 off reg when you use the code: FUCBOD NEW PATRONS Oregoniangal Join them won't you at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath  

Cinthia Pedraza calls Austin, Texas home. Some recent experiences in her hometown led her to write an article titled "Bike Racing, White Privilege, and the Coronavirus" that was published on The Radavist. As you can imagine she was praised by some and targeted by others. Personally, I'm grateful for her willingness to share her perspective on a touchy subject when the world feels poised to cancel anyone who expresses opinions that don't align with their own. My platform seeks to be an antidote to this and instead wants to be a safe place for people to share their stories and perspectives. It is through these conversations that we can learn, grow, and help to inform our own opinions. I applaud Cinthia for taking the initiative to share a hard thing, on a sensitive topic, that is directed to HER cycling community. A nod to John Watson, of The Radavist, is in order as well. As you'll hear, when Cinthia wasn't able to get her article published, she put it on her instagram account. John got wind of it and asked if he could publish it on his site, and the rest is history....