Circling Back

After a whirlwind few weeks of Sea Otter, Traka, and too many airport coffees to count, I’ve been thinking a lot about success, sacrifice, and whether chasing big dreams automatically means giving up balance along the way.Anddd we have our first ever feedzone guest. Jasper my bike boyfriend joins us to have our most techy talk yet, but I think it's still approachable so you should def listen.We're fusing some pop culture in with our bike geometry chat to be a little chaotic twisty turny episode that contains multitudes.This is basically one long post-flight spiral about:choosing your next bikeexciting bike techwork/life balance and who gets to define itbuilding a life you actually enjoy livingand why I don’t want to postpone my happiness waiting to “arrive”

Hi team. This is a bit of a rambly episode… and that’s just kind of the vibe right now. Consider this your slightly sleep-deprived, post–Sea Otter brain dump. If you make it through the whole thing, I love you. If you don’t, I also love you, but just give me a solid 30 seconds of listening time for the algorithm before you dip… for the sake of my future success, which I’m choosing to believe you’re emotionally invested in.Sea Otter was a whirlwind in the best and most chaotic way. So many conversations, so many bikes, so many moments where I was like “wow this is so cool” immediately followed by “wow am I a loser?” I feel like I’m still processing everything: what I’m doing, where I fit, athlete vs. creator vs. professional yapper? And this episode is very much me thinking out loud about all of it.There’s something kind of nice about letting it be unpolished though. Not every episode needs to be buttoned up and insightful and tied with a bow. Sometimes it’s just… me, slightly delirious, trying to make sense of a big weekend and bring you along for the ride.I won’t lie, I am very tired. Like, debating crawling straight into bed after uploading this tired. But I also feel really grateful. For the opportunities, for the conversations, and for you... for listening, for caring, for being here in whatever way you show up. It genuinely means more than I probably say out loud.Anyways, that’s the episode. I’ll always show up to make the content, even if it’s slightly unhinged and recorded with one eye half closed.hehehe xx

The gravel season is officially here, and in today’s solo episode I’m breaking down everything you need to know about the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix, from Sea Otter to Big Sugar.We get into the full race calendar, key storylines to watch, and my (slightly bold) predictions for the overall podium. I’m also sharing some behind-the-scenes perspective as I head into Sea Otter myself!If you’re into gravel racing, endurance cycling, or just want to better understand how these events play out at the elite level, this one’s for you.In this episode:Life Time Grand Prix 2026 previewSea Otter, Unbound, Leadville + course breakdownsKey athletes and storylines to watchMy top 5 predictions + wildcard picksFueling for performance (what actually changed for me)Managing race nerves and pressureThanks for being here, especially to my Patreon crew. Your support makes these episodes possible 🤍If you enjoyed this one, send it to a friend or share it on socials, and let me know what you want to hear next.

Fueling, body image, internet myths, and what endurance athletes actually needThis week’s Yap with Taylor Brower is one of those conversations I wish I had earlier!!We get into what “enough” actually looks like, why under-fueling is more common than you think, and how to build a healthier relationship with food while still chasing performance.If you’re training, racing, or just trying to feel stronger... this conversation is for you.There’s a lot in here. so get your pen and paper ready :)This episode is free because I simply could not gatekeep this level of gold but if you want more yaps, behind-the-scenes race thoughts, and deeper chats like this, you can join the Café Ride Club over on Patreon.It’s less than a cup of coffee and it genuinely helps me keep doing all of this 🤍

It’s episode three… so naturally we’re spiraling a little:have we actually made it yet?In this Café Club exclusive episode, I sit down with Rachel Frey to unpack a question that keeps coming up (on rides, in conversations, and honestly… in my own head):When do you actually feel like you’ve made it?And why do the people who “have” never talk like they have?We get into:the pressure of chasing outcomes in sport + lifewhy “making it” might be a feeling instead of a milestonehow performance-based identity can lead to burnoutwhat elite athletes actually focus on (and why it’s different than you think)how to shift toward a process-driven mindset without losing ambitionThere’s some research, some real talk, a little oversharing… and a conversation that honestly left me rethinking how I show up every day.If you’ve ever felt like you’re not there yet, this one’s for you.This episode is for Café Ride Club members onlyIf you want the full conversation (and the good stuff), come join us on Patreon.

Our first guest (!!) Alice Goodall We’re chatting all things cycling, women’s sport, and running... from cross-training to taking risks and redefining what success actually looks like. Come hang with us and keep the convo going on Patreon for exclusive content!!

Welcome to Circling Back: the podcast where we talk about chasing dreams, defining girl-coded in a boy’s world, and of course… bikes.Hi, I’m Brookmyer. I’m building life at race pace and taking you along with me!This podcast is a little experiment to find ways to take our conversations deeper, get honest and share more behind the scenes. Get involved, send me a message with questions about training, how to enjoy your bike better or whatever's on your mind. Subscribe to the Patreon for episodes, group chats, and newsletters!!