Epic Rides and Whiskey Tides: A Blend of Adventure and Home Fixes

Can you imagine combining your love for cycling with visiting distilleries or tackling home improvement projects? On "Road Adventures Of Cycling Men of Leisure," Michael gears up for a Michigan adventure filled with distillery tours and fresh air, while Adam juggles cycling with his home renovation. We also get into Michael's recent escapades, including an intriguing whiskey tasting event called Legends of Whiskey, where he sampled a standout spirit from Dodge City, Kansas. Adam shares his own summer pursuits, balancing golf and cycling and pondering how to merge the two passions creatively.

Ever skipped a familiar ride to explore new terrain, only to worry about unpredictable weather? Our discussion touches on exactly that—anticipation and trepidation for upcoming cycling events, concerns about river flooding, and the excitement of new adventures up north. We reminisce about past rides, including a particularly noisy camping night by a railroad track, and highlight this year's entertainment lineup featuring bands like Hairball, Night Ranger, and Pork Tornados. Amidst this, there's a heartfelt moment as we wish Margaret good luck on her ride, with a hint of an apology from Adam on the horizon.

How often do you laugh at the little mistakes that make life interesting? We kick off with a humorous anecdote about mistakenly calling Margaret's cycling team by the wrong name, leading to a lighthearted apology and a reflection on team dynamics. Margaret's off to RAGBRAI, and we emphasize the camaraderie among cyclists. Moving on to our "Listener Spotlight," we share clues about a historically significant community, inviting engagement and guesses from our listeners. The correct answer? .......! We also dive into fun facts about the 1889 Paris World's Fair, aiming to spark more curiosity and participation in future episodes.

We will be back

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:10

Well, it's time for Road Adventures with Cycling Men of Leisure, the podcast for cyclists who understand that riding is not just about getting to the destination, but the experience along the way. Now here are the original Cycling Men of Leisure Adam and Michael.

Speaker 2: 1:24

Welcome to Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure. Once again, I am Adam, and with me is a man who will soon be flying to Michigan, a man who has distillery tour tickets already lined up, a man who is going to enjoy the fresh air of Michigan. Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Michael Sharp.

Speaker 3: 1:46

Thank you, sir, happy to be here. How are we doing?

Speaker 2: 1:49

Doing wonderful, doing wonderful. I got my contractor coming tomorrow. You know I've got my big project going on trying to lay some tile. I'm not laying the tile it looks like a kid's art project if I lay the tile. But I got a man coming to do my entire basement. The floor and your accommodations are downstairs, so hopefully it's all done by the time you get here.

Speaker 3: 2:11

Well, just so everybody knows, he did send the plans to me, I did sign off on them, so I'm expecting big things, absolutely, absolutely I really appreciate that, sure.

Speaker 2: 2:21

So uh, what about you?

Speaker 3: 2:25

uh, it's been busy, busy, busy, busy summer, yeah, doing lots of stuff.

Speaker 2: 2:29

So anything uh like exciting.

Speaker 3: 2:33

I mean family uh, we went to dinner theater the other night. Family did Packed them in Saw a nice show. We have a really good dinner theater here locally, so saw a nice show, got some good food and then something you would appreciate oh, I'm listening my wife and I went to Legends of Whiskey.

Speaker 2: 2:50

Oh, ladies and gentlemen, let's listen and tell us about Legends of Whiskey.

Speaker 3: 2:57

Basically what it is is. It's just a big whiskey tasting event. You know they had Penelope there and Lux Roe let's try that right and some of the local ones some of the local ones and a lot of other. You know distillers there letting you taste all sorts of their, their juice. So it was. It was a lot of fun. My wife's not big into whiskeys and bourbons, but you know what. She was there and she actually found a couple that she likes, so Did you?

Speaker 2: 3:33

I mean, you've had more than than she. Did you find anything that really struck your fancy? You're like, hey, I'm going to add that to the bar cart next time distilled out in Dodge city, kansas, and actually I it was.

Speaker 3: 3:59

It was good, I liked it. Now, let me caveat this I was also tasting a lot of other whiskeys and you know it, you don't get a chance to really rinse your palate and stuff like that. So, um, before I say yeah, definitely would want to add that to my bar as a permanent one, I would want to taste it again, you know.

Speaker 2: 4:15

So taste test of all the test tastings I've been to, and then especially when you and I went to the one with all the tobacco weston, yeah west in missouri all the tastings are usually like in communion cups, and so you're tasting it like you know hot and you don't. You don't get to open it up and you don't get to. So sometimes that's what I always find with tastings um you know, it's not exactly what you would experience.

Speaker 2: 4:42

I mean, there's no wrong way to have a bourbon, don't get me wrong, but at the same time, you know, I like mine on ice and I like it. I like this for a little bit. So that's the only problem. And like you're walking around going community cup, community cup, community cup.

Speaker 3: 4:55

So yeah, so, like I said, I will reserve it, but it is definitely a distillery I want to check out more.

Speaker 2: 5:03

Cool, so cool um, well, before I gloss over that, anything else, or is that pretty much just been? Uh, status quo to status quo?

Speaker 3: 5:13

well, you know, uh busy here with all the summer activities and uh and all that. So, and I know you've been busy, uh chasing the white ball and uh getting that my accommodations finished, so yes.

Speaker 2: 5:25

Yeah, white balls. I mean that's important to me. I mean that's it's the two sports I love are golf and cycling and they kind of. It's kind of amazing on beautiful days they really fight with my head. I'm like I could go ride my bike or chase the white ball. And for those who are probably thinking well, you're going to ride in a cart Many times I like to walk. I actually do better when I walk.

Speaker 3: 5:49

Here's what you do. I've got your problem solved. Yes, take notes solved yes, take notes yes, throw that bag over your shoulder, hop on your bike, bike to the, to golf course, uh-huh, and then bike home.

Speaker 2: 6:01

You get both in one one swoop here's the funny thing while I was doing my exercise before you and I were going to record tonight, I walked around my, my, my little town, got a four mile track. I like all. All of a sudden, I had my AirPods in and I kept hearing this beep, beep, beep, beep. I'm like what in the world is that? And I turn around, there's a guy on an e-bike and, sure enough, michael, he's back and I'm like like wow, okay, and he was heading towards where I know there is a like a Metro park course. So I I'm like I think you've strapped on the bike and striped on the strap, strapped on the clubs and headed towards the course.

Speaker 2: 6:40

So um, see, there's no excuse why you couldn't do that you're right, although I'm not sure the e-bike would give me a lot good of exercise.

Speaker 3: 6:49

So um well, I'm saying you do use your own bike, that's true. You're missing my point.

Speaker 2: 6:56

I understand, I understand. But yeah, I've been doing that. And then, you're right, the project in the basement which started off as, hey, you know we're doing shoreline. And once we agreed to do shoreline, I'm like, well, he's going to come into town. I had a flood in that room, took out the carpet it's pretty nasty, I better fix it. And then it went to maybe I'll just get new carpet. And then I'm like I don't want carpet. And then it went, I should get tile. And then it went. You know if I'm going to do a tile in there.

Speaker 1: 7:30

I might as well do a tile in the whole basement.

Speaker 2: 7:33

You know, if I'm going to do a tile, I should at least do it in the laundry room down the hallway. You know if I do that I should take out the trim.

Speaker 1: 7:40

And if I do?

Speaker 2: 7:40

that I should paint, you know what? Yeah, I'll do that. And now we're at the point where I've painted, I've taken out the trim, got all the tile coming in He'll be here tomorrow coming and he'll be here tomorrow eight o'clock sharp and then I'll set all the room back up. The only thing that's not going to be done by the time you get here, it's just the trim won't be in.

Speaker 3: 8:05

But oh well you know, I wouldn't have cared. Honestly, you know me, it's like eh, I have a place to sleep, yeah, but I appreciate the effort. But you know me, I, I am not one of those people that it's like, oh you know.

Speaker 2: 8:21

No, if you were, I would get you a roach moach hotel down the road. So, take this buddy. No, I know you're not, and it's just you were kind of the inspiration to get this done. And then, of course, every time you you do a project, it just takes 10 times longer than you ever think it's going to take. So, um, I've almost gone to the rule of fifths, like if it's something you think something's gonna take an hour, you might as well just say it's gonna take five by the time you collect tools and get things and everything. So, learned a lot. I mean, you know stuff I've never done before. So, um, a couple of mistakes where you go, oh beep, but then we're getting there. So it's a couple of mistakes fixed, but we're all good, awesome. So that'll be good.

Speaker 2: 9:09

Moving on here, but I would love to pick your brain about something. So I saw on Facebook, social media you know I've been posting some stuff and advertising for us. I saw all the comments and all the concerns. Some people are concerned about the weather coming up for a little known ride called Rag Barai. Now, I know you and I decided this year that shoreline was going to pick our, our brain and we decided to do something other than Iowa. Still, kind of for me, I'm just kind of like you know, I'm trying to thinking about like those guys are going to have a lot of fun and and I was wondering if you were, have you thought about it at all?

Speaker 3: 9:56

Uh, well, as you can see, I'm wearing my rag. Braai, ah, jerky hit thing here. But um, or what is it? A shirt, Jersey, Jersey. There you go, Um, in honor of that but of that.

Speaker 3: 10:20

But, um, you know, I've seen a lot of the post and stuff and really I I'm, uh, I'm good, I I don't think I'm gonna miss it. I mean, you know it's a great ride and everything. But then I just look at all the other places we haven't ridden and you know we were going to be going over territory we've went over before and I and I just have a problem. It's like why am I riding over territory I've already ridden before now, granted different year, different people, all that but I always like to see what's over the next hill. So, uh, I think I'm good with it. Okay, I'm happy to go up to up north, as they call it, and uh, ride a section of that. Uh, now, I say a section because there is actually going to be some time when let me back up this will be the first ride we've ever participated in that we are going to the same town and the some of the same course that we went on another ride.

Speaker 2: 11:07

So, that'll be interesting. Yeah, that's true, uh, mackinac. City next, next subject. Next subject Then forget rag bar, Just kidding. Um, no, I just saw that the weather was uh, there's there is some concern of some flooding, um, for the end of the ride next to the river, um, with with the downpours they've had, and then, depending on what day you watch the weather, they have. Uh, Depending on what day you watch the weather, they have rain looking projected for a few days.

Speaker 2: 11:39

Now, that's probably going to change by the time this gets aired. But just for fun and playing along in that, we are a cycling podcast. We're a cycling-centric podcast, although we just talked about bourbon and cigars. But I have set my phone to watch the weather each day and just kind of pay attention. I'm sure there'll be a billion posts of people going and the concerts are Hairball, Night Ranger. It's a standard.

Speaker 2: 12:09

Yeah, little Sister Christian, I forget oh Pork Tornado, so there's a lot of people. Another standard yeah, a lot of oh or tornado, so there's a lot of a lot of other standard yeah, a lot of people we've seen, so oh, pet rock is there too.

Speaker 3: 12:24

That is a 70s tribute band or something, so in the spasmatics, not not a huge fan, but it's variety.

Speaker 2: 12:35

So they'll. Hopefully they have, you know, good weather and good times and um, it is kind of the only part of this little reminiscence starts in Glenwood, and that's when that was that horrible night that that I'll never forget in my life. Uh, for those of you who've never heard that story two seconds hotter than hell, I mean 80, 95 degrees and midnight.

Speaker 3: 13:01

Still no breeze.

Speaker 2: 13:03

Nothing.

Speaker 3: 13:04

And we were right next to a railroad track.

Speaker 2: 13:06

To make it even worse, that cold train. I don't mean that cold train Rolled through every 25 minutes. Oh gosh, it was a little orange train and I would look up up.

Speaker 3: 13:16

I'd be like, oh my gosh, here they come, here they come I just had visions of that scene from my cousin vinny, where he goes in it's like does this train always come through it? You know, whatever it's like, no, generally it comes through. At this time it was like oh, it was like clockwork, that train just rolling through there.

Speaker 2: 13:36

Side note, when I grew up, I grew up in Southern Illinois and there was a train track at the end of our driveway. I say end of our driveway but it was a pretty long gravel driveway. And you know, when you're young and you're in scouts and your buddies are going to go camping with you and you camp out on your property or you know they spend the night, it'd be like one in the morning and the train would roll by. I'm like, don't you hear that? I'm like I don't hear anything. Don't you hear the train? And I lived there so I just became accustomed to it. But my buddies would spend the night and they'd be up all night going. I can hear the trains, so oh well, anyway. So we'll wish, we'll wish all of our friends doing rag braai. Speaking of rag braai, our friend Margaret is doing.

Speaker 3: 14:22

Oh yes.

Speaker 2: 14:23

And guess what time it is? It's another time for a new episode on our show.

Speaker 3: 14:28

I'm excited.

Speaker 2: 14:29

Yeah, it's another time where Adam has to make an apology.

Speaker 3: 14:38

You know, I thought you were going somewhere else with that I know, but and then I got confused, Like what?

Speaker 2: 14:44

What did you?

Speaker 3: 14:44

screw up with this time.

Speaker 2: 14:47

Super stragglers. I called Margaret's team no hurries, no worries which, by the way, was their tagline on their shirt. No hurries, no worries which, by the way, was their tagline on their shirt. And it was a heck of a lot more fun when I was riding behind somebody to look and know that that was the jersey and I would scream no hurries, no worries. But it turns out the team name is Super Stragglers and so I apologize to the Super Stragglers.

Speaker 3: 15:16

I would have went with no hurries, no hurry, no worries. See, here's my problem. Love the team. We've, uh, ridden several times with margaret and her team yeah, a great group of people. But I just hate to ride by them and go, hey, super stragglers. Because then I just feel like I'm degrading these people in some way shape or form, like, yeah, you guys are slow, you you got, you know which you know. They ride just as far as me and clearly, if I'm passing them, I'm at the same point in the ride as they are, but I just feel like I'm somehow being derogatory.

Speaker 2: 15:49

Speaking of Ragbri and Margaret. We want to wish Margaret the best she is heading to. Ragbri, so we will hope that she has good weather, stays safe and comes back in one piece. So, but now, without further ado, we'll close the segment where I have to apologize Once again. Try to make those as minimal as possible it is now officially time for ladies and gentlemen listener spotlight. Now right, I never got somewhere for you. Okay. I received some messages and these messages.

Speaker 3: 16:35

This isn't why you're wearing that. Still wearing that 10, 10 foil hat, is it no matter? Is that those messages? No tinfoil hat, is it no? Is it those messages?

Speaker 2: 16:42

No, no, the reception's a lot better. I don't have to wear the tinfoil. My cell phone was working after I got the COVID shot, Just kidding, Just kidding. But by the third one man I had spectacular service. But I also had a sixth toe. But we won't talk about that right now.

Speaker 3: 17:00

Not important Not important, not important.

Speaker 2: 17:02

On a serious note, I have three messages to share this week. Two of them. Two of them have to do with listener spotlight and guesses, so I would like to give you dealer's choice. Would you like to give the clues first, or do you want me to read the messages first?

Speaker 3: 17:25

here's what I think we need to do. I think we need to give the clues first. Okay, get it fresh in their mind and then you can give your your things there, perfect. I believe the uh clues for this one were as as followed the County this community resides in, uh is named after a vice president and a president. Got that? Yeah, the uh, the most famous landmark, or it's most famous for a well-recognized landmark.

Speaker 2: 18:03

Okay.

Speaker 3: 18:05

It was formerly a large, super big, large railroad center. Okay, and it has a connection to the 1889 Paris World's Fair or Paris Exposition, however you'd like to say it.

Speaker 2: 18:23

Okay.

Speaker 3: 18:24

And that's what I gave you All right.

Speaker 2: 18:27

So I would like to be transparent, and Margaret is not the one who corrected me on the super stragglers, but Bonnie Goldberg has corrected me. She says hi guys, your clue this week was easy for me. Don't give this away because I have two. I have two guesses, okay. Okay, hey guys, your clue this week was easy for me as I am a kansas city girl, but now I live in Columbia, south Carolina, so I can ride my bike all year round. Ouch, yeah, as a Michigander, that ain't yeah. Okay, kansas City, missouri resides in Jackson County. The World War I Liberty Memorial resides there and, if I remember correctly, there is a connection to the residents of Paris. Residents of Paris, am I a winner? Ps Margaret's group is the Super Stragglers. No worries, no hurries, I am a Super Straggler as well. So I apologize to Bonnie and Margaret and the Super Stragglers once again. Now, that is Bonnie Goldberg's guess and so I have another one. But wow, two, yes, a a.

Speaker 2: 19:48

Someone who has guessed before and guessed correctly once and knowingly incorrectly the second time, even stated it this time, has a longer message. So bear with me here. Here, um, so enjoyed the episode with you guys and doug I think he meant bruce here, um, with bruce and the discussion of flight 93, I'm hoping that partial points are on offer and really should be lifting or biking or drinking at gretzky 99 rather than testing cognitive abilities and finding them severely lacking. I cheated, cheated big. My incorrect answer he even says my incorrect answer is Denver, colorado. The reference to the County vice president, president, makes me think of it's either Adams or Jefferson County. One would think that would make the task indefinitely easy, but there are 26 Jefferson Counties and 12 Adam Counties in the United States of America. By the way, there, adam, there is a Jefferson County in St Louis. Correction, maybe I have another apology coming up. Uh, denver contains both an adams and a jefferson county. Denver is a gateway to the rockies and a big railroad center, railway center, sorry two. So two birds with one stone.

Speaker 2: 21:11

The 1889 world's fair. Buffalo bill william cody, along with annie oakley, had a traveling show during the exposition and his final resting place is Denver, colorado. Pretty lame answer, lol. If anyone needs any trivial pursuit points, here you go. The 1889 Paris Fair commemorated the storming of Bastille and the 100th anniversary of Liberty of France. The Tour Eiffel was the highest structure until the Empire State Building in 1931. The company that supplied the iron skeleton, I think was associated with Gustave Eiffel, also supplied the iron skeleton for the Statue of Liberty. Otis, an American company, supplied the elevators for the tower, as no French company had the capability at the time. Thomas Edison had a presence at the exposition, so this was one of the first times electrical lighting was used. The Paris World's Fair had 32 million visitors, which is amazing, including the formidable Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. So enjoy the show. So enjoy the show, guys, steve. So those are the two guests. The two guests on the table are Kansas City, missouri, and Denver, colorado.

Speaker 3: 22:39

OK, well, one guest right here in my neighborhood, and ironically I lived in Denver for many years, so I'm familiar with both those. You have any guesses?

Speaker 2: 22:54

It's not St Louis.

Speaker 3: 22:55

It's not St.

Speaker 2: 22:56

Louis, oh my God, you know I actually don't have any guesses, but just for fun, is one of our guessers, correct?

Speaker 3: 23:09

Well, let me put it this way. Okay, neither are correct neither are correct. Now I will applaud both of them, exactly Because thought they put a lot of thought into this and both of them would be legitimate guesses, you know, and the Paris thing with Denver Buffalo, bill Cody was there absolutely. So those are both good guesses, but neither of them are correct. Let me break it down for you and tell you how I got to where I got.

Speaker 2: 24:02

Would you mind if I thank them both for taking the time to write us and how invaluable we find that information and appreciate the uh following along so but.

Speaker 3: 24:14

I love it. Uh, I think that's awesome. Uh, so, absolutely, thank you guys. We appreciate it. Here's how I got to where I'm at.

Speaker 3: 24:26

Okay, note that when I give you these clues, typically they are in no particular order okay so sometimes it might be better to start at one of the other clues instead of the one at the top. Little friendly advice there. Uh, I myself, um, would have started with the Paris connection. He is correct. There's really four big things that happened at the Paris. Well, a lot of things happened, but things that really remembered about the Paris World Fair. Number one is you are correct, edison was there. Electricity was a big deal. Not only was Edison there, tesla, nikola Tesla, was there as well. Buffalo Bill's Wild West show was there, brought over some native's Fair for is, it was mentioned, gustav Eiffel Two years before the World's Fair, he started constructing the Eiffel Tower for the sole purpose of the World's Fair and actually it was going to be a temporary thing.

Speaker 3: 25:43

After a few months World's Fair over, we're going to tear it down Became such a big deal that they didn't, and it's still there today. It down became such a big deal that they didn't, and it's still there today. So where I'm really going is the Eiffel Tower. You take that and you put that with a the city of paris, texas. They actually have a replica of the eiffel tower, not to scale. It's got a big, I believe, blue cowboy hat in the top paris, texas ladies and gentlemen from paris texas, thank you for listening.

Speaker 2: 26:31

Thank you all listeners, but uh, as usual, I always say thank you to the uh, paris texas from listener spotlight. Now we went.

Speaker 3: 26:40

now just a second. Just a second, because if we don't continue, we're going to get calls and and hate mail. What people are going to say is what about your first one? The county that this community resides in is named after a vice president and a president. The county it resides in is Lamar. You remember good old President Lamar, don't you? I think he was there after Fillmore or Cleveland, or one of those guys. Oh yeah, what a guy. Okay, there is no president Lamar. I'm actually taking the yellow flag and I'm throwing it on myself. I was mischievous and devious on this one. I did not lie. But what was not understood is that Marabou Marabou Bo B Lamar was in fact a president and a vice president, but he was the second, the first vice president and the second president of the Republic of Texas.

Speaker 3: 27:42

So I know it was kind of underhanded and sneaky, but it wasn't wrong.

Speaker 2: 27:48

So there you have it. Please include all hate mail to em. No, I'm just kidding, I don't want to give away your email yeah, no, let's not do that, I'll uh I'll get flooded. But I was thinking about it for a second but I thought nah maybe not, so if you listen to the show on Buzzsprout and that's how you listen to us.

Speaker 2: 28:12

There is a new fan mail option. It's like sending us a direct message during normal business hours. If you ever want to send us a direct message, we get it there as well. So if you listen to Buzzsprout, you'll see there's a fan mail.

Speaker 3: 28:25

And remember my name is Adam.

Speaker 2: 28:27

Michael. His name is Michael. I didn't think I was going to have to edit yet on this show, but I have to take that out.

Speaker 2: 28:37

What a funny guy. All right, well, that's wonderful. I always appreciate the effort you put into it. I know you definitely work hard on the guesses and you also work pretty hard not to make it so simple that people could just get it in two seconds, so I appreciate that. Well, great Ladies and gentlemen, that has been our first listener spotlight. You gave the answers Perfect. So we've got Bonnie. I did my apology to the super stragglers. Oh, I have a story.

Speaker 3: 29:19

Oh boy.

Speaker 2: 29:20

Got the bike fixed.

Speaker 3: 29:23

I got but I like the old look. It looked like you got it at, like you know goodwill or something I mean it was a good look for you.

Speaker 2: 29:31

It looked very heavy and it felt very heavy, and I made do because we were on an adventure and I didn't want the ride of the adventure to end, so we made the best of it. So I was supposed to receive the wheel on Thursday. I was supposed to receive the wheel on Thursday. Just for some context, we are recording this on the 16th of July and today is Tuesday. So I was supposed to receive the package last Thursday and we had some horrible flooding. I think you've had some rain too, right. Yeah, did we have some horrible flooding? I think you've had some rain too, right, but yeah, and we've had some horrible flooding. And I got an email that said that, due to the, due to the weather, your package was going to be delayed. I'm like no, because I had signed up for this ride called one hell of a ride, and the reason why it's called one hell of a ride is that that normally goes through hell Michigan Normally. Normally didn't this year. So, but that should have been my first sign. But so I had written this email to my boss, and he's on a leave of absence right now. But I had written this email to my boss and and, yeah, I, I, I've, I've spoken very freely before that I, I have a lot of flexibility, but then again we also have buses that run from 4 45 in the morning till 10 o'clock at night. So with with flexibility comes responsibility. But I wrote him and said hey, if my wheel comes, I'm taking off, I'm gonna get my bike fixed. I want to do this ride. And he said, no problem. He wrote me back, said absolutely, you know, thanks for covering while I'm gone. And, um, well, then I got the email about the wheel being delayed and so it said be there tomorrow. So I wrote my boss back and said listen, package is not coming tomorrow. If it comes tomorrow, I'm taking off. And he said, absolutely, it's always been very supportive of my writing. He said, absolutely, so I'm watching the tracking. A package was delivered, um, got to my house like two o'clock. Uh, I've talked on this show before, but this is your just picked up on us recently.

Speaker 2: 31:43

I live about a half an hour from the bike shop that I like to go to. There's others closer to me, but some friends own the bike shop I like to go to and I went down there and took everything in and the guy who had fixed my bike or to my bike up before Bragg said didn't I just work on this bike? I said, yeah, he goes. What happened to the wheel? And I go, that's why I'm here.

Speaker 2: 32:05

I destroyed a wheel while I was in Georgia and so he said, oh, I don't think we can get that done today. And I said are you sure? And he said I don't think so. And long story short, he he talked to the owner and the owner's a friend and said, nope, got to get it done today. And so he said I'm gonna get this done. I said, well, I really appreciate that.

Speaker 2: 32:24

And so they came through at the last hour and I had my golf clubs in the back of my van and I was not going to travel back, uh north, where I live, uh, about half an hour away, but it was bumper to bumper traffic on my way down. I'm like I am not getting in that. So I looked behind me like, oh, I have my golf clubs with me. And so I went and played nine and then came back, picked up the bike, got home and got everything together and um, went out and did a 100 mile ride. Uh called one one hell of a ride, nice, and um, although I missed you, uh, usually we do that stuff together and you know what I realized? I realized that I really like sentries that go from like point a to point b, and sentries that go from point A back to point A just not as fun for me. You don't like the centuries. No, I, I will. I like what. I'm going somewhere, you know um.

Speaker 3: 33:19

I was going somewhere. You're going right back to where you started, but yeah, I get what you're saying.

Speaker 2: 33:24

Yeah, that's not not my jam but um, but not my jam but um, but you know, I started, you know really well, and I did 15 average. So I'm happy, um and uh, I missed moon shadow Italian ice. I really wish. And when we got to the last, actually it was all the same rest stop, the way they did it. You went out and there was a rest stop, and then if you're doing a 60, then you went out and did a loop and then the same rest stop, and then if you're doing the 60, then you went out and did a loop and then the same rest stop, and then if you're doing 100, you come back another way, same rest stop, and then you finished. And I'm like, man, I could really go for some Italian ice right now.

Speaker 3: 33:59

So if I want to do, that I was tracking you because you gave me the thing. I can track you on your thing. I I can track you on your thing. I would have went out and got an Italian ice and had a picture of me sitting on my deck eating my Italian ice, just to you know.

Speaker 2: 34:16

Wow, what a friend Well.

Speaker 3: 34:18

I was there supporting you.

Speaker 2: 34:21

Sort of Speaking of support.

Speaker 2: 34:30

and my third message for this episode, a gentleman by the name of Ken Koopman wrote me. He said were you at one hell of a ride today? I recognize the men of leisure jersey and remembered your posting on the Bransel website. You and I used Bransel in previous RAGBRAIs. Before he said my wife and I have missed RAGBRAI the past two years, but going this week our first time with Bransel was in 2014.

Speaker 2: 34:52

It was at the end of the ride. You were walking to your car in the fairgrounds and that's when I got boomed on because the last five miles the heavenly gates opened up and flooded on me, although I had mixed emotions. I don't like riding in the rain, but it was so hot that the cool weather felt great until I was completely soaked. But I said yes. I said yes, that was me. I said thank you for your message, best of luck. I said we're doing shoreline so we skip rag brine. Um. And he says where he lives. I'm gonna not say that, but yeah, um. But he does say as you know, michigan bike tours have been on the wane. But look up Mommy Adventures. He says they are a club from Toledo, ohio, and run four bike tours every summer. They're well run and fun. You may be familiar with their Irish Hills tour, which I have heard about, worth the drive to Northwest Ohio. Anyway, we'll say hello one of these days at one hell of a ride of Ransom. And just wanted to say thank you for Ken for reaching out and obviously you know now I showed you a picture, but I was wearing the official Cycling Men of Leisure Bragg jersey Happened to find our artist who did our logo.

Speaker 2: 36:09

I saw that that was pretty good, so that was interesting. Um, but yeah, it was. Uh, it was a good time. I'm I'm uh glad to have the bike back in one piece with all carbon wheels. Next time we'll try not to slam on the rear brakes if we have a blowout like I could control that, but, um, but that's about it for me, um, but I know you.

Speaker 2: 36:35

You, sir, instead of riding a bike, you have been watching multiple people ride a bike and you've got some updates well, yeah, as a lot of people who follow us know, I'm I'm a big Tour de France fan.

Speaker 3: 36:53

Really love it. That's kind of like my sporting event every year in.

Speaker 2: 36:57

July. You love Lance Armstrong. They really need to know how much you really love him. Where is my?

Speaker 3: 37:02

where is that beeper? Yeah, I need one of those.

Speaker 2: 37:07

He does not like.

Speaker 1: 37:08

Lance Armstrong Anyway every July, I love watching it.

Speaker 3: 37:10

I need one of those he does not like landslide fun Every July. I love watching it and you know, tour de France it's a 21-day ride. They generally do it over 23, 24 days, primarily in France, although this year they're going to, I think, four different countries. They started in Italy, so they don't always stay within the French borders. You have 22 teams of eight people apiece. That's like 176 riders start out at the beginning. You get 18 of your world tour teams, which are like your top-ranked things, and then they do four wildcard to kind of that lower-ranked teams to come and participate. So I always enjoy it, always get a big kick out of it and enjoy watching it.

Speaker 3: 37:54

But I was sitting around and was doing some thinking and did some research and came up with some interesting information about bikes and the Tour de France. So I thought I would share a little bit. Let me settle in. I'm ready. Are you settled in? All right? So I thought I would share a little bit. Let me settle in. I'm ready. Are you settled in? All right, let me settle in. But just a couple of things to start things off. Just to give you some idea of the changes the winning bike weight in 2023 was 15.9 pounds. Wow.

Speaker 2: 38:27

I'm not trying to put you on the spot because I didn't ask you this ahead of time and I feel bad, but when you talk about the bike weight, is that all dialed up Like they're ready to go?

Speaker 2: 38:37

Yeah, Okay, I mean, that's like you know the reason why I asked that is if I go to a shop and I'm like oh, I'm, you know, I like Trek Damanis and I've I've said that before. So I'm like oh, there's the new Damani. And when you're inside of a store, they're like oh yeah, that weighs like 19 pounds.

Speaker 3: 38:56

Well then, there's no pedals on it, there's no they got to put the whatever Right Wheel set you want on all that. No, this is the entire bike. Wow, 15 something.

Speaker 2: 39:12

15 Wow 15 something, 15.9 pounds In 1962, it was 22.4.

Speaker 3: 39:17

22.4. Yeah, so that just kind of gives you some idea of how much they've been able. I mean, they were streamlining them back in the 60s, but look how much more they've been able to streamline them through the use of carbon and other things like that. So I just thought I'd throw out there.

Speaker 2: 39:32

When you talk about that. When I was picking up the putting the new rim on, the guy says you want this one or the super light one. He goes it'll save you like four grams. I'm like there's no way I'm ever seeing the difference of four grams. I'm like I'm good, I'll take the theory, but anyways, go ahead.

Speaker 3: 39:51

Sorry yeah, four grams. To me it's like that ain't gonna make or break me, I'm not even gonna notice it. But um, a little bit about the bike brands that have won. Any guesses of what bike brand you think has won the tour the most?

Speaker 2: 40:06

well, I was gonna say trek right off the bat, or Bianchi, bianchi being the oldest, but I was thinking of Lance Armstrong and even though I know they stripped him of his titles, but seven of them would have been a Trek, so I'm still going to go Trek.

Speaker 3: 40:27

Keep in mind, this race has been around for 111 years. That's true.

Speaker 3: 40:32

Excuse me this is the 111th iteration of it. There was a few years, during the wars there, that they decided not to host it. But actually Pinarello, oh, wow, okay, has won it 16 times. Pugio has won it 10. Pugio has won it 10. La Ato has won it 10. And now Trek comes in. They've won it nine times. Now, you know me, I have to caveat it. Armstrong rode seven of those, so I'm just leaving it at that and moving on. The other two of those were ridden by, uh, alberta contador, which, uh, one year he was booted too. So nine times for a try, and then you got those guys got booted for doping, right?

Speaker 2: 41:28

yes, not nothing to do with their bikes. No motors I know there's been motors. I know they've caught bikes where the bike crashes and the wheels are still turning.

Speaker 3: 41:39

They do all the electronic checking and all that kind of stuff and the weighing. But no, that was all due to doping. Merckx 5, cervelo 1, andianchi has been there three times winning, wow, and this is winning the overall thing so, yeah, yeah, not, not a stage, but the whole thing so, really, if you took out the ones that no longer counted on track, bianchi would be slightly ahead, just saying go back and do that again but to put it in perspective, there has been in 111 years, from what I can tell, 37 different bike brands that have been raced in the tour de france wow, that's pretty cool and uh is?

Speaker 3: 42:26

is trek uh being raced this year? Do you, you know?

Speaker 2: 42:30

I would probably say no, based upon the way you're trying to lead me down the Firm Rose path.

Speaker 3: 42:35

Well, that hurts, man, that really hurts. I would be trying to. Actually, trek is in the race this year. Okay, team Arkea and B&B Hotels, that's one team. They're riding Trek. Just to give you some ideas, some of the other brands Canon is being ran by the Alpecin team, cannondale is EF Education, orbea is Lotto, scott is being ridden by the Team DSM, specialized is Bora, cube is Intermarche, look as confidence, and giant is being ridden by team jaco. So, uh, I just thought it was interesting because I was wondering about bike brands and all this kind of stuff and just got to uh rabbit holing around the internet and doing some research and thought it was kind of interesting. Uh, one more thing I'll throw at you. The country that has won the most, most tour de Francis is naturally France, believe it or not. Now they don't do that much anymore, but back in the old days, they were.

Speaker 2: 43:43

I know you're you're an avid historian when it comes to. Is it true that guys would like jump on train cars and cheat and then, and then come around the come around the bend, so to speak, or whatever?

Speaker 3: 43:55

well, when that, when the race first started out in what? 19, oh, what was it? Three or whatever? Uh, it was originally, ironically, to sell newspapers, very similar to, like, the I Iowa ride. It was hosted by a newspaper thing.

Speaker 3: 44:12

And, yeah, the early races, number one, the infrastructure, you know, in 1903, not a lot of people were, you know, driving cars. You didn't have a lot of the paved roads, so they were riding a lot on dirt, gravel, cobble. You didn't have, you know, and the bikes were not super comfortable. You didn't have, you know, the, and the bikes were not super comfortable. Uh, in the beginning years, and because people who wanted to see it, there wasn't a lot of spectators here and there, or commissar, commissars, which are like the judges nowadays, um, yeah, there was people that would, in fact, um, grab a lift from somebody in a car they had, hop a train with their bikes.

Speaker 3: 44:51

They did all sorts of crazy cheating things to get to the end and some of them did get caught. A lot of them got away with it, just because I mean, you're going through the French countryside, there's nobody out there to, you know, call you out, and even if somebody sees you getting on a train with a bike in those early days. They had no clue. You know that there's this tour de France thing going on. So, um yeah, a lot, of, a lot of cheating, a lot of use of bus, of uh public transportation, back then with your bike to uh get to your next stop.

Speaker 2: 45:23

There's a lot of rules with biking and public transport. Oh wait, probably not the same. No, I did see on CNN that and I don't want to misspeak here, but they were using some tool connected to an iPad to see if there was any motors or whatever in the bikes. They ran the iPad down the frame and down everything in the bike. What are they doing when they do that frame and down everything in the bike? What, what, what is it? What are they doing when they do that?

Speaker 3: 45:50

Well, I don't know if they change it, but I know in the in the past years they, at the beginning of the race, they'll like weigh it and they'll run it, basically checking for electronics, you know, electrical waves, currents, things like that on the bike.

Speaker 3: 46:07

What they've done also is, once you get on the road, they also have a mechanism that they have with a person on a motorcycle, where they can actually go and check your bike for electrical mechanisms and things like that. So, just in case you know, you change bikes because you know everybody has their team car and several bikes on the top. You know, if they just checked at once, somebody could grab a bike that had some, you know, assist in it and no one to know the wiser. So that's why they actually check on the route as well. So yeah, they're, they're checking for electronic. They do also or they have in the past, x-rayed bikes, things like that whatever they can do to guarantee that everybody's machine is at the appropriate weight and doesn't have any kind of special mechanisms on it that might give them a bigger advantage.

Speaker 2: 47:02

So when we're looking at some, I mean I know you definitely pay attention, I'm dead serious. Are they allowed to use like head units, like computer bike computers and all that?

Speaker 3: 47:14

Oh, they have bike computers yeah.

Speaker 2: 47:15

They do.

Speaker 3: 47:16

They have bike computers and they have radios that are hooked up um to their team car. So they're they're, you know, their directors and things are constantly talking to them in their ear and then they can also talk to their, the directors, that kind of stuff. So they do have communication, they do have computers and that kind of thing and you'll see them a lot of times. If they have a flat tire or if something's wrong with the bike and they just do a bike change versus a tire change or something, you'll see them grab the top, they'll grab the computer and that and hop on the new bike. So they've got all that.

Speaker 3: 47:51

Um, you know, the big thing is, uh is they can't use. Basically, you can't. Your bike has to to be a certain it can't be below a certain weight, uh, and you can't use any kind of equipment that is not available to the public. Uh, meaning somebody couldn't come out there and get some, like I don't know, some super crazy you know, face mask, helmet thing, uh, if it's not available to the general public. Because there was a big controversy with uh I forget who it was this year with he had a special nose piece on his glasses and, uh, there was some question about that, but you can actually buy them.

Speaker 2: 48:32

So there you go, huh well, all right, so you're saying that trek is one more than bianchi? I heard that, so that's well, uh, what I?

Speaker 3: 48:43

what I'm saying is that, uh, more people on the trek team, yeah, you go with. Go with that line, that's fine yeah, all right.

Speaker 2: 48:56

Well, that's good. Uh, you know, it's funny when your family wrote me when you guys were in florida, like, do you really beep him? Like max wanted to know if I really beep you and I'm like, well, yeah, there's something I don't want to hear. I just beep him them. I got the sound.

Speaker 3: 49:09

And of course then Max is like anytime I start saying something, that whole trip he's like beep, beep. It's like really Beep. He got the biggest kick out of it. So thank you, I was getting beeped driving through Florida. I appreciate that.

Speaker 2: 49:24

Well, listen, I'm sure there were people who were driving vehicles, who you wanted to say certain things, that you had to use the word beep. I've driven in Florida. I'm like what in the world are you doing? But well, great. Well, thank you for the update on the tour. Is it over?

Speaker 3: 49:41

No, no, it's still going, it's still going Okay. Yeah, it's got a few days left.

Speaker 2: 49:46

So productivity at your job has probably gone down, not for me, okay. Well, I mean for watching me?

Speaker 3: 49:54

well, not for me, because here's what I do. I've got it. It's through peacock, so I can like. Uh, you know watch today's episode tonight. So that, okay, okay I got you.

Speaker 2: 50:06

you know, every time I try to do that with like football. You know you're very aware that I love to watch football and I'll do myself a favor, record the game and I'll be like don't look at my phone, turn off all things. And then I'll get a text message like from Joe or something Like dude, you see the Casey game, man, that was great that they won. I'm like, no, why did I read that message?

Speaker 3: 50:28

You got to be careful, but you know.

Speaker 2: 50:31

Oh well, life goes on. Yeah, um, all right. Well, thank you for that. Um, I just have a quick update about shoreline. Those of you know that we're going to shoreline. Uh, we had a team meeting the other night. Um, we did, and uh got some logistics laid out and so, uh, we are going to actually take the recorder, do some recording, uh on the show, on the road, um, and uh might have some special guests. I I hope to actually have neil on for a little bit. I would love to have some of our teammates, some of our friends that we see, up there, and so be looking for that for Shoreline.

Speaker 3: 51:10

And I think what I'd like to try to do is maybe a few reels. Yeah, you know, get a few reels, try to do at least one a day, let everybody kind of see what we're doing ahead of time, so they don't have to necessarily wait to the show to get the lowdown.

Speaker 2: 51:26

Speaking of reels, did you see our friend Chris Denver? Have you been paying attention to his?

Speaker 3: 51:30

I have been.

Speaker 2: 51:31

Um yes. Sorry. You know, yeah, I'm sorry too, buddy. Um, so he was. He loves to add States that he's written across and he was gonna uh, he was going to attempt his 20th, and I said that correctly 20th state, I mean he. And I said that correctly 20th state, I mean he already knocked out.

Speaker 1: 51:54

Rhode Island.

Speaker 2: 51:54

I'm just kidding, he was going to attempt his 20th state. Chris, not with us, not the same year, but Chris has done another ride that you and I have done and a couple of them yeah, and then brag and then, but yeah, so he was going to do Washington. He got a little bit East of Spokane, spokane, spokane, and just conditions were so brutal and so remote that he decided and, by the way, I commend him, kudos to him, because some would have kept going he recognized that you know, this is not the year to do this, maybe plan again or maybe a different year. And so he had to backtrack and the last reel that I saw is he looked like he was in a not just a hotel, but a very nice hotel that had robes and all kinds of things. Oh, actually he should.

Speaker 3: 52:47

Yeah, he deserved it. That had robes and all kinds of things, oh she should yeah, he deserved it. That's an important point about cycling. Especially when you're doing cycling things on your own, you got to know when. Basically to say when.

Speaker 3: 53:00

I mean you've got to read the situation. Even if you're going out on just like a Saturday afternoon, I mean, if the weather gets bad, if, if you know things are not looking good, if you're not feeling good, I mean you gotta be able to say, you know what? This isn't safe. Uh, you know whatever, I'm just going to pull the plug because too many people just keep going. And then that's what really gets you into problems. It's like you push it and you push it and you push it, and then you find yourself, you know, super dehydrated or big mechanical problems or whatever. So kudos to him.

Speaker 2: 53:38

And, to be fair, he was even having a hard time just finding water. He literally had to go to people's houses. And, by the way, I haven't spoke to him. I messaged him and just sent him a Facebook message and he replied and just told him that we were thinking about him. But in one of the reels he posted he said he went up to a lady's house and knocked on the door and because she wasn't home, he went and opened up her faucet, you know, outside of the house just to get some water. That's pretty bad if you're out there, that remote, where you can't even get, you know, replenishments. So we hope that he enjoyed his sleep. All he said he wanted to do was sleep, so we hope he got that and then get back home. So we'll do some reels, like you said. Yeah, should be fun. Expanded Jersey store.

Speaker 3: 54:32

I wrote myself not to be confused with the jersey shore no, no, we're not. We're not jersey shore and I'm just saying not to be confused you want me to call you pookie?

Speaker 2: 54:42

you know, or whatever they, whatever they have, that you never watch the show. So I don't know. It just seems like, uh, you know airheads. But um, on a serious note, you know, a few years ago you started to grow, this thing had some legs and we started having some people who were following us and they said, hey, do you guys offer a jersey? And we kept saying no, no, and it's something we didn't want to. We just didn't know where to go, how to do it. We didn't know you know how you would offer a random jersey to, because we don't expect to sell. You know a million of these things. So how did we do it?

Speaker 3: 55:21

where it was independent, in a store, and the person could order and ship to their house it's short of me putting my kids to you know, to work in a sweatshop in my basement.

Speaker 2: 55:30

I would have been fine with that, by the way.

Speaker 3: 55:32

Well, I have no problem with it, but there's this thing called social services, and they frown upon things like that.

Speaker 2: 55:38

So yeah, you guys have that in central time.

Speaker 3: 55:41

So moving on.

Speaker 2: 55:44

So, anyways, we found a company called Jack Rue, which you and I have currently ordered some products. We wanted to be the test, not just to only have items with our logo on it, but we wanted to be able to speak about it, because sometimes you and I have to divide and conquer. We do it like when I was at one hell of a ride. Someone would have asked me. I would have said, actually, yeah, you know, it's high quality, they have great jerseys. Um, phenomenal items. I'm, I'm, I'm, super impressed. I've I've received two items, but it's not just jerseys no, no, we've got.

Speaker 2: 56:24

Uh, we got shorts we have bibs. We have a technical like sweatshirt uh, technical hoodie yeah, technical hoodie we've got. If you're more of a mountain biker than a road biker, we have a shirzy phoenix. I want you to listen to that phoenix we have shirzies. We now have a shirzy. We have mountain biking style shorts. Yeah, if you like those like we have bibs, uh, I think I'd said jerseys, shorts, bibs, sure, uh, oh. And we have it not only in cycling men of leisure we have it in cycling, women of leisure.

Speaker 2: 57:09

Uh, to find that, go to cycling. Men ofleisurecom. Go to find our stores and I say stores, plural, because we're also working on another store. We're just like t-shirts and other swag, so, but anyways, you can find that store there and then order the items, if you would prefer or not, up to you, but if you do, the nicest thing is it'll ship right to your house. So, um, I will tell you that on that store, um, michael and I both tested it independently. Obviously you know he lives in kansas, I live in michigan. Um, we both ordered, both of them said they should be at our house on July 12th and, lo and behold, both of us got the package on July 12th.

Speaker 2: 57:56

So so far I can say nothing but kudos and quality shipping. Everything is a plus. So because we hate to put our name on something and then find out later like like yeah, well, we never got it yes.

Speaker 3: 58:13

John, the other thing is go out and check it out and if there's stuff that people would like to see.

Speaker 1: 58:19

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 58:19

We can look into adding that to the store.

Speaker 2: 58:21

That's not you know so, yeah, the design team has been great. If you saw our jerseys from Bragg, what we did is we sent that in and no offense to Franklin or the team because we love them, but we just had Bragg and Northside Hospital pretty much taken off and we copied just the, kept it simple, nice and simple to start off with Just seeing and testing the waters to see how it is. And so far we've already received some orders and and lots of comments about people thanking us for having that. So we're we're happy to have it.

Speaker 3: 58:56

So now for clarity. It was not the brag official brag Jersey, it was our brag team Jersey. That's correct. Just for clarity.

Speaker 2: 59:04

I appreciate that. No, thank you for thank you for doing that Without further ado. I think it's time for the next segment of people who love Listener Spotlight. I love when I have my toys.

Speaker 3: 59:28

Are you ready? I'm ready. I don't think I pulled any, like you know, sneaky things on this one. Uh, this list of spotlight is around a city that was laid out in the mid-1800s. Um, this city has helped promote our country's love of candy for a very long time. Okay, here's a good one. This city is well-known historically for what an early expedition left there, and the city's name honors native people. One final clue this town was fundamental in the character development of a beloved cartoon character. Huh, and there you go.

Speaker 2: 1:00:40

Wow, you know I usually don't guess because I like to make it more fun for the show and sometimes I actually have somewhat of a guess.

Speaker 3: 1:00:51

But man cartoon 18 native americans yeah, st louis doesn't work on this one. It doesn doesn't, no, not even close. Cherokee Wisconsin? Oh, good guess. If I was going to guess, I'd have probably guessed Cherokee Oklahoma. But that's just me. Okay, you guess what you want to. So well, we got a guess for Cherokee Wisconsin. All right, fair enough.

Speaker 2: 1:01:29

All right.

Speaker 3: 1:01:30

We'll see All right. See enough, all right, we'll see All right, how right you are.

Speaker 2: 1:01:33

Well, thank you for the clues. Uh, for those of you who are your sleuths at home, uh, it's time to to do your thing and, uh, we appreciate what you do and your messages, always, of course. So, absolutely, um, all right, that's about it. The only thing I would I would add to this is uh, uh, last Saturday it was a great day for a bike ride, as always. Thank you, buddy, appreciate you being here. See you later.

Speaker 1: 1:02:03

Thank you for coming along with Adam and Michael on road adventures with cycling men of leisure. If you have enjoyed this, please subscribe to the show on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you.