The Adventure Stache
Professional mountain biker Payson McElveen sits down with some of the biggest names in sports and adventure to get an inside look at what sets them apart. With no script, the casual conversations are as diverse as the guests, with topics ranging from harrowing tales of survival, to debates on current events, to everyday tips and tricks and everything in between. As Payson travels the world for his two-wheeled day job, listen in as he rubs shoulders with and learns from some of the most inspiring athletes, entrepreneurs, academics, and others as they chase and inspire greatness.
The Adventure Stache
Off-season Adventures: Payson and Nichole in New Zealand
In this week’s episode, we’re closing out our series on Australia and New Zealand and kicking off a new series about what athletes are up to this off season. During their trip to the Southern Hemisphere this winter, Payson and Nichole traveled to the South Island of New Zealand to do a four-day bikepacking trip, linking the historic Paparoa and Old Ghost Road trails. The goal was to slow things down after a busy racing season and discover some of the best landscapes that New Zealand has to offer. On their journey, they came across locals and fellow travelers and recorded mini-conversations with them that are woven throughout the episode, including a trail builder, the owner of a hotel in the tiny town of Charleston, and a pair of hikers who they met in a hut on the Old Ghost Road.
In addition to reflecting on the route and their planning process, Payson and Nichole talk about how a random encounter in Tasmania dictated their choice of trails, the car accident that got things off to a terrifying start, national opossum poisoning, giant snails, the history of the area, and some memorable ferry rides.
Instagram: @theadventurestache
YouTube: Payson McElveen