The Road to Respair

Nick sits down with Doug Baker, Chief Strategy Officer at Shift Active Media, to work out whether gravel, bikepacking and ultra-distance riding are genuinely growing — or whether it just looks that way from inside the algorithms.
 
Doug works with bike, run and outdoor brands to help them understand real riders at scale, largely via Shift's own recruited panel, the Rider Research Hub. In this conversation he and Nick get into:
 
Why the cycling industry's post-COVID "slump" is a sales story, not a participation one
What the actual search and panel data says about gravel's growth (steady, not explosive)
Why most gravel riders still treat it as a secondary discipline to road
Bikepacking's high interest / low equipment-spend gap, and what's really going on with borrowed bags
Why ultra-distance riding is small, and why that's exactly why it produces the best stories
Whether gravel bikes will ever "get it right" — and why the answer is probably no, on purpose
Where women's participation is genuinely growing, and where the data is murkier than the anecdotes suggest
Why getting into a niche sport happens faster now than it did a decade ago, and it's got nothing to do with cycling specifically
 
A conversation for anyone who's ever wondered if their feed is showing them the sport, or just showing them themselves.

Jacob's the only guest to come back a second time, and this one's a different beast to the first. Less bikes..ish, more of everything underneath them — my daughter's cancer diagnosis, a hard run of loss in the friend group, and Jacob's own experience since losing his dad. Two mates talking properly about a hard year, no format, no schedule, nothing dressed up for content's sake.
Also in this one: Jacob's off to TT nationals in Scotland next week, and how ASCND ended up drifting from what it was originally for — and why this episode is the pull back toward that.
The Road to Respair — new episodes when there's something worth saying, not because it's Friday.

At 19 years old, Bash has spent the better part of a year riding his bike across two continents. What started as a solo bike packing trip through Japan 66 days, roughly 4,500km, top to bottom became something much bigger when, instead of flying home, he bought a ticket to Istanbul and started riding northwest.
By the time Nick caught up with him (recording from the road while riding from Marseille to London while Bash wound down his final days in Antwerp), he'd passed through Turkey, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium. He got home the following morning.
In this episode they talk about what Japan actually felt like to ride, why not planning a route is the best plan, the art of listening to your body over long days, kit that got ruthlessly edited down over thousands of kilometres, and why the finish line in Japan sitting at the end of the world with sushi and an Asahi is a feeling he'll never forget.
Bash also shares his three tips for anyone thinking about doing something like this (spoiler: it doesn't have to be epic to be worth doing), and looks ahead to GB Jura in August — a 2,000km off-road ultra from Land's End to John O'Groats which would make him the youngest finisher if he completes it.
A genuinely joyful conversation about riding bikes, going places, and trusting your gut.

Lucy Choules didn't grow up dreaming of riding a thousand kilometres through the Scottish Highlands. She only learned to ride a road bike in 2020. But somewhere between qualifying as a tax accountant, watching her eight-year-old sister discover cycling, and turning down crit racing in favour of stamping a card in a school hall at 2am, she found her people — the quietly brilliant, slightly unhinged world of Audax.
In this episode, Nick sits down with Lucy to unpack her rapid journey from cycling convert to completing LEL and a 1,000km Scottish Audax in under two years, all while studying for her final accountancy exams. They talk about why Audax suits her life in a way that road racing doesn't, the joy of riding with a group of women who just get it, and the liberating logic of going in underprepared. They also get into kit — bibs, merino jerseys, dynamo hubs — and the Van Rysel endurance bike that Lucy put to the test over 1,000km of Scottish terrain, ferry crossings and all.
Lucy is funny, honest, and completely without ego about what she can and can't do on a bike. If you've ever talked yourself out of attempting something big, this one's for you.
Topics covered: Audax vs ultra racing · London Edinburgh London · 1,000km Scotland event · Dynamo hubs and charging on the road · Merino jerseys for long-distance · Bibs, kit and what actually matters · Content creation without the performance · Teaching her sister to ride · Why cycling is a leveller

How did three mates build a cycling brand that’s now a decade strong, with products that truly innovate?
What does it take to build a cycling brand that lasts and what began as a passion project has grown into one of cycling's most respected names in ultra-distance and gravel riding.In this episode, we dig into how Albion built a loyal community by staying obsessively true to their niche, solving real problems for real riders from British weather to fabric innovation and repairability and working hand-in-hand with textile mills to create gear that actually pushes the sport forward.It's a story about authenticity, craft, and why doing one thing brilliantly will always beat chasing trends.

In this episode of the Rad to Repsair Podcast, host Nick interviews ultra-distance cyclist Zoe McIntosh, who shares her journey into the world of ultra-distance cycling. Zoe discusses her experiences in races, the mental and physical challenges she faces, and the importance of community in the cycling world. She also provides insights into her training techniques, nutrition strategies, and advice for those looking to enter the ultra-distance racing scene. The conversation highlights the beauty of cycling as a means of escapism and personal growth.
 

In this episode of the Road to Respair podcast, host Nick interviews Alain Rumpf, a cycling enthusiast and expert based in Switzerland. Alain shares his journey in cycling, from racing to ultra-distance events, and discusses the unique allure of cycling in Switzerland, including its stunning landscapes and excellent infrastructure. The conversation delves into the rise of ultra cycling and bikepacking, the importance of community in cycling, and the impact of e-bikes on the sport. Alain also provides insights into the Swiss cycling culture, hidden gems for cyclists, and the future of cycling bikes. The episode wraps up with Alain encouraging listeners to explore Switzerland for their next cycling adventure.
Takeaways
Alain has been involved in cycling since he was 12.Switzerland offers some of the best cycling infrastructure in the world.Ultra cycling has seen significant growth in recent years.Bikepacking is a way to disconnect and enjoy nature.Switzerland has hidden gems that are often overlooked by cyclists.The Swiss cycling culture is vibrant and welcoming.E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular in Switzerland.Photography has become an integral part of Alain's cycling journey.Gravel biking is a growing scene in Switzerland.The future of cycling bikes is shifting towards versatility and accessibility.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Alain Rumpf and Cycling in Switzerland02:30 The Allure of Cycling in Switzerland04:54 The Rise of Ultra Cycling and Bikepacking07:40 Lessons from Ultra-Distance Racing10:02 The Joy of Bikepacking and Self-Discovery12:02 Cycling Itineraries in Switzerland14:34 Swiss Cycling Culture and Community17:05 The Future of Cycling in Switzerland21:25 The Rise of E-Bikes in Cycling22:35 Photography: A New Passion24:21 Exploring the Gravel Scene26:15 The Versatility of Modern Bikes30:56 Performance vs. Accessibility in Cycling35:04 Why Switzerland is a Cyclist's Paradise

Today’s guest is Maddy Nutt, one of the standout privateer racers in the gravel scene right now.
Maddy’s journey into gravel racing didn’t follow a traditional pathway through junior development teams or the road racing system. Instead, her story reflects what makes gravel unique, a sport that, at least initially, was built on curiosity, self-belief, and figuring things out as you go.
Over the last few years, she’s turned that curiosity into a professional career, racing at the sharp end of some of the toughest gravel events in Europe and beyond, while navigating the realities of being a privateer in a sport that’s evolving at incredible speed.
Gravel racing today looks very different from how it did even a few seasons ago. The bikes are faster, the fields are deeper, the courses more refined  and the arrival of the UCI Gravel World Series has added a new layer of structure, opportunity, and debate about where the sport is heading.
In this conversation, we’ll talk about Maddy’s life before cycling, how she found her way into gravel racing, and what it really means to “turn pro” in a discipline that still resists easy definitions. We’ll also dive into how gravel racing is changing, from technology and course design to the contrast between UCI events and iconic independent races like The Gralloch, The Traka, and The Rift.
This is a conversation about performance, identity, and the future of a sport that’s still deciding what it wants to be.

In this conversation, Nol from Fat Pigeon shares his journey from an engineer to a ultra distance cyclist and content creator. He discusses his adventures, including the challenging Mont Ventoux ride, the Festive 500 challenge, and his plans for future charity events. The conversation also delves into the evolution of gravel riding and the importance of creating memorable experiences through cycling. Nol emphasises the joy of adventure and the community aspect of cycling, encouraging others to embrace the challenges and have fun.
 
Takeaways
Nol started cycling as a way to honor his mother's memory.
Fat Pigeon represents the idea of going all out in cycling adventures.
Gravel riding has evolved significantly over the years.
The Mont Ventoux ride was a mix of adventure and scouting for an event.
Festive 500 was a personal challenge to ride 500 kilometers in one go.
Noel's future plans include charity events and gravel racing.
Content creation has become a natural part of Nol's cycling journey.
Gravel racing should focus on adventure rather than just speed.
The cycling community is shifting towards longer, more exploratory rides.
Memorable experiences often come from unexpected challenges.

In this episode, I’m joined by Miles Baker Clarke — Director of Growth & Strategy at Fusion Media and founder of Cycling Culture Club, a community built on storytelling, inclusivity, and the joy of riding together.
We dive into the current state of the cycling industry — what’s changing, what’s exciting, and where the real challenges lie. Miles shares his perspective on where the industry is heading, from community-driven growth to the future of participation, tech, and cycling culture.
We also explore what community really means — not as a buzzword, but as a lived experience — and how cycling can be a genuine tool for belonging, growth, and wellbeing.
And importantly, we talk openly about diversity and inclusivity in cycling: what progress has been made, where the gaps still exist, and what needs to change for the sport and culture to truly reflect the world around it.
It’s an honest, human, and hopeful conversation about bikes, people, and building something better together.