#PLPTalks

[@DeffoZappo]

The funnest times of my childhood and early teenage years was just getting our super heavy chrome BMX bikes and just ride all over town and around the river. Just exploring any random trail or dirt road we came across. It makes sense that we go full circle back to that simplicity because it is the most fun you can have on a bike

[@tmagee27]

One of the things I love about this end of cycling is it always comes done to: Ride Bikes, Have Fun. Ultraromance just like the Bicycle Quaterly lot just makes you want to get out and ride. There's the respect for the history- French Constructeurs through to early 80s Californian Mountain Bike pioneers (who themselves acknowledged the link) via English Tourers and just an infectious enthusiasm for bikes! Even when pushing a certain style of say tyres or handlebars it's never pushy, but more like 'so I've found that this works for me and here's why I think it might work for you. Bicycle Quaterly is factual and methodical, Ultraromance is thinking outside the box but also a willingness to test out the ideas. I get joy from what both are doing, even if I fall more into the BQ camp I'm still an ex messenger Bike Punk, son of a Club Cyclist. And there's a lot of people out there making me love cycling right now. Did this ever get made into a podcast, I'd love to hear it with clearer audio?

[@ersatzart]

Nice interview. As a teenager in 1973, during the wonderful few years of "bike boom," we used the term "bike packing." We either backpacked, or bike packed. I was lucky because a found a set of panniers, and hooked them on the my new Raleigh Record, and off I went. Every gas station had free maps, we never got really lost, maybe just a little off track sometimes. It is great to hear the old term "bike packing" being used again. Some of the modern equipment is really great, but my go to bike is still a 30+ year old touring bike with 27 inch wheels.

[@havefunandbikestuffOver40]

my personal fave interview to date Russ, I like how he described leaving the confines of aggro bike racing and that particular vibe, and then moving over to touring and finding a new found love of the essence of cycling like that through the eyes of a child. also enjoyed how bike camping is fun and acceptable as an adult sleep over. I am coming off of 5 years of racing bicycles and the carbon/ performance oriented/ weight weenie/ super aero vibe...to now more of a love of touring and finding myself again and why I loved riding bicycles in the first place, so hearing it from Benedict really made me happy inside. Mahalo for this, big time!

[@crustbikes]

When the cult leader speaks we must listen.

[@davidskeen4000]

Hey Russ , you did a great job on this interview. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@Radingtonbear]

I cant believe he's so nice! hahaha. This has been one of my favourite interviews so far. Loving your work Russ.

[@JogieGlenMait16]

Bikey people are just oozing with positivity even when they're off the bike.

[@shunsche]

in particular when the only, and part-time, job they ever had for years was "working on the boat", which apparently refers to his father's fishing boat in Connecticut. It is obviously a lifetime of privilege and financial comfort what oozes here.

[@Exgrmbl]

@@shunsche true. Tbh i have no problem with that, good for him as long as he's open about it and is aware what he has going is not the average joe's lot in life

[@WillMahler]

Good to have finally heard the voice behind the face. Sorry I missed his talk at the 2017 PBE, while I was there.

[@ericwelborn3832]

Epic, thanks for putting this interview together Russ.

[@I_Am_Bone]

"Keyed into the destination rather than the journey of the tour." Love it. I am just getting back into riding since 1990, and am planning an EPIC ride through Canada's Rockies that will include the famous BC Trail. I have the Start in Canmore AB, and finish in Vancouver. In all the map studiying, and plotting of potential camp locations etc I have to remind myself that THIS IS NOT A RACE! I have driven through all parts of BC along the highways, but super stoked to be planning to see sites NOT seen by anyone but former railroaders and other adventurers.

[@ayleencrotty4172]

Finally got around to sitting down and digging in on this one. It's so good. I love so much of what he has to say.

[@fallscreekoutfitters8346]

Ultraromance is to bike touring as the Big Lebowski is to Dudism!

[@DavidPulsipher]

Amen on the bike shop guy vibe... 100%

[@beezer946]

It’s cool how good of a listener russ is

[@paulespinoza7172]

He is right about the bike shop aggro salesmen, I have never gone into a bike shop and felt like they were not talking down to me, with THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT without really asking what I want. Sounds like a great guy.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. Sometimes bike shops are their own worst enemies.

[@thezian]

When I first started cycling, I felt like I rarely had a comfortable time talking to shop staff.

[@katblack276]

salesman told me it was illegal to buy a bike online in Canada. He insinuated that "people" can't put them together an its dangerous. I guess he meant me. Well I ended up ordering a bike online.

[@jdmak42]

Great series. Uplifting and joyful interview. Hope you can connect with Lael for one of these.

[@johnbouttell5827]

I had neck problems with drop handlebars so I got a touring bike with wide butterfly bars. However, I found I can still use drops -- with a Satori Heads-Up 4 stem raiser.

[@rolandsstand]

Enjoying your interviews, thanks. Would love to see one with "pushbikegirl"

[@josephchoipiano]

Please interview Grant Petersen! His manifestos, books and videos form the basis of my Velosophy but it would be cool to see a conversation like this.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Emailed GP. Haven’t heard back. Also emailed Jan Heine.

[@kozemchuk]

Those would both be awesome!

[@grumpycyclist3319]

Amen on the bike shop comments.

[@iconictrash]

I think it's a great observation about touring being 'not marketable' (around 12:30) that has been so obvious in the past few years - hipsters abandoned fixies for touring bikes, MTB-ish bikes, CX bikes, and began camping/racing/getting outdoors in a way that might not have been obvious. Too bad Rivendell hasn't benefitted from this as much as many others (Crust, Swift, Specialized, Kona, Surly) have!

[@libraryofpapel]

2022 4 years later everything is sold out at rivbike

[@zu_1455]

"Beyond the ideas I can't really actualize" Damn, this gives me hope!

[@PKAY8608]

Hey Russ! Really love these interviews. Have you considered putting the audio available for download on apple podcasts? That would be sweet!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. Working on it. Learning Audition to clean up the audio and level the volume.

[@PKAY8608]

nice! thanks for the reply!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Hope to get it up by mid Feb.

[@devinkeen639]

Thank you! Excellent video!

[@billybuckmusic]

I love how he's just drinking a gallon jug of kombucha. Classic Poppi

[@DrewMabry]

So good!

[@billpoindexter]

And I thought I was cool 😎...great interview!

[@scotttoll7877]

Interview suggestion: John Slawta - Landshark bikes (Talent, OR). Interesting guy, beautiful bikes, lots of stories.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Cool. Love the town of Talent, OR. Nice bike shop there. Had no idea Landshark was based out there.

[@VanJolene]

OMGEEE...the "wagging boner bag" was the best thing about this...I always said I'd never have one for the same reason. I bought one, but gave it away. I love the Fabio's Chest bags, but haven't bought one yet. I needed to hear the "embrace technology" mantra again. As much as I dislike it, it does connect our tribe. He's awesome, and more articulate than I would have imagined. Keep on romancing, Romanceür. You are awesome!

[@fedepatagonia]

great interview

[@bronson5]

Love you Bene!

[@pauljenkins8287]

I can’t even get em on the train 😂

[@benriversoutdoors9694]

Could you publish these on apples podcasts?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

We'd like to, but I'm stretched pretty thin making 3 vids a week and keeping all the other social channels going. If we could find a sponsor, then maybe.

[@benjaminobrien]

Other than Grant and Jan, Logan Watts, Joe Cruz, Lael Wilcox, Cass Gilbert, John Watson, and Iohan from See the World come to mind.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will definitely reach out to a few of them. We are trying to interview folks we've had personal contact with rather than a cold call. I feel that it makes the interviews a lot better.

[@Anthonytimmer]

Here from the future to confirm Ron’s back into body building

[@zu_1455]

More Ron and Russ, plz!

[@tristancheal5775]

Best Aust. accent attempt ever. I thought it was captain jack sparrow.

[@eddieallen6401]

I thought it was Dick Van Dyke.

[@levilies9956]

I love Tucson(bear canyon). Moved back to MN recently for family reasons. So bummed, “I should have stayed in Tucson”… miss it so so much. I hope to move back once I am able.

[@michaelnice93]

I like yur style dude

[@inxlee]

Evolving to HyperRomance

[@ambulatemusic]

Why does everyone assume Jergens is for that?

[@rumenripe]

Matisyahu goes bikepacking

[@MrPododwyer]

Was he talking about the CRUST NULLARBAR bars?

[@criddler_9738]

“Leather strap bars” new edition is called “Towel Racks”

[@VidCrazeProductions]

bene is my biological father.

[@mengesdesign7629]

Parker Dickin You, too?

[@bendaharagila]

😎

[@nickerickson2719]

Fucking comedy! Fixie to CX to Touring to XC to sleepovers! Love it.

[@supakidgalaxy]

I’m a grown ass man and I don’t like going to my local bike shop because of the aggro attitudes

[@whollymary7406]

it is hard to understand what this guy is talking about other than just ride and have a good time

[@michaelnice93]

You could call it bike-packing but then qualify it, Bike-packer touring v. Bike packer racing v. Bike-packer camping

[@romanschol8525]

Nobody care

[@dogwalk3]

i absolutely love what you're doing and this video but please use a compressor. you about ruptured my eardrums with some of those laughs and coughs.

[@chbr2a]

So much ridiculus laughhing 🙄

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I know. God forbid we have fun.

[@KOL630]

@@PathLessPedaledTV haha how dare you emit more than a mere chortle! 😂