Podcast
With Pace
Hosted by Payson McElveen · EN
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.
30episodes
Episodes
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Sahara Gravel stage 4 recap with Leoni Kolberg
Feb 2700:30:50Tap to summarizeTo close out our Sahara Gravel coverage, Payson sat down with race volunteer Leoni Kolberg, who has spent the past four years riding around the world, often solo and sleeping in a tent. Last year, she rode across South America. Before that, she rode across Iran and Pakistan. Leoni sat down with Payson amongst the sand dunes to talk about what it’s like to live on the road for so long, dealing with the solitude, perfecting the art of reading books while riding, and why she’s decided to change things up this year. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Sahara Gravel stage 3 recap with Eddy Le Huitouze
Feb 2600:18:03Tap to summarizeStage 3 of Sahara Gravel took the riders away from the Atlas Mountains and towards the Sahara Desert, with 95 kilometers ending in a tailwind. Payson is joined by stage winner Eddy Le Huitouze to discuss how the race played out, but first, they do a little background on how he got here. The 22-year-old Frenchman just completed two years in the WorldTour with FDJ and has been racing bikes since the tender age of six. He talks about his time in the WorldTour, lining up for Flanders and Roubaix last year, and why he’s left the road behind to race gravel this year. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Sahara Gravel stage 2 recap with Nicolas Roche and Marta Torà
Feb 2500:25:41Tap to summarizeStage 2 of Sahara Gravel comprised 105km and 1800 meters of climbing. To recap the day, Payson is joined by former WorldTour pro Nicolas Roche and mountain biker Marta Torà, who are taking on the race together in the pairs category. They talk about how they’ve worked out their pacing strategy, what they each bring to the table with their vastly different racing backgrounds, and the tight battle they had today with a pair of men. They also talk about how they’re using Sahara Gravel as training for the Cape Epic next month. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Sahara Gravel stage 1 recap with Lizzie Hermolle
Feb 2400:17:53Tap to summarizeStage 1 of Sahara Gravel was 99 kilometers in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Payson is joined to recap the day by UK Gravel National Champ and today's stage winner, Lizzlie Hermolle. They discuss the profile of the route, an unexpected camel caravan, and the difficulty of riding through the desert sand. Lizzie also discusses her bike setup for the race and provides some background on her recent entry into the gravel world. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Caleb Swartz on transitioning from cyclocross to the Grand Prix
Feb 1701:48:03Tap to summarizeCaleb Swartz started racing cyclocross when he was eight years old, but the discipline has been dwindling in the US since the 2010s, and the writing has been on the wall for any American racers wanting to make a sustainable career from it. Last year, Caleb started branching out into a few gravel events just to see where it would take him, and he ended up with two standout performances at Grand Prix races — 11th at Little Sugar and 6th at Big Sugar. This year, he’s going all-in as one of the new faces on the GP roster. Payson sat down with Caleb after a surprise encounter in Girona to talk about how he’s navigating training for a season unlike any he’s ever done, how his years of hardscrabble work behind the scenes as a privateer have set him up for this moment, and the tough industry realities that have led him to transition away from cyclocross. They also talk about his collegiate racing days at Marian, graduating during the pandemic, and the high-speed crash he had at Big Sugar that didn’t stop him from nearly making the podium.This episode was brought to you by Osprey and TrainingPeaks. Head to TrainingPeaks.com/withpace to sign up now.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Allied FITZ is here: CEO Drew Medlock and Director of Product and Engineering Sam Pickman on the new trail bike
Feb 900:47:54Tap to summarizeYou might have heard that Allied just released a new feather-light trail bike this week. The FITZ is new territory for the brand, so it seemed like a good opportunity to bring in Allied’s CEO Drew Medlock and Director of Product and Engineering Sam Pickman to talk about why they decided to add a trail bike to their lineup and what makes this one so unique. They discuss the nitty-gritty specs, of course, as well as the decision-making process and behind-the-scenes debates that went into it, but they also talk about their individual journeys with the bike, from defying the aging process to Payson's religious experience on a trail he's ridden countless times. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveenEmail: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Riley Amos on his first year as an Elite and his love of product development
Feb 101:34:23Tap to summarizeMost riders spend their first year in the Elite ranks just trying to find their feet, but Riley Amos was determined to be different. He had good reason for it. Not only did he have a dominant final season as a U23 in 2024, but he also finished 7th at the Paris Olympics, the highest an American male has ever finished in the Olympic XC race. Looking back on his mindset coming into 2025, though, he admits that he might have pushed himself a little too hard. Riley sat down with Payson in Girona this week to talk about how overtraining and back pain led to a somewhat disappointing 2025 and how observing fellow riders like Nino Schurter and Chris Blevins has changed his entire approach this year. Then, they get nerdy about product testing, specifically Riley’s relationship with Trek product development grandmaster Travis Brown and his years-long obsession with suspension. Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveen Email: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Haley Smith on becoming a privateer in 2026 while doing her PhD
Jan 2501:17:20Tap to summarizeHaley Smith has been on one factory team or another since she was in her teens. In that time, she spent a decade as a World Cup XC racer, went to the 2021 Olympics, and won the inaugural round of the Life Time Grand Prix. But this year, she’s embarking on a new chapter as a privateer. She’s also doing it while completing her PhD. Haley caught up with Payson in Girona this week to talk about the challenges and opportunities of privateering, including why it was the best way forward for her and how she’s pieced together her program. She also talks about the all-star coach she’s been working with since November and why she felt that now was the time to continue her academic work. This episode was made possible by:Maap.ccOsprey.comInstagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveen Email: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →Mads Würtz Schmidt on his transition from WorldTour to gravel
Jan 1801:13:03Tap to summarizeMads Würtz Schmidt might be a newcomer to gravel, but he’s already established himself as one of the best in the world. The 31-year-old Danish rider went all in on the sport last year with little financial support and ended up winning the Traka, becoming the European Gravel Champion, and snagging fourth at Unbound. This year, he’ll be racing alongside Keegan Swenson and Matt Beers as part of the new Specialized off-road team. Mads joined Payson in Girona to talk about his reluctant departure from the WorldTour, how becoming a dad has changed everything, and why he prefers doing heat training to altitude training. They also talk about his dominance as a junior and U23 rider, the low point in 2022 when he thought about quitting cycling altogether, and how he thinks the introduction of teams into gravel (including Specialized Off-road) will change the sport. Thank you to TrainingPeaks for sponsoring this episode. Go to TrainingPeaks.com/withpace and use code DREAM20 for 20% off TrainingPeaks Premium. Thanks also to Osprey.com for sponsoring this episode. Head to their website to shop last year’s collection for up to 40% off.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveen Email: howdy@withpace.cc
Transcribe →2025 in review (with Nichole Baker)
Jan 901:57:26Tap to summarizeWe're back from our holiday break, and Payson and Nichole are here to recap a packed 2025. They offer a peek behind the curtain at their year, from the emotional toll of Payson's broken hip last spring to finally offloading one of the worst investments of all time. They also answer listener questions about Nichole's first year of structured training and racing, their favorite off the bike accomplishments of the year, and coffee.This episode is sponsored by TrainingPeaks. Visit trainingpeaks.com/withpace to sign up now.This episode is also supported by Osprey. Visit Osprey.com to learn more.Instagram: @withpacepodcastYouTube: Payson McElveen Email: howdy@withpace.cc
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