7 Podcasts for Cyclists
by Brynn Cunningham
Podcasts are a wonderful way to be educated and entertained, to find inspiration and community. They can provide motivation and be thought-provoking.
On-demand stories, interviews, conversations, and news reports on nearly any topic under the sun can be found in podcast form these days. And our Wilderness Voyageurs bike tours staff have selected the very best of those from the cycling world.
Below are seven current biking podcasts that we love. We hope you find a new favorite amongst the list. Give them a listen, and let us know which ones speak to you! You never know – maybe they’ll inspire you to sign up for your next bike tour!
Bike Life by the Warmshowers Foundation
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Katie Barnhill
I once took a solo bike trip from Maine to Texas. After long biking days in my own head, I craved the companionship of other humans- which is when I discovered the wonderful bike touring hosting network of Warmshowers! I have met the most interesting and kind people through this community, and when I later discovered they had created a podcast that shared other bike travelers stories- I was hooked! This podcast interviews bike riders who have done everything from regional trips to cross-continent adventures. All of them have at one point connected with the Warmshowers community, and they all share the same sentiment- the world is a kind place if you dare to get out there and trust it!
Cyclist Magazine Podcast by Cyclist Magazine
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Paul Kingsbury
I enjoy the Cyclist Magazine Podcast because it focuses on top level road racers and the related equipment of today and especially yesterday. As someone who’s been in the bicycle business all my life, and a long-time roadie, I love hearing stories about the Greats of bicycle racing. In the days of Armstrong vs Ullrich, I was an Ullrich fan, which didn’t make my cycling buddies happy. Episode 1 about Ullrich is a fav. And of course, as a fan of vintage bikes and vintage racing, Eddie Merckx is my all time favorite. In fact, one of my favorite personal bikes is an early ’90s Team Telekom Eddie Merckx that I ride quite often in the summer. Steel is real! Check out Episode 149 about the making of a documentary about Eddie. Lots of fun backstories. And Episode 33 about Race Announcer, Phil Liggett. I mean, who doesn’t love Phil?
Mid-Atlantic Gravel, Travel & Dirt by Mid-Atlantic Gravel
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Paul Kingsbury
These days, my road bikes sit idle much of the time while I ride my gravel bike and adventure bikes. I’ve found I really like touring on quiet dirt roads and bits of singletrack trail with friends. Just rolling along at a casual pace in clothing that doesn’t look all racy. That’s why I enjoy Mid-Atlantic Gravel, Travel, and Dirt Podcast. It’s all about adventuring on rugged bikes in areas very near where I live. In fact, I could ride from home to the start of some of these routes. I especially like episodes about the Pine Creek area, like 272 and 250, and episodes about the Endless Mountains Route, like Episode 262.
Bikes or Death by Patrick Farnsworth
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Jesse Wilson
I’ve been listening to this podcast for a couple years now and always listen to episodes as they come out. Bikes or Death is an interview style podcast showcasing ultra endurance athletes, races, every day touring, and all things bikes. Tough to choose just one episode here! A couple of favorites that come to mind: Episode 108- Mental Health and the Outdoors, a look at how cycling can be therapeutic, Episode 148- Maria Osowski, How to stay out of Physical Therapy, some tips on staying healthy on the bike, and Episode 154- GRUSK w/ Maggie Livelsberger and Chris Joice, a look into a fun ride through the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia (the go-to backyard place to ride and an event I’ve participated in a couple times). If you like getting a glimpse into endurance riding, fun biking events, and all that goes along with riding, then this is a podcast worth digging into.
Bicycle Touring Pro Podcast by Sam
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Jesse Wilson
I just recently started listening to this podcast. Darren Alff tells stories about his 20 plus years of bike touring across the world and brings in other inspiring riders’ stories. The podcast features wild short stories and exciting moments from his travels and lessons learned from the road. His newer podcasts have started to feature other rider stories and their experiences exploring by bike. The more recent episodes featuring Eric Cedeno and his underground railroad and buffalo soldier projects were what pulled me into the podcast. Then I found fun stories about animal encounters, police encounters, and Peruvian bus stories.
MTB Podcast by Worldwide Cyclery
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Jesse Wilson
I’ve been listening to the MTB Podcast for a year or so. It discusses all things mountain biking and beyond. The hosts are a lighthearted crew of fun loving folks that work in the industry and talk about everything from new products, racing, travel, and just bikes in general. No real favorite episode, just some fun guys to listen to.
The Pinkbike Podcast by Pinkbike
Recommended by Bike Tour Manager and Guide Jesse Wilson
I’ve been listening to this podcast for a year or so also. Another mountain biking podcast discussing all things bikes. These guys have been talking bikes for years. Bike and product reviews are their thing, but they also feature racing news and trends. This is another one where I can’t say I have a favorite episode, but I like to keep up with the latest shows to hear what is going on in the biking world.
Final Thoughts
There are many more cycling podcasts out there – if you don’t see your favorite on the list, let us know what it is. We’d love to hear from you.
Brynn has been working for the Wilderness Voyageurs Bike Tours Department since 2019. She began mountain biking and gravel riding regularly in 2010 (back before “gravel” was popularized), is a member of the Ohiopyle Biking Club, leads their Lady Ripper rides, and currently lives and plays year round in Ohiopyle, PA, where it’s 33-50 degrees approximately five months out of the year.