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What started as a fun way to get out of the house during lockdown soon evolved into a community of over sixty people looking to make a difference. In 2020, Chad Bennett, Aquil Jannah, and Chris Harvell put together a Fathers Day ride consisting of just fourteen people riding eighteen miles. What they found was something far greater. With the spark of an idea and a passion for the camaraderie that cycling creates, they founded Black Watts—a group of cyclists that would work to help make cycling accessible to as many people as possible.  From the start, Black Watts would be more than just a cycling club. It would be a group of dedicated husbands and fathers that would work to subvert stereotypes and improve mental health and wellbeing for black fathers and families through cycling.  In this episode, Chad, Aquil, and Chris join us to discuss the mission of Black Watts and the difference they’re making in their community. Though it started as a club for husbands and fathers, they’re determined to make Black Watts an “everybody” group. They discuss the challenges people of color face when they get into cycling, how we can work to make cycling a more inclusive experience, and what their hopes are for the future of cycling. Check out Black Watts’ podcast, More Watts, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Kh2zr1dXjCHn6UK6yxYc5?si=6b3b12f0f6fd4426 

Life is unpredictable and crazy, and very rarely, if ever, does it go to plan. Professional cyclist Lizzie Deignan can undoubtedly attest to this. When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Becoming a cyclist was never in her vocabulary; however, life had other plans. In the latest episode of "Better with Bikes," hosts Eric Bjorling and Richie Burke interview World Champion, Olympic medalist, four-time British National Champion, and 2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner, Lizzie Deignan. They cover everything from her surprising introduction to cycling, the decision to have a child mid-career, and making history with the 2021 Paris-Roubaix win. Though Lizzie has accomplished much throughout her career, she is far from over. She has a second child on the way but mentioned she's far from retiring and looking forward to the next adventure. Lizzie Deignan has proven herself to be a trailblazer in women's cycling and women's sports; we are proud to have her representing our team, and we look forward to what she will accomplish in the future. For more Better with Bikes content: https://www.instagram.com/trekbikes/

Very rarely do we have the chance to ask the inventor of something that changes the world what they were thinking. If you could talk lightbulbs with Thomas Edison, phones with Alexander Graham Bell, what would you say? That’s the conversation we’re having today with Gary Fisher — a man widely credited with the invention and popularization of an entirely new idea that would one day grow to an olympic sport enjoyed by millions across the globe.  In this expansive discussion about Gary’s new biography Being Gary Fisher, we cover Gary’s Bay Area California amateur road racing upbringing, his time organizing the Grateful Dead’s first shows, and what led him and a collection of free thinkers to leave the pavement behind to “ride bikes in the woods.”  Learn about the evolution of the mountain bike, its trial-and-error development, and rise in popularity. We’ll also talk about how mountain biking evolved into an olympic sport, how Trek got involved, and reveal some of Gary’s favorite places to ride, reminiscing on some of Gary’s most iconic bikes along the way.

On this episode of Better With Bikes, we’re happy to welcome Wall Street Journal sports columnist, author, and bike nut Jason Gay. Jason joined Mark and Eric, all from their respective living rooms, to talk about COVID-19’s impact on the cycling world, among other things. Together, they discuss the sports world as a whole during the pandemic, talk about what it’s like to be the “bike guy” in the office, and provide a few tips for other aspiring stay-at-home virtual cyclists. 

Cycling has changed drastically over the last 30 years. Advances in materials science and engineering technology have propelled bike development to places folks previously couldn’t imagine.  But despite this boom, a critical piece of the puzzle remained unchanged, stuck in the early 80s: helmet safety technology.  Today on the Better With Bikes podcast, you’ll meet the three brilliant minds responsible for bringing WaveCel technology to the forefront of the cycling community. Our host, Mark, and first-time co-host, Eric, sit down with Dr. Steve Madey and biomedical engineer Dr. Michael Bottlang, creators of WaveCel. Trek’s Lead Helmet Designer, Tony White, joins the conversation to discuss how the new safety tech was brought to Trek Bicycle. Together, they’ll discuss how WaveCel came to be, how the technology works, and why it’s so important for the future of cranium protection across the cycling realm and beyond.

Eric Larsen is a seasoned adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher, and educator who’s spent the last fifteen years traveling to some of Earth’s most remote remaining places.  That’s quite the rap sheet. But his greatest achievement has been sharing his passion for the outdoors with others, educating them on humanity’s impact on our planet.  Today, we’re talking with Eric about his polar adventures and how he’s worked to bring awareness to the climate change conversation through his expeditions. There are plenty of inspiring, goofy stories, and Eric’s unique perspective and determined attitude is quite a treat. We sure enjoyed having him in the studio, and hope you learn something helpful while listening to our chat. 

Cycling is always better when you’re doing it with the people you enjoy most. For Trek-Segafredo professional women’s team athletes and best friends Ruth Winder and Tayler Wiles, riding for the same team was the opportunity to create a friendship that goes far beyond bikes.  On this episode, we’ll dispel some myths about women’s cycling, find out how the dynamic duo spends their off-season, and talk about how these two peas in a pod grew to become the “light-hearted core of the team”.

Cycling is a sport known for its rising stars, but it’s not often one of those bright young athletes finds himself shooting straight to the top. At just 23 years old, racing in some of the worst weather the world championship series has ever seen, Mads Pedersen stood atop the podium when the smoke cleared. People were shocked by the outcome, but if you really knew Mads — well, you wouldn’t be all that surprised. Mads, along with his Trek-Segafredo Men’s and Women’s teammates, stopped into Trek HQ for our annual Team Camp. While he was here, we found a few minutes to talk about racing, marriage, pastries, and learn what a world champion orders at McDonald’s. 

On this episode of Better with Bikes, we sit down with country music star Luke Bryan. Luke stopped into Trek’s Waterloo, WI headquarters during his annual Farm Tour to spend some time talking bikes and sharing stories with the Trek Family.  In addition to a Q&A‌ with Trek employees, you’ll hear about how one of country music’s brightest stars became a  passionate cyclist, got comfortable wearing “froufrou pants”, how cycling keeps him in shape when he’s on tour, and more.

At only 26 years old, Jolanda Neff has already achieved a somewhat mythical reputation in the cycling world.  Racing professionally in three — yes, three — disciplines (road, mountain, and cyclocross) brings its own set of unique challenges, but Jolanda still has plenty of fun. On this installment of Better with Bikes, we sit down with the former World Champion, European Champion, and multiple-time World Cup winner to discuss how Jolanda got her start in the sport, why she’s surprised to find herself in a professional career, and the differences between the three disciplines she races. We’ll also cover her growing acting portfolio, how she ended up a Tennessee state champion, and settle the “Swiss vs. Belgian chocolate” debate once and for all. 

On this installment of Better With Bikes, Mark sits down with the legendary Bo Jackson. Widely considered the greatest athlete of all time, Bo’s not just a fierce competitor — he’s a caring, passionate person with an unshakable love for his community. When Alabama was torn apart by tornadoes in 2011, Bo knew he had to pull the community back together. Thus, Bo Bikes Bama was born. Listen in to hear about the origins of Bo Bikes Bama, the ride’s impact on the community, what Bo does to escape being Bo, and much, much more.

Marine pollution is a massive issue that’s plaguing our planet. Through Trek’s partnership with the NextWave consortium, we were introduced to Bureo, a company that recycles hundreds of thousands of tons of fishing nets from the ocean.  On this episode, we’ll talk to Bureo’s founder, David Stover, to discuss the massive problem of ocean pollution and learn what we can do about it. We’ll tell Bureo’s story, discuss how plastics threaten the Earth’s fragile ecosystems, and unpack ways both companies and consumers alike can reduce waste and give Mother Nature the helping hand she deserves.