About Our Team

How I Got Into Cycling

I owe an old college pal, Shaun Radley, huge props for introducing the sport of cycling to me at the age of 19. He convinced 13 of our friends to ride from Seattle to Portland in 1 day (200 miles!), and I’ve been hooked ever since. After college, I guided mountain bike tours in Moab, Utah while simultaneously racing my mountain bike on the professional level for 7 years. The combination of guiding and racing professionally has been the foundation of my “career” and those two things gave me the confidence to start a touring company on our own terms.

Favorite Adventure

The most recent best adventure was with Zander while we scouted our Torino, Italy to Nice, France road bike trip. The two of us packed a toothbrush, a pair of Toms shoes, a puffy jacket, rain jacket, a t-shirt, a pair of pants, and a wallet in our Revelate saddle bag. We adventured with no agenda or worries to dream of for 8 days of riding that just absolutely rocked my world. We climbed some of the tallest mountains in the Alps all day long and finished with a beautiful French glass of wine each day. For me, it truly doesn’t get much better!

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

My most recent best memory was in Mallorca this past spring. After an incredible picnic lunch mid-ride, everyone made our way over to climb Puig Major (the tallest mountain on the island of Mallorca). Each of us in the group settled into our own rhythm and made our way to the top, all arriving at different times. The cheering squad got bigger and bigger as more of us arrived at the top. Hugs, high fives, and so much fun emotion as the final riders made it up!!! On our way down the backside of the mountain we stuck together with massive smiles on our faces knowing what we had all just accomplished and a beautiful evening all together was upon us.

How I Got Into Cycling

I’ve been riding a bike since I was little. Most of those memories are from growing up spending summers on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Fast forward to college and I found myself friends who enjoyed riding mountain bikes on the trails above and surrounding Missoula. Growing up a multi-sport athlete, I loved the simplicity and ease of jumping on a bike and saying bye to reality for a handful of hours. It became a special place and escape from time, and it’s brought me around the world and in touch with many wonderful people. 

When Heidi and I started The Cyclist’s Menu in 2015, we realized we could offer this same escape for others in our own unique way. I’ve always said, “Everyday I get to ride my bike and prepare great meals, it’s the best day in the biz.” 

Favorite Adventure

As a chef and cyclist, my favorite adventure to date was scouting our trip in Cormons, Italy. Literally everything I love about travel, food, people, and riding my bike came together across one landscape during this trip. Live the Italian lifestyle, and ride your bike all day in Slovenia, I mean, can it get any better?

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

A favorite memory of mine was during our 2023 Mendocino Gravel experience. It wasn’t earth shattering, it was just a moment where I realized the entire crew was tasting and discussing how fresh our meal was. The menu that week was one of my favorites to date, however, the Pacific halibut and Sonoma County tri tip steak were exceptionally good this year, and it caught everyone's attention at the table. I will never forget this moment because it takes dedication and education to procure, serve, and teach why supporting local agricultural producers, ranchers, and in this case, fisher-women, is so important. 

How I Got Into Cycling

I got into cycling by riding various bikes on the dirt roads around my childhood home in Lyme, New Hampshire. I eventually got a white Raleigh M-80 hardtail and got my first taste of two-wheeled freedom: riding my bike to friend’s houses fueled by country store Mountain Dew and beef jerky. These days I ride mixed terrain with and without my hound dog, Scarlet, and girlfriend Ida, and take pictures for a living as a professional photographer.

How I Got Into Cycling

I somehow was hooked on bikes at an early age. First on a bmx bike, then I grew on to mountain bikes, road bikes, track bikes, and now gravel. All of them have shown me tons of great adventures and helped me meet like-minded people.

Favorite Adventure

There isn't one adventure in mind, but bikes opened up an alternative mode of transportation and showed me a different kind of beauty in cities, towns, and outdoors that cannot be explained unless pedaled and experienced. I sure do love a nice unpaved commute to a coffee shop.

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

MALLORCA! From the zig zag uphill climbs, ocean side descents, small town pass thru, and the amazing food. Once in a lifetime trip with great people and unique roadways that lead to villages with unique smells and flavors and hidden wine cellars. 

How I Got Into Cycling

I got into cycling when I was 12—I had seen the Tour de France on TV and immediately wanted to be like those riders. I eventually convinced my mom to get me a bike (she’s been a cyclist her entire life, too) and it quickly became a family hobby we did on the weekends.

Favorite Adventure

I drove in from San Luis Obispo to intern with TCM for the week. Little did I know we’d experience unprecedented riding conditions for Patagonia and the SRV—the heaviest snowfall in years and muddy roads. But we were able to get a couple hundred miles in that week, including the original Spirit World route. It was my biggest day on a bike ever. I definitely got into the spirit world that day.

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

Immersing ourselves in Friuli culture in Cormons: the wine, the food, the mountains, the tempo of life, crossing between Italy and Slovenia seamlessly.

How I Got Into Cycling

I started racing in college and have been riding and racing since 1999. I raced bikes professionally for 8 years all over the world, competing across Europe, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and throughout the US. I was fortunate to race for the US National Team and competed in both road and cyclocross World Cups. 

Favorite Adventure

I retired from racing in 2018 and love long exploration rides with friends and backpacking. Some of my favorite memories on the bike are getting lost exploring back roads in China and Japan, bikepacking the Cape Loop in Baja Mexico and the Idaho Hot Springs route. 

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

My favorite memories on TCM trips are helping guests push themselves out of their comfort zone and get to the top of a difficult climb or finish a long day and then getting to toast a glass of wine and enjoy a good meal together in the evening.

How I Got Into Cycling

I’ve lived in Tucson, Arizona all my life until last year when Heidi & Zander convinced me to move to the magical town of Patagonia. I’ve been a photographer for over 14 years and I have a special love for photographing people, food, and branding. A whole new world was opened to me when H+Z invited me to capture the Spirit World 100 and their TCM gravel camps.

Favorite Adventure

Photographing these gravel experiences has been filled with nothing but good people, great food, and beautiful views that are always just around the bend.

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

My favorite memory on a TCM trip was in November 2023 in Patagonia — the trees were turning to their bright Autumn colors, the weather was gorgeous, and I was in the front seat of the SAG truck hanging out with Noe and taking photos of our riders as they traveled across the San Rafael Valley. I had already spent some time in the SRV, but I was about to begin my move to Patagonia. That gravel camp made me absolutely fall in love with our landscape and my heart was swelling with so much excitement for my next chapter and the new possibilities that were heading my way.

How I Got Into Cycling

Coming from a large family there was always a lot of commotion at home. I spent a lot of time outside and playing sports as an escape. I was already playing a bunch of team sports in school and wasn’t really looking to add another. One day in 8th grade a bunch of friends and I jumped on our bikes and started riding. Their destination was a party 5 miles out of town but I kept on going, invigorated by the pump. After that day, I dropped all those sports and took up cycling. Even now when things get to be too much I know I have to jump on my bike and ride it out. 

Favorite Adventure

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

Hi, my name is Big Sky, but a lot of people call me “Biggie”. I weigh 100 lbs and apparently that’s a pretty big dog? Mom and Dad have been ditching me to ride their bikes since the day I joined the family. I’ve attended every single trip in the US with The Cyclist’s Menu since I was 8 weeks old, including Mexico Gravel! My life is more rich because of all the amazing people I get to meet on TCM trips and the love that they give me along the way.

Favorite Adventure

The best adventure I’ve been on was hands down with Noe (our TCM mechanic/guide). We drove all the way from Patagonia, AZ to Mendocino, CA - JUST THE TWO OF US!!! Mom, Dad & Burchie girl flew in from a family wedding so it enabled me to drive all the needed gear for our TCM Mendo Gravel Trip with my pal, Noe. I felt so useful and happy about it! Upon our arrival in Mendocino, Mom & Dad met us there and took me swimming in the beautiful ocean every single morning before they left for their bike ride.

Favorite Memory on a TCM Trip

My best TCM memory was on one of our Montana Gravel Trips. It was the first time I felt grown up enough to be invited to chill out with all of our guests during happy hour and beyond. The amount of attention I received was unmatched to any other moment in my life up to that point. It was an eye opener to how special it is that Mom & Dad bring me along on these trips so that my life can include meeting so many amazing people along the way. I love you all and I genuinely can’t wait for all the love we will share together on an upcoming trip!