Truckee to Bellingham by Mountain Bike | Jake Mann | E28
We first interviewed @notjakemann in Episode 11 right before he embarked on a two-month bikepacking journey from Truckee to Bellingham, Washington. In Episode 28, the boys catch up with Jake and hear all the good times, scary times, wet times and confusing times he had, including harrowing encounters with skunks and toothless rednecks, abundant cats, and friendly folks happy to accommodate a stinky mountain biker who raised nearly $8,000 for World Bicycle Relief, funding nearly 50 bikes for people in third world countries. The boys also give some listener shout outs, reflect on the first season of Mind the Track, chat about more bear encounters in Sierra County, Reno’s shrinking homeless population, Truckee’s increasing cost of living woes, more Hunga Tonga theories and Snoop Dogg’s Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderrific Snow Report.
She Rides | Alenka Vrecek | E23
At age 54, Alenka Vrecek decided it was never too late for an adventure by bike, rolling out her front door in Tahoe City, aiming 2,500 miles south to her other door at the tip of Baja Mexico. For nearly two months Alenka rode alone, giving her ample time to think about life, struggle, love, loss, family and the meaning of home through the eyes of a Slovenian immigrant. A cancer survivor dealing with her husband’s recent diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, Alenka made the tough decision to temporarily leave her family behind, achieving a lifelong desire to adventure before she couldn’t any more. Alenka’s book, She Rides – Chasing Dreams Across California and Mexico is an exceptionally well-written account of the adventure, channeling the great alpinist authors Reinhold Messner and Nejc Zaplotnik, her literary heroes. Our discussion with Alenka is more than just about the bike or the book; it’s about self-discovery, finding strength within yourself and mustering the courage to persevere against all odds.
Bikepacking Adventures with Jake Mann | E11
Recorded once again in the back of the Toyota SendRadder mobile recording studio on the shores of Donner Lake, @pow_bot and @trail_whisperer shoot the bull with @notjakemann (it’s him he promises) and his upcoming 5 week, 1,300 mile bikepacking mountain bike adventure from Truckee to Port Townsend, Washington. Jake is the founding member of the @truckeebikepackingcollective but he only got into bikepacking three years ago during the height of the COVID pandemic, riding the entire Continental Divide trail from Canada to Mexico after not riding a bike for 10 years. After that trip, Jake was hooked and hasn’t stopped riding. He even quit his job @newmoonnaturalfoods to ride the Divide, only to return with a pay raise and a better title! The boys also talk about PowBot turning 50 years young and getting an ebike, not providing too much information regarding trails and ski zones, whitewater rafting the Truckee River, PowBot’s eastern Sierra ski mission and a lot more! Help support Jake and his effort to raise money for @worldbicyclerelief – donate through the link in his Instagram profile and follow along with him as he makes his way north! Rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Spotify. Supported by @sendy_app - #mindthetrack #mindthetrackpodcast #bikepacking #continentaldivide #bikeadventures