#PLPTalks 

The funnest times of my childhood and early teenage years was just getting our super heavy chrome BMX bikes and just ride all over town and around the river. Just exploring any random trail or dirt road we came across. It makes sense that we go full circle back to that simplicity because it is the most fun you can have on a bike

One of the things I love about this end of cycling is it always comes done to: Ride Bikes, Have Fun. Ultraromance just like the Bicycle Quaterly lot just makes you want to get out and ride. There's the respect for the history- French Constructeurs through to early 80s Californian Mountain Bike pioneers (who themselves acknowledged the link) via English Tourers and just an infectious enthusiasm for bikes! Even when pushing a certain style of say tyres or handlebars it's never pushy, but more like 'so I've found that this works for me and here's why I think it might work for you. Bicycle Quaterly is factual and methodical, Ultraromance is thinking outside the box but also a willingness to test out the ideas. I get joy from what both are doing, even if I fall more into the BQ camp I'm still an ex messenger Bike Punk, son of a Club Cyclist. And there's a lot of people out there making me love cycling right now. Did this ever get made into a podcast, I'd love to hear it with clearer audio?

I've always thought that comfort and fun equals cycling for the masses! This gentlemen is a breath of fresh air.

When the cult leader speaks we must listen.

Nice interview. As a teenager in 1973, during the wonderful few years of "bike boom," we used the term "bike packing." We either backpacked, or bike packed. I was lucky because a found a set of panniers, and hooked them on the my new Raleigh Record, and off I went. Every gas station had free maps, we never got really lost, maybe just a little off track sometimes. It is great to hear the old term "bike packing" being used again. Some of the modern equipment is really great, but my go to bike is still a 30+ year old touring bike with 27 inch wheels.

my personal fave interview to date Russ, I like how he described leaving the confines of aggro bike racing and that particular vibe, and then moving over to touring and finding a new found love of the essence of cycling like that through the eyes of a child. also enjoyed how bike camping is fun and acceptable as an adult sleep over. I am coming off of 5 years of racing bicycles and the carbon/ performance oriented/ weight weenie/ super aero vibe...to now more of a love of touring and finding myself again and why I loved riding bicycles in the first place, so hearing it from Benedict really made me happy inside. Mahalo for this, big time!

Bikey people are just oozing with positivity even when they're off the bike.

Epic, thanks for putting this interview together Russ.

Finally got around to sitting down and digging in on this one. It's so good. I love so much of what he has to say.

Good to have finally heard the voice behind the face. Sorry I missed his talk at the 2017 PBE, while I was there.

Thank you! Excellent video!

Amen on the bike shop guy vibe... 100%

Ultraromance is to bike touring as the Big Lebowski is to Dudism!

It’s cool how good of a listener russ is

So good!

Hey Russ , you did a great job on this interview. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great series. Uplifting and joyful interview. Hope you can connect with Lael for one of these.

I cant believe he's so nice! hahaha. This has been one of my favourite interviews so far. Loving your work Russ.

"Keyed into the destination rather than the journey of the tour." Love it. I am just getting back into riding since 1990, and am planning an EPIC ride through Canada's Rockies that will include the famous BC Trail. I have the Start in Canmore AB, and finish in Vancouver. In all the map studiying, and plotting of potential camp locations etc I have to remind myself that THIS IS NOT A RACE! I have driven through all parts of BC along the highways, but super stoked to be planning to see sites NOT seen by anyone but former railroaders and other adventurers.

And I thought I was cool 😎...great interview!

great interview

I had neck problems with drop handlebars so I got a touring bike with wide butterfly bars. However, I found I can still use drops -- with a Satori Heads-Up 4 stem raiser.

Enjoying your interviews, thanks. Would love to see one with "pushbikegirl"

He is right about the bike shop aggro salesmen, I have never gone into a bike shop and felt like they were not talking down to me, with THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT without really asking what I want. Sounds like a great guy.

Love you Bene!

I love how he's just drinking a gallon jug of kombucha. Classic Poppi

"Beyond the ideas I can't really actualize" Damn, this gives me hope!

Please interview Grant Petersen! His manifestos, books and videos form the basis of my Velosophy but it would be cool to see a conversation like this.

I can’t even get em on the train 😂

Hey Russ! Really love these interviews. Have you considered putting the audio available for download on apple podcasts? That would be sweet!

Interview suggestion: John Slawta - Landshark bikes (Talent, OR). Interesting guy, beautiful bikes, lots of stories.

OMGEEE...the "wagging boner bag" was the best thing about this...I always said I'd never have one for the same reason. I bought one, but gave it away. I love the Fabio's Chest bags, but haven't bought one yet. I needed to hear the "embrace technology" mantra again. As much as I dislike it, it does connect our tribe. He's awesome, and more articulate than I would have imagined. Keep on romancing, Romanceür. You are awesome!

I think it's a great observation about touring being 'not marketable' (around 12:30) that has been so obvious in the past few years - hipsters abandoned fixies for touring bikes, MTB-ish bikes, CX bikes, and began camping/racing/getting outdoors in a way that might not have been obvious. Too bad Rivendell hasn't benefitted from this as much as many others (Crust, Swift, Specialized, Kona, Surly) have!

Here from the future to confirm Ron’s back into body building

Best Aust. accent attempt ever. I thought it was captain jack sparrow.

I like yur style dude

Other than Grant and Jan, Logan Watts, Joe Cruz, Lael Wilcox, Cass Gilbert, John Watson, and Iohan from See the World come to mind.

More Ron and Russ, plz!

Evolving to HyperRomance

Could you publish these on apples podcasts?

😎

Was he talking about the CRUST NULLARBAR bars?

Matisyahu goes bikepacking

Why does everyone assume Jergens is for that?

bene is my biological father.

Fucking comedy! Fixie to CX to Touring to XC to sleepovers! Love it.

You could call it bike-packing but then qualify it, Bike-packer touring v. Bike packer racing v. Bike-packer camping

it is hard to understand what this guy is talking about other than just ride and have a good time

I’m a grown ass man and I don’t like going to my local bike shop because of the aggro attitudes

i absolutely love what you're doing and this video but please use a compressor. you about ruptured my eardrums with some of those laughs and coughs.

So much ridiculus laughhing 🙄