Better with Bikes

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.