Open Mic With Mike Creed

THIS EPISODE Mike takes time out of the Team SmartStop training camp in Badger, CA, to sit down with Frank Pipp (@frankpipp), long-time US domestic hard man of the peloton who raced for Bissell Pro Cycling and Health Net p/b Maxxis. Set to the soundtrack of tinkling ice cubes, their wide-ranging conversation touches on boxing as aggression therapy, water polo and pool-peeing, Carl Menzies the silverback superhero, their favorite DQ stories, controlling the elitist attitude, and Frank's life after racing working at Training Peaks. We're also treated to a very funny Phil Gaimon/Mark Cavendish nature break story. This is an amazingly interesting conversation between two snarky and talented bike racers with a good sense of perspective on racing in the U.S. You're sure to be thoroughly entertained by it. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a

THIS EPISODE is a recording from six months ago of a conversation Mike had with his old friend and first cycling coach, Chris Carmichael. Carmichael is a person who needs little to no introduction for most of our audience, so you won't find a lengthy biographical blurb here. For a variety of reasons, we weren't able to have the audio go live last April, but we finally got the green light over the weekend to upload the podcast. With that in mind, realize that some of the conversation might seem a bit dated, but for the most part it's an intriguing look at Chris's involvement in the sport, his early roots racing in south Florida, his thoughts and philosophies on coaching his roster of athletes, and what he considers to be the vital difference between motivation and inspiration. Don't expect this to be a hard-hitting journalistic interview; Mike isn't an investigative reporter and the podcast isn't America's Most Wanted. What you'll find here is an engaging conversation between old friends with reminiscences and

THIS EPISODE Mike visits Kiel Reijnen to do a podcast, Alex Howes drops in, it's an awesome recording, and then Mike has a brain fart and accidentally deletes the bulk of the podcast. In a bold and daring move, Mike records an overly-long intro to make up for the deficit, fields questions from Twitter and answers them on-air to pad out the recording. Enjoy this 50-minute monologue showcasing the inner workings of the mind of Creed, 15 minutes of chat with Kiel Reijnen, a couple of minutes where Alex Howes shows up, Kiel's dog barks, and the recording ends. Don't say I didn't warn you. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their newly redesigned website at coloradocyclist.com and give them a follow on

THIS EPISODE Mike catches up with Team United Healthcare's Ben Day, an Aussie time trial specialist and all-around great guy. They chat about Ben's past team adventures, what flying standby means to the uninitiated, living and racing in Poland, having your wallet stolen by hotel staff (something Mike knows all too well after Interbike last year), and other random and fascinating topics. Enjoy this great conversation with one of the most interesting and versatile guys in the pro peloton today. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their newly redesigned website at coloradocyclist.com and give them a follow on Twitter at @Co_Cyclist to show your appreciation for everything they do for us. We’re also gra

THIS EPISODE Mike welcomes back old friend and bon vivant Ted King to rehash old times and talk all things Kombucha, compression socks, and how to lose Twitter followers without even trying. The two-time Tour de France starter shares some of the highs and lows of his season, the glamorous life of being on the road, maple syrup connoisseurship, and how much he loves riding his bike. Their hour and a half conversation is wild, wacky, and freewheeling, and the minutes melt away as you're sucked into the witty banter between two highly intelligent and slightly narcissistic bike dudes with a great deal of affection and respect for one another. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their newly redesigned w

THIS EPISODE Back after a completely inexcusable hiatus that consisted managing an upstart domestic cycling team to win the U.S. National Road Race Championship, the yellow jersey at the Tour of Utah, the white jersey at the Tour of Alberta, individual stages at multiple races, and the NRC Championship, Mike catches up again with old buddy Phil Gaimon, who currently sports the argyle for Team Garmin-Sharp. Mike picks up where he left off in Part 1, stroking Phil's ego by talking about how fantastic his memoir, Pro Cycling on $10 a Day is, and somehow they segue to the salary of trash collectors, the importance of avoiding the mainstream, and debate the merits of private schools and their effect on eastern block death metal. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offerin

THIS EPISODE Back after a completely inexcusable hiatus that consisted managing an upstart domestic cycling team to win the U.S. National Road Race Championship, the yellow jersey at the Tour of Utah, the white jersey at the Tour of Alberta, individual stages at multiple races, and the NRC Championship, Mike catches up again with old buddy Phil Gaimon. This time around they talk about Ben King (no edits with this podcast because they only say nice things), Eric Marcotte’s kindness to animals and his superhuman strength, how Phil thinks that Creed is the best director sportif ever, and that they have yet to meet a mean Canadian. They swap story after story over the course of an hour that goes by much too quickly, and you gain even more insight into why Phil is one of the most unique guys in the pro peloton today. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the

THIS EPISODE Mike meets up with Eric Wohlberg, a three-time Canadian Olympian and multiple national time trial champion who is currently men's performance manager of Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies. The two go way back, and Creed raced under Eric during his time on Optum before his new role as DS with Team SmartStop. Their rollicking conversation at the Tour de Beauce in Canada finds Mike and Eric debating the soporific powers of poutine, androgyny and the Thin White Duke, NRA belt buckles with shaved legs, and brakes as speed modulators instead of stopping devices. Among the Wohlberg legends Mike explores are Eric's 100 pushups and 500 situps every day before bed, lots of motorpacing as the key to his time trial success, and his "if you can't make 'em faster make 'em lighter" philosophy of performance enhancement. You'll howl with delight at this witty, no-holds-barred conversation between two old friends and colleagues. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist,

THIS EPISODE Mike sits down with Bo Hamburger, currently the DS for the Christina Watches-KUMA cycling team and a former professional road cyclist who won Fleche Wallone in 1998 and the Danish National Road Cycling Championship in 2000. He is also a member of the Danish Cycling Hall of Fame. In 2001 Bo was fired from Team CSC for a positive EPO test. Part two of their fascinating conversation at the Tour de Beauce in Canada finds Mike and Bo having some deep and probing musings about doping in cycling as Bo shares the dark days of his personal experiences during the EPO-fueled era of pro racing. Whatever your opinion on the players at the time, you will surely not be unaffected by Bo's frankness. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twit

THIS EPISODE Mike sits down with Bo Hamburger, currently the DS for the Christina Watches-KUMA cycling team and a former professional road cyclist who won Fleche Wallone in 1998 and the Danish National Road Cycling Championship in 2000. He is also a member of the Danish Cycling Hall of Fame. In 2001 Bo was fired from Team CSC for a positive EPO test. This is part one of a fascinating two-part conversation Mike had with Bo at the Tour de Beauce in Canada. Meandering, lengthy, frank and candid, this may well be one of the best of Mike's podcasts yet. It is certainly one of the most thought-provoking conversations you'll ever listen to. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their website at coloradocycl

THIS EPISODE Mike catches up with pal Alex Howes of Garmin-Sharp in the middle of the 2014 USA Cycling Professional National Championships. Mike and Alex had their chat just a few days before Team SmartStop very nearly swept the podium in a one-two finish that put Howes on the bronze medal step. Their raucous and rollicking conversation starts with a cryptic discussion of PCBC (Pro Cyclists Book Club), a somewhat mysterious reading group for Girona-based cyclists akin to Fight Club, crazy tales of their respective grandmas, dysentery as a climbing enhancement, and exploration of the Howes motto - "When bad things happen, I like to be in them." Tough, confident, and talented on the climbs and in the sprints, Howes was tapped as one of the favorites to win the road racing national championships in Chattanooga this year. His experiences in Europe have given him the skills necessary to take his place on the World Tour arena, and this entertaining and insightful conversation between good friends shows the many fac

THIS EPISODE Mike finally wrangles a chat with longtime good friend Alex Candelario, a former teammate from back in their early days racing for Prime Alliance. "Cando" currently rides for Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies in [spoiler alert] what may be his last season of road racing. In what Mike views as one of the better podcasts he's ever done, the guys compare and contrast what it's like being the talent for a team vs. being management, analyze races past and present, and Creed poses the "big" questions to Cando as he ponders his retirement from the peloton – what will he miss the most about racing, who will he miss, who will he stay in touch with, and what won't he miss or be glad not to deal with? Alex then turns the tables on Mike and asks him some of these same questions to surprising results. Discussions of the coolness factor of Lou Reed and Tom Waits, who will write Mike's perfect eulogy, and the definitive Cando story round out the conversation and reveal the depth of Mike's respect for Alex and

THIS EPISODE Mike is with the team at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, AK, and because of some unfortunate timing, has no guest for this week's podcast. Flying solo (with a bit of assistance from team mechanic Chris Kreidl and team soigneuse Astrid van Uden), Mike attempts to entertain and amuse our faithful listeners for a little over an hour with random musings and anecdotes. Choice moments such as "My Twitter account is a tribute to honesty," "I don't feel like you can be as honest when women are around," and a speed round of Mike's favorite game, "Fuck, Marry, Murder" highlight this bizarre and disjointed podcast. Maybe we should have just called the episode, "Deep Thoughts with Creedosaurus Rex." As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift c

THIS EPISODE Mike and old friend Chad Hartley get together after the Belmont Criterium in Charlotte, NC, to catch up and swap stories over a bourbon or two. In a career that's spanned decades, Chad first started racing BMX as a teenager, turned pro at age 19, and after a stint with Jittery Joe's joined Mike on TIAA-CREF (later to morph into Slipstream/Chipotle and finally Team Garmin). Teammate, training buddy, prankster, and all-around good guy, Chad lived with Mike in Silver City back in the day, and in spite of Creed's derision, has followed the team director path, currently as rider-manager with Athlete Octane Cycling (formerly Sharecare), a team focusing primarily on domestic criterium racing. Following a lengthy reminiscence of their best "pantsing" episodes – including a brawl in a Cracker Barrel – the guys share what is perhaps the best-ever Mike "Meatball" Friedman story. Lest you think this conversation is all about punking, Mike and Chad have a thoughtful and fascinating conversation about racing t

THIS EPISODE Mike gets together with Lewis Elliot of Team Landis/Trek in between stages at the Redlands Classic. The Arizona native is not only a professional cyclist and triathlete, he's also a Ford Agency model, and is perhaps best known as the guy in the ProForm® TDF Centennial edition Powered by Google Maps™ incline/decline training bike commercial (phew, that was a mouthful). After they get some bike geeking out of their systems, the guys settle down for an interesting conversation that runs the gamut from wide hips and kick-ass lungs to taking cell phones for granted. Reminiscences of the Tour of Gila, the Junior Tour of Austria, Bob Dylan lyrics, and awkward vs. amazing podcasts pepper this intriguing conversation. You'll be glad you got to know Lewis Elliot better by listening to this real and authentic conversation between old friends. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist f

THIS EPISODE Mike sits down with his former cycling rival Scott Price after the opening stage at Redlands Classic in California, where Scott is working with the Landis/Trek cycling team. A native of Calgary, Canada, Scott moved to Spain at the age of 17 to pursue a road cycling career, which he did successfully for nearly two decades, culminating in  his becoming Canadian National Champion in 1992. In 1999 Scott founded Higher Living Health and Performance Coaching in Arizona, to guide athletes toward finding balance, developing inner strength and tapping into their intuition and wisdom. Over Thai curry Mike and Scott reminisce about their strong competitive relationship during the early years of their careers, what drove them to succeed back then, and what motivates them today in this new phase of their professional careers. Their conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into what makes for a successful cyclist, and why pro bike racers are uniquely qualified to handle diverse and complicated tasks in their

THIS EPISODE Mike talks to his old teammate Scott Zwizanski of Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies. In between sharing war stories from the Vuelta Mexico where they were racing, the guys reminisce about the good old days on Optum, and how Scott got his start in bike racing. At times comical (Creed tries to get Zwiz to admit that the Optum guys miss him when really they just miss having someone to be the butt of their jokes) and other times quietly brutal (we learn how Scott coded after a race crash and had his life saved in dramatic fashion), this conversation between old friends and teammates is one you're sure to remember. As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their website at colorado

THIS EPISODE Mike makes a departure from his usual podcasts with this chat with Dustin Judice, a cycling fan, Cat 4 racer, and Iraq War vet. Dustin sent Mike a note on Twitter thanking him for the Open Mic podcast, relating how it gives such a great perspective on the pro cycling scene by really connecting the listeners with Mike and his guests. When Dustin mentioned he was looking for insight on how he might get into the world of pro bike racing, Mike became intrigued by Dustin's story and made a road trip to Lafayette on his way to training camp to catch up with Dustin and learn more of his story and share some helpful hints. Dustin tells Mike how the bike literally saved his life, helping him to get through PTSD and lose over 130 pounds of excess weight gained after his return from deployment. We also learn about his foray into racing, and training, and how he's trying to juggle that with studies as a chemical engineering student at the University of Louisiana. Mike helps guide Dustin on the racing path,

THIS EPISODE Mike catches up with Lauren Hall of Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies. A talented all-rounder who's been racing pro since 2010, Lauren started her career with Team Vera Bradley and then moved to Team Tibco before landing a berth on her current Optum squad. With two national titles on the track and a second in both the national criterium and national road race championships, Hall's nickname of "The Bullet" is an apt one. She was named by VeloNews as a "rider to watch" in 2013, and her USA Cycling palmarés from last year have indeed demonstrated that to be the case. Over the course of their laughter-filled gab session, Lauren explains her circuitous route to pro cycling via soccer, culinary arts school, marathon running, and triathlon. A dynamo on and off the bike, Lauren keeps Mike entertained as she tells one story after another of her exploits in the women's peloton. You're sure to be as delighted as we were with this highly entertaining conversation. As always, Open Mic with Mik

THIS EPISODE Mike gets together with Canadian cycling legend Gord Fraser, a three-time Olympian and four-time Commonwealth Games participant who was the 2004 Canadian national road race champion. In 2006 Gord retired from professional cycling after racing four seasons for the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis. He then went on to be a directeur sportif with Team Type 1 in 2009, and in 2010 joined UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis as a directeur sportif. In 2011 became DS for the US Continental team, Realcyclist.com. In between bites of dinner, Mike and Gord reminisce about the first time they met in Tucson so many years ago when Gord began his road racing career. They chat about Gord's past in team pursuit and other track cycling events, including his successes in the Commonwealth Games and transitioning from track to road cycling. Among the curious tidbits Gord reveals is that back in 1993 he raced alongside New England stalwarts Frank and Mark McCormack for IME-Healthshare – along with a certain ponyt