It's Just A Hill: A Podcast About Bike Stuff

In episode 077 of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by returning guest and IJAH collective member Norlan Olivo for a conversation about what it means to train when time is tight. They dig into how Norlan is preparing for another run at the Marfa ride, what realistic training looks like for busy people, and how nutrition and coaching play into the bigger picture. It’s a laid-back but honest talk about showing up, staying consistent, and making it work with the time and energy you’ve got.

For the seventy-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by friend of the club and returning guest Brian Cauti. Brian’s been on a bit of a journey lately—recovering from a long-term injury, training with the Rhode Island Track Club (yes, running), and opening a pizza shop. In this episode, they talk about what it’s like to shift focus from bikes to running, the challenges of injury recovery, and how nutrition and life balance fit into the mix when your days are full of dough, decisions, and training plans. Later in the epi...

For the 75th episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, it’s just me — and a whole lot of spring cleaning. In this solo episode, I reflect on my recent Pedal for Progress ride to Washington, DC — a five-day, 500-mile journey that taught me a lot about my limits, my motivation, and what riding for a cause really means. I also get into the current state of the It’s Just A Hill group ride season — what’s working, what’s hard to balance, and how I’m trying to maintain the joy of cycling as a hobby while runn...

For the 74th episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, I’m joined by Eliza Burke Lawson to talk about something we often take for granted: parks. But as Eliza points out, a park is more than just a patch of green space — it’s a vital part of how we live, connect, and thrive. We dive into the many benefits parks provide, from mental clarity and physical health to community organizing and grassroots activism. Eliza brings her deep knowledge of public space and policy to the conversation as we explore how parks contribute to personal well-being, s...

For the seventy-third episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down for a catch-up at the top of the show, diving into Jon’s thoughts on riding in northern Rhode Island since moving. The conversation shifts into helmet talk—what they currently use, how often they replace them, and whether they actually wash their helmets. Next, it’s all about creatine. Both Jon and BSP share their recent experiences with the supplement, breaking down its potential benefits for endurance athletes, its cognitive advantages, and the surprising sleep disturbances BSP has encountered while taking it...

On this episode of It’s Just A Hill, Jon is joined by Jake Saunders to break down different ways to boost your fitness on the bike. They cover self-coaching strategies, navigating the endless sea of training apps and platforms, and their thoughts on supplements like beta-alanine, creatine, and ketones. Jon also shares some of his goals for the year, and Jake offers his perspective on setting and approaching cycling goals. Whether you’re fine-tuning your training or just trying to get stronger on the bike, this episode is packed with useful insights.

In the seventy-first episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Matt Bodziony, owner of NBX Bikes and a returning guest on the show, to discuss the challenges and realities of running a bike shop in 2025. As the cycling industry continues to evolve, small bike shops face increasing pressure from online retailers, shifting consumer habits, and the need to stay relevant in an ever-changing market. Matt shares his firsthand experience navigating these challenges and explains how NBX adapts to remain a key part of the local cycling community. Throughout the conversation, Jon and Mat...

For the seventieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Jason Behringer from NBX for an engaging conversation about all things bikes. Jason shares his personal cycling journey, starting with his childhood love for the bike. The discussion delves into the period of Jason’s life where cycling took a backseat and how he eventually found his way back to the sport he loves. The episode also tackles some big-picture topics, like the reality of the “spirit of gravel” and how it impacts inclusivity in gravel events. What does the spirit of gravel r...

For the sixty-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down to talk all things pro cycling as the 2025 season gets underway. From major rider transfers to bold kit designs, they cover it all with their signature mix of humor and insight. But that’s not all—this episode also features a special musical moment as Jon kicks off their Tour Down Under segment with a parody of the iconic Australian anthem, “Down Under” by Men At Work.

For the sixty-eighth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP are back in the new year and they are diving into the nuances of balancing inclusivity in the club. Jon also shares the details on his new gravel bike upgrades—because who doesn’t love some shiny new gear? Then, as winter takes hold of us here in southern New England, the duo discusses trainer season survival tips, from gamifying Zwift to bringing the Nintendo Switch into the mix for an even more entertaining indoor ride session. Finally, they shift gears to analyze a topi...

In this episode, Jon and BSP reflect on the Great IJAH Back-Off event and wrap up 2024’s pro cycling season. They dive into some of the biggest off-season transfers, including the buzzworthy Tom Pidcock drama with Ineos and Q36.5, and speculate on what’s ahead for 2025’s Grand Tour team selections. The conversation shifts to selling cycling gear online, covering platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Pinkbike, Geartrade, and local bike shop consignment. Finally, they break down power meter calibration, inspired by an insightful online discussion Jon came across.

For the sixty-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with John Camara from NBX to dive into his unique journey in the world of cycling. They explore John’s long-standing history with NBX, his passion for building steel bikes right in his backyard, and his thoughtful approach to balancing aesthetics with performance. The conversation touches on the timeless appeal of steel frames, contrasting their durability and ride quality with other materials like carbon and aluminum. John shares insights into why he believes style doesn’t have to come at the expense of functi...

For the sixty-fifth episode of the It’s Just a Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP catch up a bit on each other’s riding and chat about the saga of BSP replacing the fork on his road bike. They dive into Strava’s controversial API changes, discussing how the new restrictions could impact smaller third-party apps and whether Strava still holds its place as a leader in the cycling community. The conversation also touches on the pros and cons of night road cycling and how to stay safe when riding after dark. Wrapping up, they highlight local events like t...

For the sixty-fourth episode of the It’s Just a Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by Jason Shuford from NBX. Jason shares insights into his bike shop background, recounting his history with cycling and how it’s shaped his perspective on the sport. He also reveals his favorite spot to ride here in Rhode Island and offers Jon an approachable guide to getting into mountain biking. To round out the episode, inspired by a post Jon found online, the two swap stories about encounters with dogs while riding, sharing the lessons they’ve learned from these unpredictable moments on the...

For the sixty-third episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Ben Stone, service manager and mechanic over at NBX in Narragansett, RI. Ben dives into his background, sharing his journey with bikes—from his early experiences with riding to the way he found his calling in bike mechanics. With a down-to-earth approach, Ben opens up about his unique take on competition, or lack thereof. He also shares what riding means to him and the types of rides he loves when he finds the time to turn the pedals himself. The conversation touches on t...

For the sixty-second episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with Seth Carlson from Rotation Engineering to explore his unique journey from racing cars and bikes to crafting high-performance components for cyclists. Seth shares how his passion for racing evolved into a thriving business, specializing in parts like bottom brackets. The conversation also dives into the technical side of manufacturing, as they discuss the process of creating custom lubes and waxes. Looking ahead, Seth offers insights into the future of his Connecticut-based company and what’s next for Rotation Engineering. itsjustahill.com

For the sixty-first episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down to catch up on their current riding routines and personal goals, discussing whether goals need to be structured and the concept of fall fitness as we head toward the colder months. The conversation then takes an interesting turn as they delve into the world of Strava “mules,” examining the controversy of riders getting fake miles on the platform. From there, the hosts explore proper Strava etiquette, offering insights into how cyclists interact online. Finally, they wrap up by looking ahead to the upc...

For the sixtieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by Anıl Aşkın to discuss his personal journey on the bike. Anıl shares the experiences that led him along his life on the bike, including his recent move to Vermont, a state known for its scenic and challenging riding. They also dive into Anıl’s involvement with It’s Just A Hill and his impressive achievement of completing his first imperial century at the Greylock Century Vertical Challenge this past July. Tune in to hear about his determination, growth, and...

For the fifty-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, BSP and Jon dive into the art of route design, comparing the approach when riding solo versus in a group. They also reflect on their summer riding adventures, including Jon’s experience at D2R2 and his summer getaway to Maine, where cycling was part of the mix. The discussion shifts gears as they explore tire choices and overall bike optimization, sharing insights on how they navigate all the choices. Plus, some Vuelta talk, amongst other things.

For the fifty-eighth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, BSP, Norlan, and Jon discuss the current state of pro cycling, with a particular focus on the Vuelta. Before diving into the world of professional racing, they take a step back to reflect on their own cycling journeys. They talk about their current relationship with the sport, how much time they’re actually spending on their bikes, and what it’s like trying to hit their cycling goals. The conversation also touches on the recent paving of a local bike path, the excitement and challenges of signin...

For the fifty-seventh episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, BSP, Norlan, and Jon are joined by Brian Cauti to recap the final week of the 2024 Tour de France and discuss the entire three-week race. They revisit their pre-race predictions from early July, sharing some of the outcomes and insights. The discussion also covers the GC standings and other leader jersey awards, plus the somewhat questionable decision regarding the most combative rider award, and the absurd idea of one rider letting another rider win a stage. The episode wraps up with a fun game of 20 questions.

For the fifty-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Norlan, BSP, and Jon are back to dive into the middle week of the 2024 Tour de France. Breaking down some of the highlights and lowlights, discussing whether this year’s race is living up to its hype, and sharing the funniest moments from the peloton are all apart of this episode. Plus, they wrap up the show with a Tour de France trivia game that goes a bit smoother than last week’s charade. Tune in for some of the insights and all of the laughs.

For the fifty-fifth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, join BSP and Jon, along with special guest and friend of IJAH, Norlan Olivo, as they dive into the first week of the Tour de France. They’re breaking down predictions and seeing how they’re shaping up, while discussing whether this year’s race has the makings of a legendary TdF, and identifying the heroes and villains of the peloton. Plus, they try to play a fun game and hilariously fail at it! Tune in for all the insights and some laughs along the way.

For the fifty-fourth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, BSP and Jon bring you a mix of exciting cycling topics. They start the chat by talking about the strong partnership between It’s Just A Hill and NBX, highlighting how this collaboration benefits the cycling community. They also explore bicycle radar tail lights, sharing the pros and cons and their personal experiences with this technology. Next, our hosts give their thoughts on the second season of Netflix’s Unchained, reviewing the new episodes and discussing its impact on the sport. Finally, they preview of the 2024 Tour d...

For the fifty-third episode of the Its Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, BSP and Jon discuss a variety of cycling topics for every type of rider. Our co-hosts kick things off with an in-depth discussion on the essential rules of the road for cyclists, covering everything from basic traffic laws to the nuances of riding safely in different environments, before shifting gears to talk about bike path etiquette. Riding on bike paths can be a joy, but it also comes with its own set of rules and expectations. BSP and Jon also share their personal preferences and the pros...

For the fifty-second episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP delve into the pressing issues of road rage and driver awareness. They share personal anecdotes and discuss broader societal attitudes towards cyclists on the road. The conversation touches on the importance of driver education and how it can contribute to safer roads for everyone. The hosts also turn their attention to the professional cycling circuit. They provide insights from the Giro d’Italia, one of the most prestigious Grand Tours in the cycling calendar. Amidst the race analysis, Brian and Jon address recent dopi...

For the fifty-first episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon and BSP sit down to catch up a bit and talk about bike stuff, starting with sharing some of their own training and current goals for the year. They also talk about finding time for things other than bikes, and the ebb and flow of bike friends. Our amateurs talking pros also discuss week one of the Giro d’Italia, Pog’s dominance so far, and some predictions for the rest of the pro cycling season.

For the fiftieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, John Stenning is back to co-host and share his generational knowledge to his next of kin, and fellow co-host, Jon Stenning. Kicking off the show by talking about calculated risks and embarrassing moments on the bike, the father-son duo dive into conversation aboutContinue reading "IJAH Pod 050 – Fake Chains, Wind Versus Hills, Embarrassing Moments, And More"

For the forty-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, the IJAH Amateurs Talking Pros are back to chat about the state of the 2024 peloton. Starting by talking about some local racing, and our own riding early in the season, we then chat about the huge number of crashes so far thisContinue reading "IJAH Pod 049 – Amateurs Talking Pros | Damaged Peloton, Paris-Roubaix Preview, And More"

For the forty-eighth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, our resident Amateurs Talking Pros are back to chat about the current affairs of pro cycling. From Opening Weekend, to the UAE Tour, and all the way around the world, BSP, Cal, and Jon share their opinions on how the early season isContinue reading "IJAH Pod 048 – Amateurs Talking Pros | Opening Weekend, Red Bull, TT Helmets"

For the forty-seventh episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon sits down with fellow IJAH members Adam Carroll and Ryan Hulstyn to catch up and talk about bike stuff. Starting with some new tech in the cycling world, including third party components and mini-electric pumps, the discussion then turns to this week’sContinue reading "IJAH Pod 047 – Roundtable Roundup | Head Unit Data, Early Morning Nutrition, Cycling Subscriptions"

For the forty-sixth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast Jon interviews Ben Jurgensen, artist, educator, bike builder, and founder of July Bikes. Before getting into the details of the bike building process, Ben shares his history with art and riding bikes, including some late night hill repeats, and how it all led upContinue reading "IJAH Pod 046 – A Conversation With Ben Jurgensen From July Bikes"

The forty-fifth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast is a roundtable round up episode. Adam, BSP, and Jon kick off the show by catching up a bit and discussing some current events in the bike world. The guys then share their opinions on some evergreen cycling topics like how they use chamoisContinue reading "IJAH Pod 045 – Roundtable Roundup | Cross Training, Chamois Cream, Shimano VS SRAM"

The forty-fourth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast is our January installment of the Amateurs Talking Pros format, with BSP and Jon sitting down to discuss the start of the 2024 World Tour season, specifically the women’s and men’s Tour Down Under. Other topics include the recent retirement of an American cyclist,Continue reading "IJAH Pod 044 – Amateurs Talking Pros | Tour Down Under, Cyclocross Benidorm, How We Watch, And More"

For the forty-third episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by fellow IJAH member Todd Ryan to talk about his cycling journey, as well as both of their struggles with body image issues, specifically after losing a significant amount of weight. Todd and Jon also go on plenty of tangents, discussing on-bike nutrition, costly bike upgrades, and the importance of taking things one day at a time, amongst other things.

For the forty-second episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined once again by Brian St. Pierre and Cal Goodhouse to talk about the current state of pro-cycling affairs. With the 2024 season upon us, and some big races right around the corner, our Amateurs Talking Pros discuss some of the highs and lows from the previous pro cycling season while breaking down what the upcoming year may look like. They also introducing their new hype meter based on Shimano group sets, and talk about some of the new kits and team sponsors, amongst other th...

For the forty-first episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, Jon is joined by Erik Berrio, from Coffee Yes, Cycling Maybe aka CYCM. Erik is a cyclist from Southern New England and a co-founder of the aforementioned club. Erik and Jon kick off the conversation by discussing this year’s Cranksgiving, and how we can use our bikes to help support our local communities. Erik then talks about how CYCM came to fruition, shares some highlights from riding his bike in 2023, and discusses what his event calendar looks like in 2024, while expressing the importance of balancing our...

For the fortieth episode of the It’s Just A Hill Cycling Podcast, bikes are far from the subject. Founding IJAH members Brian Cauti and Jeremy Newman join Jon to talk about their recent participation in the 2023 New York City Marathon. Our Marathon Men discuss some of their training plans and meal choices leading up to the big day, how they pace out running for over three hours, and the sneakers they wore to help them accomplish this feat of strength, amongst other things.

For the thirty-ninth episode of the It’s Just A Hill cycling podcast, Jon is joined by BSP and Ryan to chat about shifting their riding plans now that the days are getting colder and shorter in New England. From focusing on trainer sessions, to bundling up and keeping warm outside, the guys share some tipsContinue reading "IJAH Pod 039 – Gearing Up For Cold Rides"

For the thirty-eighth episode of the It’s Just A Hill cycling podcast, Jon is joined by longtime friend, Mark Barone, to talk about his experience thru-hiking. Mark has done several long-distance backpacking trips and tells some tales from his travels, including a great food challenge he did involving one of the world’s greatest fast food restaurants and explaining the nearly undefinable trail-magic. www.itsjustahill.com