TJ Tollakson ran his first triathlon in July 2001, and he has been a professional triathlete since 2005. In July 2011, he achieved his first Ironman victory at Lake Placid. In 2011 TJ founded his own manufacturing company Dimond Bikes in Des Moines, IA. Starting when TJ won his first Ironman at Lake Placid New York on a modified and re-branded Zipp beam bike. Since that early bike, his brand has become known as one of the fastest bikes for the time trial and triathlon, and has grown into an entire line of bikes including road, gravel and mountain bikes. Venture into the Dimond Mine at www.dimondbikes.com and see the gems on instagram and facebook! https://www.instagram.com/dimondbikes

The time has come to lock in your core4 2026 plans! Launch day is November 21 ! Get ready to jump on launch pricing at www.core4.bike. Use code CORE4LAUNCH26 for a 1st dibs deal until Dec 31st. Your adventure awaits. August 14-16, 2026.

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker!

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Joy Franco, in addition to being a Neuroscientist and Engineer, still finds time to train at the highest level. In 2024 she competed in the UCI Elite U.S. Cyclocross Pro Series, racing at the biggest 'cross races in the U.S. This past summer she turned her attention to gravel and qualified for, and competed in the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in her age group. We caught up shortly after her return from Europe to hear about her experience qualifying for and racing in the fast and furious world champs! Catch up with Joy on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/engineeringjoy/

And if YOU'D like to try and qualify for the gravel champs, you can find all the information right here: https://ucigravelworldseries.com/en/

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker!

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Julien Gagne, from Quebec, Canada, has raced at the highest level in both mountain biking and road but has more recently turned his attention to gravel and is competing at some of the biggest races in the U.S. This past August he was treated to a champaign shower as the overall victor in a stacked Core4 race. We caught up with Julien the week before his 4th place finish at the rain-shortened Big Sugar gravel race: "Half the distance, twice the speed!" he wrote after the race! Be sure to give him a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliengagne/ and check out his bike at https://www.devinci.com/en/. Of course, you should check out his teammate Georgia Astle - who just got third (and lived to tell the tale) at Red Bull Rampage - she's on the gram at https://www.instagram.com/georgiaastle/

And be sure to tune into the big news for Core4 at www.core4.bike and give em a follow on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/core4.bike/

We would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker!

Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!