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!

Connor Swegle founded Priority Bicycles in 2014 with his partner Dave Weiner via a Kickstarter campaign. It worked and today they have an entire line of bikes all with simplicity, performance and ease of maintenance in mind. By using a carbon belt drivetrain, they do away with greasy chains, clunky shifting and finicky derailleurs. Check their line up out at www.prioritybicycles.com and follow their story on instagram https://www.instagram.com/ridepriority

Also subscribe to their youtube channel for great content https://www.youtube.com/@PriorityBicyclesNYC

And while you're at it, give Ryan Van Duzer a look too! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcUzl95VwxrIEQnu9xI21g

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!

Hayden Christian has spent the summer of 2025 chasing results in the U23 Lifetime Grand Prix. While we met at the Rattlesnake Gravel Grind in late March of '25, it wasn't until after his impressive ride in the Chequamegon 40 that we actually connected, which was perfect, as we got to hear about all of his incredible races this summer! First in the Unbound 100, Second U23 rider at Chequamegon, and a hard day at Leadville -we talked about it all! Follow Hayden on instagram https://www.instagram.com/hayden.christian.599/?hl=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!

Cullen Perkey, an aspiring U23 mountain biker, works hard to make it work, mixing training, travel, racing with a full time job to make ends meet. We caught up with this midwesterner-turned-Coloradan after he finished the blazing fast Chequamegon 40 mountain bike race. We talked racing as well as how he finances his racing career as he aspires to make it to the top. Be sure to follow him on Instagram at @ct_perkey Check out his bike at Rodeo Adventure Labs and wheels; Gulo Composites at https://www.instagram.com/gulocomposites/

Cross is Here! Race at the Bikeiowa.com Capital City Cross weekend in Des Moines, Iowa on September 27,28, 2025. Information at https://www.bikeiowa.com/Event/16020/capital-city-cross.

Check out this sweet video promo for Capital City Cross featuring Mike Vallaly (Yes, the skateboarder) and A Complete Disaster. Mable Media made this sweet vid. https://youtu.be/3KRHX9MRgc0?si=MM9ImoFnUIynNhsH

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.

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!

Guest Scott Matter describes the Dream Team as a five-month cycling program for teenagers in Central Iowa that provides a unique opportunity for teenagers to build relationships, achieve personal growth, and learn from adult mentors. The program shows youth that BIG goals can be attained with sufficient planning and preparation. Beginning in March, the teens and mentors begin preparing and training for the late July 400-500-mile week-long bike ride across Iowa called RAGBRAI. Find out how you can get involved by participating, volunteering or donating at www.dreamteamdesmoines.org. Catch up on the latest stories by tuning in to the Dream Team podcast: Moving Forward.

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!

Jen Witt founded the Restoring Hope foundation to honor the work of her ex husband, Colin J. Witt, a Judge in the juvenile justice system. In August she is hosting a bike ride, silent auction with food trucks and music at Middlebrook Farms in Cumming, Iowa. Information on her foundation and the 5th annual bike ride can be found at www.restoringhopedsm.org.

Also joining us on the podcast are Christine Her, Executive Director of ArtForce Iowa - an incredible organization, working with Restore Hope, to serve youth in need. To learn more or to support ArtForce Iowa go to www.artforceiowa.org.

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!