August 13, 2026
Host
Welcome back to the show! Tonight we're diving into the scariest thing in sports news. No, it's not a linebacker concussion or a 100-mile-per-hour fastball—it's the upcoming Cadence Collective Classic. This is an all-women's ultra-endurance cycling event, a casual fourteen-hundred kilometers, which is eight hundred and seventy miles. I get winded riding my Peloton for twenty minutes, but these women ride for four days straight. It's terrifying and inspiring. And we're here to break it down. Joining me is someone who knows a thing or two about insane distances. Welcome!
Guest
Thanks for having me. It really is terrifying, but in the best way. The Cadence Collective started as a small group for women forty-five plus in Southern California who wanted to ride ultra-endurance. Now it's an international summit. Imagine a peloton of the toughest women on earth, cruising through mountains and deserts while the rest of us binge Netflix. Their mantra is 'Ride Slow, Bring Snacks, Take Naps.' I've lived that on my couch, but they're doing it at scale.
Host
Speaking of scale, let's talk about the elephant in the room: men. Studies show after forty-eight hours, women start outpacing men. So these grannies are crushing the guys. Is it true that the longer the race, the more women dominate? I can already hear the excuses from my cycling buddies: 'Wrong gear,' 'Headwind.' What's really going on?
Guest
Absolutely true. Physiology plays a huge role. As women age, they gain more slow-twitch muscle fibers and mitochondria, turning their bodies into diesel engines that just keep going. Men burn fast and fade. Past two days, women's endurance shines. I'm convinced menopause is a superpower—you stop caring about certain things and just pedal forever. They're also better at pacing and eating; no disgraceful bonking.
Host
A superpower! The Cadence Collective should market that: 'Menopause: the ultimate performance enhancer.' Look at the lineup—this is the Avengers of cycling. We've got Meagan Killinen, Tour Divide record holder. Jana Kesselhaur, World 24-Hour Time Trial Champion. Fiona Kolberg, Transcontinental Race winner. Rinko Soma out of Japan. They're coming from South Korea, Spain, Germany. All-star team, minus the capes.
Guest
No capes, just chamois cream and determination. The race uses a cloverleaf format—four loops returning to a central hub at Bonelli Bluffs RV campground near San Dimas. They ride into the San Bernardino National Forest, high desert, mountains, and coast, then back to a village with food, showers, and drop bags. It's a camping trip from hell, but with a lake. After a hundred miles, that lake looks better than a five-star hotel.
Host
A lake? They might just ride straight into it. The distance is so crazy that the brevet time limit is one hundred five hours—four days and nine hours. Doing the math, that's about eight point three miles an hour average, which honestly sounds like my jogging pace. But factor in sleeping, eating, and fixing flats, and it's relentless. How do you even sleep? Do they just lie down in a ditch with their snacks?
Guest
Pretty much. The 'Take Naps' part is legendary. Riders stop at convenience stores, pull out a bivvy sack, and snooze for fifteen minutes—the dirtbag siesta. And they eat constantly. Their drop bags probably have more food than my pantry. The secret of ultra-racing is becoming a human furnace. So 'Ride Slow' isn't just advice; it's survival. Go too hard and you explode.
Host
Lifetime TV caught on and is producing a documentary. The channel known for sappy movies is now following women who defy human limits. I can already imagine the title: 'Snacks and Saddle Sores.' They'll highlight heartfelt stories against a brutal backdrop. I hope they capture the moment someone discovers a melted Snickers in their jersey and eats it anyway.
Guest
Exactly! The documentary will be epic. Lifetime is the platinum sponsor, joined by gold sponsors Campagnolo, Profile Design, Pearl Izumi, Muc-Off, Park Tool, and Continental. Campagnolo probably developed a special 'grandma gear' for the climbs—San Bernardino National Forest is no joke. With Continental tires they'll survive the glass-strewn California shoulders.
Host
So the pro peloton has fancy support cars and mechanics. Here, nothing. One hundred five hours of pure self-sufficiency. To even qualify, you must complete a Super Randonneur series: two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, and six hundred kilometers. It's like they're saying, 'Oh, you did a six hundred K? Cute. Now try fourteen hundred.' It's the ultimate gatekeeping.
Guest
Gatekeeping? More like a hazing ritual. But necessary. You don't want someone who hasn't proven they can handle sleep deprivation and chafing finding themselves in the desert at 3 a.m. with a flat. The Cadence Collective is a celebration of experience and grit. The average age will be higher than any other race, and that's the point. These women have wisdom.
Host
It's a race where your best years might be after forty-five. Inspiring and a little depressing for younger riders. I love that the Collective was formed specifically for older women. They've built a movement that says, 'You're not slowing down; you're just getting started.' Now international teams are joining—the United Nations of ultra-cycling.
Guest
The international flavor is huge. Riders from France, Germany, Spain, South Korea. They all share the love of suffering. The event has a banner with the mantra translated into French, German, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese. 'Roulez lentement, apportez des collations, faites des siestes.' It's poetry. They've turned a survival strategy into a philosophy of life.
Host
I might embroider that on a pillow. But let's talk about the California route. Four loops: San Bernardino National Forest, high desert, mountains, and coast. They'll face altitude, scorching heat, freezing nights, and coastal fog—a weather sampler platter. One moment sweating through your Pearl Izumi jersey, next shivering in a bivvy. What a vacation!
Guest
Exactly the kind of vacation that would make normal people call a travel agent to cancel. But for these women it's magic. Imagine climbing through Angeles National Forest with views to the ocean, then descending into the desert with roadrunners and coyotes. Then looping back to the RV campground for a gourmet meal of instant noodles and chamois cream. Pure bliss.
Host
Gourmet noodles, sponsored by Muc-Off? They'll clean your bike but not your palate. The event culminates in a big celebration with a live band. I hope they play 'Bicycle Race' by Queen. The finish line will be a mix of triumph and delirium—people crying, hugging their bikes. More emotional than a Lifetime movie, and Lifetime will be there to film it all.
Guest
It really will be emotional. The stories that come out of these events are incredible: people pushing through personal barriers, injuries, breakdowns. And because it's women-centric, it highlights how the sport has been dominated by men's narratives for too long. The Cadence Collective flips that. I just hope they have enough snacks for the after-party, because those riders will have burned a small nation's worth of calories.
Host
Calories? They'll need a conveyor belt of pizza. But 'Ride Slow' is funny. In a world obsessed with marginal gains and aero everything, these women are like, 'Nah, I'll take the scenic route and stop for a donut.' It's the anti-Strava movement. They probably have Garmin segments called 'Nap Time.' I'm considering adopting this for my commute.
Guest
Do it. The suburban commuter challenge: get to work in under twelve hours, fueled by coffee and bagels. But ultra-endurance is a chess match with your body. Manage pain and sleep. After three days without proper sleep, you hallucinate. So these women will be seeing unicorns in the California desert. Imagine a cactus that looks like a giraffe and just accepting it.
Host
Hallucinations! That's when the real party starts. Prime documentary material—will Lifetime include CGI animals? But seriously, the race shows that female mental strength is on another level. It's not just genetics; it's a different relationship with discomfort. As one rider said, 'Pain is weakness leaving the body, and snacks help it leave faster.'
Guest
That should be on a bumper sticker. The Cadence Collective is rewriting sporting rules. It says you can be slow, eat constantly, take naps, and still be a world-beater. The winner manages their internal engine best, not the highest power output. It's beautiful. And why older women flock to it—they've learned not to rush through life, or a race.
Host
Men watching at home are probably scratching their heads, wondering how these women function without a fifty-dollar energy gel every twenty minutes. The secret is real food. I hear they pack burritos and peanut butter sandwiches. No fancy sports nutrition, just fuel. And they stop at gas stations for ice cream. It's a road trip on two wheels. We've been doing it wrong all along.
Guest
We absolutely have. The pro cycling industry tells you to buy carbon-fiber this and special drink that. Cadence Collective women roll up on a steel frame, a rack of snacks, and a smile. It's punk rock. Big brands sponsoring it shows a shift. Maybe they'll start selling bikes with built-in nap hammocks.
Host
A nap hammock! Million-dollar idea. I can see Campagnolo developing a rear derailleur that converts into a cot. Anyway, the race is September twenty-third through twenty-seventh. I'm marking my calendar to follow the dots on the tracker, ideally from my couch, with snacks, taking naps. I'm basically an ultra-endurance spectator.
Guest
You've found your calling. Spectator ultra: the sport of watching others suffer. For those who want to see it in person, the hub at Bonelli Bluffs is open. You can camp, cheer, and offer snacks. It's like a music festival, but instead of bands, you get lycra-clad heroes rolling in at all hours. The lake is perfect for a swim, so bring your suit.
Host
I'm in. I'll bring a sign that says 'You're almost done with this loop—just three more to go.' But seriously, this event is a testament to what women can do when they support each other. The Cadence Collective has grown from a small group to a global phenomenon. It's the scariest thing in sports, yes, but also the most life-affirming.
Guest
Well said. It's scary because it's monumental, but the community makes it possible. The mantra 'Ride Slow, Bring Snacks, Take Naps' reminds us that endurance isn't about suffering for its own sake; it's about enduring joyfully. These women are redefining what it means to be an athlete, and making middle age look like the best time ever.
Host
I'm off to find a bike and a nap. Do you think I can qualify in two weeks? No? Well, I'll just be a groupie. That's a wrap for tonight. Huge thanks for breaking down this incredible event. And to everyone listening: remember, it's never too late to ride slow, bring snacks, and take a nap. Good night, and don't forget your chamois cream!
Guest
And if you see a woman on a bike, give her a honk and maybe a snack. They've earned it. See you out there!