• Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs

  • By: Bret Tkacs
  • Podcast
Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs By cover art

Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs

By: Bret Tkacs
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • Discussions and interviews between Bret Tkacs and ADV riders, travelers, Patreon fans, and industry experts.
    @ BretTkacs.com
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • GS Trophy Qualifier

    GS Trophy Qualifier
    Feb 26 2024
    Mastering the Adventure: Lana's Journey from Racing Cars to Motorcycle Excellence Guest: Lana Tsurikova, autocross racer and GS Trophy Qualifier participant (Lana on Wheels)Episode Summary:From the roar of race car engines to the heart-pumping thrills of off-road motorcycling, Lana's story isn't one you stumble upon every day. Today, she sits down with me and shares the her tale of transitioning from a car racing champion to a motorcycle adventure rider. Lana discusses her systematic approach to conquer the off-road terrain starting on a KTM 390 Adventure. She demystifies the journey of learning to ride and the art of picking yourself and your bike up after a fall. Lana's narrative is not just about personal triumph; it's a beacon for setting achievable milestones and the relentless pursuit that follows.If you've ever wondered how to elevate your riding skills to competition level, this episode is your manual, packed with insights into the dedication needed to excel in the demanding world of adventure motorcycling.Full Transcript:0:00:15 - Bret TkacsWelcome back to Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs and today my guest, her name is Lana. She's a rider who's actually trained with me, a fantastic, highly driven rider who went from zero experience off-road to participating in a GS Trophy Qualifier in only three years. So she's going to share with us the process it took to get from zero to "go in such a short period of time. Hey Lana, thanks for joining me and sharing your experience about getting into adventure riding, because it's something so many riders really kind of struggle with and I think now it's even - in some ways more difficult because there's so many different ideas. There's social media, there's YouTube and videos and schools. What I like about your story is that you had a very specific goal from where you came from, and your very driven personality and you had a goal to where you wanted to be. Why don't you share a little bit about that story with us?0:01:26 - LanaSure, thank you, Bret, and thank you for having me. So yeah, I came to motorcycles from cars before COVID started. I used to race cars for 20 years and I thought I knew what I was doing. I was so excited finishing 2019 season, I got my second national championship in Autocross and I was so looking looking forward to next year, but it was cancelled.0:01:54 - Bret TkacsBecause of COVID?0:01:55 - LanaBecause of COVID. Yes, we couldn't instruct. You can't sit in a car with another person, you can't be instructor, you can't invite students to see what you're doing. Literally everything was canceled.0:02:08 - Bret TkacsSo what led you to the bikes and what was your goal? How did you end up? Because I know your goal was you wanted to do ,.. like a GS challenge or a GS Trophy, and that was your objective. How did you end up, with that being your objective? What led you to motorcycles? Besides, you couldn't drive around in cars anymore.0:02:26 - LanaRight. So I was sitting at home and probably my husband is right that I'm adrenaline junkie. He just observed me bouncing from the walls - season 2020 - and he actually found this GS Trophy video online on YouTube. He turns the monitor to me and says did you know about this GS Trophy? And I looked at it like, oh, that looks good, I wanted. So that was it. Literally, he just showed me one video. I saw competition on wheels. It involved really good motor, so I wanted to do it. To say I didn't even know how to ride? That would not be fair. I rode maybe four or five times per summer on street, but that was it. I never took my wheels off the pavement. So in 2020, I went and bought 390 Adventure KTM. You know, I didn't know any better. I thought that's perfect bike to start.0:03:29 - Bret TkacsLana, how tall are you?0:03:31 - LanaI'm five seven.0:03:33 - Bret TkacsOkay.0:03:34 - LanaSo even reaching to the ground from that bike was a challenge. I knew right there I'm in trouble what I decided to do.
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
  • Choosing Boots

    Choosing Boots
    Jul 11 2023
    CHOOSING THE PROPER ADV BOOT Guest:  Brian Price, owner of Atomic Moto (https://www.atomic-moto.com)Episode Summary:Join me as I chat with the owner of Atomic-Moto.com, Brian Price, to discuss everything you need to know about proper footwear for adventure riding. Brian shares his extensive knowledge about motorcycle boots, from their complex construction to size variations. We cover why a good boot is essential and how it can enhance control, reduce fatigue and even prevent accidents when riding off-road. You'll also hear Bret's personal experience with boots, including his initial purchase of an inexpensive boot, and why he eventually traded it in for a more suitable one.As we continue our chat, Brian tackles the challenge of choosing the right adventure boot, suggesting research into construction, different brands, and stretching your comfort level to get comfortable with the right boot for your riding.  Whether you're a novice rider or a seasoned adventurer, tune in for an in-depth look at why investing in the right boots is an absolute must. Full Transcript:0:00:15 - Bret TkacsWelcome to Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs, and today I have a very special guest and I'm going to let you introduce yourself.0:00:23 - Brian PriceMy name is Brian Price and I am the founder and owner of Atomic-Moto.com.0:00:30 - Bret TkacsAnd today we're going to talk about a topic I don't think we can cover too often, and that is proper footwear, and really just dig through what's a good adventure boot when are we overdressed, when are we underdressed? How are these things built? I mean, you're kind of the boot guy, aren't you?0:00:51 - Brian PriceI try to be. I like to think of myself as that. I put more time and effort into studying them and understanding them and making good recommendations to people, so that's my goal.0:01:02 - Bret TkacsFor me, I know, when I'm teaching, one of my greatest concerns… when I'm talking about gear recommendations, people are always asking me well, how should I set up my bike, what tire should I have, what helmet should I wear, what gear should I wear? And the only thing I really get insistent on is footwear. I'm like if you come out to train with me, I want you to have the best protective footwear you can, because when we're learning, we're far more likely to put our feet on the ground, to get caught under the bike and to end up with those feet injuries. And to me, it's one of those places where you really do get what you pay for. You can buy a cheap Snell helmet and you can buy some pretty good entry-level riding suits, but when it comes to boots, at least in my opinion, you seem to get what you pay for.0:01:48 - Brian PriceThat is true for a lot of reasons. One of them is that a motorcycle boot is a relatively complex piece of gear compared to a helmet. A helmet is typically about 50 pieces total and the key pieces of a helmet - the shell and EPS liner are manufactured by machine, and a motorcycle boot is a minimum of 150 pieces and in the case of a some like the [Sidi] Crossfires, a pretty technical boot, that's probably well over 200. And there's a lot more machine… actually there's less machine labor, there's just a lot more human labor in them and more steps. It's a more complex process, there's more going into it, and I think that that's one reason why an inexpensive helmet works fairly well. But that sort of comparison doesn't work quite as well with boots.0:02:40 - Bret TkacsNow I know that as we go through life, often the lessons that we share to others, our greatest experiences, are the mistakes that we've made, and I am 100% guilty of this. When I first got into adventure riding - actually motorcycle, off-road motorcycle riding, I was actually my mid-30s. I started off like many riders: I went out, I bought an inexpensive off-road boot, realized that wasn't a really good decision, and then my wife had gone out and bought me a set of Alpinestars Tech 10s and of course that's t...
    Show more Show less
    38 mins
  • Old Guy ADV Riding Tips

    Old Guy ADV Riding Tips
    Mar 10 2023
    OLD GUY ADV RIDING TIPS Guest: Murrae Haynes, a lifetime motorcyclist who is currently 74 years old. Episode Summary:Get ready to unlock the secrets of continuing your adventure riding journey as you age, with invaluable insights from our 74-year-old guest, Murrae. We promise to transform how you see and handle the unique challenges of maturing as a rider. Together, we examine the shifts in mindset, the importance of self-assessment and risk management, and why riding slower might be a wise decision. Discover how choosing the right bike, planning your route strategically, and conserving energy can enhance your riding experience. Murrae shares his personal experiences, offering practical advice on navigating your adventure riding in your golden years. Going beyond the basics, we dive deeper into the significance of energy conservation and continuous training for older riders.  Expect to learn, grow and be inspired, whether you’re an experienced rider or just starting out. So come along, as we explore the thrilling world of adventure riding, no matter your age. Full Transcript:0:00:15 - Bret TkacsWelcome to Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs. Today, my guest speaker is Murrae. Murrae is a 74-year-old rider, and so our chat today is old guy ADV riding tips. I'm 51, which by some definitions people would call an old guy, but in the adventure world I am top dead center of the bell curve, but Murrae is on the other side of it. So whether you are already in that same age bracket or approaching the same age bracket as Murrae, all of us are headed that direction. So this is a great talk, no matter what your age or who you are as a rider. So, Murrae, let's go ahead and jump into this and just talk about some of the concerns or some of the changes that are prominent in your thought and your mindset as a rider of your age.0:01:02 - Murrae HaynesSure, well I think the easiest thing is when I hit my early 60s - because I'm a rider coach and I do training a lot, I started just kind of by habit, going into some self-assessment. I think when you and I spoke the other day it started on the racetrack in terms of what are my skill sets, how are my reaction times, what do I need to do to be safe? And then that kind of bubbled over into the street and into ADV riding and everywhere else. So I would say the main concern maybe is self-assessment and risk management. How can I look at my risk offset and how, if any way, do I need to change it or tweak it to accommodate my age, to stay active in the sport?0:02:02 - Bret TkacsWe could spend all day, I think, talking about this one. So, Murrae, what Murrae is referring to is yesterday we had had a get together for all the Patreon supporters and we were discussing what sort of topics or what sort of videos they like to see on the podcast or the videos for 2023. And this one came up as a video and I thought it was a much better idea for podcasts because we can dive into the details, because once we've started talking about that on the meeting, I started scribbling down a bunch of notes and then I had one of the other riders that was on that meeting is also just approaching – he’s 72, I think now, and he came up with some ideas as well. And a couple of things that you brought up that we should bring forward in this conversation is we're talking about rider speed, how that made a difference. Thom brought up the greatest concerns that he seemed to notice amongst his riding buddies of similar age. There was way more concern about falling, especially falling with the motorcycle, and they're very concerned about being able to self-recover, to be able to pick up and recover that motorcycle. Are those kind of peak concerns for you, or do you have a different direction that you're coming from?0:03:12 - Murrae HaynesNo, I think the baseline for my concerns would be that exactly just wanting to avoid falling - an injury and being able to, as you say, recover the motorcycle,
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
Show more Show less

What listeners say about Around the Wheel with Bret Tkacs

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available