The Packfiller: Cycling Culture & Comedy | Podcast in RSS.com

The Packfiller: Cycling Culture & Comedy

The Packfiller: Cycling Culture & Comedy

di Patrick Bulger | Cycling Host & Creator

Commedia Sport nel deserto

Mattress Injuries, Cognitive Load Limits & Real vs. Fake Bike Tech

Welcome to Episode 532 of the longest-standing podcast on the sport of cycling. We are "The Packfiller"—think of us as a post-ride beer with several friends and one asshole. (Pat is definitely that asshole tonight). With Sam and David out for the evening, the OG three—Pat, Paul, and Jackson—hold down the studio to discuss the biological reality of getting a season-threatening injury from a hotel mattress, tearing down a BMC chassis, and whether the summer racing season is already evaporating. In the WorldTour, we dissect the newly rebranded Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas proved that professional cycling has officially been taken over by teenagers. Then, we tackle the UCI's controversial new "Cognitive Load" limit on head unit screen sizes. Are riders actually blinded by data, or is this just another case of old-school administrators yelling at modern technology? Finally, we roll out The Broom Wagon for a brutal game of "Real or Bullshit: Cycling Tech Edition." Can the panel spot the difference between real WorldTour gear and completely fabricated cycling engineering? Grab a pint, check your Apple AirTag crankset, and let's ride.

The Death of the Dauphiné & The "Softest Podcast in Cycling"

Welcome to Episode 531 of the longest-standing podcast on the sport of cycling. We are "The Packfiller"—think of us as a post-ride beer with several friends and one asshole. (Pat is potentially that asshole). This week, four generations of riders sit down to dissect a massive week in the WorldTour and the absolute delusion of the local amateur scene. We break down Team Visma-Lease a Bike's flawless TTT at the newly rebranded Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Demi Vollering’s absolute masterclass at the Giro d'Italia Women, and the radical new 5-day compression experiment at the Tour de Suisse. Then, we turn our attention to the comments section. The panel roasts the "Unsolicited Coaches" of the local group ride, and Pat delivers a Pulpit aimed directly at the "Keyboard Cat 5s" who recently called us the softest podcast in the sport. Spoiler: We agree with them. Grab a pint, check your tire pressure, and for the love of God, learn how to use a comma.

Did Tech Ruin Unbound Gravel? & The 20-Gram Disqualification

Welcome to Episode 530 of the longest-standing podcast in the sport of cycling. Think of us as a post-ride beer with several friends and one ahole. (Pat is potentially that ahole). The Waples brothers are still MIA, so the OG three—Pat, Paul, and Jackson—are holding down the studio to dissect a wild week in the peloton. We are breaking down the absolute peanut butter mud chaos at Unbound Gravel and debating if Keegan Swenson's star-ratchet rescue proves the "Spirit of Gravel" is alive, or if tech is just ruining the race. Plus, we look at the absurdity of Lorena Wiebes getting disqualified at the Giro d'Italia Women over 20 measly grams, Anna van der Breggen’s devastating return from retirement, and the highly controversial "internal down tube hydration" bladders that are currently starting an aero war in the WorldTour. Stick around for the end as Paul (the retro-steel veteran) and Jackson (the carbon-fiber Zoomer) go head-to-head in a brutal, buzzer-beating round of The Broom Wagon: The Generational Brand Gauntlet. Grab a drink, check your ego, and keep the rubber side down.

Giro GC Shakeups, Riverside Dust, & The Cyclist Without a Bike | The Packfiller

The Packfiller Empire has finally returned to the studio with a little Riverside dust in the lungs to show for it. Fresh off the 24 Hours of Riverside, the ensemble cast breaks down the absolute type-2 fun of mass-start mountain biking, Sam and David’s 5-person team title, and what’s next for Jackson "The Cyclist Without a Bike." Plus, Pat lays out the long, audacious road to the 2027 Master’s Nationals and a 350W FTP. On the World Tour front, we dissect Jonas Vingegaard's absolute dismantling of the Giro d'Italia General Classification on Stage 16, the controversial Milan sprint neutralization, and the massive shift toward rider-driven POV media from teams like Unibet Rose Rockets. Finally, stick around for the inaugural debut of Pat’s Pulpit, where we take a deadpan, cynical look at the absolute cognitive dissonance and elitism of the amateur roadi

The State of Amateur Road Racing is Broken (Literally)

Four days, four stages, an ungodly amount of wind, and a studio reeking of Neosporin and existential exhaustion. Welcome to Episode 528 of The Packfiller Podcast—the post-ride beer with several friends and one asshole. The complete Packfiller Empire has finally returned to the studio after surviving the region’s largest stage race, Wenatchee’s own Tour de Bloom. Tonight, the full panel—including a doctor and a physical therapist who have a lot of medical concerns—dissects a weekend defined by breakthrough redemptions and absolute field carnage.

Bloom (DRINK) and the Cost of Cycling

The Giro is in the mountains, the Tour de Bloom is days away, and the sport of cycling is officially bankrupting us all. Welcome to Episode 527. This week on The Packfiller, Pat, Paul, and Sam stare down the barrel of the Wenatchee Tour de Bloom stage race. With the young guns and the doctor absent, the Gen-X cynicism is running at an all-time high. We dive into the pre-race anxiety of facing down a 4-stage omnium, the fear of the unknown, and the absolute reality of surviving the Masters peloton. But the real question tonight: At what point does the cost of rubber make amateur racing a rich man's hobby? We are breaking down the staggering, offensive cost of modern cycling. From $220 tires and $2,000 upgrade kits to the $12 chickpea pasta required to keep the chassis light. Pat drops some inside intel from a recent text exchange with Van Rysel about their pricing philosophy and avoiding the industry "Boutique Tax," and we ask the ultimate question: What is the one piece of gear you bought that was so expensive you had to lie to your spouse about the price? Finally, the Broom Wagon returns with a financially ruinous trivia segment: The Itemized Receipt. Lock in, check your bank account, and keep the rubber side down.

Pogi's Masterclass & The 2026 Giro d'Italia Preview! 🇮🇹

The Giro d'Italia is finally here, and The Packfiller crew is breaking down the chaotic Bulgarian Grande Partenza and Vingegaard's plan for the brutal final week! But first, we celebrate a massive local win from Jackson, get the gritty details of David's BWR San Diego sufferfest, and Pat reveals his final FTP numbers just one week out from the Tour de Bloom. Plus, we recap Tadej Pogačar's absolute foreclosure on the Tour de Romandie, preview the looming Angliru at La Vuelta Femenina, and test the boys' knowledge in a special "Blind Spot" edition of Broom Wagon Trivia. Grab a proper pint of Big Barn Brewing, (or an Athletic Brewing IPA if you're unable due to life requirements) and let's get into it!

The Amateur Ego, Remco’s Redemption, & The Death of eMTB

Welcome to Episode 524 of the longest-standing podcast in cycling. Think of us as a post-ride beer with several friends and one asshole. (According to the internet this week, Pat is officially that asshole for explaining why local group-ride heroes can't hang with the women's pro peloton). This week on the Packfiller Podcast, the crew debriefs a brutal reality check at the local Twilight Crits before diving into the absolute tactical masterclass we just witnessed at the Amstel Gold Race. We break down Remco Evenepoel’s newfound patience, Paula Blasi’s monumental Spanish upset, and preview the "Paul Seixas Hype" heading into La Flèche Wallonne. Plus, the UCI officially killed the eMTB World Cup. Is it a victory for acoustic bikes, or a massive missed opportunity? Grab a pour and settle in. The Broom Wagon is waiting. 👇 THE BIG BARN BREWING PROLOGUE QUESTION: We are celebrating Jackson's Golden Birthday this week. What is the one thing you actually want for your birthday this year? Let us know in the comments. ☕️ SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SPONSORS: Big Barn Brewing: Stop in, view the beauty, sip the brilliant beers, and tell them Packfiller sent you. Thomas Hammer Coffee: Do yourself a favor and get the Blue Eyes Blend. Athletic Brewing: Holding down the tides with NA options when you can't hit the taps.

Paris-Roubaix Chaos, 300 Watts, & The Broom Wagon Trivia | The Packfiller

The Hell of the North left the peloton wrecked, with cobbles so brutal your spine needs re-checked. They race through the trenches and suffer the pain—while I loudly complain if I ride in the rain. Welcome to Episode 523 of the longest-standing podcast in the sport of cycling. The Breakdown: This week, Pat is back from "The Forge" isolation camp in Lewiston, Idaho, 15 pounds lighter, pushing 300 Watts, and carrying the digital ashes of his former AI coach. The full panel (Paul, Sam, David, and Jackson) is in the studio to break down one of the most chaotic spring weekends in recent memory. We cover Wout van Aert finally burying his demons against Pogačar in the Roubaix velodrome, Mathieu van der Poel's catastrophic Arenberg puncture, and Franziska Koch's absolute stunner in the Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

The 320W Lie, Pogačar’s Triple & UCI Hypocrisy

Broadcasting solo from a cramped dinette table in an Idaho RV bunker. This week on The Packfiller Podcast, we deal with a massive reality check: My AI coach hallucinated my FTP, so I fired it. We discuss the danger of chasing unrealistic numbers, the mental toll of the Lewiston "Forge" isolation camp, and the painful honesty of being an aging athlete. Plus, we head to the news desk to break down Tadej Pogačar making the Oude Kwaremont look like a Zone 2 spin, Demi Vollering’s tactical masterclass, and why the UCI's flashing railway lights rule apparently only applies if you don't have a multi-million dollar contract. We also open the Broom Wagon mailbag, drop a preview of the upcoming book Don't Buy the Putter, and get Jackson and Paul's dark horse predictions for Paris-Roubaix. 👇 Drop a comment: Has your Garmin or Wahoo ever fed you a complete lie?

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