Hey there!
With only a few days until the Atlas Mountain Race, I've been busy getting my bike ready, thinking about what to bring, how to tackle the course and ultimately, just wrapping my head around it all. This is gonna be tough, for sure. More about #AMR2020 below!
I've been switching up the three pillars of this newsletter as of late depending upon what I see during the week. This issue's theme is a precursor to Atlas, still a strong cycling focus (that may never change) but also some Twotone updates and interesting links about respect, dignity and hiring at work.
Please do let me know what you think and as always, thank you for reading!
Jon
p.s.
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Cycling
Unpaved Podcast – The adventure cycling & bikepacking podcast
Join us as we travel the length and breadth of the UK, seeking out the very best off road riding in the wild and wonderful British Isles. We’re seeking out the riders, route masters, gear designers and creatives that help us get the most out of leaving the tarmac behind.
I noticed this new project from Katherine Moore & Tom Bonnet recently but noticed the 1st episode with Lachlan Morton isn't yet live yet, so stay tuned!
Stefano from the Broom Wagon Podcast went to the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Dübendorf 2020
Check this video of him interviewing world champions, mechanics, supporters and dancers at CX Worlds.
Fixed Gear Coffee Rides - Maastricht
The best routes to ride from Fixed Gear Coffee's recently opened Maastricht store, created by local rider and Soigneur Magazine editor in chiet, Keir Plaice.
Twotone Updates
We're improving our pr.co newsroom
Our newsroom has a new look and soon we'll have client specific tags & silo'd sub-categories for each brand.
Speaking of pr.co, check out what they've been doing for SwapFiets, I first wrote about Swapfiets here back in issue Nº170.
March 4th: Meet the Builder - Rob Quirk
My friend Rob Quirk will be discussing and demonstrating his approach of designing and racing bikes in ultra-bikepacking events.
Rob will talk about his experiences in Transcontinental Race, Silk Road Mountain Race as well as being fresh off of this year's Atlas Mountain Race.
He will be bringing Quirk bikes and will also be riding with us during the Rapha Social Ride Wednesday morning.
Pelago’s Racks are Now Distributed in the USA
Twotone client and Helsinki-based urban bicycle brand, Pelago recently announced their simple and well-designed racks gained distribution through the USA premiere bicycle distributor, QBP. Now their racks. including the Rasket, can be ordered from any shop that has a QBP account.
Work
Outsider NOW: Respect Is Not Earnt
Always good for a jolt of inspiration, the latest OUTSIDER newsletter shipped from Jess Henderson.
Dignity is what matters, but what is it exactly?
The 6th Laetitia@Work issue also shipped this week. She writes about how, when it comes to work, there are two main themes that actually matter to people: stability and dignity.
But how do you find dignity at work? It is, indeed, relative, qualitative and tough to define.
Laetitia's conclusion?
- - Stability is so essential that it should come first. It involves sufficient, regular incomes, but also a solid safety net so you can have a dignified life (healthcare, pensions, social insurance…).\
- - When labour is a commodity and you have a hyper-specialised, repetitive job, there is no dignity in work, which was acceptable when stability came with the job: you could then find dignity through work, i.e. you could buy your dignity with work. \
- - Alas in today’s context of a relative absence of stability, dignity and work are hard to reconcile. If dignity through work is a fallacy, then we need to turn again to dignity in work. And the values of craftsmanship are where we should start.
DHH on Twitter: "We ended up with over 1,200 applications for the programmer opening at Basecamp."
If you’re having trouble hiring tech talent, read this and see how your job descriptions (and benefits) compare. (hat tip Azeem for the link)
Radness
Kristof Allegaert on #AMR2020
If you've followed ultra-distance racing over the years then Kristof Allegaert is a name you'll recognize. This interview made me laugh as it seems Kristof hasn't read that much about the race, haha!
Like the other 182 racers starting in less than a week, we're all wondering what awaits us, how best to prepare, what plans are feasible and, of course, what obstacles we'll find out there.
In the meantime, my bike is pretty much ready, still need to dial my packlist and get it ready to fly in my new Post Carry case by Wednesday!
The race kicks of next Saturday in Marrakech, track all the riders, including me here: amr2020.maprogress.com & images from the race on instagram.