After two serious crashes, Cynthia Carson wasn’t sure she’d ever race the same again.

In this episode, we dive into the reality of ultra endurance racing — the physical toll, the mental battles, and what it takes to come back when everything goes wrong.

From Unbound XL to the Traka to the Transcontinental, this is more than racing… it’s about resilience.

🎬 Watch Cynthia’s film: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20fPWRPT0Aw&t=2425s

Thumbnail photo credit: Sebastian Samek

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or use the code is "StableSilca15"

If you’d like to ask JP a question for an upcoming Ask JP Anything episode, send him a DM on instagram @thestablecyclist or send an email to thestablecyclist@gmail.com

The companies supporting JP and this channel:

Maplelag Resort - https://www.maplelag.com/

Wark's Cycling Services - https://www.warkscyclingservices.com/

Ignition Coach Co. - https://www.ignitioncoachco.com/ Use code StableCyclist100

Gulo Composites - https://gulocomposites.com/

Flow Formulas - https://flowformulas.com/discount/JOHNPETER15

Wahoo Fitness - https://amzn.to/48RUSqe

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The Black Bibs - https://amzn.to/3XRlMtm

Dawn to Dusk - https://amzn.to/48zKi8p

Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended

Mental Health Advocacy - Go4Graham - https://www.go4graham.org/

Resources: 988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

International Bipolar Foundation: https://ibpf.org/

National Association for Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/

What does it take to tell a story you can’t see?

In this 100th episode of The Stable Cyclist Podcast, co-directors John Peter and Aaron Haugen break down the making of “MAAH DAAH HEY: BACK TO THE START” — a documentary about rebuilding life after a bipolar diagnosis. From filming a remote endurance race to trying to visualize mental illness on screen, this project pushed every limit we had — creatively, physically, and personally. We answer questions from the community and go deep into: - How the film came together over multiple years - The biggest challenges in telling a mental health story visually - What got left on the cutting room floor - The reality of filming in extreme conditions - And what this story means now that it’s complete This is more than a behind-the-scenes episode — it’s the real story behind the story.

🎬 Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/vUt6Y-fNvIA?si=0KfxVnhvUwSLQ1TR 🎥

Full film premieres April 3rd at 6:00 PM

https://silca.cc/discount/thestablecyclistpod or use the code is "StableSilca15"

If you’d like to ask JP a question for an upcoming Ask JP Anything episode, send him a DM on instagram @thestablecyclist or send an email to thestablecyclist@gmail.com

The companies supporting JP and this channel:

Maplelag Resort - https://www.maplelag.com/

Wark's Cycling Services - https://www.warkscyclingservices.com/

Ignition Coach Co. - https://www.ignitioncoachco.com/ Use code StableCyclist100

Gulo Composites - https://gulocomposites.com/

Flow Formulas - https://flowformulas.com/discount/JOHNPETER15

Wahoo Fitness - https://amzn.to/48RUSqe

Owl City Cycles - https://www.owlcitycycles.com

The Black Bibs - https://amzn.to/3XRlMtm

Dawn to Dusk - https://amzn.to/48zKi8p

Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended

Mental Health Advocacy - Go4Graham - https://www.go4graham.org/

Resources: 988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

International Bipolar Foundation: https://ibpf.org/

National Association for Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/

After 8 days of racing, crashes, mechanicals, and everything in between… they made it.

Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden crossed the finish line of the Absa Cape Epic — one of the hardest stage races in the world — and this is the story of their final day.

Stage 7 was no victory lap. A brutal climb, technical singletrack, and completely empty legs forced them to dig deeper one last time. But this time, it wasn’t about results — it was about finishing.

In this episode, we break down: • The reality of the final stage (it’s not easy) • Racing on completely empty legs • The emotion of crossing the finish line together • What they learned about partnership, resilience, and themselves

They finished 7th overall in the GC — but the real win was making it to the line.

Stage 6 of the Cape Epic brought more chaos for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden. After a late-night bike issue left Leah’s setup questionable heading into the start, the day quickly unraveled with a puncture, a crash, and time lost early in the stage.

Despite the setbacks, the pair fought their way back through the field, navigating tight singletrack, technical descents, and the challenges of racing blind on unfamiliar terrain. The day ended with frustration after a wrong turn in the final kilometers cost them valuable time.

In this episode, JP, Jenna, and Leah break down the mechanical issues, the mental battle of chasing from behind, and the emotional swings that come with racing a multi-day event like the Cape Epic. They also reflect on the role of their support crew and what it takes behind the scenes just to make it to the start line each day.

With one stage to go, the focus shifts to finishing strong.

Stage 5 of the Cape Epic is known as the Queen Stage, and it delivered in a big way. Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden break down one of the toughest days of the race, with massive climbing, fatigue setting in, and the cumulative toll of multiple stages starting to show.

In this episode, JP, Jenna, and Leah recap how the day unfolded, what made this stage so challenging, and how they managed their effort through one of the most demanding profiles of the week. They also share what it feels like deep into a stage race like Cape Epic, where every decision matters and every pedal stroke counts.

Another raw, inside look at the women’s race during one of the hardest mountain bike stage races in the world.

Stage 4 of the Cape Epic didn’t go to plan for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden. Within the first five minutes, they were caught up in a crash that left Jenna dealing with a broken valve stem and the constant challenge of keeping air in her tire over the opening kilometers.

Despite the early setback, the pair fought their way back through the field to finish 10th on the day.

In this episode, JP, Jenna, and Leah break down what it’s like trying to recover from a crash early in a stage, the difficulty of passing riders on tight singletrack, and the mental battle that comes when your race plan is thrown out almost immediately. A raw look at the realities of racing the Cape Epic when things don’t go your way.

Stage 3 of the Cape Epic brought early adversity for Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden after a crash left Jenna without her Garmin, forcing them to adapt quickly in one of the longest and most demanding stages of the race. Despite the setback, the pair fought back to secure another strong 7th place finish on the day.

In this episode, they reflect on whether Cape Epic is the hardest stage race they’ve ever faced, how they managed the chaos after the crash, and the mental resilience required to stay locked in over such a long day. They also discuss the conversation around women racing shorter distances than the men and what that means within the context of this event. Another honest, behind-the-scenes look at life inside the world’s toughest mountain bike stage race.

Stage 2 of the Cape Epic took Jenna Rinehart and Leah Van der Linden from Montagu back to Montagu for a long, fast day of racing in South Africa. In this daily recap, they break down a strong performance on the results sheet while also opening up about the emotional side of racing as a team when one rider feels like she may have let the other down.

JP, Jenna, and Leah talk about the psychology of pairs racing, how momentum can swing multiple times even within a single stage, and why staying patient matters so much in a race as long and demanding as Cape Epic. They also share what post-race recovery actually looks like, from the finish line all the way back to the Airbnb, in another inside look at the women’s race during one of the hardest mountain bike stage races in the world.