KEY TAKEAWAYS
Tyler breaks down how he's built impossible cycling routes into compelling long-form content, exploring the craft of storytelling, the power of unscripted adventure, and why he regrets (but can't change) the 'Vegan Cyclist' brand name. You'll also hear how a chance meeting with Jeremiah Bishop in Vermont sparked the whole impossible route project that's now taken off globally.
"People will not remember what you say or what you do they'll remember how you made them feel"
"I don't go into content creation with a time limit... if it's a good story you it's gonna take however long it's going to take to tell that story"
"You don't know what opportunities in your life are going to fork your life and so I sort of have this just base principle of just like let's just say yes to everything and see what happens"
Tyler Pearce's "Impossible Route" Death Valley episode runs approximately 1 hour 47 minutes, with approximately 32% of viewers completing the full duration — a long-form retention metric that validates Tyler's editorial resistance to runtime cuts.
Source: Tyler Pearce, citing YouTube analytics
The France episode of Impossible Route cost approximately $50,000 to produce — a budget level that creates production risk because the format is unscripted and the route, ride outcome, and equipment failure states are unpredictable.
Source: Tyler Pearce production cost disclosure
Effective long-form story-driven cycling content benefits from the hero's-journey structure with both external journey (the physical ride) and internal journey (character transformation) running in parallel — a craft principle Tyler applies in editing decisions.
Source: Tyler Pearce editorial methodology
Skilled video editors deliberately separate their roles as editor, person, and on-screen character — a psychological technique Pearce credits with allowing him to cut footage of himself in vulnerable moments without ego interference.
Source: Tyler Pearce editing methodology
“episode one season one which is Death Valley that was an hour and 47 minutes 32 of people that have watched that have watched the entire duration from start to YouTube cutting the video off right like like being 32 percent have watched that entirety of that like that's crazy right”
“the France film that cost us almost 50 Grand to do so what if what if we go and the route is too easy or we don't even come close to finishing it or our bike breaks in half or like there's so many things that could go wrong”
“I really regret the name uh a ton uh I have I probably think about changing that brand name twice a week but it's like it's it's so difficult because if you look at it as a business side when I look at my analytics the top out of my top five ways people find me the top four are some version of vegan cyclists”
Weekly insights from the podcast. The stuff that actually makes you faster.
The written companion to this episode.
Best Cycling Podcasts 2026 — 15 Shows Worth Your Ears
Over 200 English-language cycling podcasts are active in 2026. Most aren't worth your time. Here are the 15 that are, ranked across training…
Fast Talk vs The Cycling Podcast vs Roadman: Which One for You?
Three of cycling's best podcasts. Three different missions. Here's the honest breakdown of what each does best — and when to reach for which…
Active Recovery Rides: How Easy Is Easy Enough?
The universal mistake with recovery rides is riding them too hard. If you've ever finished a "recovery spin" slightly sweaty, slightly breat…
USE THESE TOOLS
More episodes you might enjoy
Michael Vink joins Anthony for another Roadman Cycling Podcast.
with Roadman Podcast
Mohoric has left an indelible mark on the cycling world, showcasing his prowess with remarkable victories since a young age, clinching junior and under-23 world championships. He has consistently lived up to his early potential, securing triumphs in prestigious races such as Milan San Remo and...
with Roadman Podcast
In today's special episode, we sit down with cycling legend Rob Britton to delve into his extraordinary experience at the Badlands — one of Europe's toughest gravel races.
with Roadman Podcast
A throwaway comment in sixth grade can quietly write the rules of an athletic life thirty years later. Gabby Bernstein's path back from her own version of that story is the conversation a lot of cyclists need before the next training block.
Dr Dan Plews is one of the world's foremost authorities on heart rate variability. He talks to us about using HRV as a tool to combat fatigue and how you can use HRV to get more return from your training investment.
Your legs feel fine but you can't hold the power. The breath gives out before the muscles do. Dr Andrew Sellars on the breathing limiter most amateurs don't know they have, and the protocol that fixes it.
WHERE TO NEXT
WHEN YOU'RE READY
Find out what's actually holding you back.
The Masters Plateau Diagnostic — six questions, a personalised breakdown of where your training is leaking watts. Free, two minutes.
Take the Diagnostic →Join the Clubhouse to discuss this episode, ask Anthony your questions, and connect with serious cyclists.