About:

Steve O’Shaughnessy is an amateur ultra distance cyclist and the passionate host and producer of the My Back 40 Podcast, a weekly production in which he dives deep into the world of ultra-endurance cycling and bikepacking, uncovering the thrilling tales of epic rides and long-haul adventures, sharing invaluable tips on training and nutrition, and, perhaps most importantly, shedding light on an often overlooked but profoundly significant aspect of it all – men's mental health.

“As I navigate my own path to better mental health, sharing my experience and learning from others has been a huge part of the process for me.”

The mission at My Back 40 is to explore the connection between physical challenges and mental resilience, to encourage authentic conversations about the emotional hurdles that endurance athletes face on and off the bike, and to provide a supportive space for those seeking balance and well-being in their lives.

“The meaningful conversations I share here shed light on the fact that we are all struggling in one way or another and in this I feel less alone. The community that has built around My Back 40 has been one of support and I’m so grateful to all of my listeners.”

So whether you're a seasoned rider, an aspiring bikepacker, or simply someone looking to optimize your physical and mental health, you're in the right place. Tune in, pedal with Steve through breathtaking landscapes, and let's navigate the winding trails of endurance cycling and men's mental health together on the My Back 40 Podcast.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

2017 AR 700 - first and only scratched race.
2018 BC Epic 1000 (1060km, 11,000m) 4 days, 4 hours
2018 Cross River Ripper Fatbike Race, 11th overall
2019 The Lost Elephant Ultra Race ITT (530km, 11,000) 2 days, 15 hours
2019 Cross River Ripper Fat Bike Race, 6th overall
2020 Lost Elephant Ultra Race finishing in 2nd. Singlespeed
2021 BC Epic 1000 yoyo. 2,200km with 19,500m of ascent in 10.5 days during which I raised $2,100 for the Masaka Cycling Club in Uganda
2021 AR 700 finishing in 5th
Cited as one of the top 6 adventure podcasts in Canada in Explore Magazine
2022 I finished the 4,400km Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race in just over 27 days
2023 Buckshot. 381km, 6800m Gain, 36h9m

2022 Tour Divide:

All of the accomplishments above led to the ultimate test for Steve as he completed the 2022 Tour Divide.

“For me, the 2022 Tour Divide was the ultimate test for the lessons learned in the other events I participated in. It’s hard to put into words what finishing an adventure such as this means. It was not only a journey of a lifetime, it was a time to reconcile the past and to think deeply about how I want to show up in the future, not only for others, but for myself.”

Audiobook

I am pretty excited about this. I got Michael's permission to record this as an audiobook!

Join my Patreon at the $10 level and follow along with this fun project! I am getting chapters out as fast as I can!

My mission is to bring you inspiring conversations about bikepacking, ultra endurance racing, training, nutrition and mental health.