060. Brad Wade - @onelungedwanderer

Brad Wade is a dad, a substitute teacher, an environmentalist, musician and long distance cyclist who lives the punk rock ethos. Brad also has some physiological differences that make him unique; One lung and a heart that decided to reside on the right side of his chest.

While Brad was growing up, searching for his sport, he discovered some of the limitations of his condition. When he found that cycling was something that he could do, and do well he never looked back.

One of his first and longest tours was a ride he did with adventurer, environmental activist, and entrepreneur Rob Greenfield. To bring awareness to food waste, a major problem in our society, this hardcore group of cyclists rode across the United States resupplying on discarded food from grocery stores and restaurants. Along the way, they would work with local garden centres to plant fruit trees and other plants to increase pollination in difficult areas.

Brad was struggling to find community in his home town of St. John’s, Newfoundland, so he’s working on trying to increase awareness to cycling in his region. He and his wife started a weekly coffee outside group, in his area, to bring cyclists together. He’s also part of a critical mass ride that occurs once a month to motivate more people to ride bikes, thereby increasing the need for more bike friendly infrastructure. He is also working on an Everesting project to raise money for the St John’s Status of Women Council. Brad has found so much inspiration from women in sport that he wanted to give back.

Brad is a good dude. I really enjoyed chatting with him and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this session of the My Back 40 Podcast.