My 100th Substack
This is the hundredth time hitting publish on my little corner on the internet.
I started on Substack in the summer of 2022 when I was still racing on the road, but it came to life in early 2023. Since the start of 2023, it has been the home of documenting life in this little world I call privateering - effectively being a one-man kinda pro cycling team.
I looked through my backlog as I researched this, and I can hear the stress in those early days of writing. Would I make it work? What does being a privateer mean?
Since writing my first piece here, life has changed. I now spend multiple months a year Stateside, have a host of partners I love to work with and have a very cool girlfriend who happens to be an Olympian.
The Data
At the time of writing, there are 1371 of you subscribed. 33 of you are paid subscribers and I’m averaging around 20,000 views per month, the past 30 days have had 23,956 views.
A further look at the stats shows that I have subscribers in 59 countries. Interestingly, 41% of my subscribers are from the UK, and 26% from the US. But, recent data is showing that I have more new US subscribers.
For those wondering, the most views I get are when I do a deep dive on my power numbers or my contracts - you nosy so-and-so’s.
What’s Coming Up?
I’m going to be sticking to my (at least) twice weekly written schedule. The goal is for a new piece of written content every Monday and Friday. You’ll also be seeing some more mid-week content - maybe a venture into video and podcasting too.
It’ll be more of the same. Documenting my travels around the world, my life as a privateer and so on. I’ll also be interviewing a few familiar faces.
New Projects?
I’ve got a few projects brewing, but the most exciting to me is a magazine of sorts. By the end of the year, I’ll have north of 100,000 words on this Substack and 5,000 or so photos.
The goal is to produce a ‘zine’ that collates all of my best Substack work and photos from the year into something tangible - a physical product so to speak.
What can I say, I’m a bike rider and writer who wants to go into print. I’m a sucker for businesses that don’t make money!
Thank You
It’s still surreal to me that there are over a thousand of you subscribed, and almost two thousand of you reading every article. Some days I feel like those are tiny numbers, other days I have to remind myself that it's a small football stadium.
Thank you for reading these words I put on a page. These articles are just me tip-tapping away at a laptop, but they help me make sense of the world. Sometimes writing is a form of therapy, I just forget people are reading it too.
I’m always available to reach out. My email is jtlcycling@gmail.com, please do drop me a line to say hello, ask for tyre tips, or my best coffee recommendations if you’re visiting a city. Also, if my calendar happens to line up with a trip to where you live, please do reach out, I’d love to go out on a ride.
I very much don’t have this all figured out yet. I’m far from it, but then again, does anybody? Privateering and gravel is a weird world. You’re judged - and paid - not just for results but for creating something bigger.
I’m often asked if I see myself as a bike racer or a writer. I’m both. Why do they have to be mutually exclusive?
One ask while you’re here. If you enjoy this Substack, please do share it with your friends.
My first proper Substack is a favourite of mine to look back on: https://www.joelaverick.com/p/what-happens-next
While you’re here…
I’ve added a paid subscription and a ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ link to this post. As the year progresses, I’m planning on building this blog and putting out articles which I’ve always wanted to write but, for whatever reason, haven’t wanted to pitch. Your contributions allow me to do that.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joelaverick
The following brands are racing partners of mine which allow me to do cool stuff.
Readers of this Substack can save 30% on seller protection when they list a bike with the code ‘JOELAVERICK30’, use this link to get going!
