Ride to Success is hitting pause

This is a difficult newsletter to write.

I haven't published a new episode of Ride to Success since May.

Not because I stopped caring about it.

Not because I ran out of ideas.

And certainly not because I lost the motivation.

I burned out

For the past few years, Ride to Success has been an enormous part of my life

When I started the podcast, I became the researcher, producer, host, editor, marketer, social media manager, newsletter writer, booking agent and business development manager.

For a long time, enthusiasm carried me through it.

Until it couldn't.

Life changed.

I became a dad. My professional life changed. My responsibilities grew. And earlier this year, several things collided at once.

Something had to give.

Eventually, that something was Ride to Success.

But what a ride it has been

I've had conversations I could never have imagined having when I first pressed record.

I've sat across from community champions and campaigners, entrepreneurs and startup founders, CEOs and Olympic champions.

I've travelled, recorded live shows, walked around cycling events with a microphone, met people I now consider friends and been given an extraordinary window into this industry.

And somewhere along the way, this little independent podcast became something people actually knew.

Something people listened to.

Something people cared about.

I'm incredibly proud of that.

But Ride to Success has also taught me something about the very subject I've spent so much time exploring:

Success isn't linear

And perhaps more importantly, success rarely happens alone.

You can have the ambition.
You can have the ideas.
You can be willing to work incredibly hard.

But meaningful things also need people, capacity and a structure that makes them sustainable.

I eventually reached the point where Ride to Success could no longer be sustained by one person.

That's not failure.

It's probably one of the most important things this journey has taught me.

My life looks different today.

I have a young son.

I've started a new chapter professionally.

I have different responsibilities and different priorities for where my time and energy need to go.

None of that has made me less ambitious.

It's changed how that ambition needs to be expressed.

So, for the foreseeable future, Ride to Success is on pause.

Not necessarily goodbye.

Just no promises about when—or exactly how—it comes back.

Because if Ride to Success does return, I don't want to force myself back onto the same treadmill.

I want to build the next version differently.

With other people.

With collaboration.

With enough space to make something genuinely great without sacrificing everything else around it.

And perhaps that's fitting.

Ride to Success was always supposed to be about the journey rather than simply reaching the destination

Sometimes that journey takes you somewhere completely unexpected.

Sometimes you need to stop.

Sometimes you need to take the route less travelled.

And sometimes the route forward looks nothing like the one you originally imagined.

For now, I simply want to say thank you

To every person who listened to an episode.

To everyone who subscribed, shared something I made or sent me a message.

To every guest who trusted me with their story.

To the brands, organisations and people who supported an independent podcast and opened doors for me.

And especially to those of you who have been here for a long time.

You gave this project meaning beyond the numbers.

It's with sadness that I'm hitting pause.

But much more than sadness, I feel grateful.

Grateful for the conversations.

Grateful for the opportunities.

Grateful for the friendships.

And incredibly grateful that so many of you decided to come along for the ride.

Thank you

Pedro

The cost of building something great…

Ride To Success Podcast LIVE with Yanto Barker

OFFICIAL TEASER - Full episode drops May 11th

In this live episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Yanto Barker, founder of Le Col and former professional cyclist, for a raw and unfiltered conversation on what it really takes to build something from nothing.

This is not a typical success story.

From growing up with adversity to becoming a professional cyclist, to building Le Col into a globally recognised cycling brand, Yanto shares the psychological drive behind his journey — and the personal cost that came with it.

This is a conversation about:

– What it really takes
– What it costs
– And whether it’s ever worth it

Full episode drops May 11th

Watch it on YouTube or listen to it on your favourite podcast platform.

Images from the evening

Social Links to Ride to Success:

Follow Pedro Couto Lopes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-couto-lopes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ridetosuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridetosuccess/

Ride To Success Podcast LIVE with Yanto Barker

💥 LIVE PODCAST EVENT 💥

A rare opportunity not to be missed!

We’re bringing the Ride To Success Podcast to life — live in Putney.

LIVE Ride To Success Podcast featuring Yanto Barker — founder of Le Col and former pro cyclist.

If you're interested in cycling, business, or what it really takes to pursue something relentlessly, this is for you!


What to expect:

🟡 Live podcast recording
🟡 Honest insights into building Le Col (The highs, lows, and defining moments)
🟡 What’s next for Yanto Barker — and the next chapter beyond Le Col
🟡 Audience Q&A with Yanto Barker
🟡 Free Pizza, Beer
🟡 Networking with like-minded people


📍 The Clubhouse Putney - 1a Putney Embankment, London SW15 1LB

🗓 Monday 20 April


The event schedule:

6:30 PM: Doors open, welcome, FREE pizza, and drinks
7:15 PM: Podcast recording begins
8:30 PM: Recording ends,
8:40 PM: Q&A and networking
10:00 PM: Doors close


This one will fill up fast. 👥 Tag someone who should be there

Tickets available now - RESERVE YOUR SPOT - Limited spaces available

Everyone Can Start a Podcast… But Can I Keep Going?

The bike changed my life.

Every Tom, Dick, and Harry can start a podcast. But showing up week after week, 74 episodes later, is something else.

Ride to Success started in February 2024 as a one-person project. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of hosting intimate conversations with amazing guests—each bringing their own story, purpose, and inspiration, all somehow connected by the bike.

It hasn’t always been easy—lots of ups and downs—but it’s been worth every moment.

To everyone who’s listened, supported, or shared the podcast: thank you. You’ve made the effort meaningful, and you’re the reason I keep creating.

And this is just the beginning—more inspiring conversations (and maybe even live events 👀) are on the way.


This is just the beginning.

In this episode, Pedro speaks honestly about:

• The challenges of being a one-person creator 🎧

• The lessons learned from 70+ unique guests 🚴

• Why the bike is more than transport — it’s a tool for purpose, creativity, and resilience 💡

• The gratitude he feels for every single listener ❤️

This is a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has tuned in, supported, and believed in Ride to Success. And it’s also a look ahead at what’s next — more inspiring guests, more conversations, and even live events in the future.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to keep going as a podcaster, this is the episode for you.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast if it resonates with you.

Get in touch!

Officially part of the CIOVITA Community!

The bike changed my life.

Back in 2023, something unexpected happened.


Dean Norman from CIOVITA reached out and asked if I'd like to test some of their cycling gear.

At the time, they were an up-and-coming brand from Woodstock, South Africa, ambitious, bold, and obsessed with quality.

I gave it a go… and was immediately impressed.

What started as a product test became something more.


Over time, it grew into a genuine relationship, and today, I'm proud to share that I'm officially part of the CIOVITA Community!

CIOVITA is a world-class cycling apparel brand, but what truly sets them apart is their dedication to design and community.

That ethos resonates deeply with me, especially as the host of the Ride To Success Podcast, a one-person operation with big ambitions.

For me, cycling has always been about freedom, purpose, and the people you meet along the ride.

That's what Ride To Success is all about: a deep love for cycling and a shared journey toward growth.

Through conversations with a wide range of guests, I aim to tell stories that educate, connect, and move us forward.


Now, through this friendship with CIOVITA, I have the chance to showcase their incredible work — and give back to the growing community I'm building.


This is just the beginning.

Get in touch!

I’m Going LIVE at the Women in Cycling Summit Series 2025

Hi everyone, I'm Pedro Couto Lopes, host of the Ride to Success podcast, and I'll be hosting a LIVE podcast recording at the upcoming Women In Cycling Summit Series 2025 event in Paris!

📅 25–26 September 2025 📍 Hectar Ferme Pilote, Paris, France

This won't be your average episode. In this special live format, we'll dive into real, challenging conversations around gender equity, industry culture, representation, and the future of cycling.

Got a topic you'd like us to tackle? Feel free to drop your ideas in the comments or DM me directly. 👇

Why this matters: The Ride to Success podcast has always been about amplifying voices across the cycling world — and at Summit Series 2025, we're taking that mission to the next level. This event is a crucial step toward achieving a 50% female workforce in the cycling industry by 2030 — and it's going to take all of us.

What to Expect:

• Engaging Speakers and workshops: Hear from women who are innovating in the cycling space and participate in sessions to learn from experts and get actionable takeaways.

• Networking: Meet new people, share ideas, and build relationships in a relaxed, collaborative environment.

• Sustainable environment: Hosted at the Hectar Pilot Farm on the outskirts of Paris, you will experience a farm-to-table environment with a low carbon footprint in an innovative agriculture space.

Key Highlights:

• Research Findings: Academic researchers from the University of Bristol highlight the connection between marketing, participation and ultimately, the workforce in mountain biking.

• Live Podcast Recording: The Ride to Success podcast will host a live recording featuring a panel debate. It is sure to be a lively discussion.

• Engineering Panel: We invite female engineers to take the stage and share their stories of how they got into engineering, to learn how we can influence STEM careers and encourage more young women to pursue them.

• Interactive Workshops: Partnering with BikeBusinessHub, we have experts leading workshops on recruiting and retaining women in the industry.

Join us in Paris. Be part of the movement. Let's side toward something bigger.

More about the event & how to register: www.summitseriesevent.com

#RideToSuccess

Get in touch!

Who’s listening to the podcast?

I often get asked this question, and it always makes me nervous. The podcast is not yet one year old, and I feel people put unrealistic expectations on what can be achieved in just six months, basically working as one person band.

So, in the interest of transparency, let me reveal the data from the last 30 days on the podcast.

And where they are listening from…

Do you fancy being a guest on the show or sponsoring the podcast?

Get in touch!

Emerging from the shadows of online recordings

So, I have set myself the objective of interviewing 24 leaders in the cycling industry, but the reality is that I am cold emailing companies, leaders and their marketing teams to get their attention.

It's my first visit to the EUROBIKE SHOW with the Ride To Success Podcast!

DM me if you want to have a chat or pick my brains (whatever will be left of them by the end of the day 😆anyway)

I will be hanging out in Halls 11.0 /11.1 and 12.0/12.1 during the day, but I am open for afterparty invites 😉

BTW - if we meet at EUROBIKE, don't offer me coffee; my energy levels will be in full hype mode from the get-go.  😆