About this episode

Owen Vermeulen shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery through cycling.

Owen's Foundation: www.kindhousefoundation.com Sink or Swim Documentary Info: https://www.stirlandraemediahaus.com/Films/Sink-Or-Swim Owen Vermeulen’s story is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the podcast. From heroin addiction, homelessness, and years of relapse to racing some of the biggest gravel events in the world, Owen shares how cycling became the tool that helped him rebuild his life. In this episode we dive into his early years in skateboarding, addiction struggles in Vancouver, recovery, discovering bike racing, and how the cycling community gave him purpose, accountability, and hope. We also talk about the upcoming documentary Sink or Swim, Owen’s experience racing events like Unbound XL and Transcordilleras, and how gravel cycling opened the door to healing, adventure, and a completely new future. This episode is about far more than bikes — it’s about recovery, mental health, suffering, resilience, and the power of finding something worth fighting for. If you’d like to ask JP a question for an upcoming Ask JP Anything episode, send him a DM on instagram @thestablecyclist or send an email to thestablecyclist@gmail.com The companies supporting JP and…

People in this episode

Host: John Peter

Guest: Owen Vermeulen

Topics covered

• addiction
• recovery
• cycling
• mental health
• resilience
• community
• gravel racing

Keywords

• addiction
• recovery
• cycling
• mental health
• gravel racing
• community
• resilience

Sponsors

Maplelag Resort, Ignition Coach Co., Gulo Composites, Flow Formulas, Owl City Cycles, The Black Bibs

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Sink or Swim

Places: Vancouver

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Stable Cyclist podcast page.