Month: December 2011

Posted on

Show #71 – December 31. 2011

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

12/31/2011
It’s the last day of 2011, and time to look back on another year of cycling, tally up our annual mileage, and try to figure out what might be in store for us in 2012.

The Outspoken Cyclist has interviewed a number of framebuilders this year, and each one has an interesting back story, and philosophy on designing and building a fine bicycle. This week’s first guest has both of those qualities in spades. Carl Strong, proprietor of Strong Frames joins us to talk about how he came to the bicycle business, and how he decided to build in steel, titanium, and (gasp!) carbon fiber.

After a wrap up of the 2011 cycling news, I get my annual chance to interview Diane. We did this on our New Year’s show in 2010, and it was both enjoyable and informative. So we decided to give it another go this year. Our topic this time around is yoga. I’m sure you’ll learn something; I know I did! Who knows, yoga might be the new thing you try in 2012.

On behalf of Diane and myself, thanks for listening this past year; we wish you health, happiness, and many safe and smiling miles on your bike in 2012, whether you’re commuting, racing, recreating, or simply exploring your neighborhood.

Posted on

Show #70 – December 24, 2011

Guests: Jim Sayer, Adventure Cycling; Leslie Bohm, Catalyst Communication

It’s December 24th, the stockings are hung, the menorahs are lighted, and the Festivus poles are standing tall. Diane and the elves were busy this week, creating a special podcast-only edition of The Outspoken Cyclist for your holiday audio feasting.

First we check back in with Jim Sayer of Adventure Cycling. Jim gives us his take on the current climate for cycling advocacy, as well as bringing us up to date on what Adventure Cycling has been up to lately. Here’s a hint: it’s more than just maps and tours.

In the second half of the hour, we welcome Leslie Bohm, Chief of Everything at Catalyst Communications. Catalyst works with makers and sellers of sports gear to improve the quality and impact of their marketing efforts. Beyond that, Leslie is a tireless cycling advocate. If you’ve never considered that the National Rifle Association might have something to teach the cycling community, prepare to have Leslie expand your consciousness.

Two conversations to lift your cycling spirits and give you food for thought on this week’s Outspoken Cyclist.

Posted on

Show #69 – December 17, 2011

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Charles Youel, Art Crank & Dave Kirk, Kirk Frameworks

Snow is falling (and sticking) in northeast Ohio at this writing. That’s nature’s way of telling you to stay indoors, curl up with your favorite audio player and prepare to be entertained, informed, and perhaps even inspired by a fresh episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

This week, we have a couple of regular guys doing extraordinary things. The first is Charles Youel, the founder, director and curator of Art Crank. Charles is a cyclist and graphic designer who decided to put on a ‘poster party for bike people’ in Minneapolis, and 500 people showed up! Realizing there might be something to this idea, he’s done about twenty more similar events around the country. Caution: listening to this interview may cause you to want to travel long distances to attend an Art Crank event.

After a brief bit of news, the second half of the show brings us an interview with Dave Kirk, of Kirk Frameworks Custom Bicycles in Bozeman, Montana. Dave is a fan of The Outspoken Cyclist, but we would have had him on anyway, just to hear about his history as a racer, production framebuilder for Serotta, and now proprietor of his own shop. Plus, he has some interesting insights for those who might want to start framebuilding for themselves.

Posted on

Show #68 – December 10, 2011

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Charles Pelkey, Red Kite Prayer & Stefan Walz and Chris Mooney “Tucson Spokes”

December is hurtling along toward the “big” holidays, and the end of another year. Diane has pulled together a couple of early stocking stuffers for Outspoken Cyclist listeners who have been extra good this year (naughty listeners are admonished to do an extra set of intervals before downloading this week’s show).

If you are a long-time reader of VeloNews, the name Charles Pelkey will no doubt be familiar to you. Charles wrote for the “journal of competitive cycling” for 17 years, rising to the post of Senior Technical Editor. Coincidentally, he received a cancer diagnosis on the same day this past July that he and a number of other VeloNews staffers were let go. Charles is now an attorney, and continues to write his Explainer column for Red Kite Prayer, and is undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer. Listen and find out what else Charles is up to these days.

Our second interview this week comes from a place where the sun shines 300 days a year on average: Tucson, Arizona. Stefan Walz and Chris Mooney have written a gorgeous new book called Tucson Spokes. It’s a photo collection about the people who ride bikes in and around Tucson. Sunny, flat, and with easy access to 9,000-foot peaks? You’d ride your bike a lot there, too.

Posted on

Show #67 – December 3, 2011

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Jody Dzuranin, Consider Biking; Thomas Prehn, Cateye America

The calendar says December, but the weather still says October. No complaints here, and if the “weather suits your clothes” as the song says, keep riding outdoors. The three month indoor ride to nowhere will start soon enough.

The first stop on tonight’s tour takes us south to the capitol of our fair state, Columbus, Ohio, and a conversation with Jody Dzuranin, Operations Manager for Consider Biking. Consider Biking serves ‘people who pedal’ in the Columbus and surrounding area of Ohio. Jody will bring us up to date on their Open Streets initiative, and progress on the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, among other exciting opportunities for cyclists.

Regardless of how warm (or cold) it is, daylight is at a premium this time of year. Our second guest can help with that if you want or need to ride at night safely and legally. We’re joined by Thomas Prehn, President of Cateye America. Thomas has news about some very cool lights, including USB-rechargeable models inexpensive enough to fit in your Christmas stocking (hint, hint).