Month: March 2012

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Show #83 – March 31, 2012

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We celebrate Diane’s return from last week’s National Bike Summit with a well-rounded show that includes some advocacy, some art, and a little racing thrown in for good measure.

Leading off, Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists give us his take on the recently completed Bike Summit in DC, including the passage this week of a three-month extension to the national transportation bill.

Next, we talk with Nick Czerula, who has combined his love for cycling (he’s a cyclist himself) with his talent for photography to produce a photo essay book about Richard Sachs. The book is entitled Richard Sachs bicycle maker. As a bonus, he also got to hang out with Richard for a year while working on the book. Can you say jealous?

After some news, we wrap up with a wide-ranging conversation with Tony Eberhardt. Tony is a physical therapist and racer who also coaches the road cycling team at the University of New Hampshire.

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Show #82 – March 24, 2012

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First up this week is Rich Olken, whose roots in cycling go back to his late father Ben Olken, who was a pioneering bicycle dealer and importer of fine bicycles. To say that Rich has held leadership positions with the National Bicycle Dealers Association, Bikes Belong, and Hosteling International doesn’t really convey how deeply he and his family are woven into the fabric and history of cycling in America. To understand that, you’ll have to listen for yourself.

Featured in the second half of the hour is a guy who’s been ‘actually making his own [stuff]’ since about 1974. Bruce Gordon is the founder, owner, and resident curmudgeon of Bruce Gordon Cycles, where he makes (and sometimes even sells) extremely durable, gorgeous frames, racks, and other components. He’s also the Benevolent Co-Dictator for Life of SOPWAMTOS, whose website contributed to the 90 minutes I vaporized writing this post. Perfect browsing material while you’re listening to Bruce and Rich!

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Show #81 – March 10, 2012

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Diane’s back from NAHBS this week, and fired up with a show that runs the full spectrum.

First up is Tim Blumenthal, President of People for Bikes. Tim is here talk about the recent bombshell announcement that the three major bicycling organizations in the U.S.: The Alliance for Biking and Walking, The League of American Bicyclists, and People for Bikes intend to unite to form a single, consolidated entity to promote and encourage cycling. There is still a lot for the leaders of the three groups to discuss and decide, but it appears that cyclists will have a unified umbrella after more than 30 years of wishing and hoping. I’m sure we’ll hear more about this, especially after the Bike Summit toward the end of March.

Argyle Armada
After a refreshing dip in the pool of cycling news, and a much needed rest stop, Diane welcomes Mark Johnson, the author of a new book about Team Garmin-Cervelo. Mark was lucky enough to be invited to embed with the team during the 2011 racing season, and talented enough to write and photograph a book about it. The book is titled The Argyle Armada!

 

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Show #80 – March 3, 2012

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Holy smokes! Even though Diane is on the other side of the country at NAHBS, she still managed to leave us with a blockbuster show.

First up is an interview with cycling renaissance man, Thomas Bowden, from Richmond, Virginia. Tom is a bike commuter from Richmond VA, a corporate lawyer with an MBA, and a board member of Bike Virginia. He also contributes to Commute By Bike. You can hear all about his activities in those arenas, plus the big event he’s been working to bring to Richmond, Virginia in 2015.

And in the second half of the show, an interview with a true cycling legend, Graeme Obree. Yes, that Graeme Obree, The Flying Scotsman himself. Twice-decorated as the Hour Record holder, Graeme is still designing, building and riding bikes, and right now, he’s “tuning up his engine” for a run at the HPV land speed record in Nevada this fall.

Does it get any better than this? I think not, at least until next time…