Show #104 – August 25, 2012

8/25/2012
It’s one week to Labor Day, and definitely a time in the cycling year when we separate into the ‘glass half full’ and ‘glass half empty’ camps. Is it almost the end of the prime summer season, or simply the threshold of ‘bonus’ season? Regardless of your perspective, one directive is always appropriate: go ride your bike!

Our first guest should have his picture in the dictionary next to the entry for altruism. Bob Lee and his Ride for 3 Reasons have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research, ALS, and hospice funding. Because Bob covers his own expenses, all donations go directly to his designated charities. He’s headed out on the road again in September, so listen for all the details, including how you can contribute.

In the second half of today’s show, Diane chats with artist and framebuilder Dave Bohm. Dave owns Bohemian BicyclesAcel Tubing and Joining Products, and a framebuilding school. That’s right, if you have 10 days and some cash, you can build your own frame and fork with Dave’s expert guidance. A heckuva lot more useful than that bird house you built in shop class!

Show #103 – August 18, 2012

8/18/2012
We’re cruisin’ like a fat-tire single-speed at the beach this week. Lots of news to tell you about, and two great guests. What could be better?

Hans Rey is a mountain biking legend who has a new coffee table book entitled A Life of Mountain Bike Adventures: 25 Years of Riding the World. He also runs a charity dedicated to providing bikes to people who need them in developing countries. Wheels 4 Life reflects Hans’ passion and integrity by maximizing the direct impact of every dollar donated.

Mike Magnuson is a writer, musician and cyclist, not necessarily in that order. He’s been a contributor to Bicycling magazine for many years, and his latest book is Bike Tribes: A Field Guide to North American Cyclists. Beyond all that, he’s a hell of a fun guy to shoot the breeze with, which is exactly what Diane did this week.

We found a lot of variety in the cycling news which ranges from triathlete deaths to Metroparks sharrows to 13-year old hit and run drivers to trail funding to Route 66. Grab something cold and wet, kick off those cleats and join us for a wild ride on this week’s Outspoken Cyclist.

Show #102 – August 11, 2012

8/11/2012
Temperatures under 80 degrees? Skies that are cloudy (and occasionally rainy) all day? What can these things be? Just glad I didn’t sell my fenders and rain jacket yet. To celebrate the refreshing weather change, we’ve got two great guests lined up for you this week:

First, April Streeter talks about her new guidebook, Women on Wheels. April is a writer from Portland, Oregon, with an emphasis on environmental and women’s issues.

In the second half, Diane talks with adventurer, author and force of nature, Frosty Wooldridge. Frosty’s new book is How to Live a Life of Adventure: the Art of Exploring the World.

Finally, we send our condolences to the family of Stan Bugarcic, a local triathlete who died this week as a result of complications from a near-drowning at a race in Mentor, Ohio last Sunday. Plans for a memorial fund-raiser are pending. Keep listening to The Outspoken Cyclist for details on how you can help.

Show #101 = August 4, 2012

8/4/2012
August has arrived, and here on the (relatively) temperate north coast, that means peak season for local triathlons. The TOC crew (and their animals, I’m told) will be on hand to cheer for friends at the Greater Cleveland Triathlon tomorrow morning at Headlands State Park.

How appropriate then, that our first guest today is IronMadMan Ryan Schneider, who also writes for LAVA Magazine, (and has a day job in the video game industry). Ryan describes himself as the world’s least likely triathlete, and he maintains that anyone with the right motivation and dedication can complete an IronMan. Great stuff!

After the break and some news, Diane welcomes back Steve Magus, the Ohio Bike Lawyer to the show. In addition to his legal practice based in Cincinnati, Steve analyzes bicycle fatalities to see what really happened and if the law enforcement agencies got the story right. Steve also has great statistics that you can use to reduce your risk on the roa