Show #136 – March 30, 2013

GUESTS: GILLIAN KLEMPNER WILLMAN, PAUL TOLME, JEFF FROST

 

I’m told we can blame the record number of “trainer miles” ridden this year on the Greenland Block. I’m about ready to fly up there, kick some Viking ass, and get that thing moving. In the meantime, here’s another hour of cycling conversation to divert your attention while you ride the “bike to nowhere”.

First up is an interview with Gillian Klempner Willman, who directed and produced a new film entitled The New Woman. It’s a documentary about Annie Londonderry’s journey around the world on her bicycle in 1894. The New Woman will be screening locally in April as part of the Cleveland International Film Festival.

For about 120 years, one constant about the bicycle has been the chain. We love them, we hate them, we lube them, but (so far) we haven’t been able to live without them. The Gates Company is attempting to change that with their Gates Carbon Drive. Joining us this week is Paul Tolme, Brand Evangelist for Gates to enlighten us on what it is, how it works, and why you might want one.

Rounding out the show this week is a look into one of the biggest bike race/festivals in the country: The Sea Otter Classic, which is coming up in mid-April in Monterey, California. We’ll hear from Jeff Frost, who is the Sea Otter Athletic Director about what’s happening in addition to bike racing at this year’s event.

Show #135 – March 23, 2013

GUESTS: JODY DZURANIN, JEANNIE MARTIN, ANGIE SCHMITT

 

It’s the invasion of the bike-savvy women on this week’s Outspoken Cyclist. Not to worry, the guys can listen (and learn a lot) as well.

A couple of weeks ago, Jody Dzuranin and Jeannie Martin of the Columbus advocacy organization Consider Biking were part of the Ohio delegation to the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC. The report this year is quite optimistic, with one of the main themes being “we’ve earned our seat at the table; it’s time to sit down and get to work.” Listen as Jody and Jeannie give their impressions of the Summit.

A couple hundred miles closer to home, Diane connects with Angie Schmitt of Streetsblog and RustWire. Angie is based on the near west side of Cleveland and writes about biking and walking issues, with a focus on the industrial Midwest. She and Diane talk about some of her recent articles that explore interesting angles on how motorist privilege impacts cyclists and pedestrians.

Show #134 – March 16, 2013

GUESTS: TIM O’DONNELL; DUANE VINNEAU; TONI SMITH

 

On the day before St. Patrick’s day, it’s fitting that we have as one of our guests, a good Irishman named Tim O’Donnell. Tim is the man behind Shamrock Cycles, which promises “hand built frames from the mountains of Indiana.”

In the racing department, there is a new professional stage race in North America this year: the Tour of Alberta. This UCI-sanctioned event will start in Edmonton on September 3rd, and end on September 8th in Calgary. Although no teams have been announced yet, the expectation is that more than a few elite pros from the TdF will be at the start line. Race Director Duane Vinneau is on the show this week to tell us all about it.

Finally, as part of the NAHBS report series, Diane talks with Toni Smith, who owns and operates Baileyworks Bags up in New Hampshire. Toni is a multi-faceted individual who is dedicated to making high-quality, functional products right here in the U.S.A.

Show #133 – March 9, 2013

GUESTS: BRAD DEVANEY, DAVE SIMMONS, CAELI QUINN

 

American Bicycle Group, parent company of the Litespeed and Quintana Roo brands normally builds stock frames, but one very special customer recently got a full custom design for a ride that was literally out of this world. Listen as Brad DeVaney, Engineering Manager for ABG talks about the company’s titanium work on NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover.

If you’ve ever been on a long ride and had your toes go numb, or experienced a “hot foot”, Dave and Jennifer Simmons have the answer for you. Simmons makes fully-custom, all-carbon cycling shoes based on a plaster cast of his customers’ feet. After listening to Dave, and checking out the website, the word that best describes these shoes is “want!”

Returning to Earth, we wrap up this week’s show with a conversation with Caeli Quinn, Ride Director for Climate Ride. Climate Ride is a non-profit organization that sponsors two week-long rides each year, with the aim of raising awareness and activism around sustainability, bike advocacy, and environmental causes. Think of it as a rolling, human-powered green symposium!

Show #132 – March 2, 2013

GUESTS: DEX & TONI TOOKE, DAN GUTIERREZ

NAHBS wasn’t the only game in town last weekend. While the framebuilders were busy depleting Denver’s strategic beer reserve, a group of cycling advocates and educators were huddled in Orlando, Florida, for the first-ever I Am Traffic colloquium. On this week’s TOC, one of the prime movers behind I Am Traffic, Dan Gutierrez talks about his work as a cycling educator and advocate, and fills us in on the colloquium.

From the practical to what some would say is the extreme, in the second half of the show Diane welcomes solo RAAM finisher Dex Tooke and his wife and crew chief Joni Tooke. Dex and Joni hail from Del Rio, Texas, and in addition to being a 60-some-year-old ultra-distance racer, Dex has written a book about RAAM, entitled Unfinished Business.  And, while it’s true that Dex was the one turning the pedals for 3,000 miles to complete RAAM, read a bit of his book and you’ll see that it never would have happened without Joni’s fanatical planning and discipline. Dex & Joni also directs  32-hour race in west Texas called No Country for Old Men.