Show #175 – Last show of 2013

Guests: Bike Lawyer Steve Magas and RKP’s Patrick Brady

 

It’s time to pack 2013 in a sturdy box, tape the lid shut, and store it away with all the other completed years. But before we do, let’s take a final look, courtesy of two friends of The Outspoken Cyclist. Don’t worry, there are no top ten lists here, and no soft-focus retrospectives, just honest conversations about what happened on two wheels over the past 12 months.

First up is Steve Magas, an attorney practicing in the state of Ohio, specializing in bicycle crash and injury cases. Diane and Steve start this week’s show with a look back at some of the notable events involving cyclists and the law, including some high profile bike-car collisions. Check out Steve’s website for some great data about crash circumstances. We can’t control for the “random acts of intoxication or stupidity” but by looking at how the majority of crashes happen, we can take steps to avoid those situations, or at least be extra vigilant around them.

Our last official guest of 2013 is Patrick Brady, publisher of Red Kite Prayer. Patrick was recently awarded with a silver medal in the Lowell Thomas Travel Writing Competition, sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundatino. Today, Patrick is here to talk about the impact of doping scandals on pro racing, equipment trends, charity rides, and what he has planned for 2014.

Show #162 – September 28, 2013

GUESTS: MIKE DEME, PATRICK O’GRADY, SHAWN OLIN, PATRICK BRADY, FRED CLEMENTS

 

Summer may be gone for 2013 in the northern hemisphere, but we’re postponing its funeral by holding an extended wake for summer on our bikes. Calling hours are held outside on every sunny day between now and Halloween!

The other way you can tell that summer is officially over is the annual occurrence of Interbike. On this week’s Outspoken Cyclist, Diane brings us her Interbike wrap-up with four interviews captured on the show floor:

 

Show #145 – June 1, 2013

GUESTS: PATRICK BRADY, LORENZO DI SALVO, SAMUEL SWENSON, & GEORGE MOUNT

 

This week’s edition of The Outspoken Cyclist should come with a warning label: “Open with caution; contents under pressure”. It’s a packed house this week, with something for everyone.

Lance Armstrong is suddenly the social butterfly, reaching out to former rivals and media alike. Patrick Brady of Red Kite Prayer got an actual telephone call from Big Tex this week, and he’s first up to share his impressions of Lance’s latest campaign.

Tomorrow is the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in southern California, and whether you’ll be toeing the line in L.A. or wishing you were, Lorenzo DiSalvo is here to get us in the mood for some cycling, Italian-style.

Rounding out the first half of the hour is Samuel Swenson, who formerly worked as a mechanic for the bike share program in Washington, DC. He and other employees of bike share programs around the U.S. claim they were denied wages and benefits due them under contracts between Alta Bike Share and the various host cities. (Numerous attempts to contact officials at Alta Bicycle Share before airtime were unsuccessful.)

With an opening triple-decker like that, we needed a short break, after which we get to stretch out with one of the greats from U.S. cycling’s heyday of the 1970s and 1980s: George Mount. George is a former Olympian, former pro racer in Europe, and member of the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame. He doesn’t mince words nor pull any punches when it comes to cycling’s past, present, or future.

Show #139 – April 20, 2013

GUESTS: BIKE SNOB NYC AKA EBEN WEISS; PATRICK BRADY AKA PADRAIG

 

Well, WJCU is not the BBC (Big-time Broadcasting Company) but we did manage to lure two notable guests to the show this week.

Bike Snob NYC and his alter ego Eben Weiss have a new book out called Bike Snob Abroad, and Eben will be visiting our fair city next Saturday for a Q&A, signing, and bike ride (assuming we can defrost the Cleveland freezer by then). Listen to Diane’s interview with Bike Snob NYC right here, and then see him live on April 27th at 1:00 pm at the Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City.

Dropping in after the news is Red Kit Prayer’s Patrick Brady, making us all jealous by reporting from the Sea Otter Classic. Always ready with commentary on a diverse array of subjects, Patrick also tells us about his plans for an upcoming book crowd-funded via Kickstarter, called Why We Ride.

Show #105 – September 1, 2012

Guests: Charles Pelkey, Keith Laughlin

Charles Pelkey is an attorney, cyclist, and regular contributor to Red Kite Prayer. With more articles about Lance Armstrong, the USADA, the UCI, and doping accusations, it seems almost impossible to sort it all out.  Charles puts it all in perspective and more.

Keith Laughlin is the President of Rails to Trails and lives in Washington, DC.  Keith is also one of the best informed cycling professionals I know.  He is keenly aware of what is happening in Congress and around the country as it pertains to cycling advocacy.  In this election year, Keith helps us understand what is at stake and what you can do to make syre that bicycles are not shoved under the rug.

Show #95 – June 23, 2012

Here is my report from Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah where I attended Press Camp. I had the opportunity to interview a wide variety of folks from different corners of the cycling press and trade community. Here’s a list of who you’ll hear on this week’s show:

Show #75 – January 28, 2012

Here at the end of January, we’re not quite at the Red Kite of winter yet, but we’re close enough to at least confirm its existence. On today’s Outspoken Cyclist, we find out how a couple of other media types are covering the cycling world, and covering the world using a bike.

First up is Patrick Brady, editor and publisher of Red Kite Prayer, recently named the #1 bicycling blog by Outside magazine. Patrick is a veteran cyclist and cycling journalist who has been involved with such notable publications as Bicycle Guide and Asphalt. His ‘mind, body & machine’ approach to cycling news, along with additions of Charles Pelkey and John Wilcockson, and others have vaulted RKP to the top of the heap. Another reason Patrick deserves to be on top: his desire to be successful enough to pay his staff and contributors fairly.

After a roundup of cycling news from Diane (including two new product recalls) we dial up Boaz Frankel in Portland, Oregon. Boaz is only 29 years old, but a look at his Wikipedia page attests to his drive and creativity. His latest project is The Pedal Powered Talk Show, which is a shot-on-location video podcast where the entire production rig is transported by cargo bike. Will we someday see Matt Lauer and Al Roker pedaling a bakfiets down Broadway in Manhattan, looking for their next Today Show interview? Possibly not, but Boaz is already proving it’s possible.