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Guests: Matt Sturgis, Lance Boucher; Professor Chris Sweet
This is the next episode in our series of great rides around the U.S. for spring and summer 2026. Today, we visit Maine.
Lung diseases affect 35 million people in the U.S. and the American Lung Association is the first stop for advocacy, research, and funding for those people and their families.
Perhaps you know someone or ARE someone who suffers from a lung disease – whether it be asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, or even allergies associated with the environment.
The American Lung Association offers many programs as well as advice and will advocate for everyone needing their help with events like the Trek Across Maine as well as a cohort of delegates who speak directly with members of Congress.
Then, there’s the fun of a large group of riders who are not only supporting the 
fundraising efforts but are enjoying the beauty of the State of Maine with a fully supported 3-day ride.
The 42nd annual Trek Across Maine – yep – 42 years! – has to be one of if not the longest running event of its kind – a fund raiser as well as what you will hear is almost a family reunion with hundreds of folks, for what promises to be a lovely three-day ride around Maine.. And with a Father’s Day weekend date… it’s a great way to celebrate Dad!
My guests are Matt Sturgis, who has held many positions with the American Lung Association in connection with this ride and other offices around the eastern seaboard, and Lance Boucher, who is the voice of the organization in advocacy and public affairs.
While the Trek Across Maine isn’t the only Lung Association ride, it is their biggest. If Father’s Day weekend doesn’t work for you, you can find their other events, along with tons of great information at cycleforair.org.
My second guest today is Professor Chris Sweet. He’s the Information Literacy and Scholarly Communications Librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University. His just published book, a History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts, goes all the way back to the late 1800’s, tracing the ups and downs of cycling from manufacturing and racing to how bicycles figured into the wars of the 20th century and beyond.
I didn’t think there was so much to learn about the history of bicycles and cycling in Illinois, and I was wrong!
Professor Chris Sweet, is also an avid cyclist and a historian. His research reached back into the late 1800’s to explain the subtitle of his book, 160 years of booms and busts, and brings it right up to the to effects the 
pandemic had on cycling just a few years ago.
Order your copy from bookshop.org, your local book seller, and of course, your local library! With this in hand, I think we can learn something about our love for the bicycle and the instability of the bike industry at large.
I don’t think I’ve met a more fascinating person than adventurer 
months-long “
Then, in the second half of the show, we take a 180-degree turn when my guests are Carlos Rogers and Robin Morton. Carlos is one of the partners who owns the Philadelphia Cycling Classic and Robin is the race director.
In addition to world-class men’s and women’s pro racing on Philly streets- with equal prize money for both I might add – there is a festival, a citizen’s time trial, and the joy of being in one of the most interesting and historic cities in the country.
the event, log on to philadelphiacyclingclassic.com. BTW, if you are planning on going, I’d book a hotel sooner rather than later!
My guests today, 
who worked for a local tree company, told us they were going to ride this event to celebrate trees! 
Then, I speak with cyclist and author Paul Dunt. In the summer of 2014, Paul, who lives in the U.K., came over to the States with a traveling companion to ride the original 4,000+ mile 
and his comments about the differences between folks in the U.S., where he learned more about someone in half an hour at a gas station stop than in the U.K. where people are much more reserved, were amusing if not quite illuminating!
As we wrap up our third and final episode on eBikes, 
legal to ride an eMoto – because they exceed the attainable speed limit ascribed to an eBicycle – and parents are unwittingly buying them for their kids – we find ourselves in a no-win situation.
On a positive note, there is finally a bill that was introduced on the House Floor – 
Before we get to our guest, I want to give a HUGE shoutout to our very own 
So many people, companies, policymakers, and organizations stand to find themselves negatively impacted as the definition and regulation of the category becomes mired in misunderstanding and frankly, fear.
background chatter at times, but the conversation is – as always – enlightening. And, I don’t mind a bit of ambient noise.
Indeed, it’s Spring Classics time and as always, I turn to my bike racing expert, 
and more. And, you can find Joe’s “
First – it’s 
Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists.
Caron also walks us through the 
journalist, and he began our conversation with a super fun fact – he’s a triplet!
Pogocar. Deeply and carefully researched, Andy covers the champion and his development over the years from Tadej’s beginnings as a small child in Slovenia to his meteoric rise as the 4-time winner of the Tour de France.
My guest today is an old friend and perhaps someone many of you might consider your friend too.
observations and experiences, were fiction, this book describes the real people he’s met, the actual rides he’s done, and his candid thoughts about the many changes that he’s experienced in today’s bike club culture.