Podcasting Since 2010
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SHOW #1 WITH BEN SEROTTA
This file has been MIA for a long time. It is the first conversation I had for the Outspoken Cyclist with my friend and colleague, Ben Serotta.
I’m sharing it with you now because I recently wrote a Substack piece that talks about Ben, this episode of the show, and how his work is relative today.
Enjoy!
Diane
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As many of you know, I have a real soft spot for traditional steel frame bikes and so I always feel somewhat justified in my “curmudgeonly-ness” when I have the opportunity speak with a master frame builder who is still practicing the art of building steel bikes.
Bicycling started out as a “working class” sport and those who supported it were working class folks. Today, we hold our custom frame builders in high esteem at the same time that the craft of building steel bikes tries very hard to fade into history.
Framebuilder Paul Gibson not only doesn’t want to see that happen, he is actively doing things to ensure it won’t.
Paul is now the proprietor of Ellis-Briggs Cycles, the 90-year-old British bicycle company, founded by brothers-in-law Leonard Ellis and Thomas Briggs in 1936. Their vision was to create high quality lightweight racing frames.
Through the years, there have been many changes in the custom bicycle business and Paul is hoping to preserve the traditions by teaching the skills to 
build lugged, steel frames as well as keep the long heritage of the craft alive and well.
While our conversation isn’t terribly long, it is full of juicy nuggets of interest from the history of the company to Paul’s desire to develop a curriculum for students – especially students who aren’t inclined to sit in a classroom day after day but rather wish they could learn some hands-on skills.
I’ve had so many conversations about the art and science of building steel frames over the years and always appreciate someone who is still immersed in the craft.
You can follow and help support Paul’s Patreon at patreon.com/ellisbriggs.
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In my Substack post about Tucker Schwinn’s new book, Closure – The Final Days of the Waterford Bicycle Factory – I said I had hoped to be able to speak with him directly.
That happened over the past weekend, and I wanted to share that conversation, even though this will be a short podcast episode.
Tucker is the son of Richard and Debra Schwinn. He grew up in the world of Waterford Precision Cycles and when the announcement of the closure of the factory was made and even before, decided to use his photography degree to document everything – from the eyewash station to the paint booth and anything in-between.
From beautiful descriptions of some of the photos to allowing others to just 
stand alone, I think the book is a must-have if you are a collector of bicycle related keepsakes.
My relationship with the Schwinn’s goes back a long time and, while I lament the loss of the factory and the beautiful frames produced there, the book helps to cement some of the memories in a way I hadn’t expected.
I know Tucker holds a lot of it in his heart and the book is a deep expression of his love and remembrance of the days – years – spent there.
You can get a copy of the book at, closurewaterfodbook.com or from TuckerSchwinn.com. I think it would be a splendid addition to your cycling library, and you will get a perspective on the factory from a very unique point of view.
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I’m really pleased to welcome two great guests to the show today.
The first is not new to TOC, and in fact has been someone I’ve not only spoken with in the past but have also referred to many times on episodes where he doesn’t even appear.
I love catching up with Strong Towns’ founder Chuck Marohn because I always experience an enlightening and encouraging conversation. Today is no different.
I can remember my first conversation with Chuck Marohn back in 2013. In 
those days, Chuck was beginning to show the way cities and towns could become financially viable, putting people first and debunking decades of municipal planning that wasn’t working then and certainly wouldn’t work today.
Fast forward and Strong Towns is beyond strong! It’s a force to be reckoned with that has expanded worldwide with literally hundreds of local conversation groups that have taken up the reigns in their communities to improve everything from parking and housing to streets and highways.
In this episode we cover a myriad of topics from the Ride for Life Rally that was held in D.C. to Chuck’s thoughts about how we might be getting our advocacy for cycling and walking wrong by looking to the Federal government for help as well as his thoughts about how we can all be part of a Bike Walk Revolution.
Once you hear it, you can’t un-hear it. It makes so much sense. And it just might spur you to action.
For more information and some great tools to help you launch successful advocacy in your community or to enhance the work that is already being done, log on to strongtowns.org.
In the second half of the show, I speak with Esther Walker, the executive director of Outride.
Founded in 2012 by Specialized’s former CEO Mike Sinyard, who suffers from ADHD and found that riding a bike helped him to focus and learn, Outride started by investigating how bike riding could become an important part of a comprehensive therapy program for kids with ADHD.
When Mike realized that riding a bike helped with focus and energy, offering 
him a much wanted and needed break from the sufferings of ADHD, he decided to put his philanthropic leanings to work to pass on what he was discovering.
Today the organization offers hard data from extensive research as well their Riding for Focus program for middle school kids all over the country and in Canada. From a yearly research summit to community grants, the organization is laser focused on getting kids on bikes and keeping them there.
Check out their research on their YouTube channel. And if you are so inclined, start a community impact program in your town or learn how your local middle school can participate.
Consider making a donation to Outride to help continue their research as well as fund the community grant program.
You can extended commentary on my Substack. Please consider becoming a subscriber and perhaps helping to support the work with a small monthly donation.
As we approach the end of 2025, I want to thank you for listening to the show. I appreciate your ongoing interest and loyalty and hope to bring you more note-worthy and wide-ranging episodes in the coming year.
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Every time I think our issues with cars vs cyclists are getting so much worse, which of course they are, I come across something that is even more dreadful!
Seems that Canada – a place where I would have thought cyclists would be not only safer but encouraged – is definitely not that!
In my conversation with David Shellnutt, The Biking Lawyer, I learn that there is not only open hostility to cyclists, but the police seem to be complicit in making cyclists “pay” for infractions while drivers’ who have been issued tickets find themselves with no consequences whatsoever.
Besides his busy law practice helping cyclists in a multitude of ways, David 
shows up to speak at club meetings, litigates anti-racism in the courts, sides with survivors of sexual violence and assault, and helps to feed the needy.
Our conversation runs the gamut from what The Biking Lawyer does to the legislation that is coming up in early 2026.
You can find and follow him @ The Biking Lawyer on social media as well as read his blog on thebikinglawyer,ca.
And, he did indeed meet up with our Oshawa Bike Club Friends that Saturday.
In the second half of the show, we feature the first of our holiday giving 
segments with Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.
The LAB does some great things – from offering a multitude of helpful options to get involved on a local or national level to helping make our communities more bicycle friendly, which in turn makes them safer. The LAB also hosts the National Bike Summit where, as a delegate of your community, you have the opportunity to make your case for legislation directly with the officials who can make those votes happen.
With the end of the year upon us, I like to highlight non-profits that benefit the cycling community or organizations with bicycle charity as a focus – be it local, national, or worldwide.
Today is the first of those segments. I’m highlighting the 145-year-old organization that originally lobbied for paved roads – only in those days, it wasn’t for cars but rather for bicycles.
Now in 2025, the League of American Bicyclists is still doing the hard work of keeping bicycles and bicyclists in the forefront of the transportation department and in 2026 the 5-year transportation bill will again be up for re-authorization.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of spending a few days in Washington with the LAB’s National Bike Summit. From the many breakout sessions to the Day on the Hill, the Summit is a well-oiled machine and something that makes you feel as if your participation really does matter.
Go to BikeLeague.org to take action, sign up for the e-newsletter, check out the map of bicycle friendly communities, universities, and businesses, and so much more. And if you are not a member, perhaps you’d like to join. Or, maybe make a donation to help keep the League’s work going. It’s a worthy cause.
One other item before I sign off today.
The National Bicycle Dealer’s Association is looking for 2,000 cyclists to take a consumer survey. It’s anonymous, fairly comprehensive, and is meant to help bike shops learn what you want and need from them . Here is the link to the survey.
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This episode was going to be an audio with commentary for my Substack. But, as often happens when I speak with Joe Lindsey from the Escape Collective, the conversation becomes so interesting that I just couldn’t see NOT sharing it on all my platforms.
Another reason I wanted to share this with everyone is that Joe, is an expert on competitive bike racing, which I am not, and since the 2025 continental and world races are pretty much over, I figured it was time to review them.
We begin with a short discussion about this year’s World’s, which for the first time was held on the African continent. Political for sure; but all seemed to go well.
Not so with the Vuelta A Espana as Joe and I move into a conversation about the Israel-Premier Tech team and how politics and protest, which have always been a part of bike racing, has now reached a level that is truly dangerous to the riders, the sponsors, and the sport itself.
Since Joe and I spoke, much has happened, both in the Middle East and with the team itself. Premier-Tech pulled their sponsorship, saying that “the core reason to sponsor the team has been overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable.”
Sad to say the least, but I think you will hear some good reasoning in my conversation with Joe.
As we cover some of the women’s racing from this past season, we get into the topic of fueling and weight. Ugh!
Weight is an especially tough topic for women – just look at the endless ads for weight loss and what defines beauty in all forms of advertising.
But there has been a seismic shift in thinking about fueling for bike racers and with that a shift away from just focusing on weight to the importance of nutrition.
Joe also talks about course design as it relates to the physique of a rider. Certain courses do favor a light, sprite rider while others offer advantages to a different body type.
And then there is course design as it relates to the safety of the riders.
We get into the weeds a bit with the UCI vs SRAM dispute about gearing as the discussion runs headlong into where the UCI should focus its work and what might happen if everyone rode the same bike – much like stock car racing.
So you see, it’s a solid discussion and I hope you enjoy it.
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We read or hear about corruption from a lot of places and when I came across a story from Kevin Duggan from Streetsblog NYC about a prominent family in Brooklyn NY that bribed officials to kill a protected bike lane, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to find out more.
So, who are Gina and Tony Argento and why are they so hell bent on not wanting a bike lane in their neighborhood?
The Argentos are big-whigs in the Greenpoint District of Brooklyn, NY – many high-profile television shows are shot on their “Broadway Stages” properties.
This past August, they were indicted for bribing the mayor’s assistant with not only money, but a cameo on an upcoming show episode. Ah, vanity!
According to the Grand Jury indictment handed down late August, the defendants, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who was Mayor Adams. Right-hand gal, Gina Argento, Anthony “Tony” Argento, and Broadway Stages, Ltd. (“Broadway Stages”) are charged with the of the crime of CONSPIRACY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE, in violation of New York Penal Law § 105.10(1)…
I know I shouldn’t gloat about things like this but seeing people who are so incredibly insulated from what goes on around them as well as having such hubris as to believe they are above the law, learn that there are consequences to their actions, gives me a teeny-tiny bit of hope.
Here’s a copy of the indictment and read Eric’s coverage on the scandal.
In my conversation with Sarah Davis, the Active Transportation Senior Planner for the City of Cleveland, we unpack the Cleveland Moves initiative supported by Mayor Justin Bibb.
While Cleveland’s population was in decline for several decades, it recently seems to be trending upwards again.
But one of the consequences of fewer people and cars is that perception that you can go faster on the roads. But the greater speed has resulted in the horrific statistic of 75 traffic fatalities in 2024. Bad stuff!
Cleveland Scene is the Cleveland’s voice of arts and culture, music, city living, and more and back at the beginning of October, Cleveland Scene published an article titled: “Cleveland Set for $4 Million Grant for 15 “Quick-Build” Bike Lanes Across City”
With such a big dollar amount plus bike lanes in the headline, I dove in to find out more.
The result, my conversation with Sarah Davis, active transportation senior 
planner for the City of Cleveland.
Here is a link to the Scene’s article on our website, outspokencyclist.com.
And you can learn more about Cleveland Moves at https://www.clevelandohio.gov/transportation-mobility/cleveland-moves – mouthful!
Okay – I need to correct my comment about how long I’ve been in Cleveland – math whiz that I am… it’s been over 60 years not 50.
Next time on TOC, we’ll speak with Canadian Attorney, David Shellnutt . Oh yeah, we think we have a lot of issues with cars and bikes… woo-hoo seems Toronto might be right up there with some of the worst for some reason.
For extra commentary, head on over to my Substack.
And in fact, an extended conversation about the 2025 bike racing season with my friend Joe Lindsey from the Escape Collective, will be available exclusively on that platform on Tuesday, November 18th.
You can subscribe to my Substack for free, although I’d be honored to have you support the work with a paid subscription… it’s not very expensive!
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Scott Tong is one of my favorite NPR hosts. Most days, along with Robin Young and several other Here and Now folks, I listen to Scott on WKSU, our local NPR affiliate.
Over the past year or so, I’ve heard Scott talk about riding his bike, crashing his bike, and more recently, training for a long-distance cycling event.
So I reached out to him, and he was happy to talk about his riding experiences, the bike he rides – which is only one of my all-time favorite brands – and the event he was training for with his brother-in-law and his wife.
Scott Tong, was wondering whether he might be getting too old to ride his beautiful Serotta Road bike and I assured him he is not!
It is true that while training for a long-distance event a couple of years ago, he fell and broke his collar bone and this year, while training for the same event, his wife fell and broke HER collar bone.
Still, he’s really not that old and he likes to ride! He got back on the horse and completed the Seagull Century in Maryland right after our conversation.
If I were to ask you if there is enough parking wherever you go, what would you say? Probably – No.
But what if I told you there is actually too much parking in many places, and 
that parking in general is poorly managed by most cities?
That’s the starting point for my conversation with the president of the Parking Reform Network, Tony Jordan, an organization that educates the public about the impact of parking policy on climate change, equity, housing, and traffic.
From the bizarre parking codes for every conceivable building, business, and residence, to a need for rethinking the miles and miles of concrete that take up precious land and contribute to climate issues, Tony Jordan helps to answers my many questions, and helps to give us actionable ideas to make our parking, driving, and especially biking and walking concerns better.
For more information about the organization and ways to get involved in improving parking, transportation, and equitable options in your area, log on to parkingreform.org.
And for my extended conversation with Tony about how bicycling and parking reform are connected, log into my Substack entry. It’s a little bonus track!
Follow us on Instagram, FB, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app so you never miss an episode. And do check out my Substack for my thoughts and commentary.
Next time on TOC, join me for an extended conversation with Escape Collective’s Joe Lindsey as we wrap up the 2025 cycling season and talk about some of the controversial issues facing the pro tour.
T
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This episode of the podcast offers up a short discussion with Bicycle Retailer’s Editor-in-Chief, Steve Frothingham, about U.S. Customs and the seizing of containers from Taiwan manufacturer Giant.
Earlier this week, in a surprise move, US Customs officials seized containers from Giant, the world’s largest bike mfg, over unspecified forced labor accusations.
In an effort to find out exactly what that meant, besides holding up shipments 
at the ports, I rang up Steve Frothingham, at BR&IN.
His explanation, which was as up to date as of a few hours before we talked, made quite a bit of what was happening clear, but also left me with a lot of questions that I’m hoping will get answered in the next day or so.
We also talk about tariffs – which unfortunately is becoming a daily topic.
Here are links to Steve’s articles on the upheld shipments.
Then I have a very interesting conversation with PRX’s “The World” global Transportation Correspondent, Jeremy Siegel about how Helsinki made it to the top of the Vision Zero with NO traffic deaths for over a year!
I listen The World on WKSU, our local NPR affiliate. It’s an hour a day and there are always terrific stories from – well, around the world.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the car and heard Jeremy Siegel, “The World’s” Global Transportation Correspondent say that Helsinki had reported ZERO traffic deaths for over a year.
Being a Vision Zero hopeful for the Cleveland area and never having heard of any major city, let alone a country’s capital, say that no automobile, cycling, or pedestrian fatalities had occurred seemed amazing.
I came home, re-listened to the piece on their website, and then contacted Jeremy.
Here is how they did it…
You can hear Jeremy on The World on your local NPR affiliate or log on to the world.org or find him @theworldnewswgbh on YouTube..
I hope you enjoyed the show today.
I will be uploading a new Substack piece to offer up some of my thoughts on both Steve and Jeremy’s conversations. Please consider subscribing to my Substack and help support my work.
Thank you for listening. Until next time, please stay safe, stay well, and remember, there is always time for a ride. Bye bye.
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Shannon Binns didn’t make a plan to come to Charlotte, NC and stay; yet here he is more than 15 years after starting his not-for-profit organization “Sustain Charlotte.”
Shannon started out in engineering, did some overseas volunteering, and finally decided that environmental science and public policy were where his interests really lay, leading him to a master’s degree around the age of 30.
Landing in Charlotte, which was growing at breakneck speed – but without a lot of planning – he discovered he absolutely had to buy a car to get anywhere when he moved into a suburban neighborhood without a bus route, sidewalks, or heaven forbid, a bike lane.
Shannon also realized that unlike almost all other major cities in the U.S., and what made Charlotte so unique, was that it has no lakes, rivers, or an ocean front
What it does have is trees – and lots of them. Charlotte is situated in the middle of a forest.
Then he saw the 25-year study that showed a full 50% of the tree canopy had been lost to development, and that, coupled with the lack of infrastructure for anything besides automobiles made him realize that he wanted – needed – to help.
If you are interested in learning more about the organization, log on to 
sustaincharlotte.org. And, how about a scavenger hunt with other cyclists in October? You can help Sustain Charlotte to meet its $90K goal and take a spin around the city with Biketoberfest.