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Guests: Jeff Bock; Bina Bilenky-Trahan
This week, we are getting back to our roots a little bit with a new frame builder conversation.
When I contacted master builder Jeff Bock to arrange our interview, his comment back to me was how I found out about him as he isn’t – and I quote – “a household name.” Clearly, he doesn’t know our household!
Located in Ames, Iowa, Jeff and I go back to his beginnings talking about bikes not cars, his scholarship as an artist, and more.
Jeff Bock has been building lovely steel lugged frames since 1975. Back in 
college, he studied art and also became an art teacher.
Today, Jeff continues to think and build like an artist, integrating his designs to include racks, fenders, and an overall aesthetic that appeals to anyone who loves classic bikes.
We start at the beginning and bring it right up to date with his thinking about today’s equipment and who is buying classic bikes.
Next Saturday and Sunday, November 6th and 7th, is the 11th annual Philly Bike Expo at the Philadelphia Convention Center. By all rights, it should be the 12th anniversary of the show, but as with many things Covid .. it was put on hold in 2020. We talk with the show’s owner and producer, Bina Bilenky-Trahan.
This year, even though masks are required inside the building and the test track has been eliminated to expand the space, there is a long list of exhibitors, some terrific seminars – including a talk that I’m delivering on the ethics of bicycle fitters as part of a symposium on bicycle fitting – and a whole slew of other great exhibitors.
I’d also like to give you a quick update I just received from my friend Shannon Galpin about the continuing evacuations of cyclists and others out of Afghanistan. We are into week #10 and counting
There was a grueling 17-hour crossing into Pakistan of three different groups over the past week and five more small groups will be moving on if the border remains as it is.
One of the articles that was recently published might give you some breadth of the work as well as some perspective.
VeloNews did an extensive article about Sylvan Adams, the founder of the Israel Start-Up Nation and his involvement early on in helping to rescue many, many athletes from Afghanistan. And, for those who have asked, yes I am the reporter he mentions at the beginning of the article. There is a link to the article on our blog for today’s show.
The work is still ongoing and the need is still great. You can read Shannon’s updates and offer your support at https://fundly.com/support-afghan-cyclists