Category: Radio Show

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Show #193 – May 10, 2014

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Guests: Author Terry Kerber; Craig Calfee

In his foreword to the new book “Major Taylor – The Inspiring Story of a Black Cyclist and the Men Who Helped Him Achieve Worldwide Fame” – Greg LeMond wrote: “In order to reach the pinnacle of their chosen sport, all professional athletes have to endure countless setback and unforeseen hardships.”

Major Taylor WAS at the pinnacle of bike racing in his day and his hardships were excruciatingly difficult to imagine; but, brothers and authors Terry and Conrad Kerber captured Taylor’s life, career, and history eloquently in their new book. My interview with Terry barely scratches the surface; hopefully, you’ll want to know a lot more!

When you think carbon fiber and frame building the first name to come to mind is Craig Calfee. Craig joins me to talk about his new bike, The Manta, as well as some innovations in materials as well as his involvement in a new project in the Congo.

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Show #192 – May 3, 2014

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Guests: National Bike Challenge’s Rob Gusky; Cherokee Schill; NICA’s Austin McInerny

Diversity! Well, at least on tonight’s episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

It’s time again for the National Bike Challenge and Kimberley Clark’s Rob Gusky will once again fill us in on this year’s event. All the 2013 numbers went to ZERO at midnight on May 1st and we’re off and riding to see which individuals, teams, towns, companies, and states will put in the most miles until the final “bell” at midnight on September 30th.

Then, we will head on down to Lexington, Kentucky to speak with Cherokee Schill. Ms. Schill has been in the news, on television, and unfortunately in court recently – charged with “reckless driving” – only she wasn’t “driving” – she was riding her bike. In what might be a precedent setting case, Ms Schill is fighting for her right to ride her bike the 18 miles to and from work to support her two teenage children and to stay healthy. Her pre-trial is in August, but this week the Judge in the case has allowed her to continue to ride to work until she appears in court – much to the chagrin of the County Attorney who wanted her off the roads.

Finally, we’ll check in with Austin McInerny from NICA – The National Interscholastic Cycling Association. Austin is the executive director having started out as a volunteer coach! He loves the organization as well as helping kids get on a bike. The Association is growing by leaps and bounds and Austin will tell us about some of the new programs as well as a special 5-week challenge grant in which Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering a BIG purse if NICA can match the amount.

Diversity – it’s what’s for listening this week!

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Show #191 – April 27, 2014

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Guests: Author & Illustrator Rod Waters, Collyn Ahart

I am so lucky to be able to talk with such interesting and accomplished people each week. And, this week is no exception.

My first guest, Rod Waters, is an award willing illustrator whose new children’s book, “Eric’s Big Day – A Bicycle Race Unlike Any Other” tells the story of a young boy, his friend Emily, and a local bike race. And, Rod also has some amazing bicycle stories of his encounters with the activist Lech Walesa in Poland, a Guiness World Record that Rod holds, and his memorable trip to Kosovo with his wife.

My second guest, Collyn Ahart, has some strong ideas and opinions about women, culture, and the bicycle industry. Collyn’s background is marketing and branding, but her early years spend in the bike shop her family owns, gives her a unique perspective on bicycling and how the industry acts and reacts. Collyn’s new venture, Bowndling, is just her next iteration of unique thinking for women.

 

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Show #190 – April 19, 2014

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Guests: Rock Lobster’s Paul Sadoff; Entrepreneur Pamela Dorr

This week we’d like to begin by wishing everyone who observes them, a happy holiday – Passover and/or Easter.  Sunshine abounds here in NE Ohio and for THAT we are very grateful.

I wanted to create a show about the 10th NAHBS – The North American Handmade Bicycle Show – and come at it from a couple of different angles.

The first is actually from someone who did NOT attend the show in Charlotte, NC last month. Rock Lobster’s Paul Sadoff‘s reasons for NOT attending were first brought to my attention in a blog post from Bicycle Times Magazine. And, he expands on those reasons and delves into the custom bike builder world in more detail as well as tells us about a new collaboration between himself and the venerable Bruce Gordon.

I also speak with Pamela Dorr who went from apparel designer for Victoria’s Secret in San Francisco to entrepreneur extraordinaire in Greensboro, Alabama.  The NAHBS connection came from an incident that happened when her HERO   (Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization)  bamboo bike was Kidnapped from the Handmade Show and her story, her enthusiasm, and her successes will blow you away.

When you hear our show via podcast this week, you will learn about our new sponsor, Dodd Camera.  We welcome them and appreciate their support of our work.  When you are looking for professional equipment and advice about photography, Dodd Camera is a great place to look!

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Show #189 – April 12, 2014

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Guests: Congressman Earl Blumenauer; Author Juliet Macur; Cycling Phenom Maria Leijerstam

A week away seemed like a very long time.  So, we’re glad to be back; and, we have a great trio of guests this evening.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is always up for a conversation about cycling and we are fortunate to grab a few minutes of his time to hear about what Congress is doing about protecting cyclists, helping us to get more money and attention on The Hill, and what the Congressman thought about the National Bike Summit’s impact was on legislators this year.  I doubt we have a better champion for cycling and pedestrian issues in any legislative body anywhere!

We’ll jump “over the pond” to speak with Maria Leijerstam – the first woman – um, no – the First Person to ride to the South Pole on a human powered vehicle.  Maria’s WhiteIceCycle journey was both painful and rewarding as she beat out all others who were trying to race her to this once-in-a-lifetime goal.

And, then we’ll speak with NY Times reporter and author Juliet Macur.  Juliet’s new book “Cycle of Lies – The Fall of Lance Armstrong” gets right to the nitty gritty of the doping scandal and reveals a Lance Armstrong both defiant and vulnerable.  This is perhaps the best and most graphic of the books about the fallen hero and Juliet had a ringside seat.

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Show #188 – March 29, 2014

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Guests: Nutritionist Georgie Fear; Coach Dean Peterson; Hall of Famer Leigh Donovan

Astronomy be damned, winter rolls on here in the Great Northeast. White Easter, anyone? The Outspoken Cyclist rolls on, and this week we’re talkin’ nutrition, collegiate cycling, and female BMXers.

First up is Georgie Fear, a certified nutritionist who has collaborated with Matt Fitzgerald on the Racing Weight Cookbook: Lean, Light Recipes for Athletes. Her website, AskGeorgie.com, also has great information about eating right for physical activity.

It may not get a lot of press coverage, but collegiate bike racing is out there, and Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana has a thriving program, led by coach Dean Peterson. As Dean explains, college cycling is one place in this sport where the women are equal in importance to the men.

The second half of the show is dedicated to a conversation with BMX and mountain bike champion Leigh Donovan, who now teaches those skills to girls and women through her I Choose Bikes program.

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Show #187 – March 22, 2014

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Guests: Jeff Koenig, Big Poppi Bicycles; Jody Dzuranin, Consider Biking; Jacob VanSickle, Bike Cleveland

Three different guests, and three different perspectives on the recently completed National Bike Summit in Washington, DC.

First up is Jeff Koenig, co-owner of Big Poppi Bikes, in Manhattan, Kansas, to talk about the role your local bike dealer plays (and doesn’t play) in bicycle advocacy. Jeff not only attended the summit, but gave a presentation as well.

Our downstate friend, Jody Dzuranin of Consider Biking in Columbus, Ohio, joins us to give her perspective on the summit, including a warm reception from the Republican senator from Ohio, Rob Portman. Advocacy can be a tough gig in a sprawling state capitol, but the Consider Biking crew has made great strides in their young existence, including the 2nd Annual Ohio Women’s Bicycling Summit, coming up on May 3rd.

Lastly, but closest to home, we check in with Jacob Van Sickle of Bike Cleveland, who has also been busy pushing for bicycling accommodations in a city that is not exactly flush with cash for discretionary projects. And yet, great things are slowly happening for cyclists in our fair city and the surrounding region.

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Show #186 – March 15, 2014

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Guests: Keith Laughlin, Rails-to-Trails;  Zach Vanderkooy, Green Lane Project;  Mike Cobb, Disaster Relief Trials

It’s official; the weather in northeast Ohio has caused me to give up on the notion of riding a bicycle out of doors. Ever. And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

If the federal government gives a railroad some land, what happens to the land when it’s no longer used for train tracks? According to the Supreme Court of the United States, it reverts to the adjacent, private landowners. Otherwise, a bike trail might run through someone’s house. Or something. Anyway, Keith Laughlin of Rails to Trails is here (again) this week to explain the court’s recent decision and its potential impact on rail-trails.

On a brighter note, People for Bikes is gaining traction with their Green Lane Project. According to Zack Vanderkooy, director of the Green Lane Project, green lanes are also known as separated bike lanes. This project works with selected cities to implement these lanes to make urban cycling safer and more accessible.

DRT_Pic(photo by Ethan Jewett)

And finally, out of Portland, Oregon comes Mike Cobb and his Disaster Relief Trials. The concept is a friendly competition to get people thinking about using cargo bikes to transport supplies in the wake of a natural disaster. This technique popped up in a limited way after Superstorm Sandy, when roads, electricity, and gasoline supplies in the NY/NJ area were compromised. As we say in IT, never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of backup tapes!

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Show #185 – March 8, 2014

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Guests: Kenneth Oswalt, Licking County Prosecutor; Dwan Shepard, Co-Motion Cycles

Life is dangerous, and since cycling is part of life (for some of us it is life) cycling is by extension, also dangerous. Fortunately, the risk/reward area of our brains understands that the benefits of a bike ride outweigh the dangers, and we mount up and head out. Tragically, sometimes the odds catch up with us, as in the case of Columbus, Ohio teacher Bob Lennon, who was hit and killed last September by a vehicle driven by Mary Paul. On February 24th, Paul was sentenced to 4-1/2 years in prison, order to pay restitution, and had her driver’s license revoked for life.

Today on The Outspoken Cyclist, Diane talks with Kenneth Oswalt, the Licking County Prosecutor who handled the case in Delaware county. Oswalt gives us his impressions on how the case was handled, the significance of the sentence, and his views on car/bike interaction.

After the news and a break, we lift the mood a bit, and speak with Dwan Shepard, owner of Co-Motion Cycles in Eugene, Oregon. Co-Motion is best-known for their tandems (but they also make great single bikes) and their awesome, color-fade paint work. In today’s era of mega-conglomerates and growth-is-king mentality, it’s nice to find a company like Co-Motion that still focuses on making the type of high quality bikes their customers want.

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Show #184 – March 1, 2014

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Guests: Keith Laughlin, Rails-to-Trails; Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Eric Barber, Copenhagen Wheel Project

The calendar says March 1st, but the thermometer says “January 1st”; what’s a poor cyclist to do? To paraphrase a famous bike racer, you can either ride or hide. If you’re riding, dress warmly; if you’re hiding, fire up the podcast machine and enjoy a brand new episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

The 2014 LAB National Bike Summit is coming up this week in Washington, DC, and Keith Laughlin, Executive Director of Rails to Trails joins us to talk about what his organization has planned for the Summit and beyond. You might be surprised that Rails to Trails is about more than just trails these days.

Also checking in from Washington, DC is Democratic Senator from right here in Ohio, Sherrod Brown. Senator Brown brings us up to date on what’s happening with federal funding of transportation infrastructure, and also professes his undying love for a traditional northeast Ohio winter.

After the break and some news, we get the long-awaited scoop on the Copenhagen Wheel Project. Eric Barber, the Hardware Engineering Manager for the project joins us from Boston to talk about this new electric rear wheel which includes regenerative braking, learns your pedaling habits, and gathers data about your surroundings as you ride. No truth to the rumor that version 2.0 will “make you a sandwich and do your laundry.”