Category: Radio Show

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Show #635 – August 24, 2023

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Guests: Richard Schwinn; Sergio Bravo

EOS – End of summer… and what a strange summer it has been, especially when we look at what Mother Nature threw at us. 

But we still want to feel a sense of normalcy and so, today I welcome two guests to the show.

First up is a name that is synonymous with bicycles – I would venture to say that no one who listens to this podcast doesn’t know the name OR hasn’t had a bicycle with that name on the downtube at some point in his or her life.

And after a lifetime of living and breathing bicycles, Richard Schwinn has decided it’s time to retire and at the end of June, his Waterford Precision Cycles stopped taking new orders and prepared to close the business – which he did the following month.

Richard and I have been friends and business colleagues for decades.  I am always interested in what he has to say and how he thinks about things and today, he shares his thoughts about his decision to retire and close Waterford,  who – if anyone – might fill the gap in what was a unique place in the custom bicycle business, and what the future might look like, including his ideas on eBike and what he calls “electronification.”

I made him promise to speak with me as soon as he and his wife returned from a well-deserved vacation and today, he fulfills that promise.

Then, I speak with Sergio Bravo, the producer of the Master Bike Builder’s Show that will take place September 16-17th in Bentonville, Arkansas.

With the absence of shows such as NAHBS and the NE Bike Builder’s Show, some regional options are beginning to fill the void and today, we speak with Sergio Bravo who decided that it might just time for a new Bike Builder’s Show.

The MBBS will take place September 16 and 17th Bentonville, Arkansas and Sergio is going to tell us all about it.

Here is a written transcript of the show.  August 24_Transcript 

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Show #634 – August 6, 2023

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Guests: Jennifer Boyd: Dave Wages

Sometimes I wonder how I ever became so lucky as to be able to have conversations with the people I do, and this episode of the show highlights two of those people.

First up is Jennifer Boyd.

Jennifer is the founder of Boyd Productions,LLC, a documentary production company that prides itself on creating films that spark curiosity, connectivity, and societal change. Her multilingual, female-led team has more than 20 years of experience in filmmaking, music, television, and journalism.

Jennifer has produced and directed more than 25 documentaries on topics ranging from climate change to gun control. Good Morning America has called her work “groundbreaking.”

The doc – as she calls it –is called The Street Project.  The production is fascinating, the content relevant, and several of the people who are included in this film have been on the TOC podcast in the past.

The Street Project is a story about a massive movement across the world to reclaim our largest public spaces – namely, our streets. The film starts in NYC and looks at the issues of safety and the usage of space across the globe. With more than 40,000 cyclists or pedestrians killed across the world last year, Jennifer Boyd gives us a thorough examination of how the way we’ve used our public spaces and what has changed through the last ten decades.

Then, I speak with custom frame builder Dave Wages from Ellis Cycles.

The bicycle business has its biggies – the Treks and Specialized and Canyons – and then it has the custom builders such as Richard Sachs, Peter Wiegel, and my guest today, Dave Wages.

Between those two bookends, there were companies such as Waterford Precision Bicycles and Serotta Custom Cycles.  These were shops that could produce a frame-to-order within a few weeks and might have a small staff that could turn out upwards of several hundred to perhaps a thousand frames per year.

Now, those mid-sized custom shops are mostly gone. You may remember that Dave cut his frame building teeth with Serotta and Waterford and now, both of those companies are gone.

So I wanted to know what Dave, has since gone out on his own to produce his exquisite one-of-a-kind framesets, thinks about the situation as well as what he sees going forward.

Dave’s insights are spot-on and I think you’ll appreciate what he has to say.

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Show #633 – July 10, 2023

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Guests: Matt deNeef; Craig Della Penna

This episode of TOC offers up two very different topics.

Image Courtesy of Dale Menegazzo

First up is Matt de Neef.  He is the managing editor of Escape Collective, the online presence of independent cycling journalism.

I caught up with Matt just before Stage 1 of the Tour to chat about his article, In Pursuit of the UCI Overlord, published June 22nd on the Escape site.

In his story, Matt details the shady goings-on of one Aaron Brown who, in 2012, disappeared with more than $70,000 of “other peoples’ money.”  That money was intended for a defense fund for Irish journalist Paul Kimmage.

Going way back to 2012, Irish journalist Paul Kimmage was sued for defamation by the UCI and two of its principals.  In his book, Rough Ride, Paul claimed that the UCI had buried the results of a doping test from Lance Armstrong.  The UCI took umbrage to that claim and slapped Paul with the suit.

Matt dove down the rabbit hole to find out what happened to the money and to Aaron Brown.  What he found will boggle your mind.

Here in the States, people don’t take kindly to picking on journalists and along with editor and writer Lesli Cohen and Andy Shen, a defense fund was set up to help with Kimmage’s legal fees.

What happened next is one of those tales of intrigue and duplicity that keep you riveted to the page.

Also, click on the links If you want some background on Lesli Cohen and Paul Kimmage from back in 2012.

If you want to know anything about rail trails, Craig Della Penna is da’ man!  Our conversation today is about the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail System and what it is going to take to complete a 104 mile long trail that runs west from Boston to Northampton and intersects with 18 other rail trails.

Craig is the President of the Board of Directors at Norwottuck Network, as well as the Owner of Sugar Maple Trailside Inn in Florence, MA. He doesn’t just talk the talk!

After writing his first book on the history of old RR lines and their conversion to bike trails, Craig was hired by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as their New England Field Representative focusing on the policy end of building rail trails as well as public outreach.  He worked for them for seven years and left in 2004 to become a Realtor, specializing in the sale of houses near the trails. 

Having given well over 1,200 lectures in 21 states and Canadian provinces, Craig is one of the country’s most sought after motivational speakers on the economic development, tourism, and community development aspect of rail-trails, and their leveraging small amounts of public dollars to redevelop forgotten or derelict lands into treasured places.

He and his wife Kathleen, operate an award-winning bed & breakfast in a restored, Civil War era house where the restoration was so extreme, it was featured on HGTV. The house sits 8 feet from one of the earliest muni-built rail trails in New England. And within 150 miles of his house sits the densest network of former steam RR corridor in the US.

As he stated in our conversation, you can contact Craig directly by email or log on to the nowottuck network.

 

 

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Show #632 – June 23, 2023

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Guest: Jenny Graham – Coffee First, Then the World

In my last podcast, I mentioned my guest – Jenny Graham.  In 2018, she embarked upon and completed a round-the-world trip by bicycle.

This, however, was not just ANY trip – THIS was a Guinness World Record attempt and break the record she did – by 110 days!

Her story – from start to finish – is detailed in her new book, Coffee First, Then the World, which was just released in the States on June 13th.

Her telling of her story is extraordinary – the story itself is extraordinary – and our conversation is soooo much fun.

From the custom Shand Bicycle to her zip-bottom Endura bibs, Jenny doesn’t leave anything out of her story.

We talk about her wardrobe because, during her ride, she experienced all the seasons and ended up in the Southern Hemisphere in winter.  We talk about her fears – like bears crossing Canada.  And, we talk about how she raised the money to accomplish this amazing feat as well as what’s next for her.

I did love the book and highly recommend it.  You can follow Jenny on social media or check out her website jenny-graham.com.

I thought you’d like to see the photo of her handlebars!

 

 

 

Below are links to several of the companies who helped Jenny accomplish her world record.

Shand Cycles
Endura Apparel
Apidura Bike Bags
Wheelsmith Wheelbuilders
Sinewave

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Show #631 – June 15, 2023

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Guests: Kristen and PL Meindertsma

This is a special episode.

Beginning Tomorrow, June 17th, PL And Kristen Meindertsma will begin the first of 5 yearly journeys to raise a cumulative $2.5 for 5 charities over 5 continents.

PL and Kristen met at an Ironman competition in 2000, married, and have been working and raising their two children.

But, the call of the needs of people around the globe coupled with that desire to get back on the bike was the genesis of what has become a most unusual philanthropic event.

So, this conversation is their send-off!  And, I hope you’ll follow along.   You can follow them at cycle5tosurvive.com.

 

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Show #630 – May 31, 2023

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Guests: Paul Tolme; Gretchen Reynolds

Not too long ago, we spoke with Paul Tolme, the communications manager of the Cascade Bicycle Club headquartered in Seattle.

I was so taken with some of the programs this 10,000-member club is developing and implementing, that when Paul contacted me about the Pedaling Relief Project, which is reaching a huge milestone, as well as to update me on some of their legislative initiatives, I thought I’d share his news with you. 

Our conversation sort of began before I did the “formal intro” so, I figure we’ll just fade into it… he’s always raring to go!

I always take away such great information from the work Cascade is doing.  You can find out more about the Club, read the blog, sign up for any of their rides and events, or learn about their many and varied programs at Cascade.org.

My second guest is the Washington Post’s award winning author Gretchen Reynolds.

Gretchen writes the “Your Move” column for the Post on Wednesdays.

Today, we’re going to talk about what sometimes happens with athletes who exercise at intense levels over long periods of time. 

In her May 17th article, “When Too Much Exercise Is Bad for Your Heart,” Gretchen talks about a new study of ultra-endurance athletes which showed an unusually high incidence of AFib.

We’ll also discuss the benefits of exercising outdoors in green space. Turns out, it’s the best!

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Show #629 – May 2, 2023

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Guest: Sheila Moon

My guest today cannot be easily defined and certainly never pigeon-holed.

In a life of many pursuits, most of which she has mastered, Sheila Moon can only be described as a Renaissance Woman.

From sewing her own doll clothes at age five to designing her own successful line of women’s cycling apparel to her current passion –  being the savior of dogs and puppies in her adopted home of Todos Santos California Baja Sur in Mexico – Sheila embodies both creativity of fortitude.

Sheila and I met many years ago at Interbike, the bicycle trade show.  Then, you couldn’t even begin to get into her booth without an appointment.  And her collections were coveted by hundreds of shops around the country and abroad.

But that was then, and this is now, and Sheila has weathered a lot of storms over the years.  I wanted to hear her story in her own words and now, I’m very pleased to be able to share them with you.

You can read her posts at sheilamoon.com, adopt an adorable puppy at Mama Luna’s Puppy Rescue and follow her on social media.

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Show #628 – April 18, 2023

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Guests: Wayne Stetina; Jacob Van Sickle

As promised the last time we spoke with him, Wayne Stetina, SRAM’s senior field guide, is back to school us on the new SRAM Eagle Transmission system.  In fact, you might want to take some notes.

From learning about cassette mapping to the simple installation of the chain, Wayne gives us the details in a clear and precise manner.

The result though is in the riding and according to Wayne, the harder you pedal this new system, the easier it shifts.

I really appreciate Wayne’s thoroughness in explaining the new system.  For more information about SRAM’s new Eagle Transmission you can log on to SRAM.com OR… better still, go to your LBS and ask to try one!    


 

In the second half of the show, we welcome back Bike Cleveland’s executive director, Jacob Van Sickle.

Fresh from the National Bike Summit, Jacob fills us in on this year’s legislative asks including the tax credit for eBikes, and catches us up on what has and is about to happen in NE Ohio to improve biking and walking.

When I think back – decades really – to when I first heard about the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath project, it barely registered because it seemed so far away.  Yet, here we are! The Towpath project is finished – all the way into downtown Cleveland.

This podcast is dropping just before the April 22nd Celebrate Trails Day community bike ride with Cleveland’s Mayor Justin Bibb and County Executive, Chris Ronayne.  You can join them on Saturday at Merwyn’s in the Flats for a fun afternoon – and you can let them know what YOU want to see for better and safer biking and walking in NE Ohio.

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Show #627 – April 6, 2023

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Guest: James Hamilton Hibbard

James Hibbard had a shot at being one of the top track and crit riders of his era, except, he wasn’t willing to take that one last step – he wasn’t willing to add a doping regimen to his training.

But that’s only one part of the conversation I had with James about his new book, The Art of Cycling, Philosophy, Meaning, and A Life on Two Wheels.

James is a philosopher – both in education as his major in college, and in the way he views life, sport, and especially how we behave and think.

He uses cycling as a means to shed light on his beliefs of where we as a society are today.  He see us living in a detached disconnected virtual world – and he gives us insight into what living in a world where a tangible pursuit – such as cycling – might give us a new vitality by re-engaging with the world around us.

His new book, The Art of Cycling, Philosophy, Meaning, and A Life on Two Wheels, is available for pre-order right now.  Publication date is May 2nd, and you can order from any of the usual places.

 

 

 

Guest: James Hamilton Hibbard

James Hibbard had a shot at being one of the top track and crit riders of his era, except, he wasn’t willing to take that one last step – he wasn’t willing to add a doping regimen to his training.

But that’s only one part of the conversation I had with James about his new book, The Art of Cycling, Philosophy, Meaning, and A Life on Two Wheels.

James is a philosopher – both in education as his major in college, and in the way he views life, sport, and especially how we behave and think.

He uses cycling as a means to shed light on his beliefs of where we as a society are today.  He see us living in a detached disconnected virtual world – and he gives us insight into what living in a world where a tangible pursuit – such as cycling – might give us a new vitality by re-engaging with the world around us.

His new book, The Art of Cycling, Philosophy, Meaning, and A Life on Two Wheels, is available for pre-order right now.  Publication date is May 2nd, and you can order from any of the usual places.

 

 

 

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Show #626 – March 27, 2023

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Guests: John Surcio; Paul Tolme

My first guest is no stranger to TOC.  A couple of times a year, at least, I ask journalist and NYU professor, John Surico to join me and catch us up on what is happening in NYC.

The reason I look to him and to NY is that he’s got his ear to the ground on everything from climate and sustainability to walking, biking, and advocacy plus a lot more. I like the way he thinks and especially what he talks about on his substack pages, Streetbeat.

In our conversation, I ask him what his students might be thinking about the field of journalism as the editorial and reporting landscapes continue to shift and morph – with fewer print papers and magazines, more controversial news outlets, so much misinformation, and the need for focus on relevant problems – like climate, cities, sustainability, and more. We talk about “super sidewalks” in our conversation; here is a link to the video that explains it.

John just completed a year working with the Central Park Conservancy to help explore how to keep the iconic park healthy and relevant while studying the park to see what climate change is doing to the trees, grass, and general environment.  He talks about two of the programs he worked on and how they might impact the park going forward. His insights and observations always give me food for thought as I look at the issues facing NYC and how we mirror them across the country.

In the second half of the show, I welcome Paul Tolme, the communications manager and spokesperson for the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle,

Washington. Several years ago, I spoke with a young PhD candidate out in Seattle about the work he was doing along with the Cascade Bicycle Club to have an inequitable helmet law repealed in the city.  The initiative worked, the law was repealed, and helmet use didn’t decline – win X 3.

Today, I speak with Paul about the organization itself – its amazing number of club members – 10,000 – and the statewide programs and events it offers. In addition to the famous rides the club offers – the 44 year old iconic STP Ride (Seattle to Portland) and the RSVP – Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party,) as well as all the programs and tours offered,

I don’t think any single fact was more impressive than a 10,000 member club roster.  Even though the club is a statewide organization, 10,000 members is mighty impressive.

With that kind of support, it is no wonder that Cascade is able to influence local and state legislators and planners to improve cycling and walking in Washington, develop great educational programs, like the one that is being implemented in schools, and organize one of the most iconic and enduring events in the country – The famous STP – Seattle to Portland ride – that will be held July 15th and 16th this year.