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Show #513 – August 1, 2020

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Guests: Roff Smith; Noa Banayan; Sarah Timleck & Madison Giger

 

(Photo Courtesy of Roff Smith – “Ground Mist Sunrise”)

As we continue to see Covid19 taking over our lives – in so many ways – we also are seeing events, companies, and people who want to carry on with some semblance of normality come up with some innovative and imaginative ideas.

Take my first guest this evening. Roff Smith is an award winning photographer and writer who has worked with National Geographic for many, many years. This year, he’s pretty much grounded and so, has come up with a fabulously creative way to use his bicycle to tell his photographic story.

After we speak with Roff, we head to Minnesota where PFB‘s Noa Banayan, the Federal Affair’s Manager is sheltering in place while still attending to her work – mostly out of D.C.

Noa shares some great news – which we can all use these days – about the always in-process transportation bill, a new report from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and an upgraded commuter reimbursement deal for cyclists.

Finally, I check in with Madison Giger and Sarah Timleck, two of my Sea Otter peeps, to talk about the new platform that the organization has put together for 2020. With the cancellation of so many events, and Sea Otter being the place that is often used to launch new product, the people behind the scenes have been working to put together a smashing new idea – Sea Otter Play; and, we’re going to tell you all about it.

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Show #512 – July 25, 2020

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Guest: Dave Wiens – Executive Director of IMBA

You know, it’s not too often that we talk about mountain bikes, mountain biking, or even speak with a mountain bike legend.

Today, we thoroughly cover two of the three.

Dave Wiens is a 6-time consecutive winner of the Leadville 100,  besting both Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis. He’s a mountain bike hall of famer.

He developed the mountain sports program at Western Colorado University and is one of the movers and shakers of the Gunnison Trails network.

And, if that isn’t enough, he’s the executive director of IMBA – the International Mountain Biking Association.

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Show #511 – July 18, 2020

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Guests: Rachel Osias; Ed Ewing

Regardless of how you feel about your status in the world, certain truths keep bubbling up that will not and should not be brushed under the rug – not any more.

If there is an “end game” with movements such as BLM and systemic racism and intrinsic bias, it would be that the conversation becomes moot – unimportant – not even a conversation because no one would think in those terms that make people other rather than the same – equal.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the distinct honor to talk with people like Reginald “Doc” Wilson about giving black business owners some love and exposure – taking cyclists on a bi-weekly journey through Seattle with the Peace Peloton.

Today, I add two more voices to the conversation as we delve into the Major Taylor Project at the Cascade Bicycle Club – also in the Pacific NW area of Seattle and Tacoma – with education director Rachel Osias. The Cascade Bicycle Club is a 50 year old organization with a huge community reach. From their famous yearly STP (Seattle to Portland) event to their community education programs, classes, and advocacy, the club has a mission of improving lives through bicycling with a vision of bicycling for all.

Then, we meet Ed Ewing who is the originator of the Major Taylor Project to hear his story – from being a young black man rolling up to the start line at races in Minneapolis in a sea of white faces – to his recurring roles in advocating for diversity, inclusion, and equity, moving from Cascade into a seat at the table with USA Cycling and more.

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Show #510 – July 11, 2020

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Guest: Tyler Hamilton

You know how people always said that Seinfeld was about nothing – and yet, you always got something out of it – even if it was just a good belly laugh?

Well, my conversation with one of my all-time heroes (although he didn’t know that going in…) was just like that.

Tyler Hamilton and I sat down to chat about – well, nothing and everything – kind of whatever came up. Even though I had a general idea of what I wanted to ask him, the conversation just sort of unfolded in a super organic way.

While he claims – as he says – to have been a little bit shy as a kid – and, he liked to let his skills do the talking – he doesn’t shy away from his past and is quite frank about the choices he made.

If you haven’t read it, Tyler, along with author Dan Coyle, wrote The Secret Race, a GREAT book that delves deeply into that era of cycling that brought down riders like Tyler, Lance, and more. I highly recommend it.

So, let’s dive right in as we head to Missoula, MT to chat with Tyler Hamilton.

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July 9, 2020 – Special Edition

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Guest: Rachael Maney From Bike Law

For as long as I can remember, the bicycle industry has been on a “mission” to get more women on bikes – whether that means recreationally, for transportation, for leisure riding, or for elite competition.

The truth is, that there are already millions of women on bicycles – both worldwide and right here in the U.S. And yet, we seem invisible.

At this moment in time, a time where nothing seems to fit – where there are so few things we feel we can depend upon and trust anymore – there is the simple and well known fact that bicycles and women go together – perfectly.

To illustrate this more fully, my friend, colleague, and an elite bicycle rider herself, Rachael Maney, and I offer up this conversation.

It was recorded July 3rd.

We welcome feedback and comments.

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Show #509 – July 4, 2020

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Guests: Dieter Drake; Doug Haney; Liz Canning

I know many of you had long-planned trips and events that have had to either be put on hold or cancelled all together.

Back in December, we spoke with Dieter Drake, who was just taking over the helm of RAGBRAI, the iconic week-long party-on-wheels across Iowa that took place every year at the end of July. As with most events that would host hundreds if not thousands of riders, RAGBRAI was cancelled for 2020.

But, Dieter is also the original founder of the Tour of the Battenkill in upstate NY and last week posted that Battenkill WILL take place this year – not in its usual May time slot obviously, but in September. And, since so few events will actually happen on the ground this year, I wanted to know how the organizers were going to stage it.

Then, Doug Haney, who is the owner and founder of Bike Adirondacks, introduces us to the unique model he’s developed that showcases the beauty of Adirondack Park in Upstate NY.

Reinventing his big events, all of which support local causes, Doug also has found a way to give small groups – family or friends – the unique experience of riding in the High Peaks with his boutique tours – each crafted especially for you.

Lastly, we visit with Liz Canning, director and editor of Motherload Movie. Focused on the beauty of cargo bikes, which Liz discovered when she had twins back in 2008, the 86 minute feature highlights the practicality and progressive ways that a cargo bike can transform your every day life – especially for women.

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Show #508 – June 24, 2020

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Guests: Clara Honsinger; Paul Berger; “Doc” Wilson

I apologize for the lack of a show last weekend. BUT, I’m hoping this episode will make up for it. I think it has a lot of meaty stuff for you.

First, and as promised a couple of weeks ago, is my conversation with our National Cyclocross Champion, Clara Honsinger. Standing on top of the podium with her family watching and cheering last December, Clara toppled Katie Compton, who had held that honor for 15 years!

Clara and I chat about the race, the bikes, her education, and some advice she would give someone who wants to be “just like her.”

 

Then, Paul Berger, a transportation journalist from the Wall Street Journal, talks with me about his June 17th article titled NYC Proposal Would Vastly Expand Protected Bike Lanes.” But, it was his twitter comment that grabbed my attention when he wrote “Will the new mayor have the will to confront all of the opposition this will en¬counter?”

Lastly, in the midst of all the demonstrations, conversations about social injustice, and with lines being drawn in the sand about Black Lives Matter, Police Restructuring, Economic and health impacts on POC, we meet Reginald “Doc” Wilson.

In a refreshingly optimistic conversation, Doc introduces us to his idea – a new movement as he calls it – the Peace Peloton. It’s so simple – and yet, so effective, that on his FIRST ride 3 weeks ago, 300+ people showed up to ride some miles, eat some food, hear Black owned business owners talk about their work, and just have a good time.
Now other cities are clamoring to replicate it.

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Show #507 – June 13, 2020

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Guests: Rachael Maney; Sgt Mike Wear

This week’s show tries to put some perspective on the events of not only the past two weeks; but, also the raw realities that have emerged about everything we might have been taught when we were in school and what we think we see in the news and on the streets today – and how the bicycle can be a symbol for both good and bad.

As we try to untangle and understand all the myriad things that are happening – – from COVID19 and its profound effects on our lives and the economy, to the horrific and sickening death of George Floyd and the subsequent global outcries for equity and justice, I turned to my friends and supporters at Bike Law for some perspectives that you may not have heard yet.

Peter Wilborn, who is the founder of Bike Law, started out as a civil rights attorney. In fact, in 2016, Peter wrote a piece for the Bike Law Blog titled, Biking is a Civil Right.

National Bike Law Director, Rachael Maney, has some very personal connections to discrimination and civil rights herself.

So today, Rachael and I take a look at everything from statistics and consequences to illustrations of how inequities show up in everyday situations.

Then, I speak with Sgt Mike Wear, the VP and Public Information Officer for IPMBA. the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting the use of bikes for public safety, providing resources and networking opportunities, and offering the best, most complete training for public safety cyclists.

Over the past couple of weeks as people demonstrated, and sometimes rioted and looted, you may have seen photos of police officers holding their mountain bikes up as shields – or what some headlines have said as weapons – to fend off crowds of people.

From those photos came a barrage of commentary from bike manufacturers that they would no longer supply bicycles to police departments and will “do better” and be “all in” in making changes in their work cultures.

Then I got to thinking and started seeing another side – a way different side – of police on bikes and decided there was way more to the story than the knee jerk reaction – including mine – of condemning the police for the work they were trying to do.

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Show #506 – June 6, 2020

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Guests: Jesse Anthony; Amy Kapp; Dr. Tab Combs

What a week it has been here in the U.S. And I, for one, am happy to immerse myself in the show and bring you three diverse guests.

COVID19 is still wreaking havoc with a lot of things – including our trails, our streets, and our athletes who had high hopes of competing in any of a number of now cancelled or postponed competitions.

We talk about all three.

First up is Jesse Anthony. Jesse grew up in the Northeast and has been a cyclist all his life, competing until a few years ago. Now, he is the manager and coach of USA Cycling’s Cyclocross team and we chat with him about what we might expect as the cyclocross season looms large in the Fall.

Then, Amy Kapp, editor-in-chief of the Rails-toTrails magazine, gives us some insight into what trail managers are doing, what trail etiquette looks like in the era of the pandemic, and how to enjoy our amazing network of trails this summer.

 

Finally, Dr. Tab Combs joins me to talk about what urban planners are thinking and doing – not only in the time of a pandemic; but, also about how we might need to think about the communities in which newly opened streets have cropped up for more walking and biking, might have to re-think plans with the onset of turmoil and protests in those streets.

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Show #505 – May 30, 2020

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Guests: Zak Pashak; Chuck Marohn

I believe that life in the time of Covid 19 has changed us all – in a lot of ways and perhaps for the better.

First, I invited Zak Pashak, the president of Detroit Bikes, back to the show.

If you’ve been looking for a bike – especially for recreation or commuting – you may find that the cupboards are bare at many bike shops around the country.

The shops are empty because the suppliers’ warehouses are also empty – for the first time in many years, by the way. And, in fact, some people are seeing what is being called a “mini bike boom.”

In our conversation, you’ll hear what has transpired since the beginning of the pandemic as Zak takes the long and short view of the industry and what he thinks will be the outcome as we open up and live our new normal.

Then, I am always happy to be able share the conversation I had earlier this week with Strong Towns’ director, Chuck Marohn. His vision of what cities need to be livable, desirable, and successful is always uplifting and informative; and now, his ideas and philosophy are more essential than ever.

I always come away from a conversation with Chuck feeling there is hope for a better and more sustainable future.

And, we get to learn about his new book FIRST!!! A scoop… I love it.