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Show #470 – September 14, 2019

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Guests: Debra Bogaards; Sue Prant; Kevin Wren

If you are a regular listener to NPR’s Marketplace, which airs weekdays around 6pm in our time zone, you may have recognized my voice – On Tuesday, a 3-minute monologue about our bicycle business aired around 25 minutes into the show on the My Economy feature.

And, what happened next was unbelievable – it was as if someone had unleashed a hurricane as all of our social media feeds lit up, our web site was overwhelmed, and our email in boxes were full.

I really want to thank Bennett Purser, the producer who not only talked me through the initial conversation, but skillfully edited and assembled the piece… I am very grateful and very envious of his talent!

If you missed it and are interested in hearing it, you can log onto marketplace.org and click on the my economy link at the top. The piece is titled A small bike shop with a big customer first idea. Yeah baby!

So, now that I’ve patted myself on the back enough… let’s do a show!

Three great guests – three very different topics this evening.

First up is attorney Debra Bogaards. I met Debra when Brian and I rode in Israel in 2017 and we’ve kept in touch through social media since. Debra’s law practice is in S.F.

Recently, she posted something about cancelling her membership in the luxury Equinox fitness club where she took spinning classes among other things.

Voting with her dollars, Debra’s reasons for taking her money elsewhere are a noble example of honoring your principles and calling out those who don’t.

Then, it’s off to Boulder, Colorado where Sue Prant, executive director of Community Cycles, talks with me about plunger-gate (I believe I coined that expression) when a lane on 30th Street, notorious for being a tough place for cyclists, was mysteriously turned into a protected bike lane with a line of plungers glued to the pavement. Sue and I also talk about her work and how Colorado is handling some transportation issues.

Finally, Kevin Wren of Wren Sports, who is just back from Eurobike, gives us an overview of the show, a lesson in how the bike industry really works, and how he and his partner drilled down to find the niche that they now occupy with some great success

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Show #469 – September 7, 2019

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It’s Our 9th Anniversary Today!

Guests: Chris Carmichael; Gary Mikitin; Tim O’Mara

It is a very special day for me – the 9th anniversary of the Outspoken Cyclist show. Today’s episode is #469 and I am so proud and grateful to have been able to do this work for so long.

In the past week or so, as I’ve shared this anniversary with some folks, I am told that I am a “veteran” of the medium – podcasting – and, in retrospect, I guess that is true.

What is so interesting to me though? It’s how every week there are so many new stories and new people to fill the hour of time. Sometimes, it even feels like work! Yet, for the most part, there isn’t anything I think I would enjoy more than to continue to bring this show to you each week.

So, thank you – for listening, for your comments, and especially for your loyalty and encouragement.

So, let’s talk about show #469 – this week’s episode.

As promised, Chris Carmichael, who is the founder and head coach at CTS – Carmichael Training Systems, is with me to talk about regaining your confidence after a crash. While much of the conversation pertains to riding with others in a group, there are some noteworthy tips for all of us about skills and handling – whether riding alone or racing in a peloton.

Then, we have our man-on-the-ground Gary Mikitin with us to talk about an announcement made just Thursday by the Department of the Interior about eBikes in the National Parks. You will recognize Gary’s voice as that of the person who opens and closes the show each week.

[Photo of Asst. Secy., of the Interior Rob Wallace by Gary Mikitin]

The Dept of the Interior chose our CVNP as the venue to make the announcement and Gary was there.

Finally, we head south to Atlanta to speak with Tim O’Mara. Tim and his wife Becky bought a fixer-upper on the west side of Atlanta a few years back. But, as fate would have it, a young neighborhood girl knocked on their door soon after they moved in asking for some help. And, the story takes off from there.

Today, Tim and Becky run Bearings Bike Shop – a non-profit organization that gives kids the life skills they will need to be successful – at whatever they choose.

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Show #468 – August 31, 2019

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Guests: Lynn Salvo; Jamie Whitmore

This week we speak with two incredibly interesting, fierce, and inspirational women.

Lynn Salvo – wow, where to begin! She’s about to turn 70 and in the past couple of years, she’s notched two Guiness World Records on her belt. She holds a PhD, speaks Italian, and clearly loves riding long distances.

We held this interview an extra week so that the upload would coincide with the completion of one part of her current project – that of riding the shape of a peace sign around the entire United States.

We’ll talk about that, her world records, why she focuses her efforts on peace, and what her next projects will be.

Jamie Whitmore was an athlete from the time she was 5. Since then, she has – wait for it:

• 11 Gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze) UCI Para-cycling Road World & UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.
• Gold medal winner Road Race, Summer 2016 Paralympics
• Silver medal winner 3000 meter individual pursuit Summer 2016 Paralympics
• Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award 2014
• Winningest female athlete in XTERRA off-road triathlon history with 37 wins
• Member of the XTERRA Hall of Fame

Jamie is the most successful female athlete in XTERRA history with 37 wins, six national titles and one world title.

Overcoming some unbelievable adversity, Jamie went on to win Gold and silver in RIO in 2016, is raising her twin boys, and still competes at world class level.

Her journey is nothing less than amazing

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Show #467 – August 24, 2019

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Guests: Jessica Chicinno; Heidi Groover; Mikael Colville-Andersen

Jessica Chicinno is with the IIHS – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and joins me to talk about a recent study the organization did titled “Some protected bike lanes leave cyclist vulnerable to injury.” It wasn’t what I expected to see or read; and, I wanted to hear what the study found.

Then, Diane talks with Seattle Times transportation reporter Heidi Groover. Heidi reported on a controversy that left me a little baffled. If bicycle infrastructure had already been approved for a revamping of 35th Avenue NE in Seattle, why wasn’t it implemented?

I wasn’t the only one who wanted to know that answer as the “two sides” those in favor and those opposed, were ushered into a mediation by the Mayor.

Lastly,  Diane jets off to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada where I caught up with the whirlwind that is Michael Colville-Andersen.

He’s sort of indescribable with just a couple of words.. but, his ideas about “urbanism” have produced books, Ted Talks, videos, and a television series. His out-of-the-box thinking has also begun to transform cities and the way they look at how things move.

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Show #466 – August 17, 2019

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Guests: Jason Mutchler; Graham Watson

I discovered Jason Mutchler’s story on the Zwift.com site and after reading it, I wanted to talk with him. I had to wait until he returned from RAGBRAI, but I think the wait was well worth it.

Jason, who is retired from the Air Force after a 22 year career and a horrific incident that forced that retirement, is a member of the Zwift DIRT team – a worldwide group of Dads Riding Indoor Trainers.

After our break, we head to Colorado, which is NOT where our guest lives; and, he just happened to be in the States for a vacation. Luckily for me, and I think for you, he made some time to chat.

Graham Watson is arguably the most famous cycling photographer, and one to capture some of the most amazing cycling images over his 40-year career.

Retiring at the end of the 2017 racing season, Graham chats with me about his career and what life on the road as a photographer is like.

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Show #465 – August 10, 2019

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Guests: Dr. Jonathan Hersch; Luke Edwardes-Evans

This week, we have two very different conversations for you – one about a book, but not really all about a book, and another with our friend Dr. Jonathan Hersch, but not really about orthopedic matters.

Cryptic enough?

Okay, let’s start with Dr. Hersch. We had already decided we were going to discuss what happens in crashes and emergency-type treatments when he had an incident last Sunday that really disturbed him; and, he wanted to discuss it.

Fortunately, he wasn’t injured and he didn’t crash – but, what MIGHT have happened has spurred him to take on an advocacy role in the his home state of Florida – which touts the depressing statistic of being the deadliest state in the U.S. in which to ride your bike. We’ll get to that conversation in a moment.

After a break, including some cycling news, we’ll head to the U.K. for a long-awaited chat with Luke Edwardes-Evans about his new book, The Official Tour de France Bike Maintenance Book.

Luke isn’t a mechanic, he’s a journalist; and, I couldn’t remember where I’d seen his name, besides on the cover of the book.

But, as we started talking I realized – he had been editor of Winning Magazine and a past editor of Cycle Sport!
Luke and I cover a lot of territory in our lively conversation- including some of his roles in the cycling world and, oh yes, we talk about the book too!

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Show #464 – August 3, 2019

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Guests: Jon Stacks; Andrew P. Sykes

My first guest is Jon Stacks, the STEM and science liaison for the Specialized Foundation.

Founded by Specialized’s Mike Sinyard, the organization was founded to bring cycling to middle school children – especially those suffering from ADHD.

Jon, who comes from a science background, will fill us in on what current research is telling us about the effects that riding a bicycle have on children, especially those diagnosed with ADHD and other similar issues. These findings came as nothing new to Mike Sinyard as he experienced the effects of ADHD pretty much his entire life and then saw them arise in his son Anthony.

Recently, the foundation has undergone a rebranding – now being called Outride.org. – and Jon will tell us why and what the hopes are for the future.

Then, we’ll take a trip across the pond to talk with long distance cyclist Andrew P. Sykes. Back in 2010, Andrew was a French teacher with a summer break ahead of him and decided to take a bike trip with Reggie, the name he gave his Ridgeback bicycle.

That first trip and some encouragement he received from someone who was vicariously following along while awaiting the birth of her daughter by reading his blog each day, has since turned into three trips, three books, a blog, a podcast, videos, speaking engagements, and … listen in for a great conversation!

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Show #463 – July 27, 2019

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Guests: Shane Niemeyer; Alex Meade

Five years ago, we spoke with Shane Niemeyer. Shane’s story, which up until five years ago was documented in his book The Hurt Artist, told of a young man who went from a troubled youth to jail. While in jail, he tried to hang himself and, when the rope broke and he fell, breaking both of his feet and fracturing some vertebrae, something else happened to him mentally and emotionally.

Now, Shane is married, has two kids, has completed dozens and dozens of both 1/2 and full Ironman competitions, and is launching his new project, The Helm – a fitness app with a very different approach.

We head for Cape Cod for a conversation with frame builder Alex Meade.

Discovering early that he didn’t want to make a living in either music or physics, Alex decided instead on a mechanical engineering degree. Then, he headed from NE Ohio out to California to Stanford for a masters in product design. He spent time with IBM and its subsidiary Lexmark and eventually found his way back east where, for the past 20 years, he’s established himself as a craftsman of fine bicycles, makes frame building tools, and teaches frame building. He still plays music in a local orchestra and apparently loves maple syrup!

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Show #462 – July 20, 2019

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Guests: Jeff Woolf; Paul Robison, Tracy & Peter Flucke; Leah Flickinger

As promised, I had a conversation with Jeff Woolf, who is the CEO and inventor of the Morpher folding helmet. You may remember that Consumer Reports gave the Morpher a thumbs down and that I wanted to give Jeff a chance to defend his company and his product.

I also invited the CEO of the children’s Woom helmet, which also received a do-not-buy rating, to offer his story, but he hadn’t gotten back to me by the time this show was being put together. The offer is, of course, still there.

While we are in the U.K. – which is where Jeff Woolf happens to be – we’ll check in with Paul Robison. Paul is the CEO of Bikeability and the Bikeability Trust. The organization which is funded by the government in the UK, along with many community partners, is a 3-part cycle training program, mostly for children and taught in school, that teaches practical skills and understanding for cycling on the roads today.

After our mid-show break, we’ll take a few minutes to catch up with Peter and Tracy Flucke for our July call. Unfortunately, it will be our last for this trip as they abandoned at 1456 miles. Still a lot of riding; but, we’ll find out what happened and why are back home.

Last and certainly not least, we talk with Leach Flickinger. Leah was the editor-in-chief of Bicycling Magazine and is now the director of content creation at the Hearst Enthusiast Group which owns not only Bicycling, but also Runner’s World and Popular Mechanics.

We chat about a wide variety of topics including the recent Bicycling Magazine survey that resulted in an article titled “Hey, Bike Shops: Stop Treating Customers Like Garbage.