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Shoe #392 – March 17, 2018

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Guests: Jim Sayer; Phil Taylor

Today’s show, which airs on St. Patrick’s Day, will be in “podcast format” only! WJCU’s annual 18-hour Irish Marathon will preempt all other programming today. BUT, our podcast shall go on!

This week, Jim Sayer, the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association, joins me for a conversation that includes a wrap-up of the National Bike Summit, what’s new at Adventure Cycling (a whole lotta’ stuff!), and a brief recap of Jim’s cross-country ride with his daughter Lucy last year.

Then, we cross the pond to speak with the founder of Bespoked – The Handmade Show in the UK. Phil Taylor, who is a teacher by trade, needed a bike he couldn’t find – so he built one; and THAT led to the first Bespoked show 8 years ago.

This year, the show kicks off on April 20th in Bristol, England with 100 exhibitors in the iconic Brunel’s Old Station. We talk about some of the the differences between Bespoked and NAHBS and learn about what exhibitors as well as attendees expect from the sh

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Show #391 – March 10, 2018

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Guests: Mark Norstad; Colleen Kelly Alexander

Mark Norstad might just be the most important frame builder’s supplier anywhere and I have a lengthy conversation with him this week.

Mark started Paragon Machine Works in 1983 – since then, it moved from his parents’ basement with just Mark as the only employee, to a small 1,000 square foot shop, then up to 2,000 and now it’s 8,000 square feet and 10 full time people.

Manufacturing everything from bottom brackets and lugs to custom dropouts and cable stops, Mark believes it is important to serve both the hobbyist as well as the established builder.

We also talk about his induction in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and his broad and deep commitment to bicycle advocacy.

My second guest is Colleen Kelly Alexander. Her new book, “Gratitude in Motion: A True Story of Hope, Determination, and the Everyday Heroes Around Us” takes us into Colleen’s life – from the early days of her Dad’s bicycle shop to the horrific crash that crushed her from sternum to thighs when a freight truck ran a stop sign and rolled over her – with both sets of wheels.

She spent 5 weeks in a coma and endured at least 29 surgeries. Yet, today, Colleen runs, rides, and speaks about what keeps her indomitable spirit buoyant and forward looking.

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Show #390 – March 3, 2018

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Guests: Katie Compton; Lennard Zinn

Radiothon 2018 is officially over and we are awaiting the final tally… thanks to all who pledged support for the station AND our show.

My first guest this week is the incomparable Katie Compton. With too many wins to list here, suffice it to say that she IS the winning-est cyclocross racer EVER!

Our fun and lively conversation covers a bit of her history, her training, her philosophy on the sport, and how she manages her health to stay competitive as she approaches 40.

We also touch upon the racing she and blind cyclist Klarissa Whitsell did in the paralympics.

Guest #2 is Lennard Zinn. His new book – the 6th Edition of Zinn & the Art Of Mountain Bike Maintenance was just published by Velo Press last month. An enormous tome, it contains “everything you always wanted and needed to know” about the care and upkeep of mountain, hybrid, and fat bikes.

We talk about tubeless tires, SRAM’s 1X system, and the care and feeding of disc brakes – especially hydraulics.

After a short break, Lennard and I also talk about the current situation with the heart issue he has been very frank and open about both in his articles for Velo News and in the book he co-wrote The Haywire Heart.

Sit back and enjoy show #390…

 

 

 

 

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Show #389 – February 24, 2018

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Guests: Sarah Morkos; Bob Howells

Design architect Sarah Morkos from Walker Consultants in Boston talks with me about the options that many of her clients are looking to for bicycle parking – whether it be in a closed parking structure, outside on a surface lot, at a campus, or when there needs to be facilities for thousands of card and bicycles! Sarah also wrote a great article about the challenges of bike parking!

Then, I speak with author, journalist, and the co-founder of themastersathlete.com web site, Bob Howells.

With accomplishments too many to list here, Bob talks about just a few – his work with Space-X, his love of an passion for our National Parks, and the work he is doing with those of us past the age of 40.

Last week, Bob’s working partner, Andrew Tilin, was hit and killed as he changed a flat tire by the side of the road on a group ride in Austin.

The outpouring of love, respect, and support for Andrew and his family was instantaneous and overwhelming. Just about every journalist working in the bicycle and outdoor industry today had glowing words and deep sadness at his death.

You can help Andrew Tilin’s family by contributing to the gofundme campaign set up by one of his friends.

 

 

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Show #388 – February 17, 2018

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Guests: Peter Wilborn; Mary Wisnewski; encore interview with Rody Walter

RADIOTHON 2018!!! Yep – it’s time to log on to wjcu.org and pledge your support for the show AND the station. We only do this once a year and all of the money raised goes directly to the station! Any amount is greatly appreciated – and, thanks for listening!

Over the past year, we have reported on cyclists who have been hit – often fatally – while riding. We haven’t however, talked much about cyclists who crash by virtue of obstacles in their paths – obstacles like potholes or sewer grates or raised barriers that are difficult if not impossible to see.

Cyclists have been badly injured – sometimes sustaining permanent disabilities – and their equipment has been damaged.
Now that the roads are beginning to show the ravages of winter, I thought it would be a good time to talk about what you can and probably should do if you encounter these types of issues.

My first guest is Bike Law’s Peter Wilborn. Peter knows all too well about cyclists who are injured and equipment that is damaged as he has devoted his legal career to their causes. We walk about what to do if you encounter a road hazard, what needs to change when it comes to being less vulnerable on the road, and ends with a plea to “keep on riding”.

After a break, Chicago Tribune transportation reporter Mary Wisnewski talks to me about the work she has been doing in her town to shed some light on the disparity among residents who are being ticketed to minor cycling infractions. Her 2017 article “Biking While Black: Chicago Minority Areas See The Most Bike Tickets” was followed up this week with her column Black neighborhoods still see most bike tickets, police data show.

Mary and I talk about what the statistics show and how, while the number of tickets is decreasing, the disparity is staying the same.

Finally, since this is NAHBS weekend – and, unfortunately, circumstances did NOT pan out for me to attend the show, I thought I’d bring back one of my favorite people in an encore interview. Rody Walter from Groovy Cycles in Wooster, Ohio has been my guest a couple of times and was also a member of my frame builder’s panel in Sacramento.

He has a smart and unique view of the custom bike world and I thought hearing this conversation again would whet your appetite for some fancy bikes.

#nahbstweets will be goin on all weekend and beyond to showcase some of the beautiful equipment being exhibited in Connecticut.

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Show #387 – February 10, 2018

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Guests: Heather Dowd & Beppe Salerno; Chris Gillemet; Craig Calfee

Good stuff this week!

My first guests are Heather Dowd and Beppe Salerno – a husband and wife team. They own and operate Tourissimo Bike Tours, and this year they are offering 4 Chef Bike Tours. An American chef will ride with the guests as each tour explores the country, the traditions, the food, and the wine.

Then, we learn about VeloF ix – the mobile repair franchise – with founder Chris Gillemet. Chris takes us into the van, how the mobile app works, and why mobile repair is growing when so many bike shops are floundering.

Lastly, we check in with Craig Calfee from Calfee Designs. As always, he has so many projects in the works. Today we talk about Cyclists for Cultural Exchange and a trip to Cuba as well as Craig’s projects outside of the cycling world.

 

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Show #386 – February 3, 2018

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Guests: Susie Marcks; Richard Fries, Don Walker

I cover a wide range of topics this week starting with toddlers on balance bikes.

My first guest, Susie Marcks, is the media voice of Strider Bikes. When the company was founded in 2007, the founder, Ryan McFarland, realized that his child needed and wanted to learn to ride. As with many children, training wheels were not working – and, Strider was born.

Today, the company has arguably become that “first bike” for thousands of kids from toddler through the 20″ BMX machine.

Then, there are the Strider Cup races, the World Championship, the partnerships, the philanthropy, and so much more.

Then, I have conversation with Mass Bike’s Richard Fries, a frequent guest on the show.

While Richard and Mass Bike are doing some amazing advocacy feats in Massachusetts, our conversation today is once again about the serious issue of police officials getting it wrong when a crash occurs – in these instances killing the rider.

We pick up the story of Dr. Anita Kurmann who was riding in her lane, carefully navigating traffic. In a video compiled from traffic cameras in the area, Richard tells us about the 16 seconds that the driver of the truck had Dr. Kurman in his mirrors, yet turned right anyway. She never had a chance.

What happened in the aftermath is the heart of our discussion about what it is going to take to enforce the laws, teach the police and prosecutors, and in effect change the system.

Finally, it’s time for the 2018 North American Handmade Bike Show and this year it is finally on the east coast in Hartford, CT.

Kicking off on Friday, February 16th and running through that weekend, NAHBS is celebrating 13 years of beautiful bikes, interesting and educational seminars, and a look into the myriad ideas of the handmade machine.

Show director Don Walker will give us the rundown on the event and how it has changed the industry.

 

 

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Show #385 – January 27, 2018

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Guests: Dr. Tod Olin, Bobby Sweeting, Shawn Spencer

This week we go in three different directions – all of which are interesting, enlightening, and even fun!

First up is a conversation with Dr. Tod Olin from National Jewish Health Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Olin is a pediatric pulmonologist specializing in breathing issues in athletes.

One in particular, EILO – exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction – is more obscure than asthma and very scary to someone experiencing the symptoms. Occurring at high-intensity training and racing, the runner, cyclist, triathlete, or swimmer suddenly feels as if s/he can’t breathe and emits a hoarse, raspy sound.

Dr. Olin explains the condition and how breathing techniques he’s been able to develop can alleviate and even prevent symptoms from occurring.

Then, it’s a “tech talk” about carbon fiber, rims, hubs, and lacing patterns with Bobby Sweeting, co-owner of Alto Cycling in Sarasota, Florida. From his time as a competitive rider and experiencing some of the issues that occur with carbon fiber wheels, he and his partner Shawn Gravois, both graduates of University of Florida in mechanical engineering, have been developing a “better wheel” design – one that will add stability, stiffness, responsiveness, and comfort.

My final guest is Shawn Spencer, owner of Bike Cycles in Wilmington, NC. Shawn is also the event chair for the 4th annual US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship on Wrightsville Beach, NC.

Evidently, it’s a “thing” – racing your fat tire bike in sand – and it sounds like both a lot of fun AND a lot of hard work. Shawn fills us in on the event and the Wrightsville Beach Foundation, which benefits from it.

Enjoy the show!

 

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Show #384 – January 20, 2018

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Guests: Chris Coursey; Coryn Rivera; Sylvan Adams

Three up this week, beginning with the Mayor of Santa Rosa, Chris Coursey. He’s an avid cyclist, a journalist, and became Mayor in 2016.

Our conversation covers some pretty tough territory as the city lost 44 lives and 3,000 homes in the fires last October. Chris is steadfast in his desire to see the city recover and we talk about rebuilding, the cycling scene, and how the climate has changed over the years.

It’s a tough and hopeful conversation.

Then, I take a Skype trip over to Spain to speak with Coryn Rivera. While she doesn’t make much of a big deal about it, she IS a big deal!

Starting her racing career with a win at 10 years old, she has amassed more than 75 titles – both in the U.S. and around the world – in a variety of disciplines as a junior.

Now racing as a pro for Team Sunweb, Coryn gives us a glimpse into women’s cycling and what she thinks is going to propel it into the limelight.

Last – but absolutely not least – is my conversation with Sylvan Adams, the mighty force behind the Israel Cycling Academy, the 3-stage start of the Giro D’Italia in the Middle East, a new Velodrome project in Tel Aviv, and a host of other cycling related plans for the country of Israel.

Sylvan boasts a host of gold medals earned after he turned 40 when he took up competitive bicycle racing. Two years ago, he and his wife moved to Israel and his love of cycling is showing up all over the country – and the world.

Grab your gear and let’s go…

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Show #383 – January 13, 2018

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Guests: Ben Serotta; Max Leonard

This week, we catch up with the iconic and ever re-inventing himself Ben Serotta.

Like the Phoenix rising, Ben launched his new serottadesignstudio.com website on Monday and I’ll have a lengthy conversation with him about his new venture.

We cover a lot of ground – including the bike models he is offering, why he chose steel and aluminum for materials, and which groupsets he decided to offer.

In the second half of the show, it’s off to the French Riviera to speak with author and avid cyclist, Max Leonard.

Max’s book, Lanterne Rouge, talked about the “last rider” in the Tour de France.

In his new book, Higher Calling, Max recounts stories dating back to the beginning of grand tour racing and bringing us right up to the present – as they relate to the seeming obsession cyclists have with the mountains. He talks of the victories and defeats – great joy and deep sorrows – in a beautifully researched history.

This may just be one of those books we can’t put down.