Show #361 – August 19, 2017

Guests: Niles Barnes; Kelly Bedford

My first guest is Niles Barnes. Niles is the Director of Greenway Programs for the East Coast Greenway and his background includes environmental management. He is particularly passionate about developing the physical trail of the Greenway as well as the potential it has to create a sustainable future that includes more healthy and prosperous local communities along the entire Eastern Seaboard.

This coming Thursday, August 24th, the ECG River Relay kicks off in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Greenway. According to the information on the web site, “For 10 weeks, we’ll be visiting communities along the East Coast Greenway and encouraging everyone to celebrate healthy watersheds, active living, and local culture. We start in Calais, Maine August 24 and end in Key West, Florida October 30.”

It’s a 3,000 mile party and you are invited! Niles will be filling us in on what will happen at each of the partner stops along the way and how you can get in on the activities and the fun.

Then,I welcome veteran frame builder Kelly Bedford.

Kelly lives and works in upstate NY. He spent 21 years with the Serotta frame building factory and now offers his own K Bedford Customs out of his own shop.

We’ll learn about his philosophy, his frames, and chat a bit about the time he spent with the Serotta team building such iconic bikes as the Seven-11 team machines.

So… let’s find out more about the ECG River Relay from Niles Barnes.

Show #360 – August 12, 2017

Guests: Brendan Leonard; Rob Myers

This week, our first guest is in Colorado. Brendan Leonard is the author of the blog Semi-Rad and was recently signed-on to Outside Magazine Online as a weekly contributor.

Brenda’s interests range far and wide and, along with his writing – including books, irreverent essays, his blog, and his weekly columns – is doing some video stuff just – well, because he can!

He’s a delightful young man with a lot on the ball.

Then, I welcome a good friend into the studio right here in NE Ohio. Rob Myers builds custom homes for a living; but, his background is very broad and his thinking goes very deep.

In 2015, he took the first FIDF (Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces) cycling tour in Israel and tonight gives us an in-depth view of the country, the people, the geography and geology of the land, and what’s it’s like to ride from the northern end of the country down to the Red Sea.

This year’s tour starts on October 20th!

It’s a fascinating and enlightening conversation!

Show #359 – August 5, 2017

Guests: Eric Weis; Jacques DeVore

The New England Builder’s Ball! Coming up next month – September 23rd to be exact – and, not only am I going to be there (booth 33 – stop by and visit!); but, today’s show gives you the highlights of the other exhibitors, the space – The Innovation & Design Center in Boston – and the sponsors.

Show manager Eric Weis, a fellow East Coast Greenway Alliance Board member, talks with me about the show and how to find out more.

Then, it’s an in-depth interview with coach and trainer Jacques DeVore. His new book, Maximum Overload for Cyclists, is just out from Rodale Press and his ideas about strength, weight training, diet, sleep, and more are the topics for today’s second interview.

Listen in – there’s a lot of learn!

Show #358 – July 29, 2017

Guests: Dan Wuori; Lauren Goss; Ben Sarrazin

This evening, we wrap up the Tour de France with my “man in the know” Dan Wuori. We talk about Chris Froome‘s 4th win, the decision to abandon the podium girls in the upcoming Vuelta de Espana and more.

Then multi-champion triathlete Lauren Goss and I talk about her racing career, her thoughts on how to be as successful as she si (she’s stood on the podium in every race this year,) and what she might do after retirement.

Then I have a great conversation with the founder of Yuba Cargo Bikes, Ben Sarrazin. We haven’t covered cargo bikes much; but, Ben’s company recently launched a new model (The Spicy Curry Bosch) and Ben and I talk about that as well as the industry and the future of the retail bicycle dealer.

Show #357 – July 22, 2017

Guests: Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach; Axie Navas, Steve Garro

We have a rather eclectic mix of conversations today ranging from a great interview with Assistant Professor Kristen Dieffenbach from W. Va. State University about how you can avoid some of the pitfalls of self-sabotage and how pro athletes become so good at what they do to how Outside Magazine is beginning to point its lens more at cycling with the addition of Bike Snob NYC’s Eben Weiss and Semi-Rad’s Brendan Leonard to its weekly on line offerings.

Kristen Dieffenbach coaches, teaches, and is a top-notch athlete herself and offers us some clear advice and ideas about working with our kids as well as ourselves.  She is also an executive board member at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Outside’s executive editor, Axie Navas, explains what the magazine wants to convey and to whom as it navigates print, online, and podcast avenues to bringing great content to the reader and listener.

Then, I’ve chosen an interview from 2011 to remind you of one of our great frame builders. Steve Garro from Coconino Cycles in Flagstaff, Arizona is one “tough hombre” and, while I watch and follow him on an almost daily basis on social media, it’s nice to hear his voice again.

Show #356 – July 15, 2017

Guests: Jonathan Maus, NARP’s James Zumwalt + Caitlin & Victoria, Sara Dykman

First guest this evening is Jonathan Maus. He is the publisher/editor of bikeportland.org and I’ve invited him to be my guest to talk about a new law that just passed Oregon State legislature that will TAX new bikes a flat $15 fee.

We’ll find out what precipitated the tax, what the State is saying the money will be used to do, and get the cycling-side of the move. One of the issues at hand for me is that it will be contingent upon bike shops to collect the money and then… what?

We’ll speak with a trio of folks who are involved with the U.S. railroad system. James Zumwalt is the director of policy research for the National Association of Railroad Passengers and has some chilling data about what the Feds are thinking about in terms of our national passenger rail system. He will be joined by two young women, fresh out of college, who are taking the summer and the train, along with their bikes, to highlight the rail system and what it is like to take your bike on board.

Our third guest is Sara Dykman. Sara is a Kansas City native who graduated from college in 2008. Since then, she has bicycle-toured 49 states (her first summer out of school!), has traveled the length of South America, and has canoed from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico.

As if that isn’t impressive enough, she is the creator of Beyond a Book, an organization that hooks kids up with wildlife projects; the current one, Butter Bike, being a 10,000 mile solo bike trip following the migration of the Monarch Butterflies. We’ll talk with Sara in Vermont as she makes the return toward Mexico.

You can follow Sara’s trip at ButterBike!

Show #355 – July 8, 2017

Guests: Dan Wuori; Brent Schroetenboer; Bob Mionske; Gernot Sauter

Should Peter Sagan, the reigning world champion, have been summarily ejected from the Tour de France after Stage 4? Controversy surround the “hasty” decision by the officials and it’s too late! Sagan was on a plane home the same night.

Velo News columnist Dan Wuori joins me to talk about the incident. He also reminds us that “Tour de Pharmacy” airs on HBO tonight, July 8th, at 10pm eastern

Then, USA Today journalist Brent Schroetenboer, wh has been following the Lance Armstrong case, gives us some background on the latest iteration of the saga as the November trial date looms ahead. Do the Feds have enough to convict Armstrong on the charges they are bringing or will we see an end to the controversy?

After Nako Nakatsuka was hit from behind by a car, she received a “pay up” letter from the driver’s insurance. She was suddenly liable for “backing in to the car and causing damage”. What ensued was evidently a comedy of errors adding insult to her injuries and the damage to her bike. Bike lawyer Bob Mionske and I discuss this case, what to do when you are involved in a crash, and how to prevent future litigation.

Finally, we hear from our National Bike Challenge Stories riders with our second audio. Gernot Sauter lives in Dusseldorf, Germany and as an employee of NBC sponsor 3M, gives us his impressions of the Tour de France, which started practically outside his doorstep.

Show #354 – July 1, 2017

Guests: Odessa Gunn; Lloyd Joyce; Cait Dooley

This week Diane talks with retired pro racer Odessa Gunn. She and Levi Leipheimer (her ex-husband) run the Levi’s Gran Fondo from which funds are distributed to several at-risk youth organizations.

In addition, Odessa, who loves animals, has recently returned from China in a effort to both stop and rescue dogs from the horrific and sickening Yulin Dog Festival held each June. Please listen to this show knowing that it is a disturbing topic; and, a story that needs telling.

You can help Odessa rescue and treat these dogs at her crowdfunding site.

Then, retired Marine Lloyd Joyce fills us in on his trip from Pittsburgh to D.C. as he and 99 other veterans ride the 335 miles for the Veteran’s Leadership Program of Western Pa. The organization helps veterans with housing, medical services, employment services and more.

Finally, we speak with Cait Dooley. Cait is currently a product manager for GT bicycles; but, her journey to that position has been bumpy. Her story is documented in an article this week in Pelotonmagazine.com titled Human Race: Cait Dooley by journalist Peter Flax.

Great show!

 

Show #353 – June 24, 2017

Guests: Simon Marshall & Lesley Paterson; Zac Monnier

While climate change was our topic last week, this week we take a totally different road and look at how we often are our own worst enemies when it comes to success or failure – especially in sport.

I have a lengthy conversation with the husband and wife coaching team of Braveheart Coaching, Simon Marshall and Leslie Paterson.

I’m not sure it gets more qualified than these two when it comes to credentials and success. Their new book, The Brave Athlete – with the sub-title “calm the f**k down and rise to the occasion“, may sound a bit cheeky, but it conveys 320+ pages of solid information and advice in how to calm your “chimp brain”, balance your “professor” brain, and otherwise stop sabotaging your own successes.

If you tell yourself things such as “I feel fat”, “I keep screwing up”, or “I don’t handle pressure well”, you will find some spot on advice and a way to solve those nagging issues that keep you from success.

After my conversation with Simon and Lesley, we’ll take a short break and come back with some news stories – two of which relate to how athletes in fact do sabotage their successes, a possible big move in the industry by Rodale Press, and a study about how attached we are to our bikes.

Finally, we air the first of our National Bicycle Challenge stories today! Zac Monnier from Harrisburg, PA recorded his story for us and I believe it will inspire you to not only join the Challenge if you haven’t already, but to perhaps looks at advocacy in your City.

Remember that we are still taking 2-4 minute audio clips about why you joined the Challenge and what your goals are.  Email an mp3 to [email protected]

Enjoy the show!

Show #352 – June 17, 2017

Guest: Dr. David Goodrich

Is climate change real? I think you will find that the answer is not at all ambiguous.

This week, we take an in-depth view of climate, as seen from the seat of a bicycle, when I speak with Dr. David Goodrich.

His new book, A Hole in the Wind, published by Pegasus Books on June 6th, is a detailed account of his journeys across the U.S. on his trusty Trek 520.
Along the way, Dave talks to us and relays his conversations and observations about history, climate, and how we do or do not account for the variations that seem to be heading in a direction that could eventually lead to no return.

Dave worked at NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) where he served as director of the UN Global Climate Observing System in Geneva, Switzerland. He retired as head of NOAA’s Climate Observations and Monitoring Program.

From the moment he dipped his front wheel into the Atlantic to the time his rear wheel hit the Pacific, David has eloquently told the story of our country and what is happening to the land, the air, and the seas.

You can read more about David and his excursions on his blog.

I hope you enjoy our conversation.