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Show #227 – January 3, 2015

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Guests: Journalist Dan Wuori; The Legendary Ben Serotta

Happy New Year Everyone!

As promised, we are wrapping up the 2014 season and looking forward into the 2015 cycling season on tonight’s show.

My first guest is journalist and commentator Dan Wuori. His 2014 Velo News “At the Back” column about Robin Williams was named one of the top 14 stories of 2014 and as always, Dan has great insight into the pro cycling world. We talk about the races, the riders, and the teams in our annual wrap-up.

My second guest this evening is also my first guest… well; he WAS my first guest on the first episode of The Outspoken Cyclist way back in 2010.

Ben Serotta is without a doubt one of the most legendary and iconic figures in our industry and as we begin a new year, Ben looks back on his career and gives us his unique perspective on the bicycle business today.

This show is chock full-o-stuff, so you may even want to take notes!

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Show #226 – December 27, 2014

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Happy Holidays to All… this week we are taking a much needed break while we get ready for 2015.

We will be back next week to wrap-up 2014 and bring you a special first-guest-of-the-year interview.

Tim and I want to thank you for listening to the show and wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Stay safe! Go for a ride. See you in 2015!

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Show #225 – December 20, 2014

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Guests: Pro Cyclist and film producer Kathryn Bertine; Coach, author, and ultra-distance athlete Mark Kleanthous

Happy holidays to all! Happy Solstice too!

With just a few more days to get those last minute gifts, we have two guests whose work might just offer up a suggestion and, regardless – are interesting for who they are and what they do.

My first guest is the producer and director of the cycling documentary “Half the Road: The Passion, Power, & Pitfalls of Women’s Professional Cycling.”

Although Kathryn Bertine started out as a figure skater, she found her way into triathlon and then fell in love with road cycling.

Quickly riding to the top of the standings, she found out just how difficult it is for women – even very talented women – to find a place in pro cycling. So, she fell back on her journalism work (she was a writer for ESPN) and called upon all her connections to produce this 1 hour and 52 minute documentary. It includes some of the great cyclists from the past – Connie Carpenter Phinney and Inga Thompson for example; and some of the great women racing today. The film is narrated by ex-pro cyclist and well-known race announcer Bob Roll. You can find out more about the film and the accompanying book at www.halftheroad.com.

In the second half of the show, we will speak with Mark Kleanthous,  ultra-distance athlete, coach, and author of the new book, The Mental Battle: Triathlon .

Mark also authored the Complete Book of Triathlon Training and has over 1050 triathlons, marathons, and other ultra-endurance events under his belt.

The Mental Battle gives you all the ammunition you need to conquer the demons that plague an athlete mentally when racing or training. From positive imagery to a litany of A-Z of negative words we tend to use that end up sabotaging our goals, Mark gives you the tools you need to train and compete. (And, if you order one of the books from his web site, Mark will sign it for you too!)

Either the film or the book might just be the right “last gift” for you or your cyclist!

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Show #224 – December 13, 2014

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Guests: Greg LeMond & Dr. Mark Hom; Jose Alcala

Sometimes, when you least expect it, things just fall into place and this week was one of those times.

Unbeknownst to me, a book was being written that would not only explain in detail who he is, but along with a prominent medical professional, why his career came to an early end.

This week, Elsevier Press released The Science of Fitness: Power, Performance, and Endurance, by 3-time Tour de France Champion Greg LeMond and Dr. Mark Hom; and, instead of an interview that rehashes the same questions he has been asked umpteen times, we were able to delve into who Greg LeMond is, what his racing strategies were (and are), and why this book might just be the best explanation of how to achieve lifelong fitness and good health.

After the hunting accident that almost killed him, Greg began to experience symptoms that were not explainable in any normal medical way until he had a biopsy that showed his Mitochrondria was being irrevocably impaired by the lead pellets that remained after the accident.  He was experiencing severe lead poisoning at his very core.

Dr. Mark Hom was especially able to relate to Greg LeMond in ways other athletes and medical professionals could not: he is not only a biologist, medical illustrator, and physician, as well as an avid cyclist who rides over 4,000 miles a year, his specialty is Mitochondrial diseases.

The conversation is lively, informative, and fun.

In the second half of the show, we talk with SRAM Technical Director of Neutral Race Support Jose Alcala.

Growing up in Michigan, Jose had the distinct privilege of working with one of the legends of cycling, Mike Walden. Famous for his ability to pick winning cyclists, Mike Walden taught much of what he knew to riders like Jose; and, from his experiences riding and racing for Mike on the famed Schwinn Wolverine Sports Club team, Jose went on to become a first class coach and mechanic.

Today, he manages the fleet of specially equipped Volvo wagons that make up the U.S. SRAM NRS support team. I ask Jose about neutral race support, the state of racing then and now, and what we might expect to see in the upcoming race season.

Fasten those toe clips folks – it’s going to be on helluva ride!

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Show #223 – December 6, 2014

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Guests: Our Bicycle Donation Opportunity Show includes: World Bicycle Relief, Trips for Kids, People for Bikes, and Tours de Cure

As many of us here in the U.S. know, the past week was one of “specialty days”. We experienced Black Friday (which evidently was a bit anemic), Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.

Not to be left out – we are prepared to throw our handlebars into the ring and offer up a few ideas for charitable giving to bicycle non-profits.

So, this week, we present Bicycle Donation Opportunities. We will be speaking with four different people from four different bicycle non-profits; and, after asking them each the same set of four questions perhaps one of these organizations will “pull at your heartstrings” as you write your “checks for charity” this year.

Our first guest is Ruth-Ann Renaud director of global marketing for World Bicycle Relief. Ruth-Ann just returned from Zambia and is ready to share the work of WBR, including their amazing milestone for 2014, with you.

Our second conversation is with Marilyn Price. Marilyn is the founder and executive director of Trips for Kids, since its inception in 1988 has “opened the world of cycling in the United States, Canada, Israel and Sierra Leone, to over 127,000 at-risk youth. We’ll learn more about the organization, it’s earn a bike program, and how to support one or more of the over 80 chapters operating today.

After 4 ½ years, “People for Bikes” has reached its initial goal of 1,000,000 signatures to the Pledge! So, of course we wanted to include the organization in our “Bicycle Donation Opportunities” show. We speak with Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, Kate Powlison to hear about all the projects that are in progress or coming up for 2015. PFB has made some significant changes in the past year or so and has taken on a lot of the important work in moving cycling forward here in the U.S.

And finally, we are going to talk with the Nicole Preston, National Director for the Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure rides. We have talked about the rising incidence of diabetes and how cycling can help to alleviate some symptoms as well as keep more severe problems at bay. Nicole will give us an update on the events for 2015 and how you can get involved if you wish.

Lastly, we will hear the second part of my interview with Inga Thompson from last week.

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Show #222 – November 29, 2014

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Guests: Chef Biju talks leftovers and Little Curry Shop; Inga Thompson, new inducted Bicycle Hall of Famer

On our post-Thanksgiving show, we’re offering up some leftovers! No – not an old show; REAL left overs!!

And the perfect person to give original ideas for leftovers is Chef Biju Thomas. Chef Biju, co-author of the Feedzone Cookbooks, talks burritos, chilis, and more. He will also tell us a bit about his new book (won’t be out until Fall, 2015) as well as his background and how that has evolved into his new restaurant, Little Curry Shop that will open in Denver next week.

We’ll have news – most of it GOOD; and, then we will have the first half of a great conversation I had with newly inducted Bicycle Hall of Famer, Inga Thompson. Along with three other cycling luminaries, Inga was awarded her place in bicycling history at a ceremony earlier this month.

Inga, who is an outspoken advocate for cleaning up the sport of cycling (her interview in Velo News in June, 2014 is worth the read)

As always, Inga is fun, informative, and thought provoking and because our discussion was so interesting, I just couldn’t bear to cut it off.  So, we’ll have the second half of our conversation next week.

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Show #221 – November 22, 2014

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Angie Schmitt from StreetsblogUSA; Carlton Reid, author of “Roads Were Not Made for Cars”

This week, we talk Bike Share and Bike Rental – is there a difference? And, if so, does one offer advantages over the other? I welcome Angie Schmitt from Streetblog.USA back to our show to discuss her recent blog entries about Bike Share as well as her thoughts on what private vs. public funding for bike share programs might mean in the long run.

In the second half of our show, we’ll head over the the U.K. to have an in-depth conversation about roads – from the materials that make up the surfaces upon which we walk, ride, and drive to the evolution of the roads from the pre-historic age of the Mastodon to today.

Carlton Reid, editor of Bikebiz.com and author of the much awaited and now acclaimed Roads Were Not Built for Cars joins me for this conversation in what turns out to be one fascinating subject!

Already sold out in print form, the book is available for almost every conceivable electronic device. AND, the digital version is fun, informative, and creative.

Consisting of 480 pages (the iPad version) the e-book contains 10 short videos, 2 sound clips, and 581 illustrations. The opening instructions include a great music piece too.

The notes for the book are so extensive – 91,000 words to date – that they occupy an on line link.

Happy thanksgiving to all – and enjoy this week’s show!

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Show #220 – November 15, 2014

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Guests: Mia Kohout, Momentum Magazine; Sarah Johnson, Omaha Bicycle Company

It’s a fun show tonight! Even though we experienced a HUGE snow dump this week, the sun is shining today and life is good!

My first guest is the managing editor of Momentum Magazine, Mia Kohout. Momentum’s focus being active lifestyle, family, and transportation, I wanted to ask her about holiday gift ideas for children and parents as well as her favorite stocking stuffers and indoor storage ideas.

We have some interesting news then we’re going to speak with Sarah Johnson, owner of The Omaha Bicycle Company (and coffee shop). Featured in an interview by the League of American Bicyclists this week, I was instantly interested in her story as it seems to parallel my own – only with a much more confident and modern twist. As it turns out, she’s also hilarious, smart, and savvy.

So… as my friend Kim always says… Let’s Do It!

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Show #219 – November 8, 2014

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Guests: Jonathan Ingram, “Beer Connoisseur Magazine”; Rebecca Rusch – “Queen of Pain”

While I attend the Philly Bike Expo this weekend, we put together what I think is a most interesting show.

Most cyclists like beer, right? So, I decided to find the best source for the skinny on beer – how it’s made, what’s new for the holidays, and whether or not beer is good for you. I discovered the mother-lode when I found the managing editor of Beer Connoisseur Magazine, Jonathan Ingram.

Jonathan helped me to understand some of the nuances of craft beers and what is trending for the holiday season. He also filled me in on what is and isn’t healthy about beer and why some beers actually do taste better when they’re warm.

After we talk with Jonathan and offer up some of this week’s tasty news, we come back to speak with the amazing Rebecca Rusch.

Her nickname is the “Queen of Pain” – but, she isn’t the biggest, or strongest, or even fastest. Rebecca Rusch IS the grittiest and most determined athlete on the endurance-athlete scale by any and every measure.

Now, at age 45 she has conquered what might take multiple lifetimes for others and ourconversation covers everything from her younger days of insecurities, her failures, and her triumphs. Her new book, Rusch to Glory:Adventure, Risk and Triumph on the Path Less Traveled, is out on Velo Press and might be just the inspiration you need to push yourself to that next level.

So, pour yourself a frosty one and let’s go.

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Show #218 – November 1, 2014

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Guests: Keri Caffrey, Mark Friis, Ron Gurth – A Discussion of NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show

Happy November! Welcome back to The Outspoken Cyclist Show!

Our show “covers” another show this week. On Thursday, October 30th, NPR’s Diane Rehm Show offered up a one-hour segment about cycling; specifically, “Sharing the Road: Adapting to a New Culture of Cycling”. With 5 invited guests from 5 different areas covering transportation, Highway Safety, and even a dissenting voice on allowing cyclists to ride the streets in San Francisco, the show covered statistics, complaints, safety, and legislation.

My question was – did it accomplish what it set out to do and, if not, what was missing? So, to that end, I invited a trio of guests to comment on Diane Rehm’s show and to offer up what was good, bad, ugly, or ???

My first guest is one of my favorite cycling advocates and the founder of Cycling Savvy – the instructional program out of Orlando that is training other trainers to teach riders not only how to be safe on the road, but to become confident predictable cyclists. Keri Caffrey is one of the smartest people I know and has her finger on the pulse of just about every aspect of bicycling advocacy.

Then, we’ll head on out to Redlands, California to speak with Mark Friis, Executive Director of the Inland Empire Biking Alliance. Mark has some interesting counterpoints to some of Keri’s comments as well as some dissenting words about the way we train children to ride today. Much of our conversation though mirrors Keri’s thoughts about the effectiveness of the DR Show.

Finally, we go back down to Florida to catch up with retiree Ron Gurth. Ron is a Cycling Savvy Instructor (CSI), a League Cycling Instructor (LCI), and because of some recent actions taken – or more to the point NOT taken – by the League of American Bicyclists has recently withdrawn his support and membership from the organization. Besides being an avid single ride, Ron and his wife ride a tandem – another topic that makes some of the issues raised on the Rehm show questionable.

Sit back and enjoy!