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Show #146 – June 8, 2013

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GUESTS: NEIL BROWNE, KEITH LAUGHLIN, NICK CRUMPTON

 

Neil Browne is back with us to talk about Lance’s chances fore redemption, and the general state of competitive cycling. If listening to Diane’s conversation leaves you wanting more, head over to Browne Eye Cycling for an alternate, independent look at bike racing.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy held one of their three yearly board meetings here in Cleveland this week, and the President of RTC, Keith Laughlin stopped by the WJCU studios for a quick chat on his way to the airport. RTC is preparing to push into the mobile-connected era with a trail finder app, plus all their normal work to extend and connect America’s rail-trail network.

Finally, if you think that all custom framebuilders in the U.S. work in steel or titanium, or if you think all carbon comes from a big factory somewhere (usually overseas) think again. Nick Crumpton of Crumpton Cycles is a small, custom builder based in Austin, Texas who fabricates handmade, custom carbon fiber frames. The second half of this week’s show is devoted to getting to know Nick, including his take on the most recent edition of the Baller’s Ride.

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Show #145 – June 1, 2013

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GUESTS: PATRICK BRADY, LORENZO DI SALVO, SAMUEL SWENSON, & GEORGE MOUNT

 

This week’s edition of The Outspoken Cyclist should come with a warning label: “Open with caution; contents under pressure”. It’s a packed house this week, with something for everyone.

Lance Armstrong is suddenly the social butterfly, reaching out to former rivals and media alike. Patrick Brady of Red Kite Prayer got an actual telephone call from Big Tex this week, and he’s first up to share his impressions of Lance’s latest campaign.

Tomorrow is the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in southern California, and whether you’ll be toeing the line in L.A. or wishing you were, Lorenzo DiSalvo is here to get us in the mood for some cycling, Italian-style.

Rounding out the first half of the hour is Samuel Swenson, who formerly worked as a mechanic for the bike share program in Washington, DC. He and other employees of bike share programs around the U.S. claim they were denied wages and benefits due them under contracts between Alta Bike Share and the various host cities. (Numerous attempts to contact officials at Alta Bicycle Share before airtime were unsuccessful.)

With an opening triple-decker like that, we needed a short break, after which we get to stretch out with one of the greats from U.S. cycling’s heyday of the 1970s and 1980s: George Mount. George is a former Olympian, former pro racer in Europe, and member of the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame. He doesn’t mince words nor pull any punches when it comes to cycling’s past, present, or future.

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Show #144 – May 25, 2013

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GUESTS: STEWART KOHL; BRUCE BARCOTT

 

Inspired by the fund-raising success of the Pan-Mass Challenge, local cyclist and philanthropist Stewart Kohl is organizing a similar ride in Ohio. This new ride, called VeloSano, will launch in July 2014 from the Cleveland Clinic campus in mid-town Cleveland. You’ll be hearing more about VeloSano in the coming months, but you can get all the details today on The Outspoken Cyclist.

After the news and a break, Diane settles in with author Bruce Barcott, who has just written an article about helmets for Bicycling magazine that has cyclists everywhere wondering, “is this foam hat really protecting me?” Bruce gives us a history lesson on helmet standards, and a peek at new technologies entering the market. Warning geek-out ahead!

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Show #143 – May 18, 2013

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GUESTS: GRANT PETERSEN, HEATHER ANDERSEN

 

He eschews clipless pedals, he thinks handlebars should be level with the saddle, and he’s convinced that steel is the “realest” material you could use in building a bike frame. Some would call him a retro-grouch, but he’s actually Grant Petersen, the very friendly owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works. On this week’s Outspoken Cyclist, we’re treated to a conversation between Grant and Diane on a wide range of topics, including bicycles!

She served in the Peace Corps in Africa, and didn’t want to return to the U.S. right away after her assignment was complete. So she decided to tour southern Africa by bicycle, and ended up writing a book about her experience. She is Heather Andersen, veteran cycle-tourist and author of the book I Never Intended to Be Brave: A Woman’s Bicycle Journey through Southern Africa. Heather is our guest in the second half of this week’s show.

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Show #142 – May 11, 2013

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GUESTS: PETE JORDAN, ROB GUSKY, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION RAY LAHOOD

 

Mother’s Day, CycloFemme and TOSRV are all happening this weekend, so you have no excuse for moping about the house. Also, no excuse for moping: this week’s fully loaded edition of The Outspoken Cyclist.

The well-worn meme in cycling is that Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-centric cities in the world. And while that’s true, it goes much deeper than that. Pete Jordan went to Amsterdam to visit and was so impressed that he took up residence and wrote a book about the place. In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist is a deeply-researched work about Amsterdam’s long history with the bicycle, and the unique way people there relate to riding. Diane caught up with Pete during his book tour in the U.S.

Last year about this time, we told you about the National Bike Challenge, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and Endomondo. The 2012 NBC was a huge success, and it’s back again this year, with even bigger goals and prizes. Rob Gusky, Kimberly-Clark’s cycling ambassador is on the show today to give us all the details. The 2013 Challenge started May 1st, now is the time to sign up and start logging your miles.

Finally, we welcome back someone who has really put his pedals where his mouth is, in terms of cycling advocacy in the U.S. government. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has championed cycling throughout his career in public service, especially during the past four years in the Obama administration. Mr. LaHood will be stepping down from that post in the near future, and we take this opportunity to say thanks, and get his take on what’s been accomplished, and what may be coming for bicycling infrastructure and programs.

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Show #141 – May 4, 2013

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GUESTS: JENN DICE, LARRY PIZZI

 

My itchy eyes and constant sneezing tell me that spring has finally arrived in NE Ohio. But here’s the crazy thing: I only have symptoms indoors at home or work. I was totally fine on a 6-hour ride today. I think nature is trying to send me a message.

Besides my spring allergy update, you might want to know who’s on The Outspoken Cyclist this week. Well I’ll tell you…

First up, we have Jenn Dice , Vice President of Government Relations at Bikes Belong. Jenn directs Bikes Belong’s Bohm Strategy Center and leads Bikes Belong’s lobbying team and government relations program. She’s also a bonafide adventurer, having completed the Leadville Trail 100 on several occasions, and climbed up and biked down Mt. Kilimanjaro!

The second half of today’s show is dedicated to electric-assist, or E-Bikes. In the automotive world, we have the Toyota Prius as the best known example of the hybrid car, and now the “hybrid bike” is beginning to get attention in the United States. Larry Pizzi of Currie Technologies is on hand to give us a thorough and insightful explanation of what E-Bikes are, and why they may fill a gap between fully-motorized and fully-human-powered transportation. A device that provides a constant tailwind? Yes, please!

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Show #140 – April 27, 2013

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GUESTS: ROB COPPOLILLO, SARAH BRAKER, SARAI SNYDER

 

Friend, has this spring’s weather taken the joie right out of your vivre? Has the bounce gone out of your bungee? Well, short of a nice long bike ride on a sunny day, this week’s Outspoken Cyclist is bound to improve your disposition.

We start with Rob Copolillo, who has written a new book called Holy Spokes!: A Biking Bible for Everyone. But Rob isn’t just an author, he’s a twin and a father of twins, a skier, rock climbing guide and bicycle enthusiast. He’s also served as a guide for Andy Hampsten’s Cinghiale Bicycle Tours. With experience that broad and deep, a book was inevitable!

In the second half of the show, we learn about Bikes Not Bombs from communications director Sarah Breaker. Bikes Not Bombs is based on Boston, and they use the bicycle as a tool to effect social change. Trust me, it’s way cooler than it sounds; just listen to Sarah’s excellent explanation.

Wrapping up, we welcome back Sarai Snyder to the show. Sarai is the driving force behind Girl-Bike-Love and CycloFemme. CycloFemme 2013 is coming up on May 12th, and it looks to be bigger and better than ever with over 150 rides celebrating women on bikes in 37 U.S. states and 22 countries

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Show #139 – April 20, 2013

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GUESTS: BIKE SNOB NYC AKA EBEN WEISS; PATRICK BRADY AKA PADRAIG

 

Well, WJCU is not the BBC (Big-time Broadcasting Company) but we did manage to lure two notable guests to the show this week.

Bike Snob NYC and his alter ego Eben Weiss have a new book out called Bike Snob Abroad, and Eben will be visiting our fair city next Saturday for a Q&A, signing, and bike ride (assuming we can defrost the Cleveland freezer by then). Listen to Diane’s interview with Bike Snob NYC right here, and then see him live on April 27th at 1:00 pm at the Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City.

Dropping in after the news is Red Kit Prayer’s Patrick Brady, making us all jealous by reporting from the Sea Otter Classic. Always ready with commentary on a diverse array of subjects, Patrick also tells us about his plans for an upcoming book crowd-funded via Kickstarter, called Why We Ride.

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Show #138 – April 13, 2013

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GUESTS: ANDY HAMPSTEN, LENNARD ZINN

 

Trust me when I tell you that this guy has nothing on our guests this week, who happen to be two titans of the cycling world.

As Bob Roll put it, back in the 1980s Andy Hampsten “cracked the chest of European road racing and feasted on its heart.” Andy went on to win the Giro d’Italia, and a stage at the TdF, among other accomplishments. These days, he owns Hampsten Cycles with his brother Steve, and he combines his passion for Italian food, wine, and riding as proprietor of Cinghiale Tours. Andy checked in just before getting ready to head over to Italy for the Giro, and his own touring season.

After the break and some news, Lennard Zinn joins us. Lennard is one of the most knowledgeable people in the area of bike tech, and the fourth edition of his book Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance has just been released. He is also the longest-running columnist in VeloNews. Listen and learn about his journey from physics major, to racer, to framebuilder and technical guru.

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Show #137 – April 6, 2013

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GUESTS: LES EARNEST, SHANNON GALPIN, BEN SARRAZIN

 

Imagine if your wife, sister, or daughter was prohibited from riding a bicycle. Imagine if you competed in a sport which was controlled by organizations that included virtually no representation by the athletes. Imagine if you could actually carry something besides yourself on a bicycle. Well, imagine no more, because this week’s Outspoken Cyclist features all three of these very real stories.

It would be easier to describe what Les Earnest hasn’t done than what he has done, but suffice it to say that you’re reading this on a computer because of at least one of Les’ many discoveries. He also happens to be a walking encyclopedia of the history of competitive cycling governance in the U.S., and an active participant in organizations such as the USCF and USA Cycling. His efforts have focused on improving racer representation in the sport’s governing bodies.

Shannon Galpin is a National Geographic 2013 Adventurer of the Year for her work with women in Afganistan. Specifically, Shannon runs an organization called Mountain 2 Mountain which is helping put women on bikes in a country where the culture prohibits it. And these women aren’t “just riding around” they’re training and racing with the goal of fielding an Olympic team.

Lastly, we meet Ben Sarrazin of Yuba Cargo Bikes. Ben grew up in France, and was inspired by seeing people using bikes for transportation. During summer kayaking trips to the U.S., he saw an opportunity to create and sell transportation and cargo bikes here in the ‘States. From cupcakes to kayaks, a cargo bike can help you get it (and you) where you want to go.