Tag: Bicycling Magazine

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Show #648 – March 27, 2024

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Guests: Adam Rogers; Peter Flax

This episode features two incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable guests.

First is someone I would term a renaissance man – at least he’s a modern renaissance man.

Adam Rogers is curious about A LOT of things and while we have a great topic that he recently reported on about bike lanes and their impact on businesses, I just had to ask him about some other projects he’s delved into in his career as a journalist – so far.

One such project involved color, and you might remember the controversy.  Did you see a blue dress with black fringe or a white dress with gold fringe?  And does it matter that you saw one or the other?  Adam thought it was not only interesting, but while working for WIRED, he dove headfirst into the subject. There is even an extensive Wikipedia page about the phenomenon.

Adam Rogers is a senior tech correspondent at Business Insider, covering science, technology, and our weird future. He reports on how technology changes the way we live.

I saw his article, Bike Lanes Are Good for Business, posted on March 7th, and wanted to find out what he discovered.

What I discovered is that Adam doesn’t go off half-cocked on a subject! In fact, he uncovers as much as he can find and then digs even deeper to reveal things many other journalists might miss – over worse, gloss over!

In addition to the dress controversy I mentioned at the top of the show, we also discuss another passion of his – booze. “Proof – The Science of Booze,” is the book he wrote that came out of his discovery that we didn’t know much about the science of distilling liquor.

Oh yeah, we also talk about bike lanes and what the differences are between reality and perception when a bike lane is introduced into a neighborhood.

In the second part of the show, my conversation is with author and journalist Peter Flax.

Photo Credit – Roscoe Flax

Peter and I first spoke when he became editor-in-chief of Bicycling in 2010.  THAT was a long time ago, and since then, he’s moved from the east coast to the west, worked for some other publications, and now has written one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while.

Peter Flax is a bike rider – he not only says so right at the beginning of his book,  he has and does live it.

“Live to Ride, Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle,” is Peter’s treatise on the bicycle world from the unique perspective of having seen almost every manifestation of bicycling – from the utilitarian to the ultra-competitive. 

In “Live To Ride, Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle,” Peter breaks down his thinking into distinct categories such as adventure, speed, and self-expression.

Each chapter of the book is punctuated by people, photographs, and commentary that represent the title of the chapter.

You know, I think he nails it when he talks about people who ride and how their reasons for riding manifest themselves.  I believe we are all interested in safety and advocacy and have a common interest in our love of the bike, regardless of how we might try to pigeon-hole ourselves.

I like the book a lot and if you want to have a book of thoughtful discourse on your shelves, you would do well to get a copy!  “Live To Ride, Finding Joy and Meaning on a Bicycle,” is available wherever you buy your books!

Transcript_March 27

 

 

 

 

 

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Show #625 – March 18, 2023

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Guests: Joe Lindsey; Dennis Markatos-Soriano

On our last podcast, Caley Fretz, editor-in-chief of the new Escape Collective cycling website, was talking about the then imminent launch of the project and how some of the best journalists would be going in-depth to bring the cycling stories and information subscribers wanted.

Well, Escape DID go live this week and met its initial goal(s) so that they could indeed sign some of the best journalists, photographers, editors, and developers in the business.

This episode of the show features one of these great journalists.

When we spoke, Joe Lindsey, who has been on the show in the past and who does some amazing reporting as you will hear in a moment, alluded to what was coming next for him and, sho’ ‘nuf – he’s the new Senior Editor at Escape Collective and I think it’s a match made in cycling heaven.

Today’s conversation with Joe is the result of some extensive research and reporting.

I don’t know what you think or believe about autonomous vehicles –  AKA self-driving cars –  or some of the functions that might no longer need a human to make decisions – but, I think you will find my conversation with investigative journalist Joe Lindsey fascinating!

In his March 1st article for Bicycling Magazine titled “Self-Driving Cars Won’t Save Us Any Time Soon”, Joe Lindsey goes into great detail to explain why that is so.

In our conversation, he breaks down the range of autonomous vehicle categories, what is – or perhaps more appropriately what is NOT happening with legislation, and why humans are still better than AI in a lot of ways.

After our break, I check in with Dennis Markatos-Soriano, the executive director of the East Coast Greenway.  As many of you know, I am a member of the Greenway’s advisory board and I’m always pleased to be able to relay what’s happening with funding, projects, and great stories from the Greenway’s paths and  trails.

With more than 1,000 completed miles of the 3,000 planned miles of the Maine to Florida ECG, it’s time to check in with executive director Dennis Markatos-Soriano to wrap up 2022 and dive into what’s happening in 2023 – and it’s a lot!

With a new initiative, Greenways For All, Dennis gives up some insight into the difference between – yes we want to make consequential changes for safer and better walking a biking – and what might be holding us back from seeing it happen.

Check out greenwaysforall.org and greenway.org for all the information about the East Coast Greenway and how you can get involved.

Next time on TOC, I speak with Paul Tolme from the Cascade Cycling Club in Seattle.  With over 10,000 members, this state-wide club isn’t fooling around when it comes to offering programs, rides, and legislative opportunities for better biking in Washington State.

We also check in with our NYC ear-to-the-ground biking and sustainability guru John Surico.

 

 

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Show #580 – November 6, 2021

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Guests: Omar Di Felice; Andrew “Bernie” Bernstein

Ultraman cycling might not say it all when it comes to Omar Di Felice.

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Omar loves extremes – extreme cold, extreme distances, extremes heights – and is a full-time endurance cyclist.

Omar is from Lazio, Italy, right outside of Rome and with more than 70,000 social media followers, is one of the most interesting people I’ve spoken with a long time.

On October 22nd, Roleur online published an interview with Omar Di Felice and I found what he had to say fascinating!

Back in March, Omar had cycled to Mt. Everest Base Camp – a mere 5,364 meters! 17,598 feet – in winter after crossing the entire Himalayan region without any support.

Who IS this man I wanted to know… and, so today you too will learn how Omar does it, why he does it, and what he wants people to know about his “job” as he calls it.

On July 20, 2019, the nightmare that so many of us hope never happens happened to Bernie Bernstein.  On his way home from the local velodrome, the elite cyclist was hit and left for dead. (Here is Bernie’s article from Bicycling Magazine)

We spoke with Bernie back in 2020 while he was still in physical therapy multiple times per week and slowly regaining some strength and mobility.

Now, he’s still dealing with a lot of issues related to the crash; but, he is doing some hiking and biking again!

Two weeks ago, Bernie’s assailant was in court for sentencing.  Bernie delivered a victim statement at that proceeding.

I thought it was a good time to catch up with Bernie and hear what he has to say.

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Show #529 – November 21, 2020

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Guests: Chris Carmichael; Lou Mazzante


Photo Of Eddie B. Courtesy of Mitchell Clinton

This past week, the cycling world lost Eddie Borysewicz – or Eddie B as so many knew him. Eddie died November 16th from COVID 19 while visiting his home country of Poland.

I wanted to talk with someone who knew Eddie well and so, I invited Chris Carmichael, who first met Eddie when Chris was a junior racer way back when.

Born in 1939 in what is now Belarus, then part of Poland, Eddie B was a junior national cycling champion in his home country. He served two years in the military and, after a misdiagnosis and subsequent treatment for tuberculosis, gave up racing and studied for a physical education degree and became a coach.

Coming to Montreal for the 1976 Olympic Games as an assistant for the Polish team, he made his way down to New Jersey where he met Mike Fraysee, the head of the organization that ran cycling is the US at the time.

He spoke no English – but he knew how to coach and train riders and became the US Coach. Over his career, he garnered 30 national and world championships for coaching.

Then, we’ll have the third and last of our gift giving ideas from Bicycling Magazine’s test director, Lou Mazzante. This week, we’re talking apparel, helmets, and shoes. (Photo of Lou by Trevor Raab)

I’ve been so impressed with the time and effort that Lou Mazzante has put into our gift giving segments and today is no exception. Here is the last of our three weekly chats.  Today, Lou tells us about The Black Bibs – only the knicker version – Specialized’s Propero 3 helmet with MIPS AND their “Angi” crash system.  He also reviews the Bontrager Rhythm mountain bike shorts, Swift-Wick’s new ultralight pursuit 7 wool socks, and Shimano’s RC3 road shoe.

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Show #527 – November 7, 2020

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Guests: Paul Brodie; Lou Mazzante

Tonight I welcome Paul Brodie.

His handle is fussy framebuilder and at one time, Paul Brodie’s business produced hundreds of frames.

Paul, who was originally born in England and has lived in British Columbia now for most of his life, has transitioned from producing frames to teaching frame building to starring in videos on his You Tube channel with over 2,000 subscribers.

Watching Paul as he goes through his processes offers a glimpse into the expertise he has as well as a style of instruction that is easy-to-follow and not so technically scary to even the novice.

From fabricating brake levers from scratch to extending a steerer tube, Paul Brodie’s teaching style is casual and explicit. And, he’s about as guileless in conversation as anyone I’ve spoken with in a very long time – if ever!  Wait until you hear about his pets too!

After listening, you can contact Paul at fussyframebuilder@gmail.com with questions, take a look at his videos on the Paul Brodie You Tube Channel, or browse his extensive archives on his web site Flashback Fabrications Ltd.

They’re comin’ around the bend sooner than you might think and, I figured it was none too soon to start thinking about holiday gift giving – especially since many of us will be ordering on line.

Today, we have our first of a three-part series on gifts for the holidays with Bicycling Magazine‘s Test Director Lou Mazzante. This week, we’ll look at a few gifts under $25.00, including the Timber Bell, Stan’s No Tubes Dart System, Feedback’s Chain Keeper, and Memory Pilot Socks.

 

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Show #516 – August 22, 2020

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Guests: Dr. John Loehner; David Goodrich

(Photo of Dr. Loehner courtesy of Demetrius A. Freeman)

We begin in The Bronx. Dr. John Loehner is an internist and the medical director of the Montefiore Medical Center Moses Campus in the Bronx. It’s a huge teaching facility and it was literally on the front lines of the pandemic, having almost every one of the 700 beds + most of the ICU occupied by COVID patients at the height of NY’s outbreak.

It isn’t too often that you meet someone who absolutely knows what he or she is going to be “when they grow up.” But, John Loehner started out as a pro bicycle racer knowing that, at the end of his racing career, medicine would be his next passion.

I discovered John through an article he wrote for Bicycling this month – “I’m A Frontline COVID Doctor: My Daily Rides Keep Me Sane,” and I tracked him down for a delightful and informative conversation.

Guest #2 this week is not new to The Outspoken Cyclist; but, it’s been a while since we spoke with him – in fact, it was June, 2017 when his first book, A Hole In the Wind, was published.

Not being a geologist or a climatologist, not even playing one on TV, little did I know that millions of years ago, there was an ocean in North America – or should I say, what we now know as North America. And, from that ocean comes oil – lots of it – and in more than one variety.

David Goodrich is the former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate and Observations and Monitoring Program and served at the Director of the UN Global Observing System in Geneva, Switzerland.

Now, the retired climatologist offers up a new book – A Voyage Across an Ancient Ocean – traveling again by bicycle through the northern dominion of oil – from the tar sands of Canada to the Bakken oil formation in North Dakota.

It’s an incredible view of how oil – both boom and bust – has been and still is such a huge industry in the U.S.

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Show #427 – November 17, 2018

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Guests: California Travis, Kathleen Walker & Andy Sherding, Zak Pashak, Joe Lindsey

So it’s T-minus 5 days until T-day here in the States. If you are celebrating, I hope you have a happy day, don’t overeat, and find time to get out on your bike! Unless it’s snowing, then I guess it’s skis, sleds, and skates!

This week, instead of two long conversations, the show is a sort of 4-part news-zine.

We cover another perspective on the tariffs, a new event in Cape Cod, a really interesting chat about driverless cars and some of the philosophical aspects of programming them, and last but certainly not least, a first-hand report about the California Camp Fire and how it is affecting the people in Chico, the town 11 miles “down the hill” from what was Paradise.

In fact, we begin with that report. California Travis as he is known to friends and family, works for Paul Components. He was born and raised in Chico and his parents were living in Paradise when the first swept through.

Travis gives us a picture of the devastation and offers some advice on how to help if you wish.

Then, it’s off to Brewster, Mass to speak with the ride directors Kathleen Walker and Andy Sherding about a new event, The SOS Cape Cod triathlon. It’s to be held next June and it’s a really different and interesting format. Yes, it’s got bike, run, and swim, but it’s not what you think.

Part 3 is a chat with Zak Pashak, owner of Detroit Bikes. Back in October, Detroit Bikes, along with BCA (Kent Bikes) filed a 201 Petition that would impose a 50% tariff on bikes imported from China. On the surface, it sounds really bad for the bike industry; but, is it? Well, there was so much flack from the industry, that the petition was withdrawn and I wanted to know more about it.

Finally, it’s AV – autonomous vehicles and the impact they may or may not have on traffic, commuting, the safety of cyclists and pedestrians and more. I check in with journalist Joe Lindsey, whose October 2017 article spelled out part of the dilemma and has some new information from many studies that have either been just completed or are ongoing.

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Show #325 – December 10, 2016

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Guests: Roland Della Santa; Gloria Liu

Tonight, we meet veteran frame builder and a man of great taste (especially in music and food!) Roland Della Santa.

Roland has stuck with his beliefs and ideas about frame building for over 40 years and still produces his classic Della Santa frames in the “Italian” tradition – steel, lugged, and FAST racing machines.

We discuss frames, forks, wheels, Roland’s relationship with Greg LeMond, and even our favorite musicians – Frank Zappa and Joe Bonamassa!

As for food – what would you expect? Italian in the Tuscany tradition!

Roland pulls NO punches about what he believes, how he builds frames, and what he thinks about today’s offerings in the bike biz.

In the second half of the show, it’s buckling down to “get ‘er done” with just two weeks until the gift giving holidays of Christmas and Hannukah.

So, I checked in with Gloria Liu, senior tech editor at Bicycling Magazine (as well as a consummate adventurer!) Gloria has some great gift ideas for you!

From small stocking stuffers to that one big “gift under the tree”, we will bring you some fresh ideas.

So, out to Reno the outspoken cyclist goes to talk with the outspoken frame builder Roland Della Santa.

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Show #323 – November 26, 2016

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Guests: Bill Strickland; Guy Andrews

Our Thanksgiving week show is really sweet!

Editor-in-chief of Bicycling Magazine Bill Strickland is my guest and we have a GREAT conversation about a lot of cycling stuff – from his book Ten Points to the state-of-the-magazine.

Probably need to have a bunch more of these chats to get the whole picture!

Then it’s off to Mallorca, Spain where I catch up with Guy Andrews. The founder of Rouleur Magazine has just launched the definitive book spanning the entire career of Greg LeMond.

Yellow Jersey Racer is arguably the “coffee table book” gift for this holiday season. Guy found an amazing array of folks to cover each phase of Greg’s career – beginning in 1977!

There are photos and commentary heretofore never seen or read!

As previously stated… it’s a “sweet” show!

Happy Thanksgiving.

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Show #180 – February 1, 2014 (WOW!)

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Guests: Liz Jose, WEBikeNYC; Don Walker, NAHBS

 

Everybody seems to have their favorite season of the year. I like any season in which I can go for a bike ride (which turns out to be all of them, if I’m dressed right and sufficiently motivated). But looking out my back window today it occurred to me that without leaves to block the view, we can see the true structure of trees much more clearly. Currently, the Grey Squirrel Acrobatic Company is putting on a fabulous show for an appreciative audience of one.

So, in the spirit of the season, we get right to the heart of a couple of folks doing interesting things in very different areas of cycling. First up is Liz Jose, founder of WE Bike NYC. The “WE” stands for “women’s empowerment”, and the organization grew out of Liz’s day job as a bicycle mechanic in Manhattan’s East Village, and a desire to get more women riding and working on their bicycles. Liz was also featured in a recent article in Bicycling magazine.

In a very different region of the country, and a different part of cycling, Don Walker is getting ready to produce the tenth annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show, March 14-16 in Charlotte, North Carolina.Don joins us in the second half of the show to talk about the evolution of NAHBS, what to expect this year, and what he’s been up to lately.