Show #438 – February 2, 2019

Guests: Deb Banks; Michael Roth

Our show this evening begins with a delightful conversation! Deb Banks, AKA the Rivetress, IS in fact the proprietor of Rivet Cycle Works manufacturing a line of classically beautiful and functional leather saddles. But wait, there’s way more to Deb than saddles. With a PhD in education, Deb spent 30 years in academia before deciding to head out of Boulder and back to California where she grew up.

Today, she wears not only the Rivet hat, but also has a key role in RUSA, Randonenneurs USA, as well as putting together a brevet series in Northern California.

Still recovering from a major crash back in 2014, Deb is hoping to get to PBP this year too.

After a break, we chat with Michael Roth from AEG, he world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. AEG is the producer of the Amgen Tour of California, among a whole lot of other things, and this week the 2019 routes were introduced, touting the longest and most challenging men’s and women’s routes in the race’s 14 year history.

We’ll ask Michael about the routes, who might be showing up to race, and about some of the charitable things that have come out of the partnership between Amgen and AEG – including a very respectable donation to the Red Cross after the California fires last fall.

I want to give a shout out to longtime bicycle fanatic and self proclaimed aficionado Jim Langley for reaching one amazing milestone.
When we spoke with Jim way back in 2013, he had just completed 73,000 miles over a 20 year period – not missing a day of riding. Fast forward to this week where Jim just posted 9,164 daily consecutive riding days – equaling 25 years! He told me he wasn’t always sure he was going to make it, getting older and all… but, clearly that is NOT the case. So, if you have a moment and want to congratulate him, you can find him at jim@jimlangley.net.

Show #424 – October 27, 2018

Guests: Molly Hurford, Alex Gjendem Gvoren, Johnny Coast

This week it’s a diverse group of interviews.

We begin with the Outdoor Edit‘s Molly Hurford and her advice for cool weather riding.

We talk about base layers, jackets, fingers and toes, and more.

Then, it’s a new product line from Norway – ReTyre. Instead of trying to match your tires to the terrain and weather as it changes, you can “zip” a new skin onto your tire to accommodate gravel or snow and ice.

Pshaw you say? No no… it’s real and Alex Gjendem Gvoren will explain it all.

Then, it’s off to Brooklyn, NY to speak with frame builder Johnny Coast. His name kept surfacing all over the place at French Fender Days and leading up to this weekend’s Philly Bike Expo.

So, I called and we talked! It’s a great conversation.

I hope you enjoy the show!

Show #422 – October 13, 2018

Guests: From French Fender Days: Peter Weigel, Jan Heine, Deb Banks, Carlos Pintos, Corey Thompson, Dave Cain, Simon Firth; Christine Acostas, Whit Blanton

A View from Above.

 

French Fender Days! Peter Weigel! And, it’s off to Connecticut for 6 short conversations with folks attending the iconic framebuilder’s once-yearly event!

We chat with Peter first and learn about the event then… it’s the “cast of characters” in the following order:

Jan Heine – from Bicycle Quarterly & Compass Cycles attending his 1st FFD

Deb Banks – from Rivet Cycle Works in California (and the “hostess” with a small “h”)

Carlos Pintos – from Ontario, Canada. He’s a flight attendant whose international travel schedule allows him to find French fendered treasures and ride all over the world.

Corey Thompson – from Thompson Cycle Works in Olympia, Washington. He’s a newlywed who will be taking his bride to PBP in 2019 on the tandem he built. He’s a randonneur, frame builder, and more.

Dave Cain – even though we just talked with Dave from Waxwing Bag Company recently, he alluded to a new product and lets us in on it in this short conversation.

Simon Firth Philly frame builder, retailer, and just a super cool guy takes us around the FFD bike stable and points out a few interesting machines.

Then, after a break, we hear a conversation between Christine Acosta from Pedal Power Promoters and Whit Blanton from Forward Pinellas, the county planning organization as they discuss their take AND rebuttal of the WSJ article that said Pinellas Count, Florida was the most dangerous place in the US to ride.

BIG SHOW – get can extra beer out of the frig!