Show #450 – April 27, 2019

Guests: Dan Wuori; Inga Thompson; Dr. Jonathan Hersch

First up, it’s time to check in with our man-in-the-pro-know Dan Wuori. With the Spring classics well under way, Dan will talk with us about some of the big stories from the cobbles, what’s going on with world champ Peter Sagan, and more.

Then, it’s a warm welcome back to retired pro and fierce women’s advocate, Inga Thomspon. Inga and I have been planning to chat for some time; but, we needed to wait until one of her new projects was in place.

The Inga Thompson Foundation – which is a not for profit enterprise – has launched with the goal of enabling women’s cycling with support of promising riders.

It’s especially timely because, after last week’s article about Rebecca Twigg, Inga has also dedicated a piece of her work to helping Rebecca.

Then, as promised, we have the first of our 4-part series on injuries that many cyclists face with orthopedic sports specialist Dr. Jonathan Hersch.

Dr. Hersch practices in Boca Raton, Florida and our episode tonight is about clavicles – collarbones if you will.

Show #384 – January 20, 2018

Guests: Chris Coursey; Coryn Rivera; Sylvan Adams

Three up this week, beginning with the Mayor of Santa Rosa, Chris Coursey. He’s an avid cyclist, a journalist, and became Mayor in 2016.

Our conversation covers some pretty tough territory as the city lost 44 lives and 3,000 homes in the fires last October. Chris is steadfast in his desire to see the city recover and we talk about rebuilding, the cycling scene, and how the climate has changed over the years.

It’s a tough and hopeful conversation.

Then, I take a Skype trip over to Spain to speak with Coryn Rivera. While she doesn’t make much of a big deal about it, she IS a big deal!

Starting her racing career with a win at 10 years old, she has amassed more than 75 titles – both in the U.S. and around the world – in a variety of disciplines as a junior.

Now racing as a pro for Team Sunweb, Coryn gives us a glimpse into women’s cycling and what she thinks is going to propel it into the limelight.

Last – but absolutely not least – is my conversation with Sylvan Adams, the mighty force behind the Israel Cycling Academy, the 3-stage start of the Giro D’Italia in the Middle East, a new Velodrome project in Tel Aviv, and a host of other cycling related plans for the country of Israel.

Sylvan boasts a host of gold medals earned after he turned 40 when he took up competitive bicycle racing. Two years ago, he and his wife moved to Israel and his love of cycling is showing up all over the country – and the world.

Grab your gear and let’s go…

Show #378 – December 9, 2017

Guests: Shane Stokes; Dennis Markatos-Soriano; Courtney Laggner

My first guest, Shane Stokes, is the news editor for cyclingtips.com. He’s in Girona, Spain hanging out with about 100 pros who are training and getting ready for the 2018 race season.

Recently, Shane published, “Human rights groups and others call on Giro d’Italia to abandon Israel start“, an article about the Giro d’Italia and the unprecedented move to take the first 3 stages off the Continent and begin in Israel. As one might expect in this time of international turmoil, the move is controversial.

Shane and I discuss the reasons behind the move, who might be protesting and why, and what the riders are saying – if anything.

Then, I catch up with executive director of the East Coast Greenway, Dennis Markatos-Soriano. When we last spoke with Niles Barnes, who is the director of Greenway programs, the 3,000 mile River Relay was just about to get underway. This week, Dennis and I talk about the results of the relay – how many events were held, how many people participated, and how important the Greenway is to the economies of those communities through which it passes.

Finally, we offer up the last of our tangible gift ideas for 2017 when we visit the family owned and run Darn Tough Sock Mill in Vermont. Marketing manager Courtney Laggner “walks” us through the decades old company, explaining why the Darn Tough brand has been able to garner such loyal customers.

She introduces us to the new BA (Bad Ass) Barney and BA (Bad Ass) Betty socks – for all you winter cycling fans and tells us about how to become a “sock tester”.

Kick it back folks! Enjoy!

 

Show #298 – May 21, 2016

Guests: “Live Update Guy” Charles Pelkey; Custom builder Rob English

Live Update Guy Charles Pelkey talks with Diane about the Giro D’Italia and other peloton related matters in a fun conversation.

Then, custom frame builder and winner of “Best Road Bike” at NAHBS 1016, Rob English of English Cycles gives us his insights in the mind and work of the artisan frame builder.

 

 

Show #245 – May 9, 2015

Guests: Bob Roll aka “Bobke”; author and historian David Herlihy

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – it gets better!

The weather is fabulous, the riding season is in full swing, the Giro d’Italia and Amgen Tour of California are happening, and I have the honor of two more great guests this week.

First up is Bobke – Mr Bob Roll himself. When I talked with Phil Liggett a couple of weeks ago, I told him I wanted to speak with Bob and the stars aligned so that it became possible. Taking a short break from his busy speaking and commentating schedule, Bob was at home in Colorado this week and we sat down (well, in our separate locations!) and had a chat about the Paris-Roubaix, Bob’s racing days, the book he authored that is commanding almost $100 a copy these days, why he finds cycling such a fascinating sport, and even a few off-cycling topics.

Then, I head on east to Boston to welcome David Herlihy back to the show. When his book, The Lost Cyclist, was published a few years ago, I sat down with David right here in Cleveland where he was giving a talk and signing books at a local book store. Now, more has come to light about Franz Lenz, that “lost cyclist”, as well as another oddly similar story about the two cyclists who preceded Lenz in his bid to bicycle around the world. It all comes together in “Round Trip“, an exhibit of 43 almost lost photographs that will open in Houston, Texas on the 14th.

Grab a chair – turn up the volume – as I welcome Bob to to the show.

Show #195 – May 25, 2014

Flying solo this week! And, I’ve got a jam-packed show for you.

We start out with our friend Charles Pelkey – The Live Update Guy (AKA “LUG”) – as he’s blogging and covering the Giro D’Italia. In what was a clear upset, Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), snatched the lead from Cadel Evans in last Thursday’s only time trial of the 3-week event. Charles thinks there is still a lot left in the last week of the Giro with all the mountain stages still to come.

We’ll speak with Kate Powlison from People for Bikes, who gives us some information about “United for Bikes”. a special month-long initiative from PFB and World Bicycle Relief for National Bike Month. In addition to raising funds for both organizations, a generous anonymous donor has pledged another $10,000 in matching funds over the next few days!

We’ll hustle on down to my hometown, Cincinnati to speak with Ohio Bicycle Federation board member and “the Ohio Bike Lawyer” Steve Magas.  Steve will fill us in on an upcoming State House Bill 145 AKA “The 3 foot bill” – which is running into opposition but perhaps not for the reasons you might originally think.

After a short break, I’ll speak with endurance athlete and former junkie (yep, you heard that right!) Shane Niemeyer. He unfurls his no-holds-barred, raw, and unfiltered story in his just released book “The Hurt Artist – My Journey from Suicidal Junkie to Ironman” (by St. Martin’s Press). This is one of the best books I’ve read this year AND it is quite the page turner.