Tag: Natchez Trace

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Show #273 – November 21, 2015

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Guests: Andrew McLindon; Mina Thorgeson; Fredrik Gertten

The week before Thanksgiving… and, we are ramping up to the holidays.

We have three great guests this week so, let’s get right to it.

We begin in Baton Rouge, LA with Andrew McLindon. Andrew is the head of the McLindon Family Foundation and their work is dedicated to special needs children, teens, and young adults.

To date, they have delivered over 90 special bikes – many costing upwards of $5,000 and more, to children who otherwise could not experience the joy, independence, and sense of being part of their respective communities because of their disabilities.

Starting in 2008 with their first bike for a young boy with hydrocephalus, , they now have a waiting list in the hundreds. And, after a piece aired on NBC’s “Making A Difference” on the evening news, not only is there a growing list of those who want and need a special adaptive bike; but, there has been an outpouring of support from individuals, “teams” of people, manufacturers, and more.

It’s a great feel good story and one that fits right in with the season of Thanksgiving.

Then, we head on down to Ridgeland, Mississippi to speak with Mina Thorgeson. I met Mina in Cincinnati at Recumbent Cycle-Con and she was so interesting, enthusiastic, and fun that I needed to know more about her work and her city.

Ridgleland is a small city of 24,000 people – but, it sports 140 restaurants, a 30,000 acre reservoir, hosted a tandem rally last year, and is situated right next to one of the most popular riding routes in the south – the Natchez Trace. Ridgeland welcomes cyclists and their families and offers great southern hospitality.

After some quick news and a break, I take the microphones over to Sweden to speak with film producer and director Fredrik Gertten. Fredrik’s documentary movie, “Bikes vs Cars” is touring the world right now to huge acclaim and enthusiastic audiences.

In a comparison between Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Los Angeles, California, Fredrik’s film shows – in striking and sometimes horrific fashion – how the automobile industry has shaped our world and what is at stake if things don’t change: and soon!

Here in NE Ohio, we will have a chance to view this film on January 28th when BikeCleveland.org screens it at the Capitol Theater in Gordon Square.

So – happy holiday! Thanks for listening and let’s go…

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Show #213 – September 27, 2014

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Guests: Donna Holdiness; Aili McConnon

Sometimes life throws you so many curve balls, that eventually you just surrender and try to find a new road. Donna Holdiness did that and that road is unfolding in magical ways to help her keep the unbelievable positive perspective she now has on life.

Ten years ago, her son was involved in a distracted driving crash resulting in the loss of life; two years ago, her husband was killed as he was on a training ride by a juvenile driving an SUV.

So, Donna dug deep and started the (Dr.) Gary Holdiness Bicycling Fund and the results are nothing less than stunning. Donna will tell us about the work she is doing to educate and improve safety along the Natchez Trace where both accidents happened. And, her work may just make all the National Parks in the U.S. a safer place to ride your bike.

After our break and the news, we will speak with author Aili McConnon whose book, The Road to Valor, offers a stunning look at Italy, bicycle racing, the resistance, and a famous cyclist just prior to and through World War II. Gino Bartali, who is the only rider to win the Tour de France twice – ten years apart – has a much less known story woven with secrecy and piety. McConnon’s telling of it is riveting.