Show #540 – February 6, 2021

Guests: Molly Hurford; Karen Laberee; Walk-Bike-Ohio

Last week, I promised a review of Molly Hurford and Peter Glassford‘s new book, Becoming A Consummate Athlete and, when I promise… I deliver! (well, most of the time) It’s a book you just might want to add to your list of fitness and well being titles, covering a wide range of topics that make a whole lot of sense.

Molly Hurford and Peter Glassford’s new book, Becoming A Consummate Athlete, takes their 20+ years of coaching, riding, running, and writing – lots of writing – and  puts much of their expertise and ideas into it covering topics from creating new habits and shedding old ones to getting back on track when you fall off the wagon – so to speak. Today, we chat with Molly.

Then, we learn about bikemaps.org, a new online resource for reporting and tracking everything from potholes to collisions and other safety hazards. It’s a crowd sourced tool for global mapping of cycling safety.

When you click on bikemaps.org, a beautiful map appears on your screen. On the map is a series of points that have been created by people just like you. Each point will describe a place, a hazard, an incident, or show where a bike has been stolen. And, that data can be viewed, updated, or analyzed. Karen Laberee is the executive director of bike maps.

And, finally we speak with a team of planners from ODOT, our own Ohio Department of Transportation, about the new Walk Bike Ohio master plan – a plan that is promising to make walking and biking in Ohio safer, more convenient, and accessible for everyone.

Over the years, we’ve often spoken with planners, transportation specialists, and advocates around the US and beyond to move the needle for safer and more comprehensive biking and walking.

Today, we’re speaking with folks from Ohio on that same subject – safer and more accessible biking and walking – as a new plan is about to launch.

 

 

Show #456 – June 8, 2019

Guests: Nancy Hogshead-Makar; Cait Harley

As you know, we mostly focus our show on cycling; and, I like to think that you, the listener, is interested in not only many sports but also the humanity and the need for honest and open discourse around those sports and the athletes who participate in them.

Recently, there have been many heated discussions where a line is drawn in the sand – one side insists, usually very loudly, that gender discrimination, misogyny, racism, and sexism are rampant, often negating the best of intentions and effectively shutting down any meaningful dialog.

On the other side, there are some very well reasoned, rational, and legal discussions on the topic; and, to that end, have one of the best legal sports minds on the show this evening. Nancy Hogshead-Maker. Nancy won 3 gold and one silver medal in swimming at the 1984 Olympics and, she’s a civil rights attorney.

She is currently the CEO of Champion Women, an organization leading targeted efforts to advocate for equality and accountability in sport.

Our conversation covers a lot of ground including disturbing accounts of discrimination, flagrant violations of law, and some of the remedies that are finally being put in place – many of which can be attributed to the work she is doing.

It’s a fascinating – and hopeful – conversation.

We chat with Cait Harley, the active transportation for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

It’s nice to be able to report some good things happening in Ohio, especially in light of the dismal record we have when it comes to vulnerable road users’ fatalities – Ohio ranks a pitiful 40 out of the 50 States.

But, Cait has a new initiative – Your Move Ohio – and, with some statistics to back her up – offers some good ideas for Ohioans on the roads.

Show #342 – April 8, 2017

Guests: Julie Walcoff; Tim French; Abbie Durkee

The show this week begins with the mention of yet another untimely and tragic loss to the cycling community. Steve Tilford, 4-time National Cyclocross Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee (and that’s barely scratching the surface of who he was and what he did) was struck and killed on the Utah-Colorado border in the midst of a nasty truck/car crash on the Interstate Wednesday night.

His popular blog, SteveTilford.com has more information on Steve, his legacy, and offers you a glimpse into this special man. His loss will be felt for a long time to come.

After a short break, I talk with ODOT‘s Julie Walcoff about the opening of USBR50 through Ohio. A ribbon cutting took place this morning (April 8th) in London, Ohio to officially open the east-to-west designated bike route that will eventually be part of the cross-country USBR50 from California to Washington, DC.

Julie fills us in on how the route developed, the communities which all got on board with the plan, and some of the other projects that are in process at Ohio’s Department of Transportation.

Then, I check in with Tim French who is the 2017 ride director for the Cherohala Challenge. I’ve been hearing about this ride for many years and, this being a special year – 17 – on the 17th of June – in 2017, it was time to find out more.

There are 4 routes including the “Challenge”, a 115 mile ride that includes the famous “Dragon Tail” 318 turns in 11 miles, and over 10,350′ of climbing for the day. Fastest man and woman are the “designated Black Knights”. Your reward? The “dragon slayer” medal for finishing!

Then, I introduce you to Abbie Durkee, a true entrepreneur who is about to launch a brand new concept in bicycle retail – mainly for women. But, wait there’s way more – she’s a yoga (like me), she’s a mountain biker, a mom, and an artist. And, her story is very interesting! Oh, and her My Alibi Clothing company is famous for its bloomers!

Grab a beer – it’s a good one!