Show #684 – February 8, 2026

Guests: Caron Whitaker; Andy McGrath

I have a bit of housekeeping before we get to our two great guests today.

First – it’s WJCU’s annual fundraiser – RADIOTHON! This year’s theme “Carrying the Torch for College Radio,” is particularly pertinent as another well-loved local college station was recently sold and converted to our local NPR affiliate for a jazz format, much to the disappointment of Cleveland State University! 

But WJCU – 88.7on your FM dial here in NE Ohio, is alive and well.  The station is the on-air voice of John Carroll University and has been the gracious host for The Outspoken Cyclist since our very first show in September of 2010. 

At that time, we produced the podcast as a companion to our one-hour radio show. Eventually we phased out the radio show and continued to offer the podcast. Now, 16 years and 683 shows later, we are so honored that WJCU has seen fit to continue to partner with us.

Here’s just a little bit about why I’m so proud to be a part of WJCU.  The station is the reigning International Student Broadcasting Championship People’s Choice Radio Station and College Media Association Pinnacle Awards Small College Audio Outlet of the Year. It has established itself as a worldwide leader in college radio.

SO – All of this is said in the hopes that you will help support their work, which in turn gives me the platform I am so honored to have. 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the station.  All the money raised during Radiothon goes directly to the station – not the University. 

Just log on to WJCU.org and click the pledge button.  Make sure you let them know you are an Outspoken Cyclist listener too!  And, thanks!

Item #2 is about my conversation with Maynard Hershon and his new book, The Dysfunctional Cycling Club.  I neglected to give you a way to contact Maynard directly: You can find him at buymeacoffee.com and search for Maynard Hershon.

Okay – let’s get to it.

My show this week includes a conversation with Caron Whitaker, the Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists.

With the upcoming re-authorization of the Transportation Bill this fall – well, the supposed re-authorization – there is the opportunity to include a bill that would require automobile manufacturers to incorporate automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems that reliably detect pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users in real-world conditions — day and night.

Its goal is simple: ensure lifesaving technology that actually works for everyone, before crashes happen.

Caron also walks us through the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act  along with information on the upcoming National Bike Summit.  

Caron gives us a Cliff’s Notes Course on that bill and what else is happening in Washington as well as how we can help.

My second guest is Andy McGrath.  Andy is an award-winning freelance journalist, and he began our conversation with a super fun fact – he’s a triplet!

I’ve only ever known one other set of triplets; their Mom was a client of ours.  Such a cool fact!

 Andy McGrath’s career as an author pretty much began with an award winning book – Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2017.

Anyway, Andy has written a biography of Tadej Pogacar titled “Unstoppable.”   An apt title if there ever was one, yes?

And I think our conversation has to be one of my all-time favorites.  Andy is thoughtful, forthright, and has truly done his due diligence in authoring this book.  I think you’ll agree.

He’s a former editor of Rouleur magazine, worked at Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport, and has written on cycling for the Guardian, the Telegraph, and Financial Times.

Hi new book, Unstoppable, is the first biography of the cycling sensation, Tadej Pogocar.  Deeply and carefully researched, Andy covers the champion and his development over the years from Tadej’s beginnings as a small child in Slovenia to his meteoric rise as the 4-time winner of the Tour de France.

 

 

Transcript_February 8

Show #580 – November 6, 2021

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.

Show #183 – February 22, 2014

Guests: Ian Cleverly & Robert Wyatt from Rouleur; Mick Walsh

There isn’t much to say about a week in northeast Ohio which included several inches of snow, followed by rain and a very quick thaw, except, “look out for ice jams” and “how far are we riding?” Here’s hoping you are high, dry, and happy as we say goodbye to February.

Our show today takes us to the UK, and to the Pacific Northwest in search of great reading material, and a particular Irish ultra-distance racer.

Our first stop is in the UK to speak with Ian Cleverly and Robert Wyatt, who are but two of the people behind a very different kind of cycling magazine called Rouleur. If you’re a bit jaded by publications that focus on equipment, nutrition, bikes, and training tips, this publication is for you. Ian and his staff cover bike racing the way Merckx intended, and their stories might even appeal to the discriminating non-cyclist.

In the second half of the show, after a quick trip through the news, Diane catches up with Irish transplant to Seattle, ultra-distance racer Mick Walsh. Mick blames none other than George Thomas for infecting him with the ultracycling bug, and his list of accomplishments includes notable races like Race Across the West, and Race Across Oregon. Careful, Mick’s enthusiasm could be contagious in audible form!