Tag: Shinola

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Show #269 – October 24, 2015

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Guests: Bryan Ball; Bina Bilenky Trahan, Scott Fitzgerald

It’s Saturday so it must be time for The Outspoken Cyclist. And, this week’s show is crammed with “stuff”.

Besides the mention that Cleveland beat the wheels off Pittsburgh in the “National Bike Challenge” (by a mere 300,000 miles), Shinola also announced that a retail store would be built in Shaker Heights, Ohio opening fall of 2017. So, when we say Cleveland Rocks – we mean Cleveland Rocks! (And Rolls of course) (video is older, but lots of fun!)

So, whose on our show? Well, let’s start at the beginning with the man who has probably forgotten more about recumbent bikes and trikes than I will ever know! Bryan Ball is the managing editor of THE recumbent site bentrider.bike
AKA bentrideronline.com (either brings the site up in your browser).

Besides a rich history in cycling, Bryan has also long been a writer and his book, “How Recumbents Are Exactly Like Beer” is one of the several topics we cover in our conversation this evening. Oh, he’s also a stand-up comic!

Then, with the Philly Bike Expo just two weeks away, I check in with show manager Bina Bilenky Trahan to find out what is new for 2015. Bina runs down some of the newer exhibitors, seminars, rides, and events.

Finally, after a “back to the future” news cast, we head on out to Idaho to speak with former bike shop owner and now author/publisher Scott Fitzgerald about his new book – and projects – “B Is for Bicycles”. Meant to offer grown-ups a chance to give their kids a sophisticated look at bicycles and bicycling in rhyme and beautiful illustrations, Scott giv

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Show #179 – January 25, 2014

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Guests: Sky Yaeger, Shinola and Lindsay Wyskowski, USATriathlon

 

When we think of Detroit, we used to think about the manufacture of automobiles. It is the Motor City, after all. Today, Detroit usually brings to mind images of large-scale blight and municipal bankruptcy. However, Shinola, a small bike, watch and leather goods company is working to be part of Detroit’s rebirth in the post-Rust Belt era. A few weeks ago, we spoke with Ricard Schwinn, whose Wisconsin-based company is building Shinola’s frames. This week, we get to talk with the designer of Shinola bikes, Sky Yaeger. Sky has a long history in the bike biz, including 17 years with Bianchi, and now she’s helping bring a new brand onto the scene.

After the news and a break, we wrap up with a short conversation with USA Triathlon‘s Lindsay Wyskowski, who talks about the current state of the multi-sport world including the relatively new off-road triathlon.

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Show #174 – December 21, 2013

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GUESTS: Richard Schwinn and Anna Schwinn

If you were living in the United States at any point in the 20th century, the name Schwinn needs no further explanation, and likely evokes some fond memories of a time when the bikes everyone wanted were made in Chicago, Illinois. Whether it was a Varsity, Continental, or Sting-Ray, Schwinn was the coveted brand. Although Schwinn-branded bikes are still being produced, our guests today are two members of the Schwinn family who are making their mark in a different way on cycling in the 21st century.

First up is Richard Schwinn, great-grandson of Ignaz Schwinn, who founded the eponymous bicycle company. Richard is a frequent flyer on The Outspoken Cyclist, and we always look forward to his insights and opinions (of which there is no shortage). Richard of course, is the proprietor of Waterford and Gunnar, and has recently been busy making frames for a new bicycle company called Shinola (which bought the name from the now-defunct shoe polish company). Richard holds forth on this and many other topics, including the dubious benefit of disc brakes on road bikes.

After a break and the news, we continue our “Schwinn-derful” show by welcoming Anna Schwinn (Richard’s daughter) who is making a name for herself as a bike designer. She started her career with Zipp Speed Weaponry, and is now the Head Engineer at All City Cycles, a QBP brand. Anna is also involved in promoting women’s racing in her new home of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some of us have the “bicycle gene” and then others really have it.