Tag: USBRS

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Show #619 – December 25, 2022

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Guests: Jenn Hamelman; Patrick Greenwood

I hope you have had a great holiday – Christmas, Hanukkah, Qwanza, Festivus – and even just staying in and enjoying some down time.  Certainly here in NE Ohio we had little choice with below zero temperatures, wicked winds, and blowing snow.

Despite the weather, sometimes it’s really nice to be living in one of those States that is doing something so right for cycling; and Ohio is one of them.

My first guest today is Jenn Hamelman.  She’s the program director for the USBRS – United State Bicycle Route System.  We’ve spoken with Jenn in the past and I wanted to wrap up 2022’s USBRS progress.

Turns out that Ohio has done some really cool things to make traveling through the State both safer and easier to follow.

RideWithGPS

Adventure Cycling Association

Patrick Greenwood’s passion for Viet Nam and the events that happened in 1975 and beyond inspired his new book Sunrise in Saigon.

Patrick has taken his lifelong interest in the fall of Saigon and what happened in 1975 and incorporated it into a historical fictional story he wrote from what he knew growing up in the 70’s and what he experienced as he rode his bicycle through Viet Nam and on to Cambodia in 2012.

Young Jack Kendall is the protagonist of the book, and he pondered many questions about what had happened.  As he grew older, he knew that he had to take this journey and that it would have consequences. What Jack discovers, and what many people at any stage of their lives will come to regret, is not making the journey will come to haunt them.

The story follows Jack Kendall, who is struggling with a failing marriage and poor health, as he embarks on a journey to meet a beautiful Vietnamese woman as well as find out what happened to the Lost U.S. Embassy and the Catholic nuns who helped with “Operation Babylift.”

You can find Sunrise in Saigon from any of your book purveyors.  And, we’ll be watching for the sequel next summer. You can also find out more about Patrick’s espresso company at cyclewriter3espresso.com

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Show #571 – September 4, 2021

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Guests: Jenn Hamelman; Michael Rogers

This week, we explore the USBRS – AKA, the U.S. Bicycle Route System with ACA‘s Jenn Hamelman.

Jen has “touched” every mile of the maps that ACA offers – she was a cartographer for the organization for almost 20 years.

Now, she is tasked with coordinating the US bicycle route system and just this past month, 2,903 new miles were added in 5 states.

We talk about how new routes are added and signed, and what the ultimate goal is for the USBRS.

PS – O-H-I-O… Not only were more miles added to the USBRS in Ohio, but we rank #1 in the sheer number of miles ON the USBRS system. Something for which we can be very proud.

andersbrinckmeyer.com

Then, we speak with ex-pro racer Michael Rogers.

Michael, who comes from a cycling family, turned pro in 2000.

He won the world TT title three times, competed in many grand tours as well as one-day classics, has quite a few stage wins under his helmet, and is now the innovation manager for the UCI.

During his 16 years in pro cycling, he saw a lot of changes in the sport. From the influence of the Italians he watched the impact of a more scientific application when the English started improving the riders’ helmets, apparel, and more.

Now, he sees a third transition as all the marginal gains have been achieved and a whole new generation of cyclists are training and racing with high technology from power meters to 3-D printed handlebars.

Michael’s job as innovation manager is a new role at the UCI – dealing with technical innovations, safety, and a whole lot more.

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Show #205 – August 2, 2014

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Guests: Attorney & Writer Seth Davidson; Adventure Cyclist Magazine’s editor Mike Deme; 2014 RAAM solo finisher Dennis Johnson

So, last week we reported on one Laura Weintraub, the now ex-cop from Santa Paula, California, who decided to make a little video that happened to go viral.  As she filmed herself while her husband was driving, she not only made fun of cyclists – so sticks and stones, etc. – but she also decided it might be a good idea to talk about running a cyclist over.  Well… that went over like a lead balloon and within the nanosecond that the interwebz can broadcast something, she was suspended and then resigned.

The silver lining in this story is lovely and attorney, cycling advocate, and writer Seth Davidson, called Police Chief Steve McLean to see if law enforcement might meet up and have a face-to-face.  To Seth’s surprise, the Police Chief not only WELCOMED the conversation but took full responsibility for his errant officer.  It’s a story with a very happy ending – except for Ms. Weintraub of course!

We’ll check in with Adventure Cyclist Magazine’s editor, Mike Deme about a new collaboration between AC and EuroVelo.com.  For the past couple of years, AC has been working on the U.S.B.R.S. map. To date, the national network of bicycle routes, which will link urban, suburban, and rural areas using a variety of appropriate cycling facilities, has established 6,790 miles in 15 states and more than 40 states are working to create more US Bicycle Routes for the mapping project.

But, when a U.S. cyclist wants to go to Europe to ride, the map system is a bit different and Mike, along with AC’s Ginny Sullivan, came up with a way to join forces to offer more routes on both continents.

Lastly, we’ll speak with Dennis Johnson.  Dennis is a stay-at-home Dad for his young adopted daughter.  Dennis is also is a long-distance, endurance cyclist.  At RAAM 2014, riding a recumbent bike, Dennis placed 7th overall out of 48 soloists, the largest starting field ever. It was the first time a 60+ rider has ever finished in the top ten. Also, it was the first time a 60+ rider was the first American to finish.  But, wait, there’s more… Dennis set other records too.