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Show #498 – April 4, 2020

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Guests: Brad Sohner; Joe Bell (encore)

Today’s show is a bit different from what I had planned as my guest, in Colorado Springs is recovering from being sick.   I’m not sure she had the virus; but, she is still coughing from whatever it was and so we’ve postponed our chat until next week.

One last item that came up as I was preparing the show this week; The Tokyo Olympics have a new date and have been rescheduled to run from July 23rd through August 8th of 2021.  There will probably be more announcements about other events this week.

Do you hear that?  It’s the sound of the Tour de Quarantine!

If you need a little fun – and don’t we all?  Brad Sohner is currently sheltered in place at home in Pittsburgh.  Brad Sohner is a well-known race announcer.  Brad Sohner has  taken his immense talents as a race announcer and, while peering out at the bike path that runs across from his apartment window, he began filming the riders who passed by.  Then, he added some commentary.  Then he added some sound effects.  And… well, I’ll let him tell you about the Tour de Quarantine!

The, it’s an encore presentation with one of the most respected and revered frame painter in the business.

Frame painting is probably one of the most difficult and perhaps least appreciated parts of the custom builder’s process. In fact, many builders don’t paint their own frames, leaving it to masters like my next guest, Joe Bell. If you ask any of his long time clients like Richard Sachs or Dave Kirk or Grant Petersen – there isn’t a better paint master out there!

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Show #497 – March 28, 2020

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Guests: Sarah Goodyear; Steve Maxwell & Spencer Martin

I’m sheltering in place – washing my hands when I do go out and come back in- and taking every precaution to stay safe, I have to give BIG props to our Governor – Mike DeWine – and his team for taking a firm stand on what is best for us in Ohio. I think we’re staying ahead of that curve and we know is spiking all over the country – and the world.

This week, I’ve got two conversations and I’m excited about both of them.

Sarah Goodyear is the co-host of a really cool podcast titled The War On Cars. The show emanates from NYC and is focused on NYC. What is super interesting about it though is an approach to the subject that looks outside the usual box for topics, guests, and stories. For example, taking the 14th Street bus with two local television celebrities to discuss how the traffic pattern on the street has changed. Or, talking with Car Talk’s Ray Magliozzi,  one of the brothers from the original Car Talk.

Then, we’ll speak with Steve Maxwell and Spencer Martin from The Outer Line. The creators of the popular column in Velo News have been looking at what’s happened to the 2020 pro cycling season and see some very different outcomes than just a bunch of cancellations to races. In fact, the entire face of pro cycling might just morph into something completely different from what we’re used to seeing.

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Show #496 – March 21, 2020

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Guests: Dr. Michael Lewis; Betsy Welch; Frank Yohannan, Caron Whitaker

Hello and welcome to TOC. I’m your host Diane Jenks and this is our show for March 21, 2020. Happy spring! Well… maybe.

It’s been a really rough week for everyone – regardless of where you live and what you ordinarily do.

So, when deciding what to share with you this week, I was pleasantly surprised by a message about Dr. Michael Lewis. At first, I thought – well, he has more knowledge than probably 99% of us about how infectious diseases work; but, more importantly, he has a lot of things to share that will give you hope and help you to persevere in these incredibly daunting and trying times.

Then, we’ll speak with Velo News’ Senior Editor, Betsy Welch. I wanted to check in to see what the Velo News staff is doing and how they will cover the now mostly cancelled racing season.

I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to attend Sea Otter in Monterey next month. I had such big plans! BUT, not to worry… Sea Otter has been rescheduled and we are going to hear all about it when I welcome Frank Yohannan, the CEO of the Sea Otter Classic, to the show.

And, finally, we’ll chat with the LAB’s VP for Government Relations , Caron Whitaker about the now virtual Bike Summit and how they not only pulled it together at the last minute; but, how you can actually participate in every single break out session, the keynote address, and even get in on the Capitol Hill ask.

I want to add one more thing – I am sure you are up to your proverbial ears in what all the experts are saying, with all the day-long coverage of how we don’t have enough masks, ventilators, beds, or trained workers – BUT, if you are healthy, you can jump on your bike and just ride around the neighborhood or take to a local trail, or walk your dog around the block. There is an excellent book, “To Be Healed By The Earth” by Warren Grossman that I highly recommend if you are interested. Check it out on Amazon.com. I think it could be a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gray landscape.

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Show #495 – March 14, 2020

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Guests: Bouker Pool; Ned Overend

I sincerely hope you are well and not experiencing any effects of the now declared pandemic. I am sure you have been overwhelmed with the flood of information and admonitions about what you should and shouldn’t do.

However, if you are interested, I always like to check in with Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s information and posted his thoughts about the Covid-19 outbreak on our Face Book page if you are interested in reading it. You can also fine his work on line at drmirkin.com.

This week, I had the distinct honor of a terrific conversation with one of the most celebrated – and deservedly so – mountain bike heroes of the past 40 years! Ned Overend, who is about to turn 65, is still out there competing at incredible levels.  His accolades go on for-EVER – and include 3 Halls of Fame, more titles than you can count, 6-time NORBA Champion, etc. etc. etc.

He’s been a brand ambassador with Specialized since he retired from racing for the company many years ago.

Our conversation covers his early life – from his birth in Taiwan and 4 years in Ethiopia – to his early days as a car mechanic and then a celebrated bike racer.

First though, we’ll speak with Bouker Pool, the Chief Commercial Officer for USA Cycling. With the worldwide spread of the corona virus, the organization is scrambling to get all of our athletes home from racing and training in a myriad of countries.

We’ll talk with Bouker about that as well as what might be on the horizon for the cycling season including nationals, worlds, and the Olympics.

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show #494B – March 7, 2020

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First up is the advocacy organization in Greenville, SC – Bike Walk Greenville. While it may not be the oldest advocacy group in the U.S. it must certainly be one of the most productive having several BIG projects accomplished in what must be record time.

And, this past week, after browsing an enormous 400+ page document to be presented at the Greenville City Council meeting, Bike Walk Greenville’s executive director, Frank Mansbach found 2 pages that detailed adding sharrows to 13 streets.

THAT was on a Saturday and with some quick phone calls to his executive board, Frank had gotten his advocates lined up and signed up to speak at the council meeting the following Monday. And, damn if they didn’t make their
case!

Then, it’s off to Northern Kentucky for a chat with Joe Braun, ride director for a new event, The Licking Valley Century, which is part of the Kentucky Cycling Challenge this spring and summer. Scheduled for June 27th, the inaugural ride sounds like a real winner.

Finally, not leaving my own backyard without some early spring acknowledgment, I reached out to Jacob Van Sickle, the executive director of Bike Cleveland to get a quick update on how we’re doing – and, I’m pleased to say we’re doing really well.

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Show #494 – February 29, 2020

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Guests: Chad Corbin; Lance Camisascsa

This week, we will visit with Chad Corbin of Corvid Cycles in Boulder, Colorado. Chad will be at NAHBS for the second time with his handcrafted titanium bicycles, including the new MAP – acronym for More Adventure Please – a light, fast drop-bar mountain machine.

We’ll talk about his background and his thinking about the eBike business.

Then, we chat with Lance Camisasca from The Big Gear Show. 

I met Lance almost 10 years ago when I was invited to Urban Press Camp in Washington, DC and then to Press Camp in Park City, Utah.

Since then, Lance has been doing quite a few things within the bicycle world; but, his love for events like Press Camp has come full circle with the Big Gear Show.

Launching this July, the B2B2C – Business to Business to Consumer – show will highlight hard goods – not only bicycles, but paddle sports and hiking as well.

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Show #493 – February 22, 2020

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Guests: Brenna Wrye-Simpson; Elli Sias

Tonight, we meet one of – if not the only – female bicycle mechanic on the pro cyclocross circuit. Brenna Wrye-Simpson started out as a music major; but, when she needed an inexpensive ride for transportation, she found herself taking in all that the two local bikes shops near her college in Portland, Oregon could offer.

She also fell in with a group of cyclists – from there, Brenna not only started working at the bike shop, she also began what is now a professional road racing career AND manages her employer’s shop women’s CX team.

Then, we meet us with Elli Sias. When Elli had exhausted all the bicycle tours she could find in the time she had available to her and found her life partner on one of those tours, it became crystal clear that she needed to start her own touring company.

Together with Dennis Hughes, Elli started Cycle of Life Adventures; and, one of them accompanies every tour they offer.

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Show #492 – February 15, 2020

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Guests: Robin Thurston; Brian Miller

Every once in a while, I have the privilege of speaking with someone who has made a contribution to our sport – and in this case – to many sports, that has literally changed the way people participate.

Robin Thurston, the new CEO of Pocket Outdoor Media, home to Velo News, Velo Press, Triathlete, Women’s Running, and more, started out in finance. Well, he started out as a pro racer back in the 80’s; but, when he ended up in the back of a support vehicle by way of the rear windshield, he came back to the U.S. from Europe and began his professional off-the-bike career.

But, on a cycling trip in Europe, he was asked a question that would change the way we think about traveling by bike. And, I’ll let him tell you the rest.

Then, we’ll head to the big apple to speak with Brian Miller, the importer for iRideUSA.

The classic Italian brand of handbuilt steel bikes will be exhibiting at NAHBS in Dallas next month. Brian tell us about the Giammati’s – the family that started the brand in 1919 and still operates the factory today.

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Show #491 – February 8, 2020

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Guests: Don Walker; Aaron Weiss; Doug Torosian

On March 20th, the 16th annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show opens in Dallas, Texas at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. Tonight, I speak with the founder of the show, Don Walker, to unpack all the details including a brand new event being held in conjunction with the show.

Then, Aaron Weiss joins me from Hanoi, Viet Nam, to talk about his long time idea of a special back pack for the Professional Bicycle Commuter – I love saying that! Aaron, who is retired from the US Marine Corps at the rank of Lt. Colonel, began his career in Washington DC where he found that his uniform after his 5 mile commute to the Pentagon wasn’t up to snuff in the packs he found for his bike.

Since then, he’s been working on the idea, and when his wife was assigned to the US Embassy in Hanoi, Aaron retired and began his R&D in earnest. Yesterday, his Kickstarter campaign was fully funded and his Shellback Bike Pack will become a reality.

Finally, we take a journey to NH where long time cross-country rider and owner of American by Bicycle, Doug Torosian, lives and works. ABB is one of the most respected organizations that has fulfilled thousands of riders’ dreams of making that cross country trip.

Doug will fill us in on how ABB began and why their trips are so compelling.

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Show #490 – February 1, 2020

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Guests: Benita Warns; Jay Kinsinger

Benita Warns (and her husband Mr. Michael – who is a special guy unto himself) own and operate Midway Bicycle Supply – a bike shop and bike supply company TO bike shops, in St Paul, MN.

It all started with a young man who wanted a bike and couldn’t afford one – even a good used one. From there, Mr. Michael Recycles Bicycles – a non-profit organization that refurbed and gave away hundreds of bike – 719 of them in 2019 alone – over 8,000 of them since 2004.

What’s even more impressive? it’s the way they not only got into bike supply but what they do after the sale that is so unusual.

Right in the middle of The Little Miami Scenic Trail system in southern Ohio, one of the best trail systems anywhere, lies the little town of Cedarville. And, right in the town of Cedarville is Sojourn Cyclery – one of the only builders of hand crafted wood bikes. Let me introduce you to Jay Kinsinger – professor, woodworker, bike builder.

Jay’s Dad was a shop teacher; Jay fell in love with bikes AND woodworking as a youngster.

Sojourn Cyclery will be at NAHBS 2020 in Dallas next month. You can also see some of his work in action on You Tube at Sojourn Cyclery Building Process Overview, or follow Sojourn on Instagram and Facebook.