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Show #331 – January 21, 2017

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Guests: Damon Rinard; Tim Moore

Cycling Engineer Damon Rinard, is a speed freak… now I don’t mean that in the druggie sense; I mean he loves things that go fast.

His engineering background includes work in the aerospace field and of course a long history in the bicycle world. He is currently the lead engineer for the Cannondale division of Dorel’s Cycling Sports Group and has some very interesting things to say about the equipment we see on the road today.

Then, it’s over to the U.K. to speak with British cycling author Tim Moore.

He’s done some wild and whacky rides and not only has lived to tell about them, he’s written some great books too. His book Geronimo detailed his crazy recreation of the 1914 Giro D’Italia on a 1914 wooden bike.

Now, his new book, The Cyclist Who Went Out In The Cold, tells his story of riding the Iron Curtain trail from north to south on a German MIFA 900 series bike and… well, I’ll let him tell you more about it.

Eliciting both out loud laughter and some sobering insights into the post cold war world, The Cyclist Who Went Out In The Cold might just be your next best bicycle read!

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Show #330 – January 14, 2017

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Guests: Axel Merckx, director sportif Team Axeon; Hal Walter, 6-time world champion pack burro racer (yep!)

Hey there… it’s our January 14th show and, it’s a good one!

First, I talk with Axel Merckx – director sportif of team Axeon Hagens Berman. Yes, yes, Axel is the son of the “Cannibal” – the great Eddy Merckx – and he’s super proud to have such a talented and famous father.

In his own right however, Axel himself is a great cycling legend – he has an Olympic medal, many podiums, and has taken all that talent and focused it on his winning team of young riders.

For example, in the 2016 race season, team Axeon garnered 35 victories, 13 jersey classifications, eight national titles, three team titles and sent three riders to the WorldTour ranks.

We’ll hear how Axel has been able to shape and grow his team into a formidable “cycling machine” and hear just a bit about his Dad.

In the second half of the show, we meet up with a most interesting guy! Hal Walter is a journalist, author, Dad, and a 6-time world champion Pack Burro Racer!

Not planning on having children, at the age of 44 Hal and his wife welcomed Harrison into the world only to have that world turned upside down when, at the age of three, Harrison was diagnosed at “neuro diverse” – or as most of us know, autistic.

Unlike many children who are “on the spectrum”, Harrison can run, swim, bike, and has a pack burro for a best friend.

Hal has written a book of essays titled Endurance that tells us a few of the stories that have unfolded for Hal, wife Mary, Harrison, and all those who are part of their lives.

Hal and I talk about Harrison, the school in which he was mainstreamed since he was 3, how the pack burros fit into their lives, and how Harrison taught himself to ride a bike.

It’s a great conversation!

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Show #329 – January 7, 2017

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Guests: Jim Walker, Engima Bicycle Works; Jan Gierlach, Ridefor3Reasons

Show #1 for the year! Welcome and Happy New Year… I hope your holidays were fun.

First up, Jim Walker, managing director of Enigma Bicycle Works in the U.K. talks with Diane about his 4+ decade bicycle career, admitting that he is the brains and not the brawn behind the end products! He claims he is “useless with his hands” – and y et, he knows all the ins and outs of the handmade bike business.

Unlike most shops or custom builders, the client can come to Engima and watch the process from start to finish! There is even a “frame building academy” where a customer can come in and build his/her own frame with the assistance of the masters at Enigma.

Mostly a titanium fabricator, Engima also makes steel and stainless steel, including their own forks and offer full bikes in 15 different models.

Jim and Diane also discuss the “one time only” coffee table book that Engima produced in 2013, Seventy-Three Degrees – the world’s finest bicycle builders.

Then we speak with Jan Gierlach, an 18 year old philanthropist who has already raised $600,000 for his 3 charities – ALS, Hospice, and Cancer. His connection to all three is personal and heartfelt.

Jan’s interest in making a difference for each of these organizations initially came from a talk given to his school by Bob Lee. We spoke with Bob about his charity, Ride for 3 Reasons back in 2012. Now, Jan, who graduated a semester early from high school, will embark upon a 3,300 mile cross-country solo bike ride next month to fulfill his promise to those who have supported his efforts and helped him meet his goal.

 

 

 

 

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Show #328 – December 31, 2016 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Guests: New Year Encore Interviews! Jeremy Powers, Shannon Galpin, Maynard Hershon’s “Nice Wheels”

This week in a special presentation, we are offering up two of our favorite conversations from 2016 and a wonderful story that journalist/writer Maynard Hershon has spun for us in the past,

First up is Jeremy Powers, one of the top pro cyclocross racers EVER -.  In my conversation with him back in October, we chatted about whether the rumors of his retirement are true, what happened in a key race in Iowa, and what he likes to eat!

He also shared some very interesting ideas about our sport of cycling. Jeremy’s was one of the most “liked” interviews on the show this year.

After a short musical interlude, we’ll come back with my August interview with the ever active Shannon Galpin – arguably one of the bravest and most inspiring women with whom I’ve ever spoken.

Her work with the women in Afghanistan stands as a testament to the sheer will of someone who just won’t take no as an answer.  Her Afghan Women’s Cycling Team was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and her work has earned her a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award.  She is one of my favorite people in our world of cycling.

We close out 2016 with the re-telling of Maynard Hershon’s “Nice Wheels”.

I first heard the story many years ago, have heard it several times since, and never get tired of it.  Of course, Maynard’s telling of it makes it that much better.

Lastly I would like to wish you a very happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year.

 

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Show #327 – December 24, 2016

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Guests: Chef Biju Thomas, TrainerRoad’s Jonathan Lee

Happy Hanukkah – Merry Christmas – Happy Holidays!!!

Today’s show features our friend and most excellent chef Biju Thomas. Recently featured in Nation’s Restaurant News because Indian Food is going to be a top trend in 2017, I caught up with Biju on the road between Little Curry Shop I and Little Curry Shop II.

We get to learn about what makes Indian Food so yummy, hear a really cool idea for a winter gathering, and find out that cookies are just as good as any energy bar on the market!!! HA!

So, now that we’re full of good food and have added a few (ahem) calories; it’s time to think about taking them back off and getting back ON the training wagon.

Whatever type of goal you have for next season, TrainerRoad.com has a program to suit your schedule and your goals. Jonathan Lee gives us the ins and outs of how the TrainerRoad concept works to help you get FASTER!

It’s short and sweet this week, but chock full of goodness!

Have a GREAT holiday. Stay safe!

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Show #326 – December 17, 2016

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Special Guest: Richard Schwinn

With only a couple of more weeks until 2017, I thought it would be a good time to bring back one of our most interesting and well-received guests for a one-on-one show.

Richard Schwinn grew up in our industry, took a leave of absence for college, and came back when the company needed a guiding hand to navigate the changing waters of the 90’s.

Out of the sale of the company in the early 1990’s, Richard Schwinn and Mark Muller retained the Paramount name and factory in Waterford Wisconsin and Waterford Precision Bicycles was born.

Today, in the midst of a carbon fiber frenzy, Waterford Precision and its companion brand Gunnar, are a bright and shining star in the custom bike world.

Richard and I discuss a variety of topics from the current state of the business to the future of the independent bike dealer and more.

It’s a fascinating conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

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Show #325 – December 10, 2016

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Guests: Roland Della Santa; Gloria Liu

Tonight, we meet veteran frame builder and a man of great taste (especially in music and food!) Roland Della Santa.

Roland has stuck with his beliefs and ideas about frame building for over 40 years and still produces his classic Della Santa frames in the “Italian” tradition – steel, lugged, and FAST racing machines.

We discuss frames, forks, wheels, Roland’s relationship with Greg LeMond, and even our favorite musicians – Frank Zappa and Joe Bonamassa!

As for food – what would you expect? Italian in the Tuscany tradition!

Roland pulls NO punches about what he believes, how he builds frames, and what he thinks about today’s offerings in the bike biz.

In the second half of the show, it’s buckling down to “get ‘er done” with just two weeks until the gift giving holidays of Christmas and Hannukah.

So, I checked in with Gloria Liu, senior tech editor at Bicycling Magazine (as well as a consummate adventurer!) Gloria has some great gift ideas for you!

From small stocking stuffers to that one big “gift under the tree”, we will bring you some fresh ideas.

So, out to Reno the outspoken cyclist goes to talk with the outspoken frame builder Roland Della Santa.

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Show #324 – December 3, 2016

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Guests: Tony Karklins; Siri Lindley

This week we talk about “Made in the U.S.” when we head on down to Little Rock, Arkansas to speak with long-time bicycle industry guy Tony Karklins.

Tony bought his first bike shop at 16. He became the head of Orbea USA. And now, he’s put together a crack team to produce carbon fiber bikes here in the States under the HIA Velo banner. (HIA = Handmade in America).

The “Allied” brand will roll out of the factory in early spring and Tony gives us his insights into how and why we can make the best bikes in the world right here.

Then, we head on out to Boulder, Colorado to speak with world champion triathlete and winning coach Siri Lindley about her life and her new book, Surfacing.

Frank Gifford’s marriage to Siri’s mother when Siri was a young girl changed her life and it took the help of a very committed and interested “coach” to show her the way to a happy and winning life.

Today, Siri is just that – happy and a flat out winner.

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Show #323 – November 26, 2016

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Guests: Bill Strickland; Guy Andrews

Our Thanksgiving week show is really sweet!

Editor-in-chief of Bicycling Magazine Bill Strickland is my guest and we have a GREAT conversation about a lot of cycling stuff – from his book Ten Points to the state-of-the-magazine.

Probably need to have a bunch more of these chats to get the whole picture!

Then it’s off to Mallorca, Spain where I catch up with Guy Andrews. The founder of Rouleur Magazine has just launched the definitive book spanning the entire career of Greg LeMond.

Yellow Jersey Racer is arguably the “coffee table book” gift for this holiday season. Guy found an amazing array of folks to cover each phase of Greg’s career – beginning in 1977!

There are photos and commentary heretofore never seen or read!

As previously stated… it’s a “sweet” show!

Happy Thanksgiving.

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Show #322 – November 19, 2016

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Guests: Paul Brodek; Scott Kasper

It’s the week before the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. and some folks are celebrating while others are licking their wounds.

I for one am grateful for the weather that has been warm enough to ride right up until this weekend here in the NE Ohio area and for the great guests we will introduce you to this evening.

First, we meet Paul Brodek. Paul goes WAY back in our industry – back to the early days when Sun Tour, Shimano, AND Campagnolo were all headquartered in New Jersey.

Paul decided in his senior year at Rutgers that maybe what he was thinking wasn’t what he really wanted, and so turned his attention to the bicycle business, putting his college career on extended hold..

He worked for Sun Tour USA and was right in the thick of it when index shifting began to change the world of bicycle components forever.

As the story unfolds, Paul has amazing recall of events and people throughout the 80’s including a fascinating dinner in Asia where Paul learns some unsavory Japanese fueled by competition and booze.

In the end, Shimano emerges victorious as the sun in Sun Tour sets and Paul is one of the few people who knows the story from beginning to end.

In the second half of the show this evening, I catch up with Scott Kasper as he prepares to ride the El Tour de Tucson with 200 JDRF riders.

Scott is intimately involved with Type I diabetes as two of this three sons, his mother, and his sister-in-law all suffer from the disease. Scott became immersed in the cause of searching for a cure and tells us his story along with an excellent explanation of the disease, what research is in the works, and what breakthroughs have been made.