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Show #279 – January 2, 2016 – Happy New Year!

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Guests: It’s Tim and I discussing “stuff”; Jacquie Phelan

Welcome to 2016 and the first show of the year!

Tim and I decided that, because there was so much more interesting news this past week, we would spend the first 1/2 of our show discussing stuff (very technical term) the we found interest.

For example, StreetsblogUSA has a contest running for the “best street transformation of 2015” and there are 6 finalists, including one in Columbus, Ohio. Here is where you can find out more about the “Streetsie Awards” and cast your vote.

Then there are the “Karma Kits” in Napa, California that are placed in strategic places along a variety of trails to aid a cyclist who might need a patch kit, tube, pump, or even an energy bar and emergency poncho. Andre Garcia, who is a tech at Bicycle Works in NAPA and the originator of the Karma Kits, is also vice president of NAPAbike.org. Good karma for sure!

After a break, we head on out to California to speak with Ms. “Alice B. Toeclips” herself – Jacquie Phelan. Our conversation starts with an update about her husband Charlie Cunningham, who was critically injured in a bike crash back in August. Jacquie tells us how this tragic turn of events has changed their lives and what they are doing to cope as Charlie slowly works toward health. (You can help Jacquie and Charlie by making a small donation to their GoFundMe page)

We also chat about many aspects of her life – her interests, her cycling, the WOMBATS club, and her goal for 2016 to get to the World Single Speed Championships in Australia AND take Charlie with her.

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Show #278 – December 26, 2015

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Guests: Richard Schwinn, Maynard Hershon, Ross Shafer (this is an encore presentation of three of my favorite interviews from the past two seasons)

Encore! Encore! They shouted… and, so while we take the holiday off this week, we bring you three of my favorite interviews!

A name known to anyone who has ridden a bike for more than a few minutes – my interview with Richard Schwinn from December of 2013 is, as every conversation with Richard always seems to be, delightful.

Then we hear one of my favorite stories from my favorite bicycle story-teller, Maynard Hershon. If you haven’t heard him tell the tale of the “Nice Wheels” – (and even if you’ve heard it on another show), it is a beautiful story and told in a beautiful way.

Finally, I go back to August of 2014 to my great interview with Ross Shafer – the force behind Salsa Cycles. Only today, Ross is only involved in cycling on the periphery. His interests and his talents go far and wide.

I hope you enjoy this “encore” presentation of the Outspoken Cyclist.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

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Show #277 – December 19, 2015

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Guests: Velo News editor Caley Fretz; “Mad Dog Media’s” Patrick O’Grady

Happy holidays from The Outspoken Cyclist!

We have two great guests for our final show of 2015.

First up is popular Velo News associate editor Caley Fretz. Caley has written so much about our sport and this past week had two articles published – both of which grabbed my attention.

There were actually two separate entries about the first subject, transgender cyclocross racer Molly Cameron. The first, on December 11th said she wouldn’t be permitted to race in the master’s men’s events; and the second, published just a few days later, said she would. And, while this isn’t what Caley and I talked about for this on air conversation, both are fitting for this time in history and in our sport.

The second article, titled: “Uniquely vulnerable: The Tour and terrorism” raised the hair on the back of my neck. In light of all the issues in Paris (and elsewhere around the world), the question of whether the peloton is defenseless against predators seems like an important one to ask. Then, there are the spectators and support crew – how can we protect cycling?

In our conversation Caley and I discuss what the authorities did at the 2015 TdF and what we might expect to see in the future.

We also chat a bit about all the crashes that seem to be coming from course obstacles – both moving and stationary – as well as what Caley is working on for 2016. (Hint: women + para-olympics!)

After our news and a break, we head on out to Albuquerque to catch up with long time journalist, cartoonist, and satirist, Patrick “Mad Dog Media” O’Grady.

Patrick’s reviews of bikes this past year for Adventure Cyclist Magazine give us great insight into what is truly available as well as desirable in a sturdy, functional, reasonably priced, and fun touring machine. Who knew there were so many available when one rarely sees them in the local bike shops. But, out there they are and after talking with Patrick, you might just want to add one to your stable!

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Show #276 – December 12, 2015

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Guests: PBP American Record Holder Paul Bacho; Brett Horton from the Horton Collection

After a quick update about Charlie Cunningham’s rehab progress (you can help his cause at GoFundMe.com) we are pleased to welcome endurance athlete, athletic trainer and therapist, and PBP record holder Paul Bacho to our show this evening.

Paul has successfully completed 8 Paris-Brest-Paris events, spanning 32 years, is a successful Hawaii Ironman, and as the only American, has ridden the 5-month-long Paris to Beijing ride to celebrate the 2008 Olympics.

Paul, who has a masters in athletic training, is also a Neural Integration Structural Therapist – a modality that is both gentle and effective and will explain what it is and what it accomplishes.

After a break and some news, we head on out to the west coast to reconnect with Brett Horton, owner and curator of the Horton Collection. His new book, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Bike Racing in the Age of Anquetil”, has just been released for the holiday season with a beautiful collection of photographs depicting our sport during the 50’s and 50’s.

So, sit back and enjoy my conversation with endurance athlete and athletic trainer Paul Bacho.

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Show #275 – December 5, 2015

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Guests:  Dan Wuori; Lorrie Tibbitts

The start of December is a great time to wrap-up the 2015 cycling season, and tonight we do just that with the newly crowned Prince of VeloVoices “Social Media User of 2015” – Dan Wuori.

Beginning with the Spring classics and moving through the season to the Grand Tours and the Worlds, Dan gives us his insights into the who, what where, why, and how it was done this season.

Dan and I also discuss the effects social media has had to the sport, the participants, and the fans.

Then, after our news and a break, we head on over to Upstate New York to speak with Lorrie Tibbitts. Out of a bad situation with a family member, Lorrie and her husband became involved in the “Ride for Missing Children”, an event that takes place each June in the Utica, NY area..

According to the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, almost 467,000 cases of were reported to Law Enforcement in 2014.

Celebrating its 20th year in 2016, this event attracts over 500 riders who not only raise funds for the posters that you might see when a child goes missing, but also for safety education as well as other programs to assist the families, friends, and schoolmates of any child who is suddenly gone or has been otherwise exploited.

The New York event has some pretty compelling statistics:
• Posters raised – 9,139,083
• Children Missing – 9,277
• Children Recovered – 6,644

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Show #274 – November 28, 2015

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Thanksgiving and Black Friday are in the rear view mirror and it’s time for another great show!

First guest this week is the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx.

With a real Surface Transportation Bill looking like it will actually pass, the Secretary is looking forward to getting some desperately needed resources for transportation initiatives as well as promoting safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Coming from a big-city background, he understands what is necessary to get support and resources for urban projects and how much more needs to be done to promote jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, and to open up the conversation to keep funding for transportation for the future.

We have some news and chat and then we’re off to Copenhagen for a great conversation with around-the-world traveler Thomas Andersen. Finding himself with a short break from college one year, Thomas decided to try a bike trip and we all know what happens… he was sucked in – handlebars, crank, and derailleurs!

Fast forward 50,000+km, 6 continents, and over 1800 days on the road, and we caught Thomas at home before the next and final leg of his world tour – Africa.

How can he afford to stay on the road? I’ll let him tell you!

His blog cyclingtheglobe.com exquisitely details each day – though Thomas will tell us how daunting that can be.

So – go get some of those turkey-day leftovers, pop open a beer, and settle in for another great episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

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Show #273 – November 21, 2015

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Guests: Andrew McLindon; Mina Thorgeson; Fredrik Gertten

The week before Thanksgiving… and, we are ramping up to the holidays.

We have three great guests this week so, let’s get right to it.

We begin in Baton Rouge, LA with Andrew McLindon. Andrew is the head of the McLindon Family Foundation and their work is dedicated to special needs children, teens, and young adults.

To date, they have delivered over 90 special bikes – many costing upwards of $5,000 and more, to children who otherwise could not experience the joy, independence, and sense of being part of their respective communities because of their disabilities.

Starting in 2008 with their first bike for a young boy with hydrocephalus, , they now have a waiting list in the hundreds. And, after a piece aired on NBC’s “Making A Difference” on the evening news, not only is there a growing list of those who want and need a special adaptive bike; but, there has been an outpouring of support from individuals, “teams” of people, manufacturers, and more.

It’s a great feel good story and one that fits right in with the season of Thanksgiving.

Then, we head on down to Ridgeland, Mississippi to speak with Mina Thorgeson. I met Mina in Cincinnati at Recumbent Cycle-Con and she was so interesting, enthusiastic, and fun that I needed to know more about her work and her city.

Ridgleland is a small city of 24,000 people – but, it sports 140 restaurants, a 30,000 acre reservoir, hosted a tandem rally last year, and is situated right next to one of the most popular riding routes in the south – the Natchez Trace. Ridgeland welcomes cyclists and their families and offers great southern hospitality.

After some quick news and a break, I take the microphones over to Sweden to speak with film producer and director Fredrik Gertten. Fredrik’s documentary movie, “Bikes vs Cars” is touring the world right now to huge acclaim and enthusiastic audiences.

In a comparison between Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Los Angeles, California, Fredrik’s film shows – in striking and sometimes horrific fashion – how the automobile industry has shaped our world and what is at stake if things don’t change: and soon!

Here in NE Ohio, we will have a chance to view this film on January 28th when BikeCleveland.org screens it at the Capitol Theater in Gordon Square.

So – happy holiday! Thanks for listening and let’s go…

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Show #272 – November 14, 2015

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Guests: Jim & John Loughlin from TiGr lock; Author and Pro Triathlete/Nutritionist Pip Taylor

After our big shout out to the Philly Bike Expo as well as our weekend hosts, we talk to brothers Jim and John Loughlin who are the creators of a great product – the TiGr lock system. Now, locks may not seem like a sexy subject, but you might just find THESE locks about the sexiest looking security devices ever!

A the booth right next to us at the Philly Bike Expo, we watched in amazement as crowds gathered non-stop to check out these innovative, simple, and elegant locks.

Made of titanium so they are strong and light, they sport a simple patented locking system, come in two models and several sizes; and, because of the way they mount and secure your bike, might just make you believe that you need a lock on your multi-thousand dollar road machine. (Watch an independent review video of how they work!)

The Bow is available in small, medium, and large; and, the new model, the Mini, is an abstract of what you might think of when you think U-lock.

After a break and some news, we travel down to the Southern Hemisphere to speak with professional triathlete, certified dietitian, mother, and author Pip Taylor.

Sometimes, no matter how well eat, how much rest you get, how smart your workouts are, and how you monitor your vitals, you just don’t feel 100%. You often have issues with sleep and find that the results you were expecting – whether racing, riding long distances, or just going for a short run – just aren’t adding up.

Enter the gut! Your issues might just be related to the kinds of foods you are eating and finding the best foods for performance and health is what “The Athlete’s Fix” is all about.

Pip gives us some tips on how to find out our food intolerances, how inflammation is often the culprit, and tells us how to “fix” the issues. She also gives us some great recipes that will taste good as well as do good.

So, park it – lock it – and let’s talk with Jim and John Loughlin from TiGr Lock.

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Show #271 – November 7, 2015

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Guests: Senator Sherrod Brown; Keith Laughlin, Tim Blumenthal

(Note: This show was recorded on Wednesday and Thursday, November 4th and 5th, before the passage of the Surface Transportation Bill Thursday afternoon. Who knew???)

This week we dodged a HUGE bullet when amendments that would have cut funding for bicycle related initiatives including the Recreational Trails Program and the Transportation Alternatives Program were tabled and another amendment, #36, was introduced that will make it EASIER for states to commit funds to bike/ped projects.

News from a variety of sources sent up alarm bells on Tuesday and then, literally overnight – poof! We were “home free”.

I wanted to know what was going on in Congress that suddenly put the transportation bill front and center, creating such a hot topic, and so went looking for answers. I found it in three very tuned-in sources.

My first guest is the senior Senator from Ohio, Sherrod Brown (D). Senator Brown always brings his incredible insight and energy to questions and issues and this week tells us what he thinks might be the outcome of the vote on the Surface Transportation Bill** as well as how and why things might or might not change with the new Speaker of the House. He also explains how important it is that we once again make the U.S. a world class country in terms of infrastructure and transportation.

We then talk with the president of People for Bikes, Tim Blumenthal. Tim explains many of the reasons that Congress, and especially those responsible for programs that make communities more sustainable from an economic perspective, tabled those program slashing initiatives. PFB is now a strong 1.2 million voices and carries some serious clout!

Finally, my go to guy, Keith Laughlin who is president of Rails-to-Trails, gives us his inside-the-beltway understanding of the whys and wherefores of the transportation situation as well as some insight into who helped quash those amendments and what the passage of a new Surface Transportation Bill will mean going forward.

Three great guests – three intelligent and informed perspectives.

Take a listen!

(according to the U.S. Congress web site, the bill passed on November 5th!)

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Show #270 – October 31, 2015

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Guests: Journalist Joe Lindsey; TDA Global Cycling’s Henry Gold

Boo! Happy Halloween and the official end of October. Hope you’ve had a great week and are ready for a brand new episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

This week, we go out to Boulder, Colorado to speak with journalist Joe Lindsey. His name is instantly recognizable as a contributing writer to many publications, not the least of which is “Bicycling Magazine”.

Joe, unlike many others who pen articles, review equipment, and comment on cycling, started out as a journalist and just kept right on going! His work has appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Outside, and Men’s Journal to name a few.

Our conversation starts with his recently published article titled “Why We’re Not Covering the Lance Armstrong-Frankie Andreu Feud” (it’s besides the point) and traverses the gamut of cycling to transportation, advocacy, and whether the bicycling bubble is about to burst (no spoiler alert from me!)

Then, after our break and news, we head on up to Canada to speak with TDA Global Cycling’s Henry Gold. When we last talked with Henry back in January 2013, he was about to take a group on a four month excursion through Africa.

Now, after covering 6 continents, he is preparing a group for a fat-tire expedition through Antarctica to the South Pole – completing the last piece of the world puzzle – calling this new trip “The Last Degree” in reference to the “last degree of longitude”.

With permission from the authorities to make the trip, Henry has brought on adventurer and author of Winter Backpacking Ben Shillington to lead the group.

A 6-day training camp at Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba in February 2016, which is open to anyone who’d like to learn to ride under arctic conditions, is mandatory for those joining the group in December 2016.

So, lots of interesting stuff this week – let’s get to it.