Welcome!

Posted on

Show #235 – February 28, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Veteran Frame Builder Steve Potts; Pro Bike Fitter Curtis Cramblett

On this last day of February, I think we have an outstanding show for you!  We actually have bright sun and temperatures in the double digits – yep! So, I’m in a great mood for talking bikes!

We are only a few days away from the Handmade Show and, as promised, we have another great frame builder with us to talk about his long history in the craft.  Steve Potts of  Steve Potts Bicycles in Petaluma, California is one of the originators of the 29er bike WAY back when and along with Charlie Cunningham, Steve originated the Type II fork (among other things!).  He fabricates pretty much exclusively in titanium now – and for practical as well as aesthetic reasons.

He tells us about his shop, his favorite tools, and how being called a “machinist” is a compliment to him.  All the bikes Steve will have in his booth at NAHBS are already spoken for and are examples of his work.  Steve will also be a member of my frame builder’s panel next Friday morning.

We plum ran out of time for news this week, so we head right on out to San Francisco where professional bike fitter, physical therapist, and certified coach Curtis Cramblett, owner and founder of Revolutions in Fitness,  joins us for a comprehensive conversation on how his holistic view of the bike-body connection is integrated into his work.

Curtis starts with an interview, moves on to how you look on your bike, and then puts your history into the mix to achieve maximum comfort, power, and performance on your bike.  He wants to “enhance human potential” regardless of whether you are an elite triathlete or a recreational rider.

Remember that next week’s show will be pre-recorded and that I will be in Louisville, Kentucky for the 11th annual North American Handmade Show.  Please search me out if you are there and say hello.

Posted on

Show #234 – February 21, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer; Rody Walter from Groovy Cycleworks

As we dig out from yet another snow storm, Tim and I want to thank you for your generous support during Radiothon 2015! We are pretty certain the station met its lofty fund raising goals AND you helped that, so thank YOU!

And, in an effort to take our minds off of the weather this week, we think ahead two weeks when I will head on down to Louisville, KY to attend NAHBS 2015.

With a promise of 55 degrees and sun for our weekend visit to NAHBS March 6th through 8th, Greg Fischer, Louisville’s pro-cycling Mayor, talks with us about all the important things that are happening in his town – Bourbon, The Cyclocross Worlds from 2013, the Mega Cavern Underground Mountain Bike Park, of course NAHBS 2015, and did I mention bourbon?

Mayor Fischer leads two cycling rides each year and 10-12,000 folks show up to join him. Bubbly enthusiastic about his city and its cycling amenities, Mr. Fischer is a forward thinking guy who is looking to “calm traffic”, increase ridership, and make Louisville a showcase for a good place to live, work, and ride.

After our news, we head on down to Wooster, Ohio to speak with Rody Walter from Groovy Cycleworks. (Remember, it’s not WOO-ster, it’s Wuh-ster.)

In his unique and eloquent style, Rody explains his version of handmade – a holistic way of looking at his work – that produces his one-off creations. Rody shares his advice on how business works – not only for a frame builder, but also for anyone who is thinking about entrepreneurship.

At NAHBS, Rody and 4 other frame builders will join me to talk about the “custom business” and our conversation this evening will give you some insight into what that discussion will be.

Posted on

Show #233 – February 14, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Team Velo-Femme-Litzler’s Jane Geisse, Laura Webb, Sally Price, & Matt Litzler; Leigh Donovan

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is it! Your last chance to pledge your support for Radiothon 2015. Please take a moment to support our work and the work of the station. The on line portal will remain open until noon on Wednesday, February 18th. We won’t hassle you again for another whole year; but, your support means so much to the success of the show, the volunteers who pour their hearts and souls into the work, and the state-of-the-station to maintain some of the highest quality programming on the air today!

Soooo – NE Ohio has a new women’s cycling team! And, we are pleased to have team members Jane Geisse, Laura Webb, and Sally Price on the show this evening along with their generous sponsor Matt Litzler. Team Velo-Femme-Litzler consists of elite women whose goal is not only riding and racing together, but also these women plan to highlight women’s cycling locally, regionally, and nationally in disciplines ranging from track and crit to road and time trial.

After a break and some news, we head on out to California to catch up with mountain bike hall of fame inductee, coach, mom, and just about the most energetic woman cyclist in the U.S.! Leigh Donovan was here in NE Ohio last weekend for her annual women’s clinics at Ray’s Mountain Bike Park and more than 200 women and girls – from 4 to 60+ – showed up in the cold and snow to learn how to handle and race your mountain bike.

Leigh’s web site, IChooseBikes.com highlights all her work – leadership, experience, instruction, giving, and how to’s – to show an incredibly successful, energetic, and committed woman.

Posted on

Show #232 – February 7, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Shannon Galpin; Dr. Paul Dimeo; Joe Friel

It’s RADIOTHON WEEK! Please consider making a pledge to help support not only The Outspoken Cyclist, but also WJCU. We are a non-profit, non-commercial station and RADIOTHON is our once-a-year event to raise funds to keep our facility up-to-the-minute in quality equipment. You can pledge on line all week and, you can call in any time (216) 397-4438 and tell the person who answers the phone that the pledge is for the station in support of The Outspoken Cyclist show.
So… on with this week’s show.

After learning that two companies pulled the plug on their sponsorship of the Afghan Women’s Cycling team because of “fear of retribution” in light of the Charlie Hebdo bombings in France, I just needed to check in with Shannon Galpin to find out what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to get these brave young women the help they need so that they can ride their bikes. As Shannon says, when a 14 year old Malala can win a Nobel Peace Prize even though she was shot in the face for standing up for educating women in Muslim countries, these companies should not be afraid to offer assistance to others seeking their freedom and their rights.

We talk with Dr. Paul Dimeo, a Fulbright Scholar, lecturer, and researcher whose specialty is doping in sports. His article in “The Conversation” titled, “Forget Lance Armstrong: the next cycling doper might be your dad” jumped out at me and I wanted to know more. Why do amateurs dope? What is the history of doping in sport, especially cycling? And, are things going to change? The conversation is enlightening!

Finally, I welcome back Joe Friel. At 70, Joe, who has written several training bibles and is himself an endurance athlete, recently released “Fast After 50. How To Race Strong For the Rest of Your Life”. Yes, he admits we all slow down; but, he also gives us great ways to stay healthy, strong, fit, and live a longer life by NOT succumbing to the thinking that older equals decline.  The book includes many short essays from professional cyclists, triathletes, runners, doctors, and sports professionals.

BIG show… let’s GO

Posted on

Show #231 – January 31, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Patrick Brady from Winter Press Camp; Master Frame Builder Richard Sachs

Super Bowl? Phoenix Open? No No No … The Outspoken Cyclist!

REMINDER ALERT! Our annual 10-day Radiothon that helps support WJCU – the station that in turn supports The Outspoken Cyclist by giving us the amazing facilities we are privileged to use for our show each week – begins next Friday, February 6th.

Once a year, we ask for your support – be it $5 or $500 – to help us continue to make the improvements we need to keep our station state-of-the-art. All of us, including Tim and me, are volunteers here at WJCU and we are all very grateful for the opportunity that is afforded us here.

All of the money pledged during Radiothon goes directly to WJCU – not to the college or to anyone who works here or produces a show here.

We will open the on line portal for your giving pleasure next Friday evening, February 6th, at 6:30pm Eastern time (www.wjcu.org) . Tim and I will also be available to take your pledges on Saturday, February 7th and Saturday, February 14th, from 5:30-6:30 eastern. We hope you will consider supporting WJCU and our show.
On with the show!

This evening, we have the honor to once again speak with master frame builder Richard Sachs. Our conversation ranges from his thoughts on how frame building has changed from his early days – more than 40 years ago – to his take on the U.S. Cyclocross Nationals in Austin, Texas a couple of weeks ago.

Richard has the uncanny ability to cut right to the chase (as in not mince words) about what’s so in the sometimes seemingly mystical world of custom frames. In fact, he reels those ideas right back down to earth in a direct and insightful way. Richard joins me in the second half of the show.

We also speak with RKP’s Patrick Brady. Patrick joins me from Winter Press Camp in Westlake Village, California. This January version of the popular Summer Press Camp that is offered in Park City, Utah in June is meant to give companies who are launching some new product and ideas a jump start in the pre-season. Patrick tells us about Shimano’s new eBike – very different from the ones we think about on the market today; and, he gives a glowing report to a brand new Italian apparel company.

Posted on

Show #230 – January 24, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Elden (The Fat Cyclist) Nelson; Don (Mr. NAHBS) Walker

We’re getting into that time of winter where we long for sunny skies, warm temperatures, and green! So, probably one of the best ways to forget the winter doldrums is to laugh – at it, about it, or just find some funny stuff.

And, this week we did indeed find humor. Back at the beginning of the month, we spoke with commentator and journalist Dan Wuori. During our conversation, Dan mentioned that he had participated in the forward of a new book by the “fat cyclist” and I said… “Who’s that?”

Well, this evening, we get to talk with the “fat cyclist hisself”… Elden Nelson isn’t fat and he IS a cyclist. In fact, he’s an avid cyclist having completed 17 of the 18 Leadville 100 events he’s entered (there’s good reason he was DNF on the 18th!)

Elden writes the irreverent and mostly outrageously funny blog fatcyclist.com. His new book, “The Great Fatsby – Absurd Cycling Stories Disguised as Expertise and Insight” is a compendium of his blog from 2007 through 2010 and in it he adds many of the incredibly funny comments that were left after each entry.

But Elden isn’t just a humor monger – he’s the real deal and has raised millions of dollars for charities near and dear to his heart including Livestrong (yes, he believes in the organization and what it does), World Bicycle Relief, and the Kesem Camps (just listen and you’ll learn about them).

Then, after our break and some news, we hustle off to Louisville for the skinny on this year’s NAHBS show with founder and owner Don Walker. Oh yeah – NAHBS #11 is only 6 weeks away and Don gives us some excellent reasons to head over to the show and to the city of Louisville for some great cycling culture.

So, get your ears on and let’s listen in to my conversation with Elden Nelson – MR. Fat Cyclist.

Posted on

Show #229 – January 17, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Richard Fries; Elly Blue

When the Heritage Tree Foundation protested the final day of our Cyclocross National Championships in Austin, Texas, riders, fans, and officials had to scramble to figure out what to do to qualify our National Team and make the Junior men and women whole.

First the event was canceled, then it was postponed, and finally the last of the events was rescheduled for Monday . Some folks went home disappointed, others were able to compete, but it just took some of the fun and excitement out of one of the most interesting of our cycling disciplines.

Richard Fries – race promoter, commentator, and the new Executive Director of Mass Bike was there and fills us in on all that happened last weekend.

Richard will also give us his understanding of and ideas for bicycle advocacy for the State of Massachusetts as he embarks on this new phase of his already long and illustrious cycling career.

After our news, we’ll head on out to Portland, Oregon to catch up with one of the busiest journalists, writers, and feminist cyclists I know, Elly Blue.

Elly’s company, Elly Blue Publishing (AKA Taking the Lane) merged with Microcosm Publishing last month and the result is – MORE Elly Blue opportunities. With more resources and a lot more titles, Elly will be able to continue her work, expand her portfolio of titles, and get back on the road with her popular Dinner & Bikes events.

It’s a full plate of cycling so, let’s get to it.

Posted on

Show #228 – January 10, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Cherokee Schill, Frank Strack

We’re broadcasting from the deep-freeze that is NE Ohio this week! The morning began sunny with a temperature of 0 degrees. But, it’s January and it’s what we can expect.

There was good news this week as the Baltimore police revealed that their investigation into the death of Tom Palermo by the Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook has resulted in charges of manslaughter, DUI, leaving the scene, and more… I’m hoping this high-profile case will be a tipping point in bringing not only justice for cyclists but recognition by authorities country-wide that something needs to change the way cyclists (and pedestrians) are treated and it needs to change now!

Meanwhile, this week’s show wraps up another case – the one in which Cherokee Schill – whose life was turned upside-down by a series of citations and an arrest for riding her bike on a road that does NOT prohibit cyclists from riding – is finally settled! While the end results weren’t perfect, Cherokee will tell us how it all unfolded in court and how she is ready to move on with her life.

Then, we talk about Velominati – say WHAT? Yep – Frank Strack is the Head Keeper of the Velominati and tells us about the rules, the lexicon, and the purpose of his worldwide “organization”. With over 400,000 monthly hits to his blog and dozens of opportunities for the cyclist who wants to preserve the “culture” of cycling at its very core, you too can become a Velominatus!

Stay safe – stay warm – enjoy the show.

Posted on

Show #227 – January 3, 2015

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Guests: Journalist Dan Wuori; The Legendary Ben Serotta

Happy New Year Everyone!

As promised, we are wrapping up the 2014 season and looking forward into the 2015 cycling season on tonight’s show.

My first guest is journalist and commentator Dan Wuori. His 2014 Velo News “At the Back” column about Robin Williams was named one of the top 14 stories of 2014 and as always, Dan has great insight into the pro cycling world. We talk about the races, the riders, and the teams in our annual wrap-up.

My second guest this evening is also my first guest… well; he WAS my first guest on the first episode of The Outspoken Cyclist way back in 2010.

Ben Serotta is without a doubt one of the most legendary and iconic figures in our industry and as we begin a new year, Ben looks back on his career and gives us his unique perspective on the bicycle business today.

This show is chock full-o-stuff, so you may even want to take notes!

Posted on

Show #226 – December 27, 2014

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Happy Holidays to All… this week we are taking a much needed break while we get ready for 2015.

We will be back next week to wrap-up 2014 and bring you a special first-guest-of-the-year interview.

Tim and I want to thank you for listening to the show and wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Stay safe! Go for a ride. See you in 2015!