Welcome!

Posted on

Show #122 – December 22, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: KELLI REFER, ELLY BLUE

Nothing against the Mayans, but I love it when science turns out to be right. Happily, the only astronomical thing that happened on 12/21/2012 was another Winter Solstice. So enjoy that extra minute of daylight, and this episode of The Outspoken Cyclist.

It’s an all-girl show this week with <strong>Kelly Refer</strong>, who teaches yoga in Seattle, and has written a book called <a title=”Pedal, Stretch, Breathe” href=”http://yogaforbikers.me/” target=”_blank”><em>Pedal, Stretch, Breathe (the Yoga of Bicycling</em>)</a>, and the return to TOC of <strong>Elly Blue</strong> from Portland, whose latest offering is entitled <a title=”Taking the Lane” href=”http://takingthelane.com/” target=”_blank”><em>Everyday Bicycling</em></a>. Two energetic and informed voices promoting better cycling and better health for us all.

We bid you happy and safe holidays, including, but not limited to: Festive Yule, Merry Christmas, and Peaceful Kwanzaa. We’ll be back at you one more time before the end of 2012.

Posted on

Show #121 – December 15, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: DAVE WAGES; DAVE SMITH

At this writing, Diane and I, along with the rest of the U.S., are still struggling to process yesterday’s horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut. We hope you’ll enjoy today’s show, despite the fact that everything in the world of cycling is insignificant in comparison to the senseless loss of so many young, innocent lives.

Today we begin with an interview with Dave Wages, custom framebuilder and owner of Ellis Cycles. Dave worked for both Serotta and Waterford before launching his own shop in 2008 in Waterford, Wisconsin. His artistic eye and the exquisite details of his frames are stunning.

Rounding out the hour is a chat with Dave Smith, who coaches athletes in many sports including running, biking and polo. Dave’s company, Flow Funktional Fitness is based in Staffordshire, England, but his clients come from all over the world. He has coached Olympic Medalists and TdF stage winners as well as amateurs of all levels.

Posted on

Show #120 – December 8, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: IRA DAVID LEVY, JOE FRIEL

Hanukkah is already here and the rest of The December Holidays are not far behind, so we offer you a ready-made excuse to put shopping and decorating on hold for an hour and indulge in some cycling time.

First up is Ira David, who is the producer and host of a TV series on cycling called Pedal America. The show is starting its second season on PBS, and the premise is to showcase various locations in the U.S. from the perspective of an everyday, or casual cyclist. Ira tells us how he came to produce Pedal America, and gives us a few insights into the second season.

After a break and a bit of news (including a couple of gift ideas for the eccentric cyclist on your list) we welcome back Joe Friel, who has written a new book called The Power Meter Handbook. Joe explains how a bicycle power meter works and why power is an excellent measure of performance.

Posted on

Show #119 – December 1, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: JOHN BURKE, WADE BAROSCI

Sometimes it’s not about the bike, but it is about the bike company. This week, we welcome to the show two gentlemen who have ties to iconic bike companies, as well as being interesting in other ways.

Four years ago, John Burke‘s father Dave Burke (founder of Trek Bicycles) died after complications from heart surgery. What started out as a private memoir intended for John’s two children has become a book called One Last Great Thing. John Burke joins us today to talk about the book, his dad, and their shared history in the bike business.

While the Burkes were building Treks in Wisconsin, a company up in Connecticut by the name of Cannondale was also innovating with aluminum tubing in bicycle frames. Production of Cannondales has moved offshore, and the tubing equipment was purchased by our second guest this week, Wade Barocsi of Acel Tubing and Joining Products. Wade is also owner of Cycle Design USA, and a framebuilder and instructor. If you want to know about shaping and joining metal, Wade’s your guy.

Posted on

Show #118 – November 24, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: MARY MCCONNELOUG, MIKE BRODERICK, TIM BLUMENTHAL, DREW GULDALIAN

If you’ve been hibernating for the past couple of days in order to avoid Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, it’s safe to pop your head out for an hour and enjoy some non-commercial, zero-calorie bicycling entertainment and enlightenment.

This week’s Outspoken Cyclist features interviews with husband and wife mountain bike racers Mary McConneloug and Mike Broderick of Team Seven-Kenda-NoTubes, Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong, and Drew Guldalian of Engin Cycles.

Posted on

Show #117 – November 17, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: PAUL KIMMAGE, CHRIS CHANCE

We’re just a few days away from the U. S. holiday of Thanksgiving, which Diane and I agree is one of the best holidays ever. One of the things we are annually thankful for is the growing number of you who take time each week to listen to The Outspoken Cyclist. We hope you’ll find time and good weather during this coming holiday weekend to celebrate the gift of being on two human-powered wheels.

Aside from the good holiday wishes, we have a great show for you this week. Journalist, author, and former pro road racer Paul Kimmage joins us from Dublin, Ireland to talk about his wild ride in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal. Kimmage is another example of someone who has paid a heavy price for trying to expose the corruption in a sport he loves.

In the second half of the show, we head out to northern California to talk with Chris Chance, the man behind the iconic Fat City Cycles, which still claims a large and loyal group of owners and enthusiasts. This interview will clearly illustrate just how much the bicycle business has changed over the last 30 years.

Posted on

Show #116 – November 10, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: JAIMIE FULLER & BETSY ANDREU

Dope

  1. (verb) To ingest banned substance(s), or engage in medical practice(s) designed to artificially enhance athletic performance. Activity engaged in by many professional athletes, including professional bicycle racers. See also: UCI, Lance Armstrong, Dr. Michele Ferrari.

Doping in professional cycling affects not only the riders, but their families and the sponsor companies that provide the money that makes the sport possible in the first place. This week, The Outspoken Cyclist serves up interviews with two folks who fall into this second category:

  • Jamie Fuller is the CEO of Skins International, a maker of performance-enhancing compression garments. Skins is heavily invested in sponsorship of a number of endurance sports, including cycling. The company has also taken great care to protect its brand and image from ethical tarnish. In the wake of the recent Lance Armstrong/UCI scandal, Skins has filed a $2M lawsuit against the UCI. Hear the full story from Jamie Fuller himself in the first half of today’s show.
  • Betsy Andreu is married to former U.S. Postal racer Frankie Andreu. She’s also the person who witnessed the Lance Armstrong “hospital room” conversation where he admitted to using PEDs. As a result of going public with this accusation, Betsy was vilified and intimidated for many years. Now that others have come forward, she’s been vindicated, and she talks with Diane this week about how this ordeal has affected her and her family, and her perspective on where the sport needs to go from here.
Posted on

Show #115 – November 3, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

GUESTS: 6-TIME IRONMAN WINNER DAVE SCOTT; BIKECLEVELAND BOARD PRESIDENT CHRIS ALVARDAO

If you’re reading this in the eastern United States, congratulations. It means your power is on and the flood waters of Hurricane Sandy have receded. Please remember to support your favorite relief organization to help folks affected by this week’s storm get back on their feet.

In the meantime, we have a great show for you with two great guests. If they weren’t both so self-effacing, they’d wear shirts that say, “I’m kind of a big deal.”

<a title=”Dave Scott, Inc.” href=”http://www.davescottinc.com/” target=”_blank”><strong>Dave Scott</strong></a> is a six-time Ironman Triathlon champion, who has continued to compete and coach triathlon. Dave was in Cleveland this week as part of the <a title=”2013 Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit” href=”http://www.clevelandclinic.org/INNOVATIONS/SUMMIT/” target=”_blank”>2013 Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit</a>. As you listen to his conversation with Diane, you’ll get a full appreciation for the depth and breadth of his knowledge of sports physiology, and how willingly he shares it.

<strong>Chris Alvarado</strong>’s C.V. reads like a who’s who of Cleveland’s grass roots (Board President of Bike Cleveland and Board Secretary for EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, member of the Bicycle Advocacy Council at NOACA, and past Board President of Tremont West Development Corporation). His current challenge is as a Fellow in the <a title=”Strong Cities, Strong Communities” href=”http://www.gmfus.org/programs/urban-and-regional-policy-program/strong-cities-strong-communities-fellowship/” target=”_blank”>German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Strong Cities, Strong Communities program</a>.

Two great conversations with two very passionate people, plus news and pontificating from Diane and myself. We hope you enjoy!

Posted on

Show #114 – October 27, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Richard Sachs, T.J. Murphy

It’s been difficult to escape the Lance-centric USADA-fueled, and now UCI-driven cycling saga of 2012. Billions of bytes and pixels have been spilled over the revelations of doping in the pro peloton over the past several weeks. You may think you’ve read and heard all there is on this topic, but you’d be wrong…

This week, The Outspoken Cyclist checks in with framebuilder, cyclocross racer, and opinionated observer of all things, Richard Sachs. Richard has a perspective that is unique and sometimes controversial, but always ‘atmo‘.

After a survey of the cycling news, including the announcement of a collaboration between Bianchi and Gucci, we welcome author T. J. Murphy, who has written a new book about CrossFit. Murphy’s book, Inside the Box: How CrossFit Shredded the Rules, Stripped Down the Gym, and Rebuilt My Body tells of how he went from a limping 47-year-old former marathon runner to the best shape of his life, all by using the nutritional and workout techniques of CrossFit.

Two quick programming notes:

  • After this TOC episode was recorded, the UCI announced it has suspended its suit against journalist Paul Kimmage, pending the outcome of an independent management review.
  • If you’re looking for the online raffle to benefit the family of the late Stan Bugarcic (the man who drowned in the 2012 Greater Cleveland Triathlon), here’s the link: http://www.imathlete.com/donate/Campaign.aspx?fCID=1607&fb_source=message

 

Posted on

Show #113 – October 20, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ernest Gagnon, Dan Empfield

Halloween is still a week away, but a Big Yellow Elephant charged into the room this week, so Diane and I felt compelled to address it, because, well, Big Yellow Elephant. But don’t let that deter you, because we also have two great guests this week.

Ernest Gagnon is a big guy from New England on his way to being a smaller guy from New England. Two years ago, a combination of depression and a sedentary job in the tech industry helped him tip the scales at 570 pounds. Now, over 200 pounds lighter and several thousand miles later, Gagnon has both a different body, and a different outlook on life. This week we get the whole amazing story from Ernest and two of his cycling buddies, Steve Lachance and Zach LaBry.

The expansive website slowtwitch.com is ostensibly about triathlon (and there is a ton of excellent tri content there) but it’s so much more than multi-sport. This 13-year old site is the brainchild of Dan Empfield, who has a deep passion and understanding, not only of the sport itself, but of the athletes as well. This week Dan tells us how and why he started Slowtwitch, and also offers a bit of advice for first time competitors.