Monthly Archives: January 2011

E011 – Kate Lopresti: The Constant Rider



This week we bring you a delightful conversation with Kate Lopresti, author of a public transit themed independent ‘zine (which happens to be attractively bound and presented!) titled “The Constant Rider.” She shares her experiences and observations about riding the bus in Portland, OR and writing about them.

If you want a copy of The Constant Rider Omnibus for your very own so you can read the same stories we have, use the “Donate” button to the right to send us a few bucks for postage – we’ll slip it into an envelope and send it right to your door!  Supplies are limited, but Kate was generous to give us a few extra copies and we’ll share them while we can!

We discuss: hello to listeners (including the Ft. Collins CO Belle Stars), introducing Kate Lopresti, the IPRC, Microcosm Publishing, surprisingly classy beer, the Bike Trailer Bloglinks to Austin Bike Zoo’s Rattlesnake, CycleWild releases their 2011 bike camping schedule, the Bicycle Travel Network tells of the Cycling Silk project, BikePortland.orglinks to the BTA’s new video: “Strategies for Getting Around Without Bike Lights (Or Pants).” A Washington DC blogger proposes a cycling social contract, bikes couldgenerate wind power (!), Oregonian columnist writes about transit “seat hogs,” Kate reads a selection about “bonking” while riding light rail, “a free car is never free,” getting into riding buses, zipcar.com, the 24 hour neighborhood, cultural diversity on buses, Brandon gives away a free business idea, buses are great for reading, thanking bus drivers, talking to drivers (nice or otherwise), “I flash my pass like I’m all that,” curiosity about schedules can start conversations, “the longer I ride, the more normal these outbursts seem,” young man pop-lock-break-dancing at the bus stop, “A Drunk In Three Parts,” police pulls a dude with a joint, “line 75 is the hipster bus,” one last reading of “passenger descriptions.”

(click here for a few extra minutes of conversation we couldn’t fit into an hour’s program – bus stories for those interested)

Drinks
we share a half gallon growler of Hopworks’ Organic HUB Lager to the enjoyment of all.

Music
Seattle alt-rock outfit Explone – “Girl With a Black Eye” from their 2010 albumDreamers/Lovers.
Dreamers/Lovers - Explone

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)

Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.


E010 – Louis Avden: Plants As Pets



We are joined by our good friend Louis Avden who discusses his unique perspective on gardening.  We record late at night and so we use our NPR news voices.  We discuss:  no more vagina talk, Ft. Collins people, we now have a donation button (thanks Steven), pig dog monster beer & Ashland mold water, Russ from pathlesspedaled.com bike packing video, photo galleries of human cyclists & tallbikesin Portland from bikeportland.org, the Mary Poppins effect, 1970s schoolchildren ride bikes to a field trip, London experiments with two way bicycle traffic on one way streets, we exchange compliments with Louis, starting small (one seed), 6 foot carrots, thinking like a plant, good tilth, “genocidification,” “yellowing thumb,” the richness of gardening, plants as pets, plants say “chill the f*** out,” difficulties with other inhabitants, stepping on beds, “you are the plant’s bitch,” Kate Moss slugs, creating community around your garden

Drinks
Brock enjoys Genessee Beer from NY, Brandon drinks the fearsome Flying Dog Double Dog Ale, and Louis purveys a mysterious drink made withAshland Lithia Water,Kombucha & Grappa.

Music
“Stand By My Side” by Brock Dittus, featuring Louis Avden on piano, from the 2009 EPHandbuilt. myspace.com/brockdittus

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)

Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.


E009 – (Not) Doin’ It – Fertility Awareness as Birth Control



Our most awkward episode yet!  Friends Adele and Mary Lou discuss fertility awareness and understanding the feminine body.  Also, in the news, an Oregon law proposal seeks to keep kids on bikes off the streets, to the dismay of many.  And of course, much juvenile merriment is made over words like “mucus” and “vaginal.”  We promise next week will be different.

Drinks
Brandon enjoys his cousin’s blackberry ale, Adele drinks a Pinot Grigio & someChimay, Mary Lou has Adele’s homemade kombucha, and Brock drank a 24 oz.Tecate cerveza.

No music this week to avoid juxtaposing a reputable artist with our dubious subject material.  More music next week!

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)

Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.


E008 – Path Less Pedaled



This week in a super-sized edition of The Sprocket we present our exciting interview with Russ Roca & Laura Crawford of The Path Less Pedaled (pathlesspedaled.com); see also The Epicurean Cyclist (Russ’ bicycle blog), Russ Roca Photography, andTangerine Treehouse (Laura’s metalcraft site).  We disuss:  moustache headbadges,hopworks beer, getting into full-time bicycle touring, taking it slow (no rush), working along the way, simplicity & technology, gear, cold winter in the southwest, middle of nowhere, passing the time, eating a ton, hospitality is awesome, public transit to Yosemite, bikes on trains, british cyclists in the past on youtube (cyclists’ special), getting rid of stuff, “they will still be making plates,” Surly Long Haul Trucker, flat pedals article & not clipping in, social connections home & abroad, tough times & bugs, dying by missle fire in new mexico, great campgrounds, iphone travel apps, extension cords, texas was a big surprise, advice: just do it!

Drinks
we all enjoyed Hopworks Urban Brewery’s Organic Survival “Seven-Grain” Stout & theOrganic Hopworks IPA.

Music
“The Realists” by The Carrier Pigeons from their 2009 EP Unfinished Business.

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)

Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.


E007 – Amish Guy On A Train



holiday cheer and food intake, german beer and clam juice in budweiser, Portland considers bike licensing, Representative Earl Blumenauer knocks down opposition to bike signage, Portland plans for a new Sullivan’s Gulch bikeway, Seattle bassists makes custom trailer for his instrument, crossing the country by train with Adele (first female guest!), conversation with an Amish man, trustworthy beards

Drinks
Brandon enjoyed an EKU 28 from Kulmbacher Brauerei, Brock drank a Budweiser Chelada

Music
“Out of Town” by Seattle alt-rock outfit Explone from their 2004 album Crooks.

Crooks - Explone

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)

Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.  featuring excerpts from “The Clouds Are All The Same” by Cush from their 2000 LPThe New Sound. Find this excellent record at: www.northernrecords.com All songs from Cush’s album “Cush (The New Sound)” Published by Songs of Media Creature (BMI) a/c Northern Records Music (BMI) and Media Creature Music (ASCAP) a/c Northern Rock N Roll (ASCAP) Courtesy of Northern Records by exclusive arrangement with Media Creature.