Monthly Archives: February 2012

E066 – Martina Fahrner: Clever Cycles



With Brock in Germany, The Sprocket invites regular guest-host Aaron Flores to cover and man the boards. You could say he’s on his way to becoming their Steve Martin.

This episode’s guest is Martina Fahrner from Clever Cycles. We talk of the gender-divide within in the cycling industry (how it’s getting better and where it still needs to grow), how bicycles can be a utilitarian and not just a recreational instrument for life without a car and life with children, and we congratulate Aaron for staying sober while behind the steering wheel of the podcast.

enjoy!

Brandon

dictated not read

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)


E065 – Dan Sorger: DBC City Bike Design



This has been perhaps our most controversial episode to date, garnering criticisms from listeners, guests, and others in the industry.  If we had heard a single voice of disagreement, we would take it with a grain of salt, but, after several voices from the bicycling industry have raised concerns about Dan Sorger’s professionalism and claims to innovation, we’re inclined to make you aware of those concerns with you before presenting this interview.  As always, we prefer that you listen judiciously and arrive at your own conclusions.  Thanks for listening, and enjoy.

Dan Sorger of City Bike Design and I sat down for a conversation last December to talk about his bicycle design company.  Sorger designs bicycles designed specificially for utilitarian users in the Boston metro area and is fervently passionate about making bicycles that work for the people that use them for local transportation.

we discuss: problems with dutch bikes, 10,000 moving parts & a guaranteed warranty, serious transportation & balance, focus on the customers, a staff that understands the mission of the company, the bicycle fills the niche, building bicycles for specific locations, designing to avoid fatigue, redesigning bicycles for today’s manufacturing technologies, designing lighting and aesthetic features, and much else.

Also, Brandon is out this week, and Brock’s old friends Billy SkiffingtonJordan Boldt, and Jesse Califf dropped by before the recording was finalized, so they added their voices to the mix to keep Brock from sounding like a guy alone with a microphone in a small room; nominal success can be assumed.  Jordan details his experience as the manager of a farmers’ market.

Mailbag
Ryan in Georgetown ON: “made a few Canadian Beer suggestions that I understand you can get at http://www.johnsmarketplace.com/Bottles/. Is this place close to you? I would be interested in your bike touring set up: What bikes do your tour with? Are they the same bikes as you commute with? Is the bike aluminum or chromo? 26 or 700cc? How many bags? Fenders? Drop Bars? The more detail the better.  I have been studying Bike touring and am gearing up for my first small venture out.”

Chris in Arcata CA: “I just wanted to remind everyone the importance of using a correct size saddle on your bike.  It’s important particularly in the back of the saddle that it is wide enough for your sits bones to seat properly on the saddle.  Though you don’t want the saddle too wide as that will interfere with hip rotation.  Why am I putting out this reminder?  I found recently a lump that had developed on my rear end near the “exit point” if you will.  Turns out I had a small external hemorrhoid.  Good bike shops have a device to measure your “sit bones” distance.  So just a reminder…be sure to have a properly fitted saddle for your ride!  Keep up the great interviews at sprocket headquarters guys!”

Donations from Ryan in Ontario & JohnnyK in FL, thank you!

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)


E064 – David Watson, Pete Stidman: Boston Advocacy



In today’s episode we share two interviews with two Boston, MA based bicycling advocate organization leaders: David Watson of MassBike, a comprehensive statewide entity, and Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union, which focuses on the city itself.  Josh Zisson of Bike Safe Bostonmade the connection with MassBike and Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, OR suggested the BCU; many thanks to both for more quality interviews!  We’ll have one more Boston interview next week while Brock is in Europe, while Brandon and Aaron Flores will host an interview with Martina from Clever Cycles the week after.

We also mentioned the quick sale of all positions in this year’s Cycle Oregon week ride – perhaps some of you will have the opportunity to join in for next year’s event!

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)


E063 – Amos’ Touring Stories



Amos Hunter rejoins us at the Sprocket Podcast for a discussion of some of his bicycle touring mishaps, and he also brings a game of “Guess the Bicycle” with him!

We also discuss:
Greg Hum visits, Best Bands Ever 2012BU Bridge bike lanes & the Liveable Streets Alliance in Boston, MA

and an extra bit of audio with Amos describing his new shaving method.

Headlines
BikePortland: the City of Beaverton plans a downtown redesign more friendly to bikes and pedestrians
BikePortland: bicycle fashion show seeks models for event
Taking the Lane: many photos demonstrate how NOT to lock your bike
PathLessPedaled: Damian Day outruns his disabilities by cycling up to 10,000km a year
RowdyKittens: after giving it a solid try, Tammy Strobel decides to get an iPhone

Mailbag
Carl from CA: “I was checking out this site: alpacka rafts. Totally funky and functional @ the same time. In one section they mention a couple of crazy dudes that ‘bikerafted’ the Alaskan Lost Coast: http://lostcoastbike.blogspot.com/ it looked real gnarly!”

Logan in PDX: “The story of stuff now has a podcast!”

Rance via Facbook: “LOVE THE KIDDICAL MASS idea. We had a Critcal mass a few years ago and I really didn’t like the negative vibe. I ride everyday and don’t want to piss off drivers. I thought we were going to ride as a group to show that there were a lot of us on bike, but many used it as a chance to yell at cars and ride like an idiot. Keep up the great work!”

Katie Proctor shares a link to the video of a Mom bicycling with 6 kids aboard!

JohnnyK submits an article from the distant past and a modern solution from instructables.com for carrying children in bicycle sidecars.

 

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)