Monthly Archives: January 2014

E168b – Organic Transit’s ELF Test Drive

January 30, 2014Advocacy, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Building, Car Ownership, Cargo, Downsizing, Technologysprocketpodcast

Organic Transit visited Portland, Oregon last weekend to demonstrate their ELF electric-assist tricycles, which are pedal powered and solar powered. Brock had a chance to interview company owner and inventor Rob Cotter, Portland resident and ELF enthusiast Lorraine, and long-time ELF believer Ned from upstate New York, and spoke briefly to an Oregonian reporter (who contributed to an article with a photo gallery that Brock appears in).

Visit organictransit.com for more information on these innovative creations.

Rob Cotter & Lorraine pose with #16 on left, while Ned opens the trunk on right

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E168 – Guthrie Straw: Tours Near & Far

January 28, 2014Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

Guthrie Straw grew up in Oregon and leads bicycle tours with Cycle Portland Bike Tourswhen he’s not enjoying longer bicycle tours of his own. After he and Brock met during the Filmed By Bike jury screenings, they decided to record a show together, which also led to some interesting discussion about Ketchikan, Alaska and outdoor leadership dynamics.

Also: fossil fuel divestment (OPB & Alison Wiley), former co-host Brandon’s new businessRolling Oasis, pedestrian assumptions & motorized vehicle proliferation.

Headlines
Multimodal Alaska Adventures: some poetry, a bus story, and ruminations on privilidge

Bike Safe Boston: a field guide to predicting vehicle driver behvior

BikePortland: Travel Oregon needs your input on bicycling in the Columbia River Gorge!

Mail
Robert explains why the London elevated cycleway doesn’t make sense.

Card from Richard in TX!

JohnnyK says “You can force sound into a persons ear but you cannot make them a listener.”

Dan in MN will bike to Portland someday.

Ginny twitters about #RAGBRAI.

Ethan Seltzer from Pedal Power & E049: saw this article and thought of us.
Tim chimes in: “Now THAT’s a cool recumbent!”
Stay tuned for our interview with Organic Transit’s Rob Cotter and ELF owner Lorraine later this 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)
Thanks to sustaining donor Shadowfoot for supporting our show costs.

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E167 – Lenny Anderson’s Swan Island

January 21, 2014Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Lenny Anderson is famous for his advocacy for transit connections and active transportation in Portland’s industrial hub. After working tirelessly on these important issues, he has retired from his responsibilities on Swan Island and now has time to talk to us about the things he cares so deeply about! We cover the history of Lenny’s employment on Swan Island, TriMet’s routes onto it, Lenny’s involvement in protest over a neighborhood’s destruction, and getting the word out about the options for getting around that are available to everyone.

Headlines
BikePortland: local bike shops are in love with each other!

BikePortland: Velo Cult offers 24 hour turnaround on tuneups

BikePortland: Upcoming building project will feature 1200 bicycle parking spaces

Mail
Robert and Glenn set us straight on Lisbon.

A donation from Epic Image Studios!

Ethan has a religious experience listening to E166.

Tim in DC plans to cycle tour the Lewis & Clark route as well as the C&O/GAP route this summer, and wants to hear what tours other listeners will be planning.

George recommends “A Thin White Line,” a movie about people who run/ride/skithe iditarod trail.

photo from BikePortland.org

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E166x – Worst Day Ride & Jurassic Park

January 17, 2014Funsprocketpodcast

Somehow our brains make the connection between the two. A little extra chat between Aaron & Brock.

image from roadcyclinguk.com (this is what you get when you google “Jurassic Bike“)

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E166 – New Year!

January 14, 2014Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Technology, Touring, Train Travel, Travelsprocketpodcast

Aaron & Brock discuss sodas, beers & kombuchas, planned rides for the year, the future of reading in an electronic age, and traffic in Portland these days.

Headlines
The Mail Tribune: Psychologist convicted of Mt. Bike sabotage returns to practice(submitted by listener Dion)

Oregonian: Pantless MAX ride took place again!

Mail
Listener Chris donates (thanks!) and wants us to watch Riding Bikes With The Dutch.

Albany tweed ride would deliver coffee & tea to astronauts with a bicycle in space.

JohnnyK adds some detail on re-entry from the moon and its bicycle physics.

The Stickman comes up with “a quick improv to tow a shopping cart for my fiancé. Connected by two key clips. Not a bad trailer for 30 bucks.”

Doctor Jeff twitters nice things about us, and Jim agrees on facebook.

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E165 – Mr. Bob Crispin: Making a Mountain Bike

January 7, 2014Adventure, Bicycling, Building, Car Ownership, History, Mountain Biking, Train Travelsprocketpodcast

Mr. Bob Crispin lived near some sweet singletrack in the seventies and wanted a bike that was up to the task; since one wasn’t available, he put one together himself. We chat with Bob about making a little bicycle design history. It currently on display at Velo Cult Bike Shop & Tavern in Portland, OR.

Mr. Bob’s Tankagnolo is extensively documented, and he was kind enough to share some of the photos and press about this bicycle. Click here for an archive, and enjoy the gallery of photos below: