Category Archives: Bicycling

E220b – Greg Hum: Drumbiker

January 29, 2015Adventure, Bicycling, Cargo, Communication, Fun, Music, Technology, The Law, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Greg Hum is a drumbiker. What is that, you ask? Well, take some rhythm and add it to your transportation. That’s where it starts. Brock speaks with him at his apartment in Cambridge, MA about sound and motion, bike fun, and the delicate line along which an event organizer walks when dealing with sensitive authority figures. Watch his videos on YouTube, especially the film “Making a Splash in Miami” that he submitted to last year’s Filmed By Bike, and join in on the fun with Boston Bike Party if you’re near the Boston area!

We mention Portland buckets ‘n slide blues band Hillstomp, who also make use of buckets (and are one of Brock’s favorite bands). Here’s the death metal washing machine, too, and the video where metal music was paired with the sound.

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 our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky, Tim Mooney, Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner

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E220 – @dudeluna

January 27, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Family, Fun, Mountain Biking, Technology, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Armando Luna is a twitter genius with his finger on the pulse of the Portland bicycle culture. He’s a mountain bike enthusiast and a fun loving ride participant, a father and a husband, an all-around good guy. Also: he’s a listener! We sit down and wind a conversation through our points of commonality.

Also: Brock got some knee pain (helpful advice from BikePortland) and went to thehorse races; Aaron got seen on the trail by a mystery tweeter, and bought pants. Path Less Pedaled gives a mountain bike review of Columbia County, OR.

Headlines

BikePortland: ‘Recumbent PDX’ opens on SE Hawthorne

Oregonlive.com: Vancouver police looking for hit-and-run driver determined to get away

Listener Gerald: Portland Bike Party is happening!
This Friday, 1/30, 7pm at Jamison Square, 810 NW 11th Ave Portland OR

Press release: Bike Index and Spinlister team up to help Portland’s bike theft victims
see bikeindex.org & spinlister.com

BikePortland: Oregon Senate bill would repeal ‘bike bill,’ mandate bicycle licenses and registration

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Thanks to new donor Andy Brunner! He recommends the Novara safari as Brock’s next bike.

Dan tells us a bike will fit inside a Portland Loo.

JohnnyK recommends to bring TP with you at all times, and likes White Lightning Bamboo Cycle Wipes; explains his nail polish trick when fixing a chain.

Branden Shelby: “Here’s the coffee device that caught my eye.”

Richard says teaching adults to ride bikes is “truly more rewarding than any of the other classes that we teach.”

Phoebe admires the resilience of bicyclists.

Logan corrects Brock’s misunderstanding of his locking skewers: “we use Zefal “Lock’n Roll” skewers” and also use their locking seat post clamp. You don’t have to lock them upside down.” Also, jewelry from Leatherman.

A shout out to Richard in England!

And John in Goldendale shares a poster for a bicycle rack design contest in his town.

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E219b – Phoebe Sinclair: Whole Heart Local

January 22, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Fun, Kitchen, Simpler Living, Train Travel, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Phoebe Sinclair lives in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood and has a great sense of connection with the world around her. We appreciate her ability to cut the BS and buckle down to a mindful lifestyle, and have been grateful for her comments since she became one of our listeners several years ago. Our discussions rolls through several topics, including food, bicycling, transit, local community involvement, and dancing! Follow Phoebe’s adventures and observations atwholeheartlocal.com and keep an eye peeled for her forthcoming book in the future!

“May you be happy, may you be safe, may you be at peace.”

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E219 – Beth Hamon: Leaving On A Jet Plane

January 20, 2015Advocacy, Air Travel, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Family, Simpler Living, Touring, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Beth Hamon is a cantorial soloist on a circuit to synagogues in various parts of the USA, sharing her talents of music and spiritual direction with the people she has made connections with there. She joins us to give an update on her most recent work, discuss the environmental impact of air travel, and consider ethical living in transport as well as the rest of life.

Some of the resources Beth shared:
NYT: The Biggest Carbon Sin?
Wikipedia: Environmental Impact of Air Travel
Ivan Illich: Energy and Equity (Ideas in Progress)
Slate: Driving vs. Flying

Look for Beth’s music at CDbaby.com!

Also: Brock & Aaron take a trip to Stubb Stewart State Park

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Tim Mooney is dismayed by the possible leverage of fees on the C&O canal. In particular, from $0 to $20 in the time it takes a congressperson to sign a document.

Alvaro is rocking our sticker (the old school one!) and says “give me 3”

Brandon Rhodes sends us a story about a dog that rides the bus to the park by itself.

Chris Gonzalez says “not the cable!”

Logan Smith sends us a fundraiser for “smart grips.”

Gerald got some polyester pants.

Eric Iverson:
“@SouthEastGrind also serves delicious 24 hr food! And I also don’t like Dave Matthews or his band or any combo thereof.”

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E218b – Emily Thibodeau & Josh Zisson: Hub Powderworks

January 15, 2015Bicycling, Building, Business, Mechanics, Technology, The Lawsprocketpodcast

Hub Powderworks is the new project from our friends in Cambridge, MA – Josh Zisson, whom we’ve interviewed before, and Emily Thibodeau, the woman behind Hub Bicycle Co. We talk a little about the unique aspects of her shop, and then we discuss retro-reflection and how you get it onto your bicycle frame.

Hub Powderworks is licensed byHalo Coatings to offer their patented retro-reflective powder coat for individual bicycle frames. Since we recorded the interview, prices have lowered!
$329 for customers local to Boston and $419 for bicycles shipped in & out of the shop from elsewhere. Visit hubpowderworks.com for details.

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 our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK,Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky, Tim Mooney, Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley

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E218 – MMR/rebuilding hubs/century

January 13, 2015Adventure, Bicycling, Building, Fun, Mechanicssprocketpodcast

It’s a step back to catch up with ourselves. Brock & Aaron did the Midnight Mystery Ride, Aaron rebuilt his seized rear hub, and Brock rode 120 miles for the Phantom Horse Thief Century.

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JohnnyK carries tools and found what Sarah Gilbert had to say about drive-thru discrimination.

Rory in MI finds the quick caps for theft protection on your quick release wheels.

Branden from last week has connections to a touring book.

Tim Mooney sends us this article about why some cyclists break traffic laws.

John in Goldendale is on a trainer and lives in a city that wants cycle tourists to visit.

Kirk liked the Premium Rush commentary and wants more.

Eric will lead a drive-thru ride for Pedalpalooza this year!

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E217b – Susan McLucas: Bicycle Riding School

January 8, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Communication, Fun, Simpler Living, Urban Design, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Susan McLucas teaches adults to ride bicycles if they have never learned to ride before. Her compassionate attitude and generous spirit are easily felt when speaking with her! We talk about what it takes to teach people to ride, what her experience in the field has been over 30 years of teaching. Find out more at bicycleridingschool.org!

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E217 – Branden Shelby & Daniel Harkins: Summer Tour 2014

January 6, 2015Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Mechanics, Mountain Biking, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

Branden Shelby & Daniel Harkins come in to tell us about their epic wilderness tour last summer. They took a turn through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and lived to tell about it, including negotiations after a stealth camping bust, a difficult fix on the side of a road, and midnight attempts for tacos at a fast food drive-thru.

Also: it’s Boston month (interviews), Brock went to Boston, and Aaron went to Missoula.

Headlines
BikePortland: For a slumping cycling city, there are reasons for optimism in 2015

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Richard TX shares Glympse, a great option to link group rides in addition to Bike Fun Finder.

Tammy Strobel: “Every time I listen to The Sprocket Podcast, I want to move back toPortland. I miss our friends, the cycling culture, and the amazing coffee shops.”

Josh G: thinks we’d dig this weather wonkery.

Glenn Kubish helped to rally people in YEG to support suicide prevention.

Logan shares the Seatylock, a bicycle saddle that doubles as a lock.

Doug says our scatalogical emergency reminded him of this TED talk, and thinks bicycling can make people more compassionate. Glenn said that it needed a “soiler alert.” [wah wah] Richard shared his similar experience, and recommends imagining a farther-off destination.

Eric has a picture of a car that was driven into a ditch across a cycletrack in Portland.

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E215 – Ed Hanna: The Leaving Is The Hardest Part

December 16, 2014Adventure, Air Travel, Bicycling, Cargo, Downsizing, Mechanics, Touring, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Ed Hanna was having beers at the Landmark Saloon in SE Portland, Oregon, when Brock locked up his bike in front of the place. Ed asked him a few questions about his bike setup, and eventually they decided to share Ed’s European bicycle tour stories on the podcast. Spoilers: it’s tricky getting started!

Also: Hi, Jason in Eugene who got Brock’s free bus tickets. Brock breaks his grandpa’s tandem seat post, may or may not have used Uber, and has a scatalogical emergency. Aaron makes toaster granola.

Headlines

Former interview Laura Moulton from Street Books subject of a documentary film and aNY Times article.

Former guest Christopher Delaney interviewed in long form on Radical Personal Finance.

Trimet transfer times have gone from 2hrs to 2.5 hrs. woot!

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Apparently none of our listeners mind the train horn in the background.

Alison Wiley wants an Aaron-centric social media episode.

Glenn in YEG has a witty suggestion.

Jeremy in PDX has been going car-lite!

Richard tips us off to press in Bicycling magazine on Leah Benson of Gladys Bikes!

Orange & Purple share their Brompton plane stowing technique:

Eric shares a fat tire longtail:

and asks what this is (answer – it’s a speeder!):

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E214 – Brad Davis & Jean Abbot: Moving at the speed of Ecology

December 9, 2014Adventure, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Fun, Mechanics, Technology, Touringsprocketpodcast

note: Brock fell ill suddenly and I called on Aaron Delani to fill in. I also panicked and didn’t plug in my ipod to the soundboard. this episode will be interesting from a production standpoint.

Brad Davis and Jean Abbot of EcoSpeed were very good sports with the Aarons’ tomfoolery. EcoSpeed is the leading maker of mid-drive type electric assists for bikes and trikes. Mid-drives give more performance for a given motor and battery weight and, unlike hub motors, don’t create drag when you just want to pedal.

Headlines
from Bikeportland.org:
Holiday Bike Drive turns 300 children into bike riders
Uber’s illegal Portland launch raises question: What if an Uber driver hits you?

Mail

Marcus in the UK wants us to know that people listen in the UK.

Harm in NZ shares Joff Summerfield’s pennyfarthing touring site. We want to interview him sometime!

Rory who is visiting NZ finds a White Ribbon Month bike ride.

Logan in CA sends us a link to the cheapest shifter ever.