Category Archives: Bicycling

E197 – Going Somewhere: Brian Benson (with Leah Benson)

Adventure, Bicycling, Kitchen, Touring, Travel

Brian Benson, author of Going Somewhere, joins us to talk about his new memoir centered around a formative bicycle journey.  He is joined by his twin Leah Benson ofGladys Bikes! (not an actual twin)  We also speak about our shame foods (shh).

Also: Brock decries his cynicism on returning to Portland in a full rebuttal of his previous statements, complains about the weather, and Aaron & Dan recap the Midnight Mystery Ride debacle.

Headlines

Alaska Dispatch News: Bike-work-bike routine allows couple to take long cycling treks(thanks Phil!)

TriMet: announcing the plans for eFare implementation in 2017

TriMet: line 15 rider turns 102, gets special birthday bus (thanks Logan!)

Mail

Jim shares the Tigr lock:

http://tigrlock.com

Logan writes “MKS makes a quick release pedal that you may want to check out since you do so much bike boxing and pedal removal. The pedals are called MKS EZY removable pedals. I have them on my brompton and they are great! They could also be a potential theft deterrent while touring (the thief can’t ride away! 😉

Russ Roca devised a great method for carrying large amounts of water by bike while touring. He wrote a review for the tool he used on his Epicurean Cyclist blog: I’ve used this method and it works great!

Roger in Santa Cruz:

“Brock, I was enjoying my coffee this morning and peacefully listening to the podcast with Ellee, then when you gave pedal removal instructions using a blow torch and if that failed pulling out a pistol and blasting the pedal to tarnation ….. Well, a mouthful of coffee erupted and soiled a lot of clothes.  Dammit!”

I told him brown is in right now.  This marked two spittakes in two weeks!

Tim Mooney:

“As I’m getting prepared to box my bike up I ran into a severely stuck pedal – I had some work done on the drivetrain and they torqued them on super tight. Luckily I have a pedal wrench with more leverage handy, so it wasn’t a problem at home. On the road… quite another matter! I usually go with the tried and true liberal greasing of the threads and put just the slightest tightening force on the pedals… that way I can get the pedals on and off with a .99 cent crescent wrench I bring with.”

Eric Iverson: spotted in Estacada: not chain grease.

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, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien

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E196 – Jonathan Maus of bikeportland.org

Advocacy, Bicycling

 

Jonathan Maus has a lot to say; an understatement for anyone who is familiar withBike Portland. In this interview we focus (as much as my brain lets me) mostly on what’s going on in East Portland and the forgotten parts of the PDX Empire (my terminology, not his). Jonathan also takes some time to shed some light on the “car vs. bike” journalism so apparent in the media. Also, Brock and Adele’s week 4 and 5.

mail
From Brock:
“Left this in a visitors log at last night’s state park! Hope it’s accurate that I gave you a Mohawk.”

From Jim H. on the Facebooks:
“Hello Sprocket Podcast… love your show… a highlight in the week for sure. Really appreciate the vignettes from Brock and Adele’s tour. Makes me want to be out on the road. :)”

From Johnny K. in FLA
“I still think that the episode with Aaron’s brother is by far the funniest episode of all time.  I still laugh at it and I don’t even have to listen to it again.”

From listener Robert:
“A very cool photogallery of “tweed” bike ride in Russia’s St. Petersburg!”

From Cameron Lien
$$$$ Thank you cameron for signing up as our newest monthly donor.

No News today (go to bikeportland.org yourself)

find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests – write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774 connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby , Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,  Justin Martin, Eric Iverson and thanks to new donor Cameron Lien

Audio Player

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E195 – Lenny Anderson, Touring Old-School

Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Touring, Train Travel, Travel

This week we bring back Lenny “the King of Swan Island” Anderson to tell us about the days of touring without all the fancy gadgets you kids have these days. The last time we talked with Lenny we didn’t get any of his touring stories. He did not disappoint this time. Though he was not impressed with my choice of beverage.

Also with us is Dan B. who comes to PDX from the Volunteer State. Dan will be starting a podcast on sustainability with his siblings and wanted to see what podcasting Sprocket-style looks like. God luck, Dan!

Oh, and Lisa’s back! She has a funny anecdote that turns into a plug for Gladys Bikes (take a drink Krista S).

Mail

We got physical mail From Mark in San Jose!

We got Voicemail from Tim Mooney

From Johnny K. in FLA: Aaron got the intro, hates clowns, and wants breakfast on his commute.

From Josh G. in Concordia: “I vote Eilif your most entertaining guest.. up there with brewmaster Dan Hynes from Thunder Island Brewing.”

From Brock Dittus in Lake Chelan
“I only took two pictures! But here they are. No. 2 is a sunRISE, even though it looks like a sunset.”

News

From Gizmodo via listener Mark V: How Cyclists on Fixies Saved California’s Mail Service 120 Years Ago

From TriMet: an open house on the new Orange Line

find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com
send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests –
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774
connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast
thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music
thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder

and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby , Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,  Justin Martin and Eric Iverson

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E194 – Swing-Bike Eric and His Amazing Friends

Adventure, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Technology, Touring

A little out-of-the-norm for us cycle-tourists, but who doesn’t like some good old-fashioned fun on bikes? Today we talk about bike fun on bikes that are fun in their own right. Swing Bikes!!! Eric Iverson, now dubbed Swingbike Eric, come to the studio with his friends J.P. and Eilif who introduced me to maybe one of the most fun ways to get from Point A to Point B. It’s possible you’ve already met these three. Anyone remember that whole Grill By Bike ride?!? That was these guys, and you know we’re gonna be talking about that.

mail (btw, this is the 4th time I’ve edited and posted this section)

from Johnny K. in FLA:
secret agent 004 was in the movie Thunderball
Marvin K Mooney will you please go now!

from Wayne Norman
“I can assure you that Roger and I are not ‘together’”

Eric W: hand positions and loss of feeling in fingers

Roger ups his donation amount after being entertained.

News
From Gearjunkie.com, via Brock: (“Holy shit. I’m drunk in eastern wa and this looks amazing”): Triple-Fat-Tire Trike Is Beast Made For Sand And Snow

From Bike Portland: Bike Tourism & Transit

find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com
send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests –
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774
connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast
thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music
thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder

and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby , Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,  Justin Martin and Eric Iverson

still working out my page format issues (really!)

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E193 – Carl Larson on Bike Fun. Lisa Nims on Anything Else.

Advocacy, Bicycling, Doin' It, History

If you don’t know Carl Larson by now that’s your loss. Considered by many (well… me) as  bike fun incarnate, Carl is here to set the record straight that bike fun is best when not centered around the bike. Pay homage to history by listening especially to his story about riding with DarcelleXV

Joining us is my friend Lisa Nims. She and I used to work together, but we don’t now. Now I have a friend that’s not a work friend. Lisa shares her experiences riding, her trepidations on riding in groups, and stories from volunteering at the Marie Smith Center. She was also instrumental in putting together the ‘zine and tumblr: Tell it Like it Tiz. Stories from those with whom she shares time at the Marie Smith. With luck she’ll be co-hosting more often.

Mail
From Glenn Kubish in YEG via Twitter:
“Hey Sprocket Podcast. Have you considered why traffic reports are all about cars?What if things were different?”

Terra Firma signs up as a new monthly donor! Thanks!

From Tom Allen via twitter: Tom Allen wants to give you his bike.
(oops contest ended already, I should really have looked at this more closely)

Headlines
from Tony Deis via Facebook: Free Lecture – Subsistence Hunting & Foraging

From Bike Portland: new business looks to use bikes as billboards

From Bike Portland: PPB chief Reese takes shift on downtown bike patrol

End:
find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com
send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests –
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774
connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast
thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music
thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder

and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby , Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,  Justin Martin and Terra Firma

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E192 – Sprocket/Pedalshift Crossover

Bicycling, Touring

Tim Mooney from D.C. is in town for The World Domination Summit. What started out as a chance to connect over a beer and soda turned into not one, but two episodes of talking and fun. We discuss Tim’s tour curse, his newest foray into podcasting, selling out.

Headlines:

Aaron sells out! After 2+ years of being cash-only I decide to get a bank account. To be clear, this doesn’t make me any more of an adult than I already am! Not really talked about in our headline section, I actually break the news during the meat of our talks.

from everywhere: the netospheres is angry again, I couldn’t help but bring thisWashington Post article up with Tim.

Mail:

From Dan Portland
“…I was wondering if you would be willing to let me sit in on the recording and/or production of an episode…”
From my Brother Dan (a one-act play performed by Sprocket Theatre):
“So Bob the Afghan, a friend of mine, asked on facebook to name his child and I was just kidding with my suggestions.  Well….  Lesson learned.”
From JohnnyK: on monstrous mosquitos, the Star Trek religion, and U.S. Presidents.

find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com
send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests –
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774
connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast
thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music
thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder
and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby & Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin and Terra Firma

don’t know what’s up with the spacing and formatting.

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E191 – Maria Schur’s Oregon Outback plus Brock and Adele week 1&2

Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Doin' It, Kitchen, Touring

Maria Schur’s second time on the show was a little difficult to get recorded. Scheduling conflicts abounded! Still, I felt it important, nay necessary, to get her story out for all of you to hear. In the end, I took a ride to her place with iPod in hand and sat down with her for some morning coffee and conversation.

Pictures!! I keep forgetting to take pictures. These next few shows may be semi-photoless. For what it’s worth, I did get a shot of the steed she rode through the Outback.

I dub this episode an “aaron light” episode. No mail or headlines this week, but I did insert Brock and Adele’s week 1 and 2 dispatches from the road.

as always:

find us on the Internet at thesprocketpodcast.com
send feedback about the program and suggestions for topics or guests –
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774
connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcast
thanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music
thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder

and thanks to our sustaining donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby & Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi,  Justin Martin and Terra Firma

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E190 – 2 of 3 Kell(e)ys, Hugh from SoCal, Where’s Coconut Bill?

Adventure, Bicycling, Fun, Touring

Three guests in one show?!? Holy shit, I’m turning into a real host! This week we bring 2 of the three Kell(e)ys that have admitted to liking this podcast. They brought their friend Hugh from LA. Say what you want about those “California a-holes” (inside joke for you, Purple and Orange), but they get kudos from me for biking in a car-centric city-state. Here’s what Neighbor Kelley had to say about it:

“We sure know how to BS.  Thanks again for having us on! Here is Hugh’s blog: velocipedemusings. And since Flickr is what brought us together as friends and where we share our life and often bikey & hikey adventures, here are our Flickr pages: socalpedalpusher (Hugh)’s Flickr, Coffee Kelley’s Flickr, Neighbor Kelly’s Flickr

Also, those cookies….nom, nom, nom…so good :-)”
Yes, I’m not beneath bribing a potential with cookies.
But enough about the podcast. Listen for yourself.

Headlines:

From Tory Orzeck: Orp Lights are now available.

From everywhere: Amtrak Viewliner II baggage car field testing

also: Amtrak to welcome bicycling passengers by end of the year

From Bike Portland: aggro pickup truck driver gets served

Mail:

From: David N. in Portland, OR:
“Climber Kyle Dempster made a film called “The Road from Karakol” that is outstanding. His idea was to bike across Kazakstan from climbing spot to climbing spot, not the big destinations, just what he cod find on his biking route. He bought a $100 mountain bike off Craigslist and a used trailer and off he went. It’s pretty inspiring.”

From: Richard W. of suberbanassault.org suggests we use Patreon!

From: Anna O. from OK:
“As a bike shop employee this place sounds like paradise minus the cat hair.  Anyway the important thing to say here is you guys rock super hard and after I finish Bike School at UBI (Ashland campus) in August I’ll come bug ya.”

From brother Dan on the facebooks:
“Sulu was in Yellow also, Disney probably has a shadow profile in their databases containing fingerprints, several facial pictures, lists of who your family and friends are, email adresses, etc…”

From Johnny K in FLA:
“Okay I see now if you sit in the co-host chair you’re just lost.  Is that chair some kind of brain sucking device or what…”

Sara D in SF sends us a book and donation:
“I listen to the podcast while the girl I nanny takes a nap and I do laundry. I look forward to it every week. after seeing this book at her house I thought of you guys. Enjoy!”

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E189 – Momoko Saunders: Bike Farm

Advocacy, Bicycling, Mechanics

Momoko Saunders of The Bike Farm joins us for this episode. It’s not a bike shop, it’s definitely not HER bike shop. You can hear her clear up the distinctions. From their site: “Our mission is to provide a space where people can learn about the bicycle and build community around promoting sustainable transportation.” Talking with her I can tell she’s passionate about this. It’s a quiet passion, so turn up your volume, but an infectious passion nonetheless.

Oh, who’s that in the cohost’s chair? That’s Lillian Karabaic from the Bike Portland Podcast! She’s not just in to fill space, she’s got some Disney conspiracies to share.

Also: Kambucha explosions, Bike Farm’s Women and Trans Nights, Back to the Future, Star Trek, non-alcoholic cocktails

hey, what’s in a Rob Roy anyway?

fine print
write us via email, the address is thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com call and leave us a message or text to 503.847.9774 connect with us on Twitter @SprocketPodcastthanks to Ryan J Lane for providing our theme music thanks to Hurtbird for our headlines sounder

thanks to our sustaining donors: Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby & Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, & Justin Martin

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E188 – Brock & Aaron talk Camping & Climbing

Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Cargo, Communication, Downsizing, Transit, Travel

It’s a little cohost chat about life right before the big summer trip for Brock, and Aaron’s trip to the magic kingdom.  We discuss an upgrade/sidegrade to the stove that caused us so much trouble last spring, then encourage listeners to write in for stickers and join Brock’s summer postcard club.  Then Brock delves deep into Aaron’s feelings about taking the reigns for the summer on the show, asks about what happens in Portland this summer.  We get off on a tangent about moon landing conspiracy theories, but then get back on the wagon with a short mention of Bikes In Space, Volume II!  Weariness and “the bonk” get a mention, along with Pedalpalooza stories, then Brock opines on the simplicity of the camping experience.  Then we wrap up the show with a discussion of climbing into trees to get away from it all.

Mail
Chris in Arcata has his own coffee club going!

Thanks for listening!

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, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, & Justin Martin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More