Category Archives: Bicycling

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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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:

Aaron & Brock also discuss Brock’s most recent crosscountry Amtrak journey, books on the future of reading, and stripped out saddle parts.

Headlines
BikePortland: Marilyn Hayward, owner of Coventry Cycles, tries to rebound from serious crash
The Verge via The Stickman: Architects propose 136 miles of elevated cycleway in London

Mail
A Donation from Logan! Thanks!

Gus shares the innovative recyclables-for-transit-fare trade option available in Bejing.

Christopher in WY shares the heartwarming story of the 66 year old man who won the race across Sweden after being barred from official entry due to his age.

Former guest Sally on twitter:
“Caught up with a few back episodes of the @SprocketPodcast kinda like binge watching The Walking Dead.”

Daniel on Elly Blue’s Amtrak kerfuffle & Texan travel advice for bicyclists.

Patrick in Davis CA wishes us a happy new year and compares Thunder Island Brewing toBerryessa Brew Co. wishing both the best of success.

Nick on twitter shares a tallbike with tandem chain setup, cable steering, adjustable height and disassembles for travel.

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E164 – Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks OR

December 30, 2013Adventure, Bicycling, Brewing, Business, Camping, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

Who would have thought that some of the best beer available in Oregon was accessible to hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail and touring cyclists in the Columbia River Gorge? And who would have thought that it would be possible with a simple trail project to make it an easy day’s ride from Portland by bike?

We talk with Dave & Dan from Thunder Island Brewing about adventure, business, and brewing, and do some tasting of their fine beverages! Cascade Locks, Oregon just got a whole lot cooler, and you should take a weekend camping trip to figure out why!

Happy 2013, all, and a happy 2014 as it dawns on us! All the best,

Brock & Aaron

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E162 – Elly Blue: Bikenomics

December 17, 2013Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Communication, Downsizing, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Elly Blue is the author of the new book, Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy, and also the star of the now-famous Amtrak incident leading to a broader conversation on bike/train integration. We talk about the benefits of a bicycle lifestyle and multimodalism!

Aaron & Brock also discuss drinking coffee, coffee machine cuisine, Aaron’s new Disc Trucker, Spinlister, and Amtrak: Gangnam Style.

Headlines
Oregonian: new train service added to the Amtrak Cascades corridor
Bicycle Retailer: Specialized makes nice with Canadian bicycle builder
(Listener Dion also sent us the video of Specialized’s Mike Sinyard & Dan Richter getting along in person.)

Mail
Dion shares Martyn Ashton’s Road Bike Party videos – some sweet jumps and tricks!

Martyn later suffered a significant injury after falling backward during a demonstration.

Jeremy from Critical Transit twitters:
I never used studded #bike tires before last week but I’ve become a believer.

Logan sends us a TEDx video from Tall Bike Bobby!

Marcus sends us some info from Streetsblog on how unused parking can cost seattle renters a lot of extra cash.

Jack comments on Steph Routh’s move by bike episode and relates a story about a uhaul.

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E161 – Cathy Hastie: Those Arrogant Bikers

December 10, 2013Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Family, History, Racing, The Law, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Cathy Hastie is a BikePortland lifestyle contributor who has written about comparative car sharing, fashion & clothing on bikes, and an article on “those arrogant bikers” recentlylabeled by Bike Snob as “possibly the smuggest article posted to [Bikeportland] to date.” She’s also a lifelong Portland resident who has been downplaying personal car use her entire life, so if anyone has claim to the right to be smug about transportation, it’s her! We taped more great conversation than you can shake a stick at.

Aaron & Brock also discuss Portland’s poet laureate, cold weather, and, later, the drinking club with a running problem (hashing!)

Headlines
RowdyKittens.com: Tammy Strobel launches A Simple Year: 12 months of guided simplicity
Oregonian: TriMet on the verge of sending vintage trolley cars to St. Louis, MO

Mail
Glenn in Edmonton clarifies #YEGbike, and inquires about GoPro, citing an archive on the topic both here and here.

A text: “Hmm a 40oz and Prince and The Revolution!”

Listener Dion twitters this article about Specialized’s suit against Cochrane bike builder; “but they won’t try that with Fuji, they sell a roubaix road bike”

Beercycling.com sends us their press release for the Ardennes Trappist Challenge – July 2014 will contain bikes & beer!

And iTunes and Stitcher reviews from our listeners!

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E160 – Michael Andersen: The Real Estate Beat

December 3, 2013Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, History, Housing, The Law, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Michael Andersen is a writer for BikePortland.org who covers a wide variety of low-car lifestyle topics, including his Real Estate Beat which aims to explore how property owners are making it easier to live without a car in the city’s rental market. We discuss presidential microphones and bike rides, low-car buildings & economic difficulties, how inclusionary zoning could help the situation, and the new micro-apartments being planned in the downtown and Hollywood districts.

Aaron & Brock also discuss the Critical Transit podcast, Bikecraft, renting a Prius, and dynamo lighting.

Headlines
BikePortland: the Oregon Outback gets organized
Diamond Cut Life: subtraction for the holidays

Mail
Tim in DC updates us on the Frontier Airlines bicycle policy.

Glenn in Edmonton on twitter has “become a big fan of the vibe of @SprocketPodcast” and links to a video of his snowy commute featuring birds! also, what does #yegbikemean?

Dan from MN texts in to say he enjoyed the show on bike moves!

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E159 – Steph Routh: How To Move By Bike

November 26, 2013Adventure, Bicycling, Cargo, Communication, Downsizing, The Lawsprocketpodcast

Steph Routh helps move people from one house to another by bike, and has helped with 61 of them. Now she’s written a book about it! Funded on Kickstarter and alreadylampooned by Bike Snob NYC (there is no greater praise). We talk to her about how it all works.

Aaron & Brock also discuss Cranksgiving!

Headlines
BTA infographic via BikePortland
Popular Mechanics via Logan: 10 Ingenious Bike Hacks
BikePortland: Organic Transit Velomobiles consider production in Portland

Mail
Listener Dion twitters a great story to us about Tommy Goodwin’s 1939 record for cycling 100,000 miles!

Glenn from Marrowstone Island comments on Ozette Lake & the origin of Kickapoo Joy Juice.

Marcus sends a donation for which we are grateful!

Doug in MN also donates, and knows both Listener Dan & guest Shawn Granton.

Professor Arnold from Stuart Hall School in Staunton VA explains empiricist perspectives on why I might have perceived the tempo of our theme music differently. We love our smart listeners.

Lastly, Dias from Sao Paulo comments on E144 with Cory Poole.

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E158 – Shawn Granton does the Pacific NW

November 18, 2013Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Touring, Train Travel, Travelsprocketpodcast

Shawn Granton is the adventurous individual responsible for the Urban Adventure League and many exciting events relating to bikes, fun, and travel. He joins us this week to share some stories about his recent travels to the San Juan Islands and other spots around the Pacific Northwest.

Laura Recker is coordinating Cranksgiving Portland 2013, an event happening at Velo Cult consisting of an alleycat race & a giving campaign for Outside In! Brock interviews her about Cranksgiving & other alleycat races, moving to Portland from Minneapolis (and the difference in those cities’ weather systems), and Coalition Brewing’s Imperial Stout.

Aaron & Brock discuss Aaron’s stolen bike, Lance & Becky Poehler’s bike move. Brock shares Purple & Orange’s song from our fundraising rewards at the end of the show – get the bike songs EP here!

Headlines
Streetsblog: Delaware drops “share the road” from signage
[the controversial sign design will be replaced with these two:]

Mail
Dan Flores sends in a TEDx talk from Kent Frankovich of Revolights, an innovative lighting method that illuminates forward and rearward from your wheels.

Albany Tweed Ride is inspired by early morning coffee rides.

Robert from Ocean Shores WA donates to us – thanks! He wants to tour, got a cargo trike for hauling his kids around, and shares the “invisible” helmet solution.

Marcus from Chicago redesigned our podcast icon! It’s awesome.

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The Sprocket Podcast

simplifying the good life

Category Archives: Bicycling

E168 – Guthrie Straw: Tours Near & Far

E167 – Lenny Anderson’s Swan Island

E166 – New Year!

E165 – Mr. Bob Crispin: Making a Mountain Bike

E164 – Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks OR

E162 – Elly Blue: Bikenomics

E159 – Steph Routh: How To Move By Bike

E158 – Shawn Granton does the Pacific NW