Category Archives: Camping

E123 – Deanna Adams: Setbacks & Adventures

March 30, 2013Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Touring, Travel, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Deanna Adams is a cycle touring adventurer who we spoke to earlier in our show’s history about her minimalist vegan fixie tour through Mexico. After some additional adventures in Europe, she encountered some health challenges and had to postpone plans for a worldwide tour in the works while dealing with those; we speak about her struggle to enjoy life at home and the lessons learned while waiting it out.

We reference This American Life’s “Self-Improvement Kick” episode which contains the story of Daryl Watson, who aspired to be the next “peace pilgrim.”

Deanna also mentions learning to fuse plastic to create new inexpensive gear out of discarded grocery bags.

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)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E114 – Dan Christensen: Roll Easy

January 28, 2013Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Doin' It, History, Mountain Biking, Technology, The Law, Touring, Transitsprocketpodcast

Dan Christensen is a transit bus driver who shares his experiences by blog, twitter, and live storytelling. He was kind enough to drop in for a chat about being a driver, dealing with traffic and bicycles, and experiencing Mount Saint Helens’ eruption in 1980. Read his writing at rolleasyblog.com!

We also implore our listeners to drunk dial us (503-847-9774), Brock describes an amorous evening gone wrong over the last weekend, and we discuss bicycle touring as a near-future occurrence.

Headlines
New York Times: The Flight From Conversation
League of American Bicyclists: a compendium of bicycle laws in all 50 states!
BikePortland: Oregon City votes to build bike tourism “epicenter” in Amtrak station

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E106 – Honky Tonk Prison

December 3, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Cargo, Downsizing, Music, Performance, Travelsprocketpodcast

Honky Tonk Prison is (left to right): Timo Forsberg, Esther Harlow, Chelsea Kline, Ken Southerland, Vivian Yuan, and Amos Hunter.

Portland’s premier bicycle-loving ukelele band Honky Tonk Prison was kind enough to invite Brock into their weekly rehearsal to share some songs and talk about eco-friendly life in the Pacific Northwest, as well as many bad puns and some rollicking laughter! We present an hour of music and conversation as this week’s show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E105 – The Professor Does The California Coast

November 26, 2012Beer, Bicycling, Brewing, Camping, Downsizing, Touring, Train Travel, Travelsprocketpodcast

Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy of Fort Collins, CO joins us for another entertaining discussion of his summer bicycle travel and the fantastic people one meets along the way.

We discussed:
Some beer talk (we talked even more about beer, and you can hear it here!)
Moving & downsizing,
The posse for the journey,
Bit Tai Tai (or Stanley S. Bay) & his omnipresent qualities,
Jugwater & the merits of a bucket for travel,
pizza & beer delivered to a state park,
the sturdy boot technique (Lance Armstrong’s new drug of choice),
meeting epic travelers on long rides,
#hobofabulous & #hoboprophet apply,
Tour De Fat and recognition of a distinct appearance,
“typical Americans with your junk and beer,”
our collective sports illiteracy,
destinations full of interesting people,
a legitimate vacation by bicycle,
a return trip by Amtrak, compassionate employees and the Trails & Rails program,
and sundry other travels as well (Doe Bay Fest)!
and mentions of unique tours including Tall Bike Bobby.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E104 – Darren Alff Does Europe

November 19, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

This week Brock speaks to Darren Alff, proprietor of the fine bicycle touring sitebicycletouringpro.com, about his most recent bicycle touring venture: a year on a bicycle, circling Europe and heading towards Africa! We discuss:

Iceland
touring with his old roommate Brandon
the itinerary
touring with Bike Switzerland
bicycle infrastructure in Europe
Istanbul to Bulgaria & Romania
meeting friends on the road
pizza in a bag
unexpected joy in a new city
the tension between travel and maintaining friendships at home
drawing inspiration from other tourists
drawing inspiration from art & fashion
being overwhelmed by information
the value of variety
developing pragmatism and accepting challenges to thought

Many thanks to Darren for making the time to share his thoughts!

We had planned to have Elly Blue & Martina Fahrner into the studio, but a scheduling snafu made this too complicated to be a reality for this week. We plan to have them back in the studio sometime after the new year.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E096 – Portland Afoot Crossover Episode!

September 24, 2012Bicycling, Business, Camping, Car Sharing, Cargo, Communication, Family, History, Housing, Technology, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Michael & Lily from Portland Afoot‘s monthly podcast join us to create a powerful new fusion of transportation goodness!

0:00-42:00 Portand Afoot segment

News
1) No auto parking at many new apartments
2) Portland Afoot’s sponsor this month: Streetcar Mobile Music Fest
Friday, Oct. 5 from 6-10 p.m. on the newly opened eastside (CL) loop. Afterparty at Union/Pine (6th and Pine) has food cart food & more live music.
3) Telecommuting rises in popularity with the younger set

Michael’s Transit Tip of the Month

Lily’s TriMet Tweets

Only On The Bus
Kali did not realize quite how green she appears to the outside world.

And of course, the Oakland Rap video mentioned can be found at http://pdx.be/OaklandRapVideo

42:00-1:04:00 The Sprocket Podcast segment

The Sprocket Podcast continues its Indiegogo fundraising campaign to underwrite the next season of the show during a year with thin budgets. We will be offering many personalized rewards to our backers! Thanks to this week’s donors, former show guests Darren and Logan. See the details here!

Headlines
• Taking the Lane: the internet explodes about Emily Finch’s radical de-motorization
• Bike Trailer Blog: Man tows 24 foot mast & boom to a 20 foot sailboat 30 miles away. By bike.
• DCist: a salute to the triathlete who rode a Capital Bikeshare bike 26.1 miles

Mailbag
Jack (@TriBikeCommuter) comments on the price of RVs and Brock’s tendency to take over shows he guests on.

Darren says: “My tour is over and cannot wait to hear a humorous song about it. Thanks for entertaining me whilst I was riding across NZ the UK and Europe guys!”

Keith reminisces about meeting Brock in Walla Walla, WA

Joe points out mymobilemedicine.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E095 – Shawn Granton: Urban Adventure League

September 17, 2012Bicycling, Brewing, Camping, Technology, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Shawn Granton is the author of many independent, self-illustrated print publications and the blog Urban Adventure League. A self-proclaimed retro-grouch and avid bicycle tourist, he enjoys leading Cycle Wild trips and taking his own independent tours as well. He prefers a slower approach to technology and communication both on and off the bike.

Also, The Sprocket Podcast continues its Indiegogo fundraising campaign to underwrite the next season of the show during a year with thin budgets. We will be offering many personalized rewards to our backers! Thanks to this week’s donors: Anonymous, Steve,Tim, Michael, Blayne, and Lily. See the details here!

Finally, stay tuned at the end of the show for an important announcement from Brandon Rhodes.

Headlines
BikePortland: USA Today declares “bikes rule the road” in Portland, OR
BikePortland: Builder by Bike, Chris Sanderson, is looking to hire a second handyman
Calgary Herald via BikePortland: Does yelling at cyclists make streets safer?

Mailbag
Dean comments on E87: “Great relaxed, interesting and informative Podcast. A serious issue without too much seriousness!”

Esther says of our pedestrian advice: “Timo and I were listening and he said nope- you walk at a *brisk* pace, not a normal pace – according to Ellen Vanderslice, the original radical pedestrian.”

Dan in MN says of E92: “Very good story, I cannot wait to go on a long bicycle tour.”

Jeff discovered us and can’t stop listening!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E094 – Brandon and Candice Do Washington

September 10, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Brandon & Candice took a multi-modal tour around Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula this summer; they share some stories about the journey. We watch the TARC Bus Bike Rack Rap.

Also, The Sprocket Podcast launches its Indiegogo fundraising campaign to underwrite the next season of the show during a year with thin budgets. We will be offering many personalized rewards to our backers! See the details here!

Headlines
Treehugger: ETSY employees haul 600lbs of compostables each month by bike
BikePortland: thoughts on getting a “free ride.”
Sightline via Logan: Northwest gasoline consumption makes a modest decline
NPR via Dayn: Copenhagen builds highways for people on bicycles
The Atlantic Cities: Is London Serious About Building a Network of Elevated Bike Lanes?

Mailbag
We get a generous donation from George in Washington DC. Thanks George!

Rance compares Brandon’s banana bike discovery to the first bicycles, or “dandy horses.”
“The only difference is that you hang in the new one and sit on the old one. Take a look and see.” (timepoint 4:38)

Chris in Arcata comments on the red shoulder in E92’s picture – it’s of Brock and Adele riding in Frisco CO.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E093 – Brock on KRFC Fort Collins

September 4, 2012Advocacy, Bicycling, Brewing, Camping, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

This week we feature the content from Fort Collins, Colorado’s KRFC program “Bikes & Beer” on which Brock was a guest while traveling through town on his summer tour. Host Zach Yendra (proprietor of Yendra Built, a custom fabrication business) invited Brock and several other bicycle tourists to join him in the studio to talk about bicycle travel. Also featured was Molly North, Fort Collins’ city bicycle program coordinator.