Category Archives: Car Ownership

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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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.

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.

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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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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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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E147 – Tyler Tervooren: Advanced Riskology

September 4, 2013Adventure, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Downsizing, TravelRunningsprocketpodcast

Tyler Tervooren believes in Advanced Riskology: better living through uncertainty. While today’s cultural norms encourage having everything safely buttoned up and tucked in, his journey to personal fulfillment doesn’t have it all safely figured out. Instead, he’s pursuing his goals of an unconventional lifestyle by riding the ragged edge that the boring call disaster, and the interesting call really living.

Brock & Aaron also discuss Pennsylvania, humidity, getting WAY too drunk, and 4 years of living in Portland.

Mail
JohnnyK chimes in on our chat with Anna Brones about eating pigeon eggs.

Listener Ken contributes a new transit tip: the CAT shuttle to Hood River now goes twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday.

We’re grateful for a donation from Wayne, who recently visited Portland and should have said hello!

The Stickman shouts out before moving away from PDX: “If there is one thing I take back to Vegas with me from Oregon it is the @SprocketPodcast. Can’t thank you guys enough for the inspiration.”

Headlines
TriMet: Mobile Ticketing is coming soon to your pocket.
Wall Street Journal via one bike one world: overeager transit fan is sentenced to prison
The Atlantic Cities via Brandon: A stylish ring can replace your farecard

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The Sprocket Podcast

simplifying the good life

Category Archives: Car Ownership

E168b – Organic Transit’s ELF Test Drive

E167 – Lenny Anderson’s Swan Island

E166 – New Year!

E165 – Mr. Bob Crispin: Making a Mountain Bike

E162 – Elly Blue: Bikenomics

E147 – Tyler Tervooren: Advanced Riskology