Category Archives: Fun

E304 – Will Has New Rain Barrels

Advocacy, Beer, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Cargo, Family, Fun, Gardening, Housing, Mechanics, Simpler Living, Technology, The Law, Urban Design, Weather

Will Vanlue is back! With new tales of rain barrels and riding bikes with his son! He breaks down what’s great about low-car life in a family context, recaps his fascinating rain barrel system described in episode 236 and describes the upgrade that he recently installed!  Resilience is strong with this one.

Will recommends Green Concepts Container as a resource for clean, safe barrels.
Here’s the link to the City of Portland’s (surprisingly useful) rain barrel guide:
Calendar

June 24: The Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Ride (NEW DATE)
July 1: nails yall pop-up at Gladys Bikes 6-8pm
July 16: Brompton Urban Challenge!
August 11: Pam Nichols Art Show at Western Bike Works Tigard 6pm

Headlines
BikePortland journalism scores two awards in five-state contest

From oregonlive.com: Washington State provost grows bee beard to raise cash for bee center

From The Mirror, via bikeportland.org: Mum unwittingly joins triathlon bike ride – and ends up cycling entire route

Mail
New donor Michael Flournoy, thanks!

Unicorn Mike is going to have an adventure, but it’s not our fault.

Richard W warns of heat exhaustion, but likes the heat; also notifies of a new show called Ride Bikes Radio.

Fine Print
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
phone/SMS: 503-847-9774
twitter: @SprocketPodcast

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, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna, Krista, Jon Wasserman, Andre Johnson, Shelly & Troy, Kingof Division, Josh Zisson, Richard G, Guthrie Straw, Christopher Barnett, Branden Shelby, Kampcite, Aaron Green, Mac Nurse David, Kathryn Minchin, Nathan Poulton, Chris Rawson, Rory Closz, Michael Flournoy

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E303 – Joe Kurmaskie: Too Metal Cowboy

Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Camping, Car Ownership, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, Hair, Handcycling, Health, Simpler Living, Touring, Travel

Joe Kurmaskie, famously known as bicycle touring storyteller The Metal Cowboy, joins us to tell some stories from the road, update us on his hereditary genetic disorder he recently discovered he was living with and what he’s doing to help others it affects, and discuss some local politics and social responsibilities.  Expect the rich and entertaining style you’ve come to expect from the cowboy – he brings it!

Visit ironitout.org to learn more about Hereditary Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload).
Find Joe and his new book Falling Down In Public at metalcowboy.com

 

Also: Brock had an epic weekend with Grilled By Bike and Aaron and Anna almost missed the Prince/Bowie ride

Calendar
June 15: Biking Vikings!
June 18: The 3rd Annual Bike Mechanic Challenge! (SOLD OUT!)
June 21: The Pollen Ride! (NEW DATE)
June 24: The Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Ride (NEW DATE)
July 16: Brompton Urban Challenge!
August 11: Pam Nichols Art Show at Western Bike Works
All Summer: Outer Rim Bicycles + Gateway Brewing – Fridays & Saturdays 12-6

Mail
Whoa!  iTunes review describes us as “Sriracha sauce for my brain!”

Mark still has our Team Sincerity spoke card!

Mac-Nurse David passes along “Where are my pants”

Logan from shows us an all wheel drive bike

Fine Print
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
phone/SMS: 503-847-9774
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
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, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna, Krista, Jon Wasserman, Andre Johnson, Shelly & Troy, Kingof Division, Josh Zisson, Richard G, Guthrie Straw, Christopher Barnett, Branden Shelby, Kampcite, Aaron Green, Mac Nurse David, Kathryn Minchin, Nathan Poulton, Chris Rawson, Rory Closz

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E302 – Sysfail Talks Bike Fun

Beer, Bicycling, Communication, Fun, The Law, Transit, Urban Design

Brian Sysfail returns after a too-long-time to chat with us about Portland Autonomous Zone (PAZ), skillsharing, and the many great opportunities that Portland’s season of bike fun brings with the advent of Pedalpalooza!  We discuss how to lead or participate in a group ride, some etiquette points, and the politics of cameras.

Also: Brock rode 100 miles in 100 degrees, and Aaron rode a brompton around the horse track.

And: lots of E300 goodies! Monologues, Heinz Stücke, Brother Dan, &Mechanic Dudebro.

Thanks to our generous sponsor The Beer Mongers and our Patreon donors that keep us going!

Calendar
June 10: The Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Ride
June 11: Grilled By Bike!
June 11: The Last Bowie/Prince Ride
June 15: Biking Vikings!
June 18: The 3rd Annual Bike Mechanic Challenge! (SOLD OUT!)
June 21: The Pollen Ride! (NEW DATE)
July 16: Brompton Urban Challenge!

Headlines
From the Salt Lake Tribune: Unique internship: Travel 10,000 miles in 38 days in 15 states

From bikeportland.org: BTA will change name, expand mission to walking, transit and political action

Mail
from Kampcite:  “No. You definitely should not pee in the shower.”

Tim Mooney: “We need more ironic dudebro episodes… Basically this could be its own show.“

From PBJ Matt: Comes With Baggage, the documentary.

Orange is able to hook up a friend with LA bike camping knowledge!

Jim rode 73 miles!

Fine Print
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
phone/SMS: 503-847-9774
twitter: @SprocketPodcast

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, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna, Krista, Jon Wasserman, Andre Johnson, Shelly & Troy, Kingof Division, Josh Zisson, Richard G, Guthrie Straw, Christopher Barnett, Branden Shelby, Kampcite, Aaron Green, Mac Nurse David, Kathryn Minchin, Nathan Poulton, Chris Rawson, Rory Closz

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E301a – Madi Carlson & Fat Rob, with Shawn Granton: Long Rides!

Adventure, Beer, Bicycling, Boats, Camping, Cargo, Family, Fun, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Design, Weather

Madi Carlson is the author of Urban Cycling and the @familyride twitter feed.  She decided to do a long ride with the assistance of her friend Fat Rob from Seattle to Portland!  Aaron met them in Woodland, WA and ushered them back into our town.  Their friend, and ours, Shawn Granton of the Urban Adventure League, also joins to talk routes and tips on long rides.

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E300b – Heinz Stücke Travels The World for 50 Years

Adventure, Beer, Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, History, Housing, Kitchen, Simpler Living, Touring, Travel, Weather

For part of our 300th episode gala, how could we possibly avoid sharing the many stories and perspectives of one Heinz Stücke, especially when he came to Portland?

Heinz is promoting his new book, Home Is Elsewhere, as he cycles across America.  He’s been everywhere, man, and has some wisdom to share on nearly every aspect of living on the road.  He’s been sponsored by Brompton, everyone’s favorite folding bicycle company, since 2009, who has helped bring his book to the presses and on to the public!

Thanks to Clever Cycles in Portland, Oregon for hosting this informal session.  Like we said, he’s been everywhere, so this Q&A lasts for almost two hours.  Our recording got the whole room so it’s a little echo-y.  But it’s all good stuff!  We hope you enjoy hearing from this legendary icon of bicycle touring.

Oh yeah, Shawn Granton did a write-up on this event too!

And if you want even more Heinz, former Sprocket Podcast guests Travelling Two also did an interview with him back in 2010!

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E300x – EXMAS SPECIAL Dan “Wolfman Kah-kah-kah-kow” Flores Calls In

Beer, Bicycling, Communication, Fun, Technology, Transit, Travel, Urban Design

As Aaron said on twitter the other day:

“Dear family, if you call during recording times, I will answer it and plug you into our mixing board. You’ve been warned. Love, aaron.”

Guess who called right before we rolled tape on Episode 300?
That’s right!
DAN FLORES!

(Aaron’s brother, for those who don’t already know him from the first EXmas Special)

We engage in general FM DJ radio jackassery, promote THE BEER MONGERS at SE Division & 12th, then talk helmets and their warranties, Portland’s mayoral politics, Dan coming to Portland, riding the Columbia Gorge Express, and finally math theory and heresy and The Pet Shop Boys.

What a ride!

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E300 – THE BIG ONE

Adventure, Advocacy, Beer, Bicycling, Camping, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, History, Housing, Kitchen, Simpler Living, Technology, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Design

Well, this is it.  We made it to 300 episodes, and, rather than go big with a live event like we have for previous milestone episodes, we decided to go small and dive into our own internal process on bicycling, the simpler life, and our relationship with you, the listener. Brock & Aaron do a little intro banter, and then both of us recorded monologues that we hope are enlightening, encouraging, and express our grateful attitude toward your repeat visits to our little show every week.

Thanks so much for listening! We wouldn’t be here without you.

also: Brock hiked in central Oregon and tried to help a phoneless guy, and Aaron saw lifetime bicycle tourist Heinz Stucke.  Look for audio from his appearance atClever Cycles in our feed soon!

Thanks to our generous sponsor The Beer Mongers and our Patreon donors that keep us going!

Calendar
June 10: The Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Ride
June 11: The Last Bowie/Prince Ride
June 11: Grilled By Bike!
June 15: The Pollen Ride!  Comisserate with fellow allergen-sufferers
June 18: The 3rd Annual Bike Mechanic Challenge!
July 16: Brompton Urban Challenge!

Headlines

Columbia Gorge Express opens up bus service to areas east of Portland for carless people!

WBUR covers move by bike in Portland! Thanks for the link, Josh G.

Mail

Tim from Pedalshift shares the can opener hack.

Jim in NY talks about getting into a collision, observing a grief and our influence on his thought process.

Chris in Denver shares his self-defense strategy: pepper spray, mounted on the handlebars.

Swiftly, a classy transit app, is launching in Portland.

Fine Print
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
phone/SMS: 503-847-9774
twitter: @SprocketPodcast

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, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna, Krista, Jon Wasserman, Andre Johnson, Shelly & Troy, Kingof Division, Josh Zisson, Richard G, Guthrie Straw, Christopher Barnett, Branden Shelby, Kampcite, Aaron Green, Mac Nurse David, Kathryn Minchin, Nathan Poulton, Chris Rawson

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E299b – Shadowfoot

Adventure, Air Travel, Beer, Bicycling, Fun, Technology, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Design

Brian (aka “Shadowfoot“) from Wellington, New Zealand, joined us in the studio and we stuck around for a bit to chat about beer, bikes, transit, and many other things.  Brock & Aaron were joined by David Robinson from E299 as well.  We were glad to meet a long time listener, first time guest!

Inc article about overnight sleeper bus service

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