Category Archives: Technology

E098 – Tammy Strobel & Logan Smith: Rural Happiness

October 8, 2012Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Housing, Technology, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Tammy Strobel, author of You Can Buy Happiness (And It’s Cheap) and editor of the blog RowdyKittens.com, and Logan Smith join us to speak about the book’s release, downsizing and simplicity, and living without a motor vehicle in rural northern California.

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: Alison (fly on the wall), Bill (no perk, just $50 generous!). See the details here!

Mailbag
Dan in MN says: “I will miss Mr. Roads [sic] four letter wording. :)”

From Deanna:
“I am planning a Fixie World Tour-Riding a fixed geared bicycle over 30,000 miles, 6 continents, and taking under 2 years to create a documentary and photo book. Check out my kickstarter page!
also the blog: http://fixieworldtour.blogspot.com/p/past-ventures.html”

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)

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E097 – Kiel Johnson: Go By Bike

October 1, 2012Bicycling, Business, Cargo, Technology, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

An interview with BTA Alice Award winner, Bike Train superstar and bike shopentrepreneur Kiel Johnson!

Headlines
Steven Can Plan: American road signs use altogether too much text
Slate.com: Why You Hate Cyclists
BikePortland: How one downtown intersection is working – for everyone!

Mailbag
Michael Andersen submits info from Chris Smith on last week’s topics:
• NW (north of burnside) still does not have meters/permits other than event-day permit system for soccer games. No paid parking yet (although it’s on the Mayor’s bucket list)
• Open Plans is doing a mobile app (kickstarter funded) for a trip planner. That would probably be the place to get an option put in for whether or not to include the 4 minute buffer [that TriMet automatically assumes when you’re using its trip planner]
• I tried to make a big push for telecommuting part of the portland plan, but didn’t get a lot of enthusiasm. The key policy piece however is probably the City’s broadband plan which actually got done a few months before the Portland Plan. The other piece would be a “lead by example” effort by the City and other governments.
• Transit Surfer 🙂 (but you can also bookmark pages on the mobile version of Transit Tracker)”

Also, we mention the Bill O’Reilly freakout video of legend and lore.

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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

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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!

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E085 – Lane Kagay: CETMAcargo

July 9, 2012Bicycling, Building, Camping, Technology, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Lane Kagay is the man behind CETMAcargo & CETMAracks out of Eugene, Oregon. We spoke with him on the phone about his company and its history, Eugene as a cycling town, bike messenger experience and touring with a cargo bike.

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

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E082b – Travis Wittwer & Dave Feucht: TRANSPORTland

June 19, 2012Bicycling, Building, Camping, Cargo, Communication, Technology, The Law, Train Travel, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

We met with Travis Wittwer & Dave Feucht of TRANSPORTland over soup and beer at Dave’s place to discuss cargo bikes, the Disaster Relief Trials event yesterday, transit and bicycle integration, improving the infrastructure or culture of bicycling, and many other things. Powered byHopworks’ hefeweizen and 7 grain stout beers!

Tour de Clack is coming, led by our friend and former guest Matt Picio! Tour de Clack is an inaugural bike ride in rural Clackamas County on July 7 2012. It’s free, and to draw attention to water quality projects done by the ride’s sponsor, the Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC).

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

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E082a – Brock & Brandon Wrap Up for Summer

June 15, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Gardening, Technology, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Brock & Brandon go through the emails to make sure everyone gets included before a summer hiatus of pre-recorded interviews. We look forward to resuming our “live” talk show format after returning to the studio in September. Hope everyone has many grand adventures in the meantime!

Don’t forget to gird your loins for the first Portland Zombie Ride, a Pedalpalooza event beginning at Velo Cult on Sunday, June 17 2012 at 10:30am! The zombie apocalypse will not be motorized… Also, the TRANSPORTland Disaster Relief Trials will be happening at the same location that day! We’ll talk about that on Monday night with the crew that organized the event!

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

Stuff we mentioned in this episode:
• David Byrne writes about NYC bicycling
• Willamette Week’s Aaron Mesh rides TriMet for 3 days straight!
• Rance and Darren comment on the “Cycles of Life” graphic
• BikePortland exposes a bicycle touring con man
• Rigel asks if Brandon has floated Johnson Creek yet
• Tom & Ben Allen head into the lost coast of northern California
• Local bicycling mattress businessman leads cargo bikes in Starlight parade
• Rob Sadowsky shares his favorite allergy meds and a link to the SF bike music fest
• PLP hosts the George Romero flat challenge
• BikePortland: Propel fuel stations love bikes
• Brandon shares the Atlantic Cities’ “Evolution of Bike Lanes”
• BikePortland covers the notorious Hwy 26/Sylvan intersection
• Bees swarm a bicycle basket
• JohnnyK comments on the Federal Transportation Bill
• Damian from NZ writes in
• Gus shares a DIY frame cargo contraption
• Tim shares a story of angry freds in France
• Logan shares Bicycle Quarterly’s performance review of tires
• Dan from MN shares his hunting experiences

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E080 – Rob Sadowsky Makes Sausage

June 4, 2012Adventure, Bicycling, Brewing, Communication, Housing, Kitchen, Technology, Transitsprocketpodcast

Rob Sadowsky from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance discusses his time at the bicycle summit in Washington DC and the making of sausage, both legislative and actual, culinary sausage.

[warning: to listeners sensitive to descriptions of animal food processing, we talk about this a little]

Update: Rob shared links to his favorite silver-infused allergy medication and the San Francisco bicycle-based music festival.

We mention a blog post from Listener Blayne in BC about the paleo diet.

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

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E079 – Kick Ass Oregon Bicycling History

May 29, 2012Bicycling, Building, Camping, Communication, History, Technology, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Vincent Caldoni sits in for Brandon while he’s gone, and we are joined by resident historian of ORhistory.com Doug Kenck-Crispin to discuss Oregon’s early adoption of bicycles into many parts of life, and how the past informs the present.

Brock’s 30th birthday party is coming up at Cartlandia: Best Bands Ever 2012, a free music festival!

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

The Sprocket Podcast is now available on Stitcher smart radio! If you use the service, you can add us to your programming roster.

A list of Brock’s sources for the history discussion:
Eric Lundgren on Governor Geer
Eric Lundgren on Bemer Pague & Portland’s early cycle paths
Sheldon Brown defines: Scorcher
Eric Lundgren’s detailed essay on early Portland bicycling
Stewart Holbrook’s “The Three Sirens of Portland”
Jonathan Maus reports on author Sue Macy’s presentation of early women bicyclists
her book: Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle To Freedom
Jonathan Maus compares 1890s & 2000s fixed gear riders

Headlines
RowdyKittens & The Path Less Pedaled on L.L. “Stubb” Stewart State Park
BikePortland celebrates the return of Portland OR to the #1 city for cycling

Mailbag
Anonymous: http://gutterparty.com/no-2/

Carl from CA: “Hey guys – just bumped into this on the inter webs on the FB… AN XTRACYCLE SIDE CAR! Imagine tour with this rig?.”

Blayne from BC: “Thanks for the re-tweets for my blog [http://thecynicalcyclist.blogspot.com/]. Summer can’t get here fast enough. I am preparing for my first solo trip, a four day trip on Northern Vancouver Island, later in August. If any Sprocket listeners are vacationing on Vancouver Island this summer I would love to hear from you. Contact me through my blog. Have a great summer and “Find Adventure.”

Dan in MN in response to the Disaster Relief Trials sponsored by TRANSPORTland: “When I worked in public health I had asked the EMS program if they would consider getting on bicycles. Getting them on bicycles to respond a first responder situation quicker and easier.”

Donations from Blayne in BC & JohnnyK in FL! Thanks! If you’d like to donate, you can do so using the donate button in the right-hand sidebar.

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E077 – Ellee Thalheimer: Cycling Sojourner

May 14, 2012Bicycling, Brewing, Communication, Technology, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Ellee Thalheimer is the author of Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Bicycle Tours In Oregon, just released! As you may suspect, this is right up our alley, so we chat with her about the wonders of bicycle touring and her love for the simple machines that get us around both for leisure and with purpose.

Brock makes a Car2Go meme and they respond.

Brock’s 30th birthday party is coming up at Cartlandia: Best Bands Ever 2012, a free music festival!

Bike Safe Portland wallet-sized accident reports are available now in Portland bicycle shops near you! Thanks to Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project.

The Sprocket Podcast is now available on Stitcher smart radio! If you use the service, you can add us to your programming roster.

Headlines
The Atlantic Cities: bike as paintbrush, city as canvas
Tom’s Bike Trip: riding in the rain; tough task on tour, but surmountable!
Mashable: Google’s self-driving car gets the green light for testing in Nevada
BikePortland: Portlander triumphs at gruelling Trans Iowa endurance race

Mailbag
Dan in MN: his dad is a welder/fabricator and wants to make a railbike someday. we want video.

Candice in PDX: “i think runners like to run on asphalt as opposed to sidewalks because asphalt isn’t as hard and dense as concrete (or is it cement?) so it’s easier on your joints.”

Patrick in Davis CA: “love this:”

And from an anonymous listener:

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