Category Archives: Technology

E258 – Brad Davis & Reuben Deumling: Hanging Up The Phones

September 30, 2015Beer, Bicycling, Communication, Downsizing, Simpler Living, Technology, Transitsprocketpodcast

Brad Davis from EcoSpeed and Reuben Deumling join us this week to talk about that darned technology most of us carry around in our pockets and how much technology you need in life to feel connected, informed, and happy. No phone? Smartphone? Dumb phone? We mull over the questions.

Reuben mentions the film from Carlton students: Disconnected.
We also grasp at the title of Nicholas Carr’s book The Glass Cage

Also: Aaron & Brock competed in Bike Scout over the weekend!

Thanks to our beverage sponsor, The Beer Mongers (hosting Chris Fest October 20!), and, as always, thanks to our generous Patreon donors that keep us going!

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John Gardner found Team Sincerity in his email!

From Chris R. in Denver liked the new face of trucking, Todd Parker.

comments
From E257b
Josh G. shares a video with us: “Who is the King of the I-105?“

PBJar Matt weighs in on why Subway sandwich bread tastes off.

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
mail things to:

Brock Dittus/The Sprocket Podcast
℅ IPRC
1001 SE Division St
Portland OR 97202

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, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner,Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Gabriel Trainer, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna, Krista Skucas, Jon Wasserman, Andre Johnson, Shelly & Troy, Kingof Division, Josh Zisson, Richard G

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E236b – Bike Friday Review

May 8, 2015Bicycling, Building, Cargo, Family, Mechanics, Technologysprocketpodcast

Listener Jim from New York asked us to check out an interview possibility with people from Bike Friday, the company in Eugene, Oregon who make bicycles, including the one Jim rides every day. I spoke with John “Raz” Rezell who hooked Brock up with a Haul-A-Day test model to ride for a month and evaluate. It was a fantastic ride and great for people who want to haul cargo on a bike that is designed to be portable!

Thanks to Raz & Bike Friday for the loan and the conversation, and we look forward to speaking with them again in the future!

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E236 – Will Vanlue: Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

May 6, 2015Bicycling, Brewing, Building, Camping, Car Ownership, Cargo, Downsizing, Gardening, Simpler Living, Technology, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Will Vanlue: former advocacy organization official, now a hauler of soups and freelance urban sustainability engineer. He made some sweet rain barrels, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg! He brews, he builds, he landscapes… and no, that’s not his real twitter account.

Thanks to our beverage sponsor, The Beer Mongers, and, as always, thanks to our generous Patreon donors that keep us going!

Also: Brock took a bike camping weekend trip, and Aaron wants to haul his unboxed frame around town for photos.

Headlines
citylab.com: How the Microtransit Movement Is Changing Urban Mobility
willamette week: Portland’s Last Affordable Bike Neighborhoods

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Josh G. says that, yes, the Thousand Island dressing probably has roots in the Thousand Islands.

PBJ Matt shares sad 9% fare hike from NJ Transit.

Speaking of sails on bikes: JohnnyK found a Pterosail trike.

Brian Benson’s project The River Signal is up!

Logan sent us a NYT article: cargo bikes are the new cars.

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 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, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Gabriel Trainer, Sebastien Poule, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Drew the Welder, Anna Olsen, Marco Lo, Rich Otterstrom, Andrew Alderson, Krista Skucas

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E228 – Adron Hall: Transit Sleuth

March 10, 2015Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Family, History, Housing, Technology, The Law, Train Travel, Transit, Urban Design, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Transit Sleuth is on the case; he’s been following sustainable transit modes and reporting on them for some time here in Portland OR! We chat about the state of transportation in our town, along with Adron’s youth near trains and his eventual disenchantment with sweating in traffic. Read the latest updates at transitsleuth.com

Also: TriMet’s annual report is available, Inspired to Ride film is coming soon (4/18 in Portland), Brock dug some dirt out of Will Vanlue’s yard and is sore, and Aaron ran into Jeff on the street.

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

Headlines

Human Transit: How do I find a hotel near good transit?
and How do I find a hotel near good transit? Not (yet) via google!

BBC News via Logan: Ford Motor Co. experiments with e-bikes

bikeportland.org: Half of Portland car2go vehicles now have rear bike racks

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Many thanks to new donors JP Q-lee, Matt B, Patrick, & Gabriel! And all of our previous ones.

Tim Mooney sent us news on the possibility of c&o trail camping fees – it’s still gonna be free! Also, he’s pro-pug.

Josh G sends us a non-bikey writer’s review of biking in Vancouver WA.

Tomas Q. is working with Ride With GPS on their Ambassador Program.

Nurse David explains how to clean a peanut butter jar.

Dan in Bemidji: Fatbikes race in MN! Also Aaron mentions a Cyclofemme event.

Richard finds an article about Hub Powderworks from Gizmodo!

Anna sent in the TED talk about why buses represent democracy in action.

Glenn in YEG had #coffeeoutside!

John from Goldendale has a very “Portland” moment that reminds him we’re all human beings.

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, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Matt B., Patrick Archain, Gabriel Trainer

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E225 – Stephen Szucs: #RETHINK Tour

February 26, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Cargo, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, Housing, Simpler Living, Skateboarding, Technology, Touring, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Stephen Szucs is fascinated by more sustainable living solutions that the average Joe can implement. He rode one of Organic Transit’s ELF trikes, Rita, on his #RETHINK tour from Canada to Florida. We also talk about transportation choices such as longboarding, housing choices like Craig & Connie Cook’s earthship, and other kinds of choices we can make to create a better world for people now and in the future.

follow this link to Brock’s ELF trike test ride from a year ago.

Also, this is what a conch shell sounds like.

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, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith

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E224 – Alex Reed & Kari Shlosshauer: Bike Loud PDX

February 24, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Communication, Family, History, Simpler Living, Technology, The Law, Transit, Urban Design, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Alex Reed helped to launch and coordinate Bike Loud PDX. Kari Schlosshauer is a concerned and involved bikey mom who lives near SE Clinton street. We talk about starting an advocacy movement, the case study of Portland’s first neighborhood greenway, the nature of advocacy vs. that of activism (and are they the same thing?), and innovative experiments such as Better Block.

Want to support a Safer Oregon? Buy some Clinton Street swag inspired by Bike Loud PDX!

Also: Brock takes an 80 mile pub crawl ride & borrows a Bike Friday, Aaron rents a fatbike.

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

Headlines

OregonLive.com: Modest Mouse releases music video shot on MAX

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Logan shares the xtracycle megarack that converts standard frames to longtails!

Antonio shares a map made by EEG-enabled helmets of Manhattan

Tim Mooney shares Brock & Adele’s tour journals from 2012 on Pedalshift Project

Harm in NZ shares Portland news: sustainable electricity harvested from city water utility pipes

Zoe asks: ”We want to ride from Portland to the coast this summer so I’m looking for the best, most beautiful route with the lightest traffic.” Brock likes Oregon’s highway 6 to Tillamook, but Alex prefers the idea of the Nestucca River Road (Path Less Pedaled did this a while back)

Gerald likes chemical handwarmers in his gloves.

Not mail but from the shift list: Tall Bike Tour!

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E223 – Vivian Satterfield: OPAL Environmental Justice

February 17, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Housing, Simpler Living, Technology, The Law, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Vivian Satterfield is a representative of OPAL Environmental Justice, an advocacy group in Portland, OR committed to improving the transportation experience of people using buses and light rail to get around town. We talk about her bicycling experience, work around transit, and how being in public connects us to the world around us.

Also: Brock & Aaron led the Team Sincerity Ride on Presidents’ Day!

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

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Eric in GA inquires about cold weather cycling gloves; Brock likes Youngstown Glovesand Vivian is sponsored by Cestus Work Gloves.

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E222 – Bryan Hance: Bike Index

February 10, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Technology, The Law, Theft, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Bryan Hance is one of the people behind the Bike Index, a database of bicycle serial numbers and traits that helps tie people to them when a theft occurs. We talk about the website, the situation on thefts (especially in Portland OR), avoidance tips, and their partnership with Spinlister. Bryan mentioned this inspiring story about some people who got their bikes back!

Brock also asked a few questions about the dialogue on bicycle theft as it relates to homelessness, and meant to mention this article from Street Roots, a newspaper published by and for people living outside.

Also: Brock got buzzed on an early morning commute (but refrained from u-lock justice a la R.A.M.B.O. [via JP]); Aaron is in Federal Way, WA for work. Gladys Bikesowner Leah Benson joins as this week’s co-host!

Join the Team Sincerity Ride on Presidents’ Day!

Donate at Patreon

Headlines

Washington Post via Tim Mooney: Portland is the only city gentrifying faster than D.C., report says
From bikeportland.org: Portland’s low-car transportation web ranks 7th nationally, study says
From Jackson Hole (WY) News and Guide via bikeportland.org: Bill would require neon clothes, government ID for cyclists

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Eric Iverson’s call to action: join the Clinton Street ride

Alvaro recommends fw: thinking podcast on the future of bicycles

Logan alerts us to the presence of Rivendell bikes’ test fleet in Portland!

Nurse David asks how great smartphones actually are (or aren’t)

Glenn Kubish recommends a guest & signs up to be our foreign correspondent.

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E220b – Greg Hum: Drumbiker

January 29, 2015Adventure, Bicycling, Cargo, Communication, Fun, Music, Technology, The Law, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Greg Hum is a drumbiker. What is that, you ask? Well, take some rhythm and add it to your transportation. That’s where it starts. Brock speaks with him at his apartment in Cambridge, MA about sound and motion, bike fun, and the delicate line along which an event organizer walks when dealing with sensitive authority figures. Watch his videos on YouTube, especially the film “Making a Splash in Miami” that he submitted to last year’s Filmed By Bike, and join in on the fun with Boston Bike Party if you’re near the Boston area!

We mention Portland buckets ‘n slide blues band Hillstomp, who also make use of buckets (and are one of Brock’s favorite bands). Here’s the death metal washing machine, too, and the video where metal music was paired with the sound.

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E220 – @dudeluna

January 27, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Family, Fun, Mountain Biking, Technology, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Armando Luna is a twitter genius with his finger on the pulse of the Portland bicycle culture. He’s a mountain bike enthusiast and a fun loving ride participant, a father and a husband, an all-around good guy. Also: he’s a listener! We sit down and wind a conversation through our points of commonality.

Also: Brock got some knee pain (helpful advice from BikePortland) and went to thehorse races; Aaron got seen on the trail by a mystery tweeter, and bought pants. Path Less Pedaled gives a mountain bike review of Columbia County, OR.

Headlines

BikePortland: ‘Recumbent PDX’ opens on SE Hawthorne

Oregonlive.com: Vancouver police looking for hit-and-run driver determined to get away

Listener Gerald: Portland Bike Party is happening!
This Friday, 1/30, 7pm at Jamison Square, 810 NW 11th Ave Portland OR

Press release: Bike Index and Spinlister team up to help Portland’s bike theft victims
see bikeindex.org & spinlister.com

BikePortland: Oregon Senate bill would repeal ‘bike bill,’ mandate bicycle licenses and registration

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Thanks to new donor Andy Brunner! He recommends the Novara safari as Brock’s next bike.

Dan tells us a bike will fit inside a Portland Loo.

JohnnyK recommends to bring TP with you at all times, and likes White Lightning Bamboo Cycle Wipes; explains his nail polish trick when fixing a chain.

Branden Shelby: “Here’s the coffee device that caught my eye.”

Richard says teaching adults to ride bikes is “truly more rewarding than any of the other classes that we teach.”

Phoebe admires the resilience of bicyclists.

Logan corrects Brock’s misunderstanding of his locking skewers: “we use Zefal “Lock’n Roll” skewers” and also use their locking seat post clamp. You don’t have to lock them upside down.” Also, jewelry from Leatherman.

A shout out to Richard in England!

And John in Goldendale shares a poster for a bicycle rack design contest in his town.

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