Category Archives: Train Travel

E182 – Jerry Zelada: Advocacy is Easy



Jerry Zelada is an optometrist by day, and an advocate by night.  Actually, he’s always an advocate and an activist, because that’s how changes get made at the levels that matter.  We talk to him about how bicycling runs in his family and his touring adventures in an earlier decade, the infrastructure debate surrounding Portland’s NE 28th Avenue business district, and how the state of Oregon provided a place at the table for nonmotorized road users in all areas of the state through the ODOT ACT.  Jerry’s website is: zelada.com

Also:
Gladys Bikes move-by-bike
tickets now available for Aftermass
No Tech Magazine shares an 8 wheeled cargo hauler

Headlines
BikePortland: Skamania Transit offers bike-friendly weekend service starting May 1

[Also, UrbanTurnip offered on twitter: “i thought #skamania was going to be a music festival or a checkered bike lane”]

TriMet: Ride around Washington Park FREE! Line 83 weekend service begins May 3

Mail
Eric from Portland wants to know what bike shorts and chamois creams we prefer.  We respond by encouraging the use of leather saddles.

Doug on Surly snobs & custom details.


E181 – Boaz Frankel & Phillip Ross: Pedal Powered Talk Show



photo by Clay Nowak

Boaz Frankel is the host of the Pedal Powered Talk Show, a short form series that features interesting and unique personalities from around Oregon; he also once set therecord for the most high fives given in an hour, and took a non-motorized “un-road trip” across America.

Phillip Ross is the owner and founder of Metrofiets, the company that designs and builds classy US made cargo bikes for utility and fun.  He’s the power behind the pedals for the Talk Show!

We discuss the Pedal Powered Talk Show, now in Season 3!  A little about the Metrofiets Desk Bike, how the show works (or doesn’t, in the case of their recently revealed crash story), traveling to Eastern Oregon and an appeal to Portlandia!

Also:
Pedal powered talk show season three launch party
tickets now available for Aftermass
Gladys Bikes is moving by bike!

Headlines
BikePortland: Domino’s Pizza gets a cargo bike
I Love The Bus: A Lesson in Letting Go

Mail
Justin is our newest regular donor, thanks a bunch!

Bryce is listening to the backlog and sends a link to Ron Dickinson’s tour blog.

Roger shares Tom Allen’s new Guide to Cycle Touring!  For all the “gear heads” out there.

Phil from AK: Fatbikes!

Glenn from YEG taped our show intro outside the Clinton Street Theater, and made a nice little wrap up video of his trip to Portland!

Shadowfoot found a picture of a tallbike.

Eric had an #ELF sighting in DC during this morning’s ride to work.

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
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi
Justin Martin


E180 – Dan Kaufman & Nathan Jones: Fatbikes & GPS



Dan Kaufman runs CrankMyChain Cycle TV & pdxk productions and has a deep love for bicycles and their implications for culture & conservation (and this time around, we didn’t make him come on the show while he lost his voice!)
Nathan Jones is the proprietor of Ride Yr Bike and has had numerous inspiring adventures in nature using bikes, including Tour Divide, the Oregon Outback, and his inspired TransAmerica touring race.

Both of them also are enthusiastic supporters of the Salmonberry Corridor project to renovate a derelict rail line into a multi-use path from Washington County to the Oregon coast; so much so, in fact, that they rode self-supported to one of the public input meetings in Wheeler, OR to add their voices.  We talk about all of this and more!

Also:
tickets now available for Aftermass
Pedal powered talk show season three launch party

Headlines
OregonLive: a name is chosen for the new transit bridge!

Mail
Steve in WY feels for Aaron & his donut shop conflict, and is glad that the small towns he lives in are bike friendly places.

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
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi


E179 – Doctor Jeff: Top-Level Commuting Expertise



Doctor Jeff is our perennial transit-loving advocate with a heart of gold, a head full of jokes and a wit as sharp as whatever gave you your last paper cut.  He joins us to hold forth on matters of transit, twitter, family, and vinyl.  It’s been to long!  So, let’s stay in touch this summer, eh?

Here are links to Jeff’s writing on the Westside Tunnel & his morning walk.

Headlines
Reptiles & birds change due to global warming

Mail
Neighbor Kelly catches up on some back episodes.

Jim submits a few more palindromes to Aaron’s chagrin & Brock’s delight.

JohnnyK recommends freecycle.org as a free box alternative.

Mark writes in on his experience with hammock camping – he took a respectable trip to Ionia State Recreation Area north of Ionia, near Saranac, MI!  He now greatly prefers it to traditional tent camping.

Trent explains how to say SLO.

Daniel from San Antonio alerts us to his new blog on bicycling infrastructure and culture in his town!

Chris from Arcata on Devil’s Slide south of SFO (These two articles can tell you some of the story) & the new Redwood Lily Hostel in Arcata, first of it’s kind, here.  Discounts to hostel goers on bicycles!

Congratulations to The Stickman on the birth of his son!

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
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi


E178 – Two Dudes & Some Palindromes



Brock & Aaron engage in a little more tour recap, including:

Mission Bicycle Company & The Lumen, the retroreflective bike (Kelly & Peter from theDope Pedalers) collaborated on by our friend Josh Zisson with Halo

Roger & the Bike Through China Book

Kevin at Carmel Starbucks & the Financial Engines water bottle, & escape from Hurricane Carmel

free boxes

the places we didn’t go

communication difficulties & touring dynamics

Why pay 50 dollars for gloves?

A few notable things:
Twitter trend: #ReplaceBikeWithCar  (and a roundup of the best)
Aftermass documentary!
Filmed By Bike!
Lenny Anderson’s records

Also: New studio rumblings & underwriter possibilities

Headlines
BikePortland: The Orange Line might secretly be Portland’s biggest bike project ever

Mail
Jame on bike shops & jargon.

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
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi


E177 – Maria Schur



Maria Schur loves bicycles, lives in Portland, and works for Western Bike Works.  She enjoys gravel rides and doesn’t own a car, and likes pink but doesn’t want to be stereotyped.  She also writes on her blog about the various adventures she gets into.  We talk about all of this and more!

Also: Brock, Aaron & Adele recap their California touring adventures.

Mail
Ethan becomes a new sustaining donor.  Thanks!

Doug in Duluth (another new donor – thanks!) suggests another bicycle shop equivalent of Stairway.

Jolene & The Stickman enjoyed hearing Madi & Katie’s chat on family rides.

Jake enjoyed the episode with Phil B; Phil also fills in the blanks on our gun-toting question.

Nick & Sue from the Bay Area are fans wishing us well!

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
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi


E176 – Madi Carlson (with Katie Proctor): Family Ride



Madi Carlson represents the family bicycling spirit of the city of Seattle, Washington with her children on a Surly Big Dummy longtail.  We talk to her about her involvement withFamily Bike and her Family Ride website that details the adventures she has with her family.

Katie Proctor helps to organize Portland’s Kidical Mass rides and joins us for the first time in two years since her last appearance on the show.

Also: Transportation Trivia at City Hall!

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 donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby & Wayne Norman for supporting our show costs.


E173 Tony Deis: Trackers Earth



Tony Deis of Trackers Earth joins us to talk about outdoor education, survival skills, and the value of community, and we make some connections to our interests in simpler living and bicycling.  You might be surprised how much talk there is about LARPing, and how telling and participating in stories influences the way we think about the world around us.

Also: Oscars, our upcoming bicycle tour, ring bearers & Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Headlines
How We Roll: new covered bike parking improves transit access in Forest Grove

Urban Adventure League: Shawn gives a rundown on traveling with a bike

Mail
Newest sustaining donors Wayne & Roger join our crew; Roger invites us to drop in when we bike through Santa Cruz!

Former guest Guthrie Straw says that the bike shop equivalent of “Stairway to Heaven” is “Bicycle Race” by Queen.

The Bicycle Film Festival, Portland happens Saturday, March 15 at 6:30pm at the Clinton Street Theater.

Keith in Walla Walla approves of Thunder Island Brewing.

JohnnyK asks: “Would it be possible to post a link to the XRAY.fm version of the show for those of us that are not within range to hear it over the air?”

Drew corrects Brock on his dynamo hub light and shares his ride down the California coast (a post on it on crazyguyonabike).

Jame shares a hilarious story about failed flirtation on light rail.

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 donors Logan Smith, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Roger Grigsby & Wayne Norman for supporting our show costs.


E166 – New Year!



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.

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.


E165 – Mr. Bob Crispin: Making a Mountain Bike



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.

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 Shadowfox for supporting our show costs.