Category Archives: Travel

E104 – Darren Alff Does Europe

November 19, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

This week Brock speaks to Darren Alff, proprietor of the fine bicycle touring sitebicycletouringpro.com, about his most recent bicycle touring venture: a year on a bicycle, circling Europe and heading towards Africa! We discuss:

Iceland
touring with his old roommate Brandon
the itinerary
touring with Bike Switzerland
bicycle infrastructure in Europe
Istanbul to Bulgaria & Romania
meeting friends on the road
pizza in a bag
unexpected joy in a new city
the tension between travel and maintaining friendships at home
drawing inspiration from other tourists
drawing inspiration from art & fashion
being overwhelmed by information
the value of variety
developing pragmatism and accepting challenges to thought

Many thanks to Darren for making the time to share his thoughts!

We had planned to have Elly Blue & Martina Fahrner into the studio, but a scheduling snafu made this too complicated to be a reality for this week. We plan to have them back in the studio sometime after the new year.

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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E101x – More Bill Lascher!

October 30, 2012Communication, Train Travel, Travelsprocketpodcast

After we concluded the show, there was so much to discuss that we kept on talking while the tape kept running. More conversation with Bill Lascher here!

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E101 – Bill Lascher: Amtrak Stories

October 29, 2012Bicycling, Communication, Doin' It, Technology, Train Travel, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Bill Lascher is a journalist preparing a book on Melville Jacoby, the first Time magazine reporter killed on duty, and producer of the fabulous Thinkingest Podcast which examines our over-examining tendencies. Today he joins us to share some of his stories of travel by train on the United States’ passenger rail service Amtrak.

After we concluded the show, there was so much to discuss that we kept on talking while the tape kept running. More conversation with Bill Lascher here!

Portland Afoot just published some more kind words about our crossover episode a few weeks back! Thanks as always to Michael, Lily and their crew for the fantastic work they do around low-car mobility and culture.

Also, The Sprocket Podcast concludes its Indiegogo fundraising campaign to underwrite the next season of the show during a year with thin budgets! We have offered many personalized rewards to our backers, most recently Bryan (AKA Orange), Steve, Russ & Laura, and Jeremy! Thanks to all of our donors for their generous support! See the details here!

Headlines
No Tech Magazine via Logan: Bicycle Trailer with Solar Panel Charges Electric Bicycle
Peak Moment TV via Logan: Can Pedals Power the World?
BikePortland: Portland area resident rides every single road in the entire region

Mailbag
Steve laments the lack of an RSS button on the website. We fix it!
Another Steve supports our fundraising effort and buys us new headphones!
Jeremy looks forward to his transit ride with the hosts when he visits Portland.
Bryan (AKA Orange) simply says: “Best. Podcast. Ever.”
Carl visits New England and likes the bikey things he sees there.

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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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E094 – Brandon and Candice Do Washington

September 10, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Brandon & Candice took a multi-modal tour around Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula this summer; they share some stories about the journey. We watch the TARC Bus Bike Rack Rap.

Also, The Sprocket Podcast launches 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! See the details here!

Headlines
Treehugger: ETSY employees haul 600lbs of compostables each month by bike
BikePortland: thoughts on getting a “free ride.”
Sightline via Logan: Northwest gasoline consumption makes a modest decline
NPR via Dayn: Copenhagen builds highways for people on bicycles
The Atlantic Cities: Is London Serious About Building a Network of Elevated Bike Lanes?

Mailbag
We get a generous donation from George in Washington DC. Thanks George!

Rance compares Brandon’s banana bike discovery to the first bicycles, or “dandy horses.”
“The only difference is that you hang in the new one and sit on the old one. Take a look and see.” (timepoint 4:38)

Chris in Arcata comments on the red shoulder in E92’s picture – it’s of Brock and Adele riding in Frisco CO.

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E093 – Brock on KRFC Fort Collins

September 4, 2012Advocacy, Bicycling, Brewing, Camping, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

This week we feature the content from Fort Collins, Colorado’s KRFC program “Bikes & Beer” on which Brock was a guest while traveling through town on his summer tour. Host Zach Yendra (proprietor of Yendra Built, a custom fabrication business) invited Brock and several other bicycle tourists to join him in the studio to talk about bicycle travel. Also featured was Molly North, Fort Collins’ city bicycle program coordinator.

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E092 – Oregon to Colorado

August 27, 2012Bicycling, Brewing, Camping, Touring, Train Travel, Travelsprocketpodcast

Brock & Adele recap their trip over the summer from Oregon to Colorado by bicycle! Matt Picio joins Brandon as co-host.

Headlines
Tour de Clack is a smashing success Bicyclists can now get insurance Marilyn Hayward of Coventry Cycle Works injured; on the mend Brandon finds the silliest bike ever made on YouTube

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E091 – Jeremy Mendelson: Critical Transit

August 20, 2012Bicycling, Touring, Transit, Travel, Walkingsprocketpodcast

I spoke with listener Jeremy Mendelson of Critical Transit in June about his experiences working as an east coast transit planner and his new career as a pedicab operator in New York City.

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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E088 – Tom Allen (with Ben Allen): Janapar

July 30, 2012Bicycling, Camping, Downsizing, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

I had the pleasure of meeting the man behind the independent film project Janapar, Tom Allen and his brother Ben Allen on a sunny day near the waterfront in downtown Portland, Oregon. We discussed his travels, the upcoming film release, and his current journey through the US Pacific coast with his brother. Adele Dittus makes an appearance as a second interviewer towards the end of the episode after disappointingly long lines made donut acquisition impossible.

Watch the trailer and follow the film’s release at janapar.com!

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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E087 – d’Arcy Lunn: Global Poverty Project

July 23, 2012Advocacy, Bicycling, Camping, Communication, Kitchen, Touring, Travelsprocketpodcast

d’Arcy Lunn of the Global Poverty Project and the Live Below the Line challenge attempted a bicycle tour through the Pacific Northwest while living on the astounding figure of $1.50 USD per day. At the end of this trip he dropped into our studio to chat about his experience and his ongoing work to bring awareness around poverty issues worldwide.

His presentation hosted by Google on May 10, 2012 can be viewed here.

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.