Category Archives: Travel

E039 – I Love The Bus



We speak with Sally, the author of the I Love The Bus website, about her experiences on public transit in Portland, Oregon.  We also discuss LL “Stub” Stewart State Park & the Banks Vernonia Trail, getting excited about transit, misconceptions and reality, long distance transit trips (PDX – SEA northbound & southbound), meeting people in public space, and more.

Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org joins our show next week, Rosa donates her contest prize to our beer fund, Logan finds us Dan Price’s phone number for simple living consultations (541-398-2299), Antonio shares a link to the dyno hub at clever cycles, and we request more indie music submissions.

Headlines
BikePortland: Tori Bortman tells you how to patch up your relationship with inner tubes
BikePortland: NW Portland cycling route gets ugly reactions from an unfriendly driver
Portlandize: photo series of bicycles carrying multiple people
Cast Iron Cyclist: Matt reflects on humanity and civilization while touring Yellowstone Good magazine via OregonLive: what happens when you put a coffee table at a bus stop?

Music
Jack Littman wrote us and shared his music; this is “Waiting” from his new release The Mixtape. http://www.jacklittman.com/

Drinks
we sample the New Belgium Fat Tire Ale.

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)


E038 – Lance Poehler: Edible Cycles



We sit down with Lance Poehler of Edible Cycles this week for our first live show since before the summer.  We discuss:  pedalpalooza rides, bamboo trailers, touring to San Francisco, Edible Cycles, USB converters and dyno hubs, volunteer work with the Lloyd TMA, Benson High School pedestrian problems, building a bike corrall, and more.

Also: We didn’t forget about the survey – someone gets $10!, Thanks Logan for another donation (Wrench Raiders got their trike!), Listener Carl shares a Woody Guthrie documentary with us on our facebook page.

Headlines
EcoVelo via Loagan: The Commuting Paradox (long commutes cancel out the benefits of suburbia)
BikePortland: Tori Bortman tells how to optimize your ride for long haul touring
PathLessPedaled: Dan Price is the Tallest Hobbit I Know
StreetsBlog via BikePortland: SF appoints a transit director who actually uses the system(Ed Reiskin)
GreenGarbageProject: if you don’t like toothpaste’s packaging, you can make your own

Music
“Keeping It Quiet” by Mnemonic Sounds from their 2010 release “Muscle Memories.”  they are playing MusicFest Northwest on September 8th at 8pm, opening for Little Dragon and Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Hawthorne Theater! www.mnemonicsounds.com
iTunes

Drinks
Brandon drinks the Lagunitas Imperial Stout, Lance drinks the Total Domination from Ninkasi, and Brock drinks a can of PBR that Brandon found floating in the river.

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)

 

 

 


E037 – No Show This Week



Well, that’s not entirely true… Brock & Brandon sit down to share about 10 minutes’ worth of conversation to say thanks to a few people and get used to being behind microphones again.  Also, Brandon saw the Google Maps Car on our last cycle trip!

Listener Jameson, formerly of Ft. Collins and living in Korea, writes in.  He also shared a nice Ft. Collins brewery bicycle tour he’s partial to!  We recommend Catfish & Mandala by Andrew X. Pham because he mentions bicycle touring through Vietnam.

Listener Susan W. of Plano TX makes a generous donation.  Thanks!

Logan & Tammy’s tiny house is under construction!

Brock met Alex Rauch who is blogging his way across America and made it all the way to Wall Drug by now.

Listener Kevin, an animation writer, bike commuter, and Prius owner also made a generous donation that paid for our year’s hosting bill – thanks!  He also knows Russ & Laura from PathLessPedaled.com. Froinlaven!

We met up with listeners Gus, Joe, and Jonas while on the road.  Brock also drinks his friend Mark’s homebrew, “Da Brown,” and finds it to be pleasant!  See you all next week for another full show… 

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)


E036 – Aaron LaVanchy: The Professor’s Tour



We speak to Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy about his recent midwest tour, living in Fort Collins, and the New Belgium Brewing Company.

We discuss: handkerchieves and allergies, badass bicycle & backpacking journey, Char Burger & sad vacations, response to fred adversity with absurdity, Brandon has been “ankling,” Logan Smith is a good man, Aaron LaVanchy and how he got to Fort Collins, Lewis & Clark route in 500 mile segments, Omaha to St. Louis, the Wabash Trace Trail, bigfans of Lewis & Clark, calling the sheriff to camp at a boat launch, motorcyclist disappointment, the home of the piggy bank, Ed runs the town, chased by dogs, hit by a phone book at 70mph, the Katy Trail, Shenandoah IA home of the Everly Brothers, fighting a headwind in the rain on unpaved surface, the Rivendell Hunqapillar, mountain biking in Carharts & flannel, tornado alley, Marshall MO and Bud’s cafe, a ride to the edge of town with a local character, postcards to the donut shop, smoking and cooking, camping by a waterslide, weekending in Fort Collins with the THC ride, self-supported adventuring, bike culture at New Belgium Brewing, custom NB bike by Felt Bikes, better than the IKEA bikes, NB pays for its employees’ race entry fees, six week sabbatical after two years’ employment, bike share for lunch

Drink
Brock & Brandon share the New Belgium Brewing Super Cru, ABV 10%, courtesy of Aaron, who drank the Funkwerks Saison

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)


E035 – Raw Vegan Fixie Tour



Adrian “The Vegan Cow” Stingaciu & Deanna Adams talk to us about their incredible Raw Vegan Fixie Tour!

We discuss: Ride the Divide, Surly’s Pugsley, snow riding, listener Carl in “Animalheim,”We Are Augustines, Super Vegan Cow & animal totem race identity, post-college experiences and the Ride Across America, 29 day trip to Costa Rica on a vegan diet, on the tail of Ride the Divide, travel in pairs for security and photography, no cargo, only raw foods to step up the challenge, no food drops, raw foods & nuts along the way, tapping into body fat, “dude, you look really bad,” sleeping in ditches and bus stops, relentless mosquitoes in the desert, “gassing myself out,” scary encounters while stealth camping,federales, confessions of traveling with a raw vegan, drinking Monster, “the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” breakdowns and pear cores, drug cartel worries, one set of clothes and no laundry, epilepsy, trouble with Montezuma’s revenge, American stomachs can’t handle bacteria, getting home after huge rainstorms, bicycles on slick surfaces and deep shoulders, deadlines, 700cm vs. 26in. wheels and tires, toll roads in Mexico, listen to theMexican Radio, Tyson Chicken plant and factory farming problems, Pacific NW nuclear plants, Deanna’s favorite beer

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)


E034 – Darren Alff: Bicycle Touring Pro



Darren of Bicycle Touring Pro talks world travel, bicycle touring, and impromptu marathons.

Headlines
BikePortland: Creative fellow offers cookies to cyclists at controversial intersection
BikePortland: Peace activist releases book and rides handcycle 1,100 miles
Green Garbage Project: pros and cons of various lawn mowing options BikePortland:Portland resident runs rock shows by bike

We discuss: Portland beards, slow internet connections, coming home early, began cycle touring at 17, 11 years of big & wild adventures, working while traveling & self employment,Park City, Utah, what you can find on BicycleTouringPro.com, cold weather touring in Europe, stopping at every skate park along the way to skateboard and being told “you’re doing it wrong,” Darren’s sojourn in Peru, cheap bikes for rent, the trike adventure/challenge, Brandon’s visit to Peru, vegetarian options (no guinea pig), dignitarian, flexitarian, and freegan, stealth camping & hospitality is better in Peru, living and working while traveling, Europe can be done on a budget, supplementing your income by renting out your home, let the vacations come to you, running a marathon with absolutely no training, VersaEmerge powers Darren’s exercise, his other websites:DarrenAlff.com, motorcycletouringpro.com, silvermountainmarketing.com

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)

 


E033 – Friedel Grant: TravellingTwo.com



Friedel from TravellingTwo.com connects with us from Holland to tell us about circling the globe using bicycles, cargo ships, and other means on a two year whirlwind adventure.
CORRECTION: Dustin, who just finished his bike tour across the country, has this website:www.work2ride.com

We discuss: Living in Holland, its two capitals, terminology, cultural differences between Holland & the U.S., multi-modal respect, bike sharing programs, hailing from Nova Scotia, 8000km of bicycle infrastructure on a country the size of a postage stamp, “cycling by numbers,” not much wild land but there are pole camping sites, the TravellingTwo website, getting out of town is the hardest part, Laura of PathLessPedaled & ankle injury, winter bicycle touring, their ‘round-the-world journey, finding a unique method for global adventure, not cyclists at the outset, going by cargo ship to New Zealand, ship crews and pirate stories, lots of down time, ping pong with the captain, making pizza with a camp stove & other creative solutions, Ray from biketouringtips.com, staying connected while on the road, a loaded touring bike starts conversations, the Heinz Stücke interview, plans for future tours

Headlines courtesy of Logan Smith
The Atlantic via EcoVelo: Top bike commuting cities seem to be happier & more successful
APBP.org: Womens’ cycling survey results indicate bike lanes are helpful
Taking The Lane: Elly Blue ponders guilt & being car-free
Wall Street Journal: NYC cycling reality eclipses big-city antibike mania
TBD.com: cycling to work in DC might make you happier, too
OnEarth.org: AASHTO & ACA roll out plans for a potential interstate US bikeway system 

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)


E032 – Brewery Tour By Bicycle



L-R: Jeff, Joe, Ian, Jason, and Brock

Brandon hosts a conversation with Brock and his friends Joe, Jeff & Ian about their recent brewery tour by bicycle along the Pacific Northwest I-5 corridor.

The World Naked Bike Ride in Portland OR, “I was in the pool!”, Jonathan Maus wearing nothing but a camera bag, furiously doing nothing, the New Old Lompoc, Bridgeport Brewery’s Hop Czar, two-stroke engines in our neighborhood, Brock introduces the beer, Barleywine and Brandon’s brewing of the 21-15, too much fun with beer pouring, Brandon’s wedding gift pint glasses, the breweries:

Bellingham WA’s Boundary Bay Brewing,
Mount Vernon WA’s Porter House,
Mount Vernon WA’s North Sound Brewing and Cherry Wheat beer,
Mukilteo WA’s Diamond Knot Brewing,
The slightly corporate RAM brewery,
Seattle WA’s Big Time Brewing,
Seattle WA’s Elysian Fields,
Seattle WA’s Georgetown Brewing,
Tacoma WA’s Harmon Brewing,
Olympia WA’s Fish Brewing,
Centralia WA’s Dick’s Brewing and taking a three hour break, Portland OR’s Hopworks Bikebar,
Portland OR’s The New Old Lompoc,

Brock’s wife Adele joins us in Kalama, loafing at Jeff’s house and eating food, beatboxing the good life, Ian joins the conversation, “the motherbuckets,” Chuckanut Drive, Oskar Blues’ Old Chub, fire building at Washington state’s Lewis & Clark State Park, Big Time’sAve Rat malt liquor, the Georgetown Brewing experience, brewhand Harlow was awesome, carrying Lucille, Olympia’s Woodland Trail, bow-chicka-wow-wow, Jeff’s motivational phrase, Brandon’s motivational phrase, riding on the freeway, Nada Surf’sBlankest Year, first time cycle touring wisdom, Jeff bakes 40 gluten-free granola bars, Joe breaks his belt and then decides to lose weight

Drinks
all enjoy a Hopworks Urban Brewery 64oz glass bottle of IPA divided evenly beween them, with great relish and to hilariously deleterious effect.

Music
“Making Sense” from Joe’s 2009 EP The End.

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)


E028 – Memorial Day



This week’s episode is short and sweet since that darned holiday weekend made us change our plans.  We are, however, well rested and plan to bring you the next scheduled show without incident.  Look for Ryan J. Lane’s interview in an upcoming episode to be announced sometime later in the summer.  In the mean time, we discussed our weekends, long-winded wedding toasts, Washington State’s San Juan Islands, ditching your cell phone with RowdyKittens.com, etc.

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)


E027 – Meredith Stewart: Transit Misadventure



Our friend Meredith Stewart joins us to detail her first foray into long-distance transit travel and her induction into bicycle commuting.

We discuss: Sunday Parkways and our appearance on the local news, Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant, the Bicycle RV built by genius Brian that was often parked at the CityBikes Workers’ Co-Op, meeting Amos of Portland’s Bike Temple in person, we also saw Russ & Laura, Logan, Listener Evelyn, Jonathan Maus, and Rob Sadowsky, Brandon keeps Brock on track, Listener Katelynn reaches the beach and outhustles everyone else, Meredith’s bicycle conversion, Johnny Cash steals a car, bicycle route maps for Portland, endorphins and epiphanies, “cyclelogical”, Portland Afoot discount subscription with code “sprocket”, two dudes in a basement, donations, the epic bus journey, hood canal writing retreat, Brock has a bus fetish, 161 miles, C-TRAN’s new buses are plush, Burgerville serving beer and wine in Salmon Creek, beauty in the suburbs, CAP Shuttle, (“people should give them money”), 3 hour layover at a quirky coffee shop, smoking in the bus shelter, missing the bus, kindness and generosity on the way back, successful completion of the trip,EpicTransitJourneys.com, Rebels-By-Bus.net, PortlandAfoot.org, Brock’s transit options site, beer talk, pronunciation problems

Headlines
Northwest Wanderer: making electronics viable on a bicycle tour
Edible Cycles: inexpensive local electricity generator for your bicycle dyno hub

Drinks
Brandon shares the Fire Station 5 Fire Boat Amber with Brock.  Meredith quaffs 3 Wishes Red Wine.

Music
Lamppost Revival presents “Mr. Tinman” from their EP So Rises the Moon.

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)