The Sprocket Podcast

E77 - Cycling Sojourner: Ellee Thalheimer

thesprocket — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:59:14 +0000

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.

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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

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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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Upcoming Shows
5/20 Elly Blue from Taking The Lane & more!
5/28 Doug Kenck-Crispin from Kick Ass Oregon History
6/3 Rob Sadowsky from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance
6/10 our raucous chat with the Path Less Pedaled folks

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [ryanjlane.bandcamp.com]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E76 - Ryan J Lane

thesprocket — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:15:36 +0000

Ryan J Lane is a musician, photographer, deep thinker and all-around good guy. As the creator of our show’s theme music, we wanted to have him in to discuss what simple living looks like to him, and also have a chance to hear him play some songs live in our studio! We talk about giving recordings away for free, his bicycling experiences, his career as an independent photographer, the advent of iphone photography, and the philosophic and theological discussions in Tolstoy’s writings on faith, simpler living and life change.

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.

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Headlines

TRANSPORTland: my grandma was a cargo bike rider
NW Farms & Food: what weeds can tell you about your garden
LiveLeak.com: chinese dog acts as sentinel against bicycle theft
STV: Scottish thief returns bicycle to owner with chocolate bar and apology note

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Mailbag

Patrick in Davis CA: “Hello Brock and Brandon, continue to love the Sprocket Podcast, keep up the good work. Wanted to respond to last weeks show regarding voting in national elections. I feel it’s very important to vote in both local and national elections. The current Tea Party controlled house is an excellent example of why elections matter. Important funding for transportation, research and other important social issues has dissipated. Replaced by old social issue battles that we all thought were over. I happen to be running for City council this year. It’s been a very educational experience. One issue that may interest you is how local businesses enjoy bike tourists and weekend riders.”

Josh in Cully, PDX: “Heard of anyone Railbiking in Oregon? Quite a few abandoned railroads in OR. Best thing I’ve heard about Charlie Hales is that he wants to turn an abandoned rail into a trail from the city [of Portland] all of the way to the coast. It’s hard to imagine how successful it would be for tourism if you could fly/ train into the city and get all the way to Astoria (great coast city) without being on a road at all.”

Chris in Arcata CA: “Just a heads up. I ordered some swrve stuff. The cotton skinny knickers, and the milwaukee ES jacket. Great products ! Wanted to mention that some products are made in LA. They also make some products overseas. My knickers have a made in USA tag on them. Talked with them over the phone a few times. Very friendly they sound like a good small crew of folks! My Levi commuters have a happy place with me though as well.”

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Upcoming Shows

5/13 Ellee Thalheimer, author of Cycling Sojourner,
5/20 Elly Blue from Taking The Lane & more!
5/28 Doug Kenck-Crispin from Kick Ass Oregon History
6/3 Rob Sadowsky from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance

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Fine Print

email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E75 - Michael Andersen

thesprocket — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:46:24 +0000

We welcome our favorite relentlessly upbeat transit journalist Michael Andersen, chief dictator of the fine publication Portland Afoot, back to the show for more talk about Portland’s transit environment and economy and the joys of low-car life.

Brandon is freaked out by billionaire asteroid miners.

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.

Michael brings a lightning round quiz for simple life perspectives on nouns, but after a discussion on local transit politics.

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Headlines

BikePortland: “Dutchtubs” are about to revolutionize Portland OR’s leisure scene
BikePortland: jogger asks about legality and courtesy of jogging in streets
Grid Chicago: Bees are coming! On bikes!
Taking the Lane: Elly Blue hosts a contest to discover the nation’s worst bicycling streets
BikePortland: circling Mt. Hood on a mountain bike just got easier
PSU Vanguard: Bus, MAX, streetcar, or taxi?

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Mailbag

Jim says: “Check out this link to an upcoming indie film to be released regarding Tom Allen’s big tour and the decisions he had to make….: http://janapar.com/ Looking forward to your upcoming path less pedaled interview… and also appreciated your interview w Rebecca Lerner.”

Dan in MN on the foraging episode: “looking for free food was a must in my family when I was growing up. We caught fish, ate mushrooms, harvested wild rice, did maple sirup camp, picked hazelnuts, and ate ferns. We also made our own medicines. Nice to know that other people do this.”

JohnnyK in FL: “if you don’t want flats from glass just get Tire Liners; however you will never get a Fred to use these because God forbid they add weight to their bikes.” Also: “Ok just got back from the Dinner with Elly Blue and friends. I really enjoyed it and it was very much a learning experience. So now I cannot wait for your interview with her.”

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Upcoming Shows
5/6 Ryan J Lane (professional photographer and our theme music’s writer),
5/13 Ellee Thalheimer, author of Cycling Sojourner,
5/20 Elly Blue from Taking The Lane & more!
5/28 Doug Kenck-Crispin from Kick Ass Oregon History

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E74 - Retroshift: Adam Clement

thesprocket — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:30:49 +0000

We welcome Adam Clement from Retroshift to talk about cyclocross, manufacturing and sales in a complex financial world, and his innovative new method of changing gears!

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.

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Mailbag

Rory from Kalamazoo commutes to school 5 days a week now that it’s warmer, and is curious about our suggestions for merino wool clothing companies. Also suggests Bell’s Brewery Oberon Ale!

Logan in PDX points us toward the Global Database on Bus Rapid Transit!

And Chris from Arcata CA gives a positive review of the Levi’s 511 Commuter Jeans. Brock also suggests the Swrve Cordura jeans if you want to support the little guy.

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Upcoming Shows
4/29 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot,
5/6 Ryan J Lane (professional photographer and our theme music’s writer),
5/13 Ellee Thalheimer, author of Cycling Sojourner,
5/20 Elly Blue from Taking The Lane & more!

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Fine Print

Bike Safe Portland accident reports are here!

thesprocket — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:43:51 +0000

Hey folks! We’ve partnered with Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston and the Bike Safe Nation project to bring you the Oregon version of the innovative bicycle accident report cards that he’s created to fill the need that many of us have for a clear documentation procedure in case of an accident while riding your bicycle. We’re excited about the empowering aspect of these, since many people who have replaced their car with a bicycle no longer have an insurance company’s instructions for what to do when you get into a fender bender. But even if you drive a car occasionally, you most likely are not carrying your car insurance packet with you, and in the confusion of the moment it can be difficult to remember what details are important to make note of. This is especially pertinent to a situation where the other party doesn’t stick around to find out how things ended up!

Here at the Sprocket Podcast, we’ve been distributing these accident report cards to various bicycle shops around town, and hope to get them into the hands of everyone who finds them useful. If you’d like one, you can visit one of these fine establishments listed below to get your own free copy:

Abraham Fixes Bikes, 3508 N Williams Ave
Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), 618 NW Glisan St #401
Cascade Cycling, 122 North Killingsworth Street
Coventry Cycle Works, 2025 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Cránk Bicycles, 2725 SE Ash Street
CyclePath, 2436 Northeast M L King Boulevard
The eBike Store, 201 North Alberta Street
Joe Bike, 3953 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Missing Link, 7215 Northeast Sandy Boulevard
North Portland Bike Works, 3978 North Mississippi Avenue
Revolver, 6511-15 N Interstate Avenue
Universal Cycles, 2202 E. Burnside St.
UpCycles, 911 Northeast Dekum Street
Veloce Bicycles, 3202 SE Hawthorne Blvd

This list will continue to grow as we contact new shops. Additionally, if you are a business owner or know of a place that ought to have a stack of these freely available to customers, get in touch with us at thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com and we will do our best to get you connected and supplied at no cost to you!

Thanks, and stay safe out there!

E73 - Rebecca Lerner

thesprocket — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:25:53 +0000

Rebecca Lerner is an experienced forager who has taken on many experiments in eating wild local food. She shares with us how she got interested in foraging, some stories about her experiences and the nature of our relationship with food.

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

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Headlines

NBC 11 News: Aspen CO remorseful drunk returns stolen bike
Denver Post: Hot on Velo Cult’s heels, Bicycle Cafe offers beer & space

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Mailbag

Listener Ryan from Georgetown ON: “Buy something Canadian. Brandon’s highbrow tase will enjoy a Unibroue “Maudite” (look for the devil in a Canue). Brock you should try a Mousehead [sic?]. Keep up the excellent work.”

Logan in PDX: “I saw a new post by Jonathan Maus on Bike Portland and I looked at the figure depicting carbon emissions of Portland relative to the US average and I noticed something astounding. After listening to the latest podcast and learning the wonders of the year 2002 I was really impressed to see your observations also apparent in carbon emissions. The year 2002 marks the first year Portland deviated its carbon emissions away from the US average and started its current trend downwards! Wow! Pivotal year indeed.”

Donation from James in Maryland – thanks! (you can donate here if you wish)

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Upcoming Shows
4/22 Adam Clement of Retroshift,
4/29 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot,
5/6 Ryan J Lane (professional photographer and our theme music’s writer),
5/13 Ellee Thalheimer, author of Cycling Sojourner

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Fine Print

E72 - Filmed By Bike 10

thesprocket — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:46:22 +0000

Ayleen Crotty, unassailable overlord of the immensely popular Portland institution Filmed By Bike, joins us to celebrate the event’s 10th year, and to explain how it got started and how it works today. She also brought along a generous and tasty supply of Temperance Bourbon!

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

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Headlines

Oregonian: A Bethlehem PA transit bus blocks the getaway of a hit-and-run against a bicyclist
Oregonian: cycling clothing Rapha more than just a clothing company
BikePortland: bike culture hub VeloCult moves to Portland from San Diego to much acclaim
BikePortland: community bike shops are changing the face of cycling in America

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Mailbag

Louis Avden leaves us a gardening update from Kentucky!

JohnnyK, resident FOG says of peak oil: “You can’t suck on mothers milk forever kids…” Also he pointed us towards these folding pedals available from Universal Cycles to stave off future thread-stripping incidents.

Steve in MT refers us to the Theft Resistant Bike Light, the Defender, on Kickstarter (almost there!) and the physics of how bicycles stay upright.

Dan from the Leech Lake Reservation says: “Nice show, You guys motivate me every day to get out and keep riding my bike.” And he has a bike blog: http://ditibiwebishkiganbicycle.blogspot.com

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Upcoming Shows
4/15 Rebecca Lerner on urban foraging,
4/22 Adam Clement of Retroshift,
4/29 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot,
5/6 Ryan J Lane (professional photographer and our theme music’s writer)

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E71 - James Bernard Frost

thesprocket — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:40:21 +0000

This week we speak with James Bernard Frost, the author of the just-released novel A Very Minor Prophet, featuring a soul-searching story based around Portland’s independent publishing and freakbike cultures (press release). He was kind enough to put up with our shenanigans for an interview! The book is available from Portland-based Hawthorne Books at retailers near you or on the internet. Also, Brandon unintentionally snorts beer and Adele briefly enters the room to obtain crafting supplies.

Brock also summarizes his trip of the last week through central Oregon by bicycle and the mishaps and small glories to be had along the way. Check @SprocketPodcast on Twitter for a list and miniature reviews of the places he stayed.

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Upcoming Shows
4/8 Ayleen Crotty on Filmed By Bike,
4/15 Rebecca Lerner on urban foraging,
4/22 Adam Clement of Retroshift,
4/29 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E70 - The Cynical Cyclist

thesprocket — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:19 +0000

Blayne Prowse is a show listener who is up to some great things north of the border in Cumberland, BC on Vancouver Island. We discuss his bicycle tour in the Yukon and his domestic simplicity and adventure pursuits. His blog, The Cynical Cyclist, details some of these things and makes for some great reading!

We also respond to a pointed email sent in by Steven on the many differences between those from the “Carbon Spandex Jungle” (term attributed to Allen Lim) and those from the hipster enclaves of the urban forests. Brock referenced this article about how You Can Wear Anything On a Bike by Dave Feucht from Portlandize.com and a chapter from Joe Kurmaskie’s book Momentum Is Your Friend.

Brock & his lady are headed out this week for an exciting bicycle adventure through the icy lands of Eastern Oregon, arriving in the city Bend by way of the Central Oregon Breeze passenger coach. If you’d like to read the letter Brock wrote campaigning for guaranteed bicycle reservations, you can find it here. The good news is that if you specifically ask for a guaranteed bicycle reservation when booking your tickets over the phone, they should now work with you to make this possible!

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Upcoming Shows
4/1 James Bernard Frost, author of A Very Minor Prophet,
4/8 Ayleen Crotty on Filmed By Bike,
4/15 Rebecca Lerner on urban foraging,
4/22 Adam Clement of Retroshift

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E69 - Matt Picio on Peak Oil

thesprocket — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:08:33 +0000

Matt Picio rejoins the show to discuss the Peak Oil hypothesis/phenomenon with Brandon.

Youtube Video Series: Albert Bartlett on the Exponential Function
Recommended Reading: The Long Descent by John Michael Greer, The Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler, Reinventing Collapse by Dmitry Orlov

Also: the man (not a woman, as we had thought) undertaking a bicycle tour while eating at a budget below the poverty line.

Also: Humanity on Wheels: An Evening of Mass Transit Tales! This Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30pm at The Jack London Bar, 529 SW 4th Ave in Portland OR

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Headlines

Treehugger via Carl: the “Mamachari” from Japan offers mothers a compact kid-carrying solution

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Mailbag

JohnnyK in FL: “Welcome back Brock it sounds like you had a wonderful time on the other side of the pond. What is it about trains that brings out the 5 year old in us. Anyway I am taking the good Dr.’s advise and I am slowing the F!@k down. I think this is why turtles live so long. I want to be a turtle.” Also he found an explanation of old school shaving similar to that of Amos Hunter.

Carl in CA: “I am pissed! While riding through the many parking lots of the Tustin Market Place, I was pulled over on my bike by a mall cop. Why you ask? I had no shirt on! I was heading to REI and as always would put my shirt on before I entered the store. But I was outside in a huge parking lot…” He also wonders when and where he entered a communist country.

Chris in Arcata: “Are you familiar with kinetic sculpture racing? These are hand built pedal powered machines with crazy engineering, and often crazy art. Often machines have multiple peddlers with costumes, bribes, poems, etc… We peddle on street, sand, mud, water. I’m a well known racer within the community, though I’m taking a break from being an actual racer this year. Last our team was first in speed, and I think we got a engineering award…. This race was born in Humboldt county, California. This race is memorial weekend starting in Arcata… Other locations that do this race [are] Baltimore, Australia, Port Townsend, Corvallis (Da Vinci days), Klamath Falls, and perhaps others… peaceful peddling from Arcata.”

Darren from Australia: “just a quick email to let you know about my cycle touring blog, www.cycletourer.blogspot.com. I’m spending the year travelling to various parts around the globe for one mega cycle adventure. I’ve just completed a little over 7 weeks on New Zealand’s south island cycling with some amazing people from around the globe… It’s amazing how many people have commented on the podcast stickers on my bike so I’m hoping to have converted many cycle tourists to the dark side… I was hoping to catch up with Russ and Laura of The Path Less Pedaled as Laura created a custom head badge for my Surly, but alas, we unfortunately did not cross paths.” His next stops are London, Cornwall, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Germany, & Denmark for an estimated 10,000km on the cycle computer before the tour ends.

Darren’s tour rig fully loaded

Darren’s bike features our stickers

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Darren mounts a highwheeler

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Upcoming Shows
4/1 James Bernard Frost, author of A Very Minor Prophet,
4/8 Ayleen Crotty on Filmed By Bike,
4/15 Rebecca Lerner on urban foraging,
5/6 Ryan J Lane (our theme music’s writer)

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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E68 - Vincent Caldoni

thesprocket — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:02:18 +0000

Vincent Caldoni, a professional actor, history buff, and fantastic storyteller joins us this week to discuss being in Portland as a generational resident, the Pig War, changes, Astoria talk, politics of sustainable economy, and other things as well!

Also: Humanity on Wheels: An Evening of Mass Transit Tales! March 20 at 7:30pm, The Jack London Bar, 529 SW 4th Ave PDX

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Headlines

Path Less Pedaled: Russ & Laura post the complete Kiwi Chronicles, their touring video series!
Portland Afoot: there are at least 3 Good Things about TriMet’s proposed cuts
Oregonian: Amtrak is quietly serving Oregon City commuters on their trip into Portland
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Mailbag

Listener Dan from Leech Lake Reservation, Minnesota writes in; he’s now listened to EVERY episode and shaves his scant beard with an old fashioned razor. He says of the cold in his state: “It does get cold, people say ‘you do not have bad rides but bad gear.’ In other words dress warm and you are fine.”

Patrick in Davis CA: “Hi guys, attending [The North American Handmade Bike Show] today in Sacto. The PDX contingent is very large. My personal favorites are the Metrofiets crew, Renovo wood bikes (beautiful). Seriously considering a Metrofiets bike over a car purchase, especially with the gas prices what they currently are. Wish Bike Friday was here to counterbalance the Bromptons. Have a good show.”

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Upcoming Shows
3/18 Matt Picio talks peak oil,
4/1 James Bernard Frost, author of A Very Minor Prophet,
4/8 Ayleen Crotty on Filmed By Bike,
4/15 Rebecca Lerner on urban foraging
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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E67 - doctor_jeff returns!

thesprocket — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:59:24 +0000

Today’s episode marks the triumphant return of @doctor_jeff, our beloved Twitter-based, colorful and irreverent unofficial TriMet microjournalist! He chats about his suggestions for improving TriMet’s budget, social cues on transit, and the success and continuation of his Holiday Fare project, among other things.

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Headlines

from Logan: “Mia Birk kicks the Oregonian in the gonads!” journalistic controversy abounds.
Pedal Powered Family: a review of their home-on-the-road, a Hilleberg Nallo tent
BikePortland: Wrench Raiders have been putting their cargo trike to good use
BikePortland: scrap-bike wizard Tom LaBonty to be subject of documentary film
Taking the Lane: mom of transit-riding family questions the economic toll of fare hikes

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Mailbag

Blayne in BC: don’t ride your bike on the ice, or you’ll wind up like this guy.

Mark from Vancouver WA: “Too much beer to drink and not enough time. We just got back from Breakside Brewery and they always have new beers… it is always a hard choice, should I have the new beer or the good old favorites? Ben makes beer that I don’t see at other breweries and they are good.”

Carl from CA: “for as much as I commute, 120 to 200 [miles?] per week, I have yet to freakin’ tour! Well looks like that is ending, looking at heading down the coast this Saturday for a sub 24: Anaheim to San Elijo beach near San Diego, 70 [miles?] each way. Looks like the wind gods may be in my favor heading down there! It should be Good Times! And a learning experience… Wish me luck on this solo adventure!”

JohnnyK in FL: re: E66, “this was a really good show. Aaron and Brandon you pulled it off. I loved the guest and the topic was perfect. I have a daughter with a her first kid and a kid on the way…I know I probably don’t fit your demographic for listening since I am a grandfather. However the show has given me lots to think about. …Oh BTW Aaron you know way to much about root-beer…I love root-beer but I have never known anyone that does taste tests of it like it was fine wine.”

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Upcoming Shows 3/11 Vincent Caldoni,
3/18 Matt Picio talks peak oil,
4/8 Ayleen Crotty on Filmed By Bike
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Fine Print email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E66 - Martina Fahrner

thesprocket — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:28:17 +0000

With Brock in Germany, The Sprocket invites regular guest-host Aaron Flores to cover and man the boards. You could say he’s on his way to becoming their Steve Martin.

This episode’s guest is Martina Fahrner from Clever Cycles. We talk of the gender-divide within in the cycling industry (how it’s getting better and where it still needs to grow), how bicycles can be a utilitarian and not just a recreational instrument for life without a car and life with children, and we congratulate Aaron for staying sober while behind the steering wheel of the podcast.

enjoy!

Brandon

dictated not read

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Upcoming Shows

2/26 Martina from Clever Cycles,
3/4 doctor_jeff at last! 3/11 Vincent Caldoni
3/18 Matt Picio talks peak oil

Fine Print

E65 - Dan Sorger

thesprocket — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:00:47 +0000

Dan Sorger of City Bike Design and I sat down for a conversation last December after being introduced by Josh Zisson of Bike Safe Boston to talk about his bicycle design company. Sorger designs bicycles designed specificially for utilitarian users in the Boston metro area and is fervently passionate about making bicycles that work for the people that use them for local transportation.

we discuss: problems with dutch bikes, 10,000 moving parts & a guaranteed warranty, serious transportation & balance, focus on the customers, a staff that understands the mission of the company, the bicycle fills the niche, building bicycles for specific locations, designing to avoid fatigue, redesigning bicycles for today’s manufacturing technologies, designing lighting and aesthetic features, and much else.

photos from the interview were taken by Josh Zisson of Bike Safe Boston and will be posted soon… keep an eye on this spot for more later.

Also, Brandon is out this week, and Brock’s old friends Billy Skiffington, Jordan Boldt, and Jesse Califf dropped by before the recording was finalized, so they added their voices to the mix to keep Brock from sounding like a guy alone with a microphone in a small room; nominal success can be assumed.

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Mailbag

Ryan in Georgetown ON: “made a few Canadian Beer suggestions that I understand you can get at http://www.johnsmarketplace.com/Bottles/. Is this place close to you? I would be interested in your bike touring set up: What bikes do your tour with? Are they the same bikes as you commute with? Is the bike aluminum or chromo? 26 or 700cc? How many bags? Fenders? Drop Bars? The more detail the better. I have been studying Bike touring and am gearing up for my first small venture out.”

Chris in Arcata CA: “I just wanted to remind everyone the importance of using a correct size saddle on your bike. It’s important particularly in the back of the saddle that it is wide enough for your sits bones to seat properly on the saddle. Though you don’t want the saddle too wide as that will interfere with hip rotation. Why am I putting out this reminder? I found recently a lump that had developed on my rear end near the “exit point” if you will. Turns out I had a small external hemorrhoid. Good bike shops have a device to measure your “sit bones” distance. So just a reminder…be sure to have a properly fitted saddle for your ride! Keep up the great interviews at sprocket headquarters guys!”

Donations from Ryan in Ontario & JohnnyK in FL, thank you!

—

Upcoming Shows

2/26 Martina from Clever Cycles,
3/4 doctor_jeff at last! 3/11 Vincent Caldoni
3/18 Matt Picio talks peak oil

Fine Print

E64 - Boston Advocacy

thesprocket — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:00:51 +0000

—

In today’s episode we share two interviews with two Boston, MA based bicycling advocate organization leaders: David Watson of MassBike, a comprehensive statewide entity, and Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union, which focuses on the city itself. Josh Zisson of Bike Safe Boston made the connection with MassBike and Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, OR suggested the BCU; many thanks to both for more quality interviews! We’ll have one more Boston interview next week while Brock is in Europe, while Brandon and Aaron Flores will host an interview with Martina from Clever Cycles the week after.

We also mentioned the quick sale of all positions in this year’s Cycle Oregon week ride - perhaps some of you will have the opportunity to join in for next year’s event!

—

Upcoming Shows

2/19 Dan Sorger of City Bike Design,
2/26 Martina from Clever Cycles,
3/4 doctor_jeff at last!

Fine Print

E63 - Amos’ Touring Stories

thesprocket — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:49:07 +0000

Amos Hunter rejoins us at the Sprocket Podcast for a discussion of some of his bicycle touring mishaps, and he also brings a game of “Guess the Bicycle” with him!

We also discuss:
Greg Hum visits, Best Bands Ever 2012,
BU Bridge bike lanes & the Liveable Streets Alliance in Boston, MA

and an extra bit of audio with Amos describing his new shaving method.

—

Headlines

BikePortland: the City of Beaverton plans a downtown redesign more friendly to bikes and pedestrians

BikePortland: bicycle fashion show seeks models for event

Taking the Lane: many photos demonstrate how NOT to lock your bike

PathLessPedaled: Damian Day outruns his disabilities by cycling up to 10,000km a year

RowdyKittens: after giving it a solid try, Tammy Strobel decides to get an iPhone

—

Mailbag

Carl from CA: “I was checking out this site: alpacka rafts. Totally funky and functional @ the same time. In one section they mention a couple of crazy dudes that ‘bikerafted’ the Alaskan Lost Coast: http://lostcoastbike.blogspot.com/ it looked real gnarly!”

Logan in PDX: “The story of stuff now has a podcast!”

Rance via Facbook: “LOVE THE KIDDICAL MASS idea. We had a Critcal mass a few years ago and I really didn’t like the negative vibe. I ride everyday and don’t want to piss off drivers. I thought we were going to ride as a group to show that there were a lot of us on bike, but many used it as a chance to yell at cars and ride like an idiot. Keep up the great work!”

Katie Proctor shares a link to the video of a Mom bicycling with 6 kids aboard!

JohnnyK submits an article from the distant past and a modern solution from instructables.com for carrying children in bicycle sidecars.

—

Upcoming Shows

2/12 Boston bicycle advocates David Watson of MassBike & Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union,
2/19 Dan Sorger of City Bike Design,
2/26 Martina from Clever Cycles,
3/4 doctor_jeff at last!

Fine Print

E62 - Kidical Mass

thesprocket — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:28:50 +0000

Katie Proctor of the Portland Kidical Mass tells us about bicycling with children and how to begin changing transportation culture by having fun with how we get around. It includes hot chocolate…

Also: swrve jeans, waterfalls and moss, crosscountry skiing,the Rick Emerson Show ends, and shit cyclists say

—

Headlines:

RT from Michael Andersen: “The chained TriMet buses look like children excessively bundled up by well meaning yet overzealous parents” exm.nr/zRCcsz

Cycle Wild: new schedule for Portland area bicycle camping in 2012 is posted! go camping.

Listener Blayne in BC builds his own bookshelf instead of buying one - here’s how

BikePortland: City of Sherwood bans bicycles around “public places,” then amends law amidst outcry

BikePortland: SoupCycle reaches milestone 50,000th delivery

—

Mailbag:

Patrick in Davis CA: “As I was watching the Heat vs Bulls play today on tv, the commentators mentioned that due to the Miami marathon Lebron biked to work and that he sponsors a biking charity. They showed his bike, embossed with his nickname “King James”, kinda cool. I remember back in the era of “Neon Deon” that Deon Sanders would bike to games when he played for the Reds. Wonder how many other athletes bike to work? Have a good show, Pav.”

Carl in CA: “I have been following this couple for a while. They are Raw Vegan evangelist Freelee Love ( Raw Fit Bitch) and Harley Johnstone ( Durian Rider ). They live in Australia where they follow their passion of Raw Vegan eating, cycling and running. They are very adamant about their passions and have been loading the inter webs with informative and funny videos for a while now.” Also: “Q. Do young people really go to Portland to retire?”

Donations: JohnnyK in FL, Blayne from BC. thanks folks!

—

Upcoming Shows: 2/5 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple, 2/12 Boston bicycle advocates David Watson of MassBike & Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union, 2/19 Dan Sorger of City Bike Design, 2/26 Martina from Clever Cycles Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E61 - Fatboy Roberts

thesprocket — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:07:06 +0000

Today we speak with Portland radio & podcast legend Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts about Portland transit, bicycling, and culture. Mr. Roberts is one of the hosts of the Cort & Fatboy daily podcast, as well as a host on Hamfisted Radio, and is also notable for a plethora of other things.

Headlines:

BBC via BikePortland: how does one cycle across the south pole?

Koga via BDR: mutating bicycle makes hiking more fun on the downhill portions

Treehugger via Susan: Lund, Sweden boasts a 60% bicycle commuter rate and is planning a 4-lane bicycle highway

Dutch Bike Co. via Susan: hipsters deserve credit for zip ties as a bicycle traction device

BikePortland: Portland Afoot distributes low-car life info in neighborhoods, furnishes “WalkScores.”

Mailbag:

from David Heddy: “Looks like we might need to start looking for some ‘fair-trade’ tech. products…” also This American Life’s coverage of the topic.

Greg Hum writes from Boston; he’s a drum-biker and knows the guy that gave Brock his new helmet.

Also, we forgot to mention it on the show, but Josh Zisson from Bike Safe Boston sent us some t-shirts and we are now representing them properly:

—

Upcoming Shows: 1/30 Katie Proctor organizes Kidical Mass, 2/5 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple, 2/12 Boston bicycle advocates David Watson of MassBike & Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union, 2/19 the triumphant return of Dr. Jeff

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocketpodcast.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E60 - Matt Picio

thesprocket — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:48:13 +0000

We’re pleased to have Matt Picio, founder of Cycle Wild and also known as the Cast Iron Cyclist, joining us to discuss people camping out by bike and his fantastic cross-country bicycle tour.

Headlines:

from Logan: Pedal-powered Shanty Boat is a mobile place to live

from Jeremy in AL: handcrafted wooden bikes made from felled city trees

Taking The Lane: the Conservative case for bicycling might surprise you

PathLessPedaled: Russ gets beaten by an angry motorist in NZ, but he’s OK

Oregonian: Boring Station under construction for a paved end to the Springwater Corridor Mailbag:

Ethan from Pedal Power: “I hope all is well. This might be a bit too “fred” for you folks but if you care to promote our Pedal Power jersey sale we’d appreciate it. The artwork is done by Kathleen King, a great artist whose done some other work for me. All proceeds will be used to help save the earth.”

Upcoming Shows: 1/23 Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts on the MAX, 1/30 Katie Proctor organizes Kidical Mass, 2/5 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple, 2/12 Boston bicycle advocates David Watson of MassBike & Pete Stidman of the Boston Cyclists Union

E59 - Bike Safe Boston

thesprocket — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:12:12 +0000

This week, in lieu of Dr. Jeff’s scheduled appearance, we present an interview Brock taped with bike lawyer Josh Zisson from Boston, MA during his December travels. Josh has been working on bicycle law awareness and connecting bicyclists with resources for legal problems and clear presentation of state bicycle laws across the country. He was also recently featured in an article from Fast Company. And don’t worry, Dr. Jeff will be back in February once Brandon is done celebrating his birthday!

We discuss: bike lawyers, bicycling improvements in Boston, bike czar Nicole Freedman, perceptions and visibility, TravellingTwo & the dutch perspective, LA’s bicycle harassment law, confrontations, taking the lane, Whale’s Tale Pale Ale from Nantucket, Josh’s Bicycle Accident Report cards, the Idaho Stop Law, Josh writes about “Putting Your Foot Down,” hopes for the future of bicycling in Boston, the Hubway bike share program, low income neighborhoods and transportation options, Brock’s take on Boston and its liquor laws, Portland: a paradise for bicyclists?, the armored car incident, parking meters and bike politics, Boston Bikes, Fred Armisen’s fear of bicyclilng, rail crossings that might be more bike-friendly, the Prince Spaghetti Factory, the shocking state of state laws, a catalyst for advocacy, bike boxes, knowledge leads to possibilities, Tim Jaques and the mispronunciation of his name, reflective Bike Safe Boston T-Shirts to benefit advocate groups, and the possibility of a burgeoning bicycle law network to protect you from unconscionable (or “scumbag”) lawyers.

Headlines:

via SoupCycle: Educate yourself about which foods to definitely buy organic and which aren’t as bad.

via Ethan from PedalPower: bicycle composting tumbler helps you aerate your food scraps for the garden

via Michael Andersen: experimenting with packless travel!

via Carl in CA: many youngsters are finding driving to be less appealling

Mailbag:

JohnnyK says “I really love coffee. I probably drink more coffee than you guys drink alcohol.”

Chris in Arcata says: “I’m in Arcata, CA. Thank you for a podacst full of great fun, and info. Your podcast, and portland in general provide me constant inspiration to advocate bike issues in Arcata. I ride a sidewinder trike cycle which gets lots of attention in town. I also am a kinetic grand champion racer. Most well known as the “peace peddler”, and more recently the “sprocket brothers-private eyes” solving a case on the course. With a awesome portland based pit crew ! I have other bikes as well. My bicycle base is for fun, excersice, utilitarian uses. So a good variety of uses. Recently have seen two cargo bikes in town. Spoke to the woman on one yesterday, and she always has her child in the cargo box. It looks adorable, and practical. She said she got the cargo bike used in portland. I recently got the little package ear flap cap. So rest assured portland has it’s presence on the beautiful northern CA coast.” Thanks for the donation Chris!

Patrick in Davis CA says: “received the cool Sprocket Podcast stickers. I put one on my pepper peddler coffee box and one on work point of sale computer. Hope you get more UC Davis listeners in the coming new year. Really enjoyed the interview and learned new things about my coffee.” Also, thanks for the Donation!

Upcoming Shows: 1/16 Matt Picio the Cast Iron Cyclist from Cycle Wild, 1/23 Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts on the MAX, 1/30 Katie Proctor organizes Kidical Mass, 2/5 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple

E58 - Tom’s Cargo Bikes

thesprocket — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:40 +0000

Tom’s Cargo Bikes builds all kinds of conveyances from repurposed bicycle frames in style and with finesse. Tom LaBonty gives us the rundown on how he got into this pastime, how he cut his chops on the skills necessary, and what he’s done with the bikes he builds. You can get yours, too, and for not as much as you’d expect to pay! Check out tomscargobikes.com

We discuss individual builds, growing up in Montana and fixing up muscle cars, moving to the city and getting out of regular car use, massive snowstorms, cargo bikes at Alaska Air, learning the terminology, 50 bikes built, Spin Art Bike, Yolo Colorhouse, blender bike, the Xtracycle, Multnomah County Bike Fair, Bikes for Humanity, bake feets, proprietary steering systems, “it’s all in beta,” marshmallow roasting, bass player uses cargo bike, Dutch sperm cargo bike, an unwitting bidding war, Tom’s portland hotel bike serves beer & coffee, and environmental pragmatism.

Brock & Brandon also discuss the possibility of stickers, prom themes and sea foam, whipped cream and other delights, new years’ plans, and pensive adolescent habits. Also: quad frame tallbike video!

Upcoming Shows: 1/9 @doctor_jeff on transit culture, 1/16 Matt Picio the Cast Iron Cyclist from Cycle Wild, 1/23 Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts on the MAX, 1/30 Katie Proctor organizes Kidical Mass

E57 - Pedal Powered Family

thesprocket — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:00:26 +0000

A Happy Christmas to all, and to all another great archived interview. The Pedal Powered Family consisting of Reuben, Heidi, Eden, and Harper have been on the road now for some time, giving their children a unique opportunity to discover the world while taking hold of a personal dream themselves.

With them we discuss British Columbia, warmshowers.org, the route (and their progress on a map here), website and blog, Voodoo Doughnuts, their bikes & setup (including a genius DIY sun/rain cover), their Portland visit, interruptions, employment - being self employed and leveraging an extended leave of absence, email, facebook & twitter, traveling with kids and listening to their schedules, less time working hard & going fast, routine is good, heading south into Mexico & South America, then to the east coast, other modes of transport: rental car & train, simple living: finance & reducing expenses, minimalizing

Brock & Brandon discuss their own holiday traditions, what counts as a Northwestern state, TriMet free rides on New Year’s Eve before the interview. Also Brandon suggests sharing Brock’s Xmas Mixtape.

Mailbag:

JohnnyK sends his comment to E54, as does Logan.

Upcoming Shows: 1/2 Tom LaBonty of tomscargobikes.com, 1/9 @doctor_jeff on transit culture, 1/16 Matt Picio the Cast Iron Cyclist from Cycle Wild, 1/23 Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts on the MAX

1000 miles strong!

our bacon maple indulgence

happily filled with donuts & coffee as Brock saw them off

E56 - Jena Robinson

thesprocket — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:47:49 +0000

This week we talk to old friend Jena Robinson, who currently lives in the Nashville, Tennessee region, about her work with food reclamation and helping to meet needs. We discuss: Nashville Greenlands, the Lents neighborhood of Tennessee, a work cooperative arrangement, dumpster diving, Nashville Food Project, garden management, meal delivery, working yourself out of business, primitivism leanings, accounting for non-financial costs, ethnic diversity in the community, etc.

While trying to connect with Jena, we weren’t sure if we’d connect with her and in a panic invited our wives to sit down with microphones and BS a bit. It REALLY is a little rambly, due to the hosts’ ill-preparedness, and not to be ascribed to our wives. Topics include bicycling accidents, coffee overnighters, new helmets, etc.

We also discuss regional Pacific Northwest accents, and also historical ones a la Daniel Day-Lewis. And Brock is looking to have coffee or beer with Boston area listeners in the last two weeks of December.

Mailbag:

Street Books is hosting a book drive. By this week it’s already happened but you can check their wish list and make donations here.

Logan sends us an article on the Oregon Trail game from Dave Knows Portland!

Upcoming Shows: 12/26 the Pedal Powered Family, 1/2 Tom LaBonty of tomscargobikes.com, 1/9 @doctor_jeff on transit culture, 1/16 Matt Picio the Cast Iron Cyclist from Cycle Wild

also: Brock’s Xmas Mixtape

Stickers are now available!

thesprocket — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:40:47 +0000

Just in time - perhaps a tad late for Christmas, but for personal holiday of the heart, we’ve received our first run of bike-sized stickers from Bike Punk and want to make them available to you if you want one. Here’s what the stickers look like (they are about 4 inches in width):

Here’s the deal: we’d like to send these to anyone who wants them for a minimal donation. The stickers cost about 50 cents to make, these days a stamp is about 50 cents, and PayPal’s fees are about 30 cents plus a small cut of the donation amount. So if you can send us a donation of $1.50 we can send you one sticker; add another 50 cents for each additional sticker you would like sent to you. Remember to specify which color scheme (black background or white background) and amounts you wish for, and above all, include your address so we know where to send your sticker!

Portland residents can message us and arrange cash for the stickers at just 50 cents each, and Brock or Brandon might be able to deliver them personally! Or say hello if you see us in public and ask if we have some on us.

Bike Punk prints on USA-made vinyl with eco-conscious ink using renewable energy and a really neat printer! They also have a delightful assortment of their own sticker designs, among other things.

Thanks, and happy holidays!

Brock + Brandon

E55 - The Pepper Peddler

thesprocket — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:41:24 +0000

This week we’re privileged to interview Alex Roth, founder of a Davis, CA based business that roasts and distributes coffee around a bicycle-based infrastructure. Learn more at thepepperpeddler.com We discuss: misconceptions about The Pepper Peddler, roasting peppers, inspired by Burlingame Pizza, Davis mayor names the unofficial coffee of the city, Trek in the Park, he’s like a drug dealer, Four Loko drives regulation, HUB’s 7-Grain Coffee Infused Stout, the roasting setup with cycle mechanism and propane heat, business flux, roasting as a team and the Post-Roast Toast, delivery and pre-sales, coffee politics and economics, the “milkman” model of delivery, the kids that deliver the coffee and the fleet of bikes, rain pay (!), coffee origins and fair trade/organics, regional taste, describing flavors shouldn’t cause insecurity, a rough sketch of coffee economy, local food sources, seasonal orders, the special dark roast, the roaster’s blend, Fox 40 news spot, and lastly Alex’s bands The Mad Cow String Band and the West Nile Ramblers.

Mailbag:

from David Heddy: “Very important discovery today…Brandon has talked about this several times.”

from Logan: “Whoah! Big news! Alan and Michael are closing up shop at EcoVelo! ‘Times they are achangin‘’ to quote Bob Dylan.” (we also mention this atrocious song from Dylan’s xmas project)

from Radimar: Portland is near the top of the list of Cities With Strangest People. True.

From StreetBooks: a book drive happening December 15th in Portland

12/18 Jena Robinson on urban farming & food plentitude, 12/26 the Pedal Powered Family, 1/2 Tom LaBonty of tomscargobikes.com, 1/9 @doctor_jeff on transit culture

also: Brock’s Xmas Mixtape

E54 - B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery

thesprocket — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:49:04 +0000

This week we talk with Franklin Jones, founder and visionary for Portland-based B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery, the company that delivers cargo to businesses by electrically assisted tricycle. We discuss the difference between a courier service and established route delivery, their delivery radius, Dave’s Killer Bread, working for David Evans & Associates, B-Line’s beginnings and the Boston-based company (MetroPed) that helped inspire it, contracting with the city’s office suppliers, the re-opening of the Morrison Bridge, Cycles Maximus Trikes and the Stites Design Truck Trike, bridge problems, B Corporations as a new business movement, working with nonprofits like Sisters of the Road, etc.

Brock talks about getting his saddle stolen and his new security configuration, And Brandon briefly describes his insomnia while enjoying a candy cane.

Mailbag:

Gus gave us the whole quote: “”Lies, damned lies and statistics” -Mark Twain

Filmed By Bike says: “Thanks for talking about Filmed by Bike Lounge at Bike Craft! Hope to see you there. Come hang out in The Lounge with us. BTW - you should have Amos on more often. Your threesome was hilarious.”

Carl sends a care package of links: picture of a bike for 10, and some great bike stickers at http://peacesupplies.org/; and in response to Brandon’s turkey stuffing photo: “I am not even going to look at a grown man “stuffing” a turkey. Aren’t there laws in Oregon about that kind of behavior? Isn’t he married now? I am saying that now but perverted curiosity may get the best of me….”

JohnnyK comments: “You guys rock! I think I am going to post something for every show now. Something totally off subject and useless. It’s not like I am going to offend anyone since I am the only one that is posting on the website. BTW is your mailbag a pannier, messenger, or backpack?” and also gives some posterior boil advice. Then he donates enough for two growlers, so I guess we have to read his comments

The Belle Starrs send us their sexy, sexy new calendar as a Christmas gift along with a sweet note. If you’re interested, you can get one here.

Headlines:

Portland Transport: TriMet considers Bus Rapid Transit options

REI via listener Blayne: a great article about Merino Wool and how to choose yours

TriMet Diaries: what to do when a fare inspector boards your MAX train

BikePortland: Pedal Powered Talk Show begins production in Portland

BikePortland: historic and legendary “Bike Swarm” in solidarity with Occupy movement

Upcoming Shows: 12/11 Alex Roth is The Pepper Peddler, 12/18 Jena Robinson on urban farming & food plentitude, 12/26 the Pedal Powered Family, 1/2 Tom LaBonty of tomscargobikes.com

E53 - Alex Rauch

thesprocket — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:43:19 +0000

This week we share with you a phone interview done with Alex Rauch, a former Oregonian now living in Chicago who Brock met as he was beginning his tour across the western states. He details the joys of lesser known national parks, the great expanse of emptiness that exists in Idaho, connections with strangers along the way, and a (somewhat graphic) description of an unpleasant physical setback solved, in part, by attendance at a Wal-Mart health clinic.

Brock & Brandon share stories from their Thanksgiving weekend events and commiserate about patchy beards.

Mailbag:
Donation received from John in NZ - thanks!

Listener Tony compliments the dialogue montage from the 50th show

Blayne from BC suggests we interview someone from Icebreaker, the merino wool company from NZ that has its US headquarters here in Portland OR!

Adri comments: “Love it. This was fun as hell to listen to. Dr. Jeff is great. He should be on the podcast again.”

JohnnyK comments: “Since not many leave comments I thought I would. Hmmm I noticed that you guys get much clearer to understand the more you drink. Anyway great fun and good learning.“

and an iTunes store review from Amos Hunter.

Upcoming Shows: 12/4 Franklin Jones from B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery, 12/11 Alex Roth is The Pepper Peddler, 12/18 Jena Robinson on urban farming & food plentitude, 12/26 the Pedal Powered Family

E52 - From The Tiny House!

thesprocket — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:51:26 +0000

We recorded our first episode away from home today at the RowdyKittens tiny house! Logan and Tammy were nice enough to invite us in after we passively floated the idea via podcast, and so we set up a plethora of wires and instruments in their roomy miniature dwelling. We were also joined by their friends Heather (of Mile73.com) & Dave (of TriMet Diaries and DaveKnows.org) who contributed to the conversations on tiny house life and low/cheap cell phone life (Heather’s in-depth examination of iPhone thrift is here). All told, a lovely time was had by all!

Technical Note: the laptop we took over for recording was missing our usual recording software and I ended up downloading a freeware option on the spur of the moment to capture our show. Since I’m not as familiar with the secondary option, I ended up mixing some of the test audio with the actual show audio; it turned out to be a little too confusing to listen to, but if you REALLY want to wade your ears through that cacophony because you love the show that much, get in touch and I’ll see what I can do. Apologies, and thanks for listening! - Brock

Upcoming Shows: 11/27 Alex Rauch on his bicycle tour to Chicago, 12/4 Franklin Jones from B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery, 12/11 Alex Roth is The Pepper Peddler, 12/18 Jena Robinson on urban farming & food plentitude

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, twitter @SprocketPodcast, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

E51 - Amos Hunter

thesprocket — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:36:50 +0000

Amos Hunter joins us this week to speak on the upcoming BikeCraft event (December 3 & 4, 2011 at Sandbox Studio) as well as his work with Portland’s own Bike Temple. We drink Rock Bottom Brewery beer, and merriment ensues. Also, here’s a link to the 8 peice ukelele band he’s in, Honky Tonk Prison.

Headlines:

Via Listener “Radimar”: Denver woman steals back her stolen bike while on a test ride

Springwise via Sally: in Paris, smartphones can now be used for transit passes

Street Roots via Sadowsky: local homeless paper comments on Occupy movement & housing

BikePortland: school custodian establishes bike club for kids in Hillsboro OR

BikePortland: Spencer Boomhower on residential neighborhoods vs. freeways

Portlandize: Dave Fuecht posts some fantastic photos of our city in Autumn colors

Upcoming Shows: 11/20 Logan & Tammy from RowdyKittens, 11/27 Alex Rauch on his bicycle tour to Chicago, 12/4 Franklin Jones from B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery, 12/18 Jena Robinson on urban farming & food plentitude

Brock tests out the prototype of the Tom’s Cargo Bikes tallbike:

E50 - Drinking Show!

thesprocket — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:45:44 +0000

My goodness. A year of podcasts! we take some time for looking back, and also for looking forward. And, of course, we drink our liquor!

Listener Patrick suggests incorporating a drinking game. We do our best to oblige.

Headlines:
GOOD magazine: protest big Wall Street corporations with their own junk mail!

TriMet Diaries: Dr. Jeff writes a field guide to Public Transit Operators

Dr. Jeff: a holiday transit fare drive for folks who can’t afford it

PathLessPedaled: how losing a car saved Russ Roca’s life

BikePortland: UPS is hiring 49 bicycle package delivery workers for the Christmas season

BikePortland: study shows that manufacturing trumps transport for greenhouse gas emission

Oregonian: two teachers inspire Gresham middle school students with bike club

Good Stuff:
BBC produces a segment on the Portland Zoobomb

Mailbag:
Carl shares a link to a bicycle-driven food and wine series in NYC at pedaling.tv/;
as well as Liz Canning who collaboratively documents her passion for the cargo bike movement!

Darren from “Downunder” donates (thanks!) and says “Just sent a little coin your way gents in preparation for the mega 50th episode. Thanks for the laughs over the past 12 months, I’ve enjoyed every episode. Have a beer or two on me….” Also says: “(No more pisstakes on the Aussie accent Brandon… Okay, just one )”

Susan from Plano TX shares a few links with us: the North Portland Tool Library, and the announcement of Logan & Tammy’s Tiny House!

Upcoming Shows: 11/13 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple, 11/20 Logan & Tammy from RowdyKittens, 11/27 Alex Rauch on his bicycle tour to Chicago, 12/4 Franklin Jones from B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Our news segment music is provided by Hurtbird from their 2010 album Nature Vs City which is available on iTunes. [www.hurtbirdmusic.com].

Brandon & Brock, seemingly none the worse for wear, after the debacle:

E49 - Pedal Power

thesprocket — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:57:08 +0000

We (finally) complete a successful interview with Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power, the advocacy organization that educates on energy use while keeping it positive and lighthearted. We also cover some news and describe our Halloween party from the night previous.

We discuss: educate in a fun and non-overbearing way, generating electricity by bicycle, a visceral experience of energy production, common household appliances and how much power they use (fact sheet), the Pedal Power event, power producing bike trainer, Lots of people making power, PF Changs cooking lunch, 100% off the grid mobile phone charging station and one more, funding! (http://pedalpwr.com/support-us/)

Headlines:

Lifehacker: add turn signals to your bicycle for less than $40

Gizmag via Ethan: a virginia bike mechanic makes house calls with a mobile shop

BikePortland: meet Dezy Walls, the “Piano Bike Kid!”

The Southland Times via BikePortland: a steampunk Kiwi creates a coal-powered bike

WLBZ via Anomalily: Maine emergency workers train first responders on bicycles

Mailbag:
Listener Tony recommends this speech given by Patrick Field - “Cycling is a (very fun) political process” - from the IQ2 Cycling festival.

“av3ry” comments on e48: “Love the podcast! Back in the day, I used to be on LiveJournal a lot, and I followed Jeff’s Photography over there. I haven’t really used LJ much over the past few years, so I lost track. Then the whole thing with MAX FAQs happened, and I was re-introduced to him. His transit comments are hilarious and spot-on, and his blogs are great as well. He’s definitely one of my favorites on twitter!”

Carl from Animaheim: “The scene: On my bike commute in heavy traffic, a Chevy astro van; mom driving, a teenage kid riding shot gun yells some unintelligible crap. (sounded negative) Unlike my usual response to that kind of situation, I was like “best day ever!” trying my best not to be pissed. Although I was anyway. I could not help myself, after a momentary pause I yelled “Ass Hole” after they passed of course. But as luck would have it, an old man (windows rolled down) took the intentional brunt. I felt like a Dick, but only for a second… GOOD TIMES! Need to ask Dr. Jeff what he recommends. So head phones will be in full time from now on when I am in the street. A great tune for urban commuting is ” Tomahawk” by Adam K and BT. On iTunes.”

Upcoming Shows:
11/6 - our 50th episode and our first drinking show!, 11/13 - Amos Hunter from Bike Temple, 11/20 Logan & Tammy from RowdyKittens, 11/27 Alex Rauch on his bicycle tour to Chicago

E48 - [at]doctor_jeff

thesprocket — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:29:18 +0000

We speak with Dr. Jeff Guardalabene, better known to his Twitter followers as @doctor_jeff, about his observations on the Portland Metro area public transit scene and his cross-region daily commute.

We discuss: a brief history of dr. jeff riding TriMet, the acclaimed twitter feed, TriMet diaries writing: I Ride, totalling the car: what mobility will look like from here on out, LifeHacker features Dr. Jeff!

Headlines:
BikePortland: Dave Weber logged 1,096 miles in September for the Bike Commute Challenge!
BikePortland: Jake Ryder’s custom build tallbike sports a sidecar for photo equipment
BikePortland: local company builds heavy duty hunting/adventure trailers
Taking the Lane: Elly comments on how hitchhiking could save the economy via Freakonomics
The Atlantic Cities: to win riders, mass transit should get wired (-less)

Mailbag:
Patrick from Davis CA donates (thank you!) and sponsors a month of drinking!
says of the show: “it’s informative, fun & quirky. A bit like Monty Python with a purpose.”
“I work at UCD & live in Winters about 17 miles away. I mostly ride the Yolobus 220 into work with my bike then pedal home.” Also recommends PepperPedlers as a guest.

Sally from ILoveTheBus.com says of E44: “I love Street Books, it is such a great way to serve the community. We all love a good story, right? Books bring people together and build community.”

Peggy says of E47: “Great interview - told the fuller story of Zenger Farm, which is an AMAZING organization doing so much good work in the community! Nice to see it getting more than the 3-minute soundbite typical news coverage.”

Upcoming Shows:
10/30 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power
11/6 our 50th episode and our first drinking show! 11/13 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple
11/20 Logan & Tammy from RowdyKittens

As mentioned on the show: the progression of Brandon’s Beards:

E47 - Jill Kuehler of Zenger Farm

thesprocket — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:12:58 +0000

Today we speak with Jill Kuehler from southeast Portland’s Zenger Farm and the Lents Farmers Market about food security, urban farming and sustainable agriculture, all while enjoying the Cascade Brewing Company’s 20” Brown Ale.

We discuss: Zenger Farm’s location and history, Jill’s connection to the farm, the Lents farmers’ market, their apprentice program, education and field trips, the shock of tasty vegetables and getting kids to enjoy Kale, sustainability at the farm in solar energy, water filtration systems, a 50 year lease on the property, City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, invertebrate studies, food stamp matching, USDA map of “food deserts,” adult education and kids transformed by experience, the Zenger CSA

Headlines:
The Atlantic Cities: someone desperate for cash stole an entire bridge in western Pennsylvania
TUAW.com: the bicycle-mounted passive amplifier for iPhone 4 is here!
BikePortland: some concerns about Portland’s Springwater Corridor path make people nervous
RowdyKittens: the tiny house is roofed and getting moved into place!

Mailbag: Eric writes in: “…I like the longer sprocket format. And I was listening to your semi-epic fail in announcing this last episode [E45] and thought you may want to try sadtrombone.com as a great sound effect.”

Jarrod from Australia: likes the podcast, and recently got back from an Indian Himalayas cycling adventure that he desribes on his website, cyclinginthinair.com

Listener Dave writes in: “They make the time I spend walking our dog go very fast and when our dog wants to stop and smell or pee, I just don’t mind.” wants to know “how did we meet?” Also is curious about a list of podcasts we enjoy. (see our website!)

Blayne from BC is working on his food podcast, has trouble keeping kids out of the room though.

Upcoming Shows:
10/23 Dr. Jeff of Twitter fame
10/30 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power
11/6 our 50th episode and our first drinking show! 11/13 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple

E46 - Portlandize

thesprocket — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:42:15 +0000

We invited Dave Feucht of Portlandize.com to share his thoughts on Portland, its bicycle culture, and some of the finer points of discussing your passion for it over a refreshing Hopworks Urban Brewery Lager. We also had our friend Tyson Butler into the studio to share his experience at the Occupy Portland event this previous week.

We discuss: Adam’s comments about Steve Jobs, on the ground at Occupy Portland, Portlandize.com, elitism & ethics, or, “how to promote bicycling without being an asshole,” are others “taking” your right of way?, rainy bicycling

Dave adds info about his bike: So, it’s a 3-speed internally geared hub, and then you can see the full chain case. It also has front and rear hub brakes - they’re internal to the hub, so they’re basically un-effected by the weather (it’s nice not having to re-learn how to brake when it’s wet) Dynamo-powered lighting is great as well, as you never have to worry about batteries, forgetting to turn your lights off, or putting them on and taking them off your bike every time you use it.

I’ve loaded about 50lbs of stuff on the front rack, and in the range of 100lbs on the rear, so it’ll carry quite a bit.

While the full chain case won’t work with derailleurs, a chain guard that just covers the top of the chain can, and I think there are some companies that make kind of after-market ones that you can add to bicycles that didn’t have them originally, I feel like maybe SKS made one (yes, this one I think). That at least solves the problem of getting your pants dirty

Headlines:
The Belle Starrs: The Coloradoan posts a great article about the Fort Collins all-girl bike gang
BikePortland: Portland’s transportation people work out a solution for a blocked bike lane
BikePortland: TriMet plans to release an open source multi-modal trip planner
Oregonian: a loud baby & its mom cause nothing but press after a bus operator kicks them off
Oregonian: riders lobby for longer transfer times on TriMet, and the transit agency considers it

Mailbag: donation from Matt in Portland; thanks! and an iTunes review from DaveInDenver.

Upcoming Shows:
10/16 Jill from Zenger Farm
10/23 Dr. Jeff of Twitter fame
10/30 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power
11/13 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple

E45 - Lillian Karabaic

thesprocket — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:51:53 +0000

We engage in a lively discussion of bicycles and transit in everyday life with Lillian Karabaic, producer of the Portland Afoot Podcast and, as her card states, “bicycle advocate, photographer, and transportation wonk.”

We discuss: Brandon’s back!, Orcas Island, bike trailer crash, tallbikes and chunk 666, the Portland Afoot podcast, cycle wild, the carfree cities conference in Guadalajara (referenced in her latest podcast), world naked bike ride, and other things.

Headlines:
Taking The Lane: Elly Blue briefly describes a rural bike community in California
BikePortland: new senic bikeways approved by Oregon State Parks
Bicycling Magazine via Ethan: is a cargo bike the coolest bike ever made? probably so.
BikePortland: Rejuiced Bikes makes incredible special function bicycles out of scrap
BikePortland: Best e-bike ever? The IDEO/Rock Lobster Oregon Manifest entry

Mailbag: - donation from Blayne in BC: “You should be able to buy a 24 of PBR for that I imagine.”

Upcoming Shows:
10/9 Dave Feucht from Portlandize.com
10/16 Jill from Zenger Farm
10/30 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power
11/13 Amos Hunter from Bike Temple

E44 - Street Books

thesprocket — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:23:01 +0000

This week we speak with Laura Moulton, most recently recognized for her work in launching the Street Books project, a mobile library on a cargo trike that lends books to people living outside in downtown Portland, Oregon. Aaron Flores from Team Sincerity fills in as co-host in Brandon’s absence.

We discuss: inspiration, urban shelter, park blocks & Skidmore Fountain, MercyCorps, when and where, Haley Tricycles, forming culture around the library, library cards for patrons, language and blurring the lines between people, a false dichotomy between deep thought and homelessness, Second Glance Books, Sue Zalokar assists, connections with Street Roots, other projects, married to Benjamin Parzybok who authored “Couch”, working on her own novel. Brock & Aaron also discuss handcarts, blues legend Billy Bob Thornton, long bicycle rides, and the last Hillstomp show ever.

Headlines:
EcoVelo via Logan: apparently bicycling is good for both your body and your anger issues
Oregonian: Joseph Rose edits his helmet cam footage to demonstrate Oregon bike lane law
BikePortland: a Hood River, OR company designs a “rainfish” device to keep bicyclists dry Bicycling Magazine: is a cargo bike the coolest bike ever made? probably so.
Portlandize: Dave Feucht writes about a vacation to the beach by bus and proves it can be fun BePortland: mobile music festival happens on the Portland Streetcar
Mailbag:
Adele calls in to share her bus story (audio) Gus shares an interesting blog post about a homebrew club in CA, disagrees w/ point #5:

your friends may not actually tell you what they really think about your beer.

Blayne in BC successfully completed the Yukon tour, and may start a food podcast.

Also liked the crater lake tour stories and can’t imagine bicycling like that with the flu.
iTunes reviews - Carl and “Freedivers_33”

Upcoming Shows:
10/2 Lillian from the Portand Afoot Podcast
10/9 Dave Feucht from Portlandize.com
10/16 Jill from Zenger Farm
10/30 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power

E43 - Rob Sadowsky

thesprocket — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:07:40 +0000

With more beard power than any city but Portland could summon, we welcome Rob Sadowsky from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to the show to talk about his journey to Portland and what he sees now that he is here. David Heddy, previous guest and friend to the program, fills in for Brandon during the honeymoon.

We discuss: the justly popular Flying Pigeon, getting to Portland, entering bicycle culture, rollerblades, local connections are the good life, the nature of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the tri-county area of the Portland Metro region, the Idaho Stop Law, Copenhagen problems, highs and lows of bicycling in Portland, neighborhood greenways, crusade against bollards, crushed limestone benefits, long range goals of multi-year funding, no death policy, fun, and good communication.

Headlines:
RowdyKittens: Tammy participates in and comments on a move by bike event (also: likes it)
BikePortland: car sharing service Zipcar ruffles some feathers with new unbikey ad
PathLessPedaled: Russ gives a thorough and informative rundown of Brompton touring
BikePortland: readers submit amazing photos of cargo bikes in China
RowdyKittens: Tammy writes a great article about going cell phone-less

Mailbag and announcements:
- Susan from Texas shares a link on making your own grocery bag panniers for $4, and mentions the StreetBooks project whom we will be featuring soon as well as the Portland Alternative Dwellings site, builders of Tammy & Logan’s tiny house.
- Jeremy from Boston writes to say hello - he’ll be creating a transportation related podcast soon, and can’t decide whether he likes bicycles or buses better!
- Matt Picio of castironcyclist.com & cyclewild.org writes in to clarify his name’s pronunciation and the size of his skillet; it’s 9 inches and 4 pounds.
- Patrick on FB gives congrats to Team Sincerity for bringing kids along

Drinks: MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale, left over from Brandon’s wedding!

Music: “Bicycle Song” by David Rovics. http://davidrovics.com/

Upcoming Episodes:
9/26 Laura Moulton of Streetbooks, 10/2 Lillian from the Portand Afoot Podcast, 10/9 Dave Feucht from Portlandize.com, 10/16 Jill from Zenger Farm

E42 - Micro-Episode

thesprocket — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:17:54 +0000

Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power was kind enough to join us for an episode. Unfortunately, the laptop we were recording the episode on gave out 5 minutes before the break and dumped all of our recorded content. We captured eleven minutes of our conversation thereafter to share with you, and we are planning on upgrading to a newer machine to avoid this kind of problem in the future. Thanks to Ethan for being a good sport about it - we were a bit disappointed as well! We’re looking forward to another episode with him in the near future. Until then, cheers, and we’ll hopefully see you next week.

E41 - Team Sincerity

thesprocket — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:00:51 +0000

This week we speak with Team Sincerity, the group of people who climbed several mountains with bikes and kids to get to Crater Lake, and all in the name of good fun. Aaron Flores & Adele Dittus join us in studio, and Adam & Jodie Rust phone from Seattle. We discuss: beer, soda, and pigeonholing, the origin of Team Sincerity, Warmshowers.org hosts Roger & May, road magic and generosity at Hobo Camp/Club Hobo, sickness and the hill climb from hell, Xanterra’s poor customer service, and many other things.

UPDATE 9/29/11: Photos from the trip, which should have been shared some time back!.

Adele falls over in her chair, and Brandon is absent to connect with neighbors.

Drinks: Brock & Adele drink the fantastically bad Game Day Ice from 7-Eleven, and Aaron drinks a Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer.

Upcoming Shows: 9/13 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power, 9/19 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance

E40 - BikePortland

thesprocket — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:26:57 +0000

This week we speak to Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org about his locally focused bicycle news service. We discuss: getting to Portland, getting bit by the bicycle bug, 12 year old completes a century, Santa Barbara mountain biking, BikePortland is six years old!, moderating a forum for people with so many differing opinions, the spectrum of cyclists & creating a “big tent” for all kinds of people, activism and journalism coming together, myths about bicycle infrastructure, a bird’s-eye view of the many subcultures in the bicycling world, language as it relates to media and perception, a favorite/ least favorite place to bicycle in town.

We hear from listener Carl about the “crazy vegan expresso” tour in Europe, listener Patrick who named his band after a bus route, and Amos from Bike Temple who is on tour to Vancouver BC and thwarted a dog attack.

Headlines:
New York Times: Portland installs electric vehicle charging stations powered by solar panels
EcoVelo via Logan: 2008 Active Transportation report shows many benefits in depth
Brandon Rhodes: Apocalypse Puppet Theater operates a bicycle-towed stagecoach
BikePortland: ODOT plans to bridge a trail gap in the Columbia River Gorge
Urban Adonia via BikePortland: stripped Toyota chassis becomes a 7-person recumbent bicycle

Music: the fabulous Portland-based Hillstomp presents their unique blend of buckets-and-cans-blues on their latest release Darker The NIght and this week’s featured song, “Cardiac Arrest in D.”

Upcoming Shows: 9/6 Team Sincerity, 9/13 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power, 9/19 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance

E39 - I Love The Bus

thesprocket — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:06:30 +0000

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.

Upcoming Shows: 8/30 Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org, 9/6 Team Sincerity, 9/13 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power, 9/19 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance

E38 - Edible Cycles

thesprocket — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:03:02 +0000

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

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.

Upcoming Shows: 8/23 the anonymous author of ILoveTheBus.com, 8/30 Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org, 9/6 Team Sincerity, 9/13 Ethan Seltzer of Pedal Power

bamboo trailers hard at work:

bike racks at the Lloyd District Doubletree Hotel:

camping on the Willamette:

Benson High School’s neighborhood map (clickable):

OK, there is REALLY no episode this week

thesprocket — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:24:40 +0000

Hey folks, sorry to have to bring you two weeks in a a row of no show, but after an excellent bicycle tour with friends Brock contracted an illness of some kind, although he was the last of seven to get it. We had planned to interview Rob Sadowsky of Portland’s Bicycle Transportation Alliance, but he graciously agreed to reschedule so we don’t give him the virus. Expect him to join us on the show later in September.

As for the bicycle tour Brock was on, we’re hoping to assemble the members of that tour for an episode to share the craziness that went down between Portland and Crater Lake on the tempestuous but memorable journey with Team Sincerity.

See you next week!

E37 - No Show This Week

thesprocket — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:11 +0000

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…

Upcoming Shows: 8/9 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 8/16 Lance Pohler of Edible Cycles, 8/23 the anonymous author of ILoveTheBus.com, 8/30 Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org

E36 - The Professor’s Tour

thesprocket — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:22 +0000

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, big fans 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

Upcoming Shows: 8/9 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 8/16 Lance Pohler of Edible Cycles, 8/23 the anonymous author of ILoveTheBus.com, 8/30 Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org

E35 - Raw Vegan Fixie Tour

thesprocket — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:54 +0000

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 the Mexican Radio, Tyson Chicken plant and factory farming problems, Pacific NW nuclear plants, Deanna’s favorite beer

Upcoming Shows: 7/26 Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy’s midwest cycle tour, 8/9 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 8/16 Lance Pohler of Edible Cycles, 8/23 the anonymous author of ILoveTheBus.com

E34 - Bicycle Touring Pro

thesprocket — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:00:20 +0000

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

Upcoming Shows: 7/19 Adrian & Deanna and their Raw Vegan Fixie Tour, 7/26 Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy’s midwest cycle tour, 8/9 Rob Sadowsky of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 8/16 Lance Pohler of Edible Cycles

E33 - TravellingTwo.com

thesprocket — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:00:13 +0000

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

Upcoming Shows: 7/12 Darren Alff of BicycleTouringPro.com, 7/19 Adrian & Deanna and their Raw Vegan Fixie Tour, 7/26 Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy’s midwest cycle tour

E32 - Brewery Tour By Bicycle

thesprocket — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:56:51 +0000

L-R: Jeff Baker, Joe Poppino, Ian Swope, Jason Harper, and Brock Dittus

Brandon hosts a conversation with Brock and his friends Joe Poppino, Jeff Baker & Ian Swope 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’s Ave 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’s Blankest 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 Poppino’s 2009 EP The End.

Upcoming Shows: 7/5 Friedel of travellingtwo.com, 7/12 Darren Alff of BicycleTouringPro.com, 7/19 Adrian & Deanna and their Raw Vegan Fixie Tour, 7/26 Aaron “The Professor” LaVanchy’s recent midwest tour

E31 - SoupCycle

thesprocket — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:00:42 +0000

Jed Lazar of SoupCycle joins us to talk about the origin and excellence of his local food delivery business, which revolves around human power and bicycle trailers!

Jed was also nice enough to offer a SoupCycle discount for Sprocket Podcast listeners - use discount code “Brock” for half off your first week of soup delivery!

We discuss: deliveries to Souplandistan and Soupvallis, Bainbridge Graduate Institute and a project that turned into a business, bicycles are simple business models, owning cars = driving all the time, summer job as a pedicab driver, logistics of soupmaking and delivery, “quit your job,” using local and organic ingredients, coconuts are a tropical fruit, “no margin, no mission” says New Seasons head, mistaken for a homeless person, “whatcha got in there?”, traveling with CityBikes buckets, trailers from Blue Sky Cycle Carts, which are also used by Wingnut Confections, stopping with disc brakes, started with a recumbent electrical assist, batteries won’t last 30 miles and are heavy, currently using a Raleigh Sojourn, Brooks saddles, a friend inspires a love for the outdoors, voluntary simplicity and neighborhood investment, http://soupcycle.com, SoupCycle discount for Sprocket listeners

Headlines: BikePortland: Tori Bortman shows you how to take care of your brakes & wheel rims; Oregonian: helmets filled with cardboard do a better job protecting your head than the usual ones; Bike Trailer Blog: cutest bike train ever

Upcoming Shows: 6/27 Brock, Joe & Jeff’s Brewery Tour, 7/5 Friedel of travellingtwo.com, 7/12 Darren Alff of BicycleTouringPro.com, 7/19 Adrian & Deanna and their Raw Vegan Fixie Tour

E30 - Portland Pedalounge

thesprocket — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:50:40 +0000

John Boblett, the man behind Portland Pedalounge, joins us to explain his journey into owning and operating a pedal-powered party machine.

ALSO: It’s still survey month! give us your input on the show and enter our contest to win $10!

We discuss: intro from memory, LOLcats, tuition pays for dinner, Pedalpalooza kicks off!, Cirque du Cycling and the chopper Brock noticed, Prince vs. David Bowie dance party and massive stereo systems, Lance from Edible Cycles and his trailer, dancing in a graveyard to “Thriller,” born the day that James Dean died, stranded in Minnesota, Brock mixes metaphors, Northeast Portland neighbors shake hands, John’s first bicycle: a Schwinn with backpedal shift, Minneapolis as #1 Bicycle City, Dr. Seuss & the Lorax, Brandon & John beatbox, Darren & his Australian accent, the word “whilst,” the “Farmer Blow” method of blowing one’s nose, meeting the bicycle dealer, literally kicking the tires, rolling with a keg in Europe, other operations in Minneapolis MN, Austin TX, Bend OR, etc., difficulties with the OLCC, Brock’s phone rings, red tape can be fun, 2 hour tours, meetup at Amnesia Brewpub and visit Prost, Saraveza, Lucky Lab, etc., iPod hookup, how does it handle?, www.pedalounge.com, beer talk

Headlines:

All over the Internet: NYC filmmaker Casey Neistat demonstrates the problem with blocked bike lanes
M-Bike via BikePortland: Amtrak to offer roll-on bicycle service throughout Michigan
Ron Con Coca Cola: NYC is a 3 way street
PathLessPedaled: Farm Stays are an innovative way to connect with the land and meet people
Low Tech Magazine via Logan: the forgotten future of the stationary bike

Drinks: Brandon tries the Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout from Tadcaster, John drinks the Bridgeport Hop Czar, and Brock enjoys the Kirin Ichiban - “Brewed For Good Times.”

Music: “Headlong Into the Abyss” by We Are Augustines from their 2011 release Rise Ye Sunken Ships. www.weareaugustines.com

Upcoming Shows: 6/20 Jed Lazar of SoupCycle, 6/27 Brock, Joe & Jeff’s Brewery Tour, 7/5 Friedel of travellingtwo.com, 7/12 Darren Alff of BicycleTouringPro.com

E29 - Arbutus Builders

thesprocket — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:13:25 +0000

Jason “Bison” Morgan of Arbutus Builders joins us to talk sustainable construction and cooperative economics. Also: Take our Listener Survey!

BONUS: two minutes of us discussing the iCloud and laugh tracks.

We discuss: Newport aquarium and migrating eyes, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Cycle Wild at McIver State Park (and free cake!), beard talk, hot Portland weather, sleeping bag liners, “open your f***ing beer, Brock!”, world naked bike ride, Multnomah County Bike Fair, son of a resource extractor, Cascadia Forest Alliance, joining the carpenters’ union, boson, Bark (a Cycle Wild affiliate) keeps an eye on forestry issues, tree sitting stories, the Burro Lady, listener David donates and we laud him, an anonymous listener suggests we interview Dan Price of Moonlight Chronicles, Cheese89 gives us an iTunes review, June is survey month! You could win $10 if you take one!, The Sprocket dispenses pre-recorded interviews like a PEZ machine, workers’ cooperatives, Big Timberworks in Montana, sustainability & remodeling, the Levitt post-war model, remodeling waste, socially responsible business models, the triple bottom line, “is getting a job equal to selling out?”, Western Worker Cooperative Conference, Red & Black Cafe, solidarity economics, capitalism and Batman, cargo bikes and Arbutus’ custom rig being built by Adrian, beer talk

Headlines: Shift2Bikes: It’s Pedalpalooza! June 9-26 will be packed with bikey fun; BikePortland: Southwest Airlines waives their bicycle fees for June 9-26 in honor of Pedalpalooza! BikePortland: Industrial designer, boat builder team up to build a plywood cargo bike; BikePortland: Beach School in Portland has a huge bike train that gets kids to school safely; PathLessPedaled: Can Bicycles Save Small Town America? a national bike route system might help.

Drinks: Brock drinks a Hamms tallboy, Bison drinks an Oatis Stout from Ninkasi Brewing, and Brandon relishes the Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery.

Music: Centrevol, “On A Roll,” from their 2010 EP Momentum

Upcoming Shows: 6/13 John Boblett of Portland Pedalounge, 6/20 Jed Lazar of SoupCycle, 6/27 Brock, Joe & Jeff’s Brewery Tour, 7/5 Friedel of travellingtwo.com

E28 - Memorial Day

thesprocket — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:05:18 +0000

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.

Upcoming Shows: 6/5 Jason Morgan of Arbutus Builders, 6/13 John Boblett of Portland Pedalounge; our summer guest schedule is still being worked out but we are taping interviews to share with you as you read this…

Brock appears on A Jumps B Shoots

thesprocket — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:14:14 +0000

Brock Dittus contributed an interview snippet to the A Jumps B Shoots podcast recorded at Wonder Northwest some weeks back - listen for him around the 31:00 mark or so discussing Nokia phones & the Snake game!

The episode we planned for this week ended up not being recorded because of everyone’s holiday weekend travel plans. Look for a short audio update from Brock & Brandon sometime this week, with next week’s show continuing on schedule as anticipated! A happy holiday to you all.

E27 - Transit Misadventure

thesprocket — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:30:00 +0000

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.

Upcoming Shows: 5/30 Ryan J. Lane, photographer and musical artist (and our theme music’s writer!), 6/5 Jason Morgan of Arbutus Builders, 6/13 John Boblett of Portland Pedalounge; our summer guest schedule is still being worked out but we are taping interviews to share with you as you read this…

E26 - Portland Afoot

thesprocket — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:27:06 +0000

Michael Andersen, founder of local life newsmagazine Portland Afoot, joins us to discuss his fine publication, transit culture, and transportation politics. And is also a fine, upstanding gentleman. (and he’s giving a discount subscription to podcast listeners! enter the code “sprocket” when you subscribe)

We discuss: Brandon goes to Tacoma, Brock goes to Wonder Northwest, the Star Wars Holiday Special, Muppet Star Wars, Space Ghost Coast-To-Coast, CodeForGood.net, thesprocketpodcast.com, Amos suggests Portland Cascadia Pedicabs, Blayne on Vancouver Island is getting a tandem, National Association of Rail Passengers, Jeff’s excited, Steve in Glasgow’s wee nocturnal cycle, Rate That Beer, “The Dutch Country” (AKA The Netherlands), Michael chooses the gong for his friend Alisa, Swan Island bus story, driver Dan Christensen, ATU, what the media does best, Microcosm Publishing, band name, worst day at the magazine, Eberhardt Press, Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, bus people vs. bike people, Unified Field Theory of TriMet (which is actually a special case of his Unified Field Theory of Portland), articulated buses, open data policy & transit apps, texting TriMet at 27299, what makes transit worth its costs (have you heard about the Columbia River Crossing?), bike-curious, student ID bus pass program and its fate, discount subscription, beer talk.

Headlines: SF Gate via BikePortland: more and more people are wearing their office clothes on the bike commute PathLessPedaled: 5 ways to be a bicycle-friendly business (Brock’s favorite? roll into the rooms) Oregonian: Transit agency TriMet honors 3 generations of female bus operators for Mothers’ Day Copenhagenize via BikePortland: nothing could be cuter than little girls riding tiny cargo bikes

Drinks: Brandon reprises the Miller High Life sans skanky pinup girl, Michael drinks the Fearless Brewing Company’s Scottish Ale, and Brock downs a Southern Oregon Brewing’s Woodshed Red.

Music: “Book of James” from the upcoming We Are Augustines project Rise Ye Sunken Ships. www.weareaugustines.com

Upcoming Shows: 5/22 our friend Meredith Stewart on transit travel, 5/30 Ryan J. Lane, photographer and musical artist (and our theme music’s writer!), 6/5 Jason Morgan of Arbutus Builders, 6/13 John Boblett of Portland Pedalounge

E25 - Big Adventure, Small Wheels

thesprocket — Mon, 09 May 2011 21:10:35 +0000

We are joined once again by Russ & Laura from PathLessPedaled.com to hear about their upcoming journey and its distinctive (and cute) hallmark: the Brompton folding bicycle!

We Discuss: double rainbows, thesprocketpodcast.com!, Ainsworth State Park, fanfares, Cycle Wild, Spirit of ‘77 indoor bike parking, new Hopworks Bike Bar, Portland’s streets not exploding with bikes, midwest valor, raingear can be cheap and easy to get, bikes & transit (LA does it best!), Brock is a human transit wiki, PedalNation fashion show, it’s episode 25!, Brompton folding bicycles and their mechanics, crazy hills on the Tillamook test run, trifold, TSA scanners and flying with your bicycle, full size bicycles are tough to put onto a train sometimes, California is awesome, Brompton cargo system, tote wheels, paring down the cargo, dongles, extension cable trumps solar panel, less is more, storing bikes under the tent flap, guys with big trucks, inspiring presentations, old school derailleurs, what’s coming next, the cause finds you, fundraising for the journey

Headlines: BikePortland: Local businesses in Portland offer bike locks for loan to forgetful cyclists; I Love The Bus: Secret Message left on seat to encourage its unspecified recipient; BikePortland: What’s the safest storage for your bike? In a Spalding Building bank vault, of course! Oregonian: Metro Discusses bicycle sharing program with Bigfish

Drinks: Russ chose the Dick’s Brewing’s Cream Stout, Laura drank Stone Brewing’s Smoked Porter, Brandon ironically swigged Miller High Life and Brock enjoyed Black Butte Porter once again.

Music: “Lonely Heart” from Portland band Mnemonic Sounds off of their 2010 album Muscle Memories, suggested by listener Evelyn! Find them at http://mnemonicsounds.com

Upcoming Shows: 5/15 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, 5/22 our friend Meredith Stewart on transit travel, 5/29 Ryan J. Lane, photographer and musical artist (and our theme music’s writer!), 6/5 Jason Morgan & Adrian Haley of Arbutus Builders

E24 - RowdyKittens.com

thesprocket — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:52:11 +0000

Tammy Strobel & Logan Smith from RowdyKittens.com, a website about “social change through simple living,” join us to talk about small houses, downsizing, and selling your car for good. Also, Logan fills some of Brandon’s shoes in our esteemed co-host’s absence.

We discuss: Brandon’s out of town, Eugene marathon & the city’s qualities, Russ & Laura, Listener Alison calls in to tell her bicycling story, thanks Listener Michelle, EcoVelo has great bicycle photography, sketchy bicycle sales, acronyms, fanfare, downsizing story, Davis, gradual change, hoarders, donations are fun!, phone call to Brandon & his unusual train experience, Dee Williams & the small house video, finding a place to park one, food carts and tent cities like Dignity Village, Peak Moment TV, Pedalpalooza small house ride, lowering your overhead, Tammy’s ebooks: Simply Car-Free and Smalltopia, dating without cars, “why is there extra money in my account?”, paying off debt, bicycling is fun! (and you wait less), Dave Feucht on riding without a helmet, job security vs. personal responsibility, upcoming book deal, Tammy featured in the NY Times & the Today Show, origin of the name “RowdyKittens”

Bonus: We forgot to talk about this on-air but these two have a fascinating simple kitchen experiment going on right now.

Headlines: EcoVelo via Logan: Give yourself a raise by switching from auto to bicycle - as much as $4/hour! Boston.com: U-lock company uses barcodes & social media to find stolen bikes; Oregonian: Bike & Ride facility is sadly below capacity. Maybe if they followed Seoul’s lead…; BikePortland: Sign company shows that Business by bike doesn’t have to be hard! BikePortland: walking and bicycling can actually thrive in the suburbs, given the right conditions; Bike commute news is a compact twitter news service

Drinks: Tammy & Logan drink Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte Porter, and Brock samples the Kona Brewing Company’s Aloha Series Wailua beer that neighbor Alison gave him.

Music: C.R. Avery out of Vancouver BC, “Motel” from his recent album release So It Goes

Upcoming Shows: 5/8 Russ & Laura of PathLessPedaled.com, 5/15 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, 5/22 our friend Meredith Stewart on transit travel, 5/29 Ryan J. Lane, photographer and musical artist (and our theme music’s writer!)

E23 - Car-Free With Kids

thesprocket — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:55:45 +0000

Adam & Jodie Rust are Portlanders who have been getting around with their two daughters primarily by bicycle for the past several years; they share some of their experiences with us on this week’s episode.

We discuss: burning stuff on Easter, tell us your stories, trouble finding the headlines sounder, bus to Tillamook, first timers vs. speed racers, Freudian slip and the clean episode, giving up the car, the cool two people on one bike trick, the evolution into bicycling, avoiding assumptions about needing a car, tricky times with newborns, it’s not a pain getting groceries, Mercy talks about hills and trailers, Chariot Cougar trailer, makeshift studio equipment, camping trip to Vernonia, surprises along the ride, “parenting win,” cars or bikes?, “crisis” moments when a car would be nice, pretending to watch a movie, flat tires are no fun, Adam is a bicycle realtor, but sometimes meets clients with a ZipCar, NE Portland is bikey and Williams Ave. is busy, Holland has a Facebook page, renting your house out (another fellow has written about this as well), bicycling tour this summer to Crater Lake, surround yourself with encouragers, Cambridge family writes blog Carfree With Kids, Cambridge’s Broadway Bicycle School

Headlines: Cyclelicious via BikePortland: Frontier becomes the first bicycle-friendly airline PathLessPedaled via BikePortland: From Portland to the Coast on folding bikes BikePortland: San Francisco considers speed limits and a ban on tallbikes on the golden gate BikePortland: Bunny On A Bike - ride photos

Drinks: Brock bought Brandon a Mike’s Harder Blueberry Lemonade (8%), drank a Pabst Blue Ribbon himself, Adam drank the Guinness Extra Stout, and Jodie enjoyed Trader Joe’s coffee with a teaspoon of sugar.

Music: Skamania County, Washington’s own Traffic And Weather present “Disappear” from their unreleased demo collection.

Upcoming Shows: 5/1 Tammy Strobel of RowdyKittens.com, 5/8 Russ & Laura of PathLessPedaled.com, 5/15 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, 5/22 our friend Meredith Stewart on transit travel

E22 - The Belle Starrs

thesprocket — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:29:27 +0000

This week we chat with Jordana Barrack and Nora Prazan, founders of the Fort Collins, CO all-lady bicycle gang The Belle Starrs.

We discuss: free pile of rotten wood, The Professor, fanfare, “rambunctious women of the road and trail,” the bike camping trip that started it all, Denver’s Cheetah Bitches, garter belts and headbadges, facebook is the new way to start a gang, “bring together the glorious women who love bicycles,” gender balance among cyclists, group rides, defining the word “gang,” cowboys and indians, Ride magazine coverage, nurturing passions, Field of Dreams, Zoobombers and their mayor-sanctioned installment, Ladies’ wrenching workshop, spreading the word, asking questions, who was Belle Starr?, a nautical star on her tombstone, The Dandy Lions rise in response, knife fight!, Filmed By Bike and the “Crash” film, Fall Roundup, upcoming events, Spring Fling, persistent rain, spontaneous rides announced by facebook, the F***ing Bike Club, mildly inappropriate acronyms, the Belle Starrs website, facebook, and email list, Spoketyles, beer cozies

Headlines: BikePortland: Coffeehouse owner says cyclists have worn out their welcome BikePortland: cyclist policeman and swerving motorist sit down over coffee CycleWild: some of Matt’s touring gear

Drinks: Jordana & Nora sent us via parcel post these awesome beers: New Belgium’s Vrienden, 8.5% ABV, and New Belgium’s Ooh Lah Lah, also 8.5% ABV!

Music: thanks to listener Blayne for recommending The British Columbians. This is their song “A Fine Mess” from their upcoming album release.

Upcoming Shows: 4/24 Adam & Jodie Rust, 5/1 Tammy Strobel of RowdyKittens.com, 5/8 Russ & Laura of PathLessPedaled.com, 5/15 Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot

E21 - Wrench Raiders

thesprocket — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:57:25 +0000

CJ Speelman of Portland’s Wrench Raiders tells us about fixing bicycles and sharing time with less privileged folk, and how to get involved.

We discuss: Brandon rides to Salem and back, Oregon City Elevator, Burgerville, dot net, Logan is like our rich uncle, Statesman Journal via Brandon’s Dad: Lee the Horselogger travels cross-country in a horse-drawn cart, Streetsblog via BikePortland: NYC bike lane opponents hired a PR firm to talk trash, Streetfilms via BikePortland: another fascinating look at post-car culture, this time about highway removal, KCET via BikePortland: a fascinating look at Los Angeles’ bicycling history, including a 20 mile long raised bikeway!, Bike Snob NYC: hillariously written piece on NYC bike lanes, CycleWild: Adventure Cycling launches a new website dedicated to overnight camping trips (S24Os), Matt Picio’s cross country journey and gear, GoBicycleTouring.info: The Food Cyclist chronicles a global journey to research food systems, BikePortland: awesome Portland bicycle commuter portraits from Jim Golden, what Wrench Raiders is, coolest rigs in town, not trying to be sexy, disconnection, the crew & community, BikePortland article, reprogramming our relational skills, Brandon goes undercover as a homeless guy, support systems, the Tricycle Campaign, B-Line delivery trikes, busted stuff & star-rusted chain, DON’T USE WD-40 on your bike, chain link bike capsule thing, long distance travel, Portland to Seattle by transit, rainbow people, department store bikes sometimes DO hold up, buying new parts is better, Abraham Fixes Bikes, pulled pork pizza, volunteers and how talking not working is OK, building stereotypes, vietnam vets, everyone’s story is unique, connections

Drinks: Brandon & Brock each drink a 24oz Pabst Blue Ribbon, and CJ drinks a 22oz Newcastle Brown Ale.

Music: “After All Our Yesterdays” by Joe Poppino from his 2009 EP The End.

Upcoming Shows: 4/17 Jordana & Nora of the Ft. Collins, CO Belle Starrs, 4/24 Adam & Jodie Rust, 5/1 Tammy Strobel of RowdyKittens.com, 5/8 Russ & Laura of PathLessPedaled.com

E20 - The Metal Cowboy

thesprocket — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:46:20 +0000

Joe Kurmaskie, Portland’s own “Metal Cowboy” joins us to discuss his writing career, philosophies, and many experiences on two wheels.

We discuss: CycleWild trip and missed connections, “not a man - nay, a god!”, homebrews, lemon juice cure, new Hurtbird news sounder, USA Today via BikePortland: buses losing seating because Americans are getting bigger, C-TRAN’s generous bike policy, CleverCycles via BikePortland: car sharing in Oregon & its barely hidden bikey agenda, belt loops, Boston Globe via BikePortland: city of Cambridge gives its citizens bike repair stands with tools and air pumps, BikePortland: Newport bicycle shop owner developing an iPhone app for touring the Oregon coast, no bike shops in Lincoln City, many hats, Sunshine Boys vs. Hardy Boys vs. Schwinn Twins, Scholastic books, Arkel panniers, “poo in a bag!” (NOT Arkel panniers - kids say the darndest things), Cadence Press books, You Might Be a Cyclist If…, escaping to Canada, experiences on the road cannot be contrived, places he’s been, some cartoons are lame, “the bad does not negate the good,” riding with a family, footnotes & “the love story I’d never write,” dot com bust & what to do with the rest of your life, no book about Africa, difference between touring alone & touring with family, the Far Side, grasshopper frogger & concerned minivan mom, perspective, fear and Chariot trailers, “Mad Max meets KinderCare,” yellow jersey, mileage is less important than great experiences, kids take a different pace, the perfect body, relax and connect, twitter’s inanity, Mia Birk & Joyride, livable/scalable communities, 10th Anniversary edition of The Metal Cowboy, Queen & iPhone app

Drinks: Brandon enjoys a Dustin Bagby amber homebrew (possibly to be 10 gallons of wedding drink), Joe drinks tea due to fighting a cold, and Brock thusly must decide between Pabst Blue Ribbon & Deschutes Brewery Cascade Pale Ale.

Music: “I Like My Bike” from Portland, OR band Hurtbird on their 2010 release Nature Vs City.

Upcoming Shows: 4/10 CJ of Wrench Raiders, 4/17 Jordana & Nora of the Ft. Collins, CO Belle Starrs, 4/24 Adam & Jodie Rust, 5/1 Tammy Strobel of RowdyKittens.com

E19 - Grease Not Gas

thesprocket — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:21:06 +0000

Mike Parziale of Portland, Oregon’s Greasebus as well as greasenotgas.com shares about his lifestyle of alternate fuels!

We discuss: fire lookouts, dynamically employed, “the cup floweth over,” two cans of Stack - never again!, little hats, Louis’ gardening update for March, bicycle realtor, Gizmodo: texting teens, Denver Post via BikePortland: coffee cart on a cargo bike, Somerville Patch via BikePortland: compost by bike, transit, or foot, “night soil,” gobicycletouring.org: Toddler on Tour, what is Greasebus?, “smells like french fries, not cancer,” having an office, “I wanted a ski pass,” Hood River route vs. “Govie” route, automatic chains, various cities, carpooling effort, full buses, no more charters, downtown douche buses, plush accomodations, free Mate, cheaper than the other options, real world solutions, conversions, stuff in the grease, “heatant,” crossing the country 17 times, “training wheels” program, living the dream, getting your grease the right way, core samples, rendering and the “giant smoothie of death,” mad cow noises, who pays how much?, environmentalism and grease and being broke, rad camper, ethanol vs. methanol, spreadsheet on the wall, oil is unavoidable sometimes, nearbio.com, converting is easier than making biodiesel, 4 billion gallons, limited supply = upcycle, being on MTV, put a leaf on it!

Drinks: we once again enjoy the Hopworks Brewery Secession Cascadian Dark Ale.

Music: “Number One Rival” from Portland Oregon’s Tango Alpha Tango off of their 2011 release Dead Wrong.

Upcoming shows: 4/3 Joe Kurmaskie the Metal Cowboy, 4/10 CJ of Wrench Raiders, 4/17 Jordana & Nora of Ft. Collins CO’s Belle Stars, 4/24 Adam & Jodie Rust

E18 - The Bicycle Plumber

thesprocket — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:17:35 +0000

Joshua DeParrie is a service plumber, but with a very interesting catch: he gets around, both to and from his worksites, by bicycle! We had him in for an entertaining and informative explanation of how that works. His website for St. Francis Plumbing is www.bicycleplumber.com

We discuss: Hillstomp puts on an awesome show, Brandon is quitting his job, Jon stalks us on the facebooks, french names, send us your stories, help us design a new logo, we should podcast our morning coffee, The Railroad Revival Tour with Mumford & Sons & Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, PathLessPedaled.com: how to talk to your partner about bike touring, and folding bikes secreted onto airplanes, The Lazy Randonneur: why I don’t dress up like a traffic cone, BikePortland.org: a bike/transit damage case turns out OK, Bike Trailer Blog: go to the ski slopes by bike, drinking in the ski lodge, how does a plumber get around by bike? On a Kona Ute, of course, Black Oak trailers, growing up on bike/on foot in Portland, inspired by not liking large trucks, paradigm shift, motivations, localized life, gas boycotts and the fungability of oil, “digging ourselves into a hole of cynicism,” “wondering if it was really going to work,” substituting a bike for a truck is like LOTR, tools and tool bags, “I don’t carry everything with me all of the time,” going to the store is inevitable, Forest Heights and Portland’s east/west side class battle, Marvin Gaye is dead, malt liquor tastes like formaldehyde or the floor of a WalMart, the real angry bird, close encounter with a falcon, Saint Francis and his connection to nature, Portland could become a car-free city, Jerusalem’s tiny streets, Bicycle City [which is actually planned for North Carolina!], create a socially conscious market demand, “Copenhagen left,” bicycle plumber aspirations, the Sawzall is awesome, incentives, “Supportland,” the bicycle plumber is like Rosa Parks, not so much like Joe the Plumber, pace of life, Phoenix to Portland in a U-haul, walking is best, monads, Sting & The Police’s “Synchronicity II” and Dire Straits’ “Industrial Disease”

Drinks: Brandon - Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale from Olympia WA, Brock & Joshua: Ninkasi Total Domination IPA from Eugene OR.

Music: “I Can’t Wait” from Seattle-based Explone’s newest album Dreamers/Lovers released in 2010.

Upcoming Shows: 3/27 Michael Parziale of Greasebus, 4/3 Joe Kurmaskie the Metal Cowboy, 4/10 CJ of Wrench Raiders, 4/17 Jordana & Nora of Ft. Collins CO’s Belle Stars

E17 - Heddy on Bicycles

thesprocket — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:26:28 +0000

David Heddy, a good friend and all-around smart guy, speaks with us about his bicycle experiences and what to look for in a bicycle if you’re just getting started as a commuter.

Ft. Collins listener alert: Portland band the New York Rifles will be in town 3/14 (today, as in publishing day!) with a show at Surfside 7!

We discuss: stolen bike tools, itunes review, re-introducing Heddy, brake adjustments, microwaves, trading bike work for New Belgium beer, Green Garbage Project: making your own butter, BikePortland: Women on Bikes, and a gravity bike at freeway speeds, as well as a big-ass cargo bike with an awesome trailer and electric assist, what do do when you are yelled at on the road, Tuscon Velo: family trades car for extracycle bike, growing up in Flint, reading BMX magazines in church, Stump Jumper, racy bicyclists, bike commuting from a farm, cross crusade, short term bike camping, Rivendell Bikes’ S24O, Burley Trailers for pulling your kids along with you, dangers of being close to the ground, Xtracycles, S24O to Vernonia, getting kicked off light rail, Banks-Vernonia multi-use path, discomfort on bikes, “can I say ass?”, Heddy recommends a road-style bike vs. a mountain bike, get a bike that is big enough for you, “a fistful of seatpost,” Heddy was a bike mechanic, brake clearance, handlebars, ergonomic (like a keyboard?), paying for bike stuff, getting your butt broken in, commuting can be easier than it seems, “go out and hold some hands,” Rivendell’s tip sheet for happy cyclists

Drinks: Brandon’s is the Ninkasi Otis oatmeal stout (7.2% ABV), Heddy consumes a New Belgium 1554, and Brock uninterestingly drinks a steaming cup of Echinacea tea.

Music: Portland-based baroque pop band Sunbeam shares their song “Bulldogs,” available for free on their website!

Upcoming Shows: 3/20 Josh the Bike Plumber of St. Francis Plumbing, 3/27 Michael Parziale of Greasebus, 4/3 Joe Kurmaskie the Metal Cowboy, 4/10 CJ of Wrench Raiders

E16 - Seth of Meticon Bikes

thesprocket — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:48:42 +0000

Seth Richardson of Meticon Bikes joins us for an engaging discussion on running a bike shop and local bike politics.

We discuss: big words, breaking cogs, Streetfilms: Moving Beyond the Automobile, Travelling Two: The Art of (Not) Planning a bike tour, BTA releases another video on bike lights, featuring Mark Allyn & a klingon, Brandon reminds us to drink, the Hamm’s bear, Zach calls from Ft. Collins about the handbuilt bike show (where BikePortland, The Path Less Pedaled, and Bike Snob NYC also reported), tires, bamboo as an anarchist tool, moving to Portland, Volkswagen Bus in a snowstorm, bicycling in Memphis (that’s a weird take on the Marc Cohn song), bike lanes in Memphis, starting a bike shop, Volkswagen maintenance, hundreds of groupon tuneups, down tube snap, the bicycle is not a simple machine, cycling is faster & simpler, Revolutions in Memphis, bicycles are human-shaped, balanced perspective on vehicle usage, practice fixing flats, utilitarian riding, bike capes, wool, wet feet are the worst, convenience & rain defense, impossibly loaded bikes, Chairman Mao with a Bird on him, Portland’s “50s Bikeway Project,” negativity vocalized, bike infrastructure is good for neighborhoods, bicyclists don’t all know each other, we giggle unexplainably about Mayor Sam Adams, proposed routes and crosswalk kerfuffle, Lents Urban Renewal District, bisected by a freeway, streetcars in the future, those new to cycling shouldn’t be afraid to try, “I navigate by weaving in the general direction I’m headed.” Plus, a BONUS: the explanation of Meticon Bikes & Brandon does Seinfeld, both after the credits!

Drinks:Brandon promotes Central Point, OR’s Walkabout Brewery Worker’s Pale Ale, while Brock & Seth try the Kona Brewing Co.’s Fire Rock Pale Ale.

Music: “Feels Like Rain” from Josh Schicker’s 2005 album “Moonlighting.”

Upcoming shows: 3/13 good friend David Heddy; 3/20 Josh the Bike Plumber of St. Francis Plumbing; 3/27 Michael Parziale of Greasebus; 4/3 Joe Kurmaskie, The Metal Cowboy

E15 - John Feeds Multitudes

thesprocket — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:54:44 +0000

John Eads of Pyro Pizza joins us to cook an incredible bounty of food, and then to discuss food systems, budgets, and the state of nutrition in the industrialized world.

Note: We also recorded our conversation during the meal if you’re interested in hearing our off-the-cuff observations with our significant others. The charts that John drew up are available here for your perusal.

We discuss: Zach in Ft. Collins might give us a handmade bike show update, bikeportland.org has some great galleries, Logan’s neighbor looks trustworthy, whiskey stones, NYT (thanks Mark Parrish): retired police officer grows her own tobacco in her backyard, Bike Trailer Blog: Moving from house to house in Kentucky by bike, Oregonian: TriMet bus routes look a bit like an anthill. 1 day’s routes in 2 minutes, Oregonian: bus driver refuses to drive bus after driver’s seat is smeared with feces, BikePortland: as bicycle ridership increases, road accident numbers go down across the board, gobicycletouring.info: newlywed couple plans to bicycle through all 50 US states, Filmed By Bike: April 15-17 ($8 per show or $25 weekend pass), “I micromanage for a living,” food cart explosion, “I Am John Eads” T-shirts, moving the cart with a dump truck, the great meal, Newsweek article: The Dinner Divide, “what the hell are they buying? for $1000/month I could have almost everything imported from france!”, cheap, mid-level, and most expensive versions of the same meal, charts on what people spend per calorie, $.88 Banquet frozen meal, shopping for 4 items in 2.5 hours, 16 plates worth on 12, “my wife scolded me for not making dessert,” french bread crust sleeve/cast, big box stores are scary, american processed cheese food, polymers, 4000 calories a day, portion control diets, eating your child’s food, uncrustables, folks in the west hills can donate, “meat is not a spice,” sodium goes through the roof, Brock was the only one that ate the meatballs, industrial food is the standard, availability of high quality food, america is becoming a food desert (see also this article), “No one I knew could cook anything,” the dodo bird of vegetables, addiction to junk & organic MREs, “we’re not crusting the sandwiches,” making food can be time consuming, the Old Crow melted the lacquer off of the coffee table, cooking beans in quantity (and soaking them), “the problem with a lot of poeple…”, fast food logo stress study, mostly natural & organic & local is possible with planning and other people, “bug ‘em to hell,” obvious red flags on breakfast cereals & juices, oranges are better & cheaper anyways.

Drinks: together, we drink a large portion of a bottle of Old Crow Bourbon

Music: the fabulous Portland-based Hillstomp presents their unique blend of buckets-and-cans-blues on their latest release Darker the Night and this week’s featured song, “Banjo Song #1.”

Upcoming Shows: 3/6 Seth Richardson of Meticon Bikes; 3/13 good friend David Heddy; 3/20 Josh the Bike Plumber of St. Francis Plumbing; 3/27 Michael Parziale of Greasebus

the meal

wrangling the ipod into place with tape to record the dinner conversation

E14 - The Great Technology Question

thesprocket — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:35:36 +0000

Adam Caress of mulevariations.com joins us remotely to discuss the methods by which we discern our relationship with technology this week.

We discuss: mixed drink terminology, Boston’s Lower Depths alehouse, drinking with your in-laws, Louis Avden’s gardening update, Sven Birkert’s The Gutenburg Elegies and the mulevariations.com interview, no cable or television, first text message, before the internet, asking the question, how do we relate to each other?, consequences & morality, generational gaps, “we put people on that shit,” inventiveness and its associated problems, interstate highways, pesticides on plants, the narrative of progress, the unruly virgin that is America, Ray Kurzwiel & singularity, “this shit has an eschatology,” people who upload their consciousness aren’t very happy, death & ending well, denying death is creepy, Aleksander Sozhenitsyn wasn’t afraid of death, inscrutable on iTunes, science fiction grandparents, grandparent telegraph email, pro/anti twitter?, booking bands is easy, myspace is the Detroit of social networks, reminiscing with grandparents, waiting for the Cubs world series win, the Plain Reader, Amish independence, Colt 45 isn’t all that great, wilting boquet, outro cabling issues

Drinks: Brandon drinks the Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale (6.9%), Brock endures a Colt 45 High Gravity Lager (8.5%), and Adam savors his single malt Islay Scotch Whiskey from McClelland’s.

Music: “Falling Stars” by Adam Caress of “T”, which is his band that finally consisted of mostly siblings, from the EP “Plan A”

Coming Up Next on The Sprocket: 2/27 John Eads of Pyro Pizza; 3/6 Seth Richardson of Meticon Bikes; 3/13 good friend David Heddy; 3/20 Josh the Bike Plumber of St. Francis Plumbing.

E13 - Epic Bicycle Tour

thesprocket — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:10:01 +0000

Mark Parrish is our friendly neighbor, mathematician and home-brewer, and in addition to that, he also has taken many bicycle tours across long distances. On this episode he shares stories of his cross country journey from Alaska to California, and then to Ohio and finally to Florida (impressive!). His friend Paula who made the trip with him joins us by phone.

we apologize for the abberant audio in this week’s episode - slicing plastic off of ill-fitting cables is a start, but we’re working on a better solution to have in place soon.

We discuss: Brandon gets a week off, Brock takes the Worst Day of the Year Ride, way up in the west hills, bucking the system by homebrewing, Darren Alff of bicycletouringpro.com rides a taxi trike more than 250 miles through Peru, Oregon headphone bill pulled from the legislature, Bike Trailer Blog tells you how to overhaul your cheap trailer’s bearings, Sunset magazine names Portland OR “best city to ditch your car” in, when was that tour?, 1 1/2 years, the plan changed, L.A., “Fuck it, let’s just cross the country,” body rebellion, kindness of strangers, not too good at planning, “can we buy some butter? (we needed some fat),” a much needed bath, “we almost died” (Mark told this story after we wrapped the program), terrain preferences, Kansas winds, tornado hotel, raining sheets (not sheep), “where did we go from Oklahoma?”, Bikecentennial & an atlas, Whitehorse will confuse you, “it tastes kind of like seal,” “fishy butter,” Florida was the end, Kentucky & Tennessee are lumpy, 100 mile days through the Smokies, your body remembers it, going home to Alaska, 600 mile circuit solo loop (300 miles unpaved!),

Drinks: Mark provides his Vagabond Gingered Ale, a dark ale with strong hints of ginger and about 7-8% ABV.

Music: “Don’t Hear Me Wrong” by Centrevol, a Long Beach CA based band, from their 2010 EP Momentum.

Coming Up Next on The Sprocket: 2/20 Adam Caress of mulevariations.com; 2/27 John Eads of Pyro Pizza; 3/6 Seth Richardson of Meticon Bikes; 3/13 good friend David Heddy

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E12 - The Car-Free Potters

thesprocket — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:52:27 +0000

The Potters of downtown Portland, OR join us to discuss their lasting foray into car-free living!

We discuss: mustaches & calico facial hair, Brock almost forgets to talk about beer, shaking a stick at beer in John’s Market, child on the way & going without beer, Portland “Bikeshed” camping map from Cycle Wild, Australian Taxi Trailer (!), Dude makes a snowplow out of a bicycle, Kid in California builds his own tandem tallbike, A rural Oregon private bus company is becoming quite popular, PSU in Portland now boasts 3 in 4 people getting there without car, Wrench Raiders fixes bikes for those without a lot of cash, Porche? No, bicycle, bikes growing up, Zwinglian European self-study (and trains!), people lending vehicles as a gesture of kindness, owning a car downtown is more trouble than it’s worth, other people’s cars getting towed, riding bicycles in traffic, carrying toilet paper, booties, pedal terminology confusion, wiping out in the snow on a fixie, Mia has a pimpy bike, Amsterdam bike looks classy but rides cheap, Jerrod is selling his fixie, fixies will kill your knees, all-in-one bike trailer, Brompton folding bicycles, Clever Cycles is a great little shop, riding in the car with the windows rolled down and the stereo up, Zipcar.com, karma & lending, intimate with your neighborhood, earbuds and awareness, finding a place for your bicycle, missing pieces, not much will change with the baby’s arrival, small living spaces, breakfast on the bridges, cushioning convictions for other people, Brandon saves the credits

Drinks: Brandon savors the Hopworks Secession Ale, Brock & Jerrod drink the Hopyard Dog from Pale Horse Brewing, and Mia enjoys Chamomile Tea.

Music: Joe Pug, a singer/songwriter from Chicago, presents “Hymn 101″ from his 2008 EP Nation of Heat. (also view the excellent video for this song)

Coming Up Next on The Sprocket: 2/13 Mark Parrish, The Epic Cycle Tour; 2/20 Adam Caress of mulevariations.com, the great technology question; 2/27 John Eads of Pyro Pizza, cheap & healthy food; 3/6 Seth Richardson of Meticon Bikes

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E11 - The Constant Rider

thesprocket — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:44:50 +0000

This week we bring you a delightful conversation with Kate Lopresti, author of a public transit themed independent ‘zine (which happens to be attractively bound and presented!) titled “The Constant Rider.” She shares her experiences and observations about riding the bus in Portland, OR and writing about them.

If you want a copy of The Constant Rider Omnibus for your very own so you can read the same stories we have, use the “Donate” button to the right to send us a few bucks for postage - we’ll slip it into an envelope and send it right to your door! Supplies are limited, but Kate was generous to give us a few extra copies and we’ll share them while we can!

We discuss: hello to listeners (including the Ft. Collins CO Belle Stars), introducing Kate Lopresti, the IPRC, Microcosm Publishing, surprisingly classy beer, the Bike Trailer Blog links to Austin Bike Zoo’s Rattlesnake, CycleWild releases their 2011 bike camping schedule, the Bicycle Travel Network tells of the Cycling Silk project, BikePortland.org links to the BTA’s new video: “Strategies for Getting Around Without Bike Lights (Or Pants).” A Washington DC blogger proposes a cycling social contract, bikes could generate wind power (!), Oregonian columnist writes about transit “seat hogs,” Kate reads a selection about “bonking” while riding light rail, “a free car is never free,” getting into riding buses, zipcar.com, the 24 hour neighborhood, cultural diversity on buses, Brandon gives away a free business idea, buses are great for reading, thanking bus drivers, talking to drivers (nice or otherwise), “I flash my pass like I’m all that,” curiosity about schedules can start conversations, “the longer I ride, the more normal these outbursts seem,” young man pop-lock-break-dancing at the bus stop, “A Drunk In Three Parts,” police pulls a dude with a joint, “line 75 is the hipster bus,” one last reading of “passenger descriptions.”

(click here for a few extra minutes of conversation we couldn’t fit into an hour’s program - bus stories for those interested)

Drinks: we share a half gallon growler of Hopworks’ Organic HUB Lager to the enjoyment of all.

Music: Seattle alt-rock outfit Explone - “Girl With a Black Eye” from their 2010 album Dreamers/Lovers.

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Conversations of the Leisured. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E10 - Plants As Pets

thesprocket — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:32:12 +0000

We are joined by our good friend Louis Avden who discusses his unique perspective on gardening. We record late at night and so we use our NPR news voices. We discuss: no more vagina talk, Ft. Collins people, we now have a donation button (thanks Steven), pig dog monster beer & Ashland mold water, Russ from pathlesspedaled.com bike packing video, photo galleries of human cyclists & tallbikes in Portland from bikeportland.org, the Mary Poppins effect, 1970s schoolchildren ride bikes to a field trip, London experiments with two way bicycle traffic on one way streets, we exchange compliments with Louis, starting small (one seed), 6 foot carrots, thinking like a plant, good tilth, “genocidification,” “yellowing thumb,” the richness of gardening, plants as pets, plants say “chill the f*** out,” difficulties with other inhabitants, stepping on beds, “you are the plant’s bitch,” Kate Moss slugs, creating community around your garden

Drinks: Brock enjoys Genessee Beer from NY, Brandon drinks the fearsome Flying Dog Double Dog Ale, and Louis purveys a mysterious drink made with Ashland Lithia Water, Kombucha & Grappa.

Music: “Stand By My Side” by Brock Dittus, featuring Louis Avden on piano, from the 2009 EP Handbuilt. myspace.com/brockdittus

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Questions of the Gathered. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E09 - (Not) Doin’ It - Fertility Awareness as Birth Control

thesprocket — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:00:05 +0000

Our most awkward episode yet! Friends Adele and Mary Lou discuss fertility awareness and understanding the feminine body. Also, in the news, an Oregon law proposal seeks to keep kids on bikes off the streets, to the dismay of many. And of course, much juvenile merriment is made over words like “mucus” and “vaginal.” We promise next week will be different.

Drinks: Brandon enjoys his cousin’s blackberry ale, Adele drinks a Pinot Grigio & some Chimay, Mary Lou has Adele’s homemade kombucha, and Brock drank a 24 oz. Tecate cerveza.

No music this week to avoid juxtaposing a reputable artist with our dubious subject material. More music next week!

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Questions of the Gathered. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E08 - Path Less Pedaled

thesprocket — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:27:56 +0000

This week in a super-sized edition of The Sprocket we present our exciting interview with Russ Roca & Laura Crawford of The Path Less Pedaled (pathlesspedaled.com); see also The Epicurean Cyclist (Russ’ bicycle blog), Russ Roca Photography, and Tangerine Treehouse (Laura’s metalcraft site). We disuss: moustache headbadges, hopworks beer, getting into full-time bicycle touring, taking it slow (no rush), working along the way, simplicity & technology, gear, cold winter in the southwest, middle of nowhere, passing the time, eating a ton, hospitality is awesome, public transit to Yosemite, bikes on trains, british cyclists in the past on youtube (cyclists’ special), getting rid of stuff, “they will still be making plates,” Surly Long Haul Trucker, flat pedals article & not clipping in, social connections home & abroad, tough times & bugs, dying by missle fire in new mexico, great campgrounds, iphone travel apps, extension cords, texas was a big surprise, advice: just do it!

Drinks: we all enjoyed Hopworks Urban Brewery’s Organic Survival “Seven-Grain” Stout & the Organic Hopworks IPA.

Music: “The Realists” by The Carrier Pigeons from their 2009 EP Unfinished Business.

Fine Print: email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone in: 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Questions of the Gathered. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus.

E07 - Amish Guy On A Train

thesprocket — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:46:30 +0000

holiday cheer and food intake, german beer and clam juice in budweiser, Portland considers bike licensing, Representative Earl Blumenauer knocks down opposition to bike signage, Portland plans for a new Sullivan’s Gulch bikeway, Seattle bassists makes custom trailer for his instrument, crossing the country by train with Adele (first female guest!), conversation with an Amish man, trustworthy beards

Drinks: Brandon enjoyed an EKU 28 from Kulmbacher Brauerei, Brock drank a Budweiser Chelada

Music: “Out of Town” by Seattle alt-rock outfit Explone from their 2004 album Crooks.

Fine Print: Contact the Sprocket Podcast: email - thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com, phone - 503-847-9774, or visit us on the web at http://thesprocket.podbean.com for links, info, and more. Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project Questions of the Gathered. [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Stories from BikePortland.org featured with permission from editor Jonathan Maus. featuring excerpts from “The Clouds Are All The Same” by Cush from their 2000 LP The New Sound. Find this excellent record at: www.northernrecords.com All songs from Cush’s album “Cush (The New Sound)” Published by Songs of Media Creature (BMI) a/c Northern Records Music (BMI) and Media Creature Music (ASCAP) a/c Northern Rock N Roll (ASCAP) Courtesy of Northern Records by exclusive arrangement with Media Creature.

E06 - Prose On Paper

thesprocket — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:52:43 +0000

Homemade cider, cycling yellow card, commute switch makes pants fall, wealkable neighborhoods are happy neighborhoods, mini bike winter, Galaxy Farm, writing letters to people

Drinks: Brandon & Scott enjoyed the 2010 Glenwood Park Holiday Cider from neighbor homebrewer Mark. Brock enjoyed an Ebenezer Ale from Bridgeport Brewing Company.

Music: “Prelude” from Portland artist Galaxy Farm’s EP.

Links: Cycling Yellow Card, Queens Bicycle Commuter Drops 30 lbs., Walkable Neighborhoods are Happier, Mini Bike Winter is coming!

Fine Print: Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project “Questions of the Gathered.” [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. Many thanks to Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org for his quality bike news service. Contact The Sprocket via email [thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com] or give us a call and leave a message at [503-847-9774].

E05 - Hanging In Tension

thesprocket — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:32:40 +0000

Bicycling in the rain and yelling at nature, friends of barbur blvd., bike registration in Long Beach, bicycle accident fund in CO, SoupCycle job, balancing technology & complexity with simple life

Drinks: Brandon enjoyed the Alameda Brewery Papa Noel’s Olde Ale, Brock drank a Steel Reserve 211 triple export (”among the very best beers in the world”).

Links: Friends of Barbur, Long Beach bike registration, bicycle accident fund, SoupCycle job

Music: The Carrier Pigeons, “www.” from their 2009 EP “Unfinished Business.”

E04 - Life Without Microwaves

thesprocket — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 04:27:13 +0000

We’re everywhere online, drinks, goodbye RV, PIR bike night, BikePortland.org, IKEA bikes, drunk biking, skateboards are street legal, David Heddy on microwaves.

Links: Brock & Adele’s photo from PIR Bike Night, IKEA bikes, Drunk Biking

Music: Josh Schicker, “Open Door” from his 2005 release “Moonlighting.” http://www.joshschicker.com;

Excerpts from Traffic & Weather’s 2008 recording “Disappear.” http://www.myspace.com/trafficandweatherband

Drinks: Brandon & Heddy coincidentally both brought the MacTarnahan’s Hum Bug’r. Brock drank a 24oz. can of Olde English “800.”

E03 - Origin Stories

thesprocket — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:45:42 +0000

Our first weekly show! Grandpa’s prune wine, goats loose on I-205, getting into bicycling, commuting and bike camping.

Music: Killian’s End contributed “Mediocrity” from their 2007 release “Killians End.” [www.myspace.com/killiansend]

Drinks: Brandon & Brock both had grandpa’s homemade prune wine, of indeterminate vintage or alcohol content.

Fine Print: Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project “Questions of the Gathered.” [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane]. contact The Sprocket via email [thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com] or give us a call and leave a message at [503-847-9774].

E02 - Brew Your Own

thesprocket — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:42:52 +0000

Brandon discusses brewing your own beer at home and its advantages.

Music: “Best Friend” from Seattle band Explone [www.explone.com].

Drinks: Brandon had the Sleigh’r Dark Doüble Alt Ale from Ninkasi Brewing. Brock had the Miller High Life in a 24oz can.

We apologize for the audio quality of the voices on this episode - we were working with some inferior equipment, but we’ve upgraded since!

E01 - No Cell Phone

thesprocket — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:08:26 +0000

Here’s episode number one! Thanks for listening!

Contents: Welcome to the Sprocket, introducing Brock & Brandon, life without a cell phone

Drinks: Brandon had the Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale. Brock had the Stack Smooth Brewed Lager.

Fine Print:

Music:

Ryan J. Lane provides our intro & outro music from his fine independently released 2009 project “Questions of the Gathered.” [www.myspace.com/ryanjlane].

featuring excerpts from “Heaven Sent” by Cush from their 2000 LP “The New Sound. Find this excellent record at:

www.northernrecords.com

All songs from Cush’s album “Cush (The New Sound)”

Published by Songs of Media Creature (BMI) a/c Northern Records Music (BMI) and Media Creature Music (ASCAP) a/c Northern Rock N Roll (ASCAP)

Courtesy of Northern Records by exclusive arrangement with Media Creature