Listen now by clicking here:
[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/spokesmen/The_Spokesmen_141.mp3]
Today’s Spokespeople:
Topics
Rich’s new gig: Pon.bike (and an extended conversation on eBikes)
Pro Cycling / Racing / Doping News
- Tour de France
- La Course has finished on Champs Elysees – Vos didn’t win!
- Let’s discuss Ventoux (rider reactions)
- Tom Dumoulin – Rio Aspirations in Doubt
- Did Froome “Abuse the Yellow Jersey?”
- Froome’s dangerous downhill tuck ain’t so hot, scientifically-speaking
- Chris Boardman’s mother killed by motorist while cycling
- Doping in Russia Part of State Policy
- Should an entire nation (of athletes) be banned from the Rio Olympics?
Industry News
Advocacy
- Kalamazoo Follow-up
Other
- Google Talks Up Its Cyclist Detection Systems – remember the track-standing cyclist and motionless Google Car.
Tips / Hints / Best Practices
- David: Bluetooth Headphones
- Carlton: Cyclists with Earpods Hear the Same as Motorists Listening to Nothing
- Tim: Close Call Database
- Rich: Support Local Women’s Cycling
How to Listen:
e-bikes *are* cheating. That’s the whole point. It’s not objectively a bad thing. And I think it’s great that e-bikes will provide a lot of people with more flexible transportation options. An e-bike is a lot “greener” than a moped–much less an SUV.
Having said all that, they’re not “bikes”. And while it’s great that they have the potential to help out retailers who have traditionally focused on bicycles, there are potential downsides.
I don’t want to see people effortlessly doing 30 mph in bike lanes or on multi-use paths. I don’t want to see the limited single-track trails being torn up by “e-bicyclists” letting it rip on the uphills the way that motorcyclists do out west.
I whole-heartedly agree with Ian, however excited you guys are about the e-bike [and the associated markets it will open up, and your desire to refuse to earn your elevation ;)] – but should have no place anywhere near dedicated bicycle infrastructure.
Re: Le Tour, I have to say the mountain stages were anything but boring (people riding for stage wins, and not in pursuit of GC). GC contention is not a requirement for real entertainment value in pro cycling – especially when Jarlinson Pantano is involved. That kid races with so much heart, humility, balls, and panache, that you can’t help but cheer for him.
World Cup mountain biking gives equal time to women on TV coverage. It isn’t much, 15 minutes for cross-country and 15 for downhill, but it’s enough that I know the names of the top riders, such as Neff and Atherton. I have no idea how this affects their pay. I think the races are held around the same time as the men’s races, maybe just before, because the crowds seem to be equally large. Maybe the road races should do the same; send the women out an hour before. Or send them out just after the men, and if the pelotons combine because of road conditions, so much the better.
Pluses and minuses:
On the plus side, let’s hear it for Tim’s rant of the week. In fact, maybe you guys should have a whole segment dedicated to that!
On the minus side, after what seemed like serious efforts to get more women on the podcast, you were back to all men this week. Too bad.
The hosts on the show rotate and change each week, and will continue to do so. We didn’t intentionally NOT have women on the show this time. It all depends upon who is free when we record. Please don’t read more into it than that.
Oh, I wasn’t reading any malice or negativity into the pure chance of who was available. Just lamenting the result. Sorry I didn’t communicate as well as I could have!
Hi David, regarding e-bikes in the streets of Tel Aviv, for most of the citizens in TA and other cities around, e-Bike become a nightmare. Our sidewalk become dangerous. Kids and elders get hit by e-bike every day. Non responsible Kids riding e-Bikes without a protection involve in too many accidents. Even riding a sport bicycle in the city between all the e-bikes become a challenge. Because Israel suffer from a horrible public transportation system, e-Bike become so popular.
Hi. Just wanted to let you know that I read an old (maybe from 2013) interview online with Chris Froome where he says he is not staring down all the time at his meter but rather finds keeping his head down during hard efforts a more comfortable position to breathe.
Also, in a recent episode of the Fattycast podcast, Ted King is asked about the TDF crowds and such. He said that he thought that it wasn’t that the crowds are worse or there are more motos, etc., but that the tour has been lucky until now and has become unlucky. Interesting perspective from a rider/participant of the tour.
Wait. There are other cycling podcasts out there? Who knew?
Shocking!