Listen now by clicking here: [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/spokesmen/The_Spokesmen_56.mp3]
Topics Included:
Vote for The Fredcast in the Health/Fitness category in the Podcast Awards.
Taichung Bike Week, 5-8th December.
Bikes are faster in towns than cars (even share bikes).
Martin Cassini: “People complain about cyclists ignoring lights, but most cyclists are simply going on opportunity…There’s a common misconception that if you take away the lights people are going to drive fast. Actually, the opposite is true. It’s a counter-intuitive idea. It’s the green light that encourages the speed that licenses the aggression. If you take away the light, and there’s uncertainty at the junction, people naturally approach slowly and filter…A new hierarchy emerges with vulnerable road users at the top. Pedestrians in the shared space scenario, when there are no lights to dictate behavior, are seen as fellow road users rather than obstacles in the way of the next light.”
How resilient is carbon fiber? Shelter Carbon Protection Tape. Video.
Gift ideas
Cycle Passion calendar
Castelli Radiation jacket
How to Listen:
Loved the last podcast, particularly the discussion about carbon, warranties, and consumer purchasing behavior.
HOWEVER….
The baby noises, my God!! I’m a father of 2 myself and love them to death, but that said, the noises were horribly distracting and detracted from the normally professional format and production of the show.
Please next time, try to record the show in a more sterile environment. Makes the show far more pleasing to listen to.
Simon,
Thanks for your comment and we are glad you like the show.
As you may know, The Spokesmen records on Saturday mornings during family time. Sometimes we have no control over noises that creep into the show like when my dogs barked at a moose outside my window during a recent show. We’ve also had wives walk into rooms, cuckoo clocks announcing the top and bottom of the hour, and a couple of babies. In the case of the most recent show, Tim was recording from his kitchen table which was unavoidable. We’ve gotten a number of emails about the constant noise during the show, and we will endeavor to eliminate this in the future.
Keep listening!
David
For me, baby noise was OK, it was the blender that got me!
I don’t mind the occasional inadvertent noise, and I suspect that most people don’t mind it. It adds colour to the podcast. A little reality slipping through the screen. But purposely continuing with unrelated noise right beside you does seem a bit unprofessional. The blender noise was relatively short and amusing. The baby noises were fine at first, too, but then continued through nearly the entire show.
I don’t mean to be an ogre, but the context of the show is cycling, not family.
It’s all a learning process, though, so no worries. 🙂 I’m sure the next show will be better, and I’m looking forward to it.
Chris,
Thanks for your comment. I’m with Carlton on this one. Hearing MasiDaughter 2.0 was endearing, but the banging, bumping, blending, and water running was a bit too much.
David
Love the podcast, but… What the heck was up with the romanticization of the Autobahn? As Carlton pointed out, there are freaking speed limits in Germany. They’re enforced in the *extreme*.
The idea that speed limits are unnecessary on surface streets is silly in the extreme. Our American traffic engineers build our streets so that–barring pedestrian or bicycle traffic–it’s completely safe for *drivers* to go 50-60 mph over the speed limits in residential neighborhoods. The only drawback is that it’ll make those roads completely unsuitable for cycling on or walking next to.
Look, we’re all drivers, too. And it upsets us when we have to pay fines, and such. But that’s our childishness and petulance coming out. It’s not the higher angels of our nature talking to us.
I like the German model: when you’re on the interstate, drive as fast as you like. When you’re on surface streets…slow the *F* down. Drive the speed limit. Hell, drive below the speed limit.
It’s the most important thing you can do to support cycling and walkable neighborhoods.
A little late in responding here to that last comment. I’m sorry I came across as “romaticising” Germany’s Autobahn. My point was that in Germany, they seem to better understand the responsibility and potential danger involved in operating a motor vehicle compared to the US. In researching German driving etiquette and norms prior to my trip there this year, I was impressed with the level of instruction required and the cost to get licensed. They take the act of driving a car seriously. Here’s what one website says on the subject of drivers licenses in Germany: “a German driver’s license costs over $2000, after a minimum of 25-45 hours of professional instruction plus 12 hours of theory.” As I mentioned in the podcast, in the US, you can have your older brother teach you how to drive and the license costs, what, $50-$100? I think we take driving a car too casually in the US and don’t treat it with the level of respect and reverence that it deserves considering the potential damage that one can cause.
I was very impressed by the skill and politeness of the drivers over there – even with the constant stream of Audis and Benz’s flying by at 120mph. I felt much safer than in the US with idiots weaving in and out of lanes at 80mph with no concern for the safety of others.
In the US we need to shift resources to more up-front education of drivers. But then the government would lose an opportunity for a money grab in enforcement and ticketing…
Thanks for the show. I enjoyed listening and while family noises can be distracting at times it only happened on this one show so no worries. Thanks for being willing to take some family time to record the podcast. I appreciate it.