The Honest Bicycle Program: Recent Episodes
Honest Bicycle Program
By bike racers, for bike racers and really for anyone who loves to ride, The Honest Bicycle Program is where friends discuss cycling topics: silly, serious, ridiculous or practical. Come ride with us!
Also, Frances makes a GLORIOUS RETURN to the show so we can discuss an incident with a misogynistic Masters racer (#notallmasters) shared recently on Twitter by Frank Cundiff. From there, we discuss how all of us can not just support women's bike racing, but how to help make cycling and riding a more friendly and welcoming space for women. We want people who find the sport to want to stay in the sport! So listen to learn how you can help make that happen.
Welcome to Volume 6! This month: why we're not that stoked on the Tour de France this year, plus a lot more besides. Maybe we do complain a little bit too much about the annoying things other people in bike races do.
Closing music by Chris Norton.
Volume 5 is here! We try to talk about a few different things but mostly end up focused on what it means to try too hard. That's the good stuff. There's also a long meander through Greg's attempt at the Six Gaps route in Vermont, which is also pretty good, I guess.
Brought to you by HealthIQ. Get a free quote over at HealthIQ.com/honestbicycle.
Opening/closing music by Chris Norton
We're back! An all-new episode for you, now that #roadishere. A little bit of the pros, a little bit of our own racing, a lot of the usual silliness.
Brought to you by HealthIQ. Get a free quote over at HealthIQ.com/honestbicycle.
Opening/closing music by Chris Norton.
At last! We're back to discuss the Cyclocross World Championships, and a whole lot of other stuff as well. Subbing in for mattio this week is Bill Schieken of cxhairs.com.
Brought to you by HealthIQ. Get a free quote over at HealthIQ.com/honestbicycle.
Opening/closing music by Chris Norton.
We're back, this time to talk the USA Cyclocross National Championships, the upcoming World Championships, and apparently a whole lot of other stuff along the way. We're joined by local Philly hero Dan Chabanov, who shares his views on topics including the championships, the purpose and usefulness of the USAC category system and more.
Brought to you by HealthIQ. Get a free quote over at HealthIQ.com/honestbicycle.
The Wide Angle Podium Network is also sponsored by Endura! Go to endurasport.com and use code wideangle20 for 20% off incredible Scottish-designed cycling kit.
Intro/Outro music by Chris Norton.
It's 2018 and the Honest Bicycle Program is here for you! Greg and mattio sat down on January 1st to do a little year-in-review Hot Or Not. Plus, a draft of cycling brands we love and/or consider important.
Intro/Outro music by Chris Norton
Welcome to a packed episode of HBP! We go deep on what's most important to us in our cycling lives. Plus, some news on the future of the show, as HBP goes into hibernation for a bit.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
It's the offseason! For one of us anyway. So there's a little bit from Column A, a little from Column B… just a JRA chit-chat from your HBP friends.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
cxishere, new routines, the benefits of strength training, some pro cycling chitter-chatter.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
We discuss the worst conditions we've raced in and how to deal with it, cycling style and The Rules, and Cannondale-Drapac's crowdfunding of their team.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week, Dan Chabanov of the Richard Sachs Cycling Team joins us over the airwaves! We follow-up on our discussion of race and opportunity in cycling from the previous episode, then we talk some Red Hook Crit and, of course, cyclocross.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Race in bike racing, money in bike racing. For once we touch on some actual hot topics in cycling. Also, mattio went to Track Natz. How did that go?
It's the Wide Angle Podium Donation Drive! Please help support our show and the network! You know… monetarily.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
For a change, we talked mostly about pro cycling this week. What??
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This episode is about the Tour de France. And the Giro Rosa. Definitely not about cyclocross. Tour. Giro Rosa. No ‘cross here. No sir/ma'am.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
After an unplanned hiatus (sorry!!!) HBP is back! And we're fired up. This week, we go deep on a payout fiasco at the Nutmeg State Games Criterium, and chat about the Hammer Series and what that all means. Greg talks kind of a lot on this one. Whoops.
Episode Links
Erin Faccone – Nutmeg Games: Fool Me Twice
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
It's a jam-packed HBP this week! First mattio fills Greg in on the various scuttlebutt going around the world of cycling, before settling in to a discussion of illness and allergies, and how a little bit of structure in your life can make a world of difference when it comes to fitting in that riding and training we know you want to do. Our simple advice: anything you can make easier, do it.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week it's just Greg and mattio while Frances is on sabbatical. We take a rummage through mattio's parts bin, share some revelations about racing while short, and talk about Caley Fretz's great piece on The Little 500 in VeloNews. We also talk about a string of tragedies in bike racing over the last month, sharing our feelings about the tragic deaths of Chad Young, Michele Scarponi and Steve Tilford in recent days and weeks.
Episode Links
Cinder Chess at the Little 500
Telling Stories of Chad Young
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
In the 77th episode of HBP, we talk a bit about the Tour of Flanders (an American winner!!), the significance of tactics in bike racing and early spring bikes (ugh). Plus, 80's one-hit wonder megahits!
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
We unzip our flies and take aim at that third rail: disc brakes are back on the agenda! We talk about yet another controversy, and consider the role of facts and reason in this debate (spoiler: it's minimal). Also, some new rim tech from Mavic of all people, and a reminiscence about the good old days of collegiate cycling.
This episode is our Omloop preview! Just in time! What?
Also, crash stories.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.
Episode Links
This guy didn't crash!
This guy did crash.
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week we put on our serious pants and discuss recent revelations about sexual, emotional and physical abuse of riders in women's cycling. We cover the recent Ella CyclingTips podcast interview with Genevieve Jeanson, as well as the Outer Line report based on anonymous interviews with twelve current and former women professional riders. There's also a good smattering of the usual bourbon-soaked nonsense.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.
Check out Blinders Optics!
Episode Links
The Outer Line – Status of Women's Pro Cycling, Part Two
Ella CyclingTips – Sexism and Abuse in Women's Pro Cycling
CyclingTips Podcast: Interview with Genevieve Jeanson
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Greg recommends some bourbon, and the team dives deep into the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Hartford, CT.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.com/honestbike.
Check out Blinders Optics!
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
It's a special holiday and New Year Edition of HBP! Where “special” means “somewhat behind the usual schedule.” We talk current events, some late-breaking predictions for US Cyclocross Nationals, and reflections on the previous and coming year. Greg would like to apologize for implying that there is anything wrong with robosexuality or Scott Smith's mustache.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Greg, Frances and mattio talk about Stephen Hyde's recent 10th place (!!!) at Spa-Francorchamp in Belgium, as well as more localized current events, downgrading categories and the challenge in being honest about your present capabilities. And a bunch of other nonsense, as usual.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
In this jam-packed blockbuster edition of HBP, we travel to the Northampton International Cyclocross in Western Massachusetts. Greg and Frances finally ride the sandpit! We interview Ellen Noble and Dan Chabanov! Back in the studio, mattio and Greg talk six-days and raise a glass to Kuipke Cat, wherever he is.
Episode Links
Ellen Noble is on Twitter
So is Dan Chabanov (he also has a Tumblr)
Ellen rides for Aspire Racing, and Dan rides for the Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team
Ellen suggests you check out Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, and consider donating.
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Greg and Frances recorded an episode on Halloween Night... but then it spookily disappeared! Amazingly, we found it in a run-down old cabin in the woods. Unfortunately, the arcane forces of evil magic seem to have done some bad things to the audio quality. Seriously though, Greg talks a lot about his trip to the land of cyclocross and wafels, so if you want to hear about that, this is one to listen to. We apologize for the audio issues.
This episode of the Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you by Health IQ.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
We're back! Greg and mattio get together for a chat about appropriate pizza dough substitutions, the (men's) road world championship road race, the benefits of having a coach, and more. Also, pour one out for the sad loss of a beloved bicycle.
What happened to Episode 68? It's coming! We promise.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Greg and Frances discuss the recent Cyclocross World Cups of Cross Vegas and Jingle Cross. Mattio breaks in to tell us about what it's like to be on the ground and on the actual track at Jingle Cross. We conclude by talking about the joys of fall riding, and how it can be a challenge to mix the pleasures of autumn cycling with the intensity of Cyclocross.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
It's a veritable smorgasboard of #podcast #content #brands as the Terrible Trio are together again! Dogs! Cyclocross in an Indian summer! The subtle nuances of World Champion kit design! Fast bike friends, new bike feels and more!
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week, it's once again a duo as Frances is busy fighting grues in the Great Underground Empire. Undeterred, Greg and mattio discuss mattio's practical memento from the National Sports Center Velodrome in Minnesota, track cycling at the Olympics and the rapid approach of cyclocross season.
The Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you this week by Icksnay.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Read more at http://twhbp.wideanglepodium.libsynpro.com/#J6K4AYoa5SUwzPr4.99
The Wide Angle Podium fund drive is underway for the Honest Bicycle Program! Mattio is off somewhere doing something, but Frances and Greg got it together to discuss the Olympic road races, the phenomenon of people explaining to elite female athletes how to do their jobs, and Nantucket as a cycling destination.
The Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you this week by Icksnay.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week, we dig into the vault for a recorded-but-unreleased episode recorded in late June, between the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France. We discuss Danny van Poppel's near-crash in Stage 4 in Switzerland, race course safety more generally, mattio's moving plans and the eight-fold way of releasing oneself from material possessions (which is to say, in racing bikes your expensive things will break, sometimes).
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
The Honest Bicycle Program Tour de France sprint cast spectacular continues! Two weeks into La Grande Boucle, we give our highlights and lowlights (mostly highlights) of the race so far, and then peer into our crystal ball to predict the future. Takes are lukewarm, so don't worry you won't get burned. We saved the HOT HOT TAKES for our discussion of the Team USA women's road race and men's track team selections for the Rio Olympics. Which are coming up soon, holy cow! Also, mattio beat Bobby Lea in a bike race, and Greg has Strong But Confused Feelings about Olympic politics.
The Honest Bicycle Program is brought to you this week by Michelin Bicycle, USA.
Follow Michelin on Social Media:
Facebook: Michelin
Twitter: @MichelinBikeUSA
Instagram: @michelinusa
YouTube: Michelin Bike
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
The HBP Tour de France Spectacular Sprint Cast returns! Greg, Frances and mattio talk about what's interesting about the Tour, why they watch, how it's gone so far and what they expect from this year's edition.
This week, in the wake of the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, Frances regales us with tales of her own personal participation of this classic (and extremely scary) race. Also: Chris Horner and his famous bike throw, and Greg learns that some things are more important than bike racing.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
It’s a jam-packed, hyper-caffeinated edition of HBP! Greg, mattio and Frances talk a little bit of pro racing (sort of), bike design, the politics of bicycle mode share (kind of), and the amazing new Team USA Women’s Team Pursuit bike (for real!)
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
Bicycles built on people’s attempts to draw them from memory
The Bicycle Design Project and Greg’s thoughts on it from 2014
(Mostly) terrible design student bikes
The amazing new USA women’s team pursuit bike
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Greg, Frances and mattio touch the third rail and argue about helmets. Also, mattio has a Public Service Announcement about air quality, and we muse on the progression of bicycle lighting technology.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
Local elite racer and New England cycling fixture Michael Wissell sits down with Greg for a wide-ranging discussion covering allergies vs. illness, the similarities between touring in a band and traveling to bike races, different race disciplines, growing the appeal of cycling and, of course, couches.
Episode Links
The Heuristic Michael Wissell (profile) – Bikemag.com
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
UGH I GUESS WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT DISC BRAKES IN PRO RACING. Also: Greg's new bike, a family-unfriendly discussion about the lack of a women's Paris-Roubaix, a Zapruderesque breakdown of the Redlands crit crash and a whole lot of nonsense.
Episode Links
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week, buckle up for an in-depth discussion of the World Cycling League debut. What’s the WCL all about? What worked and what didn’t? Plus, apparently 12-speed MTB drivetrains are now a thing. Are we mad as hell about it? Listen and find out!
Episode Links
World Cycling League
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
In this spring extravaganza, Greg, mattio and Frances talk about hand injuries for some reason, as well as the more prosaic elements of spring bicycling: bike cleaning, dealing with traffic on MUPs and the like. Also, they explain the proper usage of rubber suits in sexual congress. Yeah.
Episode Links
The Honest Bicycle Program is on the Wide Angle Podium Network!
iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman’s Honest Bicycle Program
mattio Twitter: @_mattio
Frances Twitter: @Francestastic
Greg Twitter: @grolby
Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com
This week, Frances and Greg tackle the Spring Classics! We discuss how much pro racing we really watch, what mattio might be doing while out from under our close supervision, the racers and riders we're most looking forward to watching this spring, and Frances' ideal Italian vacation.
In this episode, Greg and mattio interview Dave Kirkpatrick of November Bicycles. In a wide-ranging discussion, we cover the origin of November and how it became a wheel company, "open mold" products in the bicycle industry, the intersection of performance and value and of course tubeless wheels and tires for cyclocross. Have a listen!
It's an episode of immense importance as Greg and mattio are joined by new regular co-host Frances Morrison! We also have a shiny new name: The Honest Bicycle Program. This week, we have a quick winter check-in before diving deep into the thrilling racing and big stories of the 2016 Cyclo-cross World Championships at Zolder at the end of January.
A discussion of sponsorship for amateur teams - expectations, "real" sponsors vs. being part of a buying club, understanding what the relationship is.
In this episode: Star Wars (yeah), 20 minutes of 5 minute #cxnats2016 predictions and a discussion of cycling teams - what makes a team happy, functional and inclusive?
It's a Holiday Special episode! Greg and mattio develop their own cycling gift guide, update their list of preferred gear, and share their proudest moments from 2015. Send us in your own proudest achievements from your cycling year!
We start this week with some news about the show - don't worry, we're not going away! After that, some chatter about our F2F at the Cycle-Smart International cyclocross race in Northampton Mass leads into a discussion of established champions and rising stars, both foreign and domestic. We talk about Hyde v. Powers in Louisville and Sven Nys v. Wout van Aert in Koksijde.
After a slight hiatus Greg and mattio are back, and because it's still fall it's still time to talk about cyclocross! We ask if anyone can beat Wout, compare the competition in the men's vs. women's European fields, and chat a bit about bike friends from the Good Ol' Days going over and racing in Europe and how cool that is. Plus: a bonus update on travel plans, and why the track omnium is great.
Greg and mattio discuss the Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia which only just happened because they are TRAVELING THROUGH TIME. There are a lot of stories to cover from a rich and exciting week of racing!
After an unusually scientific discussion on the importance of soil type in cyclocross, Greg and mattio talk about Greg’s cyclocross season so far and about the weird things that doing well and competitiveness can do to your brain. Then it’s on to a follow-up on the CrossVegas World Cup results and what we thought about all that.
In a racing-focused episode, Greg and mattio discuss Andre Greipel’s DQ in the Tour of Britain, and dirty racing more generally. Then it’s on to Tom Dumoulin and the Vuelta that was just one stage too long. Finally - the World Championships are in the USA! Are we excited? Are we going? And—how stacked is the US women’s road team!?
This week, #cxishere at last, and Greg and mattio are ON IT. Various thoughts and feelings on the first North American Cyclocross World Cup at Cross Vegas are discussed, analyzed and dissected. Are we excited? Is this the best choice event for a first World Cup in North America? From there, it's a deep dive into the world of cyclocross tech, as we discuss technologies from 1X drivetrains to hydraulic disc brakes to tubeless tires. Are they ready? Should you adopt them? Listen and find out what your opinion should be!
Greg and mattio sit down to discuss Greg's participation in the Vermont Overland Grand Prix adventure race: the course, the experience, his terrible, terrible technical choices. This then serves as a jumping-off point to discuss gravel racing in general, what we think about it, and the industry’s move to build bikes specifically for this genre of riding.
This week, mattio and Greg dig into a piece of listener mail that they've been saving for the approach of fall and defend themselves against allegations of having called barriers "dumb." After which they discuss their various preparations for the upcoming cyclocross season, such as gluing tubular tires and not racing very much. Also, Greg has feels about a race he did and wants to tell us about it, which he does. At some length. Enjoy!
Motivated by a recent VeloNews article about older athletes who developed heart trouble as a likely consequence of years of competition, Greg and mattio ask themselves the hard questions about bike racing in the long term. What health concerns are there about doing this for too long? What about the impact of a challenging, time-intensive hobby on life balance in family, career, mental health? Is there a time limit on how long we can do this, and if so what is it? Bike racing is awesome but it is also hard and it is but one part of a full and fulfilling life.
The other week, mattio took a little trip out to Los Angeles for the Track Cycling National Championships and did pretty well for himself. Here, he tells us about his adventures and about racing against the best competition in the U.S.A.
The thrilling conclusion of our 2015 Tour de France Spectacular! Best moments, winners and losers, general discussion. And the winner of our Velogames cycling league contest is revealed!
The 2015 Tour de France is done with the Pyrenees and poised to enter the Alps for its final week. Greg and mattio break down the stories so far, including the stages, the G.C. and a brief discussion of the inevitable doping questions. And of course, the Workingman's Fantasy Bicycle League standings!
It's the first rest day of the 2015 Tour de France, so it's time for a show! Greg and mattio discuss the race so far and where things might be headed. And of course, the Workingman's Fantasy Bicycle League standings!
We cover the first two stages of the 2015 Tour de France, Workingman's Honest Fantasy League standings, and listener mail.
Tour de France Preview Part II and our Velogames Fantasy League and Listener Contest details! Put your team together on Velogames.com and join us in the Workingman's Fantasy Bicycle League! League Code 25205419.
Summer is here, and that can only mean one thing - Le Tour de France! This is our blockbuster edition lead-in to the Tour. We discuss the big picture of how we feel about the race and what it means, before covering the Big Four contenders for this year. And then we finally tackle a subject that always closely follows the Tour: doping. That would've been a depressing note to end on, so we pulled it out with a hearty thumbs up and a call for you to stay tuned for our Velogames Fantasy Tour de France Listener CONTEST!
A special live crossover episode that mattio recorded down at the local races with Andrew Thompson of the Super Number One Cycling podcast! Andrew and mattio discuss crashing, local racing and… food co-ops? This is a little different from our usual fare, but well worth a listen.
This week we are joined by elite racer and rad human Heidi Goodson to discuss the North Star Grand Prix (formerly the Nature Valley Grand Prix), and more specifically the lack of a women's field in the race. Also up for discussion are thoughts on race and payout equality and a proposal for tying payouts to field size. And of course, some of the usual silliness.
This is a week for Greg and mattio to unburden their consciences and be shamed for their transgressions. There’s also a fair bit of nattering on about nothing much in this one, and some Feelings about Strava. Follow us on Strava, by the way. If you want to.
This week on WHBP, Greg and mattio start with some listener feedback on Secret Racing and their (mostly unjustified affronted feelings when someone passes them. And then they dive deep into a Serious Discussion about cycling tribalism/elitism and whether or not racers have anything to contribute to cycling advocacy.
Episode Links Trek Safety Recall Notice iTunes (Subscribe! Leave us a review!): The Workingman's Honest Bicycle Program mattio Twitter: @_mattio Greg Twitter: @grolby Email us at honestbikeprogram@gmail.com Music: "Life Before Wartime," by Maxwell's Demon
This week, Greg and mattio share a gripe about and propose solutions for secret racers and surprise wheelsuckers. But that’s only the aperitif for a solid discussion and a little bit of ranting about Trek’s quick release recall, its implications and the problems with the humble but outmoded design of the quick release skewer.
Greg and mattio finish the Paris-Roubaix talk for 2015 with a discussion of the technology and sociology of rear suspension road bikes, then and now. With that out of the way talk turns to... basements! Specifically, Greg's big new basement, and generally, bicycle storage and workspace needs and realities for the apartment dweller versus the homeowner.
This week Greg and mattio dive deep into Jørgen Leth's classic Paris-Roubaix documentary A Sunday In Hell. What makes it so great? And they close with a thumbs up for the peculiar American cycling fan practice of rising early on Sunday mornings to drink coffee and watch bike races over the Internet.
This week, we begin with a drinking vocabulary lesson before diving into our first topic: Greg finally bought some carbon fiber wheels. Our technical consultant, Ian, and mattio heavily enabled this purchase, but you might be surprised by how attainable a light set of carbon wheels can really be. Finally, we close with a discussion of our experiences and feelings on bicycle touring.
Greg and mattio get together to talk about their relationship to bike lanes. For guys who like to go fast, they can sometimes feel constraining. But there's a bigger picture. Plus, mattio has Strong Words to share on the slippery slush of the spring melt.
It's Part 2 of our Spring Classics preview with Whit Yost! Whit is a contributor to Bicycling Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Pavé Blog (where mattio has contributed a number of pieces himself) and America's foremost Spring Classics pundit. This week, Whit tells us which riders to watch, and we make some wild picks for the coming big races - just in time for Milan-San Remo!
Whit Yost joins us for our two-part Spring Classics preview! Whit is a contributor to Bicycling Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Pavé Blog (where mattio has contributed a number of pieces himself) and America's foremost Spring Classics pundit. This week, Whit tells us a little bit about how he got into cycling and his time as an Assistant Directeur Sportif for the Mercury-Viatel professional cycling team, before we review the first three big dates of the Classics Season, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kurne-Brussels-Kurne and Strade Bianche, and discuss the races still to come.
This week, Senior Technical Consultant/Correspondent Ian Schmidt tags in for mattio as we discuss the encroachment of MTB technology into road and cyclocross bikes. First up is a fairly detailed discussion about the pros and cons of road tubeless tires. Then we get all WHBP and wonder about the implications of all this new tech for cost and accessibility of the sport.
This week, we have special guest and USA Cycling official Emily Good for the second of our two part Ask an Official series! Learn what the blue shirts do, what they are and are not responsible for, and how they help make our sanctioned races work. This week, Greg goes on an epic rant about the availability of safety pins, and Emily tells us which rule she would most like to change.
This week, we have special guest and USA Cycling official Emily Good for the first of our two part Ask an Official series! Learn what the blue shirts do, what they are and are not responsible for, and how they help make our sanctioned races work. This week, Emily tells us about how she came to be a USA Cycling official, what the job is like, and what racers think about what officials are there to do versus their actual responsibilities.
This week on WHBP is all about de-biking, n-u, n+0, however you want to put it. We debunk the endless repetition of "n+1," talk about bikes for purposes, how many bikes we want and whether buying something can change your life in a meaningful way. Spoiler: it can't.
This week, it's back to basics as Greg and mattio bid adieu to Cadel Evans and discuss some of his most badass moments. Then, the Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor - up for discussion are the elite women's and elite men's race. The elite women's race was amazing, the men's race... less amazing. But we still have opinions on it! Finally, Sanne Cant said some things after the race, and we have things to say about that.
Greg and mattio are joined once more by Frances Morrison for a light-hearted discussion of the cool places we've ridden bikes and what we like about them. We hope the Pioneer Valley tourism board is paying attention. The special charms of collegiate racing and the challenge of dressing for races in a hot car also come in for discussion. This one is just fun!
This week, we are joined by very special guest Frances Morrison to discuss #CXNOTS, the junior race debacle from the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships and pay equality for women in elite cycling. We have many links this week, which are not required for understanding but may interest our listeners. Find them at standarddouble.com/whbp/13.
Technical Consultant and Correspondent Ian Schmidt returns for the second week running as we discuss taste in bikes among Boston-area podcasters, before diving into discussing the bikes we've dinged and dented over the course of our racing lives. It turns out that a bicycle is a remarkably robust machine, and much of the damage that will inevitably accumulate over a few years of racing is not necessarily a death knell.
WHBP is back for 2015, and wasting no time in getting rad and exciting as we bring on our WHBP Technical Consultant/Correspondent, Ian Schmidt. Feathers fly over career choices and beer before we get into the meat of the show: Greg just bought a power meter! Is this choice WHBP-Approved? And what do we think about training methods and the advantages of using power (or not) in general? We conclude with a very sleepy discussion about cyclocross, including a woefully inadequate preview of the U.S. (Men's) National Championships. Maybe Powers will win? Maybe someone else? We're not really sure.
This week, it's all about racing etiquette. Yelling "inside!" in corners, putting your hands on people, telling everyone around you to hold their line - Greg and mattio have opinions on all of these actions. Racing etiquette is about both safety and respect for you and your fellow competitors, how do we race hard and keep everyone safe, happy and having fun?
The WHBP Holiday Spectacular double album special! Greg and mattio unveil their Holiday Shopping And Money-Spendering Guide, sprinkled liberally with unsolicited relationship advice from Greg. After an intermission about beer (where, surprise, Greg has some complaints), the guys dive into what they're doing during their respective off seasons , even dispensing something vaguely resembling actual information along the way. Please enjoy this double-length special episode with warmest holiday wishes from WHBP crew.
In a free-ranging, de-bourbonated edition of WHBP, the guys take on the clinchers v. tubulars "debate," undertaking some media criticism along the way. The conversation meanders its way around to the foibles of cantilever brakes in the mud and snow (spoiler alert: they don't work) before concluding with a heartwarming recounting of how a local racing scene comes together at a big regional event. Also, your 30-ish hosts gripe about getting old and feeble.
Greg and mattio discuss the ins and outs of winter bikes and winter riding in their respective homelands of Boston and Minneapolis. Then Greg has a rant about the push to wide rims on road bikes, while mattio tries to talk him down.
In this Thanksgiving special, mattio and Greg have some suggestions for the sport of billiards, some thanks to give and a whole lot of questions about cats on velodromes.
Greg and special guest Preston Buehrer talk about getting into bike racing via collegiate cycling, the challenges in making cycling more accessible and inviting, and reminisce about their old high school track and field days.
Greg and mattio scratch their heads over USA Cycling's new Fatbike National Championship, then talk for a surprisingly long time about handlebars.
Local cyclocross race chatter devolves into a discussion on frame materials, the philosophy of the show is further elucidated, and we pour out a Belgian triple for the racing career of Niels Albert.
mattio has a rant about barriers in cyclocross, and the hosts discuss the World Championship road races, Il Lombardia, and a little bit about Marianne Vos (they think she's going places).
Tim Johnson's cyclocross suspension fork, technology in bike racing, and a thumbs up for a simple riding pleasure.