We are pleased and honored to welcome back U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who revealed, among other things that he walks the mile to work at the Capitol Building. Senator Brown is also very upbeat on the progress Ohio is making in the areas of sustainable transportation and urban revitalization.

Sometimes, the best time to undertake an over-the-top adventure is when you’re young and haven’t yet learned the meaning of impossible (and I mean that in the positive sense). Kory Piorkowski and Michael-John O’Neal are two young men who are determined to determine what they and our country are capable of this summer. They left this week on an east-to-west continental bike trip with a goal of finishing in two months. Along the way, they’ll be promoting sustainable culture. One the eve of their departure, Kory stopped in to the WJCU studios to talk about their project: Spokes of Green.

After a bit of news and a break, author and city planner Jeff Speck joins us for an extended conversation about walkability. Jeff has written a new book entitled Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, which talks about the re-population of urban core areas, and what cities can do to encourage the process. I know you might be thinking “wonk alert” but Jeff will blow your mind on topics like parking, one-way streets and the difference between walking and walking.

Neil Browne is back with us to talk about Lance’s chances fore redemption, and the general state of competitive cycling. If listening to Diane’s conversation leaves you wanting more, head over to Browne Eye Cycling for an alternate, independent look at bike racing.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy held their quarterly board meeting here in Cleveland this week, and the President of RTC, Keith Laughlin stopped by the WJCU studios for a quick chat on his way to the airport. RTC is preparing to push into the mobile-connected era with a trail finder app, plus all their normal work to extend and connect America’s rail-trail network.

Finally, if you think that all custom framebuilders in the U.S. work in steel or titanium, or if you think all carbon comes from a big factory somewhere (usually overseas) think again. Nick Crumpton of Crumpton Cycles is a small, custom builder based in Austin, Texas who fabricates handmade, custom carbon fiber frames. The second half of this week’s show is devoted to getting to know Nick, including his take on the most recent edition of the Baller’s Ride.

Lee DeWyze with Heights Music Director Karoline Kramer-Gould

American Idol 2010 winner Lee DeWyze stopped by our studio for an interview with our very own Karoline Kramer-Gould. Lee will be playing live at The Beachland Ballroom on Wednesday, June 5th at 8:00 pm.

Lance Armstrong is suddenly the social butterfly, reaching out to former rivals and media alike. Patrick Brady of Red Kite Prayer got an actual telephone call from Big Tex this week, and he’s first up to share his impressions of Lance’s latest campaign.

Tomorrow is the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in southern California, and whether you’ll be toeing the line in L.A. or wishing you were, Lorenzo DiSalvo is here to get us in the mood for some cycling, Italian-style.

Rounding out the first half of the hour is Samuel Swenson, who formerly worked as a mechanic for the bike share program in Washington, DC. He and other employees of bike share programs around the U.S. claim they were denied wages and benefits due them under contracts between Alta Bike Share and the various host cities. (Numerous attempts to contact officials at Alta Bicycle Share before airtime were unsuccessful.)

With an opening triple-decker like that, we needed a short break, after which we get to stretch out with one of the greats from U.S. cycling’s heyday of the 1970s and 1980s: George Mount. George is a former Olympian, former pro racer in Europe, and member of the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame. He doesn’t mince words nor pull any punches when it comes to cycling’s past, present, or future.