The Outspoken Cyclist – 2/26/2011

Even as the calendar says March, with its Madness, Irish Celebration, and (we hope) warmer weather is almost here, the weather in northeast Ohio continues to favor the skiers and snowboarders among us. So, in the interest of preserving sanity, we present the perfect soundtrack for whatever you’re doing to cope with (or embrace) winter.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to race mountain bikes 2,300 miles from Banff, Canada to the U.S.-Mexico border, listen to our interview with Mike Dion, who not only competed in the race, but produced a movie about the 2008 edition of Ride the Divide. The film is available for local DIY screenings (typically as a fund raiser for charities and non-profit organizations).

You don’t often hear the words “woman”, “professional”, and “mountain bike racer” used in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what Melanie Colavito is. Racing since she was sixteen years old, Melanie rides both road and mountain, and participates in a blog that focuses on women in cycling called Women’s Bike Talk.

We wrap up this week’s show with a short, but informative conversation with Randi Jo Smith from Randi Jo Fabrications.  She designs and individually sews “Clothing for the Common Cyclist”. Her designs include caps and hats, jerseys, saddle covers, and something called an M.U.T.

Other links from this week’s show: