In this episode, we’re joined by Sire Pro from the Coos History Museum to explore how the timber industry built Coos Bay from the ground up. Towering forests and deep-water ports shaped more than just the landscape of Coos Bay—they shaped an entire community.

We dive into the early 20th-century boom that fueled the local economy, the key events and figures that defined Coos Bay’s timber trade, and the technological advances that transformed logging and milling along Oregon’s South Coast. Sire also unpacks the environmental challenges that came with large-scale logging, how those impacts were addressed over time, and the role Coos Bay played in the broader Pacific Northwest timber industry. Bonus: Sire also shares about myrtlewood wooden coin.

Coos History Museum: cooshistory.org

Image Credit: Coos History Museum

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

In this episode we sit down with Rick Marshall, a retired Army Major, veteran, and cyclist, for an honest conversation about living with PTSD and finding moments of calm on two wheels.

This isn’t a story about fixing trauma or pushing through pain. It’s about learning, over time, how movement, solitude, and nature can offer connection and relief. This episode is especially for combat veterans—and for anyone who loves and supports them.

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with David Dietz — a passionate Bend, Oregon cyclist navigating life and the road with Parkinson’s Disease. David shares how he first fell in love with riding and what his cycling routine looks like today.

David shares about the learning curve of adapting his riding style, listening to his body, and finding what truly works for him on and off the bike. This conversation is honest, empowering, and full of wisdom for anyone facing physical challenges, anyone who loves cycling, or anyone seeking stories of resilience.

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

Jim Sipe is an avid cyclist and writer who shares about his journey living and riding with Type 1 diabetes. Today, he offers a personal look into how he prepares, adapts, and stays safe while pursuing a sport he loves. Whether you live with Type 1 diabetes, love long-distance rides, or enjoy hearing real stories from the road, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at one cyclist’s personal journey—inspiring all of us mile after mile.

You can find and follow Jim here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetasteofprogress/
Blog: https://thetasteofprogress.com

Featured post for this episode: https://thetasteofprogress.com/2025/09/16/type-1-diabetes-cyclist/#

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/jim_sipe

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

A blend of history and ecological restoration, Camp Polk Meadows Preserve is a thriving haven for fish, wildlife, and native species thanks to years of dedicated restoration. In this episode, we learn about the unique challenges of balancing conservation with public access, history of the site, and how the Deschutes Land Trust and the local community work together to restore habitats.

More Info on Deschutes Land Trust: deschuteslandtrust.org

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast invites gravel cyclists and nature lovers to discover the magic of whale migrations along one of the most scenic coastlines in the U.S. This episodes shares about how to connect with the whales, best seasons for sightings, and unusual whale mortality events as well as how we can help the whale population as cyclists.

This episode was produced from a live conversation between our guest Michael Milstein of NOAA and Dirty Freehub. We’ve shaped the interview into this format so it’s easier to listen and enjoy, while keeping the guest’s ideas and perspective at the center.

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

In this episode, we uncover one of Oregon's most surprising World War II stories: the only mainland U.S. bombing by enemy aircraft. In 1942, a Japanese pilot launched from a submarine off the coast of Brookings and dropped incendiary bombs on Mt. Emily, aiming to spark chaos and forest fires.

Decades later, the same pilot returned to Brookings not with bombs, but with a gift: his family’s 400-year-old samurai sword — a gesture of peace and reconciliation.

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

Meet David Toste, or "Toast" as we call him at Dirty Freehub. In today’s episode, Toast and I discuss about the inspirations and challenges cycling with multiple sclerosis a condition that has shaped his journey into gravel cycling. Instead of focusing on limitations, he celebrate what his body can do—when he can do it. In this episode, David shares personal stories of living with MS and reflect on how this "snowflake disease" manifests differently for everyone, offering a powerful reminder of resilience and adaptation.

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This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

All Access Episode #3

In this episode of The Connection, we sit down with Giselle Distad to hear her inspiring story of recovery and resilience after donating a kidney to her father. She shares how cycling became a vital part of her healing process, reconnecting her with nature, art, and the community in Central Oregon. Giselle opens up about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, the long-term impacts of living with one kidney, and how she's learned to truly listen to her body. Her story is a powerful reminder that every ride, no matter the distance, is worth celebrating. At Dirty Freehub, we believe in inclusivity. We want ALL cyclists to feel invited to get out and ride, including ebikers, people with mobility challenges, adaptive athletes, families and people new to cycling.  This podcast is meant to inspire you to get out and ride, by hearing stories that highlight some of our many All Access athletes.

This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠

All Access Episode #2

In this inspiring episode of The Connection, Geoff Babb shares his journey of overcoming a life-changing stroke and the challenges of adapting to outdoor adventures with a disability. He discusses the creation of the AdvenChair and his groundbreaking expedition through the Grand Canyon, featured in the film Dream Boldly. Geoff highlights the emotional, physical, and mental hurdles he’s faced and how the outdoors continues to be a source of healing and strength. His story proves that adventure is possible for everyone, regardless of mobility challenges. At Dirty Freehub, we believe in inclusivity. We want ALL cyclists to feel invited to get out and ride, including ebikers, people with mobility challenges, adaptive athletes, families and people new to cycling.  This podcast is meant to inspire you to get out and ride, by hearing stories that highlight some of our many All Access athletes.

https://www.advenchair.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5nx1ic64sI

More on the AdvenChair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5nx1ic64sI

https://www.advenchair.com/

This podcast is produced by Dirty Freehub, a nonprofit organization that publishes hand-curated (and great!) gravel cycling Ride Guides. Our mission is to connect gravel cyclists to where they ride through stories about culture, history, people, places, and lands with the hope that they will become involved as advocates, volunteers, or donors with organizations that protect and preserve recreation spaces.

Our Podcast Channel  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Connection ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ride Guides / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dirty Freehub⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our Ask / ⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠