The Paceline Cycling Podcast

This week is the second half of Lori and Patrick's two-parter on ebikes. This week they look at "out-of-class" ebikes and some of the problems they pose as well as California's response to them, in addition to a class-action lawsuit filed against ebike maker Super73.

Ebikes have been in the news lately for reasons both good and bad and Patrick has been fielding gripes and advice from friends on the topic of Class 2 ebikes. Patrick and Lori discuss the three classes and why some ebikes include a throttle and whether or not that's a good idea.

What's it like to be a travel writer—not just a travel writer, but one who focuses on cycling? Alex Crevar is a New York Times contributor who specializes in stories about the Balkan region. His resume includes a variety of outlets, including Adventure Cycling, but when you can say you're an ongoing contributor to the New York Times, your resume need not be long, but part of what makes his story so interesting is the way he has used his expertise to improve the experience of the cyclo-tourist visiting the region.

Lori and Patrick examine how sometimes the bike is a great way to recover from an injury, but sometimes it can be the cause of the injury itself. And other times, our overeager natures result in the bike prolonging an illness or injury. What's a dedicated rider to do?

This week Lori and Patrick welcome Justin England, the CEO of The Pro's Closet, the largest used-bike marketplace on the Internet. Now in its 20th year, Justin joined TPC 17 years ago on his exit from the pro road peloton. He takes listeners through the site's growth from an eBay outlet to its first standalone website to its brief life in the private equity world ... and its reemergence from that world.

Erik deBrun is one of the three partners behind the component maker Redshift Sports, known for their ShockStop suspension stem and their aero-position-conversion seatpost, the Switch. Lori and Patrick follow Erik down into the rabbit hole of product design and just what solutions Redshift products are meant to provide riders. Even by our own standards, it's a fascinating conversation.

Patrick is sick, as in too sick to record a podcast and, apparently, given the number of times he has re-typed this sentence, too sick to spell. So we are re-running an old show. Sorry. Lori and Patrick will be back next week.

Conformity. How important is it to fit in? John wonders what we gain through conformity and whether the effort results in sufficient reward. Patrick takes a look at a looming issue in mountain bike advocacy.

This week Lori and Patrick talk to Justin Reiter of Zirkel Optics. Several details makes Zirkel different from typical cycling eyewear options. First, they are sustainably produced. Second, their lenses offer unusual clarity due to the fact that they are not made from polycarbonate. Third, the frames are 3D-printed and feature replaceable parts.

For the first time ever, Patrick and Lori were able to record from the same location—Patrick visited Lori at her home in rural Utah as he drove home from Memphis. The thing is, two mics in close proximity created some sound issues that made the episode a bear to mix, hence the late posting, apologies and such. Patrick and Lori talk about body lessons cycling has taught them. Proprioception for the win.

Have you ever been on a ride (or drive) and seen people make vehicle maneuvers and wondered just what sort of inner logic might have been at work? Patrick is still in Memphis and has compiled and indexed the Memphis Alternative Vehicle Code (MAVC), and there's a chance that many of these same rules receive occasional application where you live. Lori's perspective adds some distance and levity.