Here in the U.S., the annual War on Thanksgiving has been waged once again, and in an effort to lower the commercial quotient this weekend, we have an episode of The Outspoken Cyclist for you that contains nothing but thoughts, ideas, and a story of triumph over adversity. We hope you find it a bright spot in your Thanksgiving and/or Hannukah weekend.
We open this episode with the return of Lennard Zinn, Technical Editor of VeloNews. Lennard was on the show back in April, and time ran out before the discussion turned to crank arm length, which is one of his unique specialties. This time around, we get the lowdown on how to determine optimal crankarm length (and why) as well as an update on disc brakes for road bikes, and a peek behind the scenes at his Technical FAQ column.
The second half of the show is devoted to the subject of wounded warriors and cycling. First up is Rob Jones, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who lost both legs as a result of combat in Afghanistan. With the help of Ride 2 Recovery at Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland, Rob re-mastered the ability to ride an upright bicycle. He’s now on a cross-country ride (with SAG support from his brother) to raise awareness and funds for the organization that helped him. He also found time to win a bronze medal in rowing at the 2012 London Paralympics.
To get a little more background on Ride 2 Recovery, Diane wraps up the show with a conversation with its president John Wordin. John is a former pro cyclist who now leads an organization that helps returning veterans reclaim mobility and fitness by adapting bicycles to accommodate their post-injury bodies. Our military medical personnel have become legendary for saving lives in combat; now organizations like Ride 2 Recovery are helping raise the quality of those soldiers’ lives after they return home.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:16 — 27.1MB)