Steve Campos, self-appointed executive director of Bike Oven 2.0, and I chitchat into a blackhole about group rides around Los Angeles, consumerism, stuff, stuff, and more stuff; the (moral) obligation of material and the idea of a disposal fee for bikes. Steve and Bike Oven 2.0 are launching a cargo bike library program so stay looped into that by following them on Instagram @bikeoven2.0. Big salute to the BO2.0's volunteers and to all of the dedicated volunteers that keep bike coops running. Reach out if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, learn how you can become involved in the bike space, or pass the message along to anyone who you think could benefit from participating in a eclectic, supportive, and tinkering space. 

Find your (bike) stride – whether it’s on 2-wheels or three. Sal Garro, creator of PizzaTrike Youtube channel and Instagram, found a way to make his bike life journey happen! Sal creates and redefines riding a tricycle, as an adult, in and around Brooklyn, NY. He astutely merges bikes x pizza to generate commonality and a baseline to being seen as a person, regardless of modern-day divisive topics and issues. Check out Sal on his PizzaTrike Instagram account or on his PizzaTrike Youtube channel. Give Sal pizza recommendations and see if his trike ends up at your favorite pie location.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwRx8YdX3uQ  https://www.instagram.com/pizzatrike/

I asked five questions on Instagram a while back and here are your responses. Thank you to those who participated! Let me know what you think of the questions, of the episode, and if I should do a future episode cobbling together different responses from you all. 

I chatted with Chris Nolte, owner of Propel, ebike shops. We discuss our on the ground bike observations and opinions - from Long Island, Portland, around NYC, Los Angeles, Long Beach, the Netherlands, and beyond. Lots of great tips, insight, and questions to ask yourself before making your first ebike/any bike purchase and finding your ebike riding purpose x your saddle comfort love language. If you haven't seen the e-tandem YouTube of Chris and I, riding along the Ballona Creek bike path, it can be found on the Propel YouTube channel.

Paula, owner of the bike shop LA Cyclery, and I chat about Mexico City, being a youth, and about the earlier, simpler times of playing basketball; life before the Internet, before cell phones, and how she got her start mountain bike riding in Mexico. From there, Paula shares a piece of her personal transition and evolution into stepping in and owning who she is, a (wonderful, awesome, kickass, funny, kind, bold, thoughtful, conscientious) trans female. Our conversation is a breadcrumb to the complexity of what people in the trans community experience, grapple with, and showcases why it is important create these conversations. This on-going dialogue is important to help move the needle surrounding these sensitive topics. Change does not happen when society doesn't acknowledge the issue(s) in the first place and when it keeps marginalized voices muzzled. Thank you Paula for your words, your openness, and for reliving (our) childhood hoop dreams on the court yesterday.

My conversation with Justin Choi entails O.C. riding, reflections on bike commuting in Los Angeles/K-town, adventures and hard knocks of bikepacking, and his new bike chapter in Silicon Valley-the South Bay-the Peninsula-not-exactly-San Francisco region of Nor Cal. Don't get Justin started on outdoor apparel, or best come prepared to go toe-to-toe about it. Put on your jacket meant for the Arctic and plug into this episode with Justin. 

My conversation with Chris Boscamp entails how he got started riding bikes; his experiences and opinions on cycling around Los Angeles and Portland, the actual "typical" LA cyclist role model, mountain bike riding, bikepacking, and his major bike crash. Get ready to laugh, to cringe a little, and to be motivated and inspired to ride a bike.

A podcast sharing your bicycle stories, ranging from beginner to seasoned. This podcast will discuss bike commuting, road riding, mountain bike riding, road touring, bikepacking, riding tandem, bike hacks and tips, fear of city cycling, bike follies and f*ups, embarrassing bike stories, U-lock anger moments, and pretty much any and all life lessons learned on a saddle. Thank you for tuning in! Please take a listen, spread the word, and share your personal bicycle stories here on the Presta Story Valve podcast.  IG: prestastoryvalve  Email: [email protected]