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The Spokesmen Cycling Roundtable Podcast
Episode 180
Sunday, 28th January 2018
HOST: Carlton Reid
GUESTS: Chris Garrison and Anna Schwinn
SPONSOR: Jenson USA
TOPICS:
Will the step-through frames on dockless bikes popularize the shape for both sexes?
Tour Down Under women to have prize money ‘topped up’ to match men [suggested by listener Don]
The Outer Line: Women’s cycling must own the road ahead, Velonews.com
Manchester City mens’ and womens’ soccer video
Look Mum No Hands, London
RETAIL RELATED CYCLING TIPS
Industry folks need to get into bike shops more, and rely less on bro deals.
Make mechanics the stars and the service area into a stage.
Window frontage – use these to draw more women into stores (inclusivity boosts sales across the board).
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I used to look forward to listening to this podcast but somewhere along the way you have lost your mojo.
All feedback is welcome, Joe! Care to be more specific?
You prefer the shows with the “usual suspects”? The current bunch of guests haven’t been to your liking? My presentation/questionining/other isn’t as sharp as it used to be? You’d like different topics to be discussed? All of the above?
Very curious about your comment, Joe. The timing of it, which follows an episode featuring two women who spend a significant portion discussing the challenges that women face in the sporting world, suggests that this sort of topic isn’t of interest to you.
If that’s the case, then it’s worth recognizing that it is that view that makes our discussion necessary in the first place.
I’m happy to be wrong about this, because there is no satisfaction in being right. Being right merely provides further evidence that what Anna and I already know about the bike industry is that it has a long way to go before it is fully inclusive.
The South Australian state government was responsible for the equal prize money. Not the federal Australian government.
Thanks, yes, so I have been told!
Hi Everyone,
This has been one of my favorite shows to date. I’m an Aussie living in Cairo Egypt and have been listening for a few years.
I’m often frustrated by the conversations and debates about the state of the bike industry on the podcast due to how far from reality of some commentators are regarding what it’s like to be a retail consumer, what makes bike stores great and what customer’s want. Most of this from people entrenched in the industry Finally a suggestion/challenge to really step into the customers shoes.
Thanks Chris, Amy and Carlton for some great discussion.
Regards,
Chris Dermody
P. S. Am I still considered a MAMIL if I’ve been in love with cycling for 43 of my 50 years and wearing lycra for at least 35 of those?
Hi Chris
Thanks for your comment. Perhaps your main point is addressed in the current show, episode 182?
I’m a long time listener, but sadly, I couldn’t make it through the first 10 minutes of the podcast. More and more this seems to be a creeping systemic shift in your podcast where political rhetoric and self-righteousness having nothing to do with cycling is slipping in more and more.
Jim Moss may ‘not care’ (his words) if he offends with his rhetoric (past podcasts), and Chris Garrison (I think that is the lady speaking first) seemed to walk onto this podcast with a heap of chip on her shoulder about something or other – but you alienate me every time you go to ‘sound bite politics’ or personal quips that have nothing to do with cycling, cycling culture, policy related to cycling, etc. – not because of my own personal politics, but frankly because if I wanted to hear that kind of divisional bickering, I’d still have social media accounts – where this type of societal fabric tearing has reached a (dark) art form.
Of course your show, your format, your choices. It’s just sad because I probably missed out on some good, substantive cycling commentary because I just couldn’t stomach my way through the lack of civility and sea of self-righteousness that seemed to precede it.
Cheers,
Kevin
Hi Kevin
The shows feature a revolving bunch of people, and a (usually) eclectic series of discussion points. Some of the people and some of the discussion points will be loved by some, disliked by others.
As eclectic is the operative word here I’d say that there will be plenty of other stuff that you’d like. But, if it’s certain guests you’re not enamoured with then you could give the shows they’re in a miss.
There’s some good ones coming up, including solo interviews.
Thanks Carlton.
My bristling wasn’t about the discussion point, nor the tone or vocabulary as it related to the topics at hand. It was specifically the interjection of off-topic rhetoric.
For example, the statement Chris made, “I try not to be conversant with people I don’t know, lest I end up talking to a Trump supporter.”
There are so many things wrong with that statement from a social discourse and psyche tipping perspective, but mostly – it has nothing to do with the topic of cycling; and frankly, it discredits the speaker on any subject. i.e. I can’t trust their point of view on anything because they seem incapable of keeping their visceral wounding from seeping into their train of thought even during small talk.
I also happen to think that it’s the acceptance of such subtle distancing vocalizations (written off as ‘just making a joke’) that has contributed to devolving civil discourse into the ‘broadcast only bravado’ rife on social media.
Ironically, I can also make a case that’s also what led to the very ‘anti-outcomes’ that comes with ‘digging in’ one’s point of view with such off-putting behavior – but sadly; that self-selection echo-chamber drives even more self-righteousness and indignation and is very well designed to preserve and propagate further division.
To see it seeping into the sports I love and the associated outlets for that affection (such as podcasts) just saddens me – that’s not figurative; it literally weighs on my heart because sports like cycling for decades have been a reprieve from such societal dysfunction.
It’s early and I’m out of $10 words – so I’ll just look forward to maybe a bit more selection in the tone guests take. It’s really too bad, because I’m sure Chris is a smart person and has many intelligent and insightful things to share on the things she is passionate about. I truly hope she can shed the poisons that get in her way of sharing those ideas and making a positive impact with as many other human beings as possible.
Peace, love and ride on.
Kevin