Hey, kids! Check it out? On time this week? Hell to the no. AHEAD of time! We’re filled with love for you here and this is our small way of showing it. Very small. Plus, Todd nagged me continually about it to make sure I wouldn’t forget it was Thursday for the third week in a row. Take note, kids, nagging Chuck works very much well!
We revisit Todd’s Bored By Beemers syndrome as Todd’s turned it over in his head for another week and wants to talk about it. Keep in mind that at the time this was recorded, he hadn’t yet seen all the hate coming his way since bashing on the F800GS. That’s coming next week!
For some giggles, here’s the “PG Porn” we talked about. James Gunn is full of awesome. It’s on YouTube, but work-safe warnings for innuendo, girl in tiny skirts, and language (I dunno how strict they are where you work, but I’m in a government office):
Here’s a real treat: we have a returning guest. Our first one! And not just any returning guest, but this guy actually met us in person the first time around. This time, he decided to do the interview from another country so take from that what you will. We have Ryan Grassley, aka HalfThrottle of You-Tube:
"Why, yes, I AM a rock star."
Ryan’s come back to talk with us about his new iBook project (available from the iTunes store: HERE):
The Volcán Barú Adventure
In his words: “A motorcycle adventure in Panama from sea level to over 11,000 feet. I ride a Kawasaki KLR650 from the bottom of Panama to the top. From 95 degrees at the beach to 33 at the top of Volcán Barú. It was difficult, it was miserable. It was everything an adventure is supposed to be. The Volcán Barú Adventure is filled with photos of the ride, and over 70 minutes of video of my ride to the roof of Panama.”
We make fun of “Adventure” on the show, but this one’s the real thing and Ryan shows why it’s called adventure. If you got an iPad then you can grab a copy of this and check it out. Well, worth it!
Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds.
Or call our voicemail: (801) 917-4136
Or, leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID is wheelnerds.
Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
Third time’s the charm. I think Friday morning is going to be the new official publish time for the show. Apparently, I’m too old and soft to stay up late Thursday night anymore to post shows.
Fred’s new book is the Motorcycle Touring Bible. A great introduction to the topic of sport-touring, it’s loaded with pictures, stories, and tons of great info. Geared toward newbies to the topic, I think even experienced tourers will enjoy reading the anecdotes and frequent asides. It’s like a coffee table book, except one you’d actually want to read instead of listlessly leafing through while waiting. We got an Amazon affiliate link for you to use to go check it out (and maybe even buy. Wheelnerds need taco money!)
In listener mail this week, Peter J sent us this pretty long one that we talk about on air. Here it is in its entirety. A passionate defense of latte-sippers everywhere! (just kidding)
Hi guys…
Feel free to edit this- after reading it I realize I tend to ramble a lot.
Dexter Ford’s recent interview prompted me to do a little thinking about the adventure bike market, and perhaps stick a pin in some of the over-inflated windbag nay-sayers.
We don’t all buy these bikes with pretensions of the African outback, or traversing the Nile serengeti.
Furthermore, not all of us polish them feverishly in hopes someone will notice them leaning rakishly in front of the local S-bux.
No, the heavy duty build quality and excessive suspension travel appeal to another breed of rider entirely. The motorcyclist.
I ride an F8GS. Yes, it has wide-ass aluminum saddlebags (NOT panniers – those go over the gas tank – lets all learn the terminology, people.) Yes it has crash bars, and hand guards, and looks like it could survive a class 5 rapids. But all these fripperies are to keep it from breaking in the event of an unplanned slide down the road, not give me “loads of cred”. I don’t have a skid plate – for the type of riding I do, it will not likely ever be required. The saddlebags hold tools, lunch, and rain gear. I use this bike every day, rain, shine, sub-zero, 100F, anything short of snow and ice – although it’s seen it’s share of both. If I hit a pothole, or a dog, or a drive shaft lying on the highway (last year), I can expect it to behave with aplomb. Yes Glen, I do have a GPS. It’s for navigating to hotels in strange new cities. On the road, I rarely use it.
I’ve equipped it with a Mirage II fairing from Brittania Composites to keep the wind off me, and power outlets to keep me warm. I tried the TKC’s – they looked totally hard core, bro’. But they’re noisy, they vibrate – and they really suck if you have to stop RIGHT NOW. Off they came, and some Anakee II’s went on. Great street tires, capable enough off road if you need to go there. It’s a guerilla commuter and part time tourer, and if want an adventure too, it’s ready and willing.
It’s a working bike, and it shows. I wash it about 3 times a year, and other than routine maintenance, it gets ignored. Ridden hard, put away wet as the saying goes. It never complains. It’s built for it.
I agree with Dexter regarding the DR650. I had one, and sold it to a friend who prompty rode it to Tierra del Fuego. (This is her if you’re interestedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW_1gUuuvc&feature=share ). Great bike. But a tourer it’s not, and she will back me up on that. Oh, you can do it… but it’s a bigger compromise than I’m willing to endure. My wife and I rode a few thousand miles around the western U.S. last summer, and I don’t think it would have been all that enjoyable on a DR. I also had a DR350 for the dirt, and an R1200R for the street. And then there were my wife’s bikes. I looked at that overstuffed garage and thought “what can I do the consolidate this fleet?”
I needed one bike (to rule them all), a jack of all trades, a man for all seasons if you will. I found it in the F800GS. Sure, it’s overkill on the street… or is it? Have you ever encountered road construction? Not a problem. How about a shortcut over a traffic island? Similarly non-dramatic. Can it happily drone on the superslab for 12 hours at a time? Yes, if you shave the seat a little. And lets say you are interested in what’s at the end of that dirt road – should I risk it with my chromed out v-twin behemoth – oooohh… better not. This bike? Pshaw. Go get the tent. This bike is what a Scrambler should be. The rugged off-roady bits are actually functional.
The ADVENTURE market has become a victim of it’s own marketing, and a bit of a laughingstock it seems. I don’t give a shit what people think. These bikes are the most practical things on two wheels. And the matching gear is practical too. It’s easy to poke fun at the GS type rider in the armored whale foreskin hazmat suit – but have you worn one? They are truly versatile. I don’t have to tell you guys, you know. You ride in more than sunny warm weather. They offer great protection from impact, abraision, and inclement weather. So we look like spacemen. Fuck you, you look like Blackbeard’s gay cousin Thtewart.
I think that despite all the negative press, adventure style bikes are starting to get noticed – not because of their ability to elude rampaging elephants, but in spite of it. People are realizing how good they are at being motorcycles. Even some of the die-hard sportbike crowd on a local Vancouver forum are swallowing their pride and buying a bike that will happily endure traffic jams without requiring physiotherapy afterward. I think they may have realized they had been underestimating dual-sports after getting passed on the outside by an old dude riding one on a couple of back road strafing runs.
This little rant is probably one of many similar you have heard, but I felt compelled to defend my trusty mount. I wish I had a clever name for her (him?), maybe you could suggest one.
Thanks for listening.
Peter J
Great feedback. We love hearing it!
Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds.
Or call our voicemail: (801) 917-4136
Or, leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID is wheelnerds.
Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
I’d apologize for yet another late posting, but who am I kidding? Not you, you’re certainly far too smart and, might I add, good-looking to be taken in by such transparent fawnings for forgiveness! You sharp listener, you!
For this week, for those of you who hate just hearing Todd and I talk, we’ve got a whole hour of just Todd and I talking. Linky links and clicky clicks are:
No link for the tiny box wine. Maybe your local 7-11 can help.
Our main topic for this show is talking about shop space. Having your own place whether it’s in the front yard, the garage, someone else’s garage, or even a shop-shop. Chop-chop.
Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds.
Or call our voicemail: (801) 917-4136
Or, leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID is wheelnerds.
Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
Apologies for the late posting, I had a hell of a day. The show did make it to the RSS feed last night though, so another good reason to subscribe to us. Even when Chuck is at his laziest, the RSS goes through!
Our guest this week is motojournalist Dexter Ford!
“And then I broke his neck like this.”
Dexter’s written a lot of stuff about motorcycles, cars, planes, boats, and likely spaceships. He’s got a website at http://www.dexterford.com. You might remember when we’ve talked about Ford before due to his article about ‘adventure’ riders: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/automobiles/tough-bikes-for-suburban-adventurers.html. Ford chats about that article, his time at Motorcyclist, his choice in helmets (HAHA), and his recent ADVENTURE tour (which sounds pretty cool to us).
Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds. Alternatively, you could call our google talk # to the right there and leave us a message if you’ve got no way to record something. Or, even cooler, (to me, anyway), you can now also leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID iswheelnerds. Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
We’re finally back in the cave this week, stuffing our faces with ADVENTURE food. Well, the Australians call Vegemite food. I’m not so sure. Wiki calls it a by-product of beer brewing. I can only imagine at some time in the past, some Australian alcoholic was really desperate for his buzz and started eating the crap off the floor of some brewery. After not immediately dying, he stuck it in a jar and the rest was history. Bad bad history. What was the Japanese stuff I made Todd eat? It’s this: black sesame paste. Trust me, it was a LOT better than the Vegemite.
Big thanks to Franca for the chocolates! It had a big blue label on it that said TSCHIRREN, which, I can only imagine, means AWESOME.
This week, we’re talking to Justin Bradshaw and Court Butler of Butler Maps: http://www.butlermaps.com
Butler Maps offer maps that are targeted specifically to motorcycle riders. Each one is a pretty painstakingly (HAHA, pain. RIGHT) researched map that is very accurate PLUS highlights the routes that are of interest to us riders. Stuff with curves and turns and windy bits. I got the Utah map and it even shows some good off-pavement routes that even I can ride!
Justin and Court are the two guys on the left. They talk about the company, how they got started, and where they’re going to go with their offerings in the future. We also talk about peeing on maps and hanging out on beaches with muscled-up dudes.
That part was a little weird.
These guys were really great guests and they fit right in with the Wheelnerds. We’re fans of the maps. I think we’re going to do some… uh… quality-testing on some. Stay tuned for that.
What else we got? Oh yes, the Triumph Tiger “Exploder” Will this be the successor to the Buell in Chuck’s stable? Does owning two Brit bikes qualify him for knighthood? Will I be required to wear a frilly collar? God, I hope they aren’t as itchy as they look!
Finally, here’s Claude doing Make-A-Wish hack-style. This is a real… wow kind of video. Really. Claude and his guys did a REALLY SHARP job on this hack for Nicolas. Watch the video…
This week’s Unpaid Correspondent Program came from Jay. CALLJA–. I mean, THANKS JAY! Want to hear yourself on our show? Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds. Alternatively, you could call our google talk # to the right there and leave us a message if you’ve got no way to record something. Or, even cooler, (to me, anyway), you can now also leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID iswheelnerds. Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
The Wheelnerds kick off 2012 by phoning this one in. Literally. Chuck’s down with Adventure Flu and Todd won’t break quarantine. We open the lines for people to call, but only one man is man enough to brave catching flu with Intrawebs: Jorge! We chat with him about living and riding in Texas and he wonders why no one gives us money.
Dan (different Dan) wrote to the Wheelnerds to ask about our choices in hatchets… or tomahawks, if you want to throw them. Todd runs with a Ft Turner tomahawk (the Camp One, I think), available at: http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm
Chuck is mundane in his choice and doesn’t intend on throwing it. He picked an Estwing Sportmans Axe up from the Big Box Home Center for about thirty bucks. Both are fine choices and have served well for camp duty with Todd’s tomahawk having the added entertainment value.
Don’t forget about our official Wheelnerds Disorganized Unpaid Correspondent Program. Basically, we want to hear some stuff from you! Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds. Alternatively, you could call our google talk # to the right there and leave us a message if you’ve got no way to record something. Or, even cooler, (to me, anyway), you can now also leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID iswheelnerds. Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
The Wheelnerds don’t make anything resembling a living or for that matter a profit from our online work. Stealing other people’s work was, is, and always will be slimey, but SOPA and PIPA go too far. Parody, Commentary, and Satire are protected forms of use for a reason — they have a rich history in the political, entertainment, and social arenas that we are proud to besmirch with our crummy show.
SOPA and PIPA threaten those art forms, and punish the innocent because the innocent have more money.
Write your rep about SOPA and your Senator about PIPA, spam your friends to write theirs.
Sorry, folks. We don’t have a show this week due to my adventure gut flu. It had me knocked down for most of the week. We got some recording done but not enough for a full show. There’s a bar to maintain before we squeeze out a show. A low bar, to be sure, but it’s still there. In the meantime, if you haven’t listened to the Ted Simon interview. Scroll down and do it!
We won’t have an episode for this week due to the holidays. We’re thinking of doing an open-lines call-in recording for next Tuesday evening. Interested?
Full disclosure: These are Amazon Affiliate links so using them throws some taco money our way
Short story version, Ted got on this 500cc Triumph Tiger 100:
Credit: David Merrett
Back in 1973 and rode it for 64,000 miles around the world over the course of four years. To contrast, Chuck rode his Ulysses about 200 miles when it decided to try and die and Todd rode his Ural about 400 miles and wanted to die. Ted took the Big Trip that I think everyone that takes a liking to the words ‘Adventure’ and ‘Motorcycle’ together dreams about. It’s VERY interesting to hear his perspective on the whole thing. Both of us here have a whole new appreciation and I think a new outlook for the next time we throw legs over our bikes and go somewhere ‘over the horizon.’
Don’t forget about our official Wheelnerds Disorganized Unpaid Correspondent Program. Basically, we want to hear some stuff from you! Ridden a bike (like your own) and got an opinion? Got a cool piece of gear or farkle? Got a story? Know some jokes? Record an MP3 (or whatever) and email it to us at wheelnerds@gmail.com. We’ll throw it on the air and talk about it, too. That’s right, you can be the first on your block to be openly mocked by the Wheelnerds. Alternatively, you could call our google talk # to the right there and leave us a message if you’ve got no way to record something. Or, even cooler, (to me, anyway), you can now also leave us a voicemail via Skype! Our skype ID iswheelnerds. Just go ahead, call, and leave us your story there! (We still read your emails, too, and will answer them on the show). If you got something really cool, shoot us a line and maybe we’ll talk to you live, too.
As always, you can listen to the episode above or download direct here:
To subscribe to the podcast, either hit the link in the sidebar to the right or even right here. Copy that address into podcast listener/getter/subscriber of choice. We’re also listed in the Itunes Store podcast section, just do a search for Wheelnerds.
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