Ivory Soap Cold Open And Welcome

SPEAKER_03 0:00

So the other night, I'm lying in bed and I'm thinking about ivory soap.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

There's a kind of adventure you only find when you're not in a hurry. This is Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure. Stories from the open road where routes are questionable, the stops are intentional, and leisure isn't a reward. It's the plan. If you're looking for speed, well, you're lost. But if you're looking for laid-back adventure, good stories, and even better company, welcome home.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, as always, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome to Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure. My name is Adam. As usual, I am joined with my good friend, my best friend, all the way from Kansas Central Time, Mr. Michael Sharp. How are you doing, sir?

SPEAKER_01 1:10

I am doing well. Thank you very much, sir. I got a little concerned, I gotta say, with your opening line there. But uh interested to hear more about that. But how are things going?

SPEAKER_03 1:22

Good, buddy. Good. I uh I just got back from Central Time. I uh yeah. Yeah, I was in uh Omaha. By the way, I don't think you can say the word Omaha without thinking about Peyton Manning.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Well, I can, but I I understand what you're saying. Omaha.

Omaha Conference And Missed Meetup

SPEAKER_01 1:45

Omaha. I was there for guess what? Uh some kind of uh transportation conference. That's right, not just any conference.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

This one was called CTAA Community Transportation Association of America. It was huge, as you would expect, because you've been to the Warren Buffett uh Palooza there, and it wasn't that big. Oh gosh, no. As a matter of fact, the um the hotel staff said, Yeah, this is almost as close as what we had last weekend. I said, What was last weekend? And the lady looked at me like I had 14 heads for sure half the way. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Uh I I uh maybe in that hotel because you're in the hotel right across from the uh arena, which is where they hold it. Yeah, but um, yeah, it much bigger event, but oh yeah, I'm sure. Uh and I'm sure yours was far more riveting. Let's talk about transportation.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

You know, we did uh not talk about the yellow standy line, but uh that's okay, buddy.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Well, you gotta talk about something. Anyway, glad you went to Omaha. Unfortunately, just to kind of let everybody know, we weren't able to meet up. You had to uh to get some business done, uh, which I understand. Uh you had some opportunities to get some uh problems resolved with software, so uh we had to uh forgo that, but um I apologize. Well, it's okay, but we won't just because we had talked about it last week, I just wanted to make everybody aware that we won't have anything talking about our latest adventures.

SPEAKER_03 3:23

So no, but it doesn't mean, sir, that we can't have other adventures. So we will. Oh, yes, one day. Except uh except for that time in prison.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

And we oops two things we said we weren't gonna talk about on the show, uh, time in prison and politics. So oh, and the ride we don't talk about.

SPEAKER_03 3:47

That's three three things. The ride we don't talk about. Uh no, uh uh happy to be home. I'm home for a while. Um, and uh at least from work conferences, that is. But look what you're wearing, buddy. I see the word brag on your jersey.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

For the people watching, I am wearing a jersey. And of course, you if you noticed, I've wore a nice uh slim-fitting shirt underneath because this jersey, although I'm wearing it, is not mine. Um, I'm gonna stand up so people can see it if they're watching on YouTube or what

Brag Winner Jersey And Photo Challenge

SPEAKER_01 4:25

have you. It is the official oh, I can't put that in front of me. Cycling Men of Leisure 2026 on the front and on the back.

SPEAKER_03 4:37

It says, guess the Bragg Route winner with our with our podcast logo. Very nice, very nice. Love the color scheme.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

So if I'm wearing the shirt, does that mean I won? Zero point zero. No, it does not. No, um, uh, this is not my shirt. I'll be shipping it out this next week. I'll repackage it up nice and neat uh and resend it out this next week to the winner. Um, but this I just wanted to anybody who's watching us, and maybe I'll get a picture of it and slap it on our social media sites, uh, so everybody could see what the uh jersey looked like. And um if you're at Bragg in a couple of weeks and you see that, you will know that that is the official winner of the guest the 2026 Bragg route.

SPEAKER_03 5:33

And I would like to propose a little bit of a little bit of a contest, if you would not contest, a little bit of a challenge. If you see the man, it was a man who won, Jeff. Jeff, if you see him on the route, take a picture of him and hashtag bragwinner.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

I think that's a good idea. Um, I'm gonna drop a note to Jeff and say, hey, could you please, you know, get a picture of yourself wearing the jersey so that we can put that on our social media. But I like that idea. If you if he's out there wearing it and you see him, stop him and uh and get a picture with him and hashtag that and post it, and I think that'd be cool. But uh it's uh kind of a little upset. I you know, it's a sharp-looking jersey, I think. Oh, I like the color scheme.

SPEAKER_03 6:27

Yeah, whoever designed that did a nice job. You're welcome.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

I know it was you, but well, you did the logo aspect. I put it all together on the actual colors of the jersey in the jersey, and so yeah, looks good, looks good.

SPEAKER_03 6:48

Thank you, uh Franklin. Thank you, Ron. Uh, I'm getting pretty excited for those who are going to uh Big Brag. I I saw some pictures of Rome, Georgia today. They're getting ready for everything, so uh everything looks exciting. I'm I'm happy. Um, our our um our wonderful friends, uh Scott and Cricket, who are helping us out with this, reached out to us today. So we're gonna have to get back with them. I think if I'm correct, you're just waiting for one more shipment and then you're gonna put the swag bags together.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

Yes, I'm just waiting for one more item. I've got we've developed some cool swag bags for this year for the team. Uh I will set up an assembly line in my basement. I will uh commandeer my family, and we are going to put the swag bags together and we'll ship them out uh to uh to Scott and Cricket, and um those will be ready to go. And I do uh I am working on setting up a communication system if the team members would like to use it. Uh, it was suggested to us by Alex that we should do something like that. And we've done it. We we had one last year and the year before. Um gonna do something like that to make uh communication a little bit easier. But I hope the team is happy with the jerseys and and uh what we've got in a swag bag, even though we can't be there, we're gonna be there in spirit, and uh it'll be fun. That's perfect.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

Well, um, so if you're okay with it, we'll move along into our favorite uh episode, uh uh Spot Listener Spotlight. I'll give you the fun voice, but you want to give the clues first, and then believe it or not, we have a voice fan mail. So would you prefer to give the clues after I give you the introduction, sir? Absolutely.

Listener Spotlight Solved Northampton England

SPEAKER_03 8:46

Oh, ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for listener spotlight.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

All right. Last episode's uh hints are as follows. The present town is located, is the location, excuse me, the present town is the location of a series of settlements dating back several thousand years. The town may have its own dark web. Uh this community doesn't know much about socks, but they have a long history with shoes and boots. If you ask to see a doctor in this town, the residents may ask, who? The town has seen its share of destruction, wars, plagues, and fires. And what are our guesses?

SPEAKER_03 9:42

Well, we have two guesses. Uh Alex Bell, who I love, love, love when he writes, Adam Michael, hope you guys are uh we'll get to meet up this week and enjoy a bourbon together. Unfortunately, I I kind of screwed that up. He says, I'm back in home in parry and wanted to follow up on my voice fan mail answer, and why came up with this answer I did. The strongest clue for me was the doctor reference, and he is a doctor, retired, but still a doctor. Um, and believe I was referenced to the classic science fiction series Doctor Who. A quick Google search via voice prompt since I was driving at the time, hands free, of course, indicated that I was filmed in Cardiff, Wales. Without addressing any other clues, I submitted my guests. Only after arriving home and having some time to back reference the clues Michael gave Cardiff Wales looked to be the most logical. Michael's clues followed by my answer. The town is located in a series of settlements that that date back several thousand years. The Cardiff area began in the Iron Age, then a Roman fort in 5560 AD. Later, the Normans built a castle atop the Roman foundation, which became the medieval town. The town had its own dark web, I believe that's a reference, to the network of tunnels under the castle. The community doesn't know how much uh much about socks because it has a long history with shoes and boots. Cardiff is known for its custom made footwear with both traditional leather and modern 3D scanned orthotics. Hey, I just got some orthotics.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

They came from Cardiff. This town has seen its share of destruction, wars, plagues, and fires. Cardiff, through the centuries, has experienced significant destruction and conflict from ancient wars, major bombardment during World War II, and civic unrest in the 1900s. Michael, thanks for the history lesson. I would have never known these facts if it was not for the Doctor Who Clue. Right or wrong, I really enjoy the show. Alex. Okay, so there is your that is that is uh a wonderful guess, but I'm excited whether it's right or wrong, I have another one.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

And what's cool is I have been to Cardiff. Cardiff is in northern Wales, beautiful city. They've got an old castle. Uh, great guess, Alex. We will see if you're correct here in just a minute.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

So, our good friend Jeff, who has recently really been knocking out of the park with guesses, has left us a voice fan mail. Are you ready, sir? Fantastic. Absolutely. Let's hear it.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

Hey guys, I've got my guest for this week's listener spotlight. I may not be 19% sure like last week, but I'm pretty close to 100% sure this week. My wife and I worked on this one together and very quickly concluded that this listener spotlight town is not in the United States. She started thinking Wollaston in the UK, but that didn't quite fit. However, a nearby town caught my attention and fit even better. This town sits on settlements dating three to four thousand years back. There's a web, a dark web, of medieval tunnels beneath it, and is considered the undisputed capital of the British shoemaking industry. Also, uh Matt Smith, the actor who played the 11th, Doctor Who, was born there. And this town saw many wars, significant destruction, nearly half of its population died during the Black Death pandemic, and it suffered the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675. Our guess is Northampton, England. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 13:18

So here's the interesting part about both. They're very similar guesses, like similar into the like the dark web and the caves and everything. But now I must ask you, do one of our community members have it correct, sir?

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Well, I'm gonna say thank you to both uh both guys, uh, and Jeff's wife. Um, and actually both of these locations, I don't know exactly, are probably like 300 miles-ish apart. Uh as far as did either of them get it right?

SPEAKER_03 13:54

One of them did. Well, that's wonderful. Let's me play with my favorite button. Okay, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

All right, both good guesses. Uh sorry, Alex. It uh is in fact Northampton, England.

SPEAKER_03 14:11

So Jeff and Heather?

SPEAKER_01 14:20

Okay. And I'll tell you how I came or how uh how these uh uh hints figured out. Uh present-day town is located in a series of settlements. Um there was a neolithical Neolithic encampment uh at the site, approximately 3,500 BC. Um the town may have its own dark web. They were both on to where I was going with that. Uh Northampton has um uh lots, supposedly a labyrinth of tunnels underneath the city, uh, though it is confirmed that there is one from the All Saints Church to Market Square, and that it is believed to have been built as an escape tunnel uh for the clergy during times of political upheaval. Uh, a lot of times uh churches uh they would go after the clergy, you know, when different kings or rulers came into power and didn't like what was going on. Um let's see what else I got here. Uh about the socks, the mid-18th century. This town became a major center of footwear. During World War I, the town supplied over 23 million pairs of boots to the armed forces. If you ask to see the Doctor, they're gonna say Doctor Who. It was in fact referenced to Max, uh, excuse me, Matt Smith, who played the 11th Doctor Who. If you're not familiar with Doctor Who, long decades running uh British sci-fi classic. Uh I think I don't know what they're at now, like the 14th Doctor or something at this point. Uh but also uh Delilah Devonshire, who produced the original Doctor Who theme to theme song, spent her final years there as well. So it's got uh two references there. And the town has seen its share of destruction, the Great Fire, the Black Death. Um, there was the English Civil War that you know destroyed part of the city in the first Barons War. So um there we go. We certainly thank all of our listeners from Northampton, uh, England. Well, that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_03 16:31

Um did that add another country, or had we already been in England?

SPEAKER_01 16:38

Oh, we've we've we've had all of not just England, but all of the British Isles. Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales. Well, not necessarily Northern Ireland, but Wales, Scotland. So there you go.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

Perfect. I love it. Well, uh thank you guys. Keep the uh and ladies, and ladies, uh keep the guests coming. Uh as you're riding across the great state of Georgia uh on the trails and stuff, you can think about uh the end of the show today when you will most likely grant us with another one. So I will. Uh perfect. Well, thank you, everybody. Uh all right. Now I thought about both guesses having a little bit to do with fire. That I would give you a little fire safety update. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Did you bring uh did you bring in Smokey the Bear as a guest?

SPEAKER_03 17:40

No, but I have plastic fire hats that pass out. Would you like one? It's like a brand.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

And can I get one of those stickers to put on my window? Remember those when you were a kid in school? Yeah, put them on your window to let the let the fire people know there was a child in that, you know, in that room.

SPEAKER_03 17:55

Yeah, now what we do is we donate five bucks and we get a sticker on the back that says, I support the police.

Fire Safety Smart Detectors Versus Basic

SPEAKER_03 18:00

Don't give me a ticket. So you are supporting the police. All right, all kidding. So one of the many hats that I wear, other than a DeBrim, is uh I know you know this about me, but I am on the uh emergency operations center for Livingston County. And what that means is more responsibility. What that really means is I just represent transportation uh for emergency purposes. So every now and then we do these um drills. It'll be like uh um if you can report to the emergency operations center, you know, between 10 and 2, please report today. And then you go and you have um a scenario, it's a made-up scenario that says, you know, this is what happened in the county or whatever. So this scenario was a lot of fires, and how would we evacuate people with fires? And one of the fire chiefs there, I think he's a fire chief. I don't want to disrespect him. I'm gonna I'm gonna hope his title is fire chief. Um, and um his first name is Jamel. And so we're sitting there and he's talking about um I I said, Oh my gosh, this this scenario is crazy. He said, Well, it's not that crazy. He said uh last night I was on a fire, and um he said that that these people had perished and because they never heard the smoke detectors. And I said, Really? And he said, Yeah, he said uh they had these smart smoke detectors, and I'm I'm kind of intrigued. And I'm listening and I go, like what? He goes, like the Google ones, Nest, NEST, and I go, because I had I had at that time I don't have them anymore. But at the time, which was like just a few weeks ago, I had those in my house. I'm telling you, man, the smart house thing's bad idea, but and and I said, uh, well, what what was wrong with them? And he said, Well, they only have a 10-year lifespan. Um, but they found out that that the film or the microfilm inside for the CO and everything and the f and the smoke had like deteriorated and they were beyond or expired. And so I'm I'm like, I'm listening carefully. I'm like, hmm, I wonder how old mine were. And then I started thinking about it. I'm like, okay. So, anyways, getting to the point, he says, Man, I just would take all those smart um smoke detectors out, just go with a basic, like, I don't know, you name a brand, first alert or whatever, you know. He's like, just just just go with what it uh a CO in smoke, no smart, you know, uh interconnect in the house with the wire if you have that, do that. Just basic. And I'm like, oh okay. So I go home and and I twist one off, and sure enough, it's expired. It said 10 years, and they they were replaced in 2000. They were gonna get you to buy some new ones. So I thought, well, maybe he's maybe this is a sham. Maybe the maybe they tell all the smoke the fire guys go around and talk about this.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

So we can oh wow, conspiracy theory from the fire department.

SPEAKER_03 21:12

No, so, anyways, I decide I'm gonna replace them. And uh the reason why I wanted to talk about fire safety was have you purchased a smoke detector in the last I don't know, six months, a year?

SPEAKER_01 21:28

No, because I don't have smile just got the old traditional ones and they don't uh they don't expire.

SPEAKER_03 21:35

They actually do expire.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

Pulling off mine do not expire.

SPEAKER_03 21:41

Uh chastity, uh make sure you look. So, anyways, so anyways. So I go to Costco, they happen to be on sale. Uh, and I there were two packs, and so I needed six of them in the house. Um, so I said, Okay. Okay. Uh I'm gonna plug it in. Oh my gosh. It was soep beep beep beep. Oh wait a minute. I have that button loud that I I was in pain listening to it. And then you'd have to say, press the test, and then I would press the test, and it would say, um, now testing smoke, now testing carbon. And I had to do that six more times. And so uh they're kind of like interconnected, you know, but the with the with the red wire. It's a red wire. But all I wanted to say is my my friend who works for the fire department uh told me take the smart smoke detector out of your house, go back to basic 101 if you have them, just a smoking CO. That's all you need. Uh and man, are they so much louder than anything I've ever had in my house, son.

SPEAKER_01 22:57

And so because somebody who's with the fire department tells you you should not be networked and wired in, you listen to, and somebody else, me, have been telling you, you gotta unwire your oh my gosh, you gotta unwire your house. I'm telling you. One of these days, it's yeah, we learn nothing from fictional movies, do we?

SPEAKER_03 23:21

Well, at the time I thought this is so cool.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

This smoke detector connects with my camera, and if my camera, you know, back in the day, one of these days your smoke detector is gonna start talking to you in the voice of what 2010 Space Odyssey. Uh, Adam, what are you doing? I'm just telling you. But no, it's good. And we just passed up uh, isn't it uh when uh daylight savings time? You're supposed to go and and check the batteries if you have a battery-powered uh make sure they work, that kind of thing. It's uh you know, one of those things you gotta you gotta keep up on. So uh definitely uh good reminder.

SPEAKER_03 24:05

I thought this show's supposed to be educational at times, and buddy, I am challenging every community member, whether you listen to us, watch us, watch us, listen to us, watch us, then listen, listen, then watch, go check your smoke detectors. And that's good advice, and I don't care who you are. So uh last time you and I were together on uh virtually here, unfortunately, virtually not in person, virtually, you you dangled the carrot in front of my face by telling me that you had participated or viewed or watched or uh a way for children to get involved in cycling. And I have been thinking about it ever since. Okay, yeah, let's talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_01 24:54

Um it's uh yeah. That, my friend, is the really real life enthusiasm that uh I came across uh two weeks ago here in the big city that I live in uh Lewisburg, Kansas. Um it was NICA, the National Interschool

NICA Youth Racing Restores Cycling Hope

SPEAKER_01 25:20

Interschelegiate Cycling Association. Um they have um 33 different leagues across the United States, and uh they actually had one of their races right here in Lewisburg. We got a big park out uh south of town, Lewis and Young. And I had been working, uh came across one of the parents, uh they invited me out, so I thought I would go out there uh on Sunday morning and didn't really know what to expect. And let me tell you, that enthusiasm was just a small part of it. Uh, it was incredible. Uh lots of, I don't know how many teams necessarily uh were there, but I mean they had teams all the way out uh to Hayes, which is in the middle of the state, and I think they had a town even further than that. Uh they come in for these races, they've got their tents set up. Uh I mean it's it's a full-blown big event. There are kids everywhere, there are supporting parents. Uh, it was just it kind of blew my mind. It was really cool to see. But we've often talked about on this show the fact that we don't see as many younger people getting involved. And what's really cool about this is that um this whole organization uh is just really perpetuating cycling at a very young age. And now this is mountain bike racing, um, but it's cycling, and that's the important thing. And their whole concept is for them to help young people, both on the bike and off the bike, build confidence, leadership, friendship, uh, and really make the world a better place. So uh very impressive. Um, the Kansas chapter has six different races around Kansas. Um the last the one that I went to was called the Trailcat Growler because our mascot here in Lewisburg is the Trailcats. And um it is pretty impressive. Uh they had over 200 riders. I think they start at like the fifth grade, go all the way up to 12th grade. And uh actually the Lewisburg Trailcats had a couple people who made the podium, so that's always exciting. But um, it was really interesting. And if you ever get the opportunity, anybody out there to go to one of these uh Nica events, I would suggest doing it. Um I don't know what I was expecting, but I mean it was these kids are out there, and you know, you've got the fast kids, you've got the slow kids, but the important thing is it just fosters this whole environment of supporting them. Uh, you know, you had teams out there cheering for other teams and and parents cheering for other kids that weren't on their teams, and it was just a really cool event. I was happy to see it, and I'm glad that there's organizations like this that are supporting and promoting uh children getting on bicycles because I don't know how many different episodes we've talked about. Young people aren't getting into cycling, but this has really been impressive. And I know our local uh trailcats group has gotten bigger um and is getting more traction, is getting more visibility in the community and that type of thing. So uh it was really a cool experience. So I had to spend a couple out hours out there watching a couple of different races and uh really a unique experience. So I just kind of wanted to share that with everybody and uh say, well, cycling is not dead for children, and there are organizations that are helping uh get kids out there and get them on bicycles. But you say the trail cats? Yes, the trail cats. We are the wildcats. Um this isn't you know directly associated uh with like a school team, but um our school team is the wildcats and the uh cycling team is the trailcats, but very impressive. Um, you know, it was just cool to see. Very, very well coordinated. It was uh fantastic experience.

SPEAKER_03 29:46

Well, um I I am excited to hear that children are doing cycling. I um over the weekend um I have talked about my friends who own the the bike store in Ann Arbor. And uh I spent a couple days with them. Uh they're actually going to Europe with us. The six of us are are lollygagging to Europe. First time overseas for this uh across the pond, as they say for me. And bringing it back to cycling, he was telling me

Bike Shop Stories And Europe Plans

SPEAKER_03 30:20

some stories about Schwen and and um giant and specialized, and I'm not sure yet. He's thinking about it, but I have asked him if he would be a guest on our show, and so uh he is considering it. He would like this a little bit more time to think about it. I don't want to promise, but let me just tell you that this would this would be a phenomenal show. He's got so much he's a legend, a trek legend. And if you don't know what a trek legend is, it means you have to be selected by purchasing and and selling enough trek bikes and and doing good things for the community. So if you go to Trek, his name is on the wall, and so he's still thinking. I'm I'm really hoping he'll consider it. I I teased him over a couple of bourbons. I said, Well, I have the contract upstairs. I can go get you, I can get you to sign the guest contract right now. So uh I'm hoping, and I'm gonna keep pushing. So um that'd be awesome. I'm about to work on that. So my point about that is he told me that the um they are bringing some um, as you say, races and group rides with children and cycling. They are seeing a resurgence, which you had mentioned, by the way, on a show or two. You said it was um, you know, kind of reciprocal, you know, coming back and forth, and you you had made that mention that you had seen that before. So uh they are seeing kids buy bicycles again. During coming out of COVID, it was kind of weird. There was no supply, no stock. Um, the people who had them were selling them like crazy. Um, but now he's he's telling me that they are seeing that. And so I I hope I can get him on. He's got some territorial um that's why he's thinking about whether he wants to be on the show or not, because he's got some um things from not so much as like um um like a supply chain, but um not allowed to sell this brand until this one. I mean, just some great story. So it's just kind of I thought it would be great. So I'm trying, uh, we'll see. Cool. Um well um I do have uh kind of leading from semi-children. I went to the Omaha Zoo, and I just wanted to mention it to you because normally when I go to conferences, I don't go to zoos, but I'm at the hotel, I'm in the lobby, I am uh looking at some of my stuff, and a lady says, Oh, what are you doing today? And I know her from an other conferences I've seen her at. And she said, uh, she said, Well, I'm gonna go out to the zoo. And and I said, I thought, uh, wow, you flew all the way to Omaha to go to the zoo. And she says,

Omaha Zoo Surprise Travel Recommendation

SPEAKER_03 33:10

uh, you know, it's one of the best in the country. It is. And and I said, Is it really? And she said, I'm telling you, if you're looking for something to do today, and I looked outside, it was beautiful weather, and later that evening I was having dinner with uh another colleague, and I said, Okay, and so I took the Uber down, and I gotta tell you, I was staying at the Marriott right there by the CHI convention center, and um we first left and we're going through like historic, I don't know, bottoms or whatever. It looked really beautiful. Then we started climbing up the hill out of that area, and I started to want to lock the door. It seemed a little a little sketchy. Um, and then we cry we crested like this hill and it kind of came down by a highway, and then sure enough, there was the zoo. And I gotta tell you, I've been to a few zoos in my life, not many. I mean, not not I'm not like a zoo aficionado, but I've been to the Detroit Zoo, which is not a Detroit. Um it's in Royal Look. Um, but I've been to the Toledo Zoo, I've been to the Phoenix Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, and that's all I can remember, except for. I said, okay, I'm gonna go to the Omaha Zoo. And I gotta tell you, it wasn't just a zoo, it was an aquarium and a zoo, and everything everything had been donated by a family member. This bench was provided by Johnny. This per this, you know, this umbrella, you know, everything had this, everyone had their name, which I understand. Um, but wow. Wow, wow, wow, what an organization. And uh let me tell you, if you have to go to Omaha or want to go to Omaha, because now, believe it or not, in Michigan, I can I can tell you, I know you live there, but I can be honest with you. There was no part of me that was like, where should I go on vacation next? Omaha would have been like the last on the list. But the river walk, uh, the pedestrian bridge, all in that area, um the fountains, the sculptures, the safety, um uh, forgive me, but let's be honest, the homeless was. I mean, I don't think I saw one homeless person in the area. I'm sure there is, don't get me wrong, but I didn't I didn't see it. Um just awesome. And and the zoo just was like the creme de la creme. So if you find yourself in Omaha uh for whatever reason, uh first of all, don't go to a chain place for a steak.

SPEAKER_01 35:56

Uh and second of all, if you want a good steak in Omaha, go to a place called uh Brother Sebastian's. Generally voted the best steaks in town, been there many years ago. It looks like a monastery on the outside, and the inside, all the wait staff is wearing monk robes. Uh incredible food. But anyway, I digress.

SPEAKER_03 36:18

So uh I just thought I'd mention that on the show. So if you find yourself there, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, enjoy the Omaha Zoo. 35 bucks to get in, but let me tell you something. You get a lot for your money.

SPEAKER_01 36:30

So and that's the Henry Doyley Zoo. Um fantastic place. They have an indoor rainforest, they've got an aquarium. I mean, it's just uh just an incredible place. And I I've always touted that Omaha is a beautiful city. I lived there uh after I graduated college, and um yeah, it's it's uh people underestimate Omaha, but it's got a lot to offer. So glad you enjoyed it. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_03 36:58

Yes, sir. Let me check my list here. Oh, ooh, ooh, ooh. We have been rated number one. Did you say rated? Like FBI, open up. Yeah, but I'm not allowed to play with that, I'm not allowed to play with that button anymore. Uh I've been told that that's not allowed, but um uh I think it's use with discretion.

unknown 37:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 37:28

I think is I think is the message. Well, I think the I the message was heard loud and clear.

SPEAKER_04 37:33

I just want you to know that

Feedspot Number One And Podcast Growth

SPEAKER_04 37:35

I have um you still do it.

SPEAKER_01 37:43

I don't see you hesitating to uh to use the mute button or the little beat button on me. Uh yes, sir. But uh all right.

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Um feed spot, F-E-E-D spot, has rated us number one, sir. Number one, really. I don't know who submitted to this, but whoever did, thank you. Of 60 top podcasts, cycling podcasts, we were rated number one. And so uh that's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 38:16

Out of sixty, uh out of all the cycling podcasts, we're rated number one. It was uh it is impressive when you start looking at the other podcasts that are on the list. I don't know how they came up with this. I didn't submit anything for it, you didn't submit anything for it. They just notified us that we made this thing, and I was like, Oh, okay, cool.

SPEAKER_03 38:35

So and they weren't charging us money because normally these things we have received these before. Oh, yeah. Where it says, Hey, if you pay us uh this much money, we'll say, you know, just like when we went to those of you who know that we went to the the uh podfest, there was a lady who was standing up on the stage, and if I'm lying, I'm dying. She said, You can say whatever you want. Podcasts aren't regulated, you can say we're the best. And I'm like, Okay, I'm listening from now on. I'm gonna say we're the best.

SPEAKER_01 39:09

That's just horrible. But uh, no, that was it's really cool. Yeah, we did we didn't pay anything for it, they just notified us that we made whatever metrics that they had done. But I do have to mention over the last several weeks since we uh were put were pulled into the Apple podcast, that new platform, our numbers have been off the charts. I mean, this last episode, I mean, we just from a numbers thing ranked in the top seven or eight percent of all podcasts and things like that. So it's been uh it's been crazy. Uh good crazy.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

So and I even fought the company. I was the one who kept sending emails. Guys, something's wrong with your numbers. This isn't right.

SPEAKER_01 39:57

We're like, these numbers are not right. I mean, we we get decent numbers, uh, but I mean, these these numbers were just like, what? This is like, you know, two weeks in, and uh, you know, we were still just getting huge numbers on these things, but uh they went through and double-checked everything, and so it's legit. But now we're number one according to feed spot. I love whatever. I love it. So we'll take it. Okay. Now we get do we get a cracker with that or anything? Do we got how about a button or a pen I can wear on my okay?

SPEAKER_03 40:35

Okay, there's a button right there.

SPEAKER_01 40:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 40:37

Oh let me check my notes. We got fire safety, fan mail, uh, children's bicycle, top 60 podcast, Omaha Zoo, brag swag bags. All right, ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who do not know, because let me tell you, my friend Michael and I do. This is show number 99.99. 99.

SPEAKER_01 41:05

Man, we are whoever thought we would ever get to 99. I mean, I didn't.

SPEAKER_03 41:12

Well, this is true. Me neither. Uh, got a couple news stories for you, and then I'm gonna end with don't worry, I'm not leaving you hanging on the ivory soap. I'm gonna finish the ivory

Cycling News Ivory Soap And Gretzky 99

SPEAKER_03 41:25

soap story. So uh I wanted some cycling news in Seattle. Made me think about our good friends Melanie and Keith and their Dabrims and how wonderful people they are. Wonderful people. I don't know about the Dabrim thing, but sorry guys. Okay. May has been declared the Bike Everywhere Month with a record-breaking ridership on the Fremont Bridge in April, and new bike lanes opening on Fourth Avenue and Broad Street. Bike Everywhere Day featured a celebration stations across the region handing out coffee and snacks to riders. Lime also rolled out 500 redesigned Lime bikes with smaller wheels and a lower center of gravity, so they're more stable and less likely to topple onto sidewalks. And on the opposite side of the United States of America in New York, the new Mayor Mondani administration restarted four previously halted bus and bike lane projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Now, I gotta tell you, I don't think about riding a bike in the Bronx, but then again, I've never ridden a bike in the Bronx, so maybe it's okay.

SPEAKER_01 42:34

But that's not what I think it's not, it's got nothing to do with the Bronx. It's just New York City in general. I have driven through Manhattan and New York City many, many times, especially when I was living in Rhode Island, and quite honestly, I I'd be hard pressed to ride a bicycle there. I mean, just the traffic, people are such a hurry.

SPEAKER_03 42:59

I I just don't see it being safe, but um they are building parking protected lanes um and uh standard lanes of 14 additional streets across Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Midwood. The city is also building a dedicated bike connection to the Brooklyn Bridge along Center Street ahead of the World Cup in June. Daily cycling on the bridge has already more than doubled from 2,652 riders in 2021 to 5625, 5,625 and 2025. Uh the infrastructure payoff data is genuinely encouraging. Um on the safety side, New York, 9th Avenue Protected Lane cut injuries from all street users by 58%. Protected lanes overall, reduced traffic death and serious injuries by 18% for everyone on the street, not just cyclists. Um and this made me think about. You since you, sir, you do a great job following professional cycling. Um, new generation of American writers is winning big in Europe this season. And Remco uh Evanpool took the 2026 Amstel Gold Race and a thrilling sprint finish. He did indeed. Those are my cycling news stories. But in honor of 99, I oh okay, yeah. No, no, continue.

SPEAKER_01 44:30

Uh you're in the middle.

SPEAKER_03 44:32

Honor of 99 shows. I've got two things with 99. Ivory Soap. Um, the slogan ran for a century of 99 and 44 100% pure. That's actually what I was thinking about. What was the other point 56?

SPEAKER_01 44:49

Well, what if it's only everything is natural except for.56. And actually, it's the most uh true soap that's out there, but um I'm not gonna get all geek chemistry on you, but 0.56, huh? What is that?

SPEAKER_03 45:10

I did read that says one theory was uh uncombined alkali and water, another theory was the color of ivory, and another theory says it's best not to ask.

SPEAKER_01 45:24

Hmm, okay. Because, you know, that's that's way better than than any of the answers that I would have probably came up with. I mean, I would have probably said something like, well, that half a percentage is, you know, hopes and dreams being washed down your drain, or or something like that, or uh, you know, the part that makes it always slip out of your hands when you're taking a shower.

SPEAKER_03 45:49

I did find a little bit of history on the 0.56 percent. They did ask many scientists at Procter and Gamble, and they did come up with multiple answers. It was later guessed that nobody was really supposed to say what was in the other.56% because they all gave different answers. So uh, but I did I did look it up just to see if I could give you an answer.

SPEAKER_01 46:09

It always bothers me when it's like, yeah, that's a corporate secret. Uh why is that a corporate secret?

SPEAKER_03 46:17

You see, that's how we put the skin on the outside of the soap. We have to mold it. So we put this 0.56 of this plastic limb off. It's a it's a polymer. It's a polymer. That's how it comes out of the that's how it comes out, it comes out of the mold, buddy. So all right, and in honor of our 99th show, and then I'm gonna turn the floor over to you for not only listener spotlight, but to see what we have. Wayne Gretzky, number 99. It's the only number retired by every team in the NHL league-wide. He picked it because he was a kid who idolized Gordy Howe, number nine, and nine was taken on the junior team. He so he doubled up. The most legendary number in hockey exists because of a roster conflict. Our show number 99, Wayne Gretzky. I think both of them win. But who am I to say? Well, you're the co-host, you can say whatever you want to, apparently. I know. I went to a training that said I can say this is the best darn cycling podcast this side of the galaxy.

SPEAKER_01 47:25

But you know what? Now we can say it's the number one cycling podcast according to Feed Spot Speed Spot. There you go. All right. Uh, you brought up professional cycling. Uh, everybody knows that I kind of follow professional cycling, and we are in the middle of the Giro Italia, which is one of the big three cycling events of the year. Um, that's going to be followed up. That's going through like the 30th of May. Uh, we'll follow that up with the Tour de France in July, and then we'll do the Volta uh Espana in August. But those are the big three. But I did want to just bring it up. It is currently underway as

Giro Update Shoutouts New Spotlight Clues

SPEAKER_01 48:10

we speak. Started out in Bulgaria, it's going to end in Rome. And here's some interesting facts. It's got seven summit finishes. The highest point is 7,326, so it is basically half the distance of Pike's Peak in Colorado. Uh there's 21 stages, and they are going to cycle 2,149 miles with a total elevation. Now, this this blows my mind. 21 days, 2,149 miles, total elevation gain, 161,000 feet of elevation. I was gonna say inches, millimeters for you and I. But uh yeah, with seven summit finishes. I mean, that's but what's also interesting is it started in Bulgaria. Uh obviously it's an Italian ride, but they also will hit a segment of Switzerland as well. Um, a lot of these rides, like the tour and that type of stuff, even though it's you know, France or it's Italy or it's uh Spain, uh, they're trying to branch out a little bit and pull in other close states uh or close countries. Tour de France has been doing it uh for the last several years. Uh, but they're gonna hit three countries. Started out with 184 riders as we speak. They're at about 167 now. They had a big uh big collision that took out a big chunk of the Peloton, I think, on the second day there. But um I thought I'd just bring everybody up to speed that if you're into cycling, you could uh follow that. And of course, my favorite event of the year will be coming up in July when we start the Tour de France. That's cool.

SPEAKER_03 49:55

Well, uh thank you for the update and and Tour de France. Do you uh plan on giving us regular updates while we're recording?

SPEAKER_01 50:06

Yeah, I can do that. I'll give you a little summaries. I'll you know, I can give you uh a highlight of what to uh the over the overall ride, and then uh maybe uh you know, before like at the end of June, and then when we get into it, maybe I'll provide a couple of highlights if something big and cool happens. Uh I'll I'll throw those in. So the only other thing the only other thing I wanted to say is I wanted to take a personal moment here to congratulate my stepson Max. He is going to be graduating from junior college tomorrow. So I just wanted to give. Yes. Uh shout out to him. Um, so I think that was kind of cool. I wanted to just recognize that. But other than that, that's all I got.

SPEAKER_03 51:00

Max, congratulations, buddy. Uh is Max B still in the deli?

SPEAKER_01 51:05

Max B is still in the deli. That's right. I love it. You go to the deli at our local grocery store. He works there. Uh, you know, you need some pastrami or ham or whatever, he'll slice it up and wrap that package up and get you out the door. Michael, you can't have that. No, just kidding. That sounded almost just like Michael. You can't.

SPEAKER_03 51:28

Yeah. Good man, good man. Congratulations, Max. Uh on behalf of Lauren and myself. Uh, on my fridge, buddy. I will not lie. You are there. Uh may the may the force be with you. Uh, right there. I should take a picture and show him that he's he's made the fridge of the Baransky house. So um by the way, I don't care if this is on the show or not. I'm still trying to make a donation to your daughter. Could someone give me a link for Christ's sake? I'm trying to give you something. You know what she did? Let's not embarrass her, but she sent me the link for her login, like as a parent login.

SPEAKER_01 52:11

Not as like a you know, you just can't find good help nowadays.

SPEAKER_03 52:15

I was thinking the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

I will uh go talk to her as soon as I'm done here.

SPEAKER_03 52:20

I wanted to so by the way, you tell Miss Maya that right here, recorded on the 99th show of Road Adventures of Cycling Man of Leisure, the Baranskys are making a donation for her to go to that bowl game. So right here, you heard it.

SPEAKER_01 52:36

I appreciate it. We appreciate that. Yeah, my daughter, Maya, who's been on the show before, is uh her school is their band. She's a baton toiler. Uh, the band is headed to the holiday bowl in San Diego uh at New Year's, and they've been doing big fundraisers and things like that. So uh another exciting thing.

SPEAKER_03 52:57

Don't worry, honey. Mom and dad are going to Regers.

SPEAKER_01 53:02

Shh. It is over New Year's, and uh not last year because we spent it with the family, but we have in the past typically went to the Regers uh New Year's Eve party, which is a fantastic thing, and had lots of good Regers uh whiskeys. So don't be don't be jealous, Adam.

SPEAKER_03 53:20

Ladies and gentlemen, as the Sharp family enjoys Reagers at New Year's, it is now time for Listener Spotlight.

SPEAKER_01 53:36

All right. Uh try this one, Jeff and Alex and everybody else. Here are the hints for this week's Listener Spotlight. Uh the town started over lunch. The community gave rise to a very unique Boy Scout distinction. Should appreciate that, Ed. It found a good use for Russian dressing. An invention, an invention from this town changed TV viewing habits forever. And in this town, you don't have to be outdoors to enjoy the rain. And this community was marked by X.

SPEAKER_03 54:25

X marks the spot.

SPEAKER_01 54:28

Yep. And I think I can safely say this is a town that both of us have been to. Ooh. Now I'm not saying we've both been there at the same time. I'm just saying at some point in our lives, both of us have been to this town, I do believe. It's not St. Louis, if you that's what you're thinking. Oh, we've been there at the same time. Well, we could have been there at the same time. I'm saying we've not necessarily been there at the same time.

SPEAKER_03 55:06

Uh all right. Well think about that. I love it. Uh I love the uh love the clues. I love people that are guessing. Uh thank you, Jeff, uh, for using the the fan mail option. For those of you out there who are a little bit nervous, Jeff was able to just pull it off with his phone so you can do it from anywhere. You don't have to have a studio or a microphone. He used his phone in the car. So he tells me it was hands-free, and I believe him, so that's all right. So good enough for me. Um, well, always good to see you, my friend. Um, I gotta tell you, finally, finally, here in Michigan, the weather is conducive. Somewhere, somehow, even in Michigan, it's a great day for a bike ride. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02 56:08

Thank you for riding along with Road Adventures of Cycling Men of Leisure. However, you travel, find the leisure your way. See you next time.