Bike shop employee Isa makes an appearance on today's show. Joe Torres is surprised to discover that she does more than just sit behind a computer and ring people up. Joe also shares his thoughts on trouble brewing in the world of professional bike racing—find out why he thinks the racing has become robotic and the racers lack personality. And fina…

This stage of Bike Shop Society features a Polish man who wants to see—and smell—what’s cooking in the bike shop. Joe Torres is back with us and completely smitten by a mountain bike he encounters in the shop. Cold, rainy days seem to bring out the chatty Cathys around here, find out what they want and what they have to say. And finally, our Joe ha…

Things are slowing down at the bike shop, which means there's more time to sit around and talk about bikes! It's a double dose of Joes as Joe Torres joins our own Joe for another scintillating stage of Bike Shop Society. Listen in as a customer shows up while the boys are recording. But this is no ordinary customer—find out how his love for cycling…

It’s been a while, but Bike Shop Society is back on the saddle. In this episode, Joe is joined at the bike shop by a friend of the shop and podcast fan, Joe Torres. It’s been a busy year, and the two Joes haven’t had much time to catch up during the season. Listen as they reminisce about the early days of the bike shop and some of the young people …

Joe and Danny are back after a month of travel and tune-ups. Danny shares some stories from his recent cyclocross training camp in Massachusetts. Find out if he made any new friends and which old friends he caught up with. Joe thinks e-bikes will play a part in the future of the bike shop; find out why he's becoming a believer and why he thinks you…

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Danny hears some background noise that Joe's mic is picking up. Find out what it is and which two cycling legends make an appearance on this week's show. Joe lost another employee at the shop—not to death, but to a better-paying job. Hear why Joe is so chipper and encouraging when employees leave for greener pa…

The boys are back with some unfortunate news regarding the death of beloved bike mechanic and friend, Earl Russell. Joe confesses that he didn't realize how much he would miss his old friend, and Danny shares some memories of Earl, the mystery man. Danny is back from a recent trip to Ireland, where the roads are narrow and the Guinness was flowing.…

Joe and Danny are back, and they are joined by their good friend and frequent contributor, A.J. LaTrace. Danny has returned from Spain and dove straight into the Midwest racing circuit. Hear about his exciting adventure climbing up to Sa Calobra in Mallorca one week, and then jumping into a criterium on the south side of Chicago the next. A.J. is a…

How many weekends do we have left? How many bike rides are still ahead of us? Prompted by a recent birthday, the boys find themselves pondering these questions and drawing inspiration from the renowned Irish author, Samuel Beckett. Danny has an interesting poster displayed in his home. Does it serve as a source of motivation, or is it just a sad re…

Joe and Danny begin their 2024 campaign with a relaxed recap of the year thus far. Danny kicks off the show with a short overview of one of his favorite books, "The Rider" by Tim Krabbé. Meanwhile, Joe finds himself dealing with a major mess at the bike shop, prompting customers to check in on his well-being. And finally, Danny shares his experienc…

It's been a comeback season for the boys, including a return to racing for Danny. Listen to how his season progressed, his pre-race meals, and his infamous start-line make-out sessions. Joe had a visitor from the UK at the bike shop; he reminded Danny of a famous Irish television character, and Joe thought he might be the ever-elusive Banksy. Find …

Joe and Danny are back. Discover how they ended up in matching outfits. It serves as a reminder that Joe misses the days of Grand Bike Shows and rubbing elbows with the stars. Joe recounts an encounter with an angry Eddy Merckx and a sad Johan Museeuw at Interbike. Meanwhile, Danny has found a new joy in life, and he doesn't think he’ll ever go bac…

It's only been a week, but the boys are back again, joined by BSS contributor and friend of the show A.J. LaTrace. Danny and A.J. went on a field trip in late fall to explore the wonders of the Heritage Corridor, a promo run by Metra, the commuter rail system serving Chicagoland. The ride was so good A.J. wrote about it for Streetsblog Chicago! Mea…

The Boys “R” Back from an impromptu hiatus — and they have lots to chat about. It's been a pretty busy end to the summer for Joe at the bike shop, while Danny’s been getting intimately acquainted with his new bikes. He even tried his hand at his first-ever gravel race, as Joe decided he’d had enough of the grind and jetted off to Spain. The lads al…

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Joe gets an unexpected visitor at the bike shop – none other than Hunter. A true wanderer, Hunter embodies the spirit of adventure as he crisscrosses the nation, nestled beneath the thundering rush of freight trains, armed with a tarp and jacket as his shields against the elements. With captivating tales from t…

Bike Shop Society is roaring back with full throttle power! Joe and Danny have reclaimed the helm and, guess what, they're not alone! The dynamic trio is complete with the addition of their good friend and biking enthusiast, AJ LaTrace. It's a jubilant moment as they mark their momentous Episode 50, and oh boy, do they have an electrifying show in …

After a busy month at the bike shop, Joe is flying solo while Danny is on assignment. But not to worry, Joe brought along a couple of friends, Charlie and Ed, to recap the recent World Naked Bike Ride. Charlie and Ed are also former employees at Joe's bike shop. Listen as they discuss how they first met, their experiences of working at the bike sho…

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Joe and Danny are joined by Tony Policiccio, a bicycle tourist and aspiring world traveler. Tony is about to embark on an incredible journey—a bicycle trip around the world. Starting in Edinburgh, Scotland, his adventure will take him through various countries, culminating in Africa, all within a span of approx…

Joe and Danny are back in action, ready to conquer the podcasting world once more! Danny, the dedicated host that he is, willingly sacrifices the thrilling Denver Nuggets NBA finals game just to ensure that their podcast recording goes smoothly. Talk about commitment! Meanwhile, Joe finds himself caught in a whirlwind of activity at the bike shop. …

Danny and Joe dive into their latest escapade - a night of overindulgence in food and wine. Despite it being a great time, they paid the price with a rough week ahead and a much-needed break from the booze. This leads the duo into discussing the ever-growing non-alcoholic beverage movement. Are you on board with the N/A trend? The Giro has Danny re…

Joe and Danny are back with a fast and furious edition of Bike Shop Society. Danny recently slipped away for a little Michigan getaway, in which he found himself doing his first FTP test in a few years. Find out if he’s WorldTour-ready or if he'll be hanging at the back with the Freds. Joe’s been busy at the shop, where the repairs are piling up an…

The Spring classics season is underway and the boys are discussing all things bike racing. The episode begins with a review of the recent E3 Saxo Bank Classic held in Belgium. During this discussion, Joe reminisces about a lovely family from Belgium who visited his bike shop and shares the story of their visit. In addition, Danny talks about the co…

Danny starts the show with a near-death experience (fortunately it turns out to be a false alarm). Someone on the show has acquired the services of a cycling coach. Can you guess who? Hint: He's the one who rides a bike. Meanwhile, Joe is involved in a BIG Bicycle Project — find out where it stands, and why it's taking so long. And finally, the Ami…

This week's show starts off with a birthday proclamation. Find out who was celebrating and if there was a mariachi involved. Danny's time in Boulder is winding down, but not before he enjoys one more Supertraining session with his new friends. Who did he rub elbows with, and how far did they ride? You'll have to download the show to learn the answe…

This week's show kicks off with some stories from last week's Cabda Expo Midwest. Who is Taco Ed is and why he was so sad? What was USA Cycling doing there? And who was the guy hanging out with Joe? Tune in and to find out. Danny is still in Boulder and he's planning to test -ride a Specialized bike. Is a return to the peloton in his future? With a…

Joe is joined by a special guest for a behind-the-scenes tour of the CABDA Midwest Bicycle Expo, the show for bike shops. Listen as Joe and his guest walk the floor and visit with BIKE LIST, Embark Maple Energy, Marin Bicycles, Midway Bicycle Supply, Muc-Off, K&G Bike Center, KOM CYCLING, Velocity Wheels, and Suntour. Don't miss this romp through a…

Episode 39 gets off to an alarming start when Joe’s notified that Danny is headed to New York City. Danny has big plans for his trip to New York, including a stop at the world-famous Katz's Deli, a ride on a Citi Bike, and a trip to Brooklyn to check out the latest in Hipster culture. This week’s cycling report is dominated by the news that Peter S…

On this episode Danny continues to dazzle us with stories from the Centennial State. He did a big ride, the Biscochito Supertraining, where he reunited with some old friends. He also visited a local business, the Pro's Closet. And of course he saw some real-life cowboys at a rodeo down in Denver. While Danny’s hanging in Boulder, Joe’s in Chicago, …

Joe starts the show with a clip from a television classic that’s guided him throughout his life in a bike shop. If you're a bike-shop employee, you need to hear this. Meanwhile, Danny’s enjoying his Chicago Winter Escape to Boulder, Colorado. Find out about the new friends he's making — and whether there are any group rides in his future. And final…

The boys are back from their holiday hiatus, and Danny starts the show with some big news: he's in Colorado. What's he doing there, what's the riding like, and has he seen Davis Phinney? You'll have to click play to find out. Bentonville, Arkansas, has become a go-to destination for cyclists: is it on your radar? Joe and Danny think it should be. J…

A big fried-chicken dinner leads Joe and Danny to a low-energy start. But it doesn't take long for the boys to start rolling and find their rhythm. Are there vampires in the bike business? Is it wise to sell $12K bicycles online? Would Peter Sagan make a good used-car salesman? Joe and Danny answer these questions and more on this episode of Bike S…

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Joe and Danny are joined by storyteller, comms pro, and content machine Dan Cavallari. Dan is the founder of Brown Tie Media. He is a former technical editor for VeloNews. In addition to VeloNews, his work has appeared in Triathlete Magazine, Podium Runner, Women’s Running, CyclingTips, Cycling Weekly, Rouleur,…

Joe and Danny are joined by friend of the show AJ LaTrace for this IRL edition of Bike Shop Society. Danny and AJ recount their recent on-bike adventures and what they like to eat on the bike. Speaking of adventures, Joe shares his story about moving to Spain to race bicycles. AJ thinks it would make a good Netflix series. And finally, there is the…

The boys start the show with with a ride through the Metaverse. Are Zwift goggles in our future? Find out. The Festive 500 is quickly approaching: will it prove festive or fatal for the boys? Danny unlocks the newsroom and treats us to the latest happenings in the world of cycling. And finally, hot pants are gaining traction among the cycling publi…

The boys are joined by a fan of the show (!!) and their first West Coast correspondent, Corry Potts. Cory is the owner and operator of the Center for Bicycle Repair, in the Little Saigon neighborhood of Seattle. He shares stories about working as a bike messenger in Paris, managing a bike shop in Brussels, and what it's like to run his own shop now…

Joe starts the show with a bike-shop update: the era of Big Bike is upon us. Will “bike stores” triumph over “bike shops”? Find out. A social-media shoutout reminds Danny of his old pal at the Radavist. From Brooklyn and fixies to Santa Fe and sand, it sounds like the Radavist does it all. And finally, will eating fast animals make you faster on th…

The show kicks off with a discussion about VIPs: find out what the boys think about them, and whether it's worth the effort and $$ to try to get under the white tents. Meanwhile, the world’s top cycling team is switching from Shimano to SRAM: should we be excited? Someone on the show says “yes!” Also, Joe's wife has returned from the imaginary BSS …

Danny is back from a mini vacation to Asheville. Find out why he was there, and about his encounter with a cyclist on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Joe's wife has been away in Europe for the last month — hear how he's preparing for her arrival. The era of "Big Bike" is upon us: will “small bike” make it out alive? And finally, the boys announce their ver…

Double your pleasure, double your fun with two episodes of Bike Shop Society rolled into one. The nostalgia train rolls on as the boys talk about the upcoming (or rather last) weekend's Cycle Smithy reunion, wrap party, and farewell. And a message arrives in a tweet (find out what a listener in Seattle has to say about the show). And finally, our f…

How’s it feel to close a bike shop after a half century? Find out on this very special edition of Bike Shop Society. Mark Mattei, owner and operator of the legendary Chicago bike shop Cycle Smithy, joins the show with long-time employees Earl Russell, Tom Hall, and yours truly, Joe Gaspar. It's a rare peek behind the scenes. You don't want to miss …

Danny kicks us off by sharing his recent experience into multimodal cycling. He was surrounded by baseball hooligans on the ride home —find out if he made it back in one piece. Joe is preparing for mountain-bike season, but, more important, he's been occupied with the goodbye festivities revolving around his former employer, Cycle Smithy. And final…

The boys are proud to welcome cycling journalist, architecture critic, creator of the blog McMansion Hell, and all-around bad-ass Kate Wagner to the show. Kate has written about architecture, design, and culture for numerous publications, including The Baffler, The Atlantic, CityLab, The Nation, and Curbed. Her cycling credits include @rouleur, @Bi…

Joe and Danny make it back to the bunch after a nature break and a stop at the team car. Danny updates us on his recent trip to the Great White North and Joe fills us in on all the happenings at the bike shop. A new listener writes a lovely letter to the show, which leads to a discussion about upcoming rides and future shows. Join the boys on anoth…

In this very special edition of the Bike Shop Society Podcast, Joe sits down with his friend Earl Russel. Earl has spent the last 50 years of his life working as a bicycle mechanic at the legendary Cycle Smithy bike shop in Chicago, Illinois. It's an unexpected romp through a lifetime in a bike shop. Enjoy! Got a question or comment? Tweet it @bike…

The show gets off to a slimy start as Joe and Danny recall their first encounters with the grandaddy of all tire sealants. In bike-shop news, the new Ultegra Di2 has arrived. Find out why it has Joe contemplating his future in the bicycle business, and running to Costco for some Zen time. In cycling news, there was some old-school racing at the Tou…

After a week off because of a summer cold, Danny is back with Joe to thrill and amaze you. Joe takes takes a spin and encounters a fellow rider stranded on the side of the path. Does he stop to help? Next: Twitter can be a fun place to be when the Tour de France is on TV. Learn how you can get in on the fun. And finally, after dipping his toes in t…

Danny starts the show by telling Joe how he acquired the handle CyclingReporter. And what kind of reporter would Danny be if he didn't mention the Big Race kicking off July 1. (Hint: It's somewhere in France — and Denmark.) Joe remembers seeing Francesco Moser at a World Championships in the ‘90s: he was one cool-looking dude, gray hair and all. La…

Can cyclists benefit from running? Danny thinks so, and lets us know why. Can former bicycle racers find joy in long, slow rides? The boys spend some time talking about their new cycling reality, and the possibility of recapturing some of their peak form. And of course prep for the Tour de France is in full force, so much so that Joe doesn't know w…

The boys ease back into the pod after a short break. We learn that riding season’s in full swing at the shop, where new bikes are arriving — some with serious surprises. Danny picked up a new bike during our hiatus, a ride that would make Crockett and Tubbs proud. Danny’s also been spending some time in his local shops (tune in to find out what all…

Danny joins Joe at the bike shop to catch up on life and find out what's been happening now that bicycle season is upon us. The boys are joined by a new voice to pod, Ed, a mechanic at the shop. Listen as Danny and Joe impart some wisdom on young Ed (at least that's what they think). What’s more, the shop was the scene of a crime recently — find ou…