Cycle squawk radio
Joe and Brendan host the return of the classic bicycle radio show, Cycle Squawk, on Durango’s KDUR community radio. They squawk about anything and everything in the bicycle world and host local and international celebrity guests.
Listen to past episodes below and tune in live Fridays at 9am on KDUR Durango FM 91.9 and 93.9
AND, now available on Spotify too!
Levi Kurlander of Durango Devo
Levi is the Executive Director of Durango Devo, Durango's community-centered, age-based mountain bike development program. On this episode we get some Olympic bike racing recaps followed by a conversation with Levi about his work with Devo. We learn more about this awesome organization and discuss the multitude of reasons why Devo is such a great thing for the kids who participate.
Jennaye Derge pt. 2
Jennaye returns to share more with us about her work with Bike Durango! (Listen to her first episode with us in last week's episode.) Today she shares some tips and tricks about staying safe while bike commuting.
Jennaye Derge
Jennaye is the author of How to Cry on Your Bicycle, writes for the Durango Telegraph and Adventure Cycling Magazine, and runs Bike Durango. Jennaye has been in Durango for a long time. A dedicated bicycle commuter herself, her work with Bike Durango promotes bicycle commuting through advocacy and education. Bike Durango also has a zine and they are always looking for submissions of bicycle related art or writing. Jennaye shares some surprising information on the show: People For Bikes recently rated Durango as 13/100 for bicycle friendliness. Not great. That puts us even with Commerce City, CO. So we talk about what that looks like and some possible next steps.
Christopher Blevins
Christopher joins us for the second time on the show, now getting ready for his second Olympics, representing Durango and Team USA in Mountain Biking. Blevins shares a little bit about the Olympic course, the competition and the strategy in France. You can cheer for Chris and Riley Amos on Monday, July 29th at 6:00am Mountain Time. Women’s race featuring USA’s Savilia Blunk and Haley Batten is live Sunday, July 28th at 6:00am MT.
Dylan Stucki
Living legend, Dylan Stucki is a retired pro amateur gravel racer, and gravel worlds qualifier. He is also the race promoter of our favorite event: The Durango Derby. He tells us about the Derby: a team or solo single-day stage race of all the in-town trails in Durango. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.durangoderby.com/
Caley Fretz- Escape Collective
Caley Fretz, founder and Editor-In-Chief of Escape Collective, calls in from Italy ahead of the start of the 2024 Tour de France. Caley will be following the Tour as a journalist, covering the action for. He gives us a preview of this year’s 21-stage race. Watch out for his write-ups and podcast episodes detailing the Tour the rest of July.
Howard Grotts
Back-to-back local legends on the squawk! This week we are joined by another professional off-road cyclist, FLC alum, Olympian, Durango-born-and-raised, Howard Grotts. We chat about Howard’s favorite Durango trails, his time at the Olympics and his partner, Ellen’s, Ride Dirt program.
Ellen Campbell
Professional off-road cyclist, coach, FLC alum, Durango-born-and-raised, Ellen Campbell, joins the show. She tells us about growing up riding bikes in Durango, gravel racing and the Life Time Grand Prix, and the tech of navigation computers. If you see her around town, wish her luck on her big objectives for the year: Leadville 100, Breck Epic and finishing out her third grand prix!
Sarah Swallow
Bicycle adventurer, ride leader, route creator, bikepack racer, and founder of Ruta del Jefe, Sarah Swallow, joins the squawk. We talk with Sarah about her unique approach to professional cycling and event promoting; blending education, environmental and humanitarian issues and community building.
Sturmy Talks Unbound
Sarah Sturm calls in from Emporia, KS to give us a live report from the field on the eve of Unbound gravel race. She talks about this years course, her bike and gear choices and gives us a glimpse of what it's like to ride in the biggest off-road race in the world.
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Promoter, Ian Burnett
The stoke is high for our favorite local bicycle event, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, this weekend. Joining us is race promoter and head of Fort Lewis College Cycling, Ian Burnett. Ian shows us behind the scenes of putting on this epic weekend, which includes the classic race against the train to Silverton as well as a hill climb challenge, gravel ride and mountain bike race.
Durango Derby
Dave Hagen and Dylan Stucki, masterminds behind the inaugural Durango Derby race join us in the studio to give us the low down on this awesome, new, multi-stage, one-day event highlighting the best in-town trails Durango has to offer. Coming Sept. 23rd! And we could still use some volunteers to help course marshal!
Rick Elliot
Durango cycling pioneer and founder and CEO of Durango Cyclery, Richard Elliot, opened the cyclery in 1981. He gives us a Durango, cycling, and Durango Cyclery history lesson. This absolute legend and secret mountain bike hater was an honor to have on the show and has some truly great stories to tell.
Max is Back
Talking points: CTC (Colorado Trail Classic) race- Molas to town on the Colorado Trail, Durango High School win their season opener, Riley Amos earns his first world cup XC win, Sepp Kuss stage win at the Vuelta, Enduro World Series, new Durango Bike Park is coming! and local 1,000 mile NewColo bikepacking race carnage.
Chad Cheeney
Fort Lewis College Cycling and Devo coach, Chad Cheeney, tells us what’s good with our Skyhawks in the upcoming collegiate racing season as well as some local, underground racing- alley cats, singlespeed clunker rallies and tracklocross.
Asa Vermette
Sixteen-year-old Durango DH phenom, current age group DH National Champion and overall Enduro National Champion, Asa Vermette, squawks with us about Frameworks Racing, favorite riding spots and what the future holds.
Lael Wilcox
Ultra racing legend, Lael Wilcox, stops by the studio before taking off on the Colorado Trail Race- her second stop on the Triple Crown Challenge. She’ll go for the record along with a stacked women’s field this year. She talks about how she got her start in ultra racing, and some of her strategies going into CTR.
Jonathon Bailey
Jon returns after a long hiatus from the show (previously on with original hosts Russel and Chad Cheeney.) Jon is an artist with an iconic style that has become the aesthetic of Durango’s bicycle culture. Jon is the longest continuing employee at Durango Cyclery. Jon says, “bikes and art are pretty much the same thing.”
Dog Dayz of Summer
It’s officially the dog days of summer, and a lot is happening in the world of cycling. Tour de France and Le Tour de France Femmes. Locally, singletrack is hottt right now. Hot take: high country riding is not AS hot as town riding. And don’t forget, the Durango Derby is coming up in September!
Patrick Newell of Ultradynamico
Patrick tells us about starting Ultradynamico Tires with business partner Ron (aka Ultraromance.) They design the tires they want to ride and have them made in Japan. Other talking points include Patrick’s love for riding and appreciation for aesthetics, Panaracer factory visit and tire-making and tire-naming process.
Joe and Max
We get some race coverage of Tour de France updates up to Stage 7 and World Cup Downhill with some exciting play-by-plays. Then, listener questions! And Max has a special message for all: Come play bike polo! Sundays at Park Elementary!
Caley Fretz
Editor-in-chief of the Escape Collective cycling journal, Caley, reports from the field at the Tour de France (his 13th time covering the event.) He tells us what it’s like to interview athletes like Cavendish and Van der Poel and travel from stage to stage throughout this 21-stage race. He also gives us some insider race predictions
Dot Watcing with Katie Scott
Katie has been dilligently “dot-watching” this year’s Tour Divide on Trackleaders and is here to give us a recap of the event on race day fourteen. She gives us the inside scoop with some insights of her own, having experience bikepacking and ultra racing.
Payson McElveen
We catch up with Payson and learn about his endurance cycling career. But first, a quick update on the ongoing Tour Divide race. Payson has been at the forefront of the emergence in popularity of endurance and gravel racing in the last several years and has seen some great success on the scene!
Sarah Sturm
Local superstar and off-road racer Sarah Sturm chats with us about Unbound- she just got 3rd! She also helps us answer the question, “what does pickle ball look like?” This is Sarah’s second year racing the Lifetime Grand Prix series!
Adrian Herder- Rezduro Founder
synopsis coming soon…
Elke Brutsaert
Local legend, world and national champion downhill rider, and Fort Lewis cycling coach, Elke, has got some stories to tell from the early days of professional downhill racing. SIde note- must-see movie recs: Mountain Bike Mania (taking place in Durango!) and Kranked (starring Elke!)
Season 2 Premier
It’s May and Durango cyclists of all types are blooming all over town after a long winter nap. Joe, Brendan and our secret, silent guest, young Robin discuss local trail conditions, e-bike subsidies and international and local race updates. Shout-out to FLC Cycling road team- third over all at Nationals!
Christopher Blevins
In this episode we have a very special surprise guest: Durango-born, Olympian, and current XCC World Champ, THE Christopher Blevins. Chris talks world cups, travel as a full-time pro and E-mountain biking.
Welcome to Cycle Squawk!
We’re excited to be back on air in this first episode of the Cycle Squawk radio show reboot. Your hosts, Joe and Brendan, welcome listeners to the show and answer the question: what is the deal with E-bikes?
Sepp Kuss
Episode three with special guest and hometown hero Sepp Kuss. Sepp took time out of his busy schedule to call in on one of his rest days from the Tour de France! Sepp reminisces mountain biking in Durango and shares some Tour de France stories.
Sarah Tescher
In episode four we talk with Sarah Tescher of Durango Devo all about getting more kids on bikes. We’re not sure if we know anyone who has done more than Sarah to instill in kids a love and passion for cycling.
Listener Call-ins and Questions
In episode five, we hear some exciting and very cute call-ins from listeners with questions and shout-outs.
Keith Darner
Episode six with special guest Keith Darner: race promoter extraordinaire and FLC alum who bought his first mountain bike at Durango Cyclery in 1983.
Will Farmer and the F-word
Episode seven with Will Farmer, cyclist, events promoter and trails advocate of Farmington, NM. Will tells us all about the best trails in Farmington.
Waiting for Rezduro
In episode eight, we talk race updates while waiting to hear from the organizers of Rezduro- the first Indigenous-led mountain bike enduro race. Rezduro is organized by Diné (Navajo) on Diné Lands. https://rezduro.com/
Yes to Bike Commuting
Episode nine! We talk (rant) about bike commuting with a side of mtb world championships and trials riding. By the way, did you know that in 1990 the first World Championships of mountain biking was held here in Durango?!
Max Bechtolt
In Episode ten, Max subs in for Joe. Max gives us some well-informed commentary on UCI downhill World Cup racing. We also get some updates on our Durango world champ endurance riders and play some trivia.
Max Returns
Episode eleven is our season one finale and graces us with three hosts who answer some lightning round questions and give FREE advice. We also hear about Durango Devo, FLC cycling, SSCXW, and Whiteout
Winter Special
In Episode twelve we catch up on all the Durango bike scene happenings since we’ve been out for the fall and winter season: Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals, Four Corners Cyclocross Series, Single Speed Cyclocross Worlds, and, coming up is Silverton Whiteout.