Daily Archive: May 30, 2008

Biking the rails; S.L.U.T. bike ride in Seattle on Monday

Seattle bicycle riders will be taking to the streets on Monday to call attention to inadequate signs and bike lanes in door zones.

Seattle Likes Bikes is asking interested cyclists to meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Westlake Center, follow their route, and finish up at the College Inn Pub near University of Washington.

The first half of the route loops around the South Lake Union Trolley (S.L.U.T.) tracks and the signed route along 9th Avenue North that the city has suggested as an alternate. The second half of the ride heads up Eastlake along the proposed route of the streetcar expansion.

As you may remember, the original S.L.U.T. ride last fall called attention to the streetcar tracks that were laid out where bicyclists ride, causing some serious accidents when narrow tires got caught in the tracks….

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.bikingbis.com/2008/05/30/biking-the-rails-s-l-u-t-bike-ride-in-seattle-on-monday/

Contador retains pink jersey in Giro, just barely

Alberto Contador held onto the slimmest of leads — by just 4 seconds — as the Giro d'Italia routed the peloton over three major climbs on Friday, including a mountaintop finish.

The winner of last year's Tour de France faded as challengers attacked on the final climb, and at one point he had lost his overall lead “on the road.” But Contador had one last push left for Monte Pora and it gave him the margin he needed to survive.

As the peloton heads over Mortirolo and the legendary Gavia for Saturday's penultimate stage, Ricardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) sits just 4 seconds behind and defending champion Danilo Di Luca sits in third place, 21 seconds behind …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.bikingbis.com/2008/05/30/contador-retains-pink-jersey-in-giro-just-barely/

Tour de Georgia's economic impact sees growth

The Tour de Georgia that ended last month added an estimated $38.6 million to the state's economy – a 40% increase over last year.

That's a healthy bump, but why the big jump? It is surprising, especially considering that spectatorship was down to about 400,000 this year, a 20% drop from the previous year's 515,000.

Methodology of data gathering might have something to do with it. So does inflation, the price of gasoline, and an increase in the number of foreign visitors lured by the weak dollar. …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.bikingbis.com/2008/05/30/tour-de-georgias-economic-impact-sees-growth/