When I rented a bike in Sacramento for a ride along the American River up to Folsom Lake, I took my camera to shoot signs of bicycling.

I got that, but I also got pictures of wildlife out in the brush or perched in the bare trees. Other animals crossed the bike trail just ahead of me and disappeared into the brush before I could point and click.

The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail passes through a rich wildlife corridor for some 32 miles between Sacramento and Lake Folsom along the American River Parkway...   more »

This is an abandoned section of the American River bike trail in Sacramento. I'm plenty glad it was replaced with a newer section on higher ground before my visit here.

When the chance to travel to Sacramento for a few days presented itself in December, I jumped at the opportunity to get away from Seattle's typical dreary late January weather.

Well, I had to wear my sunglasses on the ride to catch my departing flight, and I arrived at California's capital in the rain, wind and cold. The newspaper here calls the weather "Seattle-like" and TV news teased the weather reports with the scroll --  "Hello Seattle." ...   more »

The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa announced the eight cities that will play host to stops on RAGBRAI from July 20 through 26.

The overnight towns on the west-to-east bike route are Missouri Valley, Harlan, Jefferson, Ames, Tama-Toledo, North Liberty, Tipton and Le Claire.

RAGBRAI says the this year's route is 471 miles long ...   more »

The Lance Armstrong Foundation is expanding the LiveStrong Challenge series of fund-raiser bikes rides to include the San Francisco Bay Area this summer.

The cancer research fund-raisers are returning to Portland, Philadelphia and Austin, and organizers have added an as-yet undetermined site in the Bay Area for a fourth fund-raiser in 2008.

Reflecting Lance Armstrong's growing interest in running, as well as his continued support for cycling, the events once again give participants the choice to either ride their bikes or run...   more »

Cold dry weather in the Seattle area has been responsible for some spectacular views of the distant mountain ranges lately.

Above, a guy on a bicycle leashed up his dogs and took them for a run on the bike path at Myrtle Edwards Park along the Seattle waterfront on Tuesday.

On the left of the picture you can see the snow-capped Olympic Mountains across the Puget Sound. Those peaks are about 50 miles away as the eagle flies..   more »

Bicycling blogger Larry Lagarde is trying to stir up interest in so-called "bike trains" on Amtrak.

The author of RideThisBike.com is excited about last year's success of Bike Train on ViaRail, the Canadian national passenger rail carrier. The service allowed dozens of bicycles to be loaded "as is" -- without boxes or disassembly -- between Toronto and Niagara on four weekends.

ViaRail was so happy with the response that it's considering more service this summer. Larry emailed to say that he's convinced that such a service on Amtrak would have similar positive results ...   more »

Ride your bike. Hammer. Repeat.

No, this isn't a crude way to maintain your bicycle. It will be the routine for bicycle riders in seven "Bike & Build" cross-country tours this summer.

Participants in the Bike and Build Program collect donations before setting out and ride in groups of about 30. The routes cross 42 states. On days that they're not pedaling an average of 75 miles, they're building affordable housing...   more »

Once every winter the rain stops, the winds die down, the clouds part and the sun shines. Every few years that day falls on a weekend.

I exaggerate, but only slightly. Sunday was such a day in Seattle. After several weeks of nearly daily rain and drizzle, the sun shone in the Puget Sound area and temperatures rose to the low 50s.

The weather drew lots of bicyclists outdoors. Lots of their bikes had fenders and buddy flaps. Those machines looked kind of grungy. I figure those folks would have been riding Sunday anyway -- rain or shine...   more »

The group that published the TransAmerica Bicycle Route maps more than 30 years ago is launching a map program for day-trip loops off its Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

The first one -- Freedom's Landing, Ripley, Ohio -- is available free online at the Adventure Cycling Association website and in area bike stores and tourist stops.

In addition to being a great resource for recreational bicycle riders, the day-trip program encourages local bike clubs or other groups along the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route to create their own maps that Adventure Cycling will promote and post on its website....   more »

One of the best bicycle travel writers around, Willie Weir, lives right here in Seattle. The Cascade Bicycle Club is sponsoring his talk "A Tale of Twos: Cycling Thailand and Laos with Willie Weir" at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the downtown REI.

If you're unfamiliar with Weir, here are a couple of YouTube videos (7 minutes above and 5 minutes on the jump) he shot. You might enjoy his common-sense approach to bicycle touring as he shows some images from the road and gives out some free travel tips regarding bicycles, tools and touring styles.

First he says that touring bicyclists must first decide the type of trip they're planning -- either physical or cultural. He explains that you won't be able to soak up much local color if you're trying to knock out 100 miles a day ...   more »

Did you make New Year's resolutions to not procrastinate and to get healthy by riding your bike? Then you should have taken some time on New Year's Day to register for this year's Ride Around Washington.

The 10th annual bike tour might be the first of nearly 100 such week-long supported bicycle tours in the US to already reach its rider limit.

If you want to participate in one of these across-state bicycle tours this year, I'd recommend visiting the 2008 Across State Bicycle Tour index this weekend, following the links for your favorite choices, and making reservations...   more »