From about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 10 weekend days this spring and summer, city crews will close off a four-mile section of Lake Washington Boulevard between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park to vehicular traffic.
This makes for a flat, winding ride along a two-lane, lakeside road that is ideal for families. It's also a portion of road to throw in for a longer weekend ride. There's also a two-mile loop around Seward Park, which juts into Lake Washington... more»
Bicycling along the Cedar River Trail between Renton and Maple Valley, I often pass this old two-story building across the road that's home to a compost and landscape material business.
It's the biggest and most imposing structure in the suburbs that are sprawling into the rural area between the two towns, and I always thought that it was the former site of a school, or a county jail or something.
When I took the time to ask at the Renton History Museum a few weeks ago, I learned it's another remnant of the once-lucrative coal mining industry that drove commerce in the hills east of Seattle ... more»
Two outstanding communities for bicycling on the Olympic Peninsula -- Bainbridge Island and Port Townsend -- have been named among the 11 new Bicycle Friendly communities by the League of American Bicyclists.
The others are Colorado Springs and Durango, Colorado, and Minneapolis, Minnesota (all silver level), and Arcata, California, Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlottesville, Virginia, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Oxford, Mississippi, and Sitka, Alaska (bronze).
Seattle cyclists are familiar with Bainbridge Island for hosting February's Chilly Hilly bike ride, above, when more than 4,000 bicycle riders take the ferry and jam up a 33-mile loop around the island.
Port Townsend, also a ferry stop on the Olympic Peninsula, is a destination for bike touring enthusiasts who enjoy stress-free rural roads. ... more»
If you're a bicycle commuter, or would like to be, May is certainly your month.
Communities across the US are sponsoring bike-to-work activities in May to urge people out of their cars and onto their bikes. In many places that support evaporates quickly, but by then it's hoped that commuters have been inspired to ride their bikes regularly.
Many month-long bike commuter contests begin today. Other dates to remember are National Bike Week from May 12 - 16, and Bike to Work Day on May 16 (other dates in some locales). Check the League of American Bicyclists Bike Month Events page for local listings.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is rallying support to preserve a future abandoned rail bed as a main link for off-road bicycle travel through Renton, Newcastle, Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland.
In a scheme that gets more complicated as time goes on, the Port of Seattle plans to buy the 42-mile Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad right-of-way for future use as a commuter corridor with rail and a hike-bike trail. The devil is in the details, though, as the Port wants the rail line to have priority over the trail, while King County wants the uses "coequal."
Cascade warns that the Port's position leaves the possibility of a trail in doubt.
"However, the Port of Seattle and the King County Council’s latest plan would give the Port of Seattle veto authority over a future trail, and subordinates trail construction to any “transportation use” – which does not include bicycle commuters on a trail." ... more»
At least once a month, I test my conditioning by pedaling up to the top of Cougar Mountain. It's a 5-mile ride from my home, and my goal one day is to reach it in 25 minutes.
About three-quarters of the way up, across the entrance to the Cougar Mountain Regional Park, I pass an open field where there's an old, mossy concrete wall that has a tree growing out of it.
I was surprised to learn a few months ago that this is the ruins of a hotel built about 100 years ago in an area once heavily populated by workers in the coal mine industry... more»
Although our neighborhood is surrounded by suburban sprawl in every direction, I'm fortunate that there's still a low-traffic farm road that's great for bicycling not four miles away.
If I ride east for about 8 miles, then south for another 8, I'm presented with this panorama of the Green River valley just 20 miles from home. It comes at the top of a climb, and it's not hard to imagine that it's a rewarding scenic overlook 1,000 miles into a bike tour.
It's also not hard to imagine I'm a hobbit looking out over Fangorn Forest in Middle Earth. If you look closely, you can even see spots where the orks have been busy clear-cutting the timber. ... more»
A cold spring delayed the main tulip bloom for the 27th annual Tulip Pedal up in Skagit County on Saturday.
Even so, bicyclists found it convenient to pedal in bunches as a strong wind raked the course all day long.
Cyclists on the 40- and 20-mile routes reported seeing plenty of white and yellow daffodils in roadside fields, but blooming tulips were few and far between.
Now, if it's daffodils you like, check out the Daffodil Classic next Sunday in Orting. Sponsored by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club, it features loops of 40, 60 and 100 miles ... more»
My decision to renew interest in some of my old bicycle routes by peeling back the history of my small slice of western Washington has led to some startling discoveries, at least to me.
Just the other day I decided to explore some side roads off a hill climb I often make up to Cougar Mountain. I stumbled across this old cabin, which turns out to be one of the oldest buildings still standing in King County.
It's called the Baima Cabin. It's an old coal company town house dating from about the 1880s. That's only about 30 years after the first white settlers showed up over in Seattle; ancient history in these parts... more»
Six West Seattle students -- ages 10 - 18 -- were to begin a 22-day bicycle ride across the US today to deliver a message about global warming.
Their 5,400-mile route is charted to take the group through 65 cities that have signed on with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickel's Climate Action Now program. The noble endeavor is led by a Chief Sealth High School teacher who has organized similar rides in the past.
They're calling the bike tour "An Inconvenient Ride," borrowing from Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth campaign ... more»
As amazed as I was a month ago with the nice weather for Chilly Hilly, I was equally stunned at this cold snap that had dumped snow throughout the Puget Sound region the past few days.
But when the snow starts falling around here and I have an itch to ride, sometimes I'll head uphill where the snow is deeper.
That was the case this morning. In addition to the snow on our lawn, I could see what looked like a thicker covering up toward Somerset and Cougar Mountain... more»
Top fund-raisers for the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure charity ride will get to bike with Greg LeMond again this year. The one-day ride sets out from Redmond (Washington) on May 17.
The 3-time winner of the Tour de France is the honorary chairman of the nationwide Tour de Cure series, which sponsors nearly 80 rides in 40 states and raised some $13 million to support the diabetes foundation last year.
I doubt that he can participate in all of the rides, but the Redmond ride is convenient for LeMond because it's located near the home offices for LeMond Fitness Inc. in Woodinville. LeMond lives in the Minneapolis area, but travels here every few weeks more»
There's no arguing that I'm a dyed-in-the-wool roadie. But I've been thinking about narrow, muddy trails ever since I borrowed my son's Gary Fisher Wahoo for a few rides a couple of years ago.
The more places that I discovered here in the Pacific Northwest where I couldn't take my road bike, the more I thought about getting a mountain bike.
Last week, I stumbled across this hardtail for sale at Craigslist and, after some light haggling, bought this Specialized RockHopper. The guy was the second owner, so this bike has been around, but it's in pretty decent shape. I'd put the year at 1991. ... more»
As much fun as bicycling is for me, I feel like I'm pedalling into a rut sometimes by going over the same old bike routes.
It occurred to me that perhaps if I look more closely at the roadside scenery and delve into the history of the places I'm passing, maybe it will give me a new perspective and freshen up my rides.
Take these old farm buildings for instance. I must have passed these more than 100 times on rides I've taken out or back the Cedar River Trail in Renton. They might look like run down, abanonded farm buildings, but they are something more ... more»
Bicycling and fitness coach Chris Carmichael answered the question that was on a lot of minds when he spoke Saturday at the Seattle International Bike Expo.
Could Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France again?
"He's an amazing athlete. I think he could. ... It would take a lot of effort, but I think he could win it again."
Carmichael said Armstrong, at age 36, is running in the Boston Marathon (April 21) and is looking to break 2:45; he wants to run in his third New York City Marathon (Nov. 2) and do it in 2:30; and he plans to ride at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race (Aug. 9)... more»
More than 150 exhibitors fill Cruise Terminal 30, a new location for the event this year. Spread out in five different rooms, it's quieter and less jammed than in previous years.
Unfortunately, this may be a one-time only event at this location as the terminal is slated for demolition, according to a couple of exhibitors.
There are two areas for speakers and an indoor mountain bike course where Ryan Leech demonstrates his moves. Coach Chris Carmichael and author Joe Kurmaskie were among the speakers on Saturday; Joe returns Sunday as does coach Sally Edwards.
There are lots of bikes and 'bents on display and loads of clothing and gear is for sale. If you have questions about bike rides in Washington or Oregon, you can ask at dozens of booths set up for the separate events.
There are also fitness and nutrition exhibitors where some of the latest products in these fields are on display and for sale.
Also remember to bring in your used innertubes and drop them off at Alchemy Goods; each one earns you a chance to win one of their messenger bags. In fact, lots of exhibitors are running contests.
The Expo concludes Sunday, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You wouldn't think you'd have to explain the bike lane parking law to people attending the 2008 Seattle International Bike Expo on Saturday, but here it is:
Apparently the lure of "free" (illegal) parking close to the site of this year's expo at Terminal 30 on East Marginal Way was too good to pass up. Scores of cars were parked illegally in the bike lane.
There was plenty of free parking within a short walking distance of the event, the Cascade Bicycle Club arranged for shuttle buses... more»
Sometimes the good guys -- that would be bicyclists -- prevail.
After advocates mounted a bike protest ride and conducted a traffic count, the Seattle transportation department is agreeing to replace sharrows on Stone Way North with bike lanes.
Merchants along the road that heads north from the Burke Gilman Trail insisted last summer that four lanes were needed on Stone Way because of truck traffic. The city installed sharrows on the uphill portion instead of bike lanes, an action which bike advocates said created a dangerous situation ... more»
Or you can ride your bike down there to see 150 exhibits on bikes, gear, travel, health and fitness or hear special guests biking coach Chris Carmichael, Sally Edwards, stunt rider Ryan Leech, or bike tourer Joe Kurmaskie.
Be aware. The Cascade Bicycle Club has moved the expo to a new location. It is at Cruise Terminal 30, that's on the Puget Sound side of downtown just south of Safeco Field. There's plenty of parking within a 20 to 30-minute walk, and secure bicycle parking is offered for $2 at the site ... more»
Why should motorists drive responsibly when the criminal justice system often shows such a lack of concern for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists? Take the case of Ephraim Schwartz that was adjudicated on Thursday by Seattle Municipal Court Judge George Holifield.
Schwartz admitted to talking on his cellphone when he struck and killed a pedestrian in a crosswalk in November 2006. There were no skid marks at the scene. He didn't even see Tatsuo Nakata.
This happened 1-1/2 years after Schwartz drove across the centerline, hit bicyclist Ilsa Govan, and received a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road. There's also a traffic-signal violation in the period. In court on Thursday, Govan said:
"I just wish there was something that could have been done after he hit me." ... more»
"Please Do Not Run Me Over" is the title on an essay that Austin Miller of Beaverton, Oregon, wrote for his high school newspaper last year.
It surfaced again this week in Portland media outlets after the 15-year-old sophomore at the Art and Communication Magnet Academy was struck and killed by a bus while pedaling home from school on Feb. 11.
The story by the young bicycling enthusiast tells about a fictional town where the inhabitants abandoned their bicycles for motor vehicles. He later goes on to write about the poor state of motorist-biker relations and the need for bike lanes ... more»
They're going to have to rename this event if there are many more days like Sunday in the future for the Chilly Hilly bike rides.
Check out these cyclists basking in the sun as they ride along Rockaway Beach Road on Bainbridge Island Sunday afternoon. That's downtown Seattle, with the famous Space Needle on the left, across Puget Sound with the snow-capped Cascades in the background. In many previous years, much of these scene would be hidden behind a cloud bank.
The Chilly Hilly bike ride is a 33-mile loop around Bainbridge Island. It has been sponsored for 35 years by the Cascade Bicycle Club, which named it for the usual cold, wet, and windy weather that greets cyclists coming out of their winter hibernation ... more»
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays on Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle.
Bicycling along the Cedar River Trail between Renton and Maple Valley, I often pass this old two-story building across the road that's home to a compost and landscape material business.
Communities across the US are sponsoring bike-to-work activities in May to urge people out of their cars and onto their bikes. In many places that support evaporates quickly, but by then it's hoped that commuters have been inspired to ride their bikes regularly.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is rallying support to preserve a future abandoned rail bed as a main link for off-road bicycle travel through Renton, Newcastle, Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland.
At least once a month, I test my conditioning by pedaling up to the top of Cougar Mountain. It's a 5-mile ride from my home, and my goal one day is to reach it in 25 minutes.
A cold spring delayed the main tulip bloom for the 27th annual 
My decision to renew interest in some of my old bicycle routes by peeling back the history of my small slice of western Washington has led to some startling discoveries, at least to me.
Top fund-raisers for the 
There's no arguing that I'm a dyed-in-the-wool roadie. But I've been thinking about narrow, muddy trails ever since I borrowed my son's Gary Fisher Wahoo for a few rides a couple of years ago.
Bicycling and fitness coach Chris Carmichael answered the question that was on a lot of minds when he spoke Saturday at the Seattle International Bike Expo.
You wouldn't think you'd have to explain the bike lane parking law to people attending the 2008 
Sometimes the good guys -- that would be bicyclists -- prevail.
"Please Do Not Run Me Over" is the title on an essay that Austin Miller of Beaverton, Oregon, wrote for his high school newspaper last year.