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 »

Racing past old Elliott Farm

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 »

Here are some photos from the first day of the Seattle International Bike Expo, presented by the Cascade Bicycle Club.

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:

"Do not park in a bicycle lane." -- page 78, Washington Driver Guide.

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 »

Rain is forecast for this weekend, so it might be a good time to head down to the Group Health Seattle International Bike Expo at Cruise Terminal 30.

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 »