Fall is in the air up here in the Pacific Northwest. The days already are getting noticeably shorter and many school districts are opening their doors next week.

There are still plenty of good bicycling days left this year, however. I've just updated more than 60 charity and recreational bike rides on the West Coast states through the end of the year.

The bulk of the bike rides -- 40 -- are in California, where the break in the hot summer weather means more comfortable bicycling weather. More than 20 rides are scheduled in Washington state, mostly in September, before the winter rains set in. (This doesn't include the randonneur rides, which have a crowded fall schedule.)

One of the newest entries on Washington's September bike calendar is the 2nd annual "Pedaling the Muse" on Sept. 12. The amusing poster shows Vincent Van Gogh ...   more »

If these kids are lacking in Vitamin D, it isn't from spending too many summer days sitting in front of a TV or computer.

This was part of a youth group I passed chugging uphill on the John Wayne Pioneeer Trail in Iron Horse State Park this week as I was riding near the Twin Falls trail crossing.

I was happy to see this many kids out for a summer camp bike ride. They certainly knew the rules of the road as they all moved over single file when they saw me heading down the trail. ....   more »

The weatherman said there was a 90 percent chance of rain, but I wanted to take this overnight bike trip up John Wayne Pioneer Trail this week anyway.

When I first heard the forecast, I was ready to bail out. I had planned this trip two weeks ago when the weather was hot and sunny.  I visualized riding up there in my shirtsleeves and enjoying a cool mountain night laying out on a picnic table, looking at stars.

A bike trip under gloomy skies with a high probability of rain wasn't what I had in mind. I soon realized this might be my last chance to take a long ride up into the Cascades this summer. Anyway, how often do things go the way we visualize them? ....   more »

Ballard's Bike Share Group

Bicycle commuters and others interested in non-motorized public transportation got a chance on Tuesday to kick the tires and go for test rides on three bike share systems that may one day be a common sight on Seattle streets.

King County is sponsoring the presentation, which will be repeated in Redmond on Wednesday, to get some feedback about what people like and don't like about the bike share programs and how they could be employed here.

Participating in the all-day display on Westlake Avenue were Bcycle, Bixi and The Bike Share Group (above), which is based in Ballard ....   more »

With my daughter in a day camp in Seattle this week, I've had the opportunity to do some bicycle day-tripping around the area.

On Wednesday, as I headed north on the old Interurban right-of-way toward Shoreline and Edmonds, I stumbled across a series of signs posted along the bike trail like a picturesque Burma Shave advertisement.

They're not trailside billboards, however. They're FlipBooks, a bit of trailside artwork created by local artist Jennifer Dixon.

Just like a flipbook that you hold in your hand, the images change slightly as you progress along the trail so there's a sensation of movement as you pass ....   more »

What's happening bike-wise in Seattle this weekend? Just the Dead Baby Downhill, Tour de Fat and Bike Polo Championships.

Recreational bicycle rides also are on tap in the Snoqualmie Valley to the east and in the Tenino and Yelm area to the south.

The Dead Baby Downhill race and party on Friday starts at the Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike in Seattle and heads downhill from there.

The finish line is not disclosed, but I've read that it's someplace in the Georgetown neighborhood. That's where the post-race party kicks off with live bands, sideshow rodeo, Helltrack BMX and tall bike jousting ....   more »