August 2011 archive

Ride the Hurricane

Upcoming Hurricane Ridge bicycle ride in Olympic National Park.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/05/ride-the-hurricane/

Man on bicycle struck and killed in Renton; third area fatality in two weeks

Update: Aug. 6, 2011 — The bicyclist has been identified at George Demendoza, 69, of Federal Way.


Aug. 5, 2011 — A 70-year-old man riding a bicycle in Renton has died of injuries suffered in a collision with a vehicle on Thursday.

He's the third bicyclist to die on roads in King County in the past two weeks.

According to reports, the unidentified man was riding across the 200 block of Logan Avenue North near Renton Memorial Stadium when he was struck by a white SUV at 5  p.m. Thursday. Emergency responders report that he was unconscious when they arrived ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/05/man-on-bicycle-struck-and-killed-in-renton-third-area-fatality-in-two-weeks/

The Tour de France has been around almost forever

It's kind of startling to remember that the Tour de France existed before Lance Armstrong, Greg Lemond, or even the 7-Eleven cycling team.

The Tour de France dates back to 1903 and had a long, rich history before Phil Liggett first saw the cyclists dancing on their pedals or the bike race appeared live on American TV in high definition.

Brent Hugh posted this charming short film about the 1962 Tour de France at the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation website. Entitled “Vive le tour,” it was written and directed by the brilliant French filmmaker Louis Malle early in his career.

The film isn't about who won or lost. It's about the spectators, the advertising caravan, and the cyclists who raid cafes along the route for beer and wine …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/05/the-tour-de-france-has-been-around-almost-forever/

An overnight bike trip to the Snoqualmie Tunnel finds a popular destination

On an overnight bike trip to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail last weekend, my biking buddy and I discovered that the newly reopened Snoqualmie Tunnel is drawing a lot of visitors.

Mostly they're day-trippers on bicycles, but some come by foot and at least a couple packed in with their llamas carrying their burdens.

The cyclists we talked with were taking advantage of the 18-mile downhill slope that greets them after they pass through the tunnel heading west.

They either came in groups and dropped off cars in Hyak and the Iron Horse Trail State Park lot in Cedar Falls, or contacted the shuttle service that carries passengers and bicycles to the Hyak trailhead …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/04/an-overnight-bike-trip-to-the-snoqualmie-tunnel-finds-a-popular-destination/

3 new smart ideas that involve bicycles

Here are three examples I've stumbled across recently that demonstrate how bicycles seem to attract clever schemes.

It stands to reason — the bicycle has been considered the best invention in the last 200 years.

The city of Pleasanton, California, is employing microwave technology to sense bicyclists approaching several intersections in the town.

The “intersector” — a microwave motion and presence detector — can identify bicycles in traffic. It either extends or triggers a traffic light if a bicyclist is detected.

Cyclists in Pleasanton like the technology because they're not tempted to squeeze a yellow light or run a red light at an intersection ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/03/3-new-smart-ideas-that-involve-bicycles/

Tour de France podium finishers will compete in Colorado

The week-long Colorado bike race later this month known officially as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will feature the top three podium finishers from the Tour de France — Cadel Evans, left, Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck.

The highest placed US cyclist from the Tour, Tom Danielson, also is rolling up to the start line.

That's an impressive lineup for the inaugural cycling race that runs from Aug. 22-28 across the mountainous landscape of the Rockies.

The last cyclist to compete in a bike race in the US after winner the Tour de France …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/08/02/tour-de-france-podium-finishers-will-compete-in-colorado/