Category: Northwest Cycling
Reviewing my bicycle calendar listings, it occurred to me that the naming of bicycle rides for the Pacific Northwest winter season is definitely a case of truth in advertising.
There's no glossing over the weather, which is wet and cold this time of year. That's why the name of so many bike rides embraces the misery and folly of riding into the rain. If you're going to be cold and wet, make the most of it.
The first such ride that comes to mind is Saturday's Stinky Spoke – Stinky Weather Poker Run in Woodinville. What a great name for a ride along some wet, muddy trails. Pictured above are some cyclists emerging from the fog last year on the Sammamish River Trail; below is a typical bike after the ride…..
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/14/the-name-is-the-game-for-winter-bike-rides-in-pacific-northwest/
As expected, the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party was the first Cascade Bicycle Club bicycling event to sell out when registration opened at noon Monday.
What wasn't expected, however, was a breakdown in the ride registration process this year. Many people waited hours to register for the highest-demand rides, only to be shut out of the system and have to start over again, according to complaints at the Cascade forum.
Apparently, the sudden influx of registrants at noon on Monday bogged down the registration system for hours this year, the first time Cascade tried to handle it in-house. Executive director Chuck Ayers apologized to members for the snafu (see below). …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/11/2011-rsvp-sells-out-first-other-options-for-vancouver-bike-rides/
The prospect of huge truckloads of oil industry equipment using rural roads frequented by traveling bicyclists in Idaho and Montana has drawn the opposition of the Adventure Cycling Association.
Beginning this year, what has been termed megaloads of oil exploration and refining equipment may begin rolling out from Lewiston, Idaho, on Highway 12 in Idaho and Montana, and Highway 200 in Montana.
How big are these megaloads? They are at least 3 stories high, at least 200 feet long and more than 24 feet wide — that's wider than the roads they'll use. They'll be rolling down parts of three scenic and popular bicycle routes — the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail, and the Great Parks North Bicycle Route …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/05/adventure-cycling-opposes-oil-gas-megaloads-on-scenic-bicycle-routes/
Legislators in at least two states — Washington and Virginia — have submitted bills for 2011 that would require motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when they pass.
Previous attempts to win approval for such bills was unsuccessful in those states last year. A Washington state bill died in the Senate, and a Virginia bill failed to pass the House of Delegates.
Currently, 16 states require motorists to give bicyclists and pedestrians in the road at least 3 feet of space when passing. Three other states specify a “safe distance ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/04/safe-distance-passing-bills-to-protect-bicyclists-submitted-in-washington-and-virginia/
The snow-covered Olympic Mountains — about 70 miles away as the eagle flies — and Lake Washington provide a scenic backdrop for these cyclists out for a bike ride New Year's morning.
Lots of bicyclists hit the road in the Seattle area on Saturday in spite of temperatures that hovered around 30 degrees all morning.
Possibly they're fulfilling New Year's resolutions. I spoke to one rider who said she got the “old horse” out …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/01/01/starting-off-the-new-year-right/
If you asked me a year ago if it were possible to ride your bicycle 3,450 miles and only leave your home county four times, I'd say no. The boredom of riding the same roads would make you looney.
But that's what I did in 2010, and I can't say I was ever bored.
It's probably because King County, Washington, covers more than 2,300 square miles. That's twice the size of Rhode Island and slightly less than Delaware. That's a lot of room to roam on the roads out here.
The county stretches from the Puget Sound to the crest of the Cascade Range. I can ride my bike up to overlooks within 10 miles of my home ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/12/29/plenty-of-variety-in-bicycling-around-king-county-in-2010/
A series of signs warning motorists to be more aware while driving is a nice holiday gift for bicyclists and pedestrians in Tacoma, Washington.
The safe-driving campaign — Drive Nice, Tacoma — is sponsored by the City of Tacoma and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. It was paid for by the Washington State Department of Health.
The city says that bumper stickers and postcards will soon be available, and ads will be visible on the LINK light rail, Pierce Transit buses and transit shelters.
In addition to the “Don't Disappoint…” poster at left …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/12/25/tacoma-launches-safety-campaign-for-bicyclists-and-pedestrians/
The Urban Assault Rides that pit 2-person teams against each other in fanciful bicycling contests will return to 10 cities in 2011.
They're the same cities that hosted rallies in 2010, except Seattle, Portland and Berkeley have been dropped from the list.
The New Belgium Brewery-sponsored Urban Assault Rides feature bicycle-oriented challenges at a series of checkpoints across the host city. The teams — male, female, coed and family — compete in such trials as bicycle jousting, newspaper throw, and human wheelbarrow.
The cities and dates for 2011 are …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/12/24/2011-urban-assault-rides-in-10-cities-bypass-seattle-portland-and-berkeley/
A break in the weather Monday afternoon enabled me to get out for a short bike ride to one of my favorite haunts, May Valley Road.
Although my career in newspapers ended 15 years ago, I still feel a need to survey the damage from severe weather.
There was still plenty of evidence of flooding and small slides, even a day after the torrential downpours that swept through Western Washington.
Above is a horse pasture that's been transformed into a duck pond by floodwaters of May Creek. ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/12/14/some-cycling-routes-closed-by-pineapple-express/
Mt. Baker
tunnel suspectAfter the attacks on four women in Seattle parks and trails the past few weeks, police are urging women to take measures to ensure their safety.
All of the attacks have occurred after dark against women who were jogging or running alone. The locations — Colman Park, Seward Park and Mt. Baker tunnel area — are all along the western shore of Lake Washington.
Although none of the assaults involved women on bicycles, a Nov. 16 attack occurred near the east entrance of the Mount Baker tunnel, an area used by many bicycle commuters.
When a half dozen bicyclists were pulled off their bikes and mugged in the Mount Baker tunnel area during a period in 2008 and 2009, police and bike advocates urged that bicyclists ride in groups through the area. Riding with a pal or in a group…
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/12/13/police-urge-women-to-use-caution-in-seattle-parks-and-trails/
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