Around the world bicycle race begins in London

Nine endurance bicyclists rolled out of London on Saturday for the first-ever around-the-world bicycle race.

Just two days after leaving, the cyclists on the World Cycle Racing Grand Tour already are spread across western Europe; one is in Morocco. A 10th cyclist departed from the Isle of Man.

They're seeking to complete their globe-girdling rides by the July 27 start of the Olympics Games in London. Perhaps they'll set a Guinness World Record along the way.

Originally, the race was conceived by Vin Cox, a British cyclist …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/20/around-the-world-bicycle-race-begins-in-london/

Seattle map shows 5-year span of traffic-related bike crashes

Justin Mayo at the Seattle Times created this useful interactive map showing the locations of all traffic-related bicycle crashes from 2007 to 2011.

Posted on Saturday, the map shows larger dots for multiple crashes and red dots to locate fatalities. Based on data from the Seattle Department of Transportation, this could be a tool to help people find bicycle routes that need special attention.

An accompanying article reports 1,847 traffic-related bicycle crashes between 2007 and 2011 in which 10 bicycles died. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/19/seattle-map-shows-5-year-span-of-traffic-related-bike-crashes/

Raising money for AIDS/HIV treatment on STP bike ride

Folks who ride their in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic do so for many reasons — bragging rights, setting a personal best or simply experiencing an iconic Northwest cycling event.

But some use the 204-mile bike ride — in one or two days — as a fund-raising challenge for their favorite charity.

This year, the Cascade AIDS Project is forming a group — Team Ride4CAP — to train and ride STP together …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/18/raising-money-for-aidshiv-treatment-on-stp-bike-ride/

Vancouver, Washington-man preparing for perimeter bicycle tour

When David Jones set out at age 55 on a cross-country bicycle tour in 2010, he admits that he had no idea what he was getting into.

A frequent jogger, Jones found that long-distance bicycle touring required a whole different skill set.

Older and wiser, the Vancouver, Wash., man plans to set off on a 12,000-mile bike tour around the perimeter of the US starting this spring.

His goal is to raise $100,000 for Share, a nonprofit that serves the homeless and hungry ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/16/vancouver-washington-man-preparing-for-perimeter-bicycle-tour/

Time-lapse video of Sunday's Seattle Bike Swap

Never been to the Seattle Bike Swap?

Here's what you missed on Sunday. David Stern shot and posted this time-lapse video of the show at the Titanium Sporkestra YouTube page.

You'll see some hot and heavy negotiating for bicycles and gear going on in the foreground.

And as the video rolls toward its conclusion, you'll see what they mean by …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/15/time-lapse-video-of-sundays-seattle-bike-swap/

Newest Adventure Cycling bike route is a detour to Motor City

The home of the American auto industry is one of the cities on an alternate route unveiled today for the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

The Adventure Cycling Association didn't choose Detroit for its status as an auto maker, however. It was chosen for its place in history as the last stop for some slaves before reaching freedom in Canada.

The 2,000-mile Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, launched five years ago, roughly traces the paths of escaped slaves from the Deep South. The original bike route rolls out between Mobile, Alabama, and Owens Sound, Ontario.

The new 518-mile long Detroit Alternate, announced today to celebrate Black History Month, breaks from the main bike route …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/14/newest-adventure-cycling-bike-route-is-a-detour-to-motor-city/

Smooth bike-riding on newly renovated Burke Gilman Trail section

News that the 8-month renovation of a 2-mile section of the Burke-Gilman Trail reopened at noon on Friday sent me out on my bicycle this weekend to enjoy the fresh pavement.

The smooth riding was enjoyable, but I wasn't prepared for the trail's transformation from a narrow path to a bicycling superhighway.

Comparing two photos here of the Burke Gilman Trail crossing at 147th Street, it's hard to believe they were taken at the same location. The photo below was grabbed from trailviews at Googlemaps.com; I shot the one above on Sunday afternoon.

Changes like that are evident throughout the entire stretch from Log Boom Park to 145th Street.

This 2-mile section of the 18-mile Burke Gilman Trail …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/13/smooth-bike-riding-on-newly-renovated-burke-gilman-trail-section/

Need bike stuff? Seattle Bike Swap is Sunday

Everything bicycle — from whole bikes down to individual sprockets — will be for sale cheap at the Cascade Bicycle Club's 17th annual Seattle Bike Swap.

The only advice is to arrive early for the sale that runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall at 225 Mercer St.

Some 100 vendors have signed up for all the table space as of Thursday. They include bike shops trying to clear out some inventory as well as home mechanics with stuff to sell.

Although it's too late to get a table, you can still bring in a bicycle to sell on consignment …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/10/need-bike-stuff-seattle-bike-swap-is-sunday/

Groups seek help to keep bicycle and pedestrian funding alive

Bicycle advocacy groups are beating the drums for us to contact our U.S. senators and congressmen this week.

Lackluster transportation bills in the House and Senate that all but ignore bicycle and pedestrian funding are the issue again.

Groups such as League of American Bicyclists, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Adventure Cycling Association, and Bicycle Alliance of Washington, among others, are putting out the call for help …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/10/groups-seek-help-to-keep-bicycle-and-pedestrian-funding-alive/

Doping bans and probes continue; Ullrich and Longo

Last Friday's news about Lance Armstrong seems to have injected more interest in news about cleaning up the doping mess in cycling.

It's evidence that the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency are continuing to search for cyclists guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs and won't let past offenses go unpunished.

Here's a quick run-down of some recent developments from the past week, in reverse order:

Thursday — The Court for Arbitration of Sport found former German cyclist Jan Ullrich guilty of blood doping. All his results from May 1, 2005, until his retirement have been annulled.

The winner of the 1997 Tour de France and longtime Armstrong rival …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/09/doping-bans-and-probes-continue-ullrich-and-longo/