Despite the the record rainfall we’ve had since February, it doesn’t seem like I have heard as many weather-related complaints as I’d expect.
I feel fortunate to have gotten out on some long dry rides so early in the season (not to mention a ride from Ashford to Paradise in January!). Last weekend was another great opportunity to spend a day on the bike.
On Saturday I hosted a High Performance Cycling “meet the team” ride, followed by ~55 bonus miles around the north end of Lake Washington with some teammates.
There were hordes of cyclists out on Saturday. I can’t remember a day when I’ve seen so many bonafide groups.
During the bonus miles, our group targeted a few of the standard north end climbs: Juanita, Holmes Point, Norway, and Perkins.
As we got closer to central Seattle members of our “bonus group” peeled off for home, and those of us who remained added two sweet urban climbs: Interlaken and Colman Park.
With rain in the forecast I took Sunday off the bike and opted for an urban hike to Volunteer Park to watch the annual Volunteer Park Criterium.
The course is a clockwise loop around the park, with the start/finish area in front of the Asian Art Museum.
Although not as big a social scene as some of the other in-town bike races, this venue has a spectacular view of downtown, and if you position yourself just right, a view of the Space Needle through the center of Isamu Noguchi‘s Black Sun sculpture.
Flickr gallery: Men’s category 3 race
It might not occur to you, but one of the most remarkable aspects of watching a bike race in person is the sound of the peloton as it passes. There is nothing like the whoosh of fifty or more bodies on bikes passing at 25+ mph combined with the whir of the tubular tires on the tarmac. As the racers pass you can feel their combined adrenaline and it’s powerful enough to raise goosebumps.
If you want to watch (or participate in) some bike racing in Seattle, check out the weekly Seward Park Series which happens every Thursday through the end of August, and the Second Ascent Ballard Criterium on Saturday June 7.
Flickr gallery: Men’s category 1-2 race
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