We can credit/blame the coronavirus pandemic for all manner of secondary and downstream disruptions to humanity. While recreational activities are a relatively minor theme against the backdrop of everything else that is going on, for those of us who have the privilege to recreate, I'd argue that maintaining our physical and mental health helps us keep the vibe just a bit … [Read more...] about Gravel Cycling Infects the PNW
Adventure rides
Gearing up for Bikepacking
As gravel cycling (re- ?) catches on with an increasingly wider group of riders, you may be among those toying with the idea of bikepacking. The terminology around bikepacking is a bit confusing. Northwest in Motion is using the working definition that bikepacking requires: a bike, an overnight stay, and a bias for routes on dirt and gravel. In contrast to the overlapping … [Read more...] about Gearing up for Bikepacking
Adventure Cycling in the Snoqualmie Forest
Although there has been niche interest in gravel cycling in the Northwest since the mid-2000s, the subdiscipline is experiencing a boom in interest as riders look for car-free alternatives that emphasize fun with friends over Strava KOMs. The Snoqualmie Forest (aka ("Campbell Global"), near Fall City and Carnation, is among the most popular gravel destinations in the … [Read more...] about Adventure Cycling in the Snoqualmie Forest
Gravel Comes of Age in the PNW
The PNW gravel riding scene has been incubating for quite a long time (one source even says gravel bikes originated here?), and judging from the increase in gravel/dirt-specific rides popping up in my social stream, this year appears to be an important inflection point. More folks are doing gravel fondo rides, and more folks are putting together interesting gravel and … [Read more...] about Gravel Comes of Age in the PNW
Brian Ecker’s 1,000,000th Foot
Sunday was the culmination of Bellingham's Brian Ecker's 2013 cycling project, which was to climb 1,000,000' on the bike. Brian was joined by eleven friends to celebrate the event with a ~25 mile spin from downtown Bellingham around Lake Samish. Brian accomplished his 2013 goal by breaking the 1M mega objective into smaller chunks. One of the more remarkable mini (?) … [Read more...] about Brian Ecker’s 1,000,000th Foot