Ride Safely at Night
The dark season is upon us, which means it’s time for the annual ritual when folks hotly debate the dos and don’ts of running and riding at night. Even avid, long-time area cyclists are surprised to learn that blinking front lights are illegal on bikes in Washington state. They are …
Run Safely at Night
The dark season is upon us, which means it’s time for the annual ritual when folks hotly debate the dos and don’ts of running and riding at night. Seattle native, cyclist, and ultra runner Martin Criminale recommends reflective clothing and rechargeable lights: “In my experience, neon or bright clothing makes …
The 520 Trail: Love It or Hate It?
One of the most exciting new developments in regional transportation alternatives has been the multi-use trail on the new Hwy 520 Floating Bridge across Lake Washington. The trail opened on December 20 and has had more that more than 70,000 trips to date. The new trail significantly shortens bike commutes …
Self-Restraint on the BGT
Saturday morning between 8 and 9 I was cycling northbound on the Burke Gilman Trail (aka the “BGT” or simply “the trail”) to join a group ride at Log Boom Park. The BGT is a 27-mile multi-use recreational trail that runs from Ballard, along the Lake Washington Ship Canal, then …
Involve Your Friends in a Themed Ride
A fun and easy way to get people involved in your rides (be they mountain or road) is to come up with a theme. A theme adds an element of fun, helps to build relationships, and can take the pressure off of riders who are worried about keeping up with …
Regroup, Refocus, Recover
Take your ego out of recovery. A pulled hamstring has put a damper on my return to mountain biking this season. I can spin quite nicely, but don’t have the push or power to keep up with my usual riding buddies. Falling off the back of the pack is discouraging — and …
Introducing She Bikes
Yes, it is hard to believe…but cycling–that pursuit in which men shave their legs and wear skin-tight clothing–is a (white) mens’ club. Just take a look at these stats from People for Bikes: 87% of U.S. competitive cyclists are male, and 12% are female: At the professional level, women racers …
Early Winter Motivation: Group Rides
When it comes to winter cycling I’m pretty much a slacker. I have two well-advertised (by me) excuses: 1. The “wet pavement rule,” which is if the pavement is wet, I (usually) don’t ride. It’s not that I dislike riding in the wet per se, I just hate a dirty …