An Adventure Called Bicycling

For SALE: 49cm road bike

2012-01-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

$650.

2005, 49cm Orbea Lobular with 2012 Sram Apex and DT Swiss 2.0 wheels.

Components are BRAND NEW, never ridden!

Full Sram Apex!

Some cosmetic scratches from transport.

Sram Apex compact double..

..with big cassette on the back! Offers a gear range WIDER than a triple!

That's right, it's got a granny gear that's even grannier than a triple's got!

Squeaky clean wheels & tires, with no wear!

Some of the lamination has chipped off, but it's not structural damage.

I've had it checked by multiple reputable mechanics who all say the frame is still great!

"Just put some nail polish on it."

Some paint has flaked off over time, but this frame is awesome.

Rode it to 3 National Champion titles!

Orienteering

2011-04-02T21:17:00.001-07:00

You're orienteer-whaa?

Orienteering.

It's more fun than running.

A sample race with elite orienteers: http://www.finnvangelderen.com/O-film/

Hiatus

2011-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted. That doesn't mean that I haven't been riding- I'm actually commuting by bike more regularly these days. It's just that my journaling of bike commuting has played itself out. I have new adventures to tackle: orienteering, trail running and off-road triathlon top the list. While that sorta fits in here, I feel like I need a new space for these new pursuits.

So An Adventure will go on hiatus for a while. I may return here to post about any bike tours I do. Meanwhile, I'm getting to work on 2 new blogs. Yes, 2!

One will organize trail running-related activities for women.

The second will be a seasonally focused photo blog of life outside: trail running, mountain biking, etc. One of my favorite things I've done on this blog is the photo compilation video I did of a winter in Walla Walla. It's not the quality of the video that I'm crazy about, but just the fact that I was outside so much that winter, that it resulted in a dense collection of photos. My goal on my new blog will be to go on enough adventures that I can create a video compilation for every season.

Thanks to all that have appreciated and enjoyed this blog. It will remain as a resource for you touring and Xtracycle folk. And when I get my X back (it's on loan), or go on tour- I will return here to share.

Cheers!

Oh, Snow!

2011-02-24T09:02:00.001-08:00

This is how it went down. It was cold and it was grocery day, so I put on my Smartwool neck gaiter.

I went into the grocery store and bought ALMOST too many groceries to carry home.

Then, when I came out- my bike looked like this:

Hey!! Whaddya doin' on my bike, Snow?!

Then I woke up and the yard looked like this:

Whaaa?

Good thing I never got around to taking off my studded tires!

It only looks like a snowball donut because I walked it down the driveway. The studs did great in the packed snow, slush and ice. It'll do anything except deep powder. Well, and ruts are quite an adventure. That's where handling skills come in.

Then- bus.

Before you readers of snowier climes roll your eyes- this is Seattle! Salamanders do not like getting snowed on! I prefer the mild and mossy forests.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Verdict

2011-02-21T21:27:00.001-08:00

I look out onto Bellevue Way and assess the weather. Rain, cold, wind, dark.

I assess my energy levels. Pretty good, but I'd like to hit the trails pretty hard tomorrow.

I assess my calorie intake. Plenty full. Had 3 servings of breakfast, plus lunch, trail mix and that coffee cake I couldn't resist.

I assess my motivation. On the fence. Ride sounds nice, but a good, tough quality trail run sounds even better.

Verdict: bus.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Topeak Bar Extender

2011-02-20T19:52:00.001-08:00

When I toured across the country, my Arkel handlebar bag was always with me- on and off the bike. It held valuables, calories and anything else I wanted instantly accessible- like a pad of paper for making ambitious grocery lists or miscalculating mileage.

There was only one problem- the bag, like most, sat high enough that it would prevent a handlebar-mounted light from being useful. My on-the-road solution was to jam my light in the side mesh pocket and hope that I'd been eating my carrots. It worked okay, but wasn't a great long-term solution.

There are a few ways to solve this problem.

1. Get a lower mounting bag like randonneurs use. But I like my bag, and I like where it sits.

2. Mount a light onto the fork. A great option if I had a MiNewt 250 cordless, but my light utilizes a cord and separate battery pack, which would be a mess. I couldn't mount there when I have front panniers while touring anyway.

3. Hack a mount onto a front rack. Perhaps if I had a 'flat top' front rack, but I've got an OMM low rider- which isn't conducive to hacking.

So the solution is: Topeak Bar Extender! It raises my lights UP, over my bag.

Review pending.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Theorhetical DIY Ironman Bike Route

2011-02-16T20:10:00.000-08:00

Hm. So I mentioned that I'm simmering on plans of concocting a Do-it-Yourself Ironman. No $700 registration fee-- just mark a date on the calendar and do it on home turf.

My Prerequisites:

The route has to be fun. Good scenery, no boring laps.
The route has to be convenient. Start and finish close to home.
The route must be efficient, so as to not take too long.
The route must incorporate awesome food stops.
Transitions between legs should allow for an unhurried, complete change of clothing. I'm going to wear socks, dammit! And an actual chamois.
Incorporate 'checkpoints' so that friends may join in for a portion and to keep on schedule.
I should be fairly self-sufficient, and not overly relying on car support.
It should be FUN!

So here's what I came up with; I think it achieves everything except efficiency. Riding in the city just takes longer- more stops.

DIY Ironman Route v 1.0

Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in Issaquah, WA

My Projected Timeline:

5:00a - Start SWIM @ Lake Sammamish State Park.

6:30a - Finish swim, TRANSITION into bike kit.

7:00a - Start BIKE toward Seattle.

9:30a - EAT BRUNCH @ Portage Bay Cafe in Seattle.

10:30a - Continue BIKE.

pm - Late LUNCH stop @ Black Diamond Bakery.

7:00p - Start TRAIL RUN @ base of Tiger Mountain.

Midnight - FINISH! With a bonfire. And MORE FOOD.

The kinks that I see in the plan are these:

The bike will take so darn long because of all the city riding.
Running in the dark in the woods sounds spooky, even with friends, headlamps and a 5 mile loop.
I'm concerned that I would be too reliant on outside support to pull it off.
There are some trail running adventures (my most recent love affair) that I could plan instead that would have far fewer logistics!

Hm. Still stewing..

Rode Home

2011-02-13T19:15:00.001-08:00

I've been living in Issaquah for a month and a half now; time enough to tweak and try different commute combos. I've ridden my folding bike, touring bike and mountain bike. I've ridden in jeans, dry-quick travel pants, lycra and fleece. I've ridden just to the bus and all the way into work.

But I hadn't ridden my bike all the way back home, in the dark, cold night.

You know, it's actually not so cold! I was actually HOT on my ride home, thanks to my dang hot Craft base layer. And it's not so dark either, behind 300 lumens of light.

I wasn't even sleepy, riding at 9pm. My gently laboring lungs kept me awake.

And it doesn't even take longer than taking the bus. In fact, it's faster. And cheaper. And there was cool spooky stuff to stop and take pictures of.

I'm a fan.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

DIY Ironman

2011-02-06T19:13:00.001-08:00

I've had this idea brewing- and maybe I've posted on it before- but the idea has resurfaced full force: a Do-it-Yourself Ironman. Just wake up one morning, swim 2.4 miles at the local lake, have brunch, bike 112 miles around town, stop for a pastry, and run a marathon on your favorite wooded trails.

A 'certified' Ironman costs around $6-700 for registration alone. Given the accommodations, camaraderie, course design, motivation and prestige you get from an official Ironman, it's actually a good deal.

But are those things worth $700 to me?

Accommodations made possible by hundreds of volunteers are well appreciated, but could it be more personal to rely on a couple friends instead?

The camaraderie of completing an Ironman with hundreds of other athletes who have prepared for the same task is inspiring- but how cool would it be if you could invite your friends to complete portions of it with you?

Enjoying someone's course design is certainly worth the money and enables support features like transition zones, aid stations and roads closed to traffic. But how rad would it be to use your local lake, roads and trails for the big feat?

Plunking down cash for an event might motivate you to actually do the deed, but shouldn't we be able to write a date on the calendar and say that's that?

And prestige? I don't need a medal to show off, I've got a blog to brag on. :)

Plus- I ain't spending 700 bucks on a race.

Logistics to follow.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Commute Time

2011-02-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

As the new year rolled around, I noticed that I've been posting about half as much as I did when I lived in Walla. Maybe part of that is because I am no longer cruising around town on an Xtracycle, attempting to carry any and everything by bike, just because it was fun. The Xtracycle doesn't fit on the bus, here in the city, so it's temporarily retired.

But to offset that decline, I've tried so many new things since I've moved to the Seattle area: mountain biking, track, putting my bike on the bus.

Then a friend pointed out that I spend a whole lot more time commuting in Seattle than I ever did in Walla Walla. Dang, I really do. Walla Walla is 5 miles wide! It only took 10 minutes by bike to get.. Well, anywhere! Now it takes an hour and a half to bike or bike/bus a route that takes 20 minutes in a car. Now I really get the commitment it can take to be a "bike commuter."

What used to be blog time is now commute time.. Until I got an iPhone that is! I can snap a photo, whiz it up in Adobe Express, do a little thumb tapping and BAM. I've blogged, on location.

We'll see how this goes. I feel like I don't write so guud when writing at the pace of my thumbs, but perhaps I'll learn.

I'm open to new ideas.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Drive Better

2011-02-03T08:54:00.001-08:00

I met a man in a coffee shop who was concerned that he was going to hit a cyclist while driving. You know, because people drive and text and all that stuff.

I told him that driving and texting is illegal. And besides, did HE drive distracted?, I asked.

Yeah, he sometimes is distracted.

By what?

Oh, you know- by any little thing.

So.. Do I have this right? You are a poor driver and so you want everyone else around you to make accommodations for you to be a poor driver?

I think you should drive better.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sometimes it IS peaches!

2011-01-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote a post about a totally botched bike commute. Just nothing went right. It all wanted to go wrong.

Well, sometimes it goes the other way!

I was out orienteering (WWW.CASCADEOC.ORG) in Shoreline and planned to meet my friends afterward for grub and drinks, then ride/bus home.

The directions were easy-- turn right on Greenwood and keep going 'til you get there!

The traffic wasn't bad-- 4-lane arterials are usually terrible for cycling, but I took my lane and there didn't seem to0 much traffic going my direction... I didn't feel cramped or rushed. It was rad.

I pull up to Naked City (it has nothing to do with being naked! It's just extremely good beer!), but don't have a lock with me, so I park my bike in the window and sit at the table in front of it. Problem solved.

Friends show up, I have an awesome scotch ale and great sandwich, we chat, pay the tab and I change into my bike gear. The plan is to ride to Mercer Island, then catch the express bus home.

I ride in the cool, damp night-- well lit by my awesome lights. Breath vivid, skylines supreme, sweat light.. and pull up to the Mercer Island Park & Ride. My bus shows up in 10 minutes.

Brilliant!

What a seamless ride.

Lots of Foldy Lately

2011-01-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

I'm still experimenting with my commute. I'm learning exactly how long it takes to get to the transit center. It's slightly downhill.

I'm comfortable putting foldy on the front of the bus now-- he just seemed too small to hang on, but I've seen other people do it lots of times now.

I keep an ankle band (for keeping my pants out of my chain) in my coat pocket. And earphones, which I've learned need a good push to get plugged in all the way (sorry!).

It's only 3 or 4 miles to the bus, but it's far enough to get actually soaked if it's raining. I've worn all sorts of jackets between here and there. My casual rain jacket, my orange bike commuter rain jacket, my Gore water resistant rain jacket, my yellow wind jacket..

If I feel gutsy, I wear my jeans. If it looks reliably wet, I wear "travel pants" that dry quick and pack my jeans in my bag.

And slowly emerges- a routine.

Yes, a basket!

2011-01-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, so maybe I should have gone for the bigger basket..

..but having a basket is great!

Sure, tell someone that you're getting a front basket and they'll say, "but won't it affect the handling?"

Answer: yes.

But can I deal with it?: yes.

Most loads will be much lighter than the one pictured above and adapting to the altered handling is very quick. Just like when I switch from road bike to mountain bike- it feels goofy for a minute, but my brain figures it out.

Even when I've got a heavier load-- I never ride this bike very far or up anything super steep. The grocery store is about 4 miles away.

I could easily install a rack and go the pannier route with this- but there's something nice about just setting your stuff down instead of having to pack it all up into bags. Sorta like when I had my Xtracycle. The X easily swallowed up grocery sacks without any packing.

So I like my basket! Besides, it kinda handles like a loaded touring bike when it's loaded down. And that makes me wistful. :)

It's not always peaches

2011-01-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

Whilst reading and writing bike blogs, it can be a bit too easy to wax on about riding bikes as all peaches and pie.

Oh, bike riding is so wonderful! It's so easy! So fast! You can stop and smell the roses! It's so fun! It brightens my day!

and blah, blah, blah..

but let's be real-- sometimes--

sometimes it kinda sucks.

Sometimes, you wake up extra early in the morning so that you have time to put on studded tires so that you can ride the icy roads to get to your bus stop to get to work.

While installing a tire, you pinch the tube, causing a flat. You patch it, get on with it, and ride out the door only to discover that your rushed job didn't hold.

In desperation, you grab a can of instant-flat-fix, only to let half the can foam everywhere. A third of the can finally goes in the tire. The tire pressure is low, but rideable.

About a mile down the road-- you realize that a third of a can of foam isn't going to cut it. You're flatting again and not even halfway to the bus.

You ride the flat, until finally jumping off to scamper onward-- pushing, shuffling, running. You're overdressed and sweating, worrying- will I catch my bus?

And you finally get there-- only to discover that the bus arrives 15 minutes later than anticipated. Huh.

And somehow, even on a crap ride such as that--

it still makes me happy.

What happened this year?

2010-12-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

I'm in a funny place. I'm nearly 26 years old. I graduated from college 3, almost 4 years ago. I've done this and that-- did trail maintenance on Mount Rainier for a summer, worked in a fancy restaurant, chaperoned my old college cycling team, coached a junior cycling team, went on a bicycle tour across the country with a close friend, moved back to 'Seattle' to work in a bike shop.. and I'm sorta done with dinking around. I wouldn't mind another adventure. :) The Sierra Cascades and Great Divide are on my list. But I'm done with dinking around. I've been waiting for that clear path to emerge-- for the brambles to pull away and reveal the journey I was meant for.. but I feel like I just keep whacking at bushes that keep growing back.

Meanwhile, I keep riding my bike.

JANUARY

My first mountain bike! I was spoiled-- full suspension off the bat. I took it to every local mountain bike destination I could get to.

FEBRUARY

I went to a Bike Swap for the first time! I unloaded an embarrassing amount of bike stuff-- then put my profits into a new complete set of Arkel panniers.

MARCH

Still learning how to mountain bike! Also discovered Whidbey Island as a great weekend ride. MMM-- Cappuccino!

APRIL

I really immersed myself in Seattle bike commuting-- and often used coffee as a carrot. I think I filled up a couple Stumptown punch cards. And I discovered the strange thrill of riding across I-90.

MAY

I got to visit my college town, Walla Walla, for some good, ole' fashioned wheat-field riding that made me fall in love with cycling in the first place. It was wonderfully juxtaposed by later house sitting in West Seattle, which meant riding through the industrial part of Seattle every day. Then top it off with track racing on the velodrome and some multi-modal foldy rides!

The variety of bikes I ride begins to make my head spin!

JUNE

I went for a mountain bike ride.. and ended up PARAGLIDING? Also- more track racing; steadily climbing the ranks from beginner's night to Friday Night.

JULY

First adventure race. More track. More foldy.

AUGUST

Xterra: off-road triathlon. Street Scramble: urban orienteering by bike.

SEPTEMBER

Xterra US Nationals in Utah. The Enchantments with Laura.

OCTOBER

More musing than riding. Lots of wistful map reading, but less riding. Tried cyclocross again, but ended up selling my cross bike. Losing bike steam, looking forward to orienteering season.

NOVEMBER

Tried luring myself out the door with cinnamon rolls. Sold my Long Haul Trucker, the front end of my Xtracycle. Sold full suspension frame/fork, built up steel Salsa Ala Carte! Orienteering season begins!

DECEMBER

Of course, I've acquired another bike. I just can't help it. From Craigslist, I bought an old but pristine Specialized Hardrock (Chro Mo!). After new tires, fenders, shifters, locking skewers and a basket-- it'll be ready for puttering around town and pedaling to the trail head for a mountain run!

TOMORROW

I'm moving to Issaquah!

MOUNTAIN BIKING, TRAIL RUNNING and better BIKE COMMUTING! eee!

It's even closer to the track!

So, What's in that Bag Thing of yours anyway?

2010-12-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

I've got a trunk bag. More specifically, an Arkel TailRider. I love it. And it's always on my bike.

Some people like those itty bitty bags that carry the most minimal flat kit and nothing else. That's great for a bike that you want to behave like a sports car. You wouldn't want to burden a race horse with a mule's load!

But my bike is a mule. A workhorse. And he carries my comforts and securities.

So what's in there anyway?

Well, here is a "surprise search" of the current contents of my TailRider.

First of all-- I've got a bright triangle hanging off the back of it.

The east side pocket houses my 'tool kit':

spare tube
tire levers
ginormous multi tool
temporary spoke fixer-doodle
a box filled with other doo-dads:

tire boot (temporary patch for a cut in the TIRE, not tube)
spare chain link
spare bolts
little roll of velcro
AAA batteries for my red lights

The west pocket houses the battery pack for my Down Low Glow and another spare velcro strap. Sometimes there are snacks in here, too. :)

Open it up, and the first thing you'll see are the spare clothes I decided to bring with me that day. Almost always that includes my Showers Pass rain jacket in case of a downpour. I also like a second set of gloves in case I over/underestimated the weather or if my first pair get soaked. Sometimes I might even have a spare hat, booties, or some other layer of clothing.

Under that, I keep a bus schedule and maps. Even though I have an iPhone, it's nice to have a hard copy so I don't rely on cell towers and battery life.

Oh! And my pump is in there, too-- to complete my tool kit.

In the lil' side mesh pockets are other treasures-- like snacks and a copy of my health insurance card.

I don't have a chain guard, so I have these metal bands to keep my jeans out of the way of the chain. They're quick and a bit more casual looking than the yellow velcro sort.

Chamois butter! Or anti-chafe lotion for your butt. Sometimes reapplication is necessary, so these lil' packets are handy.

And of course, PLAYING CARDS. For when you meet up with a friend at a coffee shop and you feel like a few rounds of Gin Rummy.

OTHER THINGS I'VE CARRIED:

Spare front flashing light. *I rely on my rechargeable light most of the time, but I've had an AA-battery-operated light in my bag for back-up.
More snacks. Clif Bloks or Fun Size Snickers bars.
CO2 cartridge & applicator-- I have a sizable pump for infinite air, but sometimes in the rain, dark, or sketchy neighborhood-- it's nice to fix a flat faster.

Is this a gross over use of the Hipstamatic iPhone app? Yes, but I lost my Photoshop in my hard drive crash-- so bear with me!

The Hide-a-Bike Makes an Appearance

2010-12-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

Alright, what is this "cheap bike whose purpose is to lock in the woods while out on a trail run" you speak of?

And why don't you just spray paint it so it looks less attractive and steal-able?

Because it's SO PRETTY! :)

This bike rocks. I can tell already.

And it doesn't even have its front rack/basket yet.

The Point is to be Cheap

2010-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

So I got this new used cheap bike.

It's a Craiglist bike. Steel rigid. Purple. I paid $80 for it.

I put on new tires, new pedals, new brake pads and soon- new brake/shifter levers. And a Wald front basket/rack with struts.

As I'm picking around the store (I work in a bike shop), I ask, "these tires or these ones?" I hear, "well, isn't the point of your bike to be cheap?" "Yeah, well, but," "then I'd choose the cheap ones."

"These pedals or these ones?" "Well, isn't the point of your bike to be cheap? You don't want anything desirable looking on there." "Yeah, well, but" "then I'd choose the cheap ones."

ARG!

Choosing cheap is not my natural impulse.

Bikes-- it's like they grow on trees!

2010-12-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

So, it's kinda funny.

I just weaned my bike corral from 6 down to 4.. and now I have another one. Sigh.

It's just inevitable.

(...here comes the justification...)

But THIS bike is the "cheap bike." The bike that's cheap enough to get stolen without causing a heart attack.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm moving to Issaquah!-- which means I am just miles if not meters away from all sorts of awesome trailheads. (eeeeee!!) Of course, I want to ride my bike to the trailhead! But that means stashing my bike in the woods.

So this is the Wood Stashing Bike. Could also do double-duty as Lock Up At Bike Stop Bike and after I put a big front rack/basket, it could even be the Town Bike. Who knows!

But it is oh, so charming. Like a mutt at the pound. Photos coming..

And for the record, I own:

Trek 520 ........................(road touring, my all around bike)
Salsa Ala Carte .............(rigid mountain, for off-road adventures)
Dahon Speed D7 ..........(folding, for multi-modal commutes)
Masi Coltello ................(track, for racing at the velodrome!)

and now..

5. the Wood Stasher :)

ISSAQUAH

2010-12-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

Many of the excuses that people come up with for not riding a bike are easy to defeat:

It's rainy. (Wear a jacket.)

It's too far. (Take a bus partway.)

I don't want to wear lycra. (You don't have to.)

And so on.

But one excuse is hard to deal with: the place in which I live is not friendly to bicycles.

I wouldn't tell someone to ride down a four lane arterial and enjoy it. Bicycling is supposed to be FUN.

The town I currently live in isn't the best for bicycles. But I was a cyclist before I came here, I have good traffic skills and I am determined to escape the suburban mess and find peace on a far-away squiggly road. But it's a fight to get out. I feel like there are parts I have to "endure" in order to reach the "good stuff."

And while I live where I live for financial (and other) reasons-- I found that saving some money does less for my happiness than really great bike ride starting from the front door.

I'm moving to Issaquah!

View Larger Map

Lookatthat! Cougar MOUNTAIN, Squak MOUNTAIN, Tiger MOUNTAIN, Oh MY!

Oh, and there's also Grand Ridge, Duthie Hill and Soaring Eagle-- all of which I can bike TO, no car required!

Oh, and the Lake Sammamish trail and the Iron Horse that'll take you all the way to Eastern Washington.

And the local brewery serves locally brewed Rogue beer.

WHAT?!

Petite Sweet, Arlington

2010-12-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

I'M EYEING YOU!!

..next time. When I go for a longer ride.. that whole wheat cinnamon roll is MINE.

But this time,

Oatmeal raisin cookies!

And hot coffee to swig it down.

The best winter ride motivator: halfway cookies!

Mural Tour

2010-12-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

My dad and I were riding along the streets of Arlington, when-- whah? Hey! --gotta pull over!

MURAL! Both sides of the street.

One side featured the local river- each scene melting in the next.

Even the park benches melted a bit, too.

On the other side-- Washington's diverse landscapes from mountains, to forests, to ocean!

Including the little stuff- like these little purple fungi thingies I love finding in the forest!:

Washington- we've got it all. Trees green year 'round, ferns bigger'n you-- mountains, rivers, volcanoes, rain forests-- dry on the other side, rolling with wheat-- go the other way and: OCEAN!

There were more murals in town, too!

BEAT THAT TRAIN!

Smartwool Neck Gaiter: FAVORITE WINTER ITEM!

2010-12-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

This Smartwool Neck Gaiter is my current favorite cycling accessory. I don't know what I did before this little tube of brilliance! Necks are SENSITIVE and catch a lot of cold breeze stickin' out there like that!

This simple accessory makes a BIG difference in my comfort level.

It's not tight, so it doesn't feel constricting. (And I HATE constricting. Ask my mom. I always took my jackets off as a child.) But it's snug enough that you can pull it up over your chin or nose if you need to. If you pull it up and combine it with a headband or beanie-- you can create a 'balaclava' effect, without being totally committed to wearing a balaclava. And I don't like being committed to the clothing I'm wearing.

I'll be wearing this thing fall to spring!

Whitman Cycling: Most Improved Woman

2010-11-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

As a freshman on the Whitman College Cycling Team, I was chubby, fresh off of knee surgery, and bore relentless enthusiasm. That summer, I entered a stage race so over my head that the race organizers let me start an hour early. (Then it became more of a stage RIDE than RACE, I guess). But that didn't budge my enthusiasm one bit. I was a happy clam! I was riding my BIKE!

By the time my sophomore season rolled around, I was 4 pant sizes smaller (14 to a 6). My goal was never to lose weight. It would take me an HOUR to eat enough breakfast to make it to mid-morning snack. I just really, REALLY loved riding my bike.

That spring, I made it onto our Nationals squad-- and we won the women's team time trial, the team omnium, podium'd our girls in the criterium and Mara won the road race.

At the year-end team party, I was awarded a skin suit to recognize my vast improvement.

So to the next Most Improved Woman on the Whitman College Cycling Team:

SMITH PIVLOCKS!

Just keep riding!

Surly Long Haul Trucker $650

2010-11-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

FOR SALE!: EDIT: SOLD!! Glad to know that this bike will be touring the Pacific Coast!

Happy tours, my ol' friend!

I rode this Surly Long Haul Trucker with an Xtracycle kit for about a year (March 2008-May 2009) when I was living in Walla Walla. It was AWESOME.

But-

Ever since I left to go on a cross-country tour on my Trek 520 (June 2009) then moved to Seattle-- it has been parked, unused.. shivering.. wanting happy legs to pump it over hill and dale. My 520 has been getting all the action because it's what fits on the bus.

So I've detached the Xtracycle (which will go to my pregnant sister! Yay!) and offer you this rad touring-commuting-adventure steed for a good deal and to a good home.

Size 50cm frame, fits about 5'3" to 5'6". I'm 5'4". My 5"6" friend got the same size. Really it depends on your proportions. The top tube is longer compared to other touring bikes, which is how my taller friend ended up on the same frame size as me. I've put a stumpy stem on it, because I assume this bike will go to a shorter person.

Custom build. All parts were picked out piece by piece.

HAND-BUILT WHEELS!

26" wheels, too! Stronger for their size, little or no toe-overlap, and a lot more tire choices!

Go street or knobby! (OR STUDDED! ;)

CLEAN AND READY TO GO!

FRESH BAR TAPE!

SHIMANO 105 DERAILLEUR

AVID CANTI'S WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP ME ON MY LOADED XTRACYCLE!

DEORE XT HUBS (HAND BUILT WHEELS!)

CANE CREEK HEAD SET

I SPENT SOME TIME SCRATCHING OFF THE TOP TUBE LOGO

(It's on TOP of the clear coat)

Sticker over it or keep scratchin'!

SPOKE HOLDER!

DOUBLE BUTTED 4130 CHRO-MO!

The only real dings on this bike are where the Xtracycle attached to the frame on the kickstand/fender bridge. You'll end up clamping the same spot if you use a kickstand anyway.

Dab a little nailpolish- and TA DA: not a big deal.

So get a Surly LHT that spec'd a bit nicer than Surly's full build, with stronger hand-built wheels and only been ridden for a year-- for $650.

Available to see in Bellevue, WA. NO SHIPPING. Cash only.

Thanks!

And do pass along to potentially interested friends!

The Adventure Errand

2010-11-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

Ah, yes-- it's been too long since I've had the chance to bike to the grocery store and surprise a cashier. So when icy streets prevented my mom from driving to the grocery, I quickly volunteered to ride!

Rolling down the neighborhood streets, a woman calls out--

"You be careful out there!"

"It's okay, I've got STUDS!"

" !! Oh! ha ha ha!"

I carried a 12 pound turkey, another 10 pounds of potatoes, and while I was there-- I thought I might as well grab some winter ale, too.

And YES, all the parts of my Safire have been transferred to a Salsa Ala Carte and Surly Instigator Fork! More on that soon..

Instead of driving and stressing out about getting a car stuck or struck-- I just hopped on my bike and had a ton of fun!

..Though studded tires, hydraulic disc brakes, mountain gearing and a sweet steel mountain frame did make it EXTRA enjoyable. :)

Riding to the Shot

2010-11-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

My camera and my bike are truly intertwined.

I was riding and I was riding and I was riding-- and it wasn't "a RIDE" until..

..until I got a shot.

Okay, it's a Ride now.

A glowing tree..

A distant pasture..

That was a RIDE.

Evening ride with mom and dad.

2010-11-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

There are definitely enough bikes in the house for a family ride!

A chilly, but beautiful time of day.

We saw eagles soaring over the lake.

This scene accessible from our local Centennial Trail!

Enjoy autumn bicycling!

Rain Ride

2010-11-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

I paced around the house all morning-- and finally, I just suited up and did it. Rode in the rain.

I knew the wet wouldn't bother me once I got moving. Actually, I knew it would be fabulous-- peeking out beneath a cycling cap, rain dripping down my cheeks, my legs warm and resilient.

And I would punctuate the halfway point with a hot coffee and a treat. Ride home. And slip into some dry jammies for the rest of the day.

I dare say, rain can make a ride even more refreshing.

*The photo of the cookie n coffee is foggy due to the condition of my camera at the time. I found that it also reflected my own condition. :)

Nature's Tripod

2010-11-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

Because not EVERY timed-self-portrait should be taken from bug's-eye-view.. sometimes you need nature's tripod:

Riding into the Zone

2010-11-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

Due to culture, infrastructure and who knows what else-- Snohomish County can be a strange place to be a cyclist. The country roads are attractive-- but then a black SUV buzzes you and leaves you frightened instead of meditative. The key to good riding is just getting farther and farther out of town.

Today, these are the zones I experienced:

Zone 1: Suburbia

Zone 2: High volume, 2-lane highway

Zone 3: Quiet, wide, separated bike path

Zone 4: Country roads and ugly motorists

Zone 5: Beautiful country roads and less motorists

Zone 6: Quiet, beautiful, narrow country road..

and that's this:

Next up is Zone 7: Gravel fire road.

But soon.. I'll be moving to a place in King County where I can get to Zone 5 immediately and Zone 8: Singletrack, real quick! YES!!

Mid-ride Cinnamon Roll

2010-11-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

I had been craving a mid or post-ride, ooey-gooey cinnamon roll for weeks! Late at night, I'd tap at my laptop keys, searching, SEARCHING for that "BEST CINNAMON ROLL EVER."

And here's my first discovery: the Snohomish Pie Company makes cinnamon rolls!

While their pies looked ready to floor me-- there is no fighting a craving. So for 5 bucks, I had me a warmed cinnamon roll and diner coffee. And it was.. pretty good. It satisfied my craving, but it wasn't a bull's eye. It should've been a little hotter. The gooey center was delightful enough to make me pause, but what gooey cinnamon center wouldn't? The bread was lacking-- just a little too stale on the outside, and lacking that bold, yeasty flavor that I like. And I prefer pecans. So it was good, it was worth it, but just not super-amazing.

Winter is a great time to warm up mid-ride with a pastry reward-- so I just might embark on a quest this winter for:

the perfect mid/post-ride cinnamon roll!!

SUGGESTIONS??

Deadwater Slough

2010-11-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

Steel fingers, running out of (into?) the city, slithering through the slough.

More will come.

They are but roadways for water,

such as the roadways for motor vehicles,

on which I ride.

The vehicles don't like me there,

and they bully me.

But my blood pressure is lower than theirs.

My heart pumps stronger than theirs.

Foldy Fits (some more)

2010-11-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

Foldy Fits

2010-11-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

When you need to grab a quick burger before the show-- foldy fits.

When you gotta park 'im in your friend's apartment-- foldy fits.

And when there's no bike rack, but only the trunk of the car-- foldy fits!

2010 EcoVelo Photo Contest Entry

2010-11-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

Over at EcoVelo, Alan just wrapped up his annual photo contest-- with an incredible prize list, including a Civia Midtown as top prize!

This was my entry:

When I hop on a bike, it’s like stepping into my very own secret room where my very best invisible friend lives. Even when the world seems like a terrible and lonely place– my bike is there to hold me, and say, “it’s okay, you’ll feel better. Just keep riding.” And I keep riding.

And we ride until all my frenzied thoughts float away like shiny red balloons– up, up and away– away from us. Together we are lighter and we fly. We fly over the land and feel it inside of us– feel the rollers roll in us, the ascents ascend in us and there is a unity between the earth, the air and us– creating a marvelous, euphoric energy. And I keep riding.

Jamis Supernova Cyclocross Bike For Sale - $950

2010-10-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

EDIT: SOLD!!

Glad to know that a young person will have many happy miles on this!

In an effort to thin my stable of bikes..

A 2008 frameset that retailed for $1000, + Ultegra and Easton Circuit SL wheels.. $950.

Size 48cm (fits ~ 5'3" to 5'5", roughly. I'm 5'4".)

Only one season of cyclocross on it-- plus some adventuresome road miles and commuting. But I mostly ride my Trek 520-- as you will discover if you read the rest of this blog. :)

The rims are showing wear, but still have another wet season or two before needing a rebuild. The bearings were recently replaced.

Also comes with Shimano SPD pedals (probably M540?) and a 46t FSA chainring (currently has 50, for a road set-up. Use the 46 for off-road).

This bike also features a slanted, flat underside on the top tube-- perfect for shouldering it!

Whether cyclocross racing or just getting your bike up the stairs-- it's comfy!

Comes with "grass" tires.

For another $50, you can also have some Michelin Mud tires (half off retail!).

One unused, one hardly used!

This bike is great for the indecisive-- the jack and jill of all-trades.

A great starter bike for someone wanting to crack into road cycling; a nice, light racer for someone who wants to try cyclocross; or a quick and capable commuter for someone who wants to ride to work!

Can you pick me up later?

2010-10-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

I had the option to be picked up at the bus station, but I asked to be picked up closer to home--

so I could ride just a little bit more.

Having SUPER bright lights, enables me to really enjoy night riding. Having confidence that I can see and be seen, I can relax and enjoy sleepy roads. I'm riding in a place I've been before, but it's wholly different. Looks different, sounds different, feels different on my face. It's exciting.

My whole sensation of movement-- is like those scenes in movies when the background blurs, sound dampens and echos, and a hyper-awareness occurs. I can get that anytime of day on my bike, but the darkness only lends to it-- cuts the distractions until it's just me and my bike, pumping along.

Wednesday Ride with Dad

2010-10-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Getting some miles in with my dad.

He got his bike just this fall and has ridden it pretty regularly to work. After seeing my dad's shiny roadster, someone from the shop next door decided HE needed a shiny roadster. I wonder if that guy is still riding his roadster..

Meanwhile-- I like riding with my dad on Wednesdays.

We're lucky to live so close to a great trail!

And we were lucky to have such a sun-shiny Wednesday!

Cool air.

We practiced a bit of drafting.

I kept cracking the whip because we both had buses to catch!

Maybe I'll use that reason more often.. heh heh.

Maps are Hope

2010-10-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

The way people read books for pleasure is the way I read maps.

I spend time curled up with them on the couch or daydreaming on a bus.

I examine all the little symbols and translate them into thoughts, questions, musings.

This thin, squiggly line must be a peaceful road.. with wet deciduous trees that hush the wind and shake little plump droplets onto your face. The road might be narrow, winding and steep. I could feel powerful as I rock my bike back and forth, ascending. I might puff white wisps of carbon dioxide into the air, ears red and legs warm.

There could be darling houses and old architecture. A bakery that has the BEST cinnamon rolls.

When I look at maps-- I see the potential of all that could be.

Maps to me, are hope.

Because hope is having grounds to believe that something good will happen.

New Hard Drive!

2010-10-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

My MacBook came back from the doctor with a new battery and hard drive! Good thing is that my computer is as good as new! Bad thing is that my computer is as good as new! None of my stuff is on it. Doh.

(No, it's not backed up. Yes, I know. I'm going back to the Genius Bar to see if they can still get it.)

So I can't show you the TOTALLY COOL PHOTOS I got from a bike commute the other day.

I shall rely on my words.

So I was out riding my Trek 520 , my trusty touring bike, from Seattle to Bellevue. It's a chilly and humid morning in Seattle. I flip my super bright lights on to flash mode. I FLY down, down, down Fremont. Well, that's a bit of a lie-- I laid on my brakes, down, down, Fremont and was happy at each stoplight that my brakes are awesome. Then I chugga-chugga up and down Dexter. OH MY GOODNESS! Seattle has so many bike commuters! We are passing each other and clumping at stop lights.

Then I was in downtown Seattle. Gray sky, gray ground, gray buildings-- red jacket. I am feeling very fashionable and comfortable in my Gore jacket. It's a sharp, mature look, notably missing the litter of sponsor names I would wear in college.

So I am in downtown Seattle-- pumpin' up and down one-way streets, changing lanes and following sharrows until I am bursting up Pine. I pull over at Stumptown to check the time and de-layer a bit. I am pressed for time, so I resist the cappuccino.

Up and down, up and down, I swoop through Madrona's posh an' quaint main street until I am rattling down to the water, carefully keeping my ever-increasing speed in check. I am focused on finding a smooth path down, void of cracks and holes. I am pumping and feathering the brakes, my butt behind the saddle, my cheeks wonderfully cold, fall air in my lungs, sweat vaporizing and my vision pans up off the concrete to see the water--

...wow.

{insert picture here!}

Lemme tell you-- it was great. Hardly a distinction between water and sky-- just a white abyss and the Bellevue skyline pushing through it. My destination presented as a fantastical place.

It just wouldn't have been the same from the interior of a car-- warm air blowing, music bopping, heart rate resting. It would have been a disconnected and split-second observation.

I love riding my bike.

A Stop in Boise

2010-10-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

On the way to Xterra US Nationals in Utah, we stopped in Boise, Idaho.

Wow, Boise is one well kept secret!

Walk 100 paces from the edge of town-- and you will bump into a rad trail system. It's not a solitary getaway and it's not swarming with people either-- but it is well appreciated.

While waiting around in the parking lot, I watched a man trot down off the hillside, across the street and into town. He likely started his run right from his front door.

Look one way to see downtown..

..look the other way to see mountain bike bliss!

I stopped by the local mountain/bike shop to get a trail recommendation--

the woman we spoke with was so enthusiastic about Boise, she said,

"seriously, just move here."

I'd consider it.

A Stop in Walla

2010-10-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

On my way to Xterra US Nationals in Ogden, Utah-- we stopped over in Walla Walla, WA, my college town. I was a dedicated road racer in college and I stayed in Walla every collegiate summer because I just could not. stop. riding. I had to see every road Walla had to offer. Though I know there are still more I haven't seen.

So given a slice of time in the morning to take a jaunt on the mountain bike-- I headed down Lone Fir. Except this time, I had 2.0 and 2.2" Captain Control mtb tires-- not 23mm race slicks.

One of my favorite vistas.

I was possibly "over biking" the gravel roads; but hey, I had a race to stay fresh for.

First time I've ridden a mountain bike in Walla Walla.

I eagerly steered my tires into a pit of mud, only to find it was more like clay.

Lesson learned!

How Xterra US Nationals Went

2010-09-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

Finally. My toes grip the boat ramp and my eyes suck into my goggles. I'm at Xterra US Nationals, watching the camera crew fly by in the helicopter.

ka-PLOW! Championships call for CANONS, not guns.

The frenzy-- so many bodies!-- the cold--

**GAAAASP!!!**

THE COLD. #GASP!gasp#GASP!gasp#GASP!gasp#GASP

Okay, it's okay-- just calm down. You're excited. Just breast stroke and get your breath back. Put your face back in the water..

#GASP!!!!!!! gasp#GASP!gasp#GASP!#GASP!!

My breath isn't coming back! What is this? Altitude? The cold water?

I try my face in the water again--##GAAAAASP!!!## Is my suit tightening up? What is this feeling?

The field charges away. I am the lonely duckling-- gasping, back stroking, wondering what is happening, digressing, surviving, focusing, breathing. Volunteer kayakers take a special interest in me and paddle alongside. One suggests I swim more horizontally.

Panic suppressed, I approach the shore for the first time just as the pro field laps me. Their greek bodies are born from wetsuits. For the first time, I am able to put my face in the water without gasping and I swim the second lap as I wished my first had gone.

Then, thankfully, the swim is done. I wobble up the boat ramp to the transition area.

Bike rack lane one, two.. my bike should be riiiight.. riiight.. WHEREISMYBIKE?!

DAMN IT, whereismybike?!!

Oh, where is my bike? Please--

Oh. Yes. I am in the wrong section. My bike is over there-- all alone. Clearly-- there is my bike.

Dry feet, pull on socks, shoes, spray sunscreen, food in mouth, drink water, helmet/glasses, stuff food in pockets, Camelbak, gloves, get out of there!

Oh, thank goodness I'm on my bike. I know how to ride a bike. I can breathe on my bike. I pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal. I pass, get passed, pass, get passed. There is climbing and single track, double track, polite competitors-- "can I pass whenever it's safe?"

Rocky, dry, double track climbing. The forest closes in-- single track climbing, white barked trees, red leaves sprinkle the ground like a contrived painting of fall, but it's not contrived-- it's REAL and it's ridiculous. Climb, climb, climb. Thousands of feet we climb.

Oh my goodness! A downhill! SWOOP, SWOOP, SWOOP. I love mountain biking. I am glee, I am zone, I am mountain bike.

Oh my goodness, we're climbing again.

Climb, climb, climb, climb, climb.

I can hear the music from the transition zone! I am close!

No, I am going away.

The sounds disappear.

And I am climbing.

Climbing, climbing, pushing-- I am pushing my mountain bike.

I am exhausted and I am CRASHING my mountain bike. For no good reason, I crash me and my mountain bike. Twice.

I am stiffly, cautiously, drunkenly steering through switchbacks and I am surviving my mountain bike.

Please, please, please, let this leg be over.

More climbing.

And then, TRANSITION ZONE!

OHMYGOODNESS! TRANSITION ZONE! I AM SO EXCITED! ADRENALINE!!!! TRANSITION ZOOOONE!!!!

Whip on my shoes, Oops! shoulda drank more water, I prance out of there and--

more climbing.

I march.

I alternate: jog, shuffle, march. Jog, shuffle, march. Oo-- pretty butterfly. Jog, shuffle, march. It is GORGEOUS up here. Jog, shuffle, march. "Trail running is fun, even when you're slow," I think. Jog, shuffle, march. #FALL!!# Jog, shuffle--

And eventually--

I finish. In four and a half hours.

Beat, but alive.

I feel alive.

Why I went to Xterra US Nationals

2010-09-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

I went to Xterra* US Nationals.

*Xterra is an off-road triathlon: swim, mountain bike, trail run.

It's sorta funny how it happened. I tried Xterra Black Diamond on a whim. Ended up at Xterra Portland by accident. And I qualified* for Nationals by surprise.

*(it's not terribly difficult to qualify, as Xterra is still a small sport).

Many people who qualify for Nationals don't actually go to Nationals.

So why did I go to Nationals?

Did I think that I could win my age group? Maybe if I had a REALLY great day.

Did I think I could place in my age group? Maybe if I had a really GOOD day.

Did I think that it would be really fun, expanding experience? Absolutely; even on a slow day.

I had a slow day; but I still loved it. One of the hardest athletic things I've done juxtaposed in some of the most eye-popping landscape on which I've had the privilege to lay tire tracks.

Totally awesome.

Enchantments

2010-09-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

The way I see it-- I didn't have a choice.

The Enchantments. THE Enchantments. Of COURSE I was going to go see the ENCHANTMENTS.

She fingered the map, "the way to go is up to this lake, then over Aasgard pass.." and through the Enchantments.

That's not an offer to refuse.

It's only a 20 mile day hike. And Aasgard only gains 2000' in a mile. And much of it isn't so much "trail" as it is "path across boulders."

But whatever. I was going to see the Enchantments with Laura. It'd be a whole day of Laura time in some of Washington's most treasured landscape.

Of course, the miles added up and I wobbled and hobbled more and more as the day went on. Laura was patient. And kept us on schedule. Even when my shoes turned to cheese graters, we had to race the light-- so no picnics and few pictures. But it was awesome. I'm ridiculously sore. And the big blister will go away.

To Fans-- Thank You

2010-09-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months, I've had a couple drop-offs in posting. A few weeks here and there where An Adventure Called Bicycling was silent.

Each time, I received one or several e-mails from regular readers. Some told me why they like my style, or how certain posts inspired them. Some went further and just asked that I keep posting!

So to all those fans of this little bike blog that have sent me notes of thanks or encouragement-- thanks. I read them. Several times. And it keeps me posting.

Wenatchee

2010-09-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Wenatchee has..

GRAVEL MOUNTAIN!

TA-DAA!

LAURA

FREE CHAIRS

AND SAGE BRUSH.

It's been a long while since I've ridden a quiet ribbon of chip-seal- with so many organic textures and colors to woo me. And far too long since I've had company on a ride.

I'm looking forward to finally kitting up for a team in the fall. No allegiances have been signed quite yet. Right now I'm focusing on Xterra US Nationals on Sept. 25, then: CYCLOCROSS!!

The Masi Hibernates for the Winter

2010-09-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

Time to hang up the track bike, this summer on the velodrome has come to an end.

In my first season on the track, I've gone from the mandatory beginner's class to winning cash primes under Friday Night lights.

I rode aggressively, stupidly, patiently, impatiently, with snap, courage and enthusiasm.

And it's GREAT cross-training for Xterra and cyclocross!

A Progression

155 = Thurs Night # -- for beginners

678 = Weds Night # -- as a Category 4 Woman

807 = Weds Night # -- with the Category 4 Men

126 = Friday Night # -- as a 3 with the 1/2/3's

Bronze = 3rd in State Championship Scratch Race

Bronze = 3rd in State Championship Points Race

Xterra Portland

2010-09-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

Just weeks previous to Xterra Portland, I raced my first Xterra (off-road triathlon) in Black Diamond, WA. I raced just to participate, finish, and investigate how the distance felt-- then I unexpectedly won my (albeit small) age group.

So at Xterra Portland, in a bigger field-- I was there to turn up the heat! Unfortunately, I really DID get heated up!

SWIM: I remembered the wetsuit this time! My swim split was a whole 6 minutes faster.

BIKE: Oh, my-- the transition zone always gives you a zap of adrenaline! I went busting out of there determined to NOT be overly courteous and complacent about passing. I just passed, passed, passed, passed, passed, --whoa, BREATHE--, passed, passed, passed.. then when I figured I had to be leading my age group, I yanked the reins. WhooAAAAA. Don't forget about the run, pal!

RUN: Turns out, as soon as I left the woods for the run-- KAplow!! 95 degrees. Oh my goodness. At Black Diamond, I hit the run feeling springy. After churning my legs up and down the faster and less technical mountain leg, I was not treated to this luxury. AND-- I was dehydrated to boot. I jogged, I shuffled, I took walking breaks, then for the second half of the run-- I took a big, continuous walking break. I knew that if I ran, I could put myself into REAL trouble. And my mom was there, so I thought it better to not end up in an ambulance. I flew a white flag of surrender. Get me to the finish!

Turns out, I developed enough buffer on the bike leg-- that I held onto 2nd in my age group! Hey, cool!

And now.. *cough*..

I'm going to Xterra US Nationals in Ogden, Utah.

Yeah, more on that to come. ;)

Getting to Xterra Portland

2010-08-31T23:54:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience at Xterra Black Diamond. It was my first off-road triathlon.

At the end of my lil' play-by-play, I noted that I'd soon attend Xterra Portland. WELL. I didn't tell ya' how I got there!

It began at Xterra Black Diamond. I was packing up my gear in the transition zone, listening to the race director announce awards and raffles, when he says--

"First athlete to run to the lake and back gets free entry to Xterra Portland!"

We looked at each other. Is he seri-- wher-- He-- um,--

"First athlete to run to the lake and back gets free entry to Xterra Portland!"

SPRINT! sprint/sprint/oh!I'magonnamakeit/I'mgonnamakeit/awwww, I didn't make it.

Here's a box of Gu for your hard effort. *Sigh.

Walk back to my stuff in the transition zone. Resume packing up.

"First athlete to run around transition gets [SPRINT!} free entry [sprint/sprint] into Xterra [sprint/ohmy..] Portland [legs wobble like jello! Keep GOING!!! The crowd is cheering for you!!]"

Aw. I got passed in the end by the dude who won the men's race.

"Wait, come back here-- he already has free entry because he won the race. What's your e-mail address?"

..and then so I went to Xterra Portland. :)

Everybody Scrambles

2010-08-31T22:28:00.000-07:00

When I was in college and got super hooked on bike racing-- it was the diversity of the team that kept me going. Some kids were still too nervous to grab their water bottle while riding while others signed pro contracts. It meant that there was a place for everybody.

That's what I like about Street Scrambles and orienteering events in general-- they're for everybody.

Here's a sampling of folks from the Night and Day Street Scramble that took place in Seattle on a warm July evening:

Go to WWW.STREETSCRAMBLE.COM to check it out!

The next Scramble is Sunday, September 26 in Fremont!

Touring Scratchwork

2010-08-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

*In the summer of 2009, my friend Mia and I rode across the country on the TransAmerica Trail.

While on a bike tour, a note pad is a handy thing to keep in your handlebar bag. You'll want to write down the addresses of people you meet to send them postcards, grocery lists, mileage math, to-do lists and more.

This (above) is from the day I went to bed feeling a little queasy-- then Mia looked at me and said, "do you know what you ATE today?" So we scratched it out. That funnel cake really did me in-- especially when preceded by 2 donuts, a cinnamon roll and all that soda! OOF! You really CAN overdo it while on tour!

We took 1 day off each week-- in part to rest, in part to just catch up on chores and To-Do's. Chores can take a surprising amount of time-- there's no way I ticked off everything on this list!

Mileage math. I am often asked how to figure out mileage for a bike tour. Well.. you gotta figure out how much you can reasonably ride in a day. REASONABLY. Don't overestimate!! Both Mia and I have backgrounds as racers, with some national success at that, but we both felt a bit body-checked after our first few days on the road. WHOA. We can't ride 22mph anymore. More like.. 12.

We soon figured out that we could count on 10mph (including stops for food, bathroom) to figure out how far we'd be going that day. In a typical week, we'd average 63 miles/day, including our 1 day off. So we'd ride 45, 65, 85miles/day and 300-400 miles/week. We never learned to get up super early, so we never rode more than 85 miles in a day. With 2 more morning hours, we could have broken 100. With touring, it's not about being fast on the road-- it's just the time you spend on the road.

You've also got to accept that weather and terrain will have a huge influence over your plans. We tried making plans to meet up with a friend of ours in Idaho.. and ended up arriving 24hours later than anticipated. Thunderstorms, mountains, headwinds, flat tires, chaffing thighs, brutal sun.. there are a lot of things that can slow you down!

Remember-- you're not just out for a bike ride and will be back home in a few hours.. you are LIVING on the road!

So-- don't get too cocky when planning out your mileage. You might feel comfortable hopping out of bed and whipping out 60-80 miles on your carbon fiber road bike.. but try 55 miles on your steel rig, with Marathon Plus tires and 40-50 pounds of extra gear/food/water, making an 80-90 pound boat to steer up the mountain pass instead of a 17 pound whip.

If I were to do the math for my next multi-month tour, I'd plan an average of 55 miles/day (knowing that this includes the 1 day off/week) instead of 65. I'd ride earlier in the morning and have more time to relax in the afternoon. Even if I rode farther/faster, it's good to have some 'buffer' days for unexpected delays or opportunities-- like that shredded tire or blue grass festival.

For tours a month or less, I'd be tempted to plan a higher average-- but I'd use the extra time to smell the flowers.

My Dad's New Bike!

2010-08-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

GO, DAD!!

That's a new Trek Portland!

On which he will be riding to work!

Street Scramble

2010-08-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I participated in the Night and Day Challenge (the 3 hour course)-- which is a Street Scramble event. Street Scramble is an urban orienteering series-- you get a map labeled with point-valued checkpoints, and you walk, run or bike around the city finding as many as you can before the time cut-off. It's quite a fun way to see both a new city or your own backyard that you thought you knew!

For this event, maps were issued at 2:30pm and a mass start began at 4. So you had 90 minutes to plan out your route around the city for 90 minutes, 3 hours, 7 hours or 16 hours of adventure!

And truly-- your Scramble experience is WHATEVER you'd like it to be! You can run far and fast, or walk and push a stroller.

So just to prove a point..

I got a latte during my hunt.

See? You can do whatever you want!

#9-- this was one check point that sat atop..

Yes-- I climbed the cobbles up the Queen Anne hill.

Another checkpoint-- how many flags at the Fun Park?

Xterra - The Story

2010-08-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

In words, how did Xterra go?

Well, to start-- my two pals Jess and Elly brought me to Black Diamond! (THANK YOU!!) I need to get them "Support Crew" or "Cheerleading Squad" shirts, because they're always there to shout at me... though they went hiking that day instead-- and if you saw their pictures, you wouldn't blame them.

But my parents soon arrived, and were troopers in the transition zone-- taking pictures, video, smiling and waving each time I came through. We all had our age written on our right calf, so they had fun guessing people's ages as they ran by!

Oh, but I forgot the wetsuit that my friend Teal had lent me. D*MN! I was really looking forward to the buoyancy and slippery seal speed. And just looking bad ass.

So I swam in my sports bra and bike shorts, which worked fine, though it (or I) was a bit slow. I stayed calm in the water (it's easy to get all excited and thrash) and was VERY excited to reach each bright buoy that marked the swim course. We swam to a teeny tiny island, manned by a girl in a hawaiian skirt and a volleyball that resembled Tom Hanks' friend Wilson, ran across it, then back into water. I have to say-- it was a great opportunity to wipe the snot off my face.

I've grown much fonder of swimming than I ever was-- but BOY was I glad to see my bike!

I've never actually raced my mountain bike, so it was neat to rip around the course and keep pushing. No photo breaks!

I was a bit too shy about passing people, or maybe too complacent to sit on their wheel-- but after I had to stop and readjust my saddle (the nose flopped up so that I looked like a freestyler!), it lit a fire under my bum and I had to really scoot to make up time. I also had NO idea what "15 miles" really meant on a mountain bike, but now I do!

After mobbing down the open stretches, looking gallant for the photographers and bumping along the rest-- I approached the transition zone once more.

Oh.. I still had 6 miles to run. Hmm. I don't really run all that often except when orienteering/adventure racing, soo..

my legs felt GREAT!

I know, right? Legs feel AWFUL after sitting in exact same position, spinning the exact same cadence in the exact same motion on a road bike. But a mountain bike? Heck, you're all over the place on that thing! My legs were FRESH!

Well, perhaps "fresh" is too strong a term. My legs felt better than worse.

I was a bit apprehensive, though-- because I had no idea what 6 miles would do to me. Turns out-- I just had a blast! I only really trotted along.. then I would see a rabbit, accelerate, stop a moment to "draft," that I would ATTACK and zip around them, ensuring that they wouldn't tag on. While I throughly enjoy "chicking" the men (at that point, I had them beat by 5 minutes, as they started ahead of the women), I kept hoping that the next person I'd see would be a woman, to claw my way up the rankings. I never started with competitive intentions, but, you know, why not?

Also-- why do people run on pavement? That just seems stupid. Trail running is about 10,000 times better.

Then the finish came, sooner than I ever thought it would, and I opened it up down the finish stretch, happy to complete my first OFF-ROAD triathlon.

And then-- OH! Ohhhhhhhhh...

OWWWWWW.

Yeah, I had forgotten how my hands had been cramping since the swim, my shoulders clenched and throbbed, and little zings went shooting up my lower back. So I laid down. Happy.

I'll be doing the Portland Xterra on August 14!

Xterra Black Diamond - Photos in Transition

2010-08-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Setting up in the transition zone.

RED BAG: swim

BROWN BAG: bike

GREEN BAG: run

PURPLE BAG: schwag bag

The set up.

Wipe feet > put on socks > shoes > helmet > glasses > gloves > jersey > swig water > and GO!

Oops! I forgot to bring the wetsuit.

Swim > Bike

Bike > Run > FINISH!

REALLY, finished.

Sweet reward!

Tri List

2010-07-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

Orca shorts
Sports bra
Goggles
Swim cap
Body Glide
Chamois Butt'r
Wetsuit
Towel
Jersey
Food
Water
Gloves
Glasses
Helmet
Number belt
Sidis
Socks
Bike
Flat kit, tools
Running shoes
Visor
Cooler
More food, water

Foldy fold fold.

2010-07-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

Outside,

inside,

and on the bus.

Foldy goes anywhere!

Treat Yourself

2010-07-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

If getting to work by bike requires multi-modal logistics from getting dropped off at the station, taking the bus, then riding an hour.. treat yourself!

That's what I do. :)

I take a coffee stop (cappuccino and a treat) for second breakfast, then order a smoothie when I get to work to tide me over until lunch.

A multi bike life

2010-07-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

TRACK > MTB > CX > COMMUTE

Friday night I raced on the track.

Saturday, all day, I mountain biked while working a trail run event.

Sunday, I took the cyclocross bike out for a quick single track spin after work.

Monday, I bus and biked with my touring rig.

Tomorrow, I'll bus and bike again.

Wednesday, track racing with the boys.

Thursday, a swim to prep for off-road triathlon coming up.

Friday, back to the track.

Saturday, urban orienteering by bike in the night.

Sunday, take the cross bike to the park.

Monday, bus and bike.

And so forth and so on.

GRIN.

Lord Hill Adventure Race

2010-07-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

An adventure race!

I'm having fun in this picture, I promise!

It's inevitable that I'd end up here-- knocking at the front door of adventure racing.

This fall, I began orienteering with the Cascade Orienteering Club. Every other Saturday, I'd be running, bushwhacking, screeing, wading, climbing and scrambling around a park, map in hand, looking for the next orange flag.

This winter, I got my first mountain bike (full suspension!) and have been discovering the art or ramming into obstacles with gusto.

Pour them in a pot, mix them together, and..

ADVENTURE RACING!!

The Lord Hill Adventure Race included kayaking (optional), orienteering, mountain biking and trekking. But basically, for me, it was 5 hours of traversing up and down the landscape, on foot and bike, eating peanut M&M's, Snickers and Clif Bloks. And it was AWESOME.

I did it solo, and was the only female to do so. I think I came across as a bit stoic-- but really, I was just a bit nervous and self-conscious. There was no one around for me to bounce jokes, funny observations, or navigational queries off of. It was me, my head and my sugary treats. While I value alone athletic time for it's introspection, I would have had more fun with a friend or three.

"Do da ditty dum ditty doo,
we're lookin' for T 12 on a knoll..
Do da ditty dum ditty doo.."

-Team of 4 sang while trotting behind me

*The team behind me in the photo won a prize for best team name with "Blackman and Robin". The best team names are never PC.

Giro Donne

2010-07-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Even if you're not a cyclist

...you probably know that the Tour de France is going on right now.

If you are a cyclist

...you probably know that Lance Armstrong is in it.

If you are a very avid [road] cyclist

...you probably know that Andy Schleck has a good chance this year.

There are, after all-- an overbearing amount of resources to get your Men's Tour de France news:

magazines devoted to entirely to previews
highlight reels
interviews
technical articles
helicopter shots
race recaps and analysis
and for $29.99, get it every minute of it streamed to your computer.

Unfortunately, you probably don't know that the hardest women's stage race-- the Giro Donne (Women's Giro d' Italia) just concluded and the best female climber in the world-- Mara Abbott-- just became the first American to take home the pink jersey (and it's not pink just because they're women, thank God!).

Cycling history was just made-- but, oh, what did Mark Cavendish have for breakfast? Is his book tour distracting him from training?

So no, I'm not watching the Men's Tour de France-- because the amount of coverage in contrast to the women's depresses and disgusts me.

I want to punch the Men's Tour de France in the balls-- because if Mara had them, we'd all be watching.

Miss n Out at the Track!

2010-07-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Click the link above to see a larger version at Vimeo.

Another night at the track! We did a--

SNOWBALL

Each lap, the sprint for points gains in value.

1st lap = 1 pt, 2nd lap = 2pts and so on.

SCRATCH

Simple-- winner on the final lap is the winner!

MISS N OUT

Each lap, the last person is eliminated (they have to get off the track!) until 3 remain-- who sprint one final lap for the win!

Three Woman Break in the Scratch

Kym (center) came around me for the win!

The Miss n Out was surely my favorite race-- and not because I won, but because I was nervous! The good, thrilling kind of nervous. The kind of nervous that plays selectively with your senses so that you are acutely in the moment, feeling deliciously alive. Then focus gives way to chaos and it's happening, you're there, it's moving, you respond, you try to make good decisions.

Having no teammates and being a marked woman, I could not risk getting boxed in-- so I sat at the front and middle of the wide group. I caught a lot of wind, but it guaranteed my place in the final 3. Then the sprint lap came, and I thought, "HEY! I'm still on the front!? ..why does this always happen? Ah, well.." so I just went for it, cranked it up, and had JUST enough to hold off Hong! She's got some sprint, though-- and after I lead the final laps, I thought she was gonna get me. As a veteran trackie from the shop put it, "DON'T GET COCKY." ..I can't just ride in the wind then sprint/take a flyer. Well, I can (blush)-- but it's not a good habit. Especially when the racing gets faster. Smart cookies like Kym have learned to pick my wheel while I'm floating in the wind like a hawk. She beat me in the Scratch! I need to buy her a beer. If I win just one more week in Women's Cat 4, though-- then I'll be upgraded and it's on to Cat 4 Men and Friday Nights with the 1/2/3 Women!

I hope to be competitive with the men and just be able to HANG with the women. AND, it'll be TWO nights of track racing a week! SWEET!!

Foldy Day

2010-07-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

Take foldy on the bus..

Take foldy in the store..

Then hike..

Wednesday Night at the Velodrome

2010-07-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, for the first time (ever?!), enough Category 4 women racers showed up to actually require TWO separate groups! An 'A' group and a 'B' group (evenly split, neither faster than the other). AWESOME!

Side note: racing "categories" are to group people by their ability and experience. All (female) racers must start in Category 4 (men have a Category 5) and work their way up. So while I may quickly upgrade to Category 3, there aren't enough Category 3 women out there to be a group of their own-- so they (we) often get lumped into Women 1/2/3. This happens in just about every cycling discipline-- road, cyclocross, etc. So instead of relying on your category to maintain a level playing field, one just has to pick a race that tends to attract more 3's or 2's or 1's. If I wanted to place well, I could race the 1/2/3's at the Elkhorn Stage Race, if I just wanted to turn my poop runny while dogging at the back of the pack-- I could race the 1/2/3's at Cascade Classic.

Unfortunately, sometimes these options are not available and the chasm between 4's and 1/2/3's is just plain difficult to cross. It's a rough bridge to the other side-- a lot of people fall off it and it's lonely to hang out on it.

Once I upgrade to a 3 on the track, I will be eligible to race on Friday night with the 1/2/3 women-- where there is a high concentration of 2's. My racing experience will go from demolishing the 4's with breath to spare to just-hangin' with the 1/2/3's. I'll be able to ride with the group and be active, but the chances of me actually winning a race will go from virtually guaranteed to slim. However, women can also race "down 1" category with the men. So to bridge the gap, I will also be racing with the Category 4 men on Wednesday nights.

Anyhow..

It was my first Wednesday night with the 4 ladies.

The first event of the evening was a 'Win and Out'-- and I thought about this particular race allll day at work! The way a Win and Out works, is that every bell lap, the sprint is to place. So the first bell, the winner of the sprint takes first place and the winner peels off the track while everyone else keeps rolling. Second bell, the winner of the sprint takes second place, they peel off, and so on. So if you want to win, you've got to put it ALL on the line! And what happens if you use all your gas to win, only to fall into second place? Whoa-hoh! Better hope the pack doesn't tear you apart before you're ready to gun again. For all your effort, you could slide into 5th because you gambled on 1st.

So I got some advice from an "old pro" at the shop and I visualized it, visualized it, visualized it.. because I knew I had just ONE lap to work with and win! No time to settle in. Then I found out that the bell laps were every other lap, not every lap! D'OH! There was going to be a whole EXTRA lap before the bell lap?! Secret plans spoiled! But off we went and I spent the first lap and a half wondering why people weren't doing what I wanted them to (I know, right?), until in the second to last corner I swore under my breath-- I was too caught up in having a 'plan' that I failed to really respond to what was going on around me, and there I was, several bike lengths away from the charge, approaching the last corner. Lucky for me, my strength saved me-- and I VVVVVVRRRrooom.. accelerated to first with a grunt. Then I got off the track. SWEET! ..I like that race. Can we do it again?

The second race was a Tempo. Every lap 2 points are awarded to 1st and 1 point to second. Whoa, scrambled eggs! Starbucks went whipping off the front from the whistle, while I picked daisies at the back. Whoops! She kept her gap and gobbled up the first 2 points. She was quickly caught, but the group mushroomed into conflicted agendas-- some wanted rest and some wanted action and it was crazy pants on the velodrome. If I were in a faster race, my poor positioning could have cost me the race-- I was just too far from the front-- but I took the fast lane and rode past the entire group, smashing into point after point, earning enough to win the race. WOO HOO!

And the last race, well-- watch the video! I sat on the front the whole time, which is a poor, poor tactic. But I didn't do it to be smart, I did it because I could. I didn't need the rest, I could patrol the attacks and avoid getting boxed in. There was, however, one point where I nearly screamed, "COME ON! ATTACK ME NOW!!" I made myself pretty vulnerable.

One more week with the 4 ladies methinks, and they'll move me up.

Watch out, boys.

Gas.

2010-06-27T22:22:00.001-07:00

Gas.

Mountain Biking Turned Paragliding

2010-06-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Fort Ebey, Whidbey Island

It's been too long since I last rode my mountain bike.

High time to itch the dirt.

Get away from the traffic, the asphalt.

Discover what lives in the forest.

Push,

and ride.

Then stop again.

And again, at geometric compositions.

THEN,

stand slack jawed at this:

Human taking flight!

Before I knew it,

I was up in the air, too!

WhopEEEE!!

Let's stay up here awhile.

Ravens Dance Paragliding

Tandem Flights/Lessons

John Kraske

USHPA Advanced Instructor

wdancer (at) netzero dot com

Track with the Boys

2010-06-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

Last night, I raced the boys.

They didn't know I was coming.

There they sat, holding the rail, receiving instructions--

as I slinked up to the end of the line, like the whispering leap of a lemur

and made no announcement.

6-lap, point-a-lap.

Every lap, the first to the line earns one point.

ZERO points for second place.

Finishing order on the final lap breaks a tie.

I wait.

I survey.

Lap one..

Hold.

Lap two..

Hold.

Lap three..

Readyyy..

..the boys catch their breath after a furious sprint..

pic-CHEWWW!!!!

I leap.

"HEY!" one announces, startled.

"Who's that?" they think.

Hesitation. Disorganization. Skepticism.

Oops!

ONE LAP. One point.

Now their fatal mistake..

TWO LAPS. Second point.

The race is mine.

Let the finish sprint swarm around me,

I have what I need.

*The photo is (click to see source) from my third place finish in the 6-lap Scratch race. A basic, 6 lap race to the win.

Flat Kit Tip

2010-05-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

A little tip for putting your tube in your flat kit.

ONE

Take off the lil' collar nut, because a) you don't really need it and b) if you think you need it, there should already be one on your bike and c) it can rub your tube wrong while in your kit and put a hole in it! Really. It's happened to me before.

TWO

Put your tube in a plastic sack so that it SLIPS easily into your flat kit and has an extra layer of protection from rubbing on other things in your kit.

VOILA!

And in case you wanted to catch what's inside my flat kit:

*I have many bikes and each has a different flat kit! This is just ONE example of A flat kit that I carry on my light/fast bike. My commuter bike, on the other hand, has a much larger pump, a larger multi tool that includes a chain tool, spare batteries, and more! My mountain bike has a chain tool, a spare derailleur hanger, lube and even a emergency whistle and flint!

The BASIC flat kit should have:

Tire levers to get tire on and off
Patch kit
Tube in case the patch kit doesn't work out or for a faster change
Source of air-- whether pump or CO2
A multi-tool for on-road maintenance. Even if you don't know how to fix it, a passing cyclist may!

Other items that are nice to have in a flat kit or rack bag:

Tire boot, for patching the TIRE, not the tube. A dollar bill or wrapper also works in a pinch.
Cash, for buying a phone call, bus fare or a Snickers bar.
Chain tool and spare chain link.
Spare batteries for lights.
Spare generic/temporary derailleur hanger (most common for mountain biking).
Emergency snack, like a lil' bag of Luna Moons!
Tiny bottle of lube.

It's also a good idea to carry with you:

Cell phone
Identification
Debit card
Insurance card
CAMERA! ;)

Rain

2010-05-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes-- rain feels nice.

It wasn't cold. Just wet. Like salt shaker sprinkley wet. I turned back home only because it was dinner time. Had some dark, dark chocolate and cold milk to fill me back up. Delicious. (Oh, and then I had dinner, don't worry.)

Let's Go Ride a Bike!

2010-05-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

Do you think that I can check off EVERYTHING on this list?

May 17-June 6: Social Cycling

• Go on a group ride
• Leave a nice note on a bike, or say hi to a cyclist at a red light
• Schedule a bike date with a friend or partner — dress up!
• Recruit a non-biking friend for a ride
• Ride with your family

June 7-June 27: Learning Experiences
• Perform a maintenance task — big or small!
• Decorate your bike
• Read a book about cycling
• Carry a load on your bike — groceries, etc.
• Test ride a different type of bike than you normally ride

June 28-July 18: New Territory
• Ride a greenway
• Have a bicycle picnic
• If you don’t normally ride to work, commute by bike, or by bike/train or bike/bus
• If you do commute, take the long way home: add distance to your usual ride
• Explore a new part of town by bike

What are you waiting for?

LET'S GO RIDE A BIKE!

Thank you, RAPHA

2010-05-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Usually, when flipping through a cycling catalog that features women-- the women are, 9 times out of 10, not actually ON their bike, but instead are wearing pastels, sporting lipstick and their hair is down. The bike just looks like a prop.

But I didn't really realize HOW conditioned I was to seeing women represented this way, until I saw RAPHA'S photoshoot.

I can't tell you how stunned with joy it makes me--

that these women can RIDE their bikes.

http://www.rapha.cc/

Scenic Loop, Walla Walla, WA

2010-05-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

I got to visit Walla Walla over the weekend. :)

And I had to decide: WHICH RIDE?

It wasn't that hard.

It's really, and appropriately, called Scenic Loop-- one of my all-time favorite rides in Walla Walla. After cruising down Mill Creek Rd, which is some of Walla Walla's most boasted cycling, take a hard right detour up Scenic for a wonderful tire-skipping ride on a gravel dream climb.

It's not easy, but it is rewarding. Drop it into the little ring as you disappear into the trees. Soon, you'll be shoulder to shoulder with the hills across the valley while searching for a washboard-free line to take. Keep it up, and you'll crest to see Walla Walla in the distance. Then hope that the gravel isn't too fresh an' deep as you wiggle back down. And once you hit pavement, even chip-seal will feel like silk. An awesome feeling.

Who said 23mm race tires weren't made for gravel? They're perfect.

Light Up!

2010-05-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Featuring:

Amber Down Low Glow

Light & Motion Stella 300 Dual

and Planet Bike SuperFlash Stealth

What I LOVE about my Down Low Glow: well, first of all-- it's FUN to ride on a cloud of light. And if you like compliments-- you'll get lots.

From a safety standpoint, it creates 360 degrees of visibility. The DLG lights YOU up, so that instead of looking like a moving dot (like a typical blinky light), you look like a moving PERSON on a BIKE.

The DLG also lights up the space on the ground AROUND you, causing drivers, whether consciously or not, to give you more space, because your space, again, is defined to be bigger than a dot.

It's also great SIDE visibility. When cruising down an arterial, I'm always having staring contests with drivers waiting on side streets to pull into my lane. I want to make sure they know that I'm there. With the DLG, sometimes they'll actually wait for me to pass just so they can stare at my light!

GET ONE!

"DANGER High Voltage"

2010-05-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

At the entrance/exit to the I-90 bike tunnel

City Scape Part 2

2010-05-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

An average American City Person's life is bombarded with

frantic energy

and perceived obligations--

resulting in a life spent in past or future,

and hardly present.

Riding my bike is the one time of day,

when I have the best hopes of

being present.

It allows me see,

digest,

and interact.

City Scape

2010-05-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

I got off the bus wearing street clothes, intending to catch another bus the rest of the way home. It would be a while until it came, so I didn't rush. I just walked thoughtfully down the street, escorting my bicycle, examining textures--

and inserting myself into them.

More Track Racing

2010-05-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

So.. after my first Thursday night of racing (last week), I left the track confident. I made moves, they stuck (sometimes unintentionally) and I won. I was batting 100% and felt like I hadn't even kicked in my 5th gear yet.

Based on last Thursday, I thought I had more gas and horsepower than the entire group-- which surprised me, since my legs are uber-endurance right now.. I mean, I got 4,200 miles of base this summer! On an 85lb rig! And I'm certainly haven't been training to race road (stage races, criteriums and such). With the slight exception of a casual cyclocross season, I haven't raced with focus since college (class of '07). I was pleasantly shocked to find I had any juice at all!

But really, what happened last Thursday-- I was patient and sat in for the first half of the race, made my move, then the group was too disorganized to nab me. Patience + smarts + speed + luck = win.

But last night? Oh last night, revenge was paid upon me and I got SPANKED-- Hagens Berman, I'm looking at you!

Here are just SOME of the things I did wrong:

I was not patient.
I didn't hold my wheels. (I let people edge me out and take my place).
I did WAY too much work on the front for no good reason.
I didn't position well for the sprints.
Once I didn't HOLD MY LINE. (Ride straight.) (Sorry!)
I marked (chased after) moves that I should have left and didn't mark moves I should have met.
Once again-- I rode an extra lap after one of the races finished. I even brought someone with me! :)
And I need to figure out when it's okay to "pass underneath," because most times it is NOT OKAY to pass on the inside.. except in a few gray area situations.

I'll let the video evidence say the rest:

*sigh. Well, time to go hit the track! Gonna get in a workout before watching the fast folks race.

Love to my ladies in Group 1. You're awesome. (and I'm sure you Group 2 ladies are nice as well.)

TRACK RACING!

2010-05-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was the first night of the pre-season at the Marymoor Velodrome. The official season (when you earn points) begins in June, but all throughout May, beginners and veterans alike attend pre-season races to get the feel of the track again.

Thursday night is for all those who have just completed a track class (requirement for racing) and need to practice group skills, tactics and to keep pedaling after the finish line (or your bike will buck you off!).

My first Thursday night? Well? It went well. :)

Thursday Night Preseason at Marymoor Velodrome from Rebecca Jensen on Vimeo.

The first 4 minutes are my 2 races edited down. The last 6 minutes is footage of Tom's last race, complete with commentary from his friends and co-workers.

Touring-- cush steel bicycles, upright and stable geometry, LOTS of gears, LOTS of gear, ride slow, ride long, see the world.

TRACK-- stiff aluminum bicycles, aggressive and snappy geometry, ONE gear, no brakes, ride as fast as you can for about 5 minutes in an oval.

And yet-- I love them both. :)

CHEERS!! To BICYCLES!!

It ain't wheat, but it's still fascinating

2010-05-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am surely not riding through Walla Walla wheat like I used to-- but the city is still fascinating.

Seattle Texture

2010-05-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Water and industry

A lot of trucks barrel through here, but at least I have a bike lane!

And if I don't feel like riding the whole way,

there's always the bus!

Seattle Bike Blogger Meet Up

2010-05-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I attended a "Seattle Bike Blogger" meet up. The meeting was encouraged by Paul, our local Bike Intelligencer blogger, to put our heads together and come up with-- well, something.

Boat Launch on Alki

The consensus (as it seemed to me) was that we bloggers have the advantage of being social organizers without the politics, waivers, expense and red tape of bigger organizations such as the Cascade Bicycle Club. While Cascade puts on fantastic events (Seattle to Portland ride, Bike Swap, Bike to Work Month and more) and can be credited for getting people movin' and groovin' on their bikes-- they do not have the ability to put on smaller, more intimate-scale, low-key, pop-up events. This is also the difference between Seattle and Portland.

Here in Seattle-- we like structure and rules. We pay the registration, sign the waivers, dump a paycheck at Gregg's Cycles (disclosure: I work there!), and ride laps around Mercer Island (home to Bill Gates) before riding from Seattle to Portland with 10,000 other people who may or may not know how to handle their bikes and finally declare ourselves "cyclists." But what about everyone else? What about riders who ride plain clothes, or with their children, or on single speeds, or on single track, or cargo bikes, or just some rickety thing they bought off of Craig's List but they love it and ride it to every corner of the city, to coffee, to work, and the bar? If you ride a bike, but don't relate to the cover of Bicycling Magazine, what culture is here for you?

Bike Parking outside of Canal Coffee

Those are "perfect gauge" railroad ties

Now, I don't want to say that Seattle has ZERO non-lycra bike culture. Mike, from Seattle Likes Bikes, rattled off a list of bike culture groups, events and rides that fall into just this category we're interested in. We just want more of it and to bring it all together. Seattle, after all, is pretty big. Portland is more like a town.

Industrial West Seattle

So, what do you think? What kind of bike culture would you like to see more of in Seattle?

Body Weight

2010-04-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've had an interesting history with weight.

I was never one of those twiggy kids whose knees were bigger than her thighs, nor was I overweight. I was always athletic. I played club soccer year-round and still managed to be an all-sport kid (softball, basketball, cross-country, track.. even did lacrosse for a year). In middle school, I ran a 6:35 mile, which isn't a blazing time that will take you to State-- but fast enough to say I was an in-shape lil' kid.

Enter high school soccer. We had a very competitive women's soccer team that had been winning State recently in a school division larger than our school actually was. I made Junior Varsity my freshman year and rumor was that I'd be moved up to the Varsity team to warm the bench at State. Then I blew my knee out. POP!

Long story short-- I tore my ACL, meniscus and sprained my MCL, the "unhappy triad." Though I didn't figure that out until I had surgery on it right before college. Yeah, long story short.

Unfortunately, I wasn't one of those people who could mentally get over their injury and play just as well in a knee brace. My brain guarded my knee all the time and I wasn't the same soccer player anymore. So I tried everything else.

Cross country, lacrosse, fast-pitch softball, I ran a half marathon and even tried some triathlons on my Mongoose after spotting the idea in a YMCA catalog.

And I gained weight.

WHAT?

Yup. I went from a lean 135 (I'm about 5'4") to 150+. Size 6 pant to 14.

How was this happening? How could I continue to be SO active and GAIN weight?

Theory? Stress and a deeper unhappiness. No soccer = unhappy RJ.

I went to college with my NEW Specialized Allez road bike (thanks mom and dad!) and discovered that Whitman had a blossoming cycling team. I was HOOKED. Cycling was FUN! Walla Walla was the most addictive place to ride and my teammates (both men and WOMEN) were awesome. The sport was a brilliant blend of endurance fitness and teamwork. Most every race I would get dropped (fall behind, away from the group) and struggle to catch up-- until the Conference Championship Criterium, where I did keep up!

I never focused on losing weight-- only on riding, having fun and my athletic performance. But fall it did-- by sophomore spring, I was lean and on the Nationals team, winning the Team Time Trial with my teammates. I was 135 in a size 6 pant again.

So yes, when subjecting your body to a new sport and riding lots and lots of hours and racing lots and lots of hours-- science says that losing weight and leaning up makes sense. But how come that half marathon or all those sprint triathlons or cross country season did nothing for my figure?

My answer? Happiness. Cycling replaced soccer for me and once again, I had a physical playground in which I felt euphoria and teammates that I would bust my ass for.

For all those people out there, struggling to get in shape-- you try and eat well, you sign up for a 5k run, you hit the gym, but you just. can't. lose. the. weight..

I think that stress, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, lack of a team environment, lack of focus-- these are the things holding your weight on. You may THINK that you're fairly happy-- surely I enjoyed myself on the cross-country team. But are you really, truly, deeply INSPIRED by the weights at the gym? Does that elliptical trainer make you feel ALIVE? Does plodding down the pavement during your morning run just feel RIGHT, like your body was made to move that way?

If you are struggling with your weight-- for health reasons (physical, mental, spiritual) and not for vanity-- then this is my advice to you:

find a physical endeavor that you can fall in LOVE with.
do it with people whom you can love and respect.
get addicted to it.
and share it with others.
never think about the fact that you are trying to lose weight.
treat yourself like an "important athlete."
and have fun.

Cheers.

Commuting Intermission

2010-04-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

Begin at bus station.

(I got dropped off. Work with what ya' got.)

Intermission at Stumptown.

Which is conveniently, halfway up Capitol Hill.

Does anyone ever stop to take pictures of themselves, their car and the scenery while driving to work?

I think not.

Morning and night

2010-04-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

I kinda felt like a cheater when I lived in Walla Walla. I bike "commuted" most everywhere-- but it only took 10 or 20 minutes to get there. Walla Walla isn't big. and it's FLAT! Maybe I rode 30 minutes if I was visiting my friend Alice, she lives WAY out on the edge of town.

Now, I'm a bike commuter in the sense that most people think of when they think "bike commuter." I take the bus and I ride my bike for more than an hour to get to work. And I stop for coffee because nothing feels more like rocket fuel than a fine cappuccino and morning glory muffin! (Thank you-- Stumptown!).

AND, I get to ride the cool bike path across I-90. It's funny what people like or don't like. I think it's fun to ride alongside the water and mentally raspberry at the cars whooshing past. I have a friend who rather does not prefer the bridge. I don't like it when it's wet and you gotta hold your breath when cross the metal grating thingies, but otherwise find it more than tolerable. Ah, well. My commute has many landscapes! This is just one of them.

Bike path on the I-90 bridge.

Skyline in the background is Bellevue.

Bellevue Transit Center, waiting for the bus.

SEE the morning light

2010-04-23T12:10:00.001-07:00

Bicycle touring is not just about bicycling. Most of the touring cyclists we met on our TransAm trip this summer, did not previously identify as "cyclists."

Bicycle touring is heightened awareness. You actually SEE the morning light.

In your day to day life, you might "see" the morning light as you hop in your car and drive to work, you look across the freeway and see a nice sunrise and think, "gosh, that looks pretty." But seeing something with your eyes and seeing something with your whole being is totally different.

I think that many of us live our lives as if we're looking at pictures and not reality. We see things and think, "oh, neat." and not "......WOW......" We can hardly be blamed-- we have so much to process, that our brains naturally want to create shortcuts for ease of processing.

If you bicycle to work, you may relate to what I'm trying to describe. Instead of being in a box, zooming up Capitol Hill-- you can FEEL Capitol Hill (quite literally, in your legs) if you pump a bicycle up it.

It's the difference between microwaving and cooking a meal from scratch.

It's the difference between standing awe-struck in front of a painting and clicking past it on the internet.

Now imagine this feeling every day, all day. Something as simple as THE GROUND becomes very important-- is it level? soft? wet? You really begin to SEE the ground. You see people. And landscapes. And food. You might even see yourself.

And that's just one reason, why I encourage people to bicycle tour.

If you're thinking about it-- DO IT. Even if you can't leave this summer or next year-- put just a little bit of money aside each month. Invest in a touring bike. Start riding to work and carrying a load. Get out of debt and don't create new ones. See how well you get along with that one friend for extended amounts of time. And bike some more.

Riding in Paint

2010-04-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Riding in Seattle is growing on me. It won't ever produce the quiet meditation that Walla Walla can. Riding in Walla Walla is like riding through a Rothko painting. Two, three broad strokes of color, plus texture, body encompassing size and a vibration that will blow your mind.

Riding in Seattle is more like riding through a Kandinsky painting. There is SO MUCH going on. You want to go this way, that way, see this, see that, follow that line, melt into that color-- and you find, that somehow, it isn't just a flat canvas, but that it actually makes NOISE-- you can actually HEAR the painting-- rumbling and shivering. The painting is in perpetual motion, as if that black line had twitched since you last looked away and you brace yourself for calamity of colors colliding.

And that's pretty exciting. Diverse. One minute you're in this neighborhood, that neighborhood-- then you wander, saunter over here, but WAIT-oh, this way.. then that leads to the next thing, and look at this little detail..

I love the calm of Walla Walla, but I am just starting to feel the pulse of Seattle.

Bus, Sip, Ride

2010-04-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

Put your bike on a bus-- see where it takes you.

And if the hill is long, stop for coffee.

Bike Station is becoming BIKE PORT

2010-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

What was once known as "Bike Station" is becoming"BIKE PORT."

BIKE PORT is located in downtown Seattle, is run by (and next door to) the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and also hosts the JRA Bike Shop.

View Larger Map

BIKE PORT is affordable, convenient, and secure bike parking. Yes, there is "free" bike parking just about anywhere you can find a pole-- but would you leave your nice panniers in the street? What if you're 'geared up' in 'cycling clothes' because you've been riding for an hour, and need to change and freshen up? Using Bike Port takes the stress out of bike parking if you don't already have an indoor place to secure your bike and use a restroom.

Parking is free on weekdays, 9am-5pm. Buy a pass for 24/7 access! For my 'sporadic use' membership, I am only paying $2 for each time I park after-hours!

There is a public work stand and tools for you to use (as well as a professional mechanic at the in-house bike shop if you don't know how to fix it yourself).

A vending machine has all the basics you might need, even if the shop is closed.

Some memberships include the use of a locker.

The bathroom is big enough to swallow up you and your bike!

(No showers yet, but they're working on it.)

LOTS of parking.

Security cameras. While the security of your bicycle and belongings is not guaranteed (you should still lock your bike and take your valuables), the odds of theft are much lower. Bike Port is staffed 9am-5pm on weekdays and only members can enter using their key-card after hours.

Bike Port is next door to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington!

And yes, I've blogged on this before: HERE.

I-5 Colonnade

2010-04-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

The other day I poked around the Colonnade-- the famous, one-of-a-kind, mountain bike skills park under the I-5 freeway in Seattle, WA.

I was hoping (I was told) that there was a bit of riding for beginners as well as advanced. This is sort of true. The Limestone Loop, first photo below, is a skill-building half-mile cross-country loop. It was beyond me. I haven't really mastered the switchback. Challenges (albeit small) were being thrown at me so constantly, that if I didn't nail the first drop, I was going to screw up the next. I found that to be the theme of the park: JAM-PACKED.

The Tqalu trail is another feature-filled area of the park, presumably for beginners, which even featured signs explaining how to attempt each skill-- but the features were so brief, I wasn't sure that riding through a 3 foot sand box was really going to develop my skills for riding through sand.

The only feature I spent any time on was the low logs near the Lakeview entrance. Being alone and more interested in the cardio aspect of bicycle riding-- I got bored and walked around to snap photos instead.

Alas, before I sound unappreciative of such an amazing park-- this park is.. AMAZING. For any intermediate to advanced rider who likes to drop, jump, hop, balance and just free ride-- you will be in your ultimate playground. For someone like me, who needs to huff and puff between technical challenges to feel like I've been on a bike ride-- better to do a couple laps at Duthie.

Planning a Bicycle Tour: Calculating Days

2010-04-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, a reader asked me how long our bicycle tour across the country took and how we did the math to figure that out. Here is my response:

Our trip (4,250 miles) was about 3 months. We took 1 day off per week and 1 week off half-way. Started the evening of May 31 (7pm!) and ended somewhere around August 27th or so.

When I am planning future trips, I use an average of 60 miles/day + 1 extra day/week + a week off if applicable (trips greater than 2 months, or if you just want to visit a place like a National Park) + travel to/from the start/finish to figure out about how long the trip would take. Even if you THINK "oh, my average will be more than 60 miles/day!" I would still recommend using 60 (or even 55), especially if this is your first big trip. Using a number that is slightly lower than you expect to ride will give a buffer for mishaps, preventative weather, mechanicals, etc. Remember that 60 is an AVERAGE. One day riding 80 miles and another riding 40 averages out to 60.

So, for example-- The Sierra Cascades route is 2,362 miles. 2,362 divided by 60 is about 39 days, or a month and a week. Add 5 days for a day off per week, plus one day to get to the start, 4 days at the end (one to rest, one to sight-see/rest, one to pack, one to actually travel). That's 39 days + 10 days = 49 days. If I were taking time off work, I'd add more days to the start/finish for rest and packing.

Something else that is useful in planning is checking to see how long the self-supported (not van supported!) Adventure Cycling group plans to take.

Because your trip is 6,000 miles and will take longer than a season to complete, I'd also be very aware of any passes you'll go over and whether or not they'll be open during the time of year you expect to be there. If you search around, you can find charts that list when passes opened and closed over the last 50 years and their average opening/closing date.

Hope that helps!

RJ

Weight and Gears-- the Truth About Hills

2010-04-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Weight and Gears-- the Truth About Hills from Rebecca Jensen on Vimeo.

Many people over-obsess about the weight of their bicycles. If you're racing-- fine, it makes sense. If you're the person that walks into the bike shop and announces, "I'm not a racer," (which is about 90% of customers) because you feel pressure from the media to be one and think that the bike shop will assume you are one... why are YOU anti-weight, since you JUST told me that you're "not out to set any records."

The riding you want to do is not competitive, you just want to go for some recreational rides after work and on the weekends. You'll ride 20-30 miles on average and occasionally, you'll sign up for a bike event to train for that 60 or 100-miler. The bike you want is one that has a less-aggressive body position (torso is more upright) and is fairly compliant (smooth ride, absorbs the bumps in the road) and can get you up hills (generous gears or lightweight).

One candidate is a bike like the Specialized Roubaix or Ruby. These are bikes with "endurance" geometry, which creates a more upright body position and more stable handling over traditional race geometry. Plus, features like "Zertz inserts" smooth out the ride and the carbon fiber is lightweight, so it's less to carry up hills. The gearing has some easier options than a racing bike, especially if you get a triple (3 rings in the front).

Another candidate with an even MORE upright geometry, MORE stable handling, a SMOOTHER ride and a VERY GENEROUS gear range to tackle the steepest climbs-- is a touring bike! But. A touring bike is HEAVY. Oh no. Now you're not interested any more. But what if I told you that the gears on my touring bike make hills just as EASY as on my light bike, but I just might go slower? What? You want to go fast now? Didn't you say that you're "not a racer"? And isn't that your gut I see hanging over your belt?

*I didn't take footage of myself seated and climbing on the SuperNova, because I can't. Due to the gearing on that bike, I HAVE TO stand up to get up that hill.

GO WHITMAN!

2010-04-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my alma mater came to town. I had a BLAST cheering them on!

in the ROAD RACE

TEAM TIME TRIALS

and the CRIT! (criterium)

*half the video is cut off because it's "wide screen." Click the white title on the screen to visit YouTube.com and see the full screen.

Collegiate Cycling is something special. The skill spectrum is huge-- you've got kids who are still practicing clipping into their bicycles and others being offered pro contracts. I find that this spectrum gives the beginners inspiration and the fast folks some temperment in their intensity. Add to that, EVERYBODY is expected to cheer on everybody. Team enthusiasm is huge.

I haven't been on a cycling team since college, because I've found that racing becomes more about results and carbon rims-- and I'm not interested in either of these things. I just like to ride hard and cheer hard. GO WHITMAN!!

Morning at Galbraith

2010-03-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, I had plans to go watch some collegiate cycling and root on my alma mater (GO WHITMAN!!) up in Bellingham, WA. Since I was driving, I looked for an opportunity to mountain bike. Enter: GALBRAITH!

After all I've heard and read of Galbraith, I had big, BIG expectations-- endless ribbons of dirt twisting through a fairy tale forest. So you can imagine my disappointment when I found:

washed out, overgrown, poorly drained trails that lead nowhere,

jumps hacked by 13-year-olds,

and an impossible entrance to the park.

Yeah, here's a tip:

TOTALLY MISSED THAT. From Birch St. Entrance: The left trail neatly switchbacks up to the Ridge Trail (the one you want), which will take you to the info kiosk and the AWESOME web of trails. The right, however, will take you to the washed out, over grown, hacked together mess-- which is possibly not even part of the park.

So, once I got that..

It was all good.

Dirt roads are the pipelines between trails.

Riding at Duthie has noticeably improved my skills already!

Well, not THAT much. Yet.

A welcome addition to a bike ride.

2010-03-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

{Happy Birthday, V!}

Ride the Islands!

2010-03-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have discovered several wonderful things.

First-- round trip fare for a cyclist on the Whidbey ferry is only $5.10.

Second-- bus transit on the island is FREE!

Third-- Langley has really, really good coffee that is the perfect jet fuel.

So what this means is: riding around Whidbey Island is one of my favorite things to do with a weekend. I can ride or bus down to the ferry, then ride or bus up to Langley, drink a cappuccino, then ride or bus all over the island before ferrying, then riding or busing back home. What is 50 miles of riding for the legs, could be 100 miles of travel and sights to see.

Buses aside, the island has quiet roads for riding, rugged beaches for relaxing and quaint towns with really great coffee for sipping. What a combo! If I pull my touring gear together, an overnight at Fort Ebey or Deception Pass becomes a scenic, minimal-planning mini-tour. After getting the hang of that, a third or fourth day would get me up to Anacortes or even the San Juan Islands. People fly across the country to ride these! I've got them in my backyard.

So if you're looking for a quick mini-tour-- try rolling out your front door and see what you find.

Loving Duthie

2010-03-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

One reason to love Duthie Hill [mountain bike park] is because the trails are made specifically for mountain bikers. These aren't hiking trails that mountain bikers are allowed on-- these are mountain biking trails. And boy does it make a difference! The latter third of the "Boot Camp" trail is pure downhill swoopiness. Banked corner after banked corner after banked corner. It's not huge or advanced-- a beginner like me can handle it-- but it is SO FUN. It's a roller coaster ride that you're in charge of.

Another reason to love Duthie-- is that it is so BEAUTIFUL. Road riding is great because I can start out my door, but I can never ride far enough to get away from pesty cars. Mountain biking on the other hand, even though I have to drive to get there-- it's just me, the woods and my bike. Real solace.

I love it!

Touring Bikes Under $1500

2010-03-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for an affordable touring bike, you can stop your internet wanderings. Joshua, over at Adventure Cycling, has compiled a list of touring bikes under $1500: click here to visit the blog post.

I've posted a link to my review of the Trek 520 there, and hopefully other Adventure Cycling readers will do the same!