Bicycle ride today

Any town that has a market is awesome in my book. This is the Ravensdale Market in Ravensdale, Washington. Please note the inner tube tied to the post, the logo of lanterns and the DUEL satellites.

The reason I post this is I went on a 50 mile ride today and wound up in Ravensdale. Now I'd been through there as a kid, but I had no idea that the roads connected to Issaquah. Until today.

I took off down the road this morning just going to ride an out and back. In my opinion out and backs are the WORST types of rides. I hate them. They are nice for the fact that you know to make 50 miles, ride 25. Then turn around.

But they stink in the fact that you have to see everything twice. I prefer a loop. A giant loop is more fun in my opinion. But since I didn't know a 50 mile loop I figured I'd just ride for 25 miles then turn around. Boring.

But I did find that the winding and hilly road out of town lead me to Ravensdale.

That's the best part about these training rides. Is just riding and exploring. Going places I would never just get into my car and drive too.

For the ride itself I did 50 miles. Averaged 16.2 mph and it took just about 3 hours exactly. I was excited with the results and the whole ride my legs felt really strong. Hopefully this training is working so I'll be ready for the People's Coast Classic.

Tyler Farrar profile

May is National Bike Month and I celebrated by buying a new bike, but I'll post more about that later.

For now, check out this awesome profile of Washington native Tyler Farrar with his team Garmin-Transitions.



We'll be featuring a lot of bike posts not only to celebrate National Bike month, but also since I am still training for the People's Coast Classic.

Cancellara, King of the Cobbles!

I told you more bicycle related posts, and I am delivering.

This weekend Fabian Cancellara won the 2010 Paris-Roubaix. And he even had to do it with a complete bike swap during the race.

There were a number of crashes during the race. (Including a number involving Team Garmin-Transitions who happen to have Tyler Farrar on it)

They are my new favorite bicycle team for two reasons: 1) A Washington native is on the team (tune in this week for that profile on him) and 2) They have the COOLEST uniforms. Seriously, blue and orange argyle. Does it get any cooler than that?

But back to Cancellara. It was an amazing win. Here are some of the crashes during the race. I can't understand the announcers, but then again I never could understand John Madden and he was in America.

The Cancellara bike swap happens at 3:07.

Bike event for October 17

Looking for something to do on Saturday? Well check out this:

Cascade Bike Club and the Tacoma Wheelmen are doing a good looking event in Tacoma on the 17th (a Saturday).

It will include a workshop on cycling advocacy, a bike tour of Tacoma, and of course bike oriented drinks. What can you do to improve bicycling in Tacoma and throughout Washington? Join Cascade Bicycle Club and the Tacoma Wheelmen on Sat., Oct. 17 for a workshop on bike advocacy.

We'll discuss how we can use our clout to demand better facilities and just laws for bicyclists. Also, the outcome of the bicycle and pedestrian count, and how the data we collect on bicycling is crucial to our safety as bicyclists. Together, we'll strategize on making a difference in Tacoma and working together for better state laws and federal funding of trails and other facilities.

Schedule:

10am - 1pm: Workshop at the Tacoma Main Library,
1pm - 3pm: Bike tour of Tacoma with bicycle planners and special guests (stay tuned for details!) 3pm - eve.: Meet at the Harmon HUB for drinks

Bike MS for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis

One hundred rides. One destination. A world free of MS.

Bike MS is the premier cycling series in the nation. The series features over 100 different rides with the profits raised through donations by the participants going toward researching MS.

My dad will be participating in the Bike MS Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes on September 12-13. The ride will be 150 miles down the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes in Idaho.

You can view his personal page and make a donation if you'd like to support the cure for MS by visiting his site here and clicking the "donate to Al" button.

Here's a sample from the page:

Why I Ride

I've registered for the MS Bike Tour because I want to do something for the people who have been diagnosed - and because I want to do everything to prevent more people from learning what it means to live with this disease. Today, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and with diagnosis occurring most frequently between the ages of 20 and 50, many individuals face a lifetime filled with unpredictability.

Why You Should Sponsor Me

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will use funds collected from the MS Bike Tour to not only support research for a cure tomorrow, but also to provide programs which address the needs of people living with MS today. Because we can fight this disease by simply riding a bike, because we have chosen to help thousands of people through a contribution to the MS Bike Tour, we are now getting closer to the hour when no one will have to hear the words, "You have MS."

Please feel free to make a donation if you'd like, but please do not feel like you have too. Even just a simple note wishing him well would be great. He doesn't know I'm posting this, I'm just very proud of him and what he does.

Fashion Rules of the Road

It's Bike to Work Week and yesterday I explained bike safety on the road. Today, I'm going to tell you about the Top 10 Fashion Rules of the Road for bikers. Here we go:

1. If you think you look good in spandex, chances are you don't. If you aren't in "bike riding shape" then please, do us all a favor and stay away.

2. While riding, do not make "vroom, vroom" sounds.

3. The 90's killed the neon colors. Biking brought them back.

4. Don't wear those sperm shaped helmets. They are designed for racing and time trials, not for riding your bike to the store.

5. If you wear the full body biking suits, loose the underwear. Don't want underwear lines. (Also, no banana hammocks while biking)

6. Speaking of store, if you're bike has a basket on it (and there are daisies in it) and you're not a 12 year old girl, then don't ride that bike. Sorry Brandon. Now you have to buy a new bike.

7. Huge calves are in.

8. In biking, velcro shoes are cool. In the mall, they are not.

9. Before you drop the $200 on the Livestrong jersey, make sure you like riding.

10. Don't wear striped socks, bowler hat and knickerbockers. That style died when the high wheel bike did too.

Bike to Work Week

Did you bike to work today?

I ask this because this week (May 11-15) is Bike to Work Week.

Now many of you read those two lines and said to yourself, "I can't bike to work, it's too far." Well, if the distance to your work is greater than the amount of stamina you have, how about finding a closer place to park your car and ride that last few miles into work?

Maybe a park-and-ride or a shopping mall. Not only will the exercise be great for you (I'm sure you're like me and just sit on your butt all day at work) but it will also help to ease you're stress level. I'm sure that most of you sit in traffic for a good chunk of your ride home.

In addition to this week, May is actually Bike Month.

And perhaps the coolest news about bikes that I found today is the fact that again Washington was named the number 1 Bicycle Friendly State. Here's the complete list.

Daffodil Bicycle Classic

Today was the Daffodil Bicycle Classic in Orting, Washington. The participants had the choice of riding either a 20 mile loop, a 40 mile loop or a 60 mile loop.

Thanks to the great weather over 1,500 riders took part in the event. Here's some of the photos I shot throughout the event and around Orting.

What not to do when bike riding

Today I went for a bike ride. We went down and around Issaquah. Here are the JustSON top 10 tips of what NOT to do on a bike.

10. Hit a parked car.

9. Get attacked by a blackberry bush on the overgrown trail.

8. Run over a bunch of loose nails in the bike lane.

7. Take a "short-cut" that actually adds 10 miles.

6. Crash trying to do a jump at a skatepark with your mountian bike. In front of a bunch of skater high school kids.

5. Sing DMB while riding.

4. Hit a second parked car.

3. Have blood run down your arm.

2. Run into the guy holding the "Dinner specials at local pizza place" sign on the sidewalk.

1. Stay out, thanks to the "short-cut" until it gets dark and have no flashlight.