30 Days of Biking: Where in my ass is handed to me on a 48-mile ride around Lake Washington

Sunday's ride was with a group of about 30.  It was the classic around Lake Washington with some construction detours and extra delicious hills thrown in.  I often ride alone or with just another person, so I sometimes feel a little conflicted about riding in what I call a "club style" group--faster paced, few breaks, no photos (for me at least--one fellow was taking photos and was fast enough to catch up again).  I am a self-contained bicycle tourist.  I ride fully loaded (well, my bike is loaded with tent, sleeping bag and every thing else one needs to camp when touring) to some of the most beautiful places in the country so I can slow down and enjoy the ride.  I don't own a lightweight club bike, but I love my heavier touring machine.

All that is by way of introducing the plain fact that, as the kids say, I had my ass handed to me. 48 miles at my pace is no problem. 48 miles at too-fast-for-me a pace because you don't want to hold anyone up is more of a challenge

One of the reasons I ride with a group is to go places I wouldn't go alone (mainly the north end of the lake through Bellevue and Kirkland), to try new routes, and to meet new people to ride with. The company on this ride was fantastic. I was delighted to see Mary, who I was in a book club with in the 80's, the charming Lily who leads rides that are more my pace (and her equally smart husband David), and Sarah, who I knew because our companies used to work together.

To those of you who have complained that my blog is all Lucia, Lucia, Lucia, introducing the amazing Sarah.  This is not the best picture of her, but you get the idea.

A few years ago I took Sarah on one of her first rides in the area along the flat Centennial trail.  By her account, she could barely go 10 mph.  She still doesn't think of herself as an accomplished cyclist, but I beg to differ--she did an amazing job on the ride!  She just needs a little Dan Harm (and here) attitude adjustment.  And a special shout out to the sweep rider Suzanne, who twice advocated riding the published pace.  That's not easy to do when most people want to go faster.

Toward the end of the ride, a small group of us did slow down. Marizel was terrific and rode with us.  She is one of the kindest cyclists I know. And a mean mountain biker which is how I first met her.  Thanks Marizel, it's always great riding with you!

Let Roll!!
Donna
Seattle, WA

Day 21 of 30 Days of Biking: Life, Death, Tacos, and a Better Brain

In Seattle, we have a habit of putting unusual things under bridges.  After we had dropped off our girls at dance, I met Lucia at The Wall of Death under the University bridge. Apparently, THE Wall of Death is not to be confused with any other Wall of Death, so it makes a good meeting spot.

The red poster is shown at the bottom of this page...

Then, we rode out to the Pedlar's Fair to revel in all things bikey. When we arrived, there were four cargo bikes parked among the bikes--more cargo bikes than I have ever seen in one place in Seattle.  The one below has a little toddler's bike tucked on each side as well as seats for two children.  Later we would pass a caravan of three cargo bikes, all pedaled by women.  It was kind of exciting like when you spot a dolphin or whale out on the water.  

Just found out that the owner of this bike is: http://familyride.wordpress.com/  The cargo bikes came as part of a Kidical Mass ride.

Russ at The Path Less Pedaled did a wonderful write up of the fair along with great photos like the overview shot below. 

Photo from The Path Less Traveled.

At the fair, we heard that there was a great taco truck nearby, so headed over to check it out.

It was a truck load of delicious.  I'm not fond of "here's what I had for lunch"photos so I'll make it small just to give you an idea.  If you are not looking for the truck, you will miss it.  It's between the new Stone Way Hardware and immediately south of the Safeway on 15th NW in Ballard (5314 15th Ave NW. )

Finally, I  just finished reading the NYT article "How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain".  In a previous post, we saw how cycling could make you happier, now the latest research also suggests that it improves our brains too: 

For more than a decade, neuroscientists and physiologists have been gathering evidence of the beneficial relationship between exercise and brainpower. But the newest findings make it clear that this isn’t just a relationship; it is the relationship. Using sophisticated technologies to examine the workings of individual neurons — and the makeup of brain matter itself — scientists in just the past few months have discovered that exercise appears to build a brain that resists physical shrinkage and enhance cognitive flexibility. Exercise, the latest neuroscience suggests, does more to bolster thinking than thinking does.

Let's Roll!
Donna
Seattle, WA

PS  Here is what the red poster in the Wall of Death picture is:

30 Days of Biking: Still Going Strong! And What's Art got to do with it?

So far, I am 20 for 20 on days riding for 30 Days of Biking.  I'll admit that there have been days when my resolve weakened, which is why my last post suggested tips for  how to increase the chances that you (meaning I!) will go for a bike ride today.  Because it's cold and raining today, and my ride partner just cancelled, I will re-read it as necessary.  Here is another tip that occurred to me today:

Tip 5: Having a destination can increase motivation.  If I can accomplish something that I need to do anyway, such as go to a meeting or even the art store to pick up a sketch book, it immediate lifts my flagging spirits.  So, while today's ride won't be a long one, I will get something done.  And if I'm having a good time on the bike, I can always choose to go to the University Book Store instead of the close-by store.

Day 19:  Riding to Class at The Pratt Fine Arts Center--Can you help this neighbor resource survive hard financial times?

Yesterday, I rode to Pratt Fine Arts Center for a much anticipated metalworking class.  There is something about superheating metal and pounding on it that I enjoy and I've wanted to take a class there for a long time.  So, I was sad to hear that Pratt is having financial troubles and almost did not hold this round of classes.  Pratt Fine Arts Center is a non-profit arts center in  Seattle's Central District.  In Pratt's 3 building these house facilities for glassblowing, lampworking, glass beadmaking, flameworked glass, metal sculpture, bronze casting, stone carving, jewelry and metalsmithing, woodworking, printmaking, painting and drawing.

So, I know some of my friends are serious art people, so I will provide a few links to events that might be of interest.


Pratt Fine Arts Center's 30th Annual Fine Art Auction: Birthday Bash on May 5, 2012
I hear that the event the night before is really good too, so here are the details:

Pratt Exposed: 2012 Fine Art Auction Exhibition
May 4 from 6-9pm
Bell Harbor Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66

Meet the artists and preview hundreds of artworks donated to Pratt’s 30th Annual Fine Art Auction before they enter private collections. FREE and open to the public.  Hmm, that seems like a good event to ride my bike to too!

Let's Roll!
Donna
Seattle, WA

Tips to Increase the Chances that you will Go for a Bike Ride Today

Even for those of us who love to ride, there are times when we just don't feel like it.  For me, it's my main form of exercise so I try to ride often, if not everyday.  So, I have developed a few tricks to increase the chances that I will actually go for a ride.

The Bike Tree on Vashon Island.  Don't let this happen to your bike!  Photo from: http://tubulocity.com/?p=51

Tip 1:  Commit to Riding.

On the one hand, one of the things that's so helpful about 30 days of Biking is that you commit to ride every day for the month of April. On the other hand, you have to recommit yourself every time you go out the door. The last time Lucia and I rode Chilly Hill, it was a cold, overcast day.  As we waited for the ferry to Bainbridge Island, I asked about how we would meet up with her friends who were also riding. "Oh, they're nearby in a cafe having breakfast, but won't be coming." I said, "You seem pretty certain about that.  How can you be sure?"  Lucia answered, "Well, they met up for breakfast  in a warm cafe and I'm sure they've talked themselves out of it by now given the weather."  I laughed because I've done that before.  

Tip 2:  Just go, don't let your mind get in your way. 

There are always plenty of reasons not to ride.  Here are a few of my favorites:  

• I have to look presentable for a meeting 
• It's too cold or too wet
• I'm tired
• I have too much to carry
• It's too far
• I don't know where to ride  

Your mind will come up with a few of its own if these don't do the trick.  While at first glance, this may seem the same as tip one, to me it's quite different.  After you have committed to ride is when the rebellious, comfort-seeking mind can kick in.  Just ignore it and go.

I think this concept crystallized for me during a conversation with my cousin's son Jake Sakson, who is an amazing professional telemark skier and kayaker (among other things such as being in an actual Star Trek episode).  From the videos I've seen, he is often going over 50-foot jumps as a skier or waterfalls as a kyaker.  As I was driving him to the airport, I asked him for any advice he had for me about my first double century on a bike.  He thought for a moment, and said "Commit to it. Once you've committed to it, don't question it, do it." 

Tip 3:  Make it easy. 

If you have an understanding spouse like mine (and the room), keep your bike on the main floor of the house or where ever it is easy to just grab it and go.  My helmet, lock, and jacket are ll right there.  This is important because sometimes, the hardest part of a ride is getting out the door.  I can't think of a ride where later I regretted getting out on the road.

Tip 4: When riding with other people, agree to the details in advance.

In fact, I'd better go call Lucia--we are riding to the Pedlar's fare on Sat. and need a plan.

Let's Roll!
Donna
Seattle, WA

Late addition:  Click here for Tip 5!

Day 17 of 30 Days of Biking: Riding to school with Irene

This morning my daughter and I were out the door at 7:10 am to ride to her school.  I was along as moral support and additional cargo space.  It's amazing how heavy students' backpacks have become, plus she needed a laptop at school today. It had also been awhile since she had ridden the route. I woke up early and did not want to get out of bed.  But we had committed to this ride the night before, so we were off in the the beautiful morning light.

On the way back up Capitol Hill, the steep way back up Capitol Hill, I thought to myself, "I'm not sure what I'm going to take a picture of for my blog."  After the hardest hill, I stopped for a  moment to let traffic clear, but mainly to catch my breath.  Then I laughed at myself, because there is always something beautiful this time of year when you are going slowly enough to see it!

At the top of Interlaken Park.

Finally, I love seeing the conservatory as it signals the end of all hills for the day. Here was the view at the end of my ride.

Let's Roll!
Donna
Seattle, WA

Day 16 of 30 Days of Biking: Outrageous Spring (may require protective eyewear!)

Today is the first day that the sun set after 8pm so I knew that I would end my ride just before sunset.  Here are the stats:

Sunrise / Set

6:17 AM

8:01 PM

I love these long days of light.  The colors right now really are outrageous.  Here is the rhododendron that you may need sunglasses for:

And here is a shot of the cherry trees to help your retinas recover.

Let's Roll!
Donna
Seattle, WA

Day 14 of 30 days of Biking: Riding Seattle's Beautiful Shores, clouded only by the "missing link"

What a day in Seattle!  Lucia seems to be on-board with the 30 days of biking plan as we headed out for another ride today.  We pretty much stayed along bodies of water today:  Lake Washington, the Ship Canal, and out to Puget Sound.  Shilshole was beautiful and there was a sailboat race going on.

 We watched for a while to try to figure out how it worked, but the cannon fire and air horns seemed random to us.

Yes, here is the gratitous bike in the foreground shot.  This is my 20 year old Cannondale touring bike with heavy jacket stuffed in the bag on the back rack.

On the way back, we pedaled along the Ship Canal, a man-made waterway that links Lake Washington to Puget Sound.

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the U of W.

All in all, an idyllic day for riding.  Except when riding the streets called the Burke Gilman Trail's "missing link".  It is downright dangerous in spots and I admit that I let anger at the business owners who have held up this much needed part of the bike trail fog my thoughts. This 1.5 mile segment of the trail has been fully funded and designed.  The Ballard business owners have held it up in court since 2003.  For trail supporters, the one productive thing we can do right now is to support the Cascade Bicycle Club's legal efforts by contributing to the Burke Gilman legal defense fund. And enjoy the day and the beautiful trails we have.

Let's Roll!

Donna

Seattle, WA