Monthly Archives: January 2012

Snow Kona

30 Monday Jan 2012

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Snow Kona, a set on Flickr.

I got a good snow ride in this year. We don’t get snow often in Seattle, but every few years, there is enough to accumulate. For these precious moments, I keep this bike around. It’s an older (’96?) Kona AA hardtail.  The tires are Hutchinson mtbs with machine screws in every few knobbies at about a 45 degree angle. They don’t contact much when I’m bolt upright, but in a turn, then really dig in. Talk about riding on rails – more like riding on nails. Fun stuff. The only problem I have is the drops are too low for comfort. Ah – a tweakable moment…

Dad – you bike too much!

30 Monday Jan 2012

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January Populaire, a set on Flickr.

This was my first “bonk” ride. I was out of gas at about the 58 mile mark. Nearly had it finished, and just bonked hard.  That night, my daughter told me “Dad – you bike too much!”.  I had to agree (regrettably).  I resolved to commute a bit less, and bus more.  I want to get more miles on the longer rides, and need to save my energy.

In hindsight, I took a month off cycling, and then the week before, had done 4 solid days of commuting. I was tired.

I then met up with a rider from Bremerton with a beautiful Mitch Pryor (MAP) Rando project bike.  We ended up talking through most of the ride, and I was forgetting to eat much or drink water until over halfway through.  I started to suffer at 30 miles, and had a granola bar and a handful of trail mix. I’m pretty certain I became dehydrated by the end of the ride.  I was a bit dizzy, and had no energy left. I had to stop to eat on the 45 minute drive back to keep from dozing off.

Live and learn.

Otherwise, it was a beautiful ride around Camano Island. There were 80 folks that pre-registered, and it looked like we had at least 50 show up. Lots of variations of machines. Everything from custom MAP randos, to titanium Davidsons. Tandems, carbo/alums, and everything in between. I did the ride in a bit over 5 hrs. My AHH rode flawlessly. I had no discomfort, and the drivetrain was nice and quiet. I had put new cranks on with a lower 32t small ring, and was glad I did based on the hills we went up.

I’m looking forward to a real 200k. Now I know that I need constant food/water to make this work…

Reservoir Tour – Maple Leaf Undergrounding Project

07 Saturday Jan 2012

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Not bike related, but my family went on a cool underground reservoir tour today. The Maple Leaf Reservoir, built in 1910, was for years one of the few remaining open reservoirs in a major city. After 911, our Mayor at the time proposed covering these reservoirs for the dual benefits of securing the water supply, and creating new park space.

We have been living with the noise and dirt of a major construction project since we moved into our house last December. The current construction project started in September 2009, and is estimated to be completed and handed off to Seattle Parks on April 2012. It cost the city around $49 million, and creates a new 16 acre park land that will have stunning views of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Lake Washington, and both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges.

Besides the amazing size of this “water tank” system with its 768 columns, 25-35 foot ceilings, and 30,000 cubic yards of concrete, the echo inside one of the tanks lasts over 30 seconds long! During the tour inside the tank, there was a constant drone of echo that never went away.

On Mountain Biking

02 Monday Jan 2012

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When I started biking seriously in Jr. High, ten-speeds were all the rage. My first real bike was a Raleigh Reliant of ’82 or ’83 vintage. I proceeded to ride a two day MS 150 from the Twin Cities to Duluth, but mainly just rode around the area I lived (suburban St. Paul, MN). I brought the bike with me when I moved to Washington state in ’91, and did some bike commuting.

On a summer trip to Whistler, I got my first taste of Mountain Biking. A friend had just bought a Diamondback, and suggested i take it up the jeep road for a spin. After struggling up the rocky road, all the while marveling that I could even stay upright, I found a smooth dirt path that was fairly level. This led to a steep ravine down ‘n up that was covered in 2-3’ chipped stones. My tires barely touched the ground as I sailed down it the first time, and I nearly came off the bike. I was laughing so hard at my near death experience, I had to repeat it a few more times before returning to camp. I felt something that I had forgotten about. I felt like the kid I had been in the seventies riding my bike everywhere – dirt, field, or road. Soon after getting home, I bought my first mountain bike.

Revived "first mtb"

Looking back, what I discovered wasn’t so much a different class of bicycle, but just the joy of riding a bike on rough dirt/rock trails. Big tires made it easier, but it could have been any bike in that setting, and others like Grant Peterson of Rivendell, or Chris Kostman of Adventure Corps who needs a MTB? maintain that there are many ways to ride off-road.

I renewed this love again this summer at nearly the same place it started for me with a short ride in the hills surrounding Whistler Village. I went for a ride with a friend and encountered some great singletrack. I had the same feeling of being a big kid in the dirt even though i was riding an old bike with drop bars and smooth (albeit fat) tires.

Drop Balloon Bike in the Woods

My daughter and I recently went to a more local venue near Seattle called Duthie Hill. We had an incredibly fun time doing the beginner loop and really enjoyed the smooth, flowing sections. It feels a bit like skiing at times. Just one continuous smooth flowing ride down a hill through the trees. We saw a lot of guys with modern kit like full face helmets and pads riding monster travel full suspension bikes. Great stuff for the more technical trails, but not necessary for our fun ride.

"New" MTB

I will always love riding the dirt, and some of the best is here in the NW!

Nothing like it!