Thursday, April 29, 2010

Our Mayor responds to the tragedy on the CRT

The Mayor of Renton has responded to the tragic accident on the Cedar River Trail.

David Hiller, of Cascade Bicycle Club, has a post on his blog about this incident. He offers the following suggestions to cyclists to be safer.

Simply put, there are things that bicyclists can do to minimize the potential for and severity of collisions:

1) Slow when others are present — you can’t know how other trail users will react when you’re overtaking. Going slower gives you more time to react AND will minimize the severity of a collision should one occur. No one’s heart-rate or wattage is worth endangering others. If you “need to go full-out”, do it on the road, on rollers, or on your trainer — not on a trail.

2) Use bell or voice when passing — just like the ubiquitous signs say. If you’re concerned that there’s confusion among pedestrians as to what “on your left” means, try something else like “passing.”

3) Pass safely. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I see bicyclists passing into oncoming traffic, passing two-abreast, and passing too closely daily. Pass single file. Wait for oncoming traffic to pass before pulling around slower trail users. Works best when combined with 1 & 2.

4) Ride single file when others are present and stay as far to the right as is safe to facilitate overtaking. If you travel at a speed below the posted limit on our regional trails, make it safer and easier for faster riders to pass.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

going to B'ham

I have a workshop the next two days in Bellingham, WA and I hope to take a bike with me to explore.

Someone put together some bike routes maps.

There are a few community and/or college bike shops to explore too.

I'm taking a camera (if I remember it) to snap pics.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

bike to work month is coming up quick!

I have three teams started up at my workplace. My team has four plus me. We're "Spokin' Hot" team.

More soon.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

sad news in local community

An elderly woman was struck by a cyclist this week on a local regional trail and died from her injuries.

More on this story.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sunday's ride

35-ish miles in about 2:40.

Burnt about 1633 kCals.

my Saturday (rainy) ride

Here's my route from last Saturday.

40 miles in 2:50.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

40 miles in 2:50

I was pretty pumped up Saturday. 40 miles in less than three hours. 14-something mph average speed and no breaks until about 20-something miles in.

3 months until I point the bike towards PDX and chew up 200+ miles.

Only mechanical issue that happened was an extremely wobbly wheel by ride end. Must have been the 37mph descent... lol.