Dirty Dozen Numero Uno

Port Gamble Cemetary

Sky Dog

And They're Off

Kerry

Mo

Road Bike Cleats & Shoes?????????????

Stuck in the Car

Shit Pile

T-SHIRTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Over on Crosscut, my old boss Knute Berger has found a trend, and it's not pretty. All along the mossy corridor from Portland to Vancouver, the road rage virus has contaminated the cycling community. He identifies how Portland, probably the nation's most bike-crazed metropolis, has had a rash of two-wheeled altercations. You can find some media accounts here, here, and even in Newsweek.

Here, of course, Friday's Critical Mass incident on Cap Hill has generated so much blog/reader comment traffic at the Times and P-I (and, yes, Stranger) that there's no point in even linking to them. I fully expect to be reading, and perhaps writing, more such stories at least through Labor Day. And then comes the election season.

Anger equals blogging intensity, but it doesn't necessarily translate into votes. King County Executive Ron Sims, a cyclist, has achieved great popularity in making himself Mr. Bike Trail, while only alienating a few property owners on the east side of Lake Sammamish by extending and improving suburban bike routes. Likewise, picking and winning a fight with Lake Forest Park about who controls the Burke-Gilman Trail surely helped him here in the city.

Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Nickels, not a guy one associates with exercise, has pleased many with his embrace of the Master Bicycle Plan. I suspect he could now please a different blogging/voting constituency by cracking down on Critical Mass, telling the group it needs to file a parade plan with the city—to be enforced by the cops—rather than continue its red-light-running, intersection-"corking" ways, which so enrage drivers. Among the blogging camp that decries "bike Nazis," this seems to be the greatest source if ire: That cyclists don't obey traffic laws, that they run red lights and stop signs, consider themselves above the law. And, to state the obvious: Most voters are drivers, not cyclists. Our city's cycle commuting percentage is down around three or four percent, as opposed to about 16 percent in Portland.

To be sure, the vitriolic flame wars are like those side-window screaming matches you sometimes see at a downtown stop light: The cyclist yelling that the motorist cut him off, the motorist shouting that bikes have no business in traffic. Man does that argument get tedious. I'm not proud to say that I've been there myself on a few occasions, from the biker's position. And never have those exchanges accomplished anything, no matter what I've written before. I've regretted every word said in anger to the ignorant driver of some SUV.

Because, and this is I think the take-home for the aggro young fellas in those Critical Mass rallies, so proudly riding their fixed-gear machines without benefit of a helmet (or health insurance, I suspect). Every one of those verbal altercations—and let's hope they don't turn physical—is a potential conversion moment, a sale to be made. Inside every selfish and potentially lethal Hummer is a cyclist waiting to be born—a soul to be saved, if you want to evangelize about it. Instead of lecturing some driver how selfish he is, how he's contributing to global warming and destroying the planet, you could point out that by biking you're giving him a parking space, you're giving him more room on the road, you're giving him better air to breathe, and that by obeying traffic laws you're improving traffic flow, not hindering it. (My best rejoinder these days, when some motorist says that I, pedaling along the curb, am slowing him down is to politely ask, "By how many seconds before you reach the next red light? I am so sorry about that. Can I write you a check pro-rated for your lost wages? How much would that be?")

This is why Critical Mass has a fork in its ass. It's over. It's done. It's tired. It's pointless. The point, as recognized by organizations like the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Cascade Bicycle Club, is to work with the city and county to improve conditions for cyclists and motorists alike, to mend fences, to reduce the rage that—as Berger writes on Crosscut—cuts across all modes of transportation. There's never enough lanes of pavement, never enough seats on the bus, never enough buses, not enough bike rakes, too few designated bike lanes, insufficient sharrows, not enough ferries. We've all got our complaints, our anger management issues. The blogs and reader comments show that. And man are they tedious to read.

This morning, riding to work, I watched a bike messenger shoot downhill through the stop sign at Western and University. No cop, no stop. Nor were there any cars. Nor any tourists, as there tend to be later in the day at the Harbor Steps. I routinely have to creep my bike through that T-bone junction (and, no, I don't put my foot down or come to a full stop). So, sure, I envied that messenger's little bit of reckless freedom. But if a cop had been there, I'd have been glad to see him give the messenger a ticket. It would've been a sign of progress.

Karl Poynter rollback - brighton ain't ready from Czerwin on Vimeo.

Beezley Burn

Fuckin' Great Race + Free Camping!!!!!!!! 2 races in two days. Yup.

The 5th annual Beezley Burn race is going to be on April 25 & 26 in Ephrata, WA. Lots of prizes, $2000 pro pay out. Family Fun. You can check out the website at www.beezleyburn.com registration is up and running.If you have a calendar to put this on, we would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Karen Maedke
139 E St SW Ephrata, WA 98823
beezleyburn@gmail.com
509-760-3620

Wasted Russian Guy Attempts to Ride Bike

Wow ever since Sheryl Crow left him Lance Armstrong has become really self destructive.

Get humor videos at NothingToxic

Schmitz Park

Schmitz Park, also known as Schmitz Preserve Park, is a 53.1 acre (215,000 m²) park around 15 blocks east of Alki Point in West Seattle, Washington. It features Schmitz Park Creek and one of the last stands of old-growth forest in the city.
Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz donated 30 acres (121,000 m²) of the park to the city in 1908. (Ferdinand was the city's Parks Commissioner from 1908 to 1914). Additions to the park were purchased in 1909, 1930, 1947, and 1958.

Save the Dates

Evergreen events:

Sunday April 19th - 4 Hours at South SeaTacBack by popular demand, start your season with this fun and challenging event for all skill levels. Register in teams of 2 or 4. Location: SeaTac, WA.
Saturday, May 30th - Colonnade Freeride CompetitionI-5 Colonnade construction is over and done with. Why not put it through the paces? This is a judged freeride competition for all levels. Only 107 days to train! Location: I-5 Colonnade, Seattle, WA.
Saturday, June 27th – Poker Run at Rat PacEver had the strange experience of riding through the forest with people handing you poker cards along the way? Vegas this is not. Come for the ride, camp for the weekend! Location: TBD
Saturday, August 1st – Duthie Hill Trail Building CompetitionYou be the judge…Trail teams are building as we speak. Ride Duthie Hill trails and features for the first time and help to crown a winner in the one and only build competition at the Eastside’s newest and premier mountain bike experience. Location: Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, Issaquah, WA.
Saturday/Sunday, August 29th – 24 Hours of Evergreen24 hours of riding. 20,000 feet of vertical gain. Have fun. Location: Ranger Creek, East of Enumclaw, WA.
Events will include food and beverages, vendor booths, Evergreen t-shirt and jersey sales, and fun additions including great raffle prizes. All proceeds benefit the advocacy, trail work and rider education programs of Evergreen!

Tyler Farrar

Local Racer snags a big one in Tirreno - Adriatico. Check out the "Devil's Horns" on Cycling News. That's what happens when they let kids from Wenatchee race in Europe.

From VN:

Tyler Farrar did what many haven’t been able to manage lately – come around Mark Cavendish to win a bunch sprint.
That’s just what the 24-year-old Garmin-Slipstream did on what was a very lucky Friday the 13th.
He timed his final punch to the line perfectly to win the 166km third stage from Fuchecchio to Santa Croce Sull’Arno at the 44th Tirreno-Adriatico on Friday.
Farrar bolted past Cavendish’s left shoulder, taking a prestigious bunch sprint ahead of the likes of Tom Boonen (fourth) and Robbie McEwen (fifth).
Following Christian Vande Velde’s stage win Wednesday at Paris-Nice, it was Garmin-Slipstream’s second big victory of the week.
The victory was especially emotional for Farrar, whose father, Ed, was paralyzed after being hit by a car while cycling to work last fall. He quickly dedicated his victory to his father.
VeloNews was there for the post-stage press conference:

Question: How would you characterize this victory?
Tyler Farrar: This is, by far, my biggest victory. It’s a similar feeling to when I won two stages at Avenir. That showed me that I could race at this level as a professional. With this victory, now I can see I can win at this level.
Q: How does it feel to win ahead of people like Cavendish and Boonen?
TF: It’s fantastic. I’ve been waiting for my first big win for a while now. It has been a bit of a rough winter, because my father was hit by a car and was paralyzed. So I spent the winter in America to be with him. I had a good winter of training and I knew I was coming here with some good form. I just needed some luck. I’ve had a few wins, but never something as big as this, against a field like this. I dedicate this victory to my father.
Q: For some people, this victory was a surprise, was it for you as well?
TF: Yes and no. I always knew that I was capable of doing this, that I knew I had it in me to win, that it was just a matter of luck, and being at the right place at the right time.
Q: Tell us about the sprint, how did you get into position?
TF: The team had a lot of confidence in me all day. I had Julian Dean, Martijn Maaskant and Mike Friedman taking care of me during the last 30km, keeping me out of the wind. They put me in position until 5km to go. Martijn did a great super pull through the final crosswind section. Then I was just looking for the wheels of the teams leading out the sprint. Cav just came inside of me in the last corner. I know he’s fast, so I took his wheel. I think he went a little too early. I saw him slow down at a little at the end, so I could take my chance.
Q: Have you changed anything in your training to become stronger?
TF: I’ve changed my training quite a bit. I’ve been working with Adrie (Van Diem) and he’s had me do things differently. I’ve been spending more time in the gym, hitting the weight room, a lot more motor-pacing. It’s starting to pay off. I feel stronger than ever.
Q: Last year you were fifth at Paris-Tours, how do you expect to do at Milan-San Remo?
TF: I’m here to get in shape for the classics. This is good for my confidence, but Milan-San Remo is a special race. It’s so long, but my condition is good. If I have a good day, I hope to do something. I’m good for the sprint, but in the mountains, let’s wait and see how I do. On a good day, I can survive the climbs, on a bad day, well … I’m going to try.
Q: What are your expectations for the northern classics?
TF: We have a young team, but we will have a strong team. I am just hoping to have the best possible condition and see how it plays out. Martijn was fourth last year in Paris-Roubaix. If Martijn is good, I’ll do everything I can to help him. If he’s not so good or if I am on a great day, maybe I’ll try something. I’ll do the best I can.
Q: Why do you live in Ghent instead of Girona with your other Garmin teammates?
TF: I’ve been there a few years now. I was already living there when I came to the team. I’m happy there. It’s great training for the classics. It’s most important to be happy and to train for the classics, for me, that’s in Belgium. The rain doesn’t bother me so much because I am from Washington, so I am used to it.
Q: What does this victory do for your confidence?
TF: I already felt like I was in good condition, but to win in front of riders like this is huge. This does a lot for my confidence ahead of the classics. I hope it’s the first of many wins this year.
Q: It’s the second big win of the week for the team, things are going well?
TF: This team is having a good week. With Christian winning in Paris-Nice is just great. These things tend to build and raise the morale of everyone. I hope it keeps going in this way.
Q: Being an American, what do you think of Lance Armstrong’s comeback?
TF: It’s good for American cycling. I think in the long-term, it’s a good thing for cycling. It brings lots of attention to the sport, especially in the United States, where it’s not so popular like it is here in Italy or Belgium. There’s no one who can bring that kind of attention to cycling like Lance. He’s a big celebrity, not just in cycling, but all over the world. At the Tour of California, which always has good crowds, you saw three times as many people this year because they wanted to watch Armstrong race. He has a compelling story and I looked up to him. I’m a very different kind of rider, so it’s not like I wanted to be like Lance Armstrong some day. When I was just starting, he was winning the Tour de France every year. He’s the best American cyclist ever.

Ravensdale Cancelled

The Chief USCF Official and BuDu Racing have decided to cancel the race today. The snow is currently on the road. Please contact info@BuDuracing.com if you have any questions. Thanks.

4 Hours of Sea Tac

Join us for...The 4 Hours of SeaTac on APRIL 19th. It's not a race, it's a relay for fun! BBQ, awards, and prizes after the relay. A fun event for the whole family.
Riders participate in teams of 4. You can form your own team and register together, or enter the "team lottery" as a single rider and we will randomly assign you to a team.
Riders ride the 4 mile course, trading off with the other pair from their team on each lap until the four hours are up.
Entry limited to 25 teams.
Pre-registration $10 donation per rider (until 4/18). Day-of-ride $12 per rider.
Riders of all ages welcome
Helmets required for ALL riders Pre-Registration Closed Classes: All Gals (4); All Guys (4); Iron Men or Gals (2); Co-ed (4);Over-The-Hill (45+yrs)(4); Lottery (4) (riders not on teams) The 4 Hours of SeaTac is a volunteer-powered BBTC event. Questions? Email 4hours@bbtc.org. More Info: Directions: I-5 Exit 151 at S. 200th St.Go 1 mile west, to our signs at the bottom of the hillEvent schedule:
8:00 - 9:30 AM
Sign-in for Teams and Individuals
9:30 AM
Mandatory Riders Meeting
10:00 AM
Team Pairs Start at timed intervals
1:30 PM + start time interval
Last Riders on Course
2:00 PM + start time interval
Finish Scoring
2:00 PM
FREE BBQ!!
3:00 PM
Prizes & Awards!!Bring your lawn chair(s), favorite beverages, water, snacks, and... your helmet.
4 Hours of Seatac ’08 Rules + Rules + Rules + Rules
This is NOT a Race!! Ride at Your Own Recreational Pace! 4 Mile Loop with Lot of Fun Technical Singletrack
1. Team of 4 Ride in Pairs 92) Iron Men/Gals & 45+ Ride in Pairs (2) 2. Team Short of Riders will have Riders Added. 3. IMPORTANT: All Fill out “Ride Entry & Release Form”!! 4. Sign-in Team upon Arrival at “Teams” window 5. Lottery Individuals Sign-in at “Lottery” Window (will be assigned to a team) 6. Attach “Team # Plate” on Bike. (See Display)a. Your Team “Token” is to be displayed on your person or your bike (see Rule 7) 7. Teams Start at One Minute Intervals. Team Pairs Must be Logged “Out” & “In”By Official Scorer. See Posted Timetables 8. Teams are Scored as Pairs “Together” at S/F and random Check Points. 9. Quickest Lap Time over all averge is 30 minutes (8 Laps Max) See Scorring 10. Slowest Lap Time 60 Minutes. Team can Appeal for Next Relay Pair Start 11. Pass Slower Riders w/Verbal Request “On your Left” & Safely…pick a Wide Spot!! 12. Allow Faster Riders to Pass if Asked. No Blocking!! 13. SAFETY ISSUES: At Paved Road Crossings Watch for Moto Vechicles 14. Aid any Seriously Injured Rider until Medical Help Arrives!! 15. On-Course Repairs: Teammate may continue to S/F with a Time Penalty 16. Be IMBA Courteous to Non-Event Riders on the Trails 17. Casual Riding (warm-up, etc) Only in Designated Area (Stay off the course)This is a “NO-PEE Zone”!! (Do it in the provided sanican.)
Scoring: Your “Start Time Interval” is factored into all scored times(A)Team completing most laps within their 4 hour segment win in class (see B * C) Laps completed after a Team’s 4 Hour segment are not counted (ex: 7 laps in 4hrs, 5 min = 6 net laps.) Riders will be checked in several areas: Stay on the course!(B) Team’s “Actual Finish Time” (in minutes) & “Laps Completed” is compared to the “30 minutes per Lap Minimum Standard” to determine “Net Laps” Scored. IE: Actual Finish Time (Minutes) divided by Laps Completed > 30 = Net Laps Scored. EX (1) 235”/ 5 Laps =47 > 30 = 5 Laps Scored(2) 203” /7 Laps =29 < 30 (Deduct 1 Lap) = 6 Laps Scored(3) if T/L = Less than 29.0 Deduct 2 Laps (ie: 231:/10 Laps=22 < 30 = 8 Laps Scored)(C) Ties are Broken by “Actual” vs “Estimated” (ie:4hrs) Finishing Time Differentials Closets to Zero. Ex: Smallest Plus [+] beats Smallest Minus [-](D) Course will be Monitored to Assure Fairness..No Shortcuts! NOTE: Decisions by Event Officials will be Fair as Possible…and Final!!
Questions? Will be Answered at 9:30 Riders Meeting! TIMETABLE:8:00 -9:30 Sign In: 9:30 Riders Meeting; 10:00 (+ interval) Teams Start as Posted on Rules;1:30 (+ interval) Last Riders Out (as Posted); 2:00 (+ interval) Finish Scoring Activities.
A REMINDER: BBQ Starts at 1:30. Prizes & Awards at 3:00 Buy a Cool T-Shirt for yourself or Your Significant other

How do you want to spend 1/2 a day?

12 Hours of South Sea Tac
Date: Saturday May 9, 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Type of Event: Mountain12 hour MTB Race
Big Lebowski Party/Costume Contest
Can Food Drive
solo, 2 person & 4 person teams
Contact Email: stiffwick@comcast.net

Dirty Dozen

Hey Everybody! The 7th Annual Dirty Dozen Mountain Bike Race Series is almost here! This is a fun race and always gets great reviews!
The Race Dates are: March 21-- April 18-- May 23
Race Location: Port Gamble (Kitsap County- 2 miles NE of the Hood Canal Bridge)
Easy bike or vehicle access from Edmonds/Kingston ferry! This is a non-Norba event. Registration Begins at 9:00 a.m Registration Fee is $25 - Juniors $15 - and Kids race Free! Start times: Sport/ Beginner -14 miles 10:00 a.m Expert -24 miles 12:00 noon Kids (free) 12:30 p.m Questions? kerry@fphconstruction.com sawork@qwestoffice.net or Silverdale Cyclery 360-692-5508
We hope to see you there!!

Come on out and support this race and all the good riding in that area.

Two & Two

So Randy has notched up 3 top tens in 2 weeks with this weekend giving him two second place finishes at Mason & Dung. I warned him that he has to be careful at this pace.
"Yeah, I might burn out.", "No they'll make you upgrade."
That is proof positive that drunk and angry do not equal slow.


His last big award:

The guy makes me proud.

IF

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!


--Rudyard Kipling

This is to get you motivated for the first Mason Lake Road Race this weekend. Narrow wet chip seal roads and early season jitters. The pot -o- gold at the end: zip / nada / a long drive home.

You could save money and do the alley cat AND get some BBQ at the end.

Or you could just go mountain biking with friends.

Or you could stay home and drink all day.

Alot of options out there.

Korea

Evidently, the Busto has landed.

The Cascade Bicycle Club is holding a safety-information fair 4-6 p.m. Tuesday in Seattle's Sam Smith Park near the I-90 bike tunnel in Seattle's Mount Baker area. The site is where a cyclist reported being punched and robbed last week by two men wearing hockey masks.
In the past year, there have been at least six crimes or attempted crimes against cyclists in that area, according to M.J. Kelly, club communications director. The latest was two days ago when a different bike commuter was blocked by two men in black but turned in time to avoid being attacked, Kelly said.
The club is talking with police about how to improve safety in the area and is encouraging people to ride there in groups, she said.

I knew I left my bike somewhere.......

A bicycle was left behind on the Washington State Ferry Wenatchee late Wednesday afternoon and the Coast Guard searched for a possible missing person.
The bicycle, a red "Giant" 10 speed, was found after the 5:30 p.m. run from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, according to the Coast Guard.
The bicycle was found on the ferry's car deck raising the possibility that its rider may have gone overboard.
Ferry system workers and the State Patrol searched the ferry, but found no one associated with the bicycle or any personal items left behind.
The Coast Guard, using several boats and a helicopter, searched a 15-square miles area in Elliott Bay between Seattle and Bainbridge Island for four hours, but turned up nothing.
The search was called off at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday.
Anyone having information regarding the bicycle is urged to contact the ferry system's Public Information Line at (206) 464-6400 or the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Hotline at (206) 217-6001.

Brad Lewis Memorial

Do yourself a favor and go to this one. If crits aren't your thing go and watch it. Do yourself the favor. Top shelf racing down on the streets of our Emerald City. Brad was my roomate for a few years and was from the highest shelf in the top shelf category. We're talking blue label here kids.

The forecast? Don't you worry about the forecast.

AND there are some sweeeeet sprints:

Come out and test your sprinting legs this Sunday, we’ll be running Emerald Sprints from 6:30-10pm at the Boxcar Alehouse. The Boxcar is All-ages until 10pm. Sprints will be free, but you must sign up. Registration starts at 6:30pm. Bring your friends: there will be “grudge matches” as well as a bracketed competition. This is an open invite event. People with all riding abilities are welcome. Our bikes are fixed gear, mounted on fork stands.

Extended happy hour, food menu, and lots of bike parking.

Tour de French Fry

In celebration of bikes, bike riding, starchy tubers, hot grease, and distilled spirits of the family Solanaceae, 327 Words is pleased to announce the first (and probably only) Tour de French Fry, a checkpoint-themed alleycat-style bike race starting at 20/20 Cycle, 2020 Union St., Seattle, WA, on March 28th, 2009, beginning at 3:27PM, with signups commencing about 2:30.

Drawing upon the best (or is that the worst?) of fabled events such as the .83 Never Forget (How Fat You Really Are) Bike Ride and Freedom Fry Eating Contest and the 327 Words Taco Truck Time Trial, the Tour de French Fry will see cyclists racing around town to various destinations that will afford them the opportunity to replace lost calories with warm spuds and favored condiments.

Prizes—cash and bike schwag—will be awarded for fastest times, men’s and ladies’ divisions, as well as various runner-up positions, including style points and, naturally, DFL. Prize sponsors are being lined up even as we speak and while the amount of loot will no doubt pale in comparison to the haul provided for the Fucking Hills Race, we remain hopeful that some sort of reward will be found for each and every rider who completes the course.

Entry fee is a suggested donation of $7.00, which includes food and drink, spoke card, goodie bag, and commemorative shot glasses for the first 52 participants, as well as some measure of beer and/or other beverages at the after-party.

Friends and relations are invited to show up at the Madrona Alehouse sometime after about 6:00 to join in the post-race festivities. With any luck, most cyclists will have returned by then and none will have had an eye put out by an errant French fry or lost a finger while mishandling a package of tomato ketchup.

Should be fun, rain or shine.

For more information, watch this site or email: dashap327@mac.com.

Rally Sequence

Number one fast action sequence of Pat B. and myself dueling for honors of the back of the pack single speed fools at Soaring Eagle. These shots are right before I crushed him.

Ok, I didn't really crush him, he bobbled on a rocky hill and I squeeked by but I'm taking that shit anyway. I think I ran directly into about three riders and, not surprisingly, was generally able to put them in the bushes.

Gear Calculator

Provided in an attempt to get you to stop thinking.

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html

Good day Northwest cyclists, I am pleased to announce that CyclingNW.com is back for 2009. Back in August of last year, I launched this website as a 100% free resource for all cyclists in the Northwest. Once a racer myself, I always was chomping at the bit to get race flyers and results. It can be almost a scavenger hunt sometimes. That's where the idea for this site came from. My hopes are that it will eliminate that hunt for the racers and be a hub linking together all our various cycling communities. Racers:Now you can get your results and flyers for upcoming races in one spot, without spending time searching. Our schedule provides a listing and links to all the mountain, road, track and cyclocross events in Washington, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. Promoters:Get your event listed on our master schedule free of charge with a link to your flyer or we can host your flyer for you if you do not have a website. We want to help your race get exposure and that's what we're here for. Hey, what's the catch?:There is no catch! The site is supported by advertisers who wish to gain that extra exposure on our site through the advertising banners on the site. Any interested parties should direct themselves to the advertise page on the site to find the contact email address. We will make it worth your dollar. So have a look right now: http://www.cyclingnw.com. The most recent weekend's results are now up. If you are a promoter and your race isn't on our calendar, just send a link to the appropriate email on the schedule page. The site is there to serve the community of cyclists. So if you could do so kindly, spread the word! Thank you all for your time, Evan SchmittCyclingNW.com

Time Trials and other bad ideas

Time Trials suck. There you have it. I would rather clean the garage or do taxes. Race of Truth you say? I say $25 bucks down the tube and something you could have done on the trainer. I used to be excited by them and Dave R. would always give me a hard time. I finally get it. That said, I have a TT bike (large) and helmet for sale cheap!

Soaring Eagle

Rory held a kick ass race at Soaring Eagle King County park. I've been there once before but the course today was exemplary. Do yourself a favor and get the fuck out there!

Pro Mountain Bike Gravity Tour

New US national downhill series unveiled
Gravity racers in the US have a new national-level series of races to contest this year after USA Cycling announced its Pro Mountain Bike Gravity Tour (ProGRT). Five events, including three UCI-sanctioned races, throughout the United States will provide world-class athletes with a consistent stage to showcase their downhill and four cross skills.

Beginning in May, the ProGRT will visit four states and offer series ranking points to top finishers, resulting in overall individual titles for men and women. In addition, competitors will also have the opportunity to accumulate international ranking points as three of the five races are inscripted on the UCI calendar.

The series opens with the downhill contest at the Fluidride Cup in Port Angeles, Washington on May 1-3 and then heads south to the Chile Challenge in New Mexico where both the downhill and four cross contests will be a part of the ProGRT. The tour picks back up on August 8 with both the downhill and four cross at the Blast the Mass in Snowmass, Colorado. The following weekend, the ProGRT moves east to the Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain, New York, the only race on both the Pro Cross Country Tour (ProXCT) and ProGRT. Wrapping up the tour will be the Whiteface 5K Downhill in Wilmington, New York on August 29.

"The Whiteface Mountain Bike Park is honored to be part of the Pro Gravity Tour. Five of the premier venues in the U.S. have been chosen for this historical series that will surely last for generations," said Downhill Mike, promoter of the Whiteface 5K Downhill. "It is only fitting to be the last race on the tour with our eight-minute downhill track as racers should be in their best condition of the season by late August.

"The Lake Placid - Whiteface region has hosted two Winter Olympics (1932 & 1980) and has attracted numerous top athletes of all kinds ever since. The time has now come to bring a new breed of world class athletes to Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid. Welcome Pro Gravity Tour."

The objectives of the inaugural USA Cycling Pro GRT are to provide a sequence of international-caliber events for elite gravity racers, to recognize the best gravity athletes competing on American soil, to spotlight America's top races that have made a commitment to host high-level events and ultimately to raise the level of competitive gravity racing in the U.S.

"With the development of the ProGRT we were looking to showcase the country's strongest gravity venues," said USA Cycling Mountain Bike Events and Program Director Kelli Lusk. "We want to bring the elite riders together to compete against the best on the country's top courses and ultimately crown the season's preeminent gravity riders."

2009 USA Cycling Pro Gravity MTB Tour (Pro GRT)
May 1-3: Fluidride Cup - Port Angeles, Washington (DHI) (NE)
May 23-25: Chile Challenge - Angel Fire, New Mexico (DHI/4X)(2)
August 8-9: Blast the Mass - Snowmass, Colorado (DHI/4X)(2)
August 15-16: Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain, Windham, New York (DHI/4X)(1)
August 29: Whiteface 5K, Wilmington, New York, (DHI) (NE)

The above is a picture from a GPS unit attached to a dog that ran with us on a Wednesday night ride. Pretty cool mapping feature.

You guess the trail.

This will be fun as I head to Seward Park Thursday nights

Subject: Another Mugging in Sam Smith Park

Incident occurred yesterday, 2/26

Text from a local bike forum posting:


Thought i'd put the word out that two hoodlums in all black wearing hockey masks, yanked me off the bike this afternoon around 5pm today on my way home in the middle of Sam Smith park along the I-90 trail while heading west. Just crossed MLK and two guys were hanging out on the picnic bench on the south side of trail and one started walking my direction casually and before I knew it, had ahold of my jacket. Don't know in hindsight why I didn't take evasive action to avoid him (not to mention being initially oblivious to the facial protection they were sporting until they were up in my business), but tried to peddle out of his grasp to no avail. Got punched in the face, was on the ground and another sock in the eye by his twin, all black wearing hockey buddy. A bit delirious as they demanded I give them everything I had. They weren't smart enough to remove my pannier and when they couldn't, dug through to my wallet and were off down MLK where a fellow cyclist followed them until they looped back north through the park near the Mt. Baker tunnel entrance direction ...

...Cop said that he will request more police bike patrol down that section. Don't know that that will do much for the long term due to perpetrators usually laying low for awhile before hitting the same spot again. Unfortunately, I will certainly be more apprehensive toward someone in my way on that trail now. Look out for each other!
Be careful out there.