Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Friday is Bike-to-Work Day!
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
May 18, 2011 at 5:42 pm #598964
lucky chickMemberIf you’ve thought about giving it a try, it’s a great day to start. There will be a station on the lower bridge trail. You can get commute advice, free mechanical work, bike maps, snacks, and other swag. Hope to see lots of new faces!
May 18, 2011 at 6:15 pm #724550
WSBKeymasterthanks for the reminder, this year I had made myself a note to mention it BEFORE the day got here. There’s an embeddable map and other info on the cascade.org site I will be pulling from. And … the weather will still be great.
May 18, 2011 at 6:17 pm #724551
Genesee HillParticipantLooks like the weather is even going to cooperate! Enjoy!
May 18, 2011 at 8:26 pm #724552
AlParticipantThis may be the best BTW day weather in two years – very exiting! Hope to see lots of newbies out there. If you need someone to ride in with, why not post for assistance here? Or, even if you want to try riding on a different day. I am sure there’s lots of us cyclists in WS who would be glad to help…
May 18, 2011 at 9:57 pm #724553
DPMemberlc: Are you suggesting that Tracy and Patrick ride their bikes to cover stories on Friday?
Gosh. I hope it’s a slow news day Friday. Either that or that all the news happens within a small radius.
May 18, 2011 at 10:43 pm #724554
AlParticipantDP, that’s actually a good idea! A bike related reporting focus on BTW day…
May 18, 2011 at 11:17 pm #724555
DPMemberI work at home, so I’ll merely be riding from the garage to my basement office.
The staircase is a bee-atch, but once I’m past that I’m in the clear.
May 19, 2011 at 2:58 am #724556
JayDeeParticipantBut isn’t the commute home up the staircase? ;-)
May 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm #724557
sbreParticipantEVERY day is bike-to-work day for me, unless the ground is frozen or I HAVE to meet my wife for an evening Mariners game (which I ride to when going alone, like last night.)
I have been doing it year-around for the last 6 years and have been able to encourage one person to ‘come to our side’.
If you’ve ever seriously considered riding to work on a regular (more often) basis, I would welcome the opportunity to pass on what I have learned from those cold, wet, windy and wonderful Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb etc. days. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear and attitudes!
Safety is paramount, with not sending my money to the gas companies and oil producing nations a very close second.
One other positive; I can (almost) eat whatever I want and still not let too much of it settle on my (almost) 52 year old waist line!!!!!
(“Good morning Deloris”)
May 19, 2011 at 3:10 pm #724558
sun*eParticipantIf only there was a helmet out there that didn’t give me “helmet hair”… it’s just not a good look for me at work.
May 19, 2011 at 4:02 pm #724559
AlParticipantIf you are getting helmet hair your helmet may be too tight. Most riders I know either have a bike friendly haircut (not always short!) or have figured out that a little spritz of water and a comb works wonders to refresh the look. :-)
May 19, 2011 at 4:45 pm #724560
lucky chickMemberAs Al said, plenty of people are willing to help you get ready and go, if you’re just hearing about this now. As well, if you can’t make it tomorrow but are still interested, there are people who would like to lend a hand (the first time is daunting for everyone!). People ask for and receive help all the time with the Cascade Bike Club folks.
May 19, 2011 at 8:03 pm #724561
SemeleParticipantI rode my bike to work for the first time last Friday (to Factoria) and it was great. I do really hate the traversing through SODO part, but once you make it to the I-90 trail it’s easy. Riding that way by myself I wasn’t so sure of at first, but I survived, and looking forward to doing it more often!
May 19, 2011 at 8:32 pm #724562
lucky chickMember@Semele: Someday the SODO nightmare will end. I still take the E Marginal/Alaskan route to Jackson, but I abhor it. Have you tried First Ave and is it any better?
.
hint: leave one of your bottle cages empty tomorrow – the stations give out really good water bottles.
May 19, 2011 at 8:42 pm #724563
SemeleParticipantI only take 1st ave for the little part from what is it, Holgate? to Lander I think, which I then take to sixth to get to Dearborn. All of it sucks haha. Almost had a big Franz truck run me over on sixth, they scare me the most! Thanks for the heads up about the water bottle :)
May 19, 2011 at 10:16 pm #724564
KimberleyParticipantDamn you people being good (bad) influences. My only concern is Alaskan Way, I see that part of it is she down to traffic, but is it still passable on bike? I need to go from w. sea to downtown (5th and Columbia area). I heard that there’s a bike trail along the light rail line, is that true?
@Semele How’s miss daisy cakes? I found some (old) pictures of her the other day.
May 19, 2011 at 10:28 pm #724565
SemeleParticipant@Kimberley She is doing great! coming up on twelve weeks, we hope to have her do a trial day back at SFHD in a couple of weeks. We have to board her the end of June so want to see how she handles it (she’s supposed to be able to be able to be back to normal activities after this week). She gets her evaluation from the hydro therapy tonight as well. Hopefully the two will be playing again soon!
May 19, 2011 at 10:45 pm #724566
lucky chickMemberYes, you can still get through on your bike, you just have follow the detours and BE CAREFUL. There’s a spot where trucks pull out while you’re still on the sidewalk/trail and you must be VERY sure that they see you. I would suggest you stay on the west-side sidewalk the whole way until you are directed back across the road (I prefer to cross and ride in the road, but the suggested bike crossing is not safe for bikes at all – bad planning in that area). If you stay on the sidewalk/trail, the trucks pulling out are all you have to worry about (and be cautious of peds – just let them know you’re there and they’ll be courteous back).
Have fun! First commute?
May 20, 2011 at 3:19 am #724567
KimberleyParticipantThanks lucky chick! Nope, first commute not via water taxi since the road crud started. I appreciate the low down on Alaskan Way!
May 20, 2011 at 3:45 pm #724568
lucky chickMemberNew riders – how did it go?? Beautiful day, for sure. Any thoughts on continuing to bike-commute?
.
Kimberly, I hope you navigated the Alaskan Way mess without too much trouble. The path was kind of crowded (but that’s a good thing). Water taxi might have been more pleasant, but then you wouldn’t have gotten free water bottles and energy bars :) !
May 20, 2011 at 4:18 pm #724569
KimberleyParticipantOh but I would have – there’s a station in my building ;o) Thanks for the tips, they were helpful. Also, I hate hills.
May 20, 2011 at 4:37 pm #724570
AlParticipantGood job for all those first timers who rode it today – the best weather all year and you got to get out in it.
Kimberley, yes, the hills are not fun, especially on the ride home. But just remember they do get easier (if only a little less hated) and they also allow you to burn some calories and get in great shape!
May 20, 2011 at 7:28 pm #724571
SemeleParticipantno water bottles at 7:15 when I hit the station under the bridge, however, there were plenty once I got over to the East side! It was a gorgeous day, and my second commute, I plan on doing it at least once a week if not two if my schedule can swing it. It was great seeing so many people out today!
May 20, 2011 at 7:45 pm #724572
lucky chickMemberBottles are good, but the downtown Bellevue station gave out DOUGHNUTS. I couldn’t make up my mind about which kind to take so they insisted I take both. I complied :).
.
I just love that this fine yearly event recruits new commuters. It recruited me 10 years ago.
.
Thanks again to the sponsors, the drivers who managed to exhibit patience and self-control, and see you cyclists, new and seasoned, on the road!
May 20, 2011 at 10:32 pm #724573
DPMemberFYI – Every gallon of gas you burn releases 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. Don’t know boutch’all, but 20 pounds of extra dreck is not something I’d want weighing on my conscience.
Or my atmosphere.
Good carbon karma to all who biked or deferred a car trip today. And especially to those of you who were bike-to-work virgins.
You’ll never forget your first “ride.”
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.