Category: Cycling

Check out these awesome cycling videos

Carl Setzer

I’ve been an avid cyclist pretty much all of my life. For nearly a decade I went without owning a car, where my bike was my main mode of transportation, along with buses and feet. Over these past few decades in suburbia, I’ve lost some of my advidness. But this is still my soul. Now, good ol’ YouTube has detected this and started feeding me videos to get my love re-ignited.

Though I’ve been been a fixie/fix-gear rider, I am enthralled with those who ride ’em. And especially those who ride them in cities. Bold! With “fixie mulhouse – my legs are my gear”, I enjoy watching them ride through the city. I also wish I had a group of rider friends back in those days for me.

 

This one is a blast. Reminds me of the days when any potential girlfriend needed to love cycling as much as me. (I’m fortunate that this description fits my wife)

Now, though most of my cycling is urban, I have a lot of experience mountain biking. I’ve long admired trials riders like Hans Rey and Danny Macaskill, who blows my mind. His talent, balance, and skill are, simply, amazing. I’m proud that I can do a track stand.

 

Lastly, I have been adding things to my cycling playlist on YouTube. Give it a look!

 

Watch “I Just Want To Ride – Lael Wilcox and the 2019 Tour Divide” on YouTube

Carl Setzer

I adore cycling. Its been key part of my life since my mid-tweens. I’ve ridden in many states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Florida amongst others). For most of my twenties I refused to own a car. At one point my bike was the most important thing in my life. Now, things have changed. But I still love life with two wheels.

As a younger chap, a two week ride from Canada to Mexico would’ve seemed awesome. So, discovering Tour Divide captivated me. Discovering Lael Wilcox, the star of the video below, also delights me. I’m looking forward to exploring more of her riding life.

So, this is a great story and ride. I recommend the video below. And I’ll have more to say I’ve watched her other stuff. But go ahead and started. Don’t wait for me! Oh, and let me know what you think, any other riders out there you think I should check out, any suggestions would be very welcome.

A few thoughts on cycling this Saturday morning 

Carl Setzer

Was just reading through a bunch of articles about cycling, all centered in the Pacific NorthWest. Urban cycling, bicycle touring, city planning, healthy living and how cycling fits into a sustainable culture; filling my brain with ideas. A big thing: I need to get out and ride more. Of course, it’s been been quite chilly here around Puget Sound. And such things challenge my desire to ride. 

I’ve become much more of a fair weathered cyclist. At one point, the notion of being such horrified me. I was committed to riding, bike commuting, cycling as urban transport. A few accidents with cars (with broken bones and other fun) and myriad close calls, my tolerance for urban riding waned. Plus, moving back home to Seattle’s suburbs threw me deep into car culture. Riding became a weekend hobby. I hate this. 

The desire to return to deep immersion into bike culture hits me regularly. It rebounds off of the suburban car culture, but bounces back. The overcommitted life, which is only manageable with a car, my 20 mile commute, the geographic spread of suburban life all factor in. 

I’m also weary of the challenge of getting exercise. I need to block time to get to the gym, versus just walking/riding all the time. There’s a community around cycling that’s pretty amazing. So many benefits to the cycle-centric life, and I miss them. 

It’s Labor Day Weekend: Time For Bumbershoot And Prepping For Autumn 

Carl Setzer

For many folks Labor Day weekend with temps in the mid to upper 80s is glorious. Week, not for me. This Seattleite find such temperatures abhorrent. 

Now, I like the sun. Though the brown grass saddens me. Seattle is the Emerald City, not the Kinda Brown City. Our famous misty rains are what keep our fair city laden with green. 

So, it’ll be a great weekend to either be outdoors, or right next to an AC. A decent weekend for our great music festival: Bumbershoot. For the uninitiated, the Seattle Center is taken over by musicians, comedians, and other artistic types. Along with hordes of humanity, in all its array of states and conditions. It’s quite the spectacle. 

If you aren’t familiar with Bumbershoot, it’s not a weird fringe thing (Seatttle had those, too, much to my delight) . This one is well regarded and brings in top-billed talent. Check out this year’s line up. For me, more importantly, you’ll also find many up-and-coming acts, so you’ll have great opportunities to find your next favorite artist. 

A very different vibe than Folklife. Not bad, but Folklife is much mite “hippie” where Bumbershoot is a polished, commercial event.

With any major event at the Seattle Center, expect traffic to horrible. When I lived in the Downtown Core, I’d bike down there. I delighted in riding all around the city, and working my way through crowds and heavy traffic was even better. If you’re not interested in cycling, here’s a pro-tip: drive to an outlying park and ride, bus down to Westlake Center, then grab the Monorail to the Seattle Center. During major events like this, they’ll be running until 11:30. Do plan ahead and make sure your bus/park-and-ride convo soul work for the time you’ll want to leave. Getting stranded in the City sucks worse than traffic or inflated parking prices. 

Enjoy Bembershoot if you’re going. It’s ironic that the best use of the event’s namesake will be to keep the sun off. Me? I’m gong to try to do some biking (nowhere near downtown). Probably just up here in Lynnwood and Edmonds. And otherwise just relax. Write and read, and look forward to autumn finally arriving. I guess I could get my wearer’s out and give them a good washing. Their time is coming. 

Headed to Whidbey Island this weekend? There’ll be some traffic impacts

Carl Setzer

Hey Whidbey Island ferry travelers,

Catching the ferry to Whidbey this weekend? Please give yourself extra travel time. On SR 525 between Mutiny Bay and Bakken Road (mileposts 22 to 25) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. road crews will be working on this 30 mile summer paving project.

Fellow cyclists, cycling the Island this weekend? Well, consider alternate routes. Those crews will be road grinding Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and there will be uneven surfaces along SR 525 between Mutiny Bay Road and SR 20.

Don’t forget you can reserve a ferry sailing spot on many runs (though not the Mukilteo : Whidbey run).

 

Resisting Infirmity

Carl Setzer

Yesterday, while out on a walk, I saw an older man struggling with a walker. A young woman (my assumption; his daughter) worked hard to help him into her car. Seeing such drives me; resist infirmity with vigor!

Currently, my fitness regimen is a blend of taekwondo, walking, cycling and weights. I want to add kayaking and cross-country skiing. Oh, and hiking, which can tie to walking. This region has such lovely places to do all these, it would be sad not to.

I’m seeking to combine strength, flexibility and balance. These are the critical elements to prevent infirmity. I envision myself as an old man, robust and healthy, surrounded by friends and family. A worthy goal, methinks.

Grinduro: A New Kind Of Bike Race?

Carl Setzer

This looks like a freaking awesome party down in the Sierra Nevadas. But October is a hard time for me to get away, what with everyone else in school and all. Heck, maybe it will be a great time for ME to break away. Sigh, probably not.

GRINDURO
On October 10, the world will be introduced to Grinduro, a new format of bike racing that combines the best elements of a mountain bike enduro and a gravel grinder road race.The Grinduro is one long loop of pavement, dirt and singletrack, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time. Instead, you’ll be timed only on four segments that were designed to reward the most well rounded of rouleurs.

The course is a serious affair (8,000-feet of climbing in 60 miles of our favorite roads in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains), but the Grinduro isn’t meant to be a sufferfest. You’ll ride with friends, enjoy the rest stops, take in the views, and then give it all you’ve got during the timed segments.

Once you’re done riding, the real party gets started. Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the party as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, free camping and a festival atmosphere.

Grinduro is a new kind of bike race, and you won’t want to miss this party.
Learn more and register today.
GRINDURO

Bike Exchange At Seaview Elementary June 6

Carl Setzer

Are your kids in need of a bigger bike? Need to get a  bike out of your garage? You may be able to find one at the GayLynne Ullerich Bicycle Extravaganza at Seaview Elementary on Saturday June 6th from 10:00 – 1:00PM. GayLynne was a friend who loved the outdoors, especially cycling. Besides teaching, she taught all kinds of classes at REI. This is a perfect way to honor her. So, bring in a ‘too small’ bike to exchange for a bigger bike, if available.  This fun event includes a bicycle rodeo, bike tune ups and helmets for sale.  Please see below

Seaview Bike Exchange 2015
Seaview Bike Exchange 2015

for details.

 

 

A Saturday Walk

Carl Setzer

Today’s lovely rainy morning makes me glad I spent so much time outside yesterday. Walked quite a bit around Lynnwood. My FitBit motivates me to exercise. Dropping a few pounds really encouraged me to go further. For a suburb, Lynnwood is remarkably walkable. Not like downtown Edmonds, but still. Crossing 99 is a little nerve-wracking, as everyone there is in such a hurry that common sense and compassion fail. Anyways, walking in Lynnwood’s challenge: the bigger time-commitment.

I walked over to Scriber Lake park. As it’s been rainy, I expected to see Yoda pop out crying “slimy mud-hole? My home this is! ” Ok, some of the trail was a little squishy, but it was mainly fine. This time of year, make sure you have non-leaky shoes.

I wandered from there up to Edmonds Community College, then over to Lynndale. On the whole walk, I saw three land-use signs up. One at the ancient Taco Bell, (of late a taco shack) next to Ed’s Surplus. Sadly, didn’t like too closely to see what’s going in. Then one at the old Ballys. Looks like a church is building there. And then the college is getting ready to build a science, engineering and technology building. Lots of growth coming. That didn’t count all the road work projects.

There are things I notice while walking that I otherwise missed. Too much hurry and we miss detail, and it’s these details that build connection to ‘place’. Hence why I love walking and bicycling to explore, to understand. The weight loss helps, too.