Trails and More #1 in Washington State: Bicycling By the Numbers

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 16, 2014

Bike travelers approach Snoqualmie Pass on the John Wayne Trail.

We’re #1! Not only has Washington been the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in America 7 years in a row — we’re also #1 for great trails. And that’s not just our claim; the numbers bear it out.

Our trails offer outstanding riding whether you’re on your way to work or to the next town. Coupled with the US Bicycle Route System in the state, the future development of state scenic bikeways, and growing bike infrastructure in our towns, our vision of a complete, comfortable connected bike network all over the state moves closer to reality all the time.

If you care about trails, don’t miss the advocacy tips at the bottom. Sign up for our e-news to stay connected to trail developments.

[Tweet “Longest @railstotrails in US, most rail-trail miles in the West: WA!”]

1: Longest Rail-Trail in America

According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy. John Wayne Pioneer Trail, 253 miles. From high trestles and dramatic views in the Cascades to the quiet dry side in eastern Washington, the John Wayne Trail offers an amazing getaway.

“I’m going to let you in on one of the state’s best-kept secrets: you can ride your bike from one of the densest population centers in the Pacific Northwest to the empty eastern Washington desert mostly on a traffic-free unpaved rail trail….” — “Escape from Seattle” tour in Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: John Wayne Pioneer Trail to bike away from it all.”]

1: Most Rail-Trail Mileage in the West

Again according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, which tracks trail mileage by state, Washington has far more rail-trail mileage than any other state in the West.

Washington: 1,057 miles, 81 rail-trails, 19 current projects/147 miles
California: 726 miles, 112 rail-trails, 51 current projects/923 miles
Idaho: 408 miles, 19 rail-trails, 4 current projects/63 miles
Oregon: 295 miles, 19 rail-trails, 8 current projects/170 miles miles
Montana: 160 miles, 18 rail-trails, 4 current projects/59 miles
Utah: 139 miles, 12 rail-trails, 2 current projects/32 miles
Nevada: 52 miles, 4 rail-trails, 3 current projects/125 miles

[Tweet “Most @railstotrails miles in West in WA, #1 Bike Friendly State.”]

1: First US Bicycle Route on the West Coast

WA Bikes board member John Pope rode across Washington to celebrate the newly designated USBR 10,

Spring 2014 we announced the official federal designation of USBR 10, which runs across the northern tier of Washington from Newport in the east to Anacortes in the west. Our partners at WSDOT celebrated with us at a ribbon-cutting in Anacortes Sept. 13. Our USBR 10 page includes a Google map of the route.
[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: 1st @usbicycleroutes on West Coast/USBR10 in WA.”]

2.2% & 4.9%: People & Trail Miles

2.2%: The percentage of the US population in Washington state (6.971 million out of 316.1 million).

4.9%: The percentage Washington’s rail-trails represent of the national total (1,057 miles out of 21,447 total).

In other words, we have more trail miles and fewer people.

6: Columbia Plateau Trail

Cyclists explore the Columbia Plateau Trail.

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is #6 on the list of longest rail-trails in America, at 130 miles, and offers wonderful wildlife viewing. From Spokane the Fish Lake Trail, another rail-trail, takes riders part of the way to Cheney; the rest of the connection to the Columbia Plateau Trail is on the road.

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: Columbia Plateau Trail @WAStatePks #6 longest @railstotrails in US.”]

Learn More, Support Bike Connections

Sign up for our e-news to make sure you get all our trail and bike travel updates.
Support our advocacy so we can work for the John Wayne Trail repairs and other great trail projects around the state.

Trail Advocacy Tips

Show how your trail is part of a larger local, regional, or even statewide network. That makes each segment more valuable.
- As one example, the Fish Lake Trail connects to the Columbia Plateau Trail which connects to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail which connects to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail which connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail which connects . . . you get the picture.
Use the power of bike tourism to illustrate why the trail matters to more than just people who bike or walk. Bikes mean business and trails serve as destination attractions.
Share information on your trail project with whatever organizations market your town as a great place to live, work, and visit. Keep them posted on project milestones and opportunities to demonstrate their support.
Stay in touch with local transportation planners and agencies. A trail is part of the regional transportation system. It’s not just about finding funding; they can also share news about progress, events, and volunteer opportunities.
Don’t be afraid to tell people your project has hit a speed bump. Use it to rally support.
Take lots of pictures at every phase and share them on social media.
- Pictures get passed along more than just text.
- We can help; send your pictures to Louise and we’ll share them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. If you’re sharing, tag #WAbikes.
Tell WA Bikes about your project!
- We’ll highlight it here to build support.
- We’ll tell your story to your state legislators as an illustration of why we need more investment in healthy, safe places for people to bike and walk. Trail funding is always on our legislative agenda.

[Tweet “How to promote your trail project: Tips for trail advocates.”]

Your Turn

Have a great story about biking one of Washington’s trails? We’d love to publish your guest post. Contact Louise.
What’s your #1 favorite trail in Washington? Comment below to share it with others.

Posted in Adventure, Infrastructure, News, Tourism, Trails, Travel, USBRS | Tagged Columbia Plateau Trail, Fish Lake Trail, John Wayne Trail, usbr10, usbrs | 3 Comments

We Did It! A Federal Safety Performance Measure for Biking & Walking to be Developed

By Blake Trask | Published December 15, 2014

Despite the drama surrounding the FY 2015 Omnibus, or “CRomnibus,” biking and walking just got a big win thanks to Washington state’s own Senator Patty Murray.

Tell Senator Murray thanks for her leadership in advocating for a non-motorized safety performance measure.

The win addresses the growing and persistent problem for the safety of everyone that walks and bikes. As most transportation fatalities and serious injuries in Washington state have been on the decline, our most vulnerable road users – those that walk and bike – have not seen a similar decline. From 2009-2011 15.5% of all transportation-related deaths and 16.7% of all transportation-related serious injuries in Washington state come from those that walk and bike.

During the development of the 2015 budget, Washington Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists worked with Senator Murray’s office to include a directive for the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to develop a safety performance measure. This push for inclusion in the appropriations bill represents a continuation of an earlier push to pass legislation in both the US House of Representatives and Senate to require USDOT to establish a non-motorized performance measure.

The now final budget, specifically under the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations, passed by Congress on Saturday includes a directive (see page 17) to the US Department of Transportation from Congress to “…to establish separate, non-motorized safety performance measures for the highway safety improvement program, define performance measures for fatalities and serious injuries from pedestrian and bicycle crashes, and publish its final rule on safety performance measures no later than September 30, 2015.”

What can we expect from this important advance for non-motorized safety? For one, this directive will require states to set a goal of reducing biking and walking fatalities in their state, and report back on their progress.

Additionally, the directive speaks directly to the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). While some HSIP projects in Washington state have included walking and biking improvements, they have also included other traditional street design considerations that make it challenging to comfortably walk and bike. Furthermore, HSIP in Washington state hasn’t had an explicit tie to walking and biking as its primary purpose is to address top-tier priority safety areas in the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero, and not overtly on walking and biking. This new directive’s rulemaking and reporting requirements will precipitate more accountability as to determine whether HSIP investments actually improve safety for those that walk and bike.

In the current Congress Senator Murray holds a leadership position in the Senate on transportation funding issues and advocated for the inclusion of this directive to make our streets safer for everyone. We at Washington Bikes can’t thank her enough for her leadership.

Please join Washington Bikes and thank Senator Murray for her invaluable help in making this significant change happen for everyone that bikes and walks. Thank her today.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Federal, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safety, Transportation | 2 Comments

Bridging the Gap in Thurston County

By Guest Blogger | Published December 14, 2014

Guest blogger Michelle Swanson rides her bike in Olympia.

Bicycling in Thurston County just got a lot easier with the third and final phase of the Bridging the Gap project.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Chehalis-Western Trail provides the backbone of the Thurston County trail network, running 22 miles from Woodard Bay in the north to the Yelm-Tenino Trail in the south. A former railroad used to transport timber, it’s now a vital respite from busy motor vehicle traffic for people walking and rolling in a variety of ways.

Dad with son, bike pulling trailer, and others at dedication of final phase of Bridging the Gap project on the Chehalis-Western Trail, Olympia, WA, Dec. 13, 2014

“Yo, you got an electric assist on that bike?” “Nope, just 7-year-old power!”

Fifteen years ago, a coalition of several government agencies and advocates worked together to bridge three major gaps in the north part of the trail. The first bridge over I-5 was built in 2007. The second bridge over Martin Way—which was the main north/south route between Seattle and Portland before I-5—was finished in 2010. Saturday December 13, 2014, the community gathered to celebrate bridging of the very last gap over Pacific Avenue.

[Tweet “Bridging the Gap projects complete trail connections in Thurston County. #bikeOLY”]

You can now ride from the Puget Sound to Yelm or Tenino—or both!—almost entirely (save for about 1,500 feet) on a trail in Thurston County. Yay!

[Tweet “Ride from Puget Sound to Yelm/Tenino; trails 99%+ of the way! #bikeOLY”]

In addition to linking to the Yelm-Tenino Trail in the south—which many of our friends up north know from riding part of the STP on it—the Chehalis-Western intersects with the I-5 Trail and the Woodland Trail, two trails that run east and west. Both are great off-street links between Olympia and Lacey.

Roundabout at dawn. It really does look like a flying saucer, doesn’t it?

My favorite part of this project is the intersection between the Chehalis-Western and Woodland Trails: the very first bicycle roundabout in Washington State. Squeee! It looks like a flying saucer, doesn’t it?

[Tweet “1st bike roundabout in WA state on Chehalis-Western & Woodland Trails #bikeOLY”]

This was a massive project, and a lot of people dedicated significant time and effort to make it happen. I’m so happy to live in a community that values bicycling enough to pull something like this off.

Courtesy of Twitter we have two videos shared by Kevin VanDriel of Olympia. The first is a fast-paced hyperlapse view of his ride to the dedication; the second shows the Boy Scout troop, band, and hundreds of people who showed up to celebrate.

Posted in Infrastructure, Olympia, Thurston County, Trails, Transportation, Travel | Tagged Chehalis-Western Trail, Yelm-Tenino Trail | Comments Off

Wet Weather Riding Tips #IBikeInRain

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 13, 2014

It was a dark and stormy night . . . and I went for a bike ride.

Plastic-bag seat cover photo courtesy of Anne King, Seattle, blogger at Car Free Days with Tim King.

No judgment here if you prefer to keep your bike rides on the dry side — we work for all kinds of riders! If you do want to keep rolling into the wet season you’ll be wondering how to maximize comfort and minimize soggy socks, among other challenges.

Our cold weather riding tips apply on cold wet days too, so start there. Our Instagram friends have been sharing pictures of wet riding, so draw some inspiration from them. Then dig into the advice below that we rounded up from Twitter with tips ranging from brand names to low-budget ideas like plastic bags.

[Tweet “Sharing rainy riding gear tips from plastic bags to fenders #ibikeinrain”]

We had our ABC of cold-weather riding; now we have the DEFG of rainy riding. Things to think about as you decide whether you need some additional gear for you and your bike for bicycling in the rain:

Dry feet are happy feet. Spring for foot covers, improvise with plastic bags, wear waterproof boots — tactics vary but everyone said something about feet. As in cold weather, wool socks-wool socks-wool socks to keep feet warm even if they end up damp.

Evaporation is a challenge. As one person said, “waterproof” and “breathable” are mutually exclusive terms. When you keep rain out you keep sweat in; your goal is a balance you can live with.

[Tweet “One of the rainy-riding challenges: “waterproof” & “breathable” don’t coexist well. #ibikeinrain”]

Fenders are everyone’s friend. A front fender is your friend; it minimizes spray shooting up at your feet on the pedals. A rear fender is friendly for the rider behind you; it cuts the rooster-tail effect. An extra-long fender works even better for this. If it’s reflective like our WA Bikes fenders (blatant plug), it adds visibility on those dark and rainy days.

Gloves x two. Cold clammy gloves at the end of the day don’t help you stay warm. More than one person suggests using two pair, one for the morning ride, one for going home. They’ll dry faster if you prop them up to air-dry; try standing them on a couple of empty toilet-paper tubes or a piece of PVC pipe with holes bored in it as a DIY project.

Posted in Commuting, Gear/Maintenance, News, Weather | 1 Comment

Washington Bikes 2015 Legislative Agenda: Health, Safety, Transportation & Strong Economies

By Blake Trask | Published December 8, 2014

As the dust settles on the 2014 elections, activity for legislative action in 2015 grows. The slim Democrat House majority (now at 51 seats compared to 47 for the Republican minority) and the Senate Republican majority (25 with 1 Democrat caucusing with the Republican majority compared to a 23 seat Democrat minority) face a challenging legislative session with budget realities that fail to match up with expected revenues. High priority issues will include meeting State Supreme Court decrees on education funding, addressing ongoing structural funding burdens, and determining next steps in upkeep of a heavily bonded transportation system.

Mom Tonya shared this with us, saying, “Kids out of school, cold & rainy, time to ride!”

To pass a state budget, most observers expect the 2015 legislature to go well beyond the scheduled 105-day “long” session. For as long as it takes this year, Washington Bikes will be in Olympia to help grow bicycling statewide. We look forward to working the issues, rallying supporters to write legislators, and advocating for better bicycling in Washington state.

Keep in touch by signing up to our email list and follow our blog, Facebook, and Twitter for action alerts and additional legislative news.

The 2015 Legislative Agenda

Washington Bikes Board of Directors and its Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee set a 2015 agenda to improve safety and health through smart investments and legislative improvements, highlight the benefits of efficient transportation investments, and grow the state’s economy via bicycle travel and tourism.

Investments that Get Washingtonians Where They Want to Go

Washington state continues to slip behind other states in making investments to grow biking and make safer streets. As the Governor and Legislature begin another round of discussions to pass a multi-year transportation-spending package, and as funding for school safety improvements are in doubt, it’s even more important that Washingtonians get the right investments for biking, walking, and making streets work for everyone.

In 2015 Washington Bikes will advocate to (1) Grow and stabilize state funding for the Safe Routes to School Grant Program; (2) ensure that biking, walking and complete streets projects are a component in any transportation revenue package; and (3) support the $97 million Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant request.

[Tweet “#WAleg needs to invest in #saferoutesnow #completestreets and bike trails.”]

US Bicycle Route 10 crosses the state and brings “wallets on wheels” to businesses statewide.

Growing the Multimillion Dollar Bicycle Travel & Tourism Industry

Bicycle travel and tourism is big business. Annually Oregon receives $400 million in direct economic impact from bicycle travel and tourism. An improved understanding of bike travel and tourism in Washington state is needed to make smart choices for growth statewide, particularly in rural areas and in communities seeking to recover their economies after natural disasters, like SR 530.

Washington Bikes will be seeking state investments in a similar study to help quantify the industry and improve strategies to grow our state’s economy.

[Tweet “#WAleg should invest in #biketourism to grow local economies.”]

Updating State Law to Accommodate for Faulty Traffic Signal Detection

Riders in Spokane

In 2014 state law was improved to allow for motorcycles to stop and proceed or make left-hand turns through traffic control signals that do not detect motorcycles or bicycles under certain very limited conditions with a specific protocol that is clear and understood by law enforcement.

Because this same issue affects bicycles and the 2014 law did not include bicycles, Washington Bikes will seek similar legislation would improve the 2014 law’s uniformity by including bicycles and providing a clear protocol for how to safely and legally make a left turn and a non-functioning signal.

[Tweet “#WAleg please fix traffic signal laws for bicycle to match motorcycle.”]

Strengthen Washington State’s Distracted Driving Laws

Following Washington Bikes successful lobbying in 2010 to pass Washington’s distracted driving legislation, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission is expected to make agency request legislation improves upon the current law. Work is still being conducted to refine the legislative proposal to help address the crisis of one in every ten Washington state drivers driving distracted.

Washington Bikes will be supporting this agency request legislation to help protect bicycle riders on our streets and roads.

[Tweet “1:10 WA drivers not paying attn! #WAleg #distracteddriving”]

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Complete Streets, Economic Impact, Education, Funding/Policy, Health, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Tourism, Trails, Transportation, Travel, WSDOT | 2 Comments

Olympic Discovery Trail: Car-Free Route Around Lake Crescent

By Louise McGrody | Published December 8, 2014

If you have ever biked or driven along the south shore of Lake Crescent on Highway 101 on the Olympic Peninsula, you have likely seen this sign warning bicyclists of the upcoming miles of narrow to nonexistent road shoulder on this route. It’s enough to make some bicyclists turn around.

If you don’t mind some gravel riding, it’s possible to avoid this stretch of Highway 101 by using finished and unfinished sections of the Olympic Discovery Trail. I explored this portion of the trail in early October and found most of it suitable for my Surly Long Haul Trucker with 1.25” tires.

[Tweet “A little gravel biking lets you ride car free around Lake Crescent.”]

You are following a portion of the historic grade of the Spruce Railroad on the north shore of Lake Crescent. The railroad was built in 1918 by the US government to extract Sitka spruce logs from surrounding forests to manufacture World War 1 airplanes, then served commercial logging interests after the war. The railroad line was eventually abandoned in 1953 and this segment became known as the Spruce Railroad Trail. Today it is gradually being restored and upgraded for use as the Olympic Discovery Trail route.

Access begins at the trailhead on East Beach Road in Olympic National Park. Approximately the first mile of this trail has been renovated and paved until you reach the first railroad tunnel. Now the fun begins. The tunnel is filled with boulders and debris, so you will need to dismount and walk your bike on the narrow and steep dirt path that detours around the tunnel and brings you to a scenic deep water cove on the lake called Devil’s Punchbowl—a great warm weather swimming hole.

A bridge spans the deep pool and the trail continues to follow the rocky north shore of Lake Crescent. The trail surface is dirt, rocks, and roots, but mostly rideable on a bike. You are often riding under the tree canopy and will be treated to wonderful views of the lake, Mount Storm King and other nearby Olympic peaks.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for a remnant of old rail in the corridor.

You will need to make your way around a second railroad tunnel — roughly 500 feet long — then continue to follow the unimproved trail for approximately another 1.5 miles. After your three miles of gravel travel you are rewarded with a return to a paved trail!

It’s a smooth six miles on this paved section past Camp David Jr (Clallam County group campsite), Fairholme in Olympic National Park, and beyond Lake Crescent to Highway 101.

You can find a map for this section of the trail on an Olympic Discovery Trail website managed by the Peninsula Trails Coalition. You should consult the website in advance of any planned trail visit for this segment, as corridor upgrades will continue and may cause closure of portions of the trail.

[Tweet “130mi of beautiful WA bike riding: Olympic Discovery Trail!”]

The route of the Olympic Discovery Trail begins in the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend and travels 130 miles around the northern portion of the Olympic Peninsula to the Quileute tribal community of La Push and the Pacific Ocean. The trail follows the Strait of Juan de Fuca with views to Canada, then moves into timberland crossing creeks and rivers (including a spectacular crossing of the Elwha River) on its way to the ocean. About half the route exists as a separated trail.

[Tweet “Mountains, ocean, forests, rivers: Bike Olympic Discovery Trail, see it all “]

Want to read more bike travel ideas? Sign up for our e-news.

Posted in Olympic Peninsula, Trails, Travel | Tagged bike travel, Olympic Discovery Trail, Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off

So This Interstate Highway Walks Into a Bar….

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 5, 2014

It had been a quiet night at the local bar so far, but then the door was thrown open and an Interstate highway strode in.

“I’m an Interstate highway,” he declared. “I stretch from coast to coast and have at least four lanes, shoulders, and a median almost my entire length. I have the highest speed limit of any highway. I’m the best of the highways, and I’m afraid of no highway and no road.”

He then strode up to the bar, ordered a beer, and began drinking it, while looking around.

A short time later, a four-lane highway came in, went to the end of the bar, and ordered a beer.

The Interstate looked him over and walked over to him. “I’m an Interstate highway,” he declared. “I stretch from coast to coast and have at least four lanes, shoulders, and a median almost my entire length. I have the highest speed limit of any highway. I’m the best of the highways, and I’m not afraid of you.”

The four-lane highway said, “I agree that you’re the best. I don’t want any trouble with you. Let me buy you a beer,” and he did. They drank their beers and discussed their engineering specifications.

After a half hour, the door opened again and a two-lane road came in, went to the other end of the bar, and ordered a beer.

The Interstate looked him over and told the four-lane highway that he had to take care of the new arrival. He walked over to the two-lane road and said, “I’m an Interstate highway. I stretch from coast to coast and have at least four lanes, shoulders, and a median almost my entire length. I have the highest speed limit of any highway. I’m the best of the highways, and I’m not afraid of you.”

The two-lane road quivered a bit and said, “You’re absolutely right. You are the best of the highways. I’m just a lowly two-lane road. I don’t want any trouble. Can I buy beers for you and the four-lane highway?”

The Interstate motioned the four-lane highway to come over, the two-lane road bought beers for each of them, and the three of them drank their beers and discussed the merits of various paving materials.

After another half hour, the door opened again and a strip of asphalt about eight feet wide came in. The Interstate highway ducked behind the bar and hid there quivering quietly.

The bartender was shocked.

After serving the asphalt strip, he walked over to where the Interstate was hiding. “I watched you stand up to the four-lane highway and the two-lane road. You said you weren’t afraid of any highway or road. Why are you hiding from that little asphalt strip?”

The Interstate replied quietly, “It’s true that I’m not afraid of any highway or road, but he’s a cycle path.”

This transportation funny for you courtesy of the Team Estrogen round-up of bike jokes.

Posted in Humor, Infrastructure, News | 2 Comments

Cold Weather Riding Tips

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 4, 2014

Bike-Lane-Tire-Tracks-in-Frost_cropped-for-web

Tire tracks in the frost on a 25-degree morning.

We hear someone exclaim from time to time, “You don’t ride in this cold, do you?!” Some of these same people happily pack up their skis and head to the mountains to shiver on a lift, gear up for a hike in the woods, or get out the ice-fishing equipment and go chop holes in frozen water so they can sit for hours waiting for a bite. Somehow getting cold in the name of transportation is different from getting cold for recreation.

The beauty of bicycling is that it can be both practical transportation (bike lanes usually move freely while freeways and arterials jam with harried commuters, collisions, and slide-offs) and recreation of the “brisk and bracing” variety on a cold day. Staying warm enough to enjoy the ride is no more complicated than getting dressed to walk around your neighborhood and look at the holiday lights.

ABCs of Winter Bicycling

Appendages are all. That is to say, riding in the winter warms your core but those fingers, toes, ears, and other appendages will suffer most from cold temperatures and diminished circulation. Make sure they’re covered, preferably with some windproofing as well as insulation.

A few of the tips from our Twitter chat are summarized here. Add yours in the comments.

Feet

Wool socks. Wool socks. Wool socks. Wear two layers on really cold days, as long as your shoes have enough room so the extra bulk doesn’t constrict circulation.
You can ride in regular boots. Toe caps on the fronts of your shoes or full booties that zip on can provide additional protection against both wind and moisture; booties will help trap warmth.

Hands

Lobster-claw gloves. You’ll be able to give the Vulcan greeting and fingers will be warmer because they’re together, while you still have enough dexterity to shift.
“Pogies” — like big kitchen mitts that stay on your handlebars. Wear a pair of regular gloves below them.

Neck, Chin, Nose

Neck gaiter. Keeps your neck warm and can be pulled up to cover the lower part of your face, then dropped as that gets too warm.
Face mask. Borrow from the world of skiing; get one that covers your face from the nose down.
Balaclava. Some find these uncomfortable under a helmet; the border can get squished into your forehead.

Ears and Head

Helmet strap or ear covers. Knitters and crocheters can find patterns for helmet earwarmers on sites like Ravelry.
Helmet cover. Worn on the outside of the helmet, this helps block wind and moisture.
Hat. Wool is your friend here too. Get a thin one so it fits beneath the helmet and let your chin strap out a bit.

Base layers below. Wearing layers traps body heat and lets you adjust easily as you warm up from riding. Merino wool provides warmth even when damp, whereas cotton will stay wet and suck the heat out of you. No cotton.

Cycling chases the cold away. Dress so you feel a little too cool as you leave your home. You’ll warm up as you ride.

[Tweet “ABCs of #winterbiking: Appendages, Base layers, Cycling.”]

Twitter Tips for Winter Wheels

We asked on Twitter to find out what our followers consider to be essential gear.

#WAbikes on Instagram

By Louise McGrody | Published December 4, 2014

Baby, it’s damp and dark outside!

It may be colder, wetter and darker out there as we rapidly approach the winter solstice, but there’s still a lot of biking going on in the Evergreen State. We’ve got some Instagram images to prove it.

The folks at Ortlieb (an auction sponsor and organizational member) remind us that it’s possible to travel by bike during the rainy season and keep our gear dry.

@cgram43 joined the young and young-at-heart for a Kidical Mass ride in Tacoma. Rides are scheduled monthly and the next one will celebrate the winter solstice.

@lww76 of Walla Walla and some friends took advantage of the cooler eastern Washington days for a quick bicycle overnight to Lewis and Clark State Park.

@blbicycles showed us that some rain and some dirt can be a gravel grinder’s delight.

No need to give up the bike commute or training ride because the days are short. @joeski_nw lights up his bike for an evening ride.

Don’t let the change in seasons dampen your cycling spirit. Put your foot to the pedal and bike to work, to the trails, or to an overnight escape. Join us on Instagram @wabikes and share your images with us by tagging #WAbikes.

Posted in News | Tagged instagram | Comments Off

Two Wheels After Turkey: Below Freezing Benefit Bike Ride for Washington Bikes in Spokane

By Kate Johnston | Published December 3, 2014

Two Wheels Ater Turkey Group Pic_no Adverts

Our festive group gathers together before pedaling off the pie.

Last weekend’s Washington Bikes benefit ride in Spokane was the type of ride that reminds you how dedicated some cyclists are regardless of the weather. Leading up to the ride weather reports were looking pretty grim. Some reports predicted rain that would turn to ice before a layer of snow settled on top. It just doesn’t get much much worse than that. So we devised a plan B: reserve space in a warm building to socialize and serve hot apple cider… and wait to see what the weather would bring.

Two Wheels After Turkey Katherine and Wilma

Katherine Widing warms up with Wilma Flannagan before Saturday’s ride.

Saturday arrived and the weather was a perfect 24 degrees Fahrenheit. (Perfect, that is, as long as you were smart with the layers, gloves, wool socks, hats….)

We gathered the group in Riverfront Park at the Rotary Fountain, took advantage of the relatively new connection for the Spokane River Centennial Trail across the Post Street bridge, rode through Kendall Yards, and dropped by Monkeyboy Bicycles. We headed north in the bike lane on Howard around historic Corbin Park before returning to the fountain and heading to the hot apple cider and delicious bars donated by KIND.

Wilma Flanagan, a member of the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board and the Belles and Baskets women’s riding group, led the riders. Her route was inspired by the recent Spokane urban bike tour for Dr. Zorba Paster while he was in Spokane for a visit to Spokane Public Radio. Wilma was joined by her friend Katherine Widing, who volunteers for Spokane Summer Parkways. An experienced bike travel writer, Katherine is also a co-author of the bike touring book we helped bring out spring 2014, Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Bike Tours in Washington.

We were joined by friends from these area bike clubs:

Swamp Ride Bike Club: Meets on occasion for a costume-party ride and surprise live bands. The Swamp Ride schedule is announced by the ride organizers through their Facebook page. The group meets at The Swamp Tavern.

Numerica Credit Union Employee Bike Club: Organized by Numerica employee Matthew Callier, these riders volunteer at cycling events such as SpokeFest and Pedal for a Purpose, organize group rides, and attend group rides organized by others. CORRECTION: they have not donated their bike mechanic skills as was previously published.

Fourth Friday Pub Peddlers Bike Club: Organized by a father-son duo, this ride takes riders on a safe, casual ride from pub to pub in Spokane on the fourth Friday of most months.

Two Wheels After Turkey Mariah McKay and Katherine Widing

Mariah McKay, Don Barden and Katherine Widing roll through Riverfront Park on the home stretch.

Barb Chamberlain rides behind Grant and his boom-box, which played a well-selected mix of tunes for the pleasure of fellow riders and passers-by.

Although it was daytime in Spokane we could still see the newly placed lights in Riverfront Park for the first annual Winter Glow Spectacular a stunning display of holiday lights that makes Spokane’s Riverfront Park look more like Times Square than it ever has before (in my recollection). One participant named Grant brought along his boom box to add some jolly tunes to the festive scene.

This ride gave participants a great reminder of the growing hustle and bustle of walkers and bikers in downtown Spokane, regardless of the temperatures. Our respectful group of riders shared many smiles and waves from people all along the route.

It’s not too late to pedal off the pie in Spokane. The streets are still mostly free of ice and there is no precipitation predicted until Thursday. Join us in working off the whipped cream this year– whether your bike is indoors or out (I just got an indoor trainer!). Send us your stories about riding in Spokane: Kate@wabikes.org.

Special thanks to all the riders who made a tax-deductible donation to Washington Bikes, KIND for the bars, and Empire Health Foundation for their warm lobby and ongoing donation of office space and administrative support for the Spokane office of Washington Bikes. Those who donate $100 or more get a photo of their bike turned into an original sketch by artist and member Andy Goulding (sent via JPEG).

Don’t Miss the Next WA Bikes Gathering!

No matter where you live, when you sign up for our e-news you’ll be in the know about any WA Bikes rides, gatherings, workshops, or transportation policy initiatves we’re working on in your area.

Name *

First

Last name *

Last

Email Address *

Mailing Address

City *

ZIP code *

Phone (optional, but if we have a problem with your email address it helps if we can call to verify)

Twitter account (optional; follow @WAbikes for statewide news, challenges, and policy)

Optional: tell us about your biking interests (check all that apply):

If other, please describe

Comments

reCAPTCHA

We send e-news, action alerts, Bike Challenge information, and occasional emails asking for your support of our work.

Posted in Events, News, Spokane County | Comments Off