Cycology

by Paul Tolme

Perseverance

Those of us who ride bikes are a big and diverse community. Some of us ride for fun, fitness, and adventure. Others bike for transportation—commuting across cities and towns to reach their jobs, schools, or friends.

Bicycles are magical machines. They propel us overland more efficiently than any other mechanism of human transport. They extend our horizons, allowing us to harness gravity and momentum to travel further and faster. They are also utilitarian workhorses that help us get work done without the pollution, aggravation, and high cost of driving.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Paul, and I’m a bike nerd.

I ride year-round through all weather for both recreation and transportation—on dirt, gravel, pavement, rail trails, and bike lanes. My day job is with the Seattle-based Cascade Bicycle Club, the largest bike nonprofit in the nation. The organization’s 55 years of work advocating for better bike infrastructure, trail funding, rail trails, and traffic safety laws are why Washington is frequently named the most bike-friendly state in America.

If you ride a bike in Washington (or don’t but want to), I urge you to visit cascade.org. Sign up for a Free Group Ride, take an Urban Cycling Techniques class, or register for one of our big summer events, such as the 45th Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (known as STP) or the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP), which passes through Bellingham.

Cascade hosts rides, not races, which means they are welcoming and open to everyone. There are no podiums: everyone who participates wins.

Spring is a time of transition and preparation, thanks to longer days and milder temperatures. As this Spring Issue of Adventures Northwest goes to print, I’m preparing for one of my favorite spring bike events: the annual Ride for Major Taylor on April 21.

Starting in West Seattle and offering short (26 miles) and long (63 miles) routes, this ride is an opportunity to explore the beautiful Puget Sound region while paying homage to a hero of American bicycling culture.

Marshall “Major” Taylor was a Black man who battled racism at the turn of the century to become a world champion and one of the greatest bike racers in American history. He broke stereotypes and showed that bikes are for everyone. His story teaches us that one quality supersedes all others in life and bicycling: perseverance. ANW