May 2016 Cascade Courier

improving lives through bicycling

Celebrate and take a May challenge! p. 7-10 May 2016 / Vol. 46 No. 5

cascade.org

Gearless in Seattle: STP on a single speed Sharing is caring: show your support for Cascade with a Share the Road license plate By Katie Lagerstrom, Guest Contributor

By Diana Bryant, Writer & Editor

TIME DATED MATERIAL

PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Seattle, WA PERMIT No. 2172

‘Tis the season for summer travel!

With the warm weather finally upon us, lots of folks are getting out on the roads for spring and summer trips.

If you’re lucky enough to be taking a well-deserved vacation—or even a fun and quick weekend getaway— there’s no better way to show your support for bikes than with a Share the Road license plate.

With the recent merger of Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes, a portion of proceeds—$28 of every license plate purchase or renewal—now supports Cascade’s programs statewide.

This means that your snazzy new license plate and tax-deductible donation help Cascade: • deliver bicycle/pedestrian education programs to thousands of students across the state; • create a strong community of

advocates who fight for safer streets in their hometowns; and • share safety information with people who bike, drive and walk every day of the year!

Ready to get yours? It’s easy!

Just visit the Washington State Department of Licensing online to find out how to get started.

Plus, you’ll be in good company! Did you know that two dozen US states offer some version of a Share the Road license plate? According to the League of American Bicyclists,15 of those states have designated a bicycle advocacy organization to receive a portion of proceeds from their specialty plate programs. Sunny Florida was the first state to issue the plate in 1999, with many others following the lead.

We’d love to see every state across the country offer its own version of the Share the Road plate, with our great state of Washington proudly taking the lead!

The Washington Share the Road plate not only helps guarantee funding for bicycle education and advocacy across the state, but also sends an important message to all road users: sharing is caring, so share the road with all fellow users!

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org

Oregon’s ‘share the road’ license plate.

So whether you’re simply renewing your plates or planning to purchase a new car soon, consider supporting Cascade by adding a little two-wheeled fun to your four-wheeled ride. Let’s make the Share the Road license plate the #1 plate in the state!

To learn more about the Share the Road license plate and how it benefits Cascade, visit cascade.org/ share-road-license-plate today.

With help from the food vendors and the beer garden at the STP finish line, I’m smiling after riding 206 miles on my single speed. Photo courtesy of Charlie Wence.

“I can’t wait to do that again next year!” —My boyfriend, as he crossed the finish line in Portland.

“Never again.” —Me, as I crossed the finish line in Portland.

It was our first time completing the Group Health Seattle to Portland (STP) presented by Alaska Airlines.

We are both avid cyclists, not Tour de France contenders by any means, but no strangers to the casual 50+ mile ride. Neither of us suffered any injuries during the ride, and we took the “leisurely” two-day route.

So why was I ready to curl up in the fetal position and cry, while my boyfriend couldn’t wait to register for next year? It could have something to do with gears—or lack thereof. He had them, I didn’t.

It wasn’t a long held goal of mine to ride STP on a single speed; it’s simply the only bike I’ve ever known.

I had a brief stint with gears a few years back but it didn’t last. I’m not a fixed gear purist by any means, but it works for me and I haven’t felt an absolute need to get a geared bike yet. About a month before STP was when I decided to flip my wheel around (I have a flip-flop hub) to the single speed side from fixed for the first time since I bought the bike in 2010. After completing the Lake Washington loop (in preparation for STP), it became very apparent to me how crucial going from fixed to single speed would be during the long journey from Seattle to Portland.

The ride itself went very smoothly.

I will admit I was pretty worried about the hills. I was especially

worried about the Puyallup hill that had been hyped on internet forums as awfully steep, but even that one was manageable. While there were some challenging hills on the ride, I didn’t have to walk at any point, though there would be no shame if I had; forward momentum was my only goal. The single hardest part of the ride was just the sheer amount of time in the saddle and repetitive movements which, over the hours and

“It wasn’t a long held goal of mine to ride STP on a single speed; it’s simply the only bike I’ve ever known. ” -Katie Lagerstrom

days, amass to punishing soreness!

So why the grumbling at the finish line? Outright exhaustion, mostly.

Do I really think not having gears was the reason the ride seemed harder to me than my boyfriend? No, I think he just has a better attitude than I do!

After my initial grumblings I quickly changed my tune, with the help of the beer garden and a hot meal. In fact, I have fully recovered and am signed up for STP this year, and for RSVP, too!

STP is held on July 16-17 and sells out every year, so be sure to grab your spot (and get your riding buddies to register) at cascade.org/stp.

May 2016

Bicycling for all

G&O Family Cyclery is on the mend

by Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director

Cascade and Flying Bike co-op to partner on benefit event

By Cynthia Mullis, Cascade member & Guest Contributor

I just coudn’t get rid of this huge grin at the Emerald City Bike Ride! It was the best day of my personal and professional career.

We’re going through a strategic planning process right now, working on how to refocus our work on a statewide level and how to measure success. We are thrilled to have just crossed the 17,000 member mark, with 20,000 members in our line of sights. We’ve also been having conversations with stakeholders, partners, volunteers and members about our performance, and some themes have emerged.

The one that bothers me the most is the ‘divisions’ within bicycling.

We have heard, from many different stakeholders representing many different ‘types’ of bicyclists, that “THOSE people are not like me; THOSE people don’t appreciate me.” From riders who top 5,000 miles in the first quarter of the year to family bikers who never ride faster than their 5-year-old can, we are hearing from people who want more of a specific SPACE within Cascade to call ‘their own.’

It reminds me of a story from when I applied at the League, when I was commuting 15 miles (each way! uphill! in the snow!—okay, only one of those three is true) to work every day, and they asked me if I was a ‘cyclist.’ I said, “No! I just ride my bike.” I want everyone who rides their bike to identify with other people who ride, and with Cascade. I want us to be a place of welcome, resources and connection for everyone who rides a bike.

The board, the staff and I represent almost every type of bicyclist—we are ardent commuters. We are family bikers. We are casual riders. We are weekend warriors. We are health-focused, data-driven riders, and we are retirees looking for connections and exercise. We bridge many of the gaps, and we still struggle with how to clearly welcome each group of riders, and build bridges between them. We ride thousands of miles in bike gear, hundreds of miles in jeans, and a few miles a year on staff outings—we really do run the gamut.

The Emerald City Bike Ride felt like a great step toward bridging those gaps. From the scholarships we offered because of an excellent conversation on the Seattle Family Biking section of Facebook to the thousands of people out in yoga pants, well-beloved lycra, and families in jeans, this was a community ride that brought many communities together. My two oldest children rode it, with my husband toting our 4-year-old on his family bike, and their completion of the 520 Bridge by themselves, along with the many people telling me, “I couldn’t eat at the rest stops because I was grinning too much!” this was the best day of my personal and professional career.

And I don’t want it to end there! I want to grow the connections between people who ride bikes—and I know together we can figure out how. Let’s start a conversation—will you email me at elizabethk@ cascade.org, and give me your ideas on how we can better welcome you, represent your interests in bicycling, or build a bridge between everyone who rides a bike?

You, me, us—all together, we are how Washington State will continue to be the best state in the country for bicycling—and how we can truly accomplish our mission of ‘bicycling for all.’

Early in the morning on Wednesday, March 9, a natural gas explosion rocked the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle, leveling three businesses and damaging many others. G&O Family Cyclery, located adjacent to the explosion site on Greenwood Avenue between North 84th and 85th streets, suffered major damage and has been forced to relocate and rebuild.

Co-owned by Davey Oil and Tyler Gillies, G&O Family Cyclery is at the center of Seattle’s family and cargo biking movement.

According to Davey, G&O Family Cyclery is a specialty bike shop that encourages its customers to make transportation choices that support a community-wide paradigm shift. As a result, these customers depend on their bicycles every day.

“We don’t want to have one bad day strand all those people…but we did have a bad day and now we’re out of commission,” he said.

Both Davey and Tyler are fierce bike advocates who are integral to the family bike movement. Last year, Cascade awarded Davey Oil with the Doug Walker Award at the Bike Everywhere Breakfast for his work.

By supporting bikes for families with kids and others who want to make biking a foundation of their transportation lifestyle, they help lower the barrier to biking in Seattle.

“We’ve worked hard on building this shop. Having it just explode is heartbreaking,” said Davey.

The community is rallying around the shop with fundraising efforts. By mid-April, more than $43,600 had been raised through a GoFundMe account. You can still donate at www. gofundme.com/n7tmv4xg Cascade is hosting a fundraiser at Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery (8570 Greenwood Ave. N, in Seattle) on Thursday, May 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. to benefit G&O Family Cyclery.

A dollar from every pint sold will

G&O Crew from left to right: Donald Villarreal, Tyler Gillies, Davey Oil, Karl Chapman. Photo by Cynthia Mullis.

support G&O. Committed to serving their customers and keeping their staff employed, G&O reopened in mid-April in a temporary location at 8554-1/2 Greenwood Avenue, just one block north of its blown-out location. Davey and Tyler are working hard to find a permanent location in Greenwood.

“The neighborhood has been amazing and we don’t want to lose that,” said Davey. “We saw people willing to support our bike shop as a resource to our community and as a hub in a community-building network.”

Along with continued sales and service for the cargo bike community, his goals for the new shop include creating a space that supports that social infrastructure, in addition to facilitating meetings and education.

“We want the new shop to be a place that reflects the love and support that we’ve felt since this happened. We never want to take that for granted,” said Davey. “It’s a very touching thing for Flying Bike and Cascade to give over this spotlight to us. We really appreciate it and can’t wait to party with everyone at the fundraiser.”

Best, Elizabeth

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www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 5

Swirl and sip on the Woodinville Wine Ride

Changing the street to change the world

By Meghna Jaradi, Events Coordinator

Andrea Clinkscales, Principal Planner

Where in the Pacific Northwest can you go on a leisurely bike ride, sip on locally crafted artisan wines, enjoy a summer breeze off of Lake Wa s h i n g t o n , listen to live music and indulge in tasty bites all in one day? The answer: at one of Cascade’s newest signature events, the Woodinville Wine Ride! Sunday, June 16.

The flat and picturesque 30-mile route begins and ends at the Woodhouse Wine Estates right in the heart of wine country, with riders

utilizing the beautiful Sammamish River Trail and Burke-Gilman Trail into Seattle and back.

The midpoint at the Cascade Bicycling Center in Magnuson Park will feature wine tasting and food sampling. Riders will return back on the trail to Woodinville where a finish line party awaits with live music, tastings from a selection of Woodhouse Wine Estates’ finest wines, food trucks and more. Family and friends are welcome to join in the fun!

With paid registration, riders will receive two tickets for wine sampling good for tastings at the midpoint and finish line festival, along with a wine-themed giveaway.

Register now for this can’t-miss event! cascade.org/woodinville-wine-ride. We hope to see you there!

Thanks to our sponsors

Janette Sadik-Kahn and Peatónito, Mexico City’s defender of pedestrian rights. Photo courtesy of Samir Jagdish.

In March I had the pleasure of joining hundreds of other Vision Zero leaders in New York City for the Vision Zero Cities conference through a generous grant from the Vision Zero Network. Hosted by Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets, conference attendees came far and wide from Canada, Mexico and Sweden. Seattle had a strong presence including Cascade’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Kiker; Cathy Tuttle from Seattle Neighborhood Greenways; and several City of Seattle officials. It was a mind-blowing three days of epic bike rides, innovative presentations and strategic discussions with planners, designers, politicians and advocates from cities small and large and nationwide.

A major highlight was bicycling over the Williamsburg Bridge to attend Janette Sadik-Khan’s book launch for Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution and meeting Janette personally (she also spoke at Seattle Town Hall in March). Janette, the former New York City Transportation Commissioner, holds celebrity status in urban planning circles for cutting through red tape and building the most groundbreaking (pun intended) pedestrian plazas and bikeways in the

country—or as she calls it, “making mischief with paint.”

Janette gave a formidable keynote at the Vision Zero Cities conference stressing that cities “get what [they] build for,” if they react to traffic violence instead of designing to prevent it. She described that traffic crashes should be “public enemy #1,” and treated like any other crime by law enforcement, but ultimately eradicated by engineers.

This visionary also emphasized the importance of data in shifting anecdotes to real proof when attempting social change like safer facilities for vulnerable users. And Janette underscored the critical need for a plan “to steer the ship.” For example, the City of New York had documented some 130 strategies to get safer streets, and because of it has seen a 25 percent reduction in traffic fatalities in the last decade.

At Cascade, we agree with Janette that “when you change the street, you change the world.”

If you would like to get involved in Cascade’s Vision Zero work in Seattle or anywhere else in the state, send me a note at andreac@cascade.org. Check our website at cascade.org/visionzero for upcoming spring and summer educational and outreach opportunities.

JOIN US FOR THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME

800.443.6060

bicycleadventures.com

Your Seattle-based bike tour company

CHILE LAKES & VOLCANOES Improving Lives Through Bicycling

3

May 2016

Letters to the Editor

THE COURIER CREW Editor in Chief: Briana Orr Editor: Diana Bryant and Brent Tongco Layout: Sarah Kulfan Additional design: Tom Eibling, Kotis Design Photographers: Marley Blonsky, Scott Henry, Cynthia Mullis, Briana Orr, Brent Tongco, Tino Tran Contributors: Marley Blonsky, Diana Bryant, Emily Campbell, Andrea Clinkscales, Amara Edwards, Meghna Jaradi, Andrew Kopp, Katie Lagerstrom, Meaghan McClure, Morgan Michel, Cynthia Mullis, Stacey Nakagawa, Briana Orr, Anna Telensky Iea Toner, Kelli Refer, Stacey Williams

Twenty-one students from Beverly Park Elementary learned to ride a bike this year!

I wanted to thank Cascade Bicycle Club. Twenty-one students from Beverly Park Elementary got the privilege to learn to ride a bike this year. Even my students with special needs got to experience what they thought they would not be able to do. Some students even came in at lunch recess to help others that were learning.

By the end of the unit ALL were riding.

Thank you, Cascade!!!!!

—Mrs. JB and the students of Beverly Park Elementary

The bike class with the Cub Scouts went really well. The high points were the instructors, the first opportunity for this group to ride together, the way that the instruction causes the scouts to think differently (and think more) about what is going on around them while they’re riding, the introduction to Cascade—and I’d better acknowledge perfect weather, as well.

The instructors were fun and cool with a conscientious, caring presence and were able to interact on the scouts’ level. They did great with the scouts and represented Cascade superbly.

Thanks again for being there for us!

We welcome your contributions!

Advertising:

Got an inspiring story or a great photo?

We welcome submissions. The editorial calendar is planned one month in advance.

If you wish to contribute an article to a future issue, contact the editor as early as possible. Articles and photographic submissions are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Articles submitted after that will be considered on a space-available basis. All submissions are subject to editing for content and space.

We welcome ads and inserts. To check availability and inquire about prices, please contact Briana Orr at brianao@ cascade.org.

Queries can be emailed to: brianao@cascade.org.

Healthcare for bicyclists: The doctors are in

By Meghna Jaradi, Event Coordinator

4

facebook.com/cascadebicycleclub @cascadebicycle @cascadebicycle

CONTACT US Cascade Bicycle Club 7787 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115

www.cascade.org Office phone: 206-522-3222 Email: info@cascade.org

SENIOR STAFF Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director (202) 425-0627 • elizabethk@

Got achy joints or sore muscles?

We all know that being a bicyclist leads to better all-around physical and emotional health—but did you know that bicyclists can still face a very unique set of health concerns?

Join Physical Therapist Erik Moen and a panel of healthcare providers as they discuss and explore the latest healthcare issues surrounding the bicycle and bicyclist.

Our panel members, all bicyclists, include: • Erik Moen PT, Corpore Sano PT, Kenmore WA—Origins of Knee and Lumbar Injuries on Bicycle • Chris Shuhart MD, Swedish Orthopedic Institute, Seattle, WA—Bone Health for the Bicyclist

cascade.org

Note: All email addresses are @cascade.org

—Mat Comstock, Cub Scout Leader

Healthcare for bicyclists Thursday, May 12, 7-9 p.m.

Cascade Bicycling Center (7787 62nd Ave NE, Seattle) FREE!

Let’s be social! Follow Cascade Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Barb Chamberlain, Chief Strategic Officer (509) 869-2949 • barbc@ David Douglas, Senior Director of Events & Rides (206) 939-4323 • davidd@

Tarrell Kullaway, Senior Director of Development & Membership (206) 939-4312 • tarrellk@ Kathy Mania, Senior Director of Finance & Operations (206) 939-4321 • kathym@ Brent Tongco, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing (206) 939-4307 • brentt@

• Sarah Beshlian MD, UW Medicine, Seattle, WA—Hand and Wrist Issues from Bicycling • Emily Edison MS RD CSSD ACSM-HFS, Momentum Nutrition, Kenmore, WA— Importance of a Nutrition Plan for the Endurance Bicyclist • Matt Oseto MD, Evergreen Orthopedics, Kirkland, WA— Shoulder Injuries and Treatment Options for the Bicyclist • Kari Studley PT, Corpore Sano PT, Kenmore WA—5 Yoga Poses to Improve Bicycling Postural Tolerance Topics will range from orthopedics, primary care, nutrition, bone health and rehabilitation. At the conclusion of the presentation, the panel will open the floor for a Q&A session.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from the experts!

DIRECTORS

To learn more and to RSVP, visit our website at cascade.org/presentations.

Board of Directors meetings take place on the third Wednesday of the month. Upcoming meetings are: May 18, June 15, Sept. 21 and Nov. 16.

Shannon Koller, Senior Director of Education (206) 939-4335 • shannonk@

Blake Trask, Senior Director of Policy (206) 310-4762 • blake@

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Catherine Hennings • catherine. hennings@ Vice President Nate Glissmeyer • nate.glissmeyer@

Secretary Sandi Navarro • sandin@ Director at large Charles Ruthford • charles.ruthford@

Treasurer Alexa Volwiler • alexa.volwiler@

George Durham • george.durham@ Marie Dymkoski • maried@ Ted Inkley • tedi@ Haley Keller • Haleyw@ Kevin McDonald • kevin.mcdonald@ Bill Montero • bill.montero@ John Pope • johnp@

Merlin Rainwater • merlin.rainwater@ Tamara Schmautz • tamara.schmautz@ Jim Stanton • jim.stanton@ Don Volta • don.volta@ Daniel Weise • daniel.weise@ Ed Yoshida • ed.yoshida@

The Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors meets six times per year at the Cascade Bicycling Center, 7787 62nd Ave. NE, Seattle. Board meetings are open to the public.

www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 5

Second Annual Ride for Major Taylor – A “Major” Success!

By Ed Ewing, Director, Major Taylor Project

Major Taylor Project students and Team Group Health riders at the start of Ride for Major Taylor.

For a second year, picture perfect weather blessed the Ride for Major Taylor. More than 300 community members and 50 students got out to enjoy the weather and ride in the sun. The Ride for Major Taylor is a pledge ride that raises funds for Cascade’s Major Taylor Project, a youth development program for middle and high school students in South King County and Tacoma.

Riders from Seattle, Tacoma, Redmond, Renton, Snohomish, the Tri-Cities and Bremerton pedaled their way through White Center, Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac and Tukwila. Big Al’s Brewing in White Center hosted the grand finale celebration. Registration fees and pledges from the ride will help fund the 14 Major Taylor Project locations throughout the region.

And through fundraise.cascade.org, we raised an additional $13,000.

The Ride for Major Taylor is many things to many people. For the experienced event rider and “weekend warrior” it’s a chance to stretch the legs and build fitness with the route’s total elevation gain of 1,376ft. For other riders, it’s a milestone and a benchmark in the journey toward a personal team-in-training goal. For new riders, it’s an opportunity to drag the bike out of the garage and enjoy a beautiful day with family. And for the Major Taylor Project students, it’s the opportunity to meet new people, connect with other students and enjoy ice cream to celebrate an accomplishment. Regardless of who

you are, where you come from, and what your goals may be, the Ride for Major Taylor is an opportunity to celebrate and build community.

There’s a lot going on in the wee hours before this event. Our amazing events team and volunteers are marking the route, raising the start banner and chalking the finish line. Major Taylor Project ride leaders are organizing eager students and volunteers. And one by one, with or without coffee, sleepy and awake, you show up.

You show up to show your support for some amazing students and to challenge yourself with a new experience. I always take a moment to watch and listen at the startline.

I hear excitement, and I see old and new friends connect and reconnect.

I see people of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders and identities.

I see hugs instead of handshakes; I see smiles and hear laughter; I see community and friendship; and I feel that ‘’you are welcomed here.”

Whatever your goals, whoever you are, you are welcomed here.

On behalf of the Major Taylor Project and Cascade Bicycle Club, I want to thank you for supporting the Ride for Major Taylor. I hope you enjoyed a beautiful day of riding through beautiful communities. If you missed the ride, I hope you’ll mark your calendar for 2017. The Ride for Major Taylor is an opportunity to challenge yourself, to celebrate and to build community. Thank you for your support!

Help us transform Washington State! Renew now at cascade.org/renew

Improving Lives Through Bicycling

5

May 2016

Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome

S24Os from Seattle

By Marley Blonsky, Guest Contributor and Blogger

By Marley Blonsky, Guest Contributor and Blogger

Jerry Baker

The Marymoor Velodrome Association is excited to announce its 41st season of track racing. This season is especially meaningful, as it’s the first season the track will operate under its new name: The Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome.

Jerry Baker was the guiding force who led to the building of the track and establishment of the Marymoor Velodrome Association. His passion and leadership literally paved the way for Seattle-area cyclists, and he continued to dedicate his time and energy to the ongoing success of the track for four decades.

To honor his legacy, we’re kicking off the season in style with a special dedication event on Friday, June 3.

All Cascade members are invited to join us, with FREE admission, for a night of celebration and high-speed track racing. Expect the race night to be even more fun with our beverage garden and food trucks! Make it an evening by packing a picnic, or bring the kids and sign up for the free Kiddie Kilo. And to top it all off, our men’s and women’s fields will be racing fast and furious to start the season off right. Join us June 3 and be part of the fun!

Track season will run May through

September, with May encompassing our “pre-season” Fridays (no beverage garden or food trucks), while September will include our “post-season” of more varied race formats. As always, we will be promoting our marquee weekend events (Marymoor Grand Prix July 15-16, Fred’s Race August 19-21), with the new addition of the Season Kickoff Weekend, May 27-28, and a series of Saturday races throughout August.

Interesting in trying the fun for yourself? We offer adult and youth classes throughout the entire summer! Adult classes prepare you to experience the track in one afternoon, covering all the rules of competitive track cycling. Our youth classes run as a week-long summer camp, where “graduates” will be ready to race on Monday nights if they are interested in continuing!

To register for a class, visit http:// velodrome.org/jbmv/track-classes/

A year ago today, I’d never gone bike camping. My first bike overnighter was in May 2015, but since then, I’ve more than made up for lost time, with more than 20 trips under my belt.

Most of these trips have been S24Os (Sub 24-hour Overnight), a fancy way of saying a trip that takes less than 24 hours. S24Os are perfect: you get to sleep outside, ride your bike and still be back for weekend fun (or responsibilities).

Living in Seattle, I am incredibly lucky, as the Washington State ferry system that leaves from downtown opens up a world of camping to people on bikes.

Within an hour (or two) bike ride, there are at least five campgrounds.

Expand your riding to 2 ½ hours, and you’ve got at least four more.

And now, tips, tricks and recommendations for five S24Os from Seattle: Illahee State Park

This hidden gem is only 3.8 miles from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, albeit mainly uphill. However, with an elevation gain of only 358 feet, it’s basically like climbing Capitol Hill, just on a more rural road. The ride to this park takes you past a few bakeries, one grocery store, a sports bar and a brewery, so you can even leave your stove and food at home!

Manchester State Park

This park is also super close to Seattle and is especially convenient if you live in West Seattle. To get here, take the Fauntleroy to Southworth Ferry. My favorite way to get here is to pedal out from downtown around Alki, all the way around through Lincoln Park.

Kitsap Memorial State Park

This park is a little bit further out there, at 18 miles from the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal, but still totally doable. The ride isn’t my favorite for most of it, as you’ll be on the shoulder of busy roads, but Big Valley Road is MAGICAL and makes the whole ride worth it.

Green Mountain Horse Camp

Shared recreational area with horse campers, this is probably the most difficult ride that I’ve listed at 12.7 miles and 1,500 feet of climbing.

Bring a bike that can handle a gravel climb. And get ready to climb. The ride is basically flat until you get to the mountain, and then you go up.

And up. And up.

Fay Bainbridge Park

Fay is probably my least favorite camping spot, but people seem to love it, as it’s easy to reach. It’s a quick ferry ride and you can see Seattle. At 6.9 miles, it’s an easy ride, too.

For more of Marley’s experience, recommendations and tips for each trip, check out her blog at lifeontwowheels.space.

April 2nd April 9th April 17th April 23rd May 7th May 14th May 29th

Check out our website, www. velodrome.org, for more about our race nights, special events, classes, calendar and more. Also, follow us on Twitter (@jbvelodrome) and Facebook (Jerry Baker Velodrome FanZone) for regular updates.

June 5th June 19th June 25th July 2nd July 10th 12-4pm $50

ADULT CLASSES

YOUTH CLASSES Try the Track Jennie Reed June 15th Juniors Camp June 22nd June 20-24th July 13th June 27-July 1 July 27th July 18-22nd Aug 1-5th Aug 3rd Aug 8-12th

FREE

$125

TRACK CLASSES

classes@velodrome.org juniors@velodrome.org

More Info and Registration:

VELODROME.ORG 6

www.cascade.org

Join Cascade for this month-long celebration of pedal-powered movement! In 2016 we’re bringing back some of our favorite traditions: Bike to School Day, F5 Bike Everywhere Day free bicycling classes for newbies, and new events aimed at encouraging people to bike everywhere!

The best way to celebrate Bike Everywhere Month is simply to get on a bike: ride to work, ride to the grocery store or just ride for the sheer joy of being outside, soaking up the spring weather.

More details at cascade.org/BikeEverywhere thanks to our sponsors

Cascade.org/BikeEverywhere

#BikeEverywhere

MAY IS BIKE EVER MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE GREAT EVENTS! Visit cascade.org/calendar for a full list and updates, and add your events!

F5 BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY

HIDDEN GEM SCAVENGER HUNT Monday, May 16

Friday, May 20

Scavenger Hunt 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Start at Westlake Park 401 Pine St Seattle

Ride with us! F5 Bike Everywhere Day is the best day of the year to be on your bike. Thousands of people on two wheels pack the streets.

Smiles, waves and the friendly ring of bike bells fill the air. Dozens of celebration stations and happy riders along major routes ensure that encouragement, support and fun are never in short supply. No matter where you ride, we’ll be out there Photo Courtesey of Tino Tran with you. Come for a high five and leave with some goodies! There will be more than 65 stations around the Puget Sound region.

Find a map of stations near you by visiting cascade.org/BikeEverywhereDay. Keep the Bike Everywhere Day fun going with the official Cascade Bicycle Club after party at Velo Bike Shop in Seattle from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, May 20.

After Party 7 - 9 p.m.

Crocodile Back Bar 2200 2nd Ave. Seattle

Grab your co-workers and friends for a scavenger hunt to explore downtown Seattle in the best way possible—by bike of course! You and your team will uncover hidden treasures, complete challenges and discover unique local businesses and hear local music.

Not only will you have a great time, you will also help shape the future of protected bike lanes downtown.

Finish the ride with an after party at the Crocodile Back Bar, where you can grab pizza and drinks and hear local musicians.

BELLEVUE POLICY RIDE Noon on Wednesday, May 25

TAKE A MAY BIKE CHALLENGE

Join Cascade and fellow Bellevue riders for an afternoon ride to explore potential routes that are part of Bellevue’s Ped/Bike Implementation Initiative. Bring your bike, helmet and enthusiasm for new bike lanes in Bellevue. Ride starts at Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue).

Ride your bike, form a team of friends, log your bike trips and win prizes!

No matter where you live in Washington state, you can find a spring bike challenge to log your bike trips and compete for prizes and bragging rights. Find a Challenge in your area from the list below or visit cascade.org/bike-challenges and join the fun! If there’s no local challenge in your area, sign up for the Puget Sound and statewide Washington Bikes Bike Everywhere Challenge at WAbikes.org.

MAY 2016 SUNDAY

1

MONDAY

2

TUESDAY

3

4

she bikes

B I K E to SCHOOL DAY

10

11

Tuesday Social Rides

8

9

she bikes

Free

Tuesday Social Rides

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16

17

Hidden Gem

Scavenger Hunt Ride

she bikes

23

24

5

Fundraiser for

G&O Family Cyclery

31

End

she bikes

Tuesday Social Rides

SATURDAY

6

7

13

14

Free

Fix a Flat Demo at Gregg’s

12 Presesntation Series

HEALTHCARE FOR CYCLIST

19

BIKES & BAGELS Sponsored by Commute Seattle

20

BIKE EVERY WHERE F5

21

After Party at Velo Bike Shop

25

MAY BIKE CHALLENGES

FRIDAY

at Flying Bike

Tuesday Social Rides

Tuesday Social Rides

31

at The Bikery

18

she bikes

29

Fix a Flat Demo

THURSDAY

DAY

22

WEDNESDAY

26

27

28

JUNE 2

JUNE 3

JUNE 5

Bellevue Policy Ride

JUNE 1

End of

BIKE MONTH

Party at Peddler Brewing Company

Visit cascade.org/calendar for a full list and updates

RYWHERE MONTH Tag #BikeEverywhere and win!

Bike Everywhere Month membership specials revealed!

By Ariana Rundquist, Membership & Development Manager

WE WANT TO KNOW

Where do you go and what do you discover when you #BikeEverywhere?

When you tag your social media posts (stories, poems/haikus, doodles and/or photos) with #BikeEverywhere, we’ll pick a weekly winner to receive an awesome prize package!

It’s easy to enter! It just takes two steps Follow Cascade Bicycle Club on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Tag #BikeEverywhere and @CascadeBicycle in your posts—and voila!

Cross your fingers and wait for the winner announcement!

#BikeEverywhere

May is my favorite month, and most Cascade members agree with me.

In 2015 over 70 percent of Cascade memberships that expired during Bike Month were renewed, which is 10 percent higher than our annual average renewal rate!

What’s going on here?

Well, May is Bike Everywhere Month; add the beautiful weather and it’s bound to be a popular time to be on a bike! Plus, every Cascade membership purchased or renewed during May comes with a special limitededition gift. The 2016 Bike Everywhere Month gift is (...drumroll…) a custom Cascade bandana!

Bike Everywhere Month is also the perfect time to invite your friends, family, colleagues to join your Cascade community. Cascade’s tax-deductible membership dues are discounted for our three most popular membership levels throughout May: $5 OFF INDIVIDUAL 1-YEAR MEMBERSHIP only $35 plus a bandana $10 OFF FAMILY 1-YEAR MEMBERSHIP only $55 plus a bandana $50 OFF SUPPORTER 1-YEAR MEMBERSHIP only $100 plus TWO bandanas Visit cascade.org/join to take advantage of these limited-time offers.

Members like you make Bike Everywhere Month—and all our work—possible.

Take a May Bike Challenge: Ride your bike, form a team of friends, log your bike trips and win prizes!

Puget Sound region Washington Bikes

Bellingham & Whatcom County No matter where you live in Washington state, you can find a spring bike challenge to log your bike trips and compete for prizes and bragging rights. Find a Challenge in your area from the list on the right or visit cascade.org/bike-challenges and join the fun!

Whatcom Council of Governments

Cowlitz County Cowlitz on the Move

Tacoma & Pierce County Pierce Trips

Pullman Pullman Parks & Recreation

Skagit County Bike Walk Mount Vernon

Spokane Spokane Bikes & Spokane Bicycle Club

Thurston County Intercity Transit

Tri-Cities Bike Tri-Cities formerly 3 Rivers Bicycle Coalition

Wenatchee Wenatchee In Motion

Yakima Yakima Valley Conference of Governments

If there’s no local challenge in your area, sign up for the Puget Sound and statewide Washington Bikes Bike Everywhere Challenge at WAbikes.org.

Get your bike ready to bike everywhere!

Bike to School Statewide Challenge is here!

May is the perfect time to pull out your bike from the garage, basement or off the wall and give it a little spring cleaning. The rain has (mostly) subsided, and there’s more daylight to ride to work, do errands or take a fun ride. And, it’s #BikeEverywhere Month!

Our statewide middle and high school challenge is now live and open for registration! Middle and high school students interested in challenging their friends, classmates and themselves to ride their bikes to school as much as they can this May should visit cascade.org/bts and register on their school team or as individual riders to compete.

By Briana Orr, Communications & Marketing Manager

ABC Quick Check AIR

Air Squeeze tires and inflate if needed– tires should feel firm.

Squeeze tires and inflate if needed–tires should feel firm.

If it’s the first time you are pulling out your bike since the fall, it’s good to check that the basics are working.

And even if you’ve been braving it all winter long, a daily check before heading out on a ride can help you spot something out of place before it becomes a big problem.

BRAKES

Squeeze brake levers, rock bike back and forth–wheels should stay put. Release brakes and spin wheels–wheels should move freely. Minimum 1 inch clearance between lever and bars.

Brakes Squeeze brake levers, rock bike back and forth–wheels should stay put. Release brakes and spin wheels–wheels should move freely.

Minimum 1 inch clearance between lever and bars.

CHAIN, CASSETTE, CRANK AND CHAINRINGS

Chain should be clean and move freely when you backpedal.

Chain, cassette, crank and chainrings Chain should be clean and move freely when you backpedal.

Photo Courtesey of Tino Tran

By Emily Kotz, Youth Program Assistant

As riders track the number of trips they take during the month, they’ll be automatically entered to win bike raffle prizes such as Ortlieb backpacks, saddle bags and bike lights throughout the Challenge.

Two lucky riders will win the top raffle prizes of either a new Kona or Jamis bike, and the middle and high school student who has logged the most trips overall during the challenge will win a free pass for themselves and an adult rider for a major Cascade ride!

Think ABC Quick Check to remember what to look for on your trusty steed!

If you find anything out of place or not working well, fix it (or get it fixed) before you ride. You can learn how to do basic bike fixes through Cascade’s maintenance classes in Seattle (cascade.org/learn) or visit your local bike shop. Enjoy the ride!

Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 4!

If you have already reserved a Bike to School Day kit for this year’s Bike to School Month Challenge, you can pick your kit up from the Cascade Bicycling Center (located at 7787 62nd Ave. NE, Seattle, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The kits come with this year’s Bike to School prizes, including the first challenge spoke card awarded to those students who ride on Wednesday, May 4, as well as stickers, safety supplies and kids’ Clif bars to help fuel students for their rides to school.

Most exciting of all: this year our Challenges are taking place statewide, so any and all riders across the state of Washington can compete and get inspired to ride to school by entering the Challenge!

From Seattle to Aberdeen to Spokane, please contact Emily Kotz at ypa@cascade.org for any questions on how to get your school and community ready to ride this May. Find student registration forms, ride tracking calendars, parent newsletters and more at cascade.org/bts.

CROSS WORD By Andrew Kopp, Volunteer Programs Assistant ACROSS

QUICK RELEASES

Many bikes have quick releases that fasten the seat and wheels. Quick releases should be securely closed.

Quick releases Many bikes have quick releases that fasten the seat and wheels. Quick releases should be securely closed.

CHECK-IT-OUT RIDE

Before you leave, bike in a loop to check that your bike is working well.

1 5 10 11 14 15 17 18 21 24 25 28 29

To put on a Free Group Ride Cassette, e.g.

Common rest stop snack Pedal type Lance Armstrong Played on bikes or horses Put it in your tubes Bike-themed microbrewery 1 car, 1 bike, 1 road Wheel part Bicycle archetype ____ tube Who says biking can’t be laidback?

30 Golden Gardens to Bothell 32 Replaced “Bridging the Gap” edir tuo-ti-kcehC ,evael uoy erofeB 36 back pain ot poLess ol a ni ekib ekib ruoy taht kcehc 37 “Goodbye” to Cinelli riders .llew gnikrow si 38 Shilshole, along the Burke 39 “Let’s stop and take a _____” 40 2__er 41 Bike Month 42 Always use a U 43 When you don’t wear your helmet 44 Bike color, or…

46 One of these wheels is not like the other 49 Walkin’ your bicycle 50 Flying Wheels DOWN

1 2

Rim part Handlebar, e.g.

3 4 6 7 8 9 12 13 16 19 20 22 23

Long-distance cyclist Most common bike today Spinning speed Bike light manufacturer, abbv.

A ___ in the machine Frame quality 3.26 light-years, a long way to cycle “I spoke to the hub, and it’s moving over” 52 to 16 Seattle to Ellensburg 39-down, but cuter Annoying brake malfunction Type of lube

25 Changing gears…

26 Something Seattle has too many of 27 Biking in Copenhagen 30 Super-wheelie 31 One who works on bikes, abbv.

33 The sound bullhorns make 34 One who can’t stand 22-down 35 Tells you where to go 39 Helps you accomplish 17 across 45 Four-wheeled bike 47 Works with cones 48 Kidical Mass participant

Vol. 46, No. 5

Tacoma’s Bike Month is in full swing!

How far will Red-Bell 100 take you?

By Emily Campbell, City of Tacoma Sustainability & Active Transportation Assistant

By Meaghan McClure, Development Intern

Red-Bell 100 June 25, 2016 Marymoor Park start line

Here I am, beaming with happiness after Red Bell-100 success!

Join Tacoma and Downtown on the Go for a month long celebration of all things bike!

Bike Month is celebrating its ninth year in Tacoma-Pierce County, and the City of Tacoma and its partners have a month full of exciting events planned for people who live, work and play in the area. The Blessing of the Bikes and Tacoma Bike Swap kicked things off in late April, and there are several rides, meet-ups and other fun events to come.

People of all ages and abilities won’t want to miss the Steel Wheel Alley Cat \ Poker Run happening at Tacoma’s Community Cycle Center, 2nd Cycle, on Friday, May 13. Be sure to check out the 1950s Ride

on Saturday, May 28 which leaves from War Memorial Park and takes riders through the Proctor Farmers Market and to Wright Park for a few rounds of lawn bowling, all in fun and fashionable 1950s garb.

Other events include a bike to the market day, mountain bike trail work party, a Kidical Mass ride, and a Bike Month proclamation with Tacoma City Council.

Check Bike253.com for a full listing of Tacoma Bike Month events. For a listing of bike month activities around the state, visit cascade.org/bikemonth

Six years after discovering my love for riding bicycles, I rode my first century ride: Cascade’s Red Bell-100.

I discovered the benefits of cycling in 2008 in Bellingham while pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University. Little did I know at the time, this new hobby and mode of transportation would transform into a passion.

In 2014 I registered for Red Bell. Having only just considered participating in an organized century ride, I took a risk and registered on my own, with fewer than 40 days to train. I didn’t prepare in a structured way, with guidance from experienced riders and online resources…you can do better!!!

My favorite memory was hitting mile 60. I dropped down into Skagit Valley and started to feel exhausted from the hilly first half of the ride. My pace

dropped and heart sank as I looked out across the valley and realized how far I still had to go! I knew Chuckanut Drive, so I knew I needed to save energy for the final 15 miles. All of a sudden, a group of three riders caught up with me, singing, telling jokes and laughing.

The energy was contagious! They asked how I was feeling, and I admitted I had never cycled further than 60 miles in one go before, and that I was tired.

Max, Adrian and Sarah introduced themselves and invited me to draft behind them, a first for me! I went from going 9 mph to 16! We soared through Skagit! I was uplifted by the camaraderie and never pedaled harder than I had that day. I finished in less than seven hours and celebrated joyfully with my new friends in the beer garden, exchanging memories and dancing to live music. The success of the ride continued as I rode with them throughout the summer.

The Red-Bell 100 is a fundraiser benefiting the global work of World Bicycle Relief and locally with Cascade Bicycle Club.

Limited to 600 riders, this fully supported ride offers 104 miles of scenic back roads, catered rest stops and a finish line party at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham.

Make a difference and register today at www.cascade.org.

Saturday, June 18th, 2016

You decide what distance to ride 





Beginner Level: 53k (33 mile) round trip to Hoffstadt Bluffs Intermediate Level: 87k (54 mile) round trip to Elk Rock Advanced Level: 132k (82 mile) round trip to Johnston Ridge Viewpoint



Great training ride for STP



Stunning Views



World Class Rest Stops



Open to all Levels of Riders



Celebratory Pasta Feed



Camping the night before



Tek Shirts



Hot Showers

Register Today! Registration is limited to the first 2500 registrants.

www.tourdeblast.com

Improving Lives Through Bicycling

11

May 2016

A day in the life of the Ride Around Washington tour

Join us for Flying Wheels on Saturday, June 4

By Stacey Nakagawa, Event Director

By Anna Telensky, Event Producer

From Walla Walla to Metaline Falls, RAW (July 30 - August 6) will cover 437 miles over six days through the beautiful scenery of the Palouse, a unique area of rolling hills, endless vistas of golden wheat and small farming towns.

The Ride Around Washington, aka “RAW,” is a fully supported week-long tour highlighting the best scenery and cycling in Washington.

The route changes each year, thanks to an amazing volunteer route team that has been part of the tour from its inception 18 years ago. Whether it’s your first time or tenth, you’ll have an exceptional week on this year’s RAW held between July 30 - August 6, 2016.

So what is it like to be part of RAW?

First of all, you’re sharing an amazing experience with 250 fellow cyclists, which is the perfect group size to recognize the same friendly faces each day. You’ll also meet people from across all states, and whether you sign up solo or with a friend or two, you’ll be able to find someone who rides at the same pace, maybe likes to sleep in, and enjoys eating ice cream whenever an opportunity arises.

When we say “fully supported” we mean it! Some may be deterred by the camping, but know this: we really camp in style. All your luggage and camp gear is carried from site to site. Riders are provided with three healthy and delicious meals per day, and a deluxe hot shower truck is available in camp. And we have an amazing massage team ready to work out those weary muscles each day!

12

Past riders rave about our support team, who are always on hand to give a lift when needed, replenish your water bottle with ice cold water or hand out fresh fruit and a bar or two (yes, more food!). Our bike mechanic, Gary Teeganvort, is always prepared to wrench on bikes and also provides the best music in camp.

The Inland Empire

This year our route continues from where we left off last summer. We’ll travel from Walla Walla to Metaline Falls, covering 437 miles over six days, through the beautiful scenery of the Palouse, a unique area of rolling hills, endless vistas of golden wheat and small farming towns. This area is commonly know as the Inland Empire to locals of Spokane and the vicinity. We end with a special welcome and celebration in the town of Metaline Falls, only a few miles away from the Canadian border.

2016 Ride Around Washington Tour: July 30 – Aug. 6

Training for a ride to Portland or Vancouver? Ready to get the first big miles of summer on your bike?

Do you like celebrating the coming summer in a beautiful park with a great community? Never ridden a century before? We can think of a lot of reasons to ride Cascade Bicycle Club’s Flying Wheels on Saturday, June 4! (But we have trouble finding a reason to stay home.)

Riders can choose from a variety of routes that weave in and out of the Snoqualmie Valley. For riders looking for a challenge to test their early summer fitness, the NEW century route (104 miles) is a beautiful and challenging option that will take you by local landmarks including Snoqualmie Falls, Mount Si and Cougar Mountain. For those wanting a challenge but not as much time in the saddle, we offer a 63-mile metric century and a 45-mile route.

If you’re looking for a more leisurely ride to kick off your summer, we also offer a fairly flat 23-mile route around Lake Sammamish.

Register by Sunday, May 25 for early bird pricing!

Register before midnight on Wednesday, May 25 to receive early bird pricing of $50 ($60 for non-members), and your packet will be mailed to you.

You’ll still be able to register online at the regular registration price of $60 ($70 for non-members) through midnight on Wednesday, June 1, but if you register after May 25 you will need to pick up your packet at the start line. New this year, we’re capping registration at 4,000. Assuming the event has not sold out, day-of-event registration will be available at the start line for $70 ($80 non-member).

Once again Cascade is partnering

with Camp Korey and encouraging riders to help send kids with life-altering medical conditions to camp. Riders who commit to raising $150 for Camp Korey will receive free entry to any Flying Wheels route and give the life-changing gift of camp to thousands of Northwest children and families. Register with Camp Korey here http://campkorey. org/flyingwheels. Please note: the 23-mile route does not visit Camp Korey.

Flying Wheels is a fundraiser for the Cascade Bicycle Club. Thanks to riders like yourself, Cascade Bicycle Club introduces thousands of students in the Puget Sound region to the joys, empowerment and practicality of riding a bike.

Your registration helps us advocate for roads and trails that are safe and convenient for families and commuters. And thanks to you, we’re able to host fun and challenging events for riders of all ages and abilities.

Start/Finish Location: Marymoor Park; East end velodrome parking Start Line Hours: 6:30 – 9 a.m.

Start in waves based on distance Finish Line Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Finish line festival features the Schooner Exact beer garden, Seattle Sausage booth, WA sports massage and more. New this year, all riders will receive a ticket good for a free meal at one of our three finish line food vendors as part of registration!

More event and registration details, maps and elevation information can be found at cascade.org/flying-wheels.

Thanks to our sponsors

For more information and to register, go to cascade.org/raw.

www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 5

FREE GROUP RIDES Ride Leader Certification Class Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jun. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Cascade Bicycling Center 7787 62nd Ave NE, Seattle

EASY PACE (UNDER 10 mph) Tuesdays – May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 She Bikes Tuesday Social Ride 6 p.m. • 5-10 miles from Bike Works warehouse location (on lower level behind the building), Seattle • Ride Leader: Morgan Michel Saturday, May 28 SLOW Ride: Seven Vistas, Three Hills, No Sweat!

11 a.m. • 14 miles from Northwest African American Museum by I-90 Trail, Seattle • Ride Leader: Merlin Rainwater

LEISURELY PACE (10-12 mph) Friday, May 6 FRIDAY RIDERS: Snohomish to Lake Cassidy, Roads and Trails 10 a.m. • 28 miles from Snohomish city restrooms, Snohomish • Ride Leader: Jan Johnson Wednesday, May 11 Marymoor to Issaquah for lunch 11 a.m. • 10 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail parking behind the Whole Foods, Redmond • Ride Leader: Susan Hiles

5:30 p.m. • 13 miles from Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle • Ride Leader: Almie Borromeo

to Kidd Valley Restaurant, Renton • Ride Leaders: Tom Baker, Lola Jacobsen

Thursdays – May 5, 12, 19, 26 SHE BIKES - Seattle Cycle Sirens Ride around Mercer Island 6:15 p.m. • 14 miles from Luther Burbank Park South Parking Lot, Mercer Island • Ride Leaders: Louise Johnson, Melanie Kelsey

Tuesdays - May 24, 31 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, next to Kidd Valley Restaurant, Renton • Ride Leaders: Vincent Haag, Russ Moul

Tuesday, May 24 TREATS: Burien The Long Way 10 a.m.

• 30 miles from Tukwila Community Center, Tukwila • Ride Leader: Michael Moreland Tuesday, May 31 Fall City/Carnation/Red Barn loop/Ames Lake area -TREATS 10 a.m. • 39 miles from Fall City Community Park, Fall City • Ride Leader: Teresa Lee Lehr-Franks

MODERATE PACE (14-16 mph) Thursday, May 12 THursday Unemployed Merry PedalerS (THUMPS): Home for Lunch 9:30 a.m. • 30 miles from Leschi Starbucks, Seattle • Ride Leader: Mike Nelson Thursday, May 26 THursday Unemployed Merry PedalerS (THUMPS): Home for Lunch 9:30 a.m. • 30 miles from Leschi Starbucks, Seattle • Ride Leader: Mike Nelson

BRISK (16-18 mph)

Friday, May 20 Friday Riders Explore Ballard 10 a.m. • 20 miles from Gas Works Park, parking lot, Seattle • Ride Leader: William Lemke

Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of moderate rides.

Sunday, May 22 Sunday Pedalers on Kinda Easy Streets (SPOKES) Goes on a Forked Ride 10 a.m. • 21 miles from Quigley Park, Fall City • Ride Leaders: Michelle Burton, Jim Hunt

Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of vigorous rides.

STEADY PACE (12-14 mph) Tuesday, May 3, 24 SHE Bikes - Seattle Cycle Sirens - Tuesday Evening Steady Spin

VIGOROUS (18-20 mph)

STRENUOUS: (20-22 mph) Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of strenuous rides.

Thursdays – May 5, 12, 19, 26 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, next

By Stacey Williams, Rides & Outreach Director

Sandi Navarro was honored as an Exceptional Ride Leader for all of the work she does to build the Rides program and provide exceptional opportunities to ride!

If you have ever ridden with MEETS (Midweek Eastside Evening Training Series) you are sure to have encountered Sandi, as she is a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm. Sandi has been the MEETS series director for a number of years, and there are regularly 75 to 100 participants during the summer months.

Sandi ensures that ride leaders are available, routes are fun and safe Improving Lives Through Bicycling

Wednesday, May 4 South Everett Rides on Wednesday (Steady/ Moderate/Brisk) 6 p.m. • 26 miles from Archbishop Murphy High School, Everett • Ride Director: Dorothe Reijnders Wednesday, May 11 South Everett Rides on Wednesday (Steady/ Moderate/Brisk) 6 p.m • 26 miles from Archbishop Murphy High School, Everett • Ride Director: Dorothe Reijnders Saturday, May 14 PACES #5 (Brisk – Strenuous) 9 a.m. • 85 miles from Cedar River Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Rodrigo Bomfim, Bob Dennis, Scott Emmons, Paula Froke, Alfred Fung, Wilfried Mack, Timothy McCarthy, Terence Shelton, Alan Tagstrom, Alexa Volwiler Wednesday, May 18 South Everett Rides on Wednesday (Steady/ Moderate/Brisk) 6 p.m. • 23 miles from Archbishop Murphy High School, Everett • Ride Director: Dorothe Reijnders

Wednesday, May 25 South Everett Rides on Wednesday (Steady/ Moderate/Brisk) 6 p.m. • 25.6 miles from Archbishop Murphy High School, Everett • Ride Director: Dorothe Reijnders

SELF-PACED Saturday, May 7 RAMROD Training Series - Ride #5 9 a.m. • 67 miles from South Sammamish Park & Ride, Sammamish • Ride Leaders: Paul Franks, Per Sunde, Shana Sunde Saturday, May 14 RAMROD Training Series - Ride #6 8:30 a.m. • 76 miles from Newport Hills Park & Ride, Bellevue • Ride Leaders: Paul Franks, Per Sunde, Shana Sunde Saturday, May 21 RAMROD Training Series - Ride #7 8:30 a.m. • 77 miles Newport Hills Park & Ride, Bellevue • Ride Leader: Paul Franks, Per Sunde, Shana Sunde Saturday, May 28 RAMROD Training Series - Ride #8 8:30 a.m. • 94 miles from Ron Regis Park, Renton • Ride Leader: Paul Franks, Per Sunde, Shana Sunde

This is a sampling of this month’s rides.

For a complete listing, see cascade.org/calendar.

For full details of the listed rides, see cascade.org/grouprides.

This is also where you’ll find ride guidelines to help you select a ride that suits your style, skills and energy level.

SUPER STRENUOUS: (22mph +)

Exceptional Ride Leader: Sandi Navarro

Exceptional Ride Leader Sandi Navarro

MULTI-PACED RIDES (SEVERAL PACE CATEGORIES OFFERED)

Saturday, May 21 PACES #6 (Brisk - Strenuous) 9 a.m. • 85 miles from Perrigo Community Park, Redmond • Ride Leaders: Rodrigo Bomfim, Bob Dennis, Scott Emmons, Paula Froke, Alfred Fung, Wilfried Mack, Timothy McCarthy, Terence Shelton, Alan Tagstrom, Alexa Volwiler

and riders have a great time.

Not only is Sandi an exceptional ride leader, but she is also deeply involved in the Rides program overall. Sandi is on both the CTS (Cascade Training Series) Steering Committee and the Rides Committee, and in her “spare time” she is a Cascade Board member.

Previously a runner, Sandi began cycling about four years ago after developing a foot injury.

New to cycling and apprehensive about riding alone, she began riding with Free Group Rides.

The warmth and encouragement of the Cascade community was overwhelming. Wanting to give back to the bicycling community, she has become deeply involved in Cascade’s activities.

If you have the opportunity to ride with Sandi you won’t be disappointed! She has boundless enthusiasm and energy for everything cycling.

Thank you, Sandi, for being an Exceptional Ride Leader!

Welcome to our new Advocacy Leadership Institute participants!

By Kelli Refer, Seattle Advocacy & Field Programs Director

Cascade welcomed our newest cohort of the Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) to our growing family of activists. This group of dedicated individuals met on a beautiful Saturday in April—complete with blue skies and sunshine—for a weekend-long retreat in which they learned about what bike friendly projects and policies are happening in Seattle and around the region.

Participants join this class to amplify their voices and develop leadership skills that make them more effective advocates for social change in their communities. ALI features a variety of guest speakers ranging from elected officials like Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and Bellevue City Councilmember Jennifer Robertson, to journalists and leaders at partnering nonprofit organizations like Outdoors for All. Each class focuses on a key element of advocacy such as developing your personal story to campaign planning and working with the media.

Each of our 19 participants take on a project of their choosing that helps improve lives through bicycling.

One example of a participant

City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw speaks to our new ALI cohort.

project is focused on Vision Zero by promoting Seattle’s Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 18. The ride honors all people who have died while riding a bike. Other projects involve working with local schools on Mercer Island to encourage more walking and biking to school.

When participants graduate from ALI, they are educated, empowered and connected.

As Cascade expands, we are looking at opportunities to grow this program into something we can offer statewide, so stay tuned for your next opportunity to join ALI. 13

May 2016

Borrow a book, borrow a bike pump

Volunteer of the Month: Lee McCoin

King County Library System installs bike repair stations

By Andrew Kopp, Volunteer Programs Assistant

By Briana Orr, Communications & Marketing Manager

30 King County Library System branches now feature a bike repair station with tools and a bike pump, free for anyone to use.

In October 2015, King County Library Systems quietly added 10 do-it-yourself bike repair stations to their branch locations.

The repair stations feature a pump and bike tools to do common bike repairs attached to a stationary stand.

The stands also feature a QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to access how-to videos for bike repairs (and of course, you can probably find a few books on the topic on the library shelves!).

It was a welcome surprise to the community.

“Obviously when most people think about libraries, they think about books,” said Gary Wasdin, director of King County Library Systems. “They are so much more than that—libraries are community centers and hubs of community activity.”

Like providing election boxes, Gary said the bike repair stations bring a service to the community conveniently

under one roof.

Installing the stations was an idea from facilities staff who had seen the stations elsewhere.

“As people saw it, they loved it, loved the idea and wanted more,” said Gary.

Almost immediately, every other King County library asked for a repair station at their branch, and the system quickly expanded from 10 to 30 stations in November 2015.

Denise Feil, Librarian Services Manager at the Burien Library, said the repair station at the Burien Library “gets used every day. This is a big community that’s excited to support it.”

Besides creating a community hub, Gary said the bike repair stations also fit into KCLS’ goals to encourage their staff and customers to bicycle to the library and to promote healthy lifestyles. They installed the bike repair stations in the most visible places possible so that they are a stand-alone marketing piece for bicycling.

Gary said the community response has been positive. “We see people using them in urban areas in downtown Renton, to Bothell, to quiet suburban areas.”

And with locations such as Vashon Island, Issaquah, Carnation and North Bend as well, the stations also have the potential to serve people out for recreational mountain bike rides and bike tours.

KCLS’ goal is to reach all 48 library branches by the end of 2016.

We applaud KCLS’ efforts, and thank them for supporting bicycling in King County!

View a map of the branch locations at kcls.org/usingthelibrary/locations.

On right: Lee McCoin, Volunteer of the Month

Lee McCoin has volunteered for basically everything: stuffing packets, handing out snacks at events, staffing the Cascade outreach table and even loading trucks. Her dedication to Cascade, great attitude and outgoing demeanor are why she has been awarded Volunteer of the Month.

“Lee is amazing! She has a great attitude along with great knowledge about bikes,” said Dylan Joffe, Cascade’s volunteer programs manager.

Josh Miller, community education program manager, said that “Lee has a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm. One time, she helped a rider who managed to jam his chain between the crank and bottom bracket. Lee was persistent and ultimately successful in getting the rider going again. She was not at all concerned about getting her hands greasy, nor putting the time and effort into getting the job done.”

Lee shares her birthplace, Sebastopol, Calif., with Charles Schulz, Tom Waits and Jerry Garcia.

She learned to bike at 7 but was

discouraged after a “really bad” fall at age 8—“but you know, ‘really bad’ to an 8-year old only means I skinned my knee.” She started bicycling again in high school but didn’t fall in love with biking until her first bike touring trip.

“I was one of two girls who got invited along with our local Boy Scout troop (they let some girls in!) in the Klamath National Forest. It was a supported ride and very well planned, so I never felt like any day was too big of a challenge. I keep that gentle approach in mind when I get new friends into riding,” she said.

Touring remains Lee’s favorite way to spend time with her bike.

“I get to go places I may never otherwise see or would go by too fast in a car or a bus to notice. And I get that exhilarating feeling of ‘I got here all with my own muscle power! … okay, and a lot of food.’”

Bicycling has taught Lee “how to slow down and be present, be nice to people (traffic tests us well), embrace confidence, feel powerful and self-sufficient, and share all these things with others.”

She shares these lessons with others through volunteering.

“Volunteering is a chance to act on something I believe in, put my soul into action, and watch that energy spiral as I meet other people who care about bicycling as a lifestyle.”

You can volunteer alongside Lee this season at rides likes Bike-n-Brews in May (“Volunteer with me—I can’t wait to meet you!”) or an STP packet stuffing.

This recognition was long overdue.

From the Cascade staff and community, thank you, Lee, for sharing your love of bicycling with us!

Thank you for a successful Group Health Bike Everywhere Breakfast Thanks to everyone who attended our 12th Annual Group Health Bike Everywhere Breakfast supporting the Cascade Bicycle Club. Thanks to you, we raised more than $200,000 at this year’s event. That will go a long way in improving lives through bicycling.

Thanks to our sponsors

Lease Crutcher Lewis • Seattle Mariners • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • Perkins Coie • Stoel Rives • Seattle Children’s • MIG | SvR • Washington Holdings • Starbucks • Vulcan Inc. Seattle Seahawks Defensive Lineman Michael Bennett gives an inspiring speech to Group Health Bike Everywhere Breakfast attendees. Photo courtesy of CB Bell Media.

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Vol. 46, No. 5

What do kiddos learn at bike camp? (Spoiler alert: it’s not just about the bike!)

By Iea Toner, Cascade Summer Camp Instructor

After just a week of Bike Camp, campers roll away with new friends, skills and amazing memories.

Together we can

MAKE AN IMPACT May 3

Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes Cascade’s Summer Camp Program, an empowering opportunity for youth to develop interpersonal skills, gain more bicycling experience, and have a week’s worth of fun biking around Seattle.

During camp, the bicycle is used as a tool to facilitate personal growth, to foster community and to develop good and safe decision-making.

But camp isn’t all about the bike.

Camp is a space that emphasizes everyone belongs and is encouraged to be their authentic self. Within a week, 12 youth become a strong cohesive group, encouraging the expression of each other’s skills and talents, while making new friends.

Each week, campers get to identify their own goals and expectations. And as the week progresses, it is remarkable to see their bike skills improve as they become better with their bike-handling skills, communication and hand signaling, and generally

being safe at intersections.

The camp week also creates memorable moments to be goofy and silly, like taking a break to play in sprinklers and invent jokes. There are also endearing moments. Last year, when a camper got to the top of a hill, he suddenly dropped his bike and said, “oh, I ran out of gas.” And there are profound moments; like when a kid who has the experience of being disruptive in school gets celebrated as being a helpful leader in the group and wants to make sure her mom is told at the end of the day.

If you have not yet signed up for Cascade’s summer camp, go to cascade.org/camps and enroll your kid(s) in one of the many programs.

During the week they attend they’re sure to develop and grow (and have fun!) through bicycling.

If you would like more information, contact Michele Finkelstein at michelef@ cascade.org.

Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG is a one-day, online event designed to raise money so that nonprofit organizations can continue to create equality of opportunity in the Puget Sound region.

Give to support Cascade Bicycle Club before midnight on Tuesday, May 3, and the Seattle Foundation will give a matching gift to boost your support.

Let’s do this. Together. #GIVEBIG Go to seattlefoundation.org for information on Challenge Grants and matching contributions.

Improving Lives Through Bicycling

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May 2016

Emerald City Bike Ride was a smashing success!

By Briana Orr, Communications & Marketing Manager

7,000 people joined us for the first-ever Emerald City Bike Ride, the largest one-day bike ride the state of Washington has ever seen!

Participants of Emerald City Bike Ride were among the first to experience the SR520 Bridge before it opened to cars, and many opted to enjoy the 8-mile, family-friendly route.

For those who signed up for the 21-mile tour of the city, bicycling on the I-5 Express Lanes was an unforgettable experience and a highlight!

March Cascade Bicycle Club Donors* $5,000 and up Toby Bright & Nancy Ward

$1,000-$4,999 Howard Family Foundation Alexa Volwiler & Wilfried Mack Who rode 7,000 people on bicycles, tandems, unicycles, training wheels and cargo bikes took part in the ride. 44 percent identified as women, 56 percent identified as men and 11 percent were youth under 18. Youth made up 33 percent of the SR520-only riders.

$250-$999 Anonymous Melanie Kelsey Tim Kornegay Barbara & Fred Motteler The Painter Family Carrie & Michael Pruitt

Businesses Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Sub Pop Records Unico Properties

Donations make our work possible— Thank you! *As of Jan. 1, the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation is simply Cascade Bicycle Club.

It took a community. We cannot thank our partners enough (and there are too many to mention here), but would like to give a special shoutout to: Chinatown International District and all our amazing food vendors, Seattle Police Department, Washington State Department of Transportation and Seattle Department of Transportation. We couldn’t have pulled this off without the commitment and enthusiasm of the entire community!

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