Big Ride Slideshow
Thursday, March 3, 2005
I finally compiled my pictures from the Big Ride Pacific Coast that Nick and I did last fall. Rather than post hundreds of pictures in a list, I put them in a slideshow to music. (Now that they are all together, I think it was worth the wait.)
Most of the pictures were taken by me, Nick, and Tim Byer. A few from Dave and Karen Derrig snuck in there too.
I’d recommend watching the small one if you’re on dial-up. The medium and large sized shows seem to play pretty well if you have high-speed access.
Chilly Hilly
Sunday, February 27, 2005
I am here today to officially put to rest the burning question all of you non-Seattlites might have about Chilly Hilly - Seattle’s annual February cycling event. “Is it really chilly and hilly?”
The answer, we discovered today, is unequivocably yes!
The forecast was for sunshine, but all we saw when we woke up this morning at 6 a.m. was dense, cool fog. It didn’t lift as we drove to Seattle. In fact, it might have gotten thicker. No matter; we were registered, and we intended to ride.
Marilyn, Nick and I had decided to take the 8:45 ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge. Little did we know that over 1,000 other riders decided that they were going to take this ferry as well. (We think there were 5,300 riders overall.)
I was surprised to see that a few cars made it on, given how many cyclists there were. Of course, any driver that tried to leave their car and go upstairs would be hard pressed to find a seat.
Marilyn was entirely responsible for our good moods as we rode across the sound. I had a chest cold and wasn’t feeling very energetic, and Nick was overwhelmed by the crowds. We were looking forward to a cup of warm coffee in Winslow, which put a smile on our faces long enough for the requisite group shot. Aren’t we cute?
It’s hard to describe the total experience. The sheer number of people on this ride mind-boggling. Going into this, the largest ride I’d ever been on had 43 people and we were often spread out over 75+ mile routes. Chilly Hilly on the other hand regularly attracts 4,000+ people for a ride on a relatively short 33-mile loop around Bainbridge Island.
Normal road riding ettiquette goes completely out the window as you try to unobtrusively thread your way in and out of groups that have spread themselves across the right hand side of the road. If you aren’t careful, riders who don’t know that they should look behind them before darting out behind another rider might hit you. Yellow lines become suggestions, downhill sections become high-speed slaloms, and you wonder at how lucky we are that someone doesn’t get seriously injured.
All the negatives aside, this is actually quite a remarkable experience. For all the traffic headaches the cyclists must cause the locals, they come out in droves to support us. Not a mile went by without someone offering you juice, brownies, orange slices or some other nicety. Not a single car honked or showed any sign of irritation. And every rider had a smile on their face (at least when they were going downhill anyway). Simply amazing.
Although we didn’t entirely expect it, the sun finally did come out about halfway through the ride. Nick stopped to admire the view as he waited for Marilyn and me to catch up.
I really can’t think of a more interesting way to spend a Sunday in February. Riding bikes with friends is just awesome.
Seattle International Bike Expo
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Can you believe it? [Jump up and down and up and down!] I got my first photography award this weekend! I entered the above picture in the Seattle International Bike Expo’s photo contest in the “creative digital” category, and guess what? It got an honorable mention! Cool!
It was one of four pictures I entered, but the only one that I entered in that category. The other two were entered in the action and still life categories.
There were some pretty awesome pictures, so I’m really flattered that it got noticed at all.
What are you on?
Thursday, February 17, 2005
“People ask me what I’m on. What am I on? I’m on my bike - busting my ass - six hours a day. What are you on?”
-Lance Armstrong
Well, it’s official! Armstrong is going to ride the tour again this year and attempt a seventh consecutive win. Did anyone think he wouldn’t? I mean, taking a year off, then trying to regain the fitness and mindset of a tour winner, seems much more difficult than going for it right away.
And what am I on? My custom Marinoni Ciclo, of course! It’s be-you-tee-ful.
Cyclocross racing
Sunday, October 10, 2004
I went with Nick to his cyclocross race in Tacoma today. The race was held at Fort Steilacoom park - a really interesting place if you’ve never been there. There is an actual fort which is perched on the only hill in the park. Trails criss-cross the hill and lead around a Greenlake-sized pond below. Large grassy fields would be ideal for running our dog, if we had one.
I had a little time before the race to explore the course and find good spots for photographing the action. I wandered up to the fort and found it in ruins, covered with grafitti. A high fence with razor wire surrounded it (a fort around the fort?), but someone cut a large hole in the fence making it possible to walk around inside.
I was there to see the race, though, so I wandered back to the start. I still don’t have my 28-105mm lens back from the repair shop, so I shot with my 75-300mm lens. It was an interesting excercise in being forced to fill the frame with the scene. I focused on riders faces at the start and managed to capture a priceless one of Nick and the guy next to him.
After the gun went, I hurried over to a section of the course called a “run up.” Officials direct the course at various points up really steep hills, so steep that the only way to get up it is to get off your bike and carry it up. Three seconds after this picture below was taken Nick passed the guy in front of him. (I was too busy cheering to take a picture.)
In the end, too many things went wrong with Nick’s bike to allow him a great finish. It did come down to a short sprint at the end with this guy.
Nick beat him of course 
Quote of the day: “My legs felt great, but my lungs felt like they were going to come out my ears.” - Nick