Spotlights

Biking While Having Your Period

Admin Example — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:47:27 +0000

Biking While Having Your Period Admin Example Mon, 06/28/2021 - 16:47

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Mon, 06/28/2021 - 09:47

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Spotlights

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1 min read

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Menstruation is a fact of life for more than half the population for a large portion of our lives. While every person’s individual experience varies (and often changes throughout their life), typical periods last three to seven days and can range from light spotting to heavy bleeding that can impact a person’s ability to do daily activities.

For those of us who ride bikes often, it’s inevitable that we’ll find ourselves at some point or another needing or wanting to ride during our period. I’ve been a daily bike commuter, adventure cyclist, and bike camper who has bled through all of it and am here to share with you my successes, failures, and tips for a more positive experience.

Importantly, before I get into these tips, I want to emphasize that there is no one right way to manage your period on your bike. This is clearly a very personal decision. All of our bodies are different so please do what works best for you!

All the suggestions below are things that I have found useful but your experience may differ. Please share any additional tips and tricks in the comments on social media!

Preparation

In the days leading up to my period, I experience a lot of tenderness in my breasts, which is a sure sign that my period is about to start. To help relieve discomfort from rough roads jostling my chest, I switch to a high impact sports bra, which reduces movement.

Around this time, I also make sure I have a few tampons in my bike bag just in case Aunt Flow shows up while I’m out and about. I typically store these in my bike repair kit, alongside my tire levers and patch kit so I know exactly where they are every time.

I’ve also been surprised more than once by spotting while on a bike tour or after a particularly strenuous ride. There is evidence to suggest that intense exercise can change your hormones and thus your menstrual cycle, so be aware that you may bleed at unexpected times.

Leak Prevention

Once my cycle has started, priority number one for me is to make sure that there’s no leakage going on. My preferred method of ‘catchment’ (for lack of better terms) is a menstrual cup - a flexible, medical-grade silicone cup that sits inside the vagina and collects menstrual fluid. I’ve had success with this through multiple types of biking, but have heard from some folks who experienced spillage while mountain biking.

Other popular methods include using tampons, wearing specifically designed period underwear, and on especially light flow days, simply wearing bike shorts with a chamois. While researching this article, many people pointed out an important tip for tampon wearers while on the bike: be sure to tuck the string away from your clothing, as the capillary action of the cotton can draw the fluid out of your body and onto your clothes.

I would advise against a pad or panty liner, especially if you’ll be riding for a length of time, as the extra material can bunch up against the saddle, causing chaffing.

Comfort

Gentle exercise, such as riding a bike, for me actually helps to relieve many of the discomforts that accompany my menstrual cycle. I’ve found that a slow spin around the neighborhood helps with bloating, cramping, nausea, and the general malaise I feel each month. Convincing myself to get on my bike while I’m cramping can be the biggest hurdle to overcome, but once I do, I’m usually pretty happy I did.

Science seems to agree on this point, generally advising gentle exercise that feels good to you.

Hygiene

Staying fresh and clean on your period is not only good for your mental health, but can prevent awkward or uncomfortable situations. I recommend showering as soon as possible after your ride, changing your tampon or menstrual cup, and putting on fresh clothes.

Sometimes, however, especially if you’re bike camping or on a long ride, this might not be an option for you and a shower might be a few days away. I always pack baby wipes as part of my hygiene kit for bike camping and use these liberally to clean up after a ride. I use baby wipes because they're easy to find when traveling, they’re typically water based, and have a light or non-existent scent, but specific hygiene wipes for vulva pH balance also exist -- use whatever works best for you. Don’t forget a small bag to pack up your trash as well!

Closing Thoughts

Periods aren’t fun but they’re a fact of life for many of us. For avid cyclists, not riding bikes during our period simply isn’t an option, so learning to live with it as best as possible is essential. I encourage you to be gentle with yourself as you explore this area and recognize that during your period, your body is experiencing hormonal shifts which can also impact your athletic performance.

Keeping track of your period symptoms throughout your entire cycle can help you to better predict your cycle and get in tune with what works for you and what doesn’t.

I’d also love to hear any tips or suggestions you’ve found to be helpful for biking while on your period! Please share them on social media by tagging @cascadebicycle.

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Read our previous posts about biking while having your period here.

Gear Tips for Fall Riding and Bike Commuting

Paul Tolmé — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 20:37:43 +0000

Gear Tips for Fall Riding and Bike Commuting Paul Tolmé Fri, 10/10/2025 - 13:37

Publication/Release Date

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 13:37

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Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

5 min read

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Don’t let shorter days, cooler temperatures, and inclement weather slam the brakes on your riding season. With the right gear, you can pedal right through fall and into winter.

We recently highlighted “10 Fall Trail Rides for Fabulous Foliage.” Below are some bikes and cycling gear to keep your wheels spinning.

Retro Chic

Merino wool is great for fall riding because it’s warm and wicking (and doesn’t hold B.O. like polyester). Look cool and rule the school in our retro chic Women's Cascade Wool Short Sleeve Jersey. $115, cbcmerchandise.com

Waterproof Gloves

Keeping fingers and toes warm and dry is one of the keys to riding in the rain. Our old pair of Cross Point Waterproof Knit Gloves from Showers Pass is getting worn out after many years of use, so I’m excited to get a new pair–this time in Jungle green. $54, showerspass.com

Be Seen

Sunlight is waning. Time to light yourself up so drivers see you on the roads.

Cascade Customer Service Manager Emma Wimmer wears a waterproof, rechargeable Tracer 2 LED Safety Vest ($65) when biking at night and says that cars give her a wider berth when passing. “It’s the one item I try to never leave home without,” she says.

BMC Gravel

Multiple staff members test-rode BMC’s URS 01 ONE gravel bike on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail during Cascade’s Iron Horse Gravel Ride. What a treat it was to pedal a bike perfectly designed for the terrain.

The BMC URS 01 ONE on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.

With their wider tires, gravel bikes allow you to ride places you couldn’t on a road bike. But modern gravel bikes like the URS 01 ONE also have frames and technologies that improve handling and comfort when riding on rough surfaces.

The URS 01 ONE has a more “relaxed” frame geometry than road bikes, which means you’re in a more upright and comfortable riding position. It also has 10 millimeters of suspension in the rear to soften chattery trails, and a suspension stem with 20 mm of travel to reduce vibrations and hand fatigue. $9,599, bmc-switzerland.com

If that price is too steep, BMC offers a range of URS gravel bikes in its Exploration line starting at $1,999.

Better still, Cascade members get exclusive deals on BMC bicycles through Cascade Bicycle Studio and Element Cycles. The URS 01 ONE costs $8,399 ($1,200 off the regular price) for Cascade members. Log into the Member Benefits Portal to get details.

Cargo Bike Subscriptions

We love electric cargo bikes because they allow people to carry children, groceries, and heavy items that would typically require a car. Buying one, however, can be pricey.

That’s why Cascade partners with Wombi, which offers monthly subscriptions for high-quality Tern cargo bike models including the HSD, GSD or Quick Haul.

Cascade members get 25% off the first four months of a new Wombi e-bike subscription, which includes free service and maintenance, theft and damage coverage, 24/7 rider rescue, free delivery, and the Flex-to-Own option. Log in to our Member Benefits Portal for details.

Xtracycle

The Swoop is a pickup truck on two wheels.

Xtracycle was a pioneering manufacturer of cargo bikes, and Cascade uses their Swoop for Pedaling Relief Project food rescues and for shuttling heavy items around at our rides and events.

Xtracycle has three models from which to choose: the Hopper ($2,499), RFA ($4,499) and Swoop ($4,999). Bonus: Cascade members get 15% off all Xtracycle bicycles and accessories through our Member Benefits Portal.

My friend Alan is a professional photographer who uses an Xtracycle Hopper to carry his gear to gigs around Seattle.

Priority Skyline

With a low maintenance belt drive, Pinion gearbox with electronic shifting, a suspension fork, and 750-watt motor, the Priority Skyline ($3,999) is an e-bike loaded with technologies to reduce maintenance. Cascade members get 15% off with the code CASCADEFAMILY at checkout.

Our friend and car-free bike adventurer Ryan Van Duzer rides a Skyline for his errands and shopping in Boulder, Colo. Watch his enthusiastic video below.

Steel Your Bottles

I’ve switched to stainless steel water bottles because plastic HDPE bike bottles taste foul. Not surprising, since they are made from petroleum.

My favorite new stainless bottle is the Tiibo, which has a food-grade silicone cap and a double-wall steel body to keep drinks colder longer. $34.95, tiibo.com

Lock the Cage

I recently bought my third Arundel Looney Bin, this time white instead of black to match my frame. The clicker dial locks in your steel bottle (or bottle of wine) so it doesn’t bounce out.

$29.95, arundelbike.com

Cleverhood

Show your support for Cascade and stay dry at the same time. The Cascade Bicycle Club Rain Cape is great both on and off the bike, and 15% of sales go to your favorite bike nonprofit. $119, cleverhood.com.

Order your cape or waterproof Anorak ($149) through the Cascade Member Benefits Portal to get 15% off. Another reason to join Cascade!

Fender Bender

Designed for stability on rough surfaces, SKS Speedrocker fenders, $85.99, can be adjusted to fit most bikes with tire widths up to 700x42. Unlike permanent fenders, you can easily remove them for sunny summer and fair-weather riding.

TPU Tubes

Flat Resistant TPU Inner Tubes are lighter, tougher, and less leaky than the common butyl rubber tubes we grew up with. They also pack down smaller than rubber tubes, which is why I recently picked up a pair for fixing my next flat.

Learn more about thermoplastic polyurethane tubes in this video.

Fall Reading

In their new book, Life after Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, the people behind The War on Cars podcast have written what should be a bike advocacy best-seller.

The book begins with a history lesson about the soaring death toll from automobiles, how Superman railed against reckless drivers, and how the automobile and fossil fuel industries invented the term “War on Cars” to gaslight bike advocates and kill projects that make our streets safer.

Part II details the costs and harms of our autonormative culture in terms of fatalities, dirty air and climate pollution, poor public health, and the loss of our streets to people walking and biking. Part III, “How We Get Free,” offers solutions for building the political will to reclaim our streets and transition toward cleaner, safer, and healthier forms of transportation. This book is a great antidote to the current president’s very real war on bike infrastructure and the de-funding of trails and safe streets projects.

Meet The War on Cars

On Nov. 5, Cascade is partnering with The War on Cars podcasters to present a live taping of their show at Town Hall Seattle. While the show is sold-out, live-streaming tickets are still available.

If you can’t make it to Town Hall Seattle, Cascade will hold a meet-and-greet, book signing, and Q&A with podcast hosts Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear on the following night, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., which will be held at Cascade’s offices in Magnuson Park with $10 sliding scale ticket pricing to support our mission.

Happy fall riding! And please consider signing up for our annual Cranksgiving ride.

Want more gear tips? Watch our Youtube video about cold-weather bike commuting.

City of Seattle Awards Cascade $92,000 to Reduce Food Waste through Pedaling Relief Project

Paul Tolmé — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:52:54 +0000

City of Seattle Awards Cascade $92,000 to Reduce Food Waste through Pedaling Relief Project Paul Tolmé Tue, 02/25/2025 - 11:52

Publication/Release Date

Fri, 02/28/2025 - 12:01

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Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

3 min read

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The City of Seattle is partnering with Cascade Bicycle Club to reduce food waste, fight food insecurity, and reduce carbon emissions by rescuing and delivering fresh produce, bread, and other edible goods by bike in support of Seattle food banks.

Pedaling Relief riders use pedal power to serve the community, reduce waste, and cut carbon emissions.

Two city agencies have awarded more than $92,000 to support Cascade’s innovative Pedaling Relief Project, which uses bicycles to rescue food that is edible but no longer sellable from multiple Seattle grocery stores and farmers markets and then bikes it to food banks for re-packing and delivery to the homes of food bank clients.

The Department of Neighborhoods has awarded the Pedaling Relief Project $50,000 from the city’s Food Equity Fund.
Seattle Public Utilities has awarded Cascade $42,097 to support the Pedaling Relief Project’s work with Byrd Barr Place Food Bank and farmers markets.

“The Food Equity Fund is thrilled to be able to invest in Cascade Bicycle Club’s Pedaling Relief Project,” says Jenifer Chao, director of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. “Not only does the program build meaningful community amongst volunteer riders, but its unique model supports some of our incredible food bank partners to deliver fresh produce to families in Seattle, all while reducing our carbon footprint.”

Food is the largest component of Seattle’s garbage and a major greenhouse gas contributor.

“Seattle Public Utilities is proud to partner with the Pedaling Relief Project,” says Andrew Lee, CEO and general manager of Seattle Public Utilities. “Reducing food waste, improving food distribution, and cutting carbon emissions are consistent with our ‘Zero Waste’ vision. We’re very pleased that our partnership is teaching us how to build new, sustainable models for food transport and benefiting people struggling with food insecurity.”

Pedaling Relief riders pull bins of food rescued from PCC Community Markets to Byrd Barr Place Food Bank on a recent winter morning.

More than 1.5 Million Pounds of Goods Biked Since 2020

Begun in 2020 when food banks experienced a crisis of need due to the pandemic, Cascade Bicycle Club’s Pedaling Relief Project organizes teams of volunteers who use bicycles and electric bikes pulling cargo trailers to rescue and collect donated food from farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and other locations. Collectively, Pedaling Relief volunteers have biked more than 1.5 million pounds of goods over the past five years!

By using bicycles and pedal power instead of motor vehicles and fossil fuels, the Pedaling Relief Project reduces traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.

Pedaling Relief Project Manager Landon Coates Welsh pulls a Burley trailer with bins loaded with rescued food. Cascade provides volunteers with these trailers that can attach to just about any bicycle.

Bicycles are ideal for these rescues and deliveries in dense Seattle neighborhoods because they require no parking spaces and can more quickly navigate congested city streets than motor vehicles. The bicycle-powered deliveries also reduce food bank transportation expenses.

“Cascade Bicycle Club is excited to rescue food and deliver grocery donations across Seattle,” says Lee Lambert, Cascade’s executive director. “This partnership aligns with our goals to establish long-term community resiliency and sustainability through bicycling. Our team of volunteer bicyclists is ready to reach neighbors facing food insecurity quickly and efficiently.”

A National Model for Cities Seeking to Reduce Waste and Traffic Congestion

Lambert calls the Pedaling Relief Project "the largest bicycle-powered food rescue and transport effort of its kind in the country" and “a national model for how cities can partner with bicycling nonprofits and food banks to address food insecurity and reduce waste.”

The University of Washington's prestigious Urban Freight Lab included the Pedaling Relief Project in its research paper "Biking the Goods," which presents the Cascade initiative as a national example of how cargo bikes are being used to serve an important public need.

Learn more about the Pedaling Relief Project and sign up for a food rescue or delivery. Cascade provides volunteers with bike trailers that can be attached to just about any bike.

Watch our video of Pedaling Relief Project riders rescuing and delivering food.

If you have a bicycle or e-bike and want to support our overburdened food banks while getting exercise and making new friends, the Pedaling Relief Project is your chance to do community service by bike.

Powered by Potatoes!

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:11:05 +0000

Publication/Release Date

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 12:10

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Spotlights

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Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

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Seattle to Portland finisher Chris Voigt is powered by potatoes.

As the executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, Voigt once ate nothing but potatoes for two months (aside from salt, seasonings, and a little cooking oil).

The publicity stunt got worldwide media attention–and proved a point to tater haters: these humble tubers are a superfood.

After eating 400 pounds of potatoes over 60 days, Voigt emerged healthier than before. His cholesterol and blood sugar levels decreased, and he lost 18 pounds.

As Voigt prepares for his third Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic in 2025, Cascade visited the Washington State Potato Commission in Moses Lake and went for a bike ride with Voigt to witness the fall potato harvest.

Read our Q&A with Voigt to learn why he loves bicycling, why he eats his fries first, and why STP participants may want to swap that healthy banana for an even more nutritious baked potato.

Cascade: The french fry truck at the halfway point of STP in Centralia is hugely popular with riders. Why does the Washington State Potato Commission support Cascade and STP?

Voigt: We want to fortify the message of healthy living, exercise, and healthy eating. A potato has more potassium than a banana, almost half the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and lots of fiber. Partnering with Cascade and bringing our fry truck to STP is a great way to get the word out about how incredibly healthy potatoes are, and why lots of endurance athletes are including potatoes in their diets.

Cascade: Why do you ride bikes?
Voigt: For an older guy like me with a bad knee, bicycling is the perfect low-impact exercise. You also see so much scenery. I love backpacking, but it’s slower-paced and you don’t get to see as much as when you’re on a bike.

Cascade: What do you enjoy about STP?
Voigt: I’ve ridden it twice and loved it both times. The first time was in 2019 before COVID-19, and then again in the summer of 2023. I was hoping to do it again this year but I was recovering from a bad skiing crash last winter. But I’ll be back in 2025. RSVP (the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) also looks like a lot of fun and I may do that ride as well this year.

The other thing I love about STP is the camaraderie of common souls coming together to participate in this bucket-list Pacific Northwest event. And STP is so well-supported, probably the best-organized bike event I’ve ever been to in my life. Everyone is helpful and happy. There’s such a great vibe.

STP is also incredibly fun for my staff who work the french fry truck. We do events throughout the state, and if you asked my staff what their favorite event is, 100 percent of them will all say “STP.” They love it because everybody is so appreciative of getting these delicious, locally grown french fries.

Cascade: Some people think that french fries are junk food, but when done well they are actually quite healthy, right?
Voigt: Absolutely. It’s a minimally processed food with just three ingredients. You cut a potato into pieces and cook it in healthy unsaturated fats like canola or avocado or olive oil, and then add salt or seasonings. Basically you are taking a whole food and minimally preparing it and cooking it up in some healthy fats. French fries are great in moderation and they fit into a healthy diet, especially when bicycling 206 miles over two days!

Cascade: Do you have any french fry tips?
Voigt: Yes, eat your fries first! So many people start chowing down on that burger. No! Eat the fries first, before they go cold.

Cascade: What makes Washington state potatoes special?
Voigt: Washington is the second-largest potato producer in the nation, thanks to our long summer days and cool nights, and our precision irrigation techniques. We have the highest yield of potatoes per acre in the world. And we are always doing research to grow potatoes more efficiently and sustainably, with less water and fertilizer.

Rice is the most widely eaten commodity crop, but potatoes are a winner from a sustainability perspective. Potatoes need 10 times less water. You can produce five times more food and calories on an acre of land with potatoes than rice. And potatoes require less fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so figuring out how to use less is really important. Less land, less water, and less fertilizer. This is why China and India have become the world’s largest potato producers.

Cascade: How can people learn more about Washington potatoes?
Voigt: Go to potatoes.com and come get some fries during STP! We always want to remind people that potatoes are a great source of nutrition and part of a healthy diet, especially for endurance athletes and people riding 206 miles.

Harvested potatoes are stored in cold storage warehouses like this one that is about the size of a football field.

Join Team Potato!

Cascade member registration for STP 2025 opens Jan. 7. Register here!
Hankering for taters? Get recipes, learn about Washington potato farmers, read the commission’s research, and subscribe to Washington Grown magazine at potatoes.com
Listen to Voigt on the Cycling Over Sixty Podcast where he talks about his two-month potato diet–and how Washington’s original potato, the Ozette, is still grown near Neah Bay by the Makah Tribe.
Sign up for Team Potato and get a Powered by Potatoes cycling jersey. The commission reimburses registration fees for qualifying Team Potato members. That means you could be reimbursed for your STP registration!

Ferries, Buses, and Trails: Biking Home from RSVP

Paul Tolmé — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:01:21 +0000

Ferries, Buses, and Trails: Biking Home from RSVP Paul Tolmé Tue, 09/17/2024 - 09:01

Publication/Release Date

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 12:01

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Spotlights

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Paul Tolmé

Read time

4 min read

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For the second consecutive year, Marlene Druker and her friend Nick bicycled home to Gig Harbor, Wash., after participating in RSVP, the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party. It was a multi-modal adventure that included ferries, buses, water taxis–and some amazing long-distance bike trails.

Google Map of Marlene's RSVP Return trip

“If you’ve got a few extra days, biking home from Vancouver is a great way to explore British Columbia and add some adventure to your trip home,” says Marlene, a member of the Cascade Board of Directors and a longtime Outrider and Ride Leader.

Read Marlene’s trip report below to get inspiration for your own multi-modal bikepacking adventure.

Marlene’s RSVP+ Ride

“We stayed in Vancouver overnight after RSVP and headed to Victoria, B.C., on Monday. We took four extra days to get home, including one rest day in Victoria to do laundry, sightsee, and hang out with friends.

Last year we rode to the ferry at Tsawwassen via Annacis Island (click here for the bike route to Tsawwassen, but the bridge crossings were stressful and I was looking for an alternative this year. One possibility was to ride to the George Massey Tunnel and take the bike shuttle across the Fraser River and ride from there. Another was to ride to the Bridgeport Skylink Station in Richmond and take the 620 bus to the ferry.

Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Ferry

Because it was raining Monday morning in Vancouver, we decided to take transit to the ferry. I was happy to discover that the transit app I use in Washington state also works in British Columbia. The Yaletown station was near our hotel. We took the Canada Line to the last stop, Richmond, where the 620 bus was waiting. Be sure to catch the Richmond train, as some trains on the Canada Line go to the airport.

There was only space for one more bike on the bus bike rack, so Nick loaded his and I brought mine onboard thanks to the kind driver. It was a quick trip to Tsawwassen, where we caught the 11 a.m. ferry to Swartz Bay, which is located near Sidney on Vancouver Island.

It was raining when we disembarked from the ferry at Swartz Bay. We checked our weather apps (my favorite is Ventusky) and decided to go for it. Here is our 20-mile bike route from Swartz Bay to Victoria.

Swartz Bay to Victoria via the Lochside Regional Trail

The Lochside Regional Trail from Swartz Bay to Victoria has some beautiful sections as well as some confusing intersections, but overall it is the safest and easiest way to get from the ferry to Victoria by bike. In fact, we met another RSVP rider on the Lochside Regional Trail who was riding to Victoria to catch the Clipper ferry to Seattle.

Day Two: Victoria to Port Townsend

After a night in Victoria, we took the Blackball Ferry to Port Angeles. We caught the 10:30 a.m. ferry and cleared U.S. Customs two hours later. Disembarking in Port Angeles, we rode to Port Townsend for an overnight stay.

Port Angeles to Port Townsend

Most of the route from Port Angeles to Port Townsend is the lovely Olympic Discovery Trail. Unfortunately, the trail is incomplete east of Discovery Bay and our route included about three miles on Highway 20, which has no shoulder in sections. The Olympic Discovery Trail website suggests an alternative that avoids this section and adds about eight miles to the route.

Anyone who has participated in Cascade’s three-day Port Townsend Tour knows that “PT” is awesome. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and breakfast in Port Townsend before starting our last day of riding home.

Day Three: Port Townsend to Gig Harbor

We took highway 19, which has a wide shoulder, to highway 104, to the Hood Canal Bridge and then rode onward to Bremerton (map).

Port Townsend to Bremerton

In Bremerton, we took the Kitsap Transit water taxi to Port Orchard, then rode the last leg home to Gig Harbor.

Port Orchard to Gig Harbor

If you live in or near Seattle, you can skip this last leg and instead bike to Port Gamble and onward to Kingston after crossing the Hood Canal Bridge. From Kingston you can take the Kingston Ferry to Edmonds. Check the Poulsbo Loop of Cascade’s Kitsap Color Classic for a route to the Kingston ferry terminal. Alternatively, you could ride from Poulsbo to Bainbridge Island and take the ferry to Seattle.”

Marlene’s Bikepacking Tips:

Be prepared and be flexible. Pack and load your bike and take it for a test ride prior to departing.
Staying with friends or at hotels is a nice way to do self-supported rides, as you can travel lighter if you are only carrying clothes and basic supplies rather than camping gear.
Save money on hotels and find new friends by joining Warmshowers.
Bring fewer clothes and save weight by planning to do laundry during your trip.
Practice fixing a flat tire at home and make sure you pack all the necessary tools and tubes for minor bike repairs.
Consider buying a backup battery to keep your phone charged between destinations or if camping.
Map your routes, plan your rest stops, carry water and snacks and know where you can get more.
Consider having someone track your progress on one of the many apps that enable friends to see your location.

“I am grateful to have had the time, funds, and ability to do this trip,” Marlene says. “I’m also glad for the company of my riding partner and neighbor, Nick, and for our friends: Mike, Todd, and Shoshana, who hosted us in Victoria.”

Marlene says she is eager for RSVP 2025 and another chance to take the long way home. Thanks to her encouragement and detailed itinerary, so are we.

Marlene riding the Walla Walla Tour.

Lopez Island Bike Glamping and Farm Stay

Paul Tolmé — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:16:59 +0000

Lopez Island Bike Glamping and Farm Stay Paul Tolmé Wed, 07/03/2024 - 10:16

Publication/Release Date

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 11:21

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Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

6 min read

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We parked our car at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, unloaded our bicycles, donned our backpacks, and pedaled aboard the ferry bound for Lopez Island.

It was a Friday morning, and our plan was to enjoy a two-night, three-day, bike glamping trip on Lopez, which is a 90-minute drive and 30-minute ferry trip from Seattle.

Located in the Salish Sea near San Juan and Orcas islands, Lopez offers scenic road, gravel, and mountain biking routes that make it the ideal location for a visit by bike.

My wife, Katie, and I traveled lightly, carrying one backpack each with our clothing and toiletries, plus fanny packs for day rides around the island.

Disembarking from the ferry, we joined about 20 other people on bikes–many carrying tents and camping gear to stay at Spencer Spit State Park or Odlin County Park, which are both conveniently located within a short ride of the Lopez Island Ferry Terminal.

We had even comfier accommodations: a luxurious walled tent at Lopez Farm Cottages, a 29-acre organic farm with wooden cabins, wall tents on raised platforms, and traditional campsites in the woods, all located just 2.6 miles from the ferry terminal.

The view from our wall tent at Lopez Farm Cottages.

With hot showers, electricity for charging devices or electric bikes, and exceedingly friendly owners, Lopez Farm Cottages is ideal for people seeking an overnight bike adventure in a rural farm setting without having to rough it.

Owners Mariko McKittrick and her husband Jordy Hamilton moved to Lopez Island in 2021 from Los Angeles, seeking a better lifestyle closer to nature.

Mariko and Jordy on the farm.

Mariko is half Black and half Japanese, and she found the rocky beaches, kelp, salmon, marine wildlife, scenery, and landscape reminiscent of Japan. Jordy was raised by homesteaders in rural Ontario, Canada, and he spent a decade in Vancouver, British Columbia, for university. Moving to Lopez felt like returning to a familiar landscape for both of them.

We learned of Lopez Farm Cottages from Cascade Executive Director Lee Lambert, who stayed here while participating in the Tour de Lopez bike ride in April. Our friend Doc Wilson, the founder of Peace Peloton, has also stayed here multiple times and likewise raved about the experience.

After checking in and dropping off our backpacks, we headed out to explore Lopez Island.

Exploring the singletrack at Lopez Hill

Biking on Lopez Island

Our first stop was Lopez Village, the island’s main town with two grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, a microbrewery, and a great independent bike shop for repairs or bike rentals.

Village Cycles

Village Cycles has a helpful Day Trip Guide and bike maps of Lopez Island that we used to plan our rides. We also downloaded island maps to our phones because phone coverage is limited to T-Mobile, which made the wifi at Lopez Farm Cottages extremely valuable.

Covering 29 square miles, Lopez is small enough to explore in a day or two–especially if riding an e-bike or lightweight road bike. Katie and I brought our hardtail mountain bikes so that we could ride the four miles of trails at Lopez Hill, a 400-acre conservation and recreation area managed by the San Juan County Land Bank. I was also testing a new Priority 600 HXT for review on Cascade News at a future date, and Lopez Hill's twisty trails were an ideal testing ground.

Priority 600 HXT at Lopez Hill.

Lopez is considered the most bike-friendly of the San Juan Islands because it is less hilly than Orcas or San Juan islands, and because its lower population means there are fewer motor vehicles.

However, the island has no bike infrastructure or bike lanes, which means visitors should be comfortable riding on roads with small or no shoulders. Avoid Center Road and Mud Bay Road, which have a 45 mph speed limit and the most car traffic. Stick to Fisherman Bay Road, Davis Bay Road, Port Stanley Road, and Lopez Sound Road for the fewest cars.

Lopez Sound Road.

Kenny, the owner of Village Cycles says September and October are prime times to visit due to the lower number of tourists and visitors on the island. If you need to rent a bicycle or e-bike, Village Cycles will even drop off and pick them up at the ferry terminal for an additional $5.

Bring a mountain bike to explore the Lopez Hill trails.

Here are some of our favorite bike destinations that we visited during our stay:

Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve. Located at the end of a sandy spit with the ocean to the West and the protected marshlands of Fisherman Bay to the East, this conservation area and its grassy meadows are a great spot for a picnic. Bikes are not allowed on the trails, but there are bike racks for locking up. Stop at Otis Perkins Day Park along Bayshore Road on the way to or from Fisherman Bay Spit Preserve to stroll the beach and watch the gulls soaring overhead.
Spencer Spit State Park. This waterside park and campground is about 2.5 miles from Lopez Farm Cottages and three miles from Lopez Village. After visiting the park, ride down to the beach at Port Stanley along Swifts Bay for more ocean views.
Lopez Hill. The trails here are technically challenging, with lots of roots and rocks and short descents followed by short but steep climbs up to rocky balds. Don’t bother trying to ride these trails on a gravel bike. But even if you don’t ride the singletrack trails, the ride to and from Lopez Hill along Lopez Sound Road is forested and serene, with little traffic.
Shark Reef Sanctuary has a nature trail out to the island’s western edge where you can look at tidepools and see an array of seabirds, seals, and marine mammals. No bikes allowed, so bring a lock to lock up if you plan to get on the trail.

Port Stanley.

Due to rain on one day of our visit, we didn’t make it to the southern tip of the island to visit Agate Beach, Point Colville, and Watmaugh Bay—though we surely will during our next visit.

“Watmaugh Bay is amazing,” says Kenny of Village Cycles. “It’s my number one recommendation. You get the pebble beach in the foreground, the islands in the middle distance, and in the far distance you can see Mount Baker on a clear day.”

Bike Glamping at Lopez Farm Cottages

Back at Lopez Farm Cottages, we enjoyed playing with the two resident cats–Kombu and Nori–as well as sitting in the Adirondack chairs in front of our wall tent, where we relaxed following our daytime bike rides and watched dusk turn to night in relative quiet. There are no TVs, no music (unless through headphones), and no kids under age 14 allowed at Lopez Farm Cottages. The farm's sheep herd and chickens were all the entertainment we needed.

If the wall tents are booked, Katie and I wouldn’t hesitate to return and use the campsites–thanks to the hot showers and a covered space with hot water on demand, a fireplace, abundant picnic tables–and a bocce ball court!

While the scenery and biking was amazing, our favorite part of visiting Lopez was getting to know Mariko and Jordy. They are unique, talented, and kind individuals who have curated a peaceful and bucolic habitat for others to share.

Mariko with the morning's fresh eggs.

On Sunday afternoon, we pedaled back to the ferry, sad to depart but thrilled to have experienced the culture and landscapes of Lopez Island–a special place to which we shall return.

To encourage more visits by bike, Mariko and Jordy are offering discounts to Cascade members through Dec. 20. Use the promotional code LopezCascades to get 10% off one-night stays, 15% off a second night, or book three nights and get the third free. lopezfarmcottages.com

Happy campers!

Delivering Parcels by E-Bike with UW’s Campus Mail Woman

Paul Tolmé — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:55:17 +0000

Delivering Parcels by E-Bike with UW’s Campus Mail Woman Paul Tolmé Tue, 02/27/2024 - 09:55

Publication/Release Date

Tue, 02/27/2024 - 13:00

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Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

Jessica Moskowitz is a professional bicyclist, but not in the traditional sense of being paid to race bikes.

Moskowitz works as a mail carrier for the University of Washington’s Mailing Services department, where she delivers letters and packages by electric bike on the UW campus and beyond.

A Cascade member, STP Ambassador, and Outrider who provides support at many Cascade events, Moskowitz loves her job.

“I get to be outside most of the day,” she says. “It’s so peaceful.”

Her title is Mail Carrier Bicyclist. Moskowitz is the only female on UW’s six-person bike delivery crew, which uses Bullitt electric cargo bikes equipped with large cargo boxes.

“This is so much better than driving the mail because we’re not fighting traffic or trying to find a place to park,” Moskowitz says.

A Campus Sustainability Solution

Founded in 2018 with funding from UW’s Campus Sustainability Fund, the university’s e-bike powered mail delivery program has been a huge success, winning multiple campus sustainability awards.

The mail bike fleet averages about 18,000 miles annually and has logged more than 105,000 miles since 2018.

Fleet mechanic and mail carrier Alistair Spence in the bike shop inside UW Mailing Services.

“At 20 miles per gallon that pencils out to 5,255 gallons of fuel saved, and 52.6 tons of CO2 not released into the atmosphere,” says Alistair Spence, the fleet mechanic who services UW's electric cargo bikes.

A National Model for University Campuses

In addition to reducing carbon emissions, the e-bike fleet is cheaper to operate than traditional vans and trucks. UW has eliminated three large mail trucks, saving $16,000 a year per truck for annual savings of $48,000, says Steven Roberts, assistant director of UW Mailing Services.

“The e-bikes never have to worry about traffic congestion, construction, loading dock access, parking fees, toll roads, tickets, or places to park,” Roberts says. “This is definitely a national model that can be used for large and small universities and colleges.”

UW is eager to share knowledge with other campuses. “We have good proven data to share with others considering a switch,” Roberts says.

Multiple universities including Harvard, Michigan, Florida State, the University of California at San Diego, and Portland State University have inquired with UW to learn more, though to Roberts' knowledge no university has an e-cargo program as large as this one.

Choosing the Right Bikes and Motors

Choosing the right style of e-bike is important. UW uses Class Two e-bikes equipped with hub motors and a throttle. The throttle is crucial for getting the heavy machines moving from a stop, or when starting at the bottom of a hill.

Fully loaded and carrying a rider, the Bullitts can weigh 450 pounds or more. UW experimented with mid-drive electric motors, which can be preferable on lightweight e-bikes, but found the hub motors with throttles better for Seattle’s hilly terrain--and the extreme loads the mail carriers must pedal.

UW uses GMAC hub motors from Canadian company Grin Technologies. “This hub really suits our needs. It’s got good torque and good reliability,” Spence says. “I’ve got 23,000 miles on my Bullitt in three years, and it’s been rock solid.”

Electric Cargo Bikes as Micromobility Solution

Cascade Bicycle Club is a huge supporter of using e-bikes for transporting heavy goods and replacing motor vehicles with bikes. In addition to using electric cargo bikes to haul supplies for our events, Cascade uses e-bikes and cargo bikes to power our Pedaling Relief Project that has rescued, delivered, and transported more than 1.2 million pounds of goods for multiple Seattle food banks since 2020.

Seattle is a hotbed for using e-bikes as efficient delivery vehicles.

UW’s prestigious Urban Freight Lab included the Pedaling Relief Project and the UW campus mail service in its “Biking the Goods” white paper, which also highlighted the Downtown Seattle Association’s use of cargo trikes for carrying trash and cleaning up 25 blocks of Seattle’s downtown core.

Biking the Goods is essential reading for campuses, businesses, or organizations seeking ways to replace motor vehicles with bikes to cut pollution, save money, and streamline transportation and logistics.

Riding with the Mail Woman

Go Dawgs! Go Jessica!

I met up with Moskowitz on a February afternoon for a ride-along. She begins her day by sorting mail and packages at the Mailing Services office before loading up her Bullitt and doing a morning route, then returning to reload for an afternoon delivery route.

Dressed in her purple UW fleece and with her Bullitt fully loaded, Moskowitz pedaled away from the Mailing Services building and rode up to the Burke-Gilman Trail that passes through campus.

It was a mild and overcast winter day, and students walked between classes. We zipped along quietly, emitting no pollution and enjoying the sun on our faces.

Moskowitz dropped off and picked up packages and letters at multiple campus buildings, using the big double-sided kickstand to balance the heavy Bullitt when parked.

Moskowitz took the job in December after working for several years in a different university position that required her to be indoors at a desk. Being a bicycling mail carrier is literally a breath of fresh air.

Zero emissions. Infinite possibilities.

“My job is great. Riding bikes, being outside, I love it,” she says. “I’m a professional cyclist.”

Learn More about Electric Cargo Bikes

Afrofuturism, Buffalo Soldiers, and Black History Month Bike Rides

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:24:15 +0000

Afrofuturism, Buffalo Soldiers, and Black History Month Bike Rides Paul Tolmé Thu, 02/01/2024 - 10:24

Publication/Release Date

Thu, 02/01/2024 - 13:30

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Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

Content Blocks

February is Black History Month--a time to celebrate the rich cultural history of Black Americans (this month and every month). Here are some rides, events, screenings, and readings for people who bike.

Major Taylor

Cascade members are familiar with our Major Taylor Project, but do you know the story of the man behind the name?

Called the “fastest man in America” and the “Black Cyclone” in newspapers of his era, Marshall “Major” Taylor won world and national championships in the late 1800s and early 1900s–all while battling racism throughout his storied bike racing career.

Read our “History of Major Taylor” to learn about the namesake of Cascade’s Major Taylor Project, and watch the short ESPN film “The Six Day Race,” which documents Taylor’s rise to fame as our country’s first Black superstar.

Registration opens on Feb. 6 for Cascade’s Ride for Major Taylor presented by REI Co-op in April.

Bike to the Afrofuture

Seattle’s Central Cinema is one of the city’s few remaining independently owned movie houses. Combine a bike ride with a movie this month by pedaling to the Central Cinema to see one of the three Afrofuturist film classics the theater will screen in February.

Space is the Place featuring musician Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Solar Arkestra, shows from Feb. 2-7.
Black Panther screens Feb. 16-18.
The suspenseful sci-fi thriller Nope shows Feb. 23-26.

The Buffalo Soldiers

Bikepacker, adventurer, and STP Ambassador Erick Cedeño has made it his mission to share the story of the legendary Army unit of Black soldiers who completed one of the most arduous bikepacking trips in U.S. history.

Known as the Buffalo Soldiers, this unit of 20 Black men pedaled and pushed their bicycles 1,900 miles over unpaved roads and through forests and rivers during an 1897 expedition across the western United States. Read our story from 2023 about Cedeño and his efforts to re-trace and ride the same route, and bring to life the stories of these men.

You can also bus or bike to the Buffalo Soldiers Museum in Tacoma to learn more about the soldiers.

Vancouver, Wash., is home to Fort Vancouver, a National Historic Site where members of the segregated Army units that became known as the Buffalo Soldiers were stationed in 1899. People can bike to the site where plaques and interpretive signage commemorate these men, including Medal of Honor winner Moses Williams, who is buried in the Fort Vancouver cemetery.

On Feb. 3, Friends of Fort Vancouver is showing the documentary “Searching for York,” about the only Black member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Northwest African American Museum

On Feb. 15, Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum will hold a Black History Keynote with Dr. Doretha Williams of the Smithsonian Museum, who will discuss Black family history and genealogy.

Peace Peloton

We love Peace Peloton and its founder Doc Wilson for their efforts to bring the bicycling community together to support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. Join the many supporters who bike to Columbia City on the third Saturday of each month for the Columbia City Night Market, held this month on Feb. 17.

The Original X

Seattle Opera presents X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, from Feb. 24 to March 9 at McCaw Hall in Seattle Center.

MLK’s Historic Seattle Visit

In 1961, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Seattle to speak at multiple locations across the city, including Garfield High School and Eagle’s Auditorium. Read our 2021 story, Pedaling to Discover Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Seattle Legacy, which includes tips for self-guided bike rides to some of the murals, works of art and locations where King spoke.

As Peace Peloton founder Doc Wilson said in our 2021 story:

"As bicyclists, we should remember that Dr. King was a peaceful warrior for transportation equity through his leadership of the Montgomery bus boycott, which held that Black people should not be required to take a back seat. While we have made progress, it is clear when riding a bike through Seattle's historically Black neighborhoods today--or even down MLK Way--that BIPOC neighborhoods continue to take a back seat when it comes to safe bike lanes and cycling infrastructure. The bicycling community in Seattle and King County can advance Dr. King's legacy by pushing to make bicycling safer and more equitable for all."

Gobble Gobble Gobble! Cranksgiving 2023 Photo Album

Admin Example — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:39:26 +0000

Gobble Gobble Gobble! Cranksgiving 2023 Photo Album Admin Example Mon, 11/20/2023 - 12:39

Publication/Release Date

Mon, 11/20/2023 - 04:39

News Category

Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

Content Blocks

Fifty teams and 170 people on bikes collected 3,700 pounds of food and essential supplies at Cranksgiving 2023.
Check out our photo album of the costumes, faces, and good times.

They came. They cranked. And they gave.

Cranksgiving 2023 on Nov. 18 was a huge success. More than 170 people representing 50 teams collected 3,700 pounds of food and goods for three Seattle food banks. The costumes and smiles of participants were a joy to behold. Enjoy the photos below, and have a happy Thanksgiving, turkeys!

A big thanks goes to Seattle Bike Blog founder Tom Fucoloro, above right with Atiyeh from the Byrd Barr Place Food Bank, and Cascade's Maxwell Burton, below, for organizing Cranksgiving Seattle and ensuring all the riders had a fun time.

Watch the Fox 13 story about Cranksgiving if you want to learn more--and make your plans to participate next year. Meantime, you can support food banks all year long by volunteering to ride with our Pedaling Relief Project.

Read the New Book: Biking Uphill in the Rain

Admin Example — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 20:35:06 +0000

Read the New Book: Biking Uphill in the Rain Admin Example Fri, 10/06/2023 - 13:35

Publication/Release Date

Fri, 10/06/2023 - 06:35

News Category

Spotlights

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

Content Blocks

A new book documents the history of bicycling and bike advocacy in Seattle, telling the story of the personalities, controversies, heroes, victims, and villains who have shaped transportation in our city.
Biking Uphill in the Rain is essential reading for anyone who cares about bicycling in Seattle, and wants to learn about Cascade Bicycle Club's history of bike advocacy.

Seattle’s modern bike advocacy movement began with a huge coming out party on April 28, 1968.

On that day, an estimated 5,000 people showed up to ride bicycles on Seattle’s Lake Washington Boulevard. It was the first Bicycle Sunday, a tradition where the city closes a street to cars for a day so that people can bike freely and safely.

The huge turnout (organizers expected a few hundred people not thousands) amazed city leaders, who created more Bicycle Sundays to feed public demand for opportunities to safely ride bikes on streets without cars.

It’s no coincidence that Cascade Bicycle Club was born two years after that first Bicycle Sunday. The event allowed people who owned bikes but never rode them on city streets to gather, make connections, and imagine a better, more bike-friendly Seattle.

“The simple act of kicking cars off a street for a few hours demonstrated to people the benefits of public spaces,” writes Tom Fucoloro in the new book, Biking Uphill in the Rain: the Story of Seattle from Behind the Handlebars. “Riding down the centerline without any fear of death was liberating and empowering.”

On Oct. 18, Cascade hosted a reading, Q&A, and book signing with Fucoloro, whose new book is the most informative and definitive history of bicycles and the bike movement in Seattle.

Seattle’s Bicycling Journalist

Fucoloro’s book details the long history of bicycles and transportation policy in Seattle, from the bike boom of the late 1800s, to the rise of automobiles and freeways, to the creation of the Burke-Gilman Trail and the 2nd Avenue bike lane, to the ongoing struggle to carve out more street space for bicycles.

Fucoloro should be no stranger to Cascade members and people who care about bicycling in Seattle. As the founder of the Seattle Bike Blog, Fucoloro has been on the bike advocacy beat for more than a decade, writing stories about good and bad infrastructure, fights over bike lane funding, and more.

Through his informative reporting, Fucoloro has been a crucial ally in the effort to create a more bikeable city. That’s why, earlier this year, Cascade honored Fucoloro as the 2023 Doug Walker Award winner for his service to the Seattle bike community.

Fucoloro arriving at the Bike Everywhere Breakfast by bike, of course.

For Cascade members who want to learn about the organization’s early activism, the book highlights the role that Cascade played in making Seattle one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation.

Fighting for the Right to Bike

Today, we take it for granted that people have a legal right to ride bikes in Seattle and in Washington state. But that right to bike was only codified by the state legislature in 1983, thanks in part to Cascade’s advocacy.

Until 1983, you could be ticketed for riding a bike on the streets. That’s what happened to Barbara Hershey in 1976, when a police officer stopped her on Greenwood Avenue. Her crime? Impeding cars by failing to travel at the 35 MPH speed limit.

Cascade’s legal defense fund came to Hershey’s aid and fought to have the ticket thrown out. Unfortunately, the judge was unsympathetic to the idea that bicycles have a right to be on streets. He fined Hershey $20. Cascade and Hershey appealed but lost.

While Bicycle Sundays and recreational bike rides had become hugely popular, the prevailing belief at the time was that streets were for cars only. Seattle’s police chief even tried to convince the City Council in 1976 to ban bikes on all thoroughfares except sidewalks and bike paths.

Hershey’s case shows the importance of the 1983 law and the need to advocate for the rights of people who bike. “This vital law prevented cities from banning bikes from streets and clarified to all road users that people biking on roadways have a right to be there,” Fucoloro writes.

The Rise of Cascade

Fucoloro includes sections on the creation of Cascade Bicycle Club in 1970, and how the young nonprofit was an important advocate in two early bike infrastructure initiatives: the creation of the Burke-Gilman Trail, and the construction of the protected bike path on the Interstate 90 bridge.

“For many early club members, the (I-90) bridge was a major organizing goal that inspired many more volunteers to get involved,” writes Fucoloro.

Fucoloro also notes the importance of the creation in 2012 of Cascade’s Advocacy Leadership Institute–now known as Your Streets, Your Say. The program trained individuals how to do grassroots local organizing on behalf of bike infrastructure and safe biking.

“My favorite aspect of ALI (Advocacy Leadership Institute) is that Cascade empowered all these people to become advocates and organizers in their own ways, even though much of what they went on to do didn’t have Cascade’s name attached to it,” Fucoloro writes.

The War on Cars Myth

The book details the rise of pro-bike mayors including Mike McGinn, and the work of former Seattle Traffic Engineer Dongho Chang (now the head traffic engineer for the state) to improve our streets for all users with better and safer infrastructure. Fucoloro also details acts of guerilla bike infrastructure–such as the plastic posts placed on Cherry Street in the middle of the night in 2013 by a citizen who wanted to show the city how it could easily make the street safer for people bicycling.

The book also documents the political shenanigans and pro-car policies that have held back efforts to make Seattle more bikeable. He also mocks the use of the term War on Cars that was seized upon by local media and opponents of bike lanes.

“Those accusing the city of waging a war on cars typically didn’t have any real solutions they were trying to encourage–they were trying to stop changes they didn’t like,” Fucoloro writes.

Fucoloro dedicates his book to the more than 5,100 people who have died in traffic since the arrival of automobiles in Seattle, and he devotes a chapter titled “Too Many” to victims of traffic violence. These individuals include Mike Wang, who was hit and then run over and killed by a man driving an SUV in 2011.

Another is Sher Kung, a young mother and lawyer killed while biking on Second Avenue in 2014. Another is Brandon Blake, who was struck by a speeding car while riding in a bike lane in 2013. Blake survived after being placed in a medically induced coma, though his life has been forever altered due to a traumatic brain injury.

Biking Uphill in the Rain calls out the rising death toll of people walking and bicycling, and the book includes passages about victims and their families that will bring some readers to tears.

Bike Advocacy is Compassion

Bicycles, Fucoloro believes, are simply tools to advance and create a better society.

“The lesson for modern bike advocates may be that biking itself is not the end goal of bike advocacy. Biking is a means to build community, make communities safer, and directly challenge a destructive and unjust car culture,” he writes. “The end goal of bike advocacy is to care for the people we love and keep them safe.”

Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle from Behind the Handlebars is a must-read for anyone who cares about bicycling in Seattle. Fucoloro introduces readers to the people whose work in past decades benefits everyone who rides a bike today.

History’s greatest value is in the lessons it provides for the future. Biking Uphill in the Rain provides the context for how we got here, and through its documentation of the successes and failures of the bike movement it gives us the knowledge–and courage–to push for a safer, more equitable, sustainable, and bikeable future.

Spotlights

Biking While Having Your Period

Gear Tips for Fall Riding and Bike Commuting

Retro Chic

Waterproof Gloves

Be Seen

BMC Gravel

Cargo Bike Subscriptions

Xtracycle

Priority Skyline

Steel Your Bottles

Lock the Cage

Cleverhood

Fender Bender

TPU Tubes

Fall Reading

Meet The War on Cars

City of Seattle Awards Cascade $92,000 to Reduce Food Waste through Pedaling Relief Project

Powered by Potatoes!

Join Team Potato!

Ferries, Buses, and Trails: Biking Home from RSVP

Marlene’s RSVP+ Ride

Day Two: Victoria to Port Townsend

Day Three: Port Townsend to Gig Harbor

Marlene’s Bikepacking Tips:

Lopez Island Bike Glamping and Farm Stay

Biking on Lopez Island

Bike Glamping at Lopez Farm Cottages

Delivering Parcels by E-Bike with UW’s Campus Mail Woman

Afrofuturism, Buffalo Soldiers, and Black History Month Bike Rides

Gobble Gobble Gobble! Cranksgiving 2023 Photo Album

Fifty teams and 170 people on bikes collected 3,700 pounds of food and essential supplies at Cranksgiving 2023.

Check out our photo album of the costumes, faces, and good times.

Read the New Book: Biking Uphill in the Rain

A new book documents the history of bicycling and bike advocacy in Seattle, telling the story of the personalities, controversies, heroes, victims, and villains who have shaped transportation in our city.

Biking Uphill in the Rain is essential reading for anyone who cares about bicycling in Seattle, and wants to learn about Cascade Bicycle Club's history of bike advocacy.

Seattle’s Bicycling Journalist

Fucoloro arriving at the Bike Everywhere Breakfast by bike, of course.

Fighting for the Right to Bike

The Rise of Cascade

The War on Cars Myth

Bike Advocacy is Compassion