50 X 1 {miles x speed}

{words by carey}

“Most people have a general interest in the weather … when you become a cyclist you develop a more specific interest in all things meteorological, because the weather can make such a difference to your journey.” -Kimbofo

Consciousness comes quickly after ten rotations of the cranks; it's 6am, dark and a bit chilly, so why have we wandered so far from our door on single speeds so early in the morning? The air was fresh from the 2 AM rain and jarringly loud: a gold Ford truck decided to follow us for a block with its horn blaring until it passed our small trio of cyclists. "Man, Ballard isn't so calm at six in the morning," Brian commented. We made our escape from the gold-plated noise by navigating onto the Ballard bridge; it's amazing how a short and probably insignificant concrete dividing wall gives the illusion of safety and separation from traffic.

After six or so miles, we made it to our morning haunt, Zeitgeist coffee house, and fueled our bodies with water, Americanos, and a couple pastries. With the sun peeking its rays over the Cascades, the 20 miles ahead seemed inviting, but the invitation turned out to be a hoax. As we hit 6th and Airport Way, the rain started to fall and that invisible hand known as wind started to push against our bodies. For the next 25 minutes our conversation ceased and we just concentrated on keeping a consistent rhythm on what seemed like the longest stretch of road in Seattle. We pushed on through and found relief when we hooked up with the Green River trail, where the rain finally stopped. "As much as I hate riding in to the wind and rain, I also really love it," I said to Brian. He smiled and nodded in agreement.

Wish I Had a Front Fender {Green River Trail}

Sonic Wave {Locks -Ballard, WA}

Raleigh Professional {carey's ride}

Winter Grime {Green River Trail}

Bikes: {carey} 1976 Raleigh Professional (gear 50/18) {brian} 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour (gear 44/16)
Coffee: Zeitgist
Rant: Keep it simple - go single for a 50 mile round trip and validate life!

30/30

{words by matt}

Why, oh why didn’t I take the day after my 30th birthday off? Because I’m a glutton for punishment, that’s why. Never the less, I made my commitment to ride into work with Carey and I was going to keep it. So with tears in my eyes I headed off Capitol Hill to meet her and head in.

There’s an issue that seems to rear its ugly head when Carey and I ride together, and it showed up again Thursday morning, flat tires. We heard it while traveling down 4th south, that hissing, spitting sound we all dread. “Is that a flat tire?” Carey asked. “No, I think you just rode through some sand.” But I knew better. Stop, fix, get on, go. We hadn’t even made it half a mile when all of the sudden a herd of cats came out of no where and made me crash! Ok, maybe I hallucinated the cats, but I definitely crashed. Brand new bar tape, shredded. Personal pride, shredded. I did come out of it uninjured though.

The remainder of the ride went by relatively uneventful, especially as we passed our favorite coffee stand on International Blvd. Big trucks with tinted windows ruin it for all of us.

A successful adventure/commute with a great partner, life is pretty good at 30.

{Raleigh HQ}

To ride or not to ride…why is that a question?

{words by brian}

Sure, grey skies and drizzle can sap your motivation when trying to wake up first thing. The idea of trying to warm up during that first cold mile of riding can bring you down. And cars passing you by, grazing your handlebar, can make you second guess why you got on your bike in the first place. But once you get rolling…you realize that the sun is trying to peak through the clouds and the drizzle isn’t a down pour. The second mile quickly turns into 20 and you want to keep rolling right past work for more. And the same cars that were whizzing past you earlier are watching you pedal on by, as they sit and wait to start moving again.

Bike: Rush Hour
Coffee: Evil Empire (one for the boss as I was running late)
Rant: A bike ride is much cheaper than a therapist.

OFF ROAD NOODLES

{click on image to enlarge}

Raleigh Head Quarters {Kent, WA}

Raleigh Head Quarters {Kent, WA}

Red Apple Ice Cooler {Beacon Hill}

Could we add a little more color, type, & some logos to this section of the store pleeeeease?

Bikes: Rx 1.0 X 2 (1 with knobbies & 1 w/out)
Coffee: Fornes French Press
Rant: The fog only gets thicker when you turn your light on.

WE ARE NOT HUNTING WABBITS

{words by Monica}
I saw my first bunny of the year! Poor thing looked like he was freezing, though - all hunched up in a ball, and he didn't even move when I rode by. Just looked at me as if to say, "Don't make me move...I just started to get warm..." Usually they hippety-hop into the tall grasses by the side of the trail. But then again, most of the bunny habitat along the trail is still flooded, so I'm not sure where he would have gone.

Rant: I can manage the bumps along the trail of life pretty well. My flashing taillight, not so much...

FROSTY MORNING AND MOON FILLED NIGHT

Frosty Rails {near the Duwamish river}

Wow - we haven't seen shadows in awhile

Waiting for the train heading home {Downtown}

How long can a train be?

Rolling over frost is such a beautiful sound.

Bike: Carey - Rx 1.0

Coffee: Home drip

Rant: Riding pops you out of any foul mood and you get to see the moon and sun situated in their most beautiful positions in the sky.