BRAD LEWIS, MORE THAN A CRIT, HE WAS THE SH---!

{words by matt}
It’s 6:30am on a Sunday. I have been sick for over a week with a chest cold and sinuses that seem to want to bust out of my head. I’m putting on a skinsuit, arm warmers, knickers, a hoodie, my shoes and my helmet. As I leave the house it’s 6:45 and I head to the banks of Lake Washington here in Seattle. I see a friend and he asks me ‘Why are you out here racing when you’re sick?’ Because when there’s a bike race named after a fallen friend, you get your ass out there and race, that’s why.

Sunday was the first Brad Lewis Memorial Criterium, renamed from the Boat Street Criterium after Brad suffered a tragic and fatal heart attack during the 2006 installment of the same race. I lined up at 8am, wearing my Team AVA/Counterbalance colors, hoping to hold on as long as possible considering my ill health and ill conditioning. 40 minutes of racing was ahead of me as the starting whistle sounded. After spending 25 minutes with the lead pack and lapping a couple of other riders (at least I didn’t finish last) I began to feel my lungs protest. Having fallen off the back I decided to keep going as far and as hard as I could. After another few minutes I could see the pack closing in to lap me. Not wanting to look like I simply gave up I pushed myself a little further. As a reward, while holding off the pack from lapping me, the MC mistakenly called me out as leading the race. Needless to say I was caught in the next lap and my race was over, but much was made about the mistaken call out by my team mates.

Fact of the matter is, Brad was a great guy. He and I messengered together for years here in Seattle. He was one of the kindest individuals on the road, he’d befriend and talk to everyone, and he was well liked and even loved by everyone. Brad loved to ride his bike, he loved to race his bike, and everyone out there on Sunday was out there continuing Brad’s dream and legacy. He would have been humbled and happy.

HAPPY RABBIT DAY, EGG DAY, & EASTER

Hope everyone had a wonderful day of hunting, eating, and riding.

P.S. - Check out more of these rabbits here.

MORNING MOON + DAYTIME SUN = PURE JOY

{words by carey}

If you were fortunate enough to get up this week before the sun rose, than like myself you were probably escorted for a good portion of your ride by the milky white glow of the moon. Mmm...what a wonderful experience; the moon is definitely a magical cosmic creature that I welcome any morning or night that I ride. Along with a full moon came a week of temperatures that exceeding 60 degrees, putting Seattlelites in radiant moods and back on their bicycles.
This morning the ride in was spectacular; I met up with Charles, an old friend, and we rode to Georgetown to have coffee at All City (one of my favorites) before he had to pedal to Urban Hardwoods where he works. Just as Charles was leaving, Brian arrived, had a double tall Americano, and then we hopped on our bikes with tires pointed toward Raleigh.
The sun was so addicting today that it drew a group of riders and skaters to hit the skate park at lunch. I got wind of the plan and asked if I could join. The plan was to go along as "photographer," but I ended up rolling through the bowl a couple of times on a borrowed BMX of Trevor's. The crew that entertained me for an hour in the sun was Aaron and PJ (Customer Service Rep's), Trevor (Diamondback Marketing Coordinator), and Brian (Western Manager - National Accounts). I hope to get a BMX bike after I get back from Sea Otter. Maybe if I hit the park enough, I'll actually be able to do a couple jumps by the end of summer. Be sure to look for more action shots - and we might even throw in a couple films later this summer.
Enjoy your weekend everyone!

BRAD LEWIS MEMORIAL CRITERIUM - THIS WEEKEND!

"He was a teammate, but more importantly he was a friend..."

This Easter Sunday, April 8th, will mark the 1st Annual Brad Lewis Memorial Criterium at Boat Street in Seattle. Last year Brad's life was taken suddenly--and all too soon--by an apparent heart attack on April 9th while he was racing in the Boat Street Criterium (now the Brad Lewis Memorial Criterium). Brad raced for our sponsored Recycled Cycles Race Team and was a fellow Raleigh employee before moving onto FSA. He will be celebrated by all racers and attendies at Sunday's Criterium - so come on down to Boat Street for a celebration/remembrance of Brad's spirit and a day full of top notch Northwest racing.

For a schedule click here.

For directions click here.

THIS SUNDAY APRIL 8TH, 2007 - HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

A LITTLE LOCAL PLANNING

Our Mayor Greg Nickels has released a new "Bicycle Master Plan" for Seattle, which would include the addition of 100 miles of new bike lanes. Check it out here.

Three days of bike commuting – a good week!

{words by reed}

Last week (March 26th – 30th) I rode in to work Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Monday was not a particularly memorable day as bike commutes go; no close encounters with automobiles, no weather anomalies, just an easy and safe commute both ways. Wednesday was memorable for the ride home – it rained, hard! Not your normal Pacific Northwest drizzle, this was more like an Asian Monsoon rain¬ it was hard, cold and wet. Very wet! Even so, my upper body was snug as a bug in my new Showers Pass Elite 2.0 jacket. Thursday was a great day as I was not only able to commute both ways, but I also joined in on the lunch ride (on my new Raleigh Team bicycle, 15lbs 6oz) which was sunny, brisk, and fun. More on Thursday later.

In my last post I promised to tell you about my bicycles. I have two commute bikes right now, a Raleigh Cadent Carbon geared bike and a Raleigh One Way single speed.

But first a few disclaimers:

1. There will be some shameless product plugs in this post (you’ve already seen at least one) – just some props for stuff that I like or that works well on my commute here in the Pacific North-“wet.”

2. I am a bike junkie, and I work in the industry. I know my bicycles are too expensive and too “tech” for many riders. Bicycling is my passion, my livelihood, and my lifestyle. I do not mean to offend, nor is my intent to make others envious; I am just sharing my passion.

3. I commute by bicycle for many reasons, and one of them is to train for races and events – although I do believe the bicycle is the solution to all the world’s problems and that commuting by bicycle is part of the solution for many problems (saving fossil fuels, reducing congestion, air pollution, and helping slow global climate change).

I’ve “tricked out” the Cadent Carbon a little – just to see how light I could build a full-fendered commuter. I am also planning to use it for some longer rides I have planned this summer, like the STP (Seattle to Portland) ride in July – 204 miles in one day. I realize that calling this bike a commuter is a little misleading, but I am commuting on it.

Cadent Carbon Frame and Fork
FSA K-Force Light Crankset and BB (38/52t)
SRAM Force Shifter/Brake Levers
SRAM Force Rear Derailleur
SRAM Force Front Derailleur
SRAM Force 10sp Hollow Pin Chain
Shimano Dura Ace Wheels
Shimano Dura Ace 10sp Cassette (12-27)
FSA Headset
Tektro Long Reach Brakes
Easton EC90 Stem
FSA K-Force Handlebars
FSA K-Force Seatpost
Brooks Team Ti Seat
Topeak WhiteLite HP1W Headlight
Topeak WhiteLite Power Pack
Topeak RedLite UFO Taillight
SKS Fender Set with BuddyFlaps
Vittoria Zaffiro 700x25c Tires

All in (not including water bottles and seat bag, but with lights and fenders), my Cadent weight 19-½ lbs – not bad for a “commuter!”

My One Way also has a few “upgrades:”

Phil Wood Hubs built with DT 14g SS spokes to Mavic A719 rims (built by Reed Graham at Recycled Cycles, who not only has a great first name, but is one of the best bicycle mechanics I have ever worked with – a real craftsman!)
Phil
Wood Bottom Bracket
Phil Wood Rear Cog
Chris King Headset
Nitto Crystal Fellow Seatpost
Brooks B17S Saddle
Honjo-Koken “hammered” metal fenders with BuddyFlaps (installed by Reed Graham, see above, using instructions included in the Winter 2007 issue of Bicycle Quarterly, a must read for bicycle fanatics like me!)

I am not sure how much this bike weighs – it’s all about the single speed, simplicity, and reliability with this bike – no “weight-weenie” fix for this commuter.

Well, that pretty much covers it for this post with one postscript:

Outside of the bike commute, Thursday was not a good day for me. Lots of challenges at work that I was not dealing well with, and I thought the ride home was going to be something of a slog as a result of the brisk 16 miles at lunch. But no, I rode great, there was sunshine for some of the ride and I got to the car feeling terrific . The Cadent had been flawless on the ride. The Brooks Team saddle was just breaking in (more on Brooks saddles and why you should consider one in a future post) and the setup felt perfect. The Cadent was quickly becoming my favorite bike. I loaded it on the roof rack and headed home. Unfortunately I was thinking about work by the time I arrived at my house and completely forgot the Cadent was on the roof rack… Yes, I did it. I drove into the garage…and heard the sickening sound of splintering carbon.

I feel like such an idiot! I am in mourning. The frame, fork, seatpost, and seat are toast (see photos). The top of the Brooks just caught the garage door with enough force to bend the saddle rails, break the fork, and damage the frame and seatpost. The good news – the house and car (and consequently my marriage) suffered no damage, and I have a new Cadent coming the week of April 11th. A special shout-out to Chris Li at Bikeaway Source Bicycle Shop in Bedford, MA for giving up a Cadent (they are in very short supply) that he did not have a customer for – I owe you a big favor!

WHIPPING CRUISERS

For a lot of us, commuting to work on a bicycle is only part of the addiction of traveling on two wheels. Once you realize how fun and practical a bicycle is, it somehow becomes an extension of your being and you take it everywhere with you (or it takes you everywhere). I bet most of the people that commute on a bicycle all week extend their riding into the weekend. This weekend's April Fools' Day ride was a bit out of the ordinary; it involved cruisers, a big crowd, some beer, whipping cream, aliases, and jousting. Yes, it was a Pie Jousting (this is last years website) event on bikes. Sully's Snowgoose Saloon presented its 7th Annual April Fool's Day Pie Joust, sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Company.

I was intrigued by the event, so a handful of us hopped on our bikes and headed to the Snowgoose. At first, I only wanted to watch, but a friend coaxed me into signing up. I took the name Blue Jay, and my first battle was against a guy named Shrek. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous, as I had just witnessed some pretty brutal pie hits in the face. I figured the only thing I had going for me was riding skills, but I managed to nail Shrek to the right of his neck; somehow I came out clean, though in the picture it looks like I am about to get creamed. The Quarter Finals finally rolled around and I was up against the Preacher. Let's just say that he had better aim then I did; I got SLAMMED in the face, while he cruised away with nothing more than chest-full of pie. Bummer, I was hoping to claim the Pie Jousting title of 2007. Oh well, the Preacher ended up winning the whole thing, so I didn't feel too bad about loosing to him. Besides, I got some great New Belgium schwag---a t-shirt, bottle opener, patch kit, and some lip balm.