enforce helmet laws with the same vigor we enforce seatbelt law.

operate in each mode like the law says you should.

raised bike lanes.

tested licensing for bike riders.

add more bike awareness quizing to licensing for drivers.

sue/boycott the media when they treat bike deaths as somehow different than all the other transportation related death in our city.

Preston -Snoqualmie Falls is paved, but MyrnaMink has a great idea - Sunrise on Mt. Rainier gives you paved, view and snowy peaks right in your face. Bring your Ginormous QUADS and alpine lungs though, for the 3600' elevation gain up to 6200'.

People are going to say a lot about what drivers should do. I agree with all of it. However, no matter how much we improve driver awareness, we have to assume that the roads are full of drivers that don't see us or don't know how to drive safely.

So here's my advice to my fellow cyclists, plus a note for the police and state patrol. 

Attitude: When you ride a bike, remember that the driving habits that put cyclists in such danger are the norm, not some road rage that only flares up when a cyclist is present. Cars hit each other all the time, but most of the accidents are minor fender benders so drivers accept the risk. Riding a bike as if you are like any other vehicle on the road makes you subject to the same risks. It's not fair. It's not right. But being an activist in the saddle and insisting on your full rights every time your ride is not going to fix it.

Visibility: Consider using a very bright, flashing headlight in the day.

Sidewalks: You can ride on the sidewalk in Seattle. Use this to get around dangerous roads. It's particularly useful on long climbs where you are going to have to ride slowlly anyway; you might as well be out of traffic.

Police: Please, PLEASE, bust drivers for having side windows tinted so dark that cyclists and other drivers can't make eye contact. If I'm going down the road and one of these blacked-out cars comes up from a side street ahead of me, I have to assume they don't see me and slam on the brakes, creating a risk of other kinds of accidents. There's a law on the books regulating how dark windows can be tinted. Let's enforce it.

Everyone follow the same set of rules all the time.

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This intersection of cars and pedestrians would really benefit from 100% blinker use. I used to walk through here twice a day to get to and from work.

Drivers: evolve and stop driving like a mefirst jerk, use your turn signals even when you don't have to, and pay attention to driving.

Bikers: Decide if you're a car or a pedestrian, stick with the decision, and follow the prescribed rules. You can't switch between the two at will and wonder why cars get mad at you.

Get your friends to vote for the $60 VLF in November. 22% of the $204M it will raise over the next decade will go to bike and ped improvements. About half of it will go to buses, and a good chunk to the streetcar network, so that will get more people out of their cars too.

If you are into slacktivism, simply changing your Facebook icon is an easy way to build awareness. Check out Streets for All Seattle- they are curently running the best (although still pretty weak) FB campaign: http://www.facebook.com/StreetsForAllSeattle

Here's the thing though: Biking in Seattle is already relatively safe. Seattle routinely makes top 10 lists of the the top biking cities in the USA. I realize that those are dubious honors, but bikers in Seattle don't seem to know how good it is for them here. The public outrage over the 3 recent cycling deaths, while warranted, simply wouldn't exist in many cities. They would be regarded as any other traffic accident, not as casualties lost in the war against cars.

Here, it is like bicyclists are a protected class. When was the last time local blogs got all up in arms because a pedestrian got hit by a car? Food for thought...

If you and your friends ride bikes, tell them to be safe, obey the rules of traffic, and SHARE the road. Sharing means that they need to make way for pedestrians, and even take the needs of cars (gasp!) into consideration.

Fundamentally, everyone needs to be equally considerate of fellow drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. We must be diligent in our own behavior, and be prepared to offer non-threatening "guidance" to others who have not yet evolved to this level of awareness.

Despite a few recent tragedies, Seattle is a fantastic city in which to ride bikes, both as a commuter and for pleasure. In the big picture, we're doing all the right things; with time and continued effort safety will improve.

On a personal note, my car sports Share the Road plates; it's a great way to send a positive message out on the streets, while also funding bicycle initiatives in our state.

No not illegal. But not recommended by King County. However... I live near this route and off and on ride the lane. Sometimes I just use the bus to get to the top of the hill and take the straight drop down 153rd > 37th > 150th > 39th > 40th to Riviera to the Burke. About a 90 second descent at a slow safe speed. Anyway bus drivers when I ride their bus have been telling me it is no big deal to for them go around the cyclists they encounter in the lane. And cyclists I have spoken to say they feel safe riding it. If you don't, I suggest using the bus rack for two stops and taking the drop route to the Burke described above. It is about a six minute ascent up the hill from Ballinger to 153rd for me so during rush hour you will be encountered by 2-3 buses. Another caution... Riviera is flat but very rough. Probably more dangerous than the drop ... or the bus lane.

I can't speak for the whole route, but I've biked from Mount Vernon to Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive. Absolutely gorgeous...try to work it into your route if you can.

It isn't called "the I-5" it is called just "I-5"

Here's an account of how one biker did it, with painstaking detail: http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/cycling-in-the-drizzle-seattle-to-vancouver-by-bicycle

Google Maps has a new feature with directions for bikers. There are three routes listed there.

The first is the Centennial Trail, which looks like the most direct route. I'm having a hard time finding the correct Centennial Trail elsewhere on Google, so I'm not 100% certain it exists.

There's Washington State Route 525. That's a smaller highway than I-5 and slightly less direct.

If you don't mind taking the ferry, you can try the route that takes you west, near Olympic National Park and up through Victoria.

I've never biked long distance, so there may be some awesome alternate routes I've missed. Have fun!

I've had two sets of wheels (using Velocity rims) built by Larry Naylor of Perfect Wheels - I wasn't aiming for super light but rather more on the durable side. Larry was easy to work with and the wheels have worked out splendidly - they're about 3 years old now and even the set that I use pretty much every day has only needed minor truing (which Larry did for free). And I like to keep my brake shoes in very close - so I notice even small deviations from complete true-ness.

Speedy Reedy, on the Burke Gilman Trail in Fremont. They're a racing/triathlete shop, but they're amazingly friendly.

Winthrop to Washington Pass (which is not too far past Rainy Pass) is very scenic and open.

Hwy. 542 to the end of the road at Mt. Baker ski area would be a good bet (although this year, I don't believe they are opening the last three miles up to Artist Point due to snow)--still very scenic.

Hurricane Ridge over on the Olympic peninsula

Mt. Rainier up to either Sunrise or Paradise.

Can't really think of much that is a loop (although Paradise could be a bit of a "lollipop" loop) in the distance you are citing.

There might be some other good possibilities up in the Winthrop/Okanagan area where the terrain is generally much less treed and more open.

A new bike that won't have any problems is going to cost more than the $235 it will take to fix yours up. It could be worth it if the new bike has/does something yours doesn't, that you've been missing ... otherwise I'd hold onto my money and fix the bike I had up.

Hello NatL

Do you think the frame looks really cool? If so, it's definitely worth fixing up.

Is it a full or partial 531 tubing frame? Either one rides really well.

Does it have a "Carlton" sticker on the seat tube?

I have NOS Raleigh thread headsets in stock at my shop 20/20 Cycle. Also the BB can be tapped- more like chased- out to a clean usable English thread good for all modern Bottom Brackets.

Vintage bikes aren't for everyone, but they are easily repaired back to like-new condition if desired.

Cheers!

-Alex Kostelnik
20/20 Cycle

Your lock should be either:
1.) as good as a more expensive bike nearby or
2.) better than an equally expensive bike nearby.

It's good to have all the "quick release" parts (front and rear wheels, seat post) changed out so you need an allen wrench to remove them. I usually take a u-lock (the newer kind, not the circular key kind that can get opened with a pen) and lock the rear wheel to the frame and a pole. But sometimes I get lazy and just lock the bike to itself.

If someone really really wants your bicycle, they'll find a way to steal it. The key is having a less desirable bike or more cumbersome to steal bike than a nearby bike. It's also good to view commuter bikes as temporary possessions. I've had the same bike for the last four years, but I've had three bikes stolen (not in Seattle) before that, and I accept that one day my bike may be jacked.

This post has some great tips for dealing with bike theft:

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/04/victim-complex-coping-with-bike-theft.html

I've done it a few times both with the STP and bike touring with friends - first of all the STP route is pretty good - avoids Tacoma's cars and the midway point of Chehalis/Centralia, has hotels and grocery stores and a brewpub and is a long day's ride away. There's an awful lot of sprawl and industry to get past when leaving Seattle, so I'd recommend leaving early to beat the traffic (or you could put your bike on a southbound bus and get off in Auburn or someplace, but that's not exactly biking) OR you could get on the ferry to Bremerton and ride southwest towards Shelton.

Crossing the Columbia can be done at Astoria, Kelso/Longview or I-5 at Vancouver - only the latter has any sort of infrastructure for crossing the bridge - the first two are long, scary, and exposed, but people do it...

have a good trip!

I haven't done it, but my best friend almost did. He was hit by a car in Tacoma... so don't get hit by a car.

I'm on the Amtrak Cascades right now, and I just asked the conductor.

She said yes, you can bring it onboard, but it will not fit on the standard bicycle hangers they use for regular bikes, so you may have to box it, and they may charge you for two bikes.

She said those questions can be answered by Amtrak reservations at 1-800-USA-RAIL

The Mayor's re-election campaign fund.

[ducks]

Yes to Lilting Missive.

AND don't forget Bicycle Alliance of Washington. They have done great work in the area too. http://www.bicyclealliance.org/

It is paved so should be fine for a road bike. If you want to go even further west it looks like the trail is closed heading west out of Port Angeles through September.

You should make a donation, but the best donation is participation. For example, I joined my city's (Kent) bicycle advisory board. There are many of these around the area including Seattle. There are many meetings that review the 30 year TMP and decision making for roadways and the bicycle network.

The Bikery. They are independent, free-thinking, low-fi, and open and flexible to the community.

Cascade.

Yes, they have their flaws, and i will probably never be an actual member, but I do think they're worth donating to. They are, a this time, the only major organization fighting for bicycle rights and infrastructure in Seattle.

And they have done a lot for both of those. More than anyone else.

For convenience, I have settled on using Wright Brothers.

I tried to go to the Bikery once on a Saturday, and it was not actually open, though it should have been.

You are welcome to get assistance from others at the Bikery as that is part of their model, and this is not explicitly part of the deal at Wright Brothers, although I have gotten assistance there too.

Wright Brothers has a one time fee whereas at the Bikery, you pay per hour or with donation time. So in the long run, you probably pay less at Wright Brothers and they probably have a better tool selection as well.

Also google has a bicycle route option.