Speed Wobbles

Wintergreen Steve's speed wobble

I learned a new term today, “speed wobbles”. Just a few miles into a group ride (one of Cascade Bicycle Club’s free rides), a fellow rider pulled over with a mechanical. I asked the rider just behind him if he could tell what the mechanical was. Speed wobbles was the answer. I wouldn’t normally blog about something like this, I hear new terms all the time. But the term instantly grabbed my heart. Years ago on a Nordic Club bike trip, a felllow rider crashed in front of me. Amil’s bike wobbled back and fourth in front of me. I pedaled up to him and asked if he was ok. He said he was fine and the bike went back to normal. He pedaled faster than I expected, so I dropped back. Then his bike started wobbling again. What started out to be a tiny oscillation grew bigger and bigger until he was thrown off the bike. He slammed onto the road and rolled into the ditch. His bike flipped back, airborne. I swerved hard into the car lane to avoid it crashing down onto me. I had a split second to hope I wasn’t swerving into an oncoming car, but when something is flying at you every instinct makes you escape. It was an intense moment for me, but worse for Amil. He tore up his face, neck and shoulders. His jersey was but shreds. His bike needed some serious repair. He eventually went to the ER and suffered facial scarring he’ll have the rest of his life. We all struggled to figure out exactly what caused the crash. The cause is still unknown, but at least now I know what to call what happened to him, “speed wobbles”.

The Princess and her Bike

We cyclists are a picky bunch. I left my commuter at work last night. Really I had other things going on that made riding home inconvenient, but I prefer to blame the dangerous windstorm that fell upon Seattle. I decided to take a ride today at the last minute and because of the things left at work I didn’t have my usual gear. I didn’t have a heart rate monitor. There’s no point in riding without one (!), so I had to get out my old broken one that was too tight. I didn’t have my headband, so I wore a beanie that hit my ears such to amplify the wind noise to a frightening level. It took almost an hour to get used to it. I didn’t have my gloves, so I wore the un-padded backup pair I got in Italy. I had to grip hard due to the slick rain and slick gloves and my hands felt cramped for most of the ride. I wore a different pair of socks, just for the fun of it. They were thicker than my usual pair, but oddly enough my feet felt cold and squishy. I didn’t have my nice new prescription sunglasses. I wore an old pair that was too dark. I also felt blind without prescription lenses. I didn’t have my usual water bottles, so I had to use some backups that are harder to open and get water out of. They paired terribly with the gloves, which were slick. I simply couldn’t get a drink with the bottle and glove combo. I got used to all of these changes by the end of the ride, but it took some time. It chuckled to myself. I do the same ride with the same trusty gear so often every nuanced difference stands out. Somehow I survived. Somehow I got to enjoy the majestic views allowed by the clear sky. Somehow I got so soak in the sunshine and fresh air. I know, it’s rough doing the best most fun thing ever.

Spotted: gigantic geese, goats, a very stern and tiny dog, friendly couples taking walks and wishing us “Merry Christmas!,” people hollering “Merry Christmas” out of their cars, tons of fallen debris from last night’s storm, a Santa scarecrow perched on a bench on the side of the road, a large house with a sprawling front yard and what appeared to be 40 or so larger-than-life inflatable holiday decorations.

Relive 'Santa Waits at the Bus Stop (CBC SNOCO #7)'

Deeper Dive Into Heart Rate Training

Heart Rate Zones Determined by Central Oregon Community College Physiology Lab

Heart Rate Zones Calculated by Lactate Threshold

Heart Rate Zones Determined by Heart Rate Reserve & Resting Heart Rate

Heart Rate Zone Default Supplied by Garmin Connect

There are several different ways to calculate target heart rate zones. The easiest is to subtract your age from 220 and use that number as your maximum heart rate. From there, you can calculate each target zone based on the percentages established for each method. This method is a good start as our maximum heart rate decreases with age. It is determined by genetics and cannot be changed. However, if your genes vary from typical, these measurements will be incorrect. The worst thing about this method is it doesn’t account for fitness.

I recently took VO2 Maximal test at an academic Physiology Lab. The test incrementally pushed me harder and harder on a treadmill until my maximum heart rate was recorded. That last minute was pretty hard, I had to push through my body telling me to slow down for almost 2 minutes. Once my heart rate reached 180, I had to keep it there long enough to confirm it wouldn’t go any higher. The test dispelled a common myth about heart rate, one that I believed up until that moment. For some reason, I assumed “maximum” heart rate meant that my body couldn’t handle heart rates beyond it, and would die. I thought of my heart like a car, that would shake, rattle, and eventually crash if it went at speeds beyond what it could handle. Turns out that’s not true at all. All “maximum heart rate” means is that your heart will not beat any faster. That’s it. That’s the maximum. At that point, other processes take control and work to slow us down. Our bodies do a superb job of keeping us intact, better than any piece of mechanics or electronics I’ve used. My blood lactate levels and ventilatory were also tested.

I spent some time looking at my maximum heart rate (which is perfectly typical, by the way) to try to understand what makes my personalized zones so personal. Note that the college uses a “4 zone” system and Garmin uses 5. The images above are from Garmin, so I had to add a “zone zero” in the zone 1 place, which is fine because zone 1 is essentially a warm-up zone for Garmin, too. My calculated fat-burning zone is 121-141. This is the zone trainers suggest endurance athletes spend most of their time training in. Garmin’s default would have me at 108-126. I would essentially make no basic endurance gains if I used Garmin’s calculations. This is a shocking difference. My resting heart rate gets closest with 130-142.

Resting heart rate calculation is spot on for the low end of the endurance zone (zone 3) at 142. But the calculation using my lactate threshold got the top end closest at 157 versus 164. Still, Garmin’s default is way worse at 126-144. The lactate threshold zone (zone 4) has some differences based on definition. Nearly all zone methods I’ve seen top this zone out at your lactate threshold. However, the college tops it out at a few beats above your lactate threshold. My lactate threshold is high for my cohort, meaning I am an endurance athlete. A sprinter would have a very different lactate threshold. Interestingly, this is estimated pretty well from my resting heart rate at 167. Even the default method, using only my age and gender for source data, got pretty close at 162. I guess the “default” person is better adapted for endurance than sprints. All charts show my max heart rate at 180 as max heart rate is static and I have no genetic anomalies changing that.

The big take home lesson here is that heart-rate-based training appears to be useless without more data beyond your age. I am very glad I took this test, even though I’m not “training” for anything in particular.

The Tunnel Ride is Only a Carmageddon Away

source: Cascade Bicycle

It’s official! I’m registered for The Tunnel Ride this February. It seems like forever away, especially will so many downtown workers worried to death about the upcoming construction. It will be an unforgettable ride with the Wooleaster. I plant to take a lot of pictures. Crossing fingers now for a rain-free morning.

Fun With Heart Rate Data

Garmin Heart Rate Data over time: Day with symptoms

Garmin Heart Rate Data over time: typical work out

I have a tendency to faint (not a big deal, I’ve been cleared medically). I’m not sure what causes it in every instance, but heat is my kryptonite. It was HOT and HUMID at the gym the other day. Just as I was getting to the most intense, portion of my work out, I started to feel faint. I didn’t lose my vision, but I did start to get that “feeling” that passing out was imminent if I didn’t stop. I was aware enough to take a glance at the heart rate reading on my Garmin watch, but not aware enough to realize what the sub-100 beats per minute meant. I stared, confused, and tried to adjust my chest strap. When the numbers didn’t budge, I took my pulse manually- and lo and behold, consistent with overexertion symptoms, my heart really was beating slowly! I instantly couldn’t wait to see the graph my monitor puts out.

The above graph is a segment of my overall workout on that hot and humid. My average heart rate (122 bpm) is the dotted line. As you can see, I’m cruising along at about 150, and right after my peak effort, you see a sudden drop. That’s where I got dizzy, just after the 50 minute mark. I posted a typical workout below. My heart rate goes up and down, but you don’t really see it go below my average until the cool down at 58 minutes. Unfortunately, it didn’t graph out as dramatic as I hoped. I dropped 75 bpm in 2 minutes and 48 seconds, which is on par with my recovery heart rate of about 65 bpm in 2 minutes. You can’t tell that I was near losing consciousness from the graph, I could have simply stopped working and the graph would have looked the same.

Ride Time Capsule Tuesday: Reach the Beach 2011 Pacific City, Oregon

Still the best ride ever, 2011’s Reach the Beach did not disappoint. I rode with a group of friends at all different riding levels. A drizzly, cooler ride this year, and still the best.

Tunnel Ride

Cascade Bicycle Club just announced this ride, and it sounds spectacular! The Alaskan Way Viaduct has been on the minds of every Seatteite for years. We spent a long time debating it’s safety, it’s future, and the replacement tunnel process. This bike ride, as part of a Grand Opening celebration, makes the whole toil fun! What an opportunity to be a part of Seattle’s history! At the same time, the ride costs $40 for just 12.5 miles. That sounds like highway robbery…literally. I have a few weeks to make a decision, but knowing me, I’m gonna go for it!

Ride Time Capsule Tuesday: Reach the Beach 2009 Pacific City, Oregon

I can’t find a previous blog I wrote about this ride, but I’m sure I did somewhere. It was a magical day. I forgot my sunglass and bought a new pair at the start line. How convenient that they were sold there! They turned out to be one of the best pairs of sunglasses I ever had. Zoe and I started out together and quickly picked up the other 2 dudes in the photo. I don’t remember who they were, but we ended up pacelining together almost the entire ride. We all rode at complimentary paces, which is hard to find! There we a few stretches that randoms added to out caboose, making our line 20 people long at one point. Amazing day!

This ride is a fundraiser for The American Lung Association, and remains to this day my favorite route of all time!

PSA: Cyclists might not be safe riding in the bike lanes! It's slippery leaf season!

I love fall leaves, they are a beautiful sign of the changing seasons. They are also terrifying for anyone on 2 wheels. A car pulled in front or me to turn ride on Greenwood avenue last night. I locked my brakes to avoid hitting them and skidded all the way out of the bike lane, into traffic. It had rained recently and wet leaves were under my tires. Wet leaves destroy traction and hide potholes, rocks, glass, and other hazards to cyclists. If you drive a car, please note that a cyclist might be riding in the road instead of the bike lane. Don't worry, that's legal in Washington state. Know that the Cyclist isn't trying to be an ass, the leaves are probably just too slick to ride on safely. Also note that braking distance is double what it is in dry weather, which may cause unpredictable behavior. Here's to hoping we all stay safe this fall and enjoy all the colors!!

Cross-Training on the Books

I set a new goal for myself. This winter, I'm going to learn how to skate ski!!! I am beyond excited! 

Ski Touring is my most favorite thing in the world, but I don't feel safe traversing the backcountry alone and it's hard to find good ski buddies in Seattle. I feel safe skiing classic alone, but it's not very challenging. I think skate will be a great way to challenge myself and a safe way to ski solo. It requires a distinct muscle memory, so it will take a solid commitment to actually retain what I learn. I think I have a solid plan:

• I'm in a recovery phase now, but 8 weeks before my first ski, I am going to start pushing hard at the gym, specifically focusing on ski muscles.

• I am registered for not one, but TWO ski camps (3 days and 4 days)

• I signed up for physiology lab test

• I plan to buy some new skate skis for myself for my birthday

• I am planning a destination ski trip with a good ski friend for next year

• Chances are low, as I typically have no say in the annual family vacation decision, but I was actually asked this year, so there's a chance we might get to go to a ski destination

• I plan on getting a ski session in every week (except for a January vacation with friends)

• I am working on a carpool to make the day skis easier to do

Sharing the Road

Last night I had the pleasure of sharing the road with this particular cyclist. I’ve seen her riding downtown a few times. She carries a toddler-age boy in the back rack of her cargo bike. He sits on the platform, no belts or straps. She doesn’t ride ‘downtown fast’, but she rides with expert skill. She talks to him constantly, and they manage to have civil conversations among all the sounds of engines, horns, sirens, construction, buskers, etc. Some conversations I’ve overheard:

Cyclist: “Which way should we go, bud?”

Kid: “Dexter!”

C: “OK! Are you warm enough?”

K: “No I’m cold!”

C: “OK, let me get out your sweater. OK, put your arm through. I going to throw it at you if the light turns green. You’re going to have to hold onto it. Can you do that?”

K: “Yeah!”

C: “Other arm! Look we did it!”

K: “You are masterful!”

C: (giggles) “Aw, thank you!...Hold on! Here come the bumps!”

K: “Yay_y_y_y!”

C: “Did you get a drink? Is your tea still warm?”

K: “Got a drink, but it’s cold.”

C: “Wow, I’m surprised.”

K: “But it’s still tea!”

C: (chuckles) “That’s right! It’s still tea!”

It makes my day to listen to them having such a nice time. It’s also great to ride behind her, because the traffic parts like the red sea around her. Clearly no car wants to get anywhere near a bike holding a tiny bobbling helmet with little feet sticking out. Still, considering how terrified I am just trying to get myself home, I can’t imagine how she keeps so calm carrying such precious cargo.

RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) 2018

I first heard about RSVP when I rode the STP (Seattle to Portland Ride) years ago. I decided then that I had to do it. I mean, it has the word "party" in it! Back then, the rider registration filled up early on. It was such a popular ride that a second one was offered. Even though there were 2 options, the dates didn't work in with my schedule year after year. This was my lucky year. The Wooleaters decided to do it again (several of them have done the ride before) and I jumped in. There's something better about finishing a ride that just happened to be on your 'bucket list'. 

• Distance: 189 (over 2 days)

• Pace: enthusiastic tight riding team

• Mechanicals: We had a list of strange, but not debilitating 'mechanicals'. I lost my gloves in the rest room at the Lynden rest area. After looking for them I assumed all was lost, but Jessi suggested I check the food table again. After that recommendation, I saw them at the mechanic's tent. Yay! Bryant left his sunglasses in his luggage and had to buy a cheesy gas station pair. They were fabulous. Jessi's fender decided to rub on her tire weirdly. She stopped at a mechanic and they fixed it. Bryant stepped on his fender flap and it fell off. I decided it was due as well, considering all he did was step on it. Abby's fender also made a weird noise for some reason. Then at the very end of her ride her bell fell off the bike and she had to loop around to look of it.

• Flats: I got a flat riding out the gate. Literally 2 minutes in. A thorn. Guess I was due.

• Wildlife: There was much, but most notable were the black squirrels of northern Washington and at the Canada border. Not much road kill to speak of.

• Weather: Smoke from nearby fires made the air quality dangerously poor, with the index over 150 in places. News mentioned breathing Washington air was as unhealthy as smoking 7 cigarettes and that the air was worse then Beijing. But. It lifted Friday morning just before the ride started and sunk again in full force Sunday after the ride was long over. In fact, the drive home Sunday exposed me to some of the worst air I've ever breathed. The temperatures were cool. I wore my new little jacket all morning both days. I could have been more heavily dressed, but I was also fine as I was. I've been inordinately lucky in weather lately.

• Snacks: ride stops early on treated us with delicious muffins, scones and hard-boiled eggs. Each stop had stuffed Cliff bars, some sort of dried fruit and fresh fruit option. One stop handed out entire sleeves of Oreo's. Water was aplenty, but some of the spigots ran very slow. Overly sweet Nuun was available at every stop; I took some for the last push of each day. The Canada stops boasted a cookie in a Kiwi box. I excitedly grabbed several, curious what a Kiwi cookie would taste like. Turns out they were ordinary chocolate chip cookies that happened to be packed in a Kiwi box. I grabbed a Rice Crispies treat to save for Bryan. But I ate it at the Chuckanut viewpoint and it was delicious. The best stop wasn't a sanctioned one. Hosted by a family as a fundraiser, perfectly poised that the top of the last hill on Chuckanut drive. Known near and far as the lemonade stand, signs preparing us for the stop started cheering us on miles early. "Clap! Clap! Clap!" they said, and other comments about how awesome we were and how much we needed lemonade. They were raising money for college. I guess in years past they raised money for various camps, back to having their kids, back to getting married, and then on. This family grew up with RSVP going by their house every year.

• Meals: RSVP had a clever option for lunch on day 1. Several local businesses offered a "ride meal" that you could exchange with a coupon attached to your bib. You could also exchange the coupon for $7 of food inside the restaurant. We chose this option at the Stilly Diner. Kreg ordered pancakes. I ordered French toast. My meal appeared, a tiny pat of food on a gigantic plate. Kreg's order arrived, massive pancakes bigger than his head. It was not clear how to options priced the same could be so different, but Kreg kindly shared his. He gave me way too much. I drank several cups of coffee from the coffee pot. This is a new thing I never used to do. Once we arrived in Bellingham, we ate at the Brewery. I had a too-sweet cider and delicious poutine. The hotel we overnighted in offered a breakfast in the waiting room of the front desk. It was pretty good. I ate Trader Joe's style hash browns, an English muffin, sausage, and a hard boiled egg. I did not have enough caffeine. The party portion after the ride in Vancouver boasted a beer garden. We sat there for a spell, but they only offered beer so I drank nothing. After that we had another food ticket for the food trucks at the park. After waiting in line for a long time at the choice food truck, they ran out of food so we grabbed some corn on a stick at another, but they wouldn't accept the meal ticket so we grabbed some hot dogs too. After eating all that food, we ate more at a lavish Italian joint in downtown Vancouver.

Videos of the Ride

Relive 'RSVP (Ride to Vancouver and Party) 2018 day 1'

Relive 'RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) 2018 day 2'

Photos of the Ride

Many photos credited to The Wooleaters

Ride Details

Note that a programming error from Garmin made day 1 appear to happen on Thursday evening when really it happened Friday morning. 

Bike MS 2018 Foothills to Foothills Monmouth Oregon

Give MS the Boot! Stomp MS! Our sole purpose! Thanks, John, for the pun overload!

Friday Amtrak delays meant I arrived to Rider Village in Monmouth too late for dinner. I filled up with hard kombucha and wine at the free bottomless beer garden. That counts as carbo loading, right? Saturday I rode 98.6 miles and the temperatures were perfect (coincidence?) The valley spared us the heat, headwinds, and thick smoke of last year. The route took us through rural Willamette Valley, including Ankeny Wildlife Refuge (they’re renovating the viewpoints!), Jefferson (the “big city” near my first-grade home), Scio (covered bridge capitol of the west), farmlands including a trees-as-biofuels research site and a creepy “quiet qarden” that boasted such loud birdsong that it had to be fake, and the tiny Buena Vista ferry. I finished in plenty of time to get my free massage and eat 2 dinners (pizza from the mouthwatering Yeasty Beasty and spaghetti feed with berry cobbler from the catered buffet). Evening entertainment included Star Wars movies, popcorn and candy in the park, but my tired self skipped all that in favor of sleep.

Videos of the Ride

Relive 'Bike MS willamette Valley Oregon 2018 Day 1: "Foothills to Foothills"'

Relive 'Bike MS Willamette Valley Oregon 2018 day 2: "Foothills to Foothills"'

This is the ride that started it all for me. I didn’t even know what padded shorts were the first time I bike for MS. I did the whole thing on a rusty Schwinn mountain bike at about 9mph. I finished after the route closed and cried the last 30 miles just trying to get to the end. Now I’m a top fundraiser, average about 15mph and finish ready for more. I still cry a lot. These days I might ride more miles, climb more feet, or face greater dangers on other rides, but Bike MS is reliably my most challenging ride every year. This is one weekend where hundreds of compassionate people touched by this disease rally together spreading support and hope.

On day 2 at the start line microphone, a person with MS read a poem about their experience, leaving the entire crowd with leaking eyeballs. This opened the floodgates for conversation with fellow riders and volunteers the rest of the day. Each person I met had a story to tell. I shared tears with strangers; the woman with MS who rode her first century ever on Saturday, the guy who lost his sister in ’99, the SAG driver whose wife lost her ability to walk in ’08, my teammate who only rode his recumbent the 1 mile loop this year because he didn't get a chance to train, and the young woman who was just diagnosed a few years ago and is scared of her future.

• Distance: 150.51 miles over 2 days

• Pace: cheerful

• Mechanicals: Just the terrifying moment mid-ride that I suddenly thought I put my bike shorts on backwards (I didn’t).

• Flats: 0

• Wildlife: numerous turkey vultures, hawks, a gopher, a busy barn cat, wandering chickens (do livestock count?), 2 very angry fenced Pitbull’s, and ample roadkill (deer, raccoon, opossum, mice).

New Viewpoint at Ankeny Wildlife Refuge

Photos from the Ride

Food of Bike MS

This is one of the main reasons I do anything. I do it for the food. 

Bike Thing Thursday: Kuat Hitch Rack

Kuat hitch rack earns the highest mention possible: 5 bikes a racin'!

I almost don't want to believe it. It happened to me. The thing all cyclists dread. Yup. Drove into the garage with a bike on the roof rack. The second it happened, the split second the car hesitates and the crunching noise just barely reaches your eardrum, you know exactly what happened. But it was too late. In our case, the rack peeled right of the car with the bike intact. The bike didn't suffer so much as a scratch. The car...the car acquired several scratches and scrapes that took a lot of work (i.e. back and fourth with the auto body shop) to remedy. 

So. The question that begs to be asked. Do we replace the roof rack? Ha! Never more! I got this lovely Kuat hitch rack instead. I felt pretty guilty that it was my bike that damaged my boyfriend's car. Had I not been a cyclist, none of this would have happened. I wanted to pay for all the damages to the car, but he insisted he take care of all of it.  I went all out and got the nicest rack I could find to make up for it. It looks pretty nice, both on my rig and his. The lovely white color matches both of our vehicles and my bike. It's been solid and supportive. Removal and installation takes mere seconds. The thing is awkwardly shaped, but otherwise easy to carry and store. 

Kuat earns the 5 bike award!

Ode to My White Bicycle

A random search down Spotify lane connected me with this amazing song. I accepted the color of my bike. Sure, I'd had a lot of unintentional white forms of transportation in my life. My first car was white. My second car was white. My boyfriend's car is white. My vanerhome is white. It coordinates perfectly with the white bike rack and white car, but white is so, bland and....vanilla. Then I found this song. I don't think I'll ever be able to have a bike any other color from here on out. So here is an ode to my white bicycle for a feel good Friday. 

The lyrics can speak to the Seattle experience:

“The rain comes down, but I don’t care
Wind is blowing in my hair
Seagulls flying in the air
My white bicyle
My white bicycle”

— Tomorrow, "My White Bicycle"

Minor mod and it's still Seattle Riding:

“Ridin’ all around the streets
Four o’clock and they’re all asleep*
I’m not tired and it’s so late
Movin’ fast everything looks great
My white bicycle

*replace with “traffic’s knee deep” to better capture the Seattle experience”

— Tomorrow, "My White Bicycle"

Bike Thing Thursday: Brain Bell

The Nutcase Brain Bell earns 3 bikes

If you know me, you know my long-time obsession with brains. How could I pass up a brain bell in the store? That's right, I couldn't. This bell has a pleasant chime and is fun to use. It's loud, but not too aggressive. I only award it 3 bikes because it is not passing the test of time very well. This bell has been the brains of my commuter for about 4 years now. It started sticking; meaning I can't get it to chime when I want it to. Then, it will ding randomly, sometimes embarrassingly. It dings nearly every time I go over a speed bump, but I still struggle getting the trigger to wiggle when I am trying to pass a fellow cyclist. But, that's ok. It's not too often I actually pass anyone!

Kitsap Color Classic September 23

I'm thinking about doing this ride. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about it. And having just ridden through the area, I am excited to ride it again. This might just be the year to do it! We've had an amazing summer so far, and I am looking forward to a long and warm fall. 

Ride Time Capsule: Sunday City Parks and Cemeteries

Relive 'Sunny Sunday Morning'

I first fell in love with cycling during my college years. My beautiful red Schwinn Cruiser was stolen he day before my first midterms, freshman year. I couldn't believe it, the bike I had since 5th grade, gone. I thought it would be safe, locked in a bike shed. I bought a new bike down in Medford after spring term ended but before summer session. It was another Schwinn, this time a green mountain bike. All the mountain bikes had shock absorbers. I couldn't afford such fanciness and I felt a little ashamed for that. But, I took to taking that bike with me to a different city park every day that I could. Summers in Corvallis are glorious. When I couldn't find a park, I'd make my destination a cemetery. Cemeteries have long been a destination favorite, particularly when cycling alone as they afford quiet, tranquility, and reflection. Now, decades later, I get to enjoy the same things I did then, with new bike paths and improved roads. It is a lucky treat to ride in one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

Ride Time capsule: Wooleaters Solstice Swiftcampout

The Tuesday Ride Time Capsule captures past rides that haven't been shared yet. Enjoy!

Abby's ride report said it best. Here are some exerts from the report:

“Jessi, Kristin, Betsy, Amanda and I started our voyage at the Fremont PCC at precisely 8:05 am. Kristin, Betsy & Jessi were slightly late due to a minor mechanical with Kristin’s shifters; I was slightly late as per usual. Amanda was on time as per usual. It was cool and overcast.

We meandered across the Fremont bridge, to downtown via the Westlake trail and got to the water taxi station on Alaskan around 8:45 am. With plenty of time to spare until the next ferry, we ventured up the street to Top Pot Donuts where donuts and caffeinated beverages were purchased and consumed. Some sheep were fed...

...We boarded the West Seattle water taxi at 9:30 am and arrived at Alki Beach approximately 15 minutes later. There was virtually no one out on Alki so we enjoyed a pleasant ride to the ferry...We...continued on our way to the Fauntleroy ferry and boarded.

We arrived in Southworth around 11:30 am, and proceeded to ride out to the campground. No one was on the roads, which had stunning views of the sound and nearby Bainbridge Island. We hugged the coastline, watching herons stalking their unsuspecting prey in the tide flats. The sun slowly started to emerge from the clouds. ”

Photos compliments of the #Wooleaters

Then we rode on to Manchester State Park, our camping destination. Abby's report continues:

“We locked up the bikes and went down to the beach for a picnic lunch. Many delicious snacks were consumed, including ocean-cleaning mussels, Amanda’s no-bake chocolate peanut butter oat cookies, peanut butter pretzel crack and much much more. The sun cast off her cloudy rainment and blessed us with her beaming warmth. Betsy got a little too excited about a wedding party that was taken place at the park shelter and went off to make new friends.

Eric arrived via car around 3 pm and we agreed it would be an excellent day for some kayaking. We rented all of the kayaks available and took a little paddle out around the bay, where we spotted kingfishers, gigantic jellyfish, minnows jumping and a curious seal. Betsy and Kristin ventured into an off-limits government facility that smelled like death. We all turned around and headed back to shore. It was time for more snacks (and booze)!

Eric got to work building a fire that was soon a roaring blaze, and we had to purchase more firewood to keep up with his firebug ways. We had some beer and a stinky fish taste test courtesy of Kristin. For dinner we had orichette (aka cervical cap) pasta with fresh basil, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, spinach and stinky fish. Everyone adjusted per their dietary needs/preferences, and all agreed it was one of the best meals they’d ever had the pleasure to eat in the great outdoors. Whiskey was consumed in great quantities and Eric read us a little of The Thirteen Clocks as we toasted smores...Betsy elected to sleep in the hammock, while the rest of us got cozy in our tents.

The next morning we awoke to find Betsy asleep on top of the picnic table — apparently hammock sleeping is indeed an acquired taste. Kristin made everyone a mini cup of coffee in the charming tiny coffee maker Roger found at Goodwill. We spent a leisurely morning eating hard-boiled eggs and oatmeal, and lounging by the delightful breakfast fire that Kristin made. Around 10:45 am we were fully packed up and ready to roll. The sun was out and it was warm but not too hot. A low fog hung above the surface of the water as we rode back to Southworth, and we could see the mist evaporating as the day grew hotter. We rolled into Southworth just as the 11:10 ferry was arriving (30 minutes late) and were pleasantly surprised to be catching an earlier ferry back to West Seattle than we expected. More snacks were consumed. Jessi abandoned us to drink a beer and eat tater tots in the cantina.

The scene on Alki Beach was completely different than the previous day. Small children, oblivious pedestrians and inexperienced bicycle riders created a challenging obstacle course for the Lady Wools, but we wove our way through the crowds without incident and even passed a sexist dude without a glance behind us. We got to the water taxi station at approximately 1:25. Would Abby have enough time to buy some fish tacos at Marination Station before the 2 pm water taxi arrived? It was a very close call, but she made onto the boat with minutes to spare and enjoyed some tiny but excellent tacos on the boat ride back to downtown.

This was just the fuel needed to get back to Fremont. We rode along the Elliott Bay Trail, enjoying the incredible views of Rainier and the waterfront, and not enjoying all the tourists crowding the bike path. We took the ship canal trail back to the Fremont Bridge and Abby encouraged everyone to break the law by racing across the bridge as the bell was ringing for a ship to go through the drawbridge. After this last sprint, it was time to part. We chatted up an older gentleman who was wearing a RSVP jersey and riding a sweet titanium steed that was fitted for travel. Jessi, Betsy & Kristin headed off to Ballard and Amanda and Abby climbed one last hill up to Fremont. The journey had come to an end.

Total mileage: 47 miles give or take depending on starting location
Pace: leisurely
Mechanicals: One
Crashes: One
Flats: Nope
Wool: check!
Sheep: check!
Number of times Kristin attempted to explain the meaning of wool eaters to a complete stranger: At least 3”