My Love of Bad Weather

That's right, sometimes I enjoy the bad weather more than the good. Especially on the commute. Say what? It's because most of the people who opt to ride their bikes to work when the weather is pleasurable, don't ride when it's shitty out. Yeah, I know, I'm supposed to be advocating that more people should ride, but the selfish "surfer" in me wants this wave all to himself. Nothing ruins a nice and peaceful commute than a wheelsucker decked out in his new kit, or that recumbent rider who whizzes past me as I'm waiting for the light to change ... and he always does, further diminishing any respect cyclists may have in the eyes of motorists. I've long since given up on the bikepathlon, and with that I have enjoyed my rides much more. So I say, keep raining, just not on the weekends, please.

Latest Published Article

Since I am obviously too lazy to keep up with this blog, I have posted an article I wrote today and published online at bicyclepaper.com. The link to the website follows.

Seattle, Wash. (January 14, 2010) – Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn spoke today at the old Washington Street Public Boat Landing, across from Bicycle Paper offices. He was there for a press conference regarding the deteriorating seawall near downtown’s waterfront, undoubtedly in light of the recent earthquake that has devastated the country of Haiti.

The seawall, built between 1916 and 1936, was created to support road and railway access to ships coming and going in and out of the Puget Sound, a major shipping port. An estimated 2,000 feet of the structure was built around a timber-supported platform, reinforced by concrete. Over the years, the wood has disintegrated and water has seeped into the already soft soil that surrounds it.

Speaking about the issue just two days after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti was no coincidence. If a major earthquake happened in the Seattle area, it would certainly have a significant impact on the seawall and the Highway 99 viaduct that stands just feet away from the water.

The Mayor announced his intention to propose a ballot measure in May of this year regarding the topic. As it is now, the City plans on repairing the seawall within six years.

“Six years is not acceptable. We need to move as quickly as we can. This is not about the viaduct [or the proposed tunnel to replace it] as much as it is a concern for the public’s safety,” stated the Mayor. The current plan for replacing the outdated viaduct does not include the seawall; an endeavor he insured will be a stand-alone project.

The proposed plan will cost at least $241 million to complete, with higher estimates closer to $291 million. So who is going to pay for this? Most likely it will be King County landowners via a property tax. He estimates it will cost owners of a $400,000 house about $48 per year.

McGinn is expected to send his proposal to City Council in February for a special election on May 18.

The Mayor stated that there have already been bids by companies to take on the task, and prices have been lower than expected due to the downturn in construction projects – a direct result of the ailing economy.

When asked how the construction would impact travel along Alaskan Way and, more specifically, the bike path in which hundreds of commuters use daily, including him, McGinn couldn’t answer.

“That is part of the planning process,” he said. The Mayor rode his Trek 700, the bike he uses to get around the city, to and from the press conference.

http://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles/2009/11/mayor_mcginn's_plan_for_seawall_improvements

Racing with Dopers

When I "race," I pay little attention to anything except what is in front of me. That's probably because any time I "race" I have a lot of catching up to do. Complete focus helps me ride better and excel at my favorite aspect of cycling - riding technical sections. It also keeps me from having a heart attack, or at the least, vomiting.

In this photo of me "racing" there is an extremely large man in the foreground. I would venture to say that he is doing the very thing the slogan on my jersey refutes. Upon seeing this photo for the first time, I immediately thought it was a muscle suit. It clearly isn't. That leads to the most important reason why I focus - I really don't need to see that. If I did, I'd go to the gym.

Thanks to Heather Keeling for taking the photos.

Cyclocross - Off the Couch and Into the Fire

I did my first cyclocross race yesterday. It wasn't pretty. First of all, I raced on my singlespeed mountain bike. Fat tires are slow. Fat tires collect mud. Fat tires feel like flat tires in sloppy mud. My bike gained at least 15 pounds in the hour I "raced." Conversely, fat tires do handle well in the corners and in the technical sections ... and that was about the only place I passed anyone yesterday.

Secondly, and I am not using this as an excuse for m

y performance, I was what cyclists call just off the couch, or JOTC. I've barely ridden my bike in the past month, thanks to a week-long battle with what was undoubtedly the swine flu. Or the bird flu. Or the ebola virus. Whatever it was, I wanted to die for several days. To top it off, I traveled to Colorado for a business trip the following week. That's a long time to be off the saddle, especially when most of yesterday's racers have been training and eating healthy. For me, it has been lots of beers and fast food lately; in fact, whilst in Colorado, hungover from Halloween's epic evening, I ate a McDonalds Big 'N Tasty with fries, followed by a Good Times Deluxe Burger not more than 30 minutes later. Try that for cyclocross training.

Most of this rant probably sounds like an excuse. And maybe it is. But honestly, who cares how I placed? I got to ride my bike with a bunch of similar freaks - a couple wearing nothing but whitey tighties - in the mud and in the rain. Some days that's all this piggy needs.

Casio Case and Aeroplanes

This is one of my favorites, and actually the first shot taken on the trip to Durango. It was taken as I was about to board the plane from Denver. The raindrop helped out with the cool warp effect. Thanks Ma Nature.

Lacking Motivation?

Man am I a lazy piece of shit. It's been more than a month since SSWC and I haven't posted anything here. Maybe I am still recovering? Honestly, after the trip to Colorado it's hard to be motivated with the onset of fall/winter and not having the serotonin levels maxing out. Anyway, time to post some photos from Durango. I have a full length story in the making and submitted to one of the "big ones." Haven't heard anything back for a full week, pert near. Maybe it sucks.