2021 is the second instance of SPLAIN, and it took me longer than usual (two year, yikes!) to get the data out because I'm a lot busier with a job I really love and building a home within a wonderful partnership. I am one person, doing this for free, because I’m a data nerd who loves bikes.
Read MoreI think there are a lot of folks that are intimidated by cycling or commuting by bike in cold, rainy, snowy, or icy conditions – and with good reason! I put together a few recommendations on how to best approach cycling in less-than-ideal conditions that will hopefully help you stay pedaling year-round.
Read MoreTwo years ago I conducted a survey of trans, transgender, two-spirit, women, intersex, non-binary, femme, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming cyclists on Duwamish territory now known as Seattle to understand the cultural climate of bike shops. I chose to survey bike shops because they are discrete and are usually the place where many people begin their cycling journey.
Read MoreI got into riding gravel/unpaved trails and roads a few years ago and I gotta say, it’s pretty great! I am lucky to live in Seattle which is surrounded by lots of forests with publicly accessible logging roads and unpaved trails on old rail lines. Here is an non-comprehensive list of some gravel routes I have enjoyed in Western Washington!
Read MoreWhen you feel like you are in a sea of gear and trail mix…. Fear not! This handy dandy packing guide is here to help take the stress out of your bike camping adventure.
Read MoreI am really big fan of wool for travel and outdoor stuff, and especially cashmere. I am also a REALLY big fan of not spending a lot of money. I am here to prosthelytize about the merits of secondhand cashmere and why you should wear it on your next trip or ride.
Read MoreWhat is gravel riding, and why is it so seductive? The bike industry loves using images of svelte cyclists plastered in mud out in the middle of the woods. How did they get all the way out there and how can I be that cool?
Read MoreI like to think of myself as more of a punk than a gearhead type of cyclist. I am never interested in the newest, shiniest thing. I prefer waiting for the real gearheads to get tired of their stuff so I can get it secondhand and haggle them down to below half-price — that or do without all together. So by this same token, I have always been skeptical of sports-specific foods, supplements, lotions or potions.
Read MoreI have been a bit arrogant about not wearing chamois and not using chamois cream for a lot of my cycling career. But honestly, I haven’t needed it! However, the physical toll of nine days on the bike took me and my butt in a place we hadn’t been before. I am here to tell everyone that saddle sores are real and not to be taken lightly! So please heed my warnings, learn from my failures, and enjoy my guide to dealing with saddle sores.
Read MoreI think that gear envy is a pretty real phenomenon for a lot of people. Those feelings of scarcity or inadequacy (I wish I had that” or “Why didn’t I think to bring that?!”) are amplified when your friends have cooler gear than you; or perhaps it’s the high stakes of outdoor survival that put the lizard part of my brain on edge. Whatever the case, here is a list of stuff that didn’t make it to my helpful packing list spoke card, but are nice (and lightweight) additions to your setup. I will periodically update this list, since there is always new gear to covet.
Read MoreThis post expands on Cycling 101, and is intended for cyclists who want to safely and confidently take their riding outside their neighborhood or town. Appropriate places to ride vary from place to place, and will also depend on the cyclist’s ability, and bike type. If you are starting to ride longer distances, add distance gradually until you are comfortable and confident in your ability to get back home.
Read MoreEvery body can cycle. Whether you ride with a conventional bike, a bike with training wheels, a recumbent, or a bike that allows a partner to pedal alongside or with you, there are a number of ways to ride a bike.
Read MoreIf you are starting out, or attempting first trip, it might be a good idea to either start small (under 30 miles/50 km each way), or connect with other cyclists that can show you the ropes. There is no award for cyclists who subject themselves to the most pain and hardship. Bike touring should be fun!
Read MoreI conducted a survey of Seattle bike shops called SPLAIN in the fall of 2019, and worked with the Seattle Bike Blog to publish the results to a wider audience. The blog’s editor Tom Fucoloro kindly invited me to do an interview about the survey and its results. I get into more detail about my process and intention with the survey. Tom asked so many great questions and although I don’t have many answers, I loved getting to hang out and chat!
Read MoreI came up with the idea to distribute a survey about Seattle bike shops as I was developing the syllabus for an introductory workshop on cycle touring for women, trans, and femme people at the Seattle Colleges. I did not know who will show up for the class, so I had to consider: What would I have wanted to know about cycling in Seattle when I started?
Read MoreI have met a lot of shorter cyclists and they got me out of my bubble. I decided to make a list of bikes with frame sizes under 50 cm, so if you are not the height of the average U.S. man (me) you can find a bike in your size.
Read More
