Even though my grandmother told me about the discrimination my father experienced from his teachers being a brown kid…
Even though I have heard the stories from my Asian and Pacific Islander girlfriends about being fetishized and demeaned by men…
Even though I saw the sinophobia, anti-Asian racism, and xenophobia at the beginning of 2020…
Read MoreI have tried to keep skiing as my budget allowed, but the groups I skied with have always been predominantly men. That’s all fine and good, but on a ski trip a few years ago I got really sick of being constantly underestimated and left out of the route planning while skiing with a group of men.
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 MoreI was first made aware of the Capitol Forest, located on the west side of Olympia on lands historically stewarded by the Coast Salish peoples of the Squaxin, Nisqually, and Cowlitz, because of the Evergreen Gravel Grinder.
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 MoreFall has been closing in on Seattle: The sun is coming up closer to 8am and setting around 6pm, rain is falling and the gray sky is not letting up. In search of better weather, we went south to Northern Paiute and Tenino lands (Eastern Oregon) to complete the route we had attempted last year.
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 MoreDialectical behavior therapy is particularly good for people with suicidal thoughts and those who want to learn how to regulate their emotions. The therapy takes place in several skills-building modules, aided by a series of exercises. I got myself a cute pink and gold binder to hold all of my homework and to get myself excited about doing the work.
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 MoreA few shrimpy gals and I circumnavigated the Olympic Peninsula and in our first few days of the trip, we stayed in Joyce at the lovely Camp Epona. On that trip, we were sheltering in the barn because it had started to rain after dinner. While I was unpacking my bike in the barn, I noticed that there was a small pottery kiln in one of the barn stalls. I have been a ceramic sculptor and potter since I was in high school and it’s something that I miss a whole lot.
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 MoreI felt to nourished by the rhythm of our days. It felt so natural to be moving on a bike all day with some of my best friends, helping one another make food, work through feelings, and tackle mechanical issues. It felt good to sleep under trees, pack up my bike bags every morning, and bathe in lakes and rivers. Eight days was all it took to adapt enough to a different type of life that I didn’t want it to change. Maybe I would get tired of this pace of life? If the weather was bad? If I couldn’t find good food? If it wasn’t as scenic? Whatever the case, I felt inspired to tour for longer, to keep going, to develop a new frame for cycling in the future.
Read MoreFour goofy friends decided in early July 2020 that they would circumnavigate the Olympic Peninsula at the end of July. We planned to go counter-clockwise and take the Olympic Discovery Trail for as long as we could. It was personal for two of the group since they had attempted the route a few years ago but mechanical issues and a serious rainstorm in South Beach made them call a ride.
Read MoreI knew about Corn Nuts, but I never knew Corn Nuts. My friend Danielle was snacking on Corn Nuts during our tour around the Olympic Peninsula, and I must thank her deeply for awakening me to this incredible snack.
Read MoreI have been thinking a lot about trauma and how we can repress or relive it during periods of stress. I wanted to write something to encourage non-black people who are feeling intimidated by anti-racism work, especially people with cognitive disabilities or neurodivergence that can make stressful or violent topics really overwhelming. I am not writing this to promote myself as an exemplary anti-racist or advocate. I am rather trying to honestly convey the things I have learned in my personal anti-racism, privilege, and trauma work.
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 MoreAs this blog would suggest, I am not much of a hiker. I am much more interested in cycling around beautiful places than walking to or through them. However, a friend of mine wanted to attempt the Na Pali Coast/Kalalau trail and assembled an amazing group of 12 to make the journey to Kauai. She organized all of us to get permits around 6 months in advance, since overnight use of the trail is extremely limited.
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