Bikes to Africa

Spent the morning down near Boeing Field helping break down and load bikes that will be shipped to Ghana as part of the Village Bicycle Project. I've collected used bicycles at EdCC several times over the past year, but Meg Watson finally convinced me to participate in the container loading party. A lot of folks from Bike Works were there, and I got to meet David Peckham, who started the project.

A few of the bikes!

And, a few more!

We detached pedals, turned the handlebars sideways, lowered the seats, and generally just got the bikes flat so they could be stacked in the container. While there were many rusted and well-used units, there were a few noteworthy donations, including a couple of classic Schwinn Varsity and Continental models, and a couple of other steelies. The folks at the project assured us that they would be well-received in West Africa.

This is a great project that keeps all this metal out of the landfills and into the hands (and feet!) of many who need them!

I drive a car and I need help...

Oil Addiction Treatment Center.....terrific!

Orting to Eatonville and Back

TWBC's Daffodil Classic was last Sunday, a day after the record-setting temps and the real first day of Spring for 2008. 60 + miles, much of it uphill it seemed, and over rural, chipseal roads that shook the fillings loose from your teeth.

More comments about the ride are here. And, here are my pix.

The jury is still out on this one. I enjoyed the ride, but it's a schlep from VR to get down to Orting in time to ride, would have much preferred to ride without thinking that the rain was going to start at anytime, and while some of the scenery was wonderful, there sure is a lot of trash by the side of the road. Rural western Washington can be an ugly amalgam of farm land, new developments (what's up with the gated communities from reconstructed clear cuts and former pastures?) chained dogs, horses, sheep, goats and llamas, trees and clear cuts, scenic streams and lakes, all the while with big ol' Mt. Rainier in the background.

Next Sunday is the Marymoor-Snohomish loop on the CTS. 55 miles and, if the memory serves me well, another good rural ride.

More CTS

This week's CTS ride was the Eastside Urban Loop, circumnavigating Bellevue, keeping on the right as we left from Marymoor Park, climbed Newport Hill, and then dropped down via the I-90 trail to Enetai Park, underneath the bridge for the first rest stop.I was sucking wind as we climbed the hill, with chain slipping, falling behind, but caught up eventually.  Same thing happened through Clyde Hill and Yarrow Bay, and it didn't help to miss a couple of the turns that only increased the separation from the rest of the green group.  Maybe I'm a yellow (12-14 mph), the group for the next ride, two weeks from now, Marymoor-Snohomish.  Or, maybe fewer noodles, dumplings and less orange chicken from the Shanghai Garden the night before will result in less ballast.

Ended up at 41.5 miles for the day, 454 YTD.   Next week is the Tacoma Wheelmen's Daffodil Classic.  The group did a great job with the Headwaters Century last fall, and I'll wait to choose between the 4o mile Buckley Loop, and the 60 mile Eatonville circuit, which looks like more of a challenge from both a distance and elevation perspective.

After getting home (lunch, sauna, shower, stretch), took the Lemond over to Gregg's to see about the chain slipping.  Wade took care of an adjustment on a busy Saturday afternoon while I strolled over to Peet's for a coffee.   Great service!