Author Archives: Anne

Why bother?

Posted on February 19, 2008 | 6 comments

There are many reasons Tim and I have decided to ride our bikes everywhere instead of driving. The more we ride, the more reasons we add to the positive column. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics, kids

Tagged alternative transportation, benefits, bikes

Neighborhoods and Bikes – Fremont

Posted on February 17, 2008 | 6 comments

Saturday was a beautiful sunnyish day in Seattle. The kind of day that makes you look forward to spring. The boys were off doing manly things so the seven-year-old and I had an impromptu girls day. I’m often accused of not being fancy enough for my daughter so I let her dress me that day – she was very excited that I wore something other than jeans. We decided Fremont would be a good destination for lunch and a little girlie time so we headed down the Burke-Gilman trail—my daughter riding side saddle and looking demure on the back of the Xtracycle. I was pleasantly surprised that we weren’t the only ones not racing down the trail decked out in Lycra—there were plenty of folks dressed in regular clothes using their bike to get where they needed to go. Right on. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Burke-Gilman Trail, extravehicular activities, kids, neighborhoods, seattle

Tagged bakfiets, bikes, conference bike, Dutch Bike Co, Fremont, seattle, xtracycle

NAHBS

Posted on February 8, 2008 | Leave a comment

We too are headed to the North American Handmade Bike Show this weekend. Looking forward to checking out some cool bikes, visiting with family and friends and of course riding around the lovely city of Portland.

We’ll report back next week.

Cheers — Anne and Tim

Cargo Cycling and the Slow Movement

Posted on February 7, 2008 | 1 comment

First there was slow food, now it’s apparently slow design. Cargo cycling is inherently slow so it seems we’re just in time to jump on the slow bandwagon. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Human Powered Politics

Tagged cargo bikes, cycling, slow design, slow food, slow movement, xtracycle

Power to the Pedal Design Competition

Posted on February 6, 2008 | 2 comments

I just read a post on the Dwell Blog about a biking accessory design competition sponsored by DESIGN 21 – (Social design network committed to improving life through social design):

This competition calls for a biking accessory or add-on for existing bikes that would improve the bicycling experience and encourage more people to make biking their primary means of transport – more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and more integrated into daily lifestyles.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, sustainability

Tagged bikes, design, DESIGN 21, Dwell

Was _Your_ Driver’s License Revoked?

Posted on February 4, 2008 | 6 comments

We were recalling a comment from Patrick, a reader in the Chicago area on some of the remarks he hears when cycling as part of his job:

Anyway, I am a realtor and you should see some of the looks I get pulling up on a bike to show a property! I usually have to explain this is a choice and not due to some court imposed lack of a car…

It got me thinking — I hear some strange stuff, too. Normally, I’m one of those wise ass types who wouldn’t let a mean comment go unpunished, but these days I’m just so busy with our unofficial “cycling rules; join us” PR campaign that I usually don’t let my snarky side out — at least to their faces. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics, kids, sustainability

Tagged bikes, driving, questions

Neighborhoods and Bikes: Wallingford

Posted on January 31, 2008 | 5 comments

I had plans to meet my friend at a park in Wallingford the other day. It was a pretty cold day in Seattle – 41 degrees and windy: the weather report said it felt like 28. We were undeterred by the weather, we just bundled up and got ready to go, despite the howling wind. The four-year-old said he felt like a snowman – he could barely move because I put three coats on him.

I had a thermos of hot chocolate and sandwiches for lunch – we were ready to roll. But just as we were walking out the door, my friend called to say they weren’t going to make it. It was too cold and her daughter didn’t want to go (in the CAR!!!). My son doesn’t take well to changes in plans, so we went without them. Our kids are out in the weather all of the time – this is Seattle after all – if you wait for a nice sunny day to go outside, you’ll spend 10 months out of the year indoors. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids, neighborhoods, seattle, traffic, weather

Tagged bikes, cold, doored, kids, neighborhoods, parking, parks, seattle, traffic, wallingford, xtracycle

Wool

Posted on January 30, 2008 | 7 comments

photo credit: Chronanor (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=330456640&size=m)

It’s cold in Seattle right now. Not as cold as this, but cold in a windy drizzly Northwest kind of way. The 35-40 degree light rain gets in your bones and leaves you with a chill that won’t quit. We’re still out there riding every day and not suffering too much. We quickly figured out the right layering combo for this weather. We don’t go anywhere without our wool. Not the itchy scratchy irritating kind, but the soft (ahhh), not-at-all itchy Merino variety. Lucky for us, there’s a lot of it on the market right now. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in bikes, shopping, weather

Tagged bikes, cold, cycling, rain, wool

Snow Day

Posted on January 28, 2008 | 3 comments

We woke to a dusting of snow on the ground and some news that schools were closing because of inclement weather. Unbelievable – I’m sure it was a decision some school administrators felt really silly about less than an hour after they made it – the snow hadn’t even stuck to the street in Seattle! Luckily our school had a scheduled day off so we didn’t have to change our plans for the day. We rode to grandmas house and spent the morning with her. While we were there we got another little dusting – still no big deal but fun nontheless. The three of us rode home through the snow flurries. As we approached the last hill before home, the 7 year old jumped off the bike and decided to run – a break mom always appreciates. It’s amazing what a difference 60 pounds makes. She also gets pretty excited when she beats me up the hill. And this time she got to be the photographer – got some good shots – not bad for a 7 year old.

-Anne

3 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids, seattle, weather, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, kids, seattle, snow, xtracycle

Neighborhood Cargo Bike Share?

Posted on January 25, 2008 | 3 comments

Our neighbors stopped by the other day to test ride one of our Xtracycles. They took it for a little spin with their daughter on the back. We love (and even enourage) impromptu Xtracycle test rides. We can’t wait until someone we know takes the plunge. Come on – you know who you are – just go for it!

Continue reading →