Can a kid participate in soccer if their family doesn’t own a car?
Tim and Maddie had a conversation about that very subject on Twitter today…she was surprised to learn that our kids play soccer and we don’t have a car. (She knew about the car part, she just didn’t know about soccer). Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids
Tagged bikes, kids, seattle, soccer, soccer mom
I’m feeling nostalgic today. My kids are growing up. Gone are the two-kid-hauling days when they read books and ate snacks and wondered and giggled with pure innocent joy while riding on my Xtracycle.
And took rides then ran a little bit and hopped back on:
Continue readingPosted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, family cycling, kids
Tagged growing up, kids, nikes, nostalgia
If you live in Seattle, you most likely know about the tragic death of Mike Wang. He was killed in a hit and run crash on July 28, 2011 while riding his bike home from work.
The driver of the vehicle that killed him has not been located nor charged for the crime.
Next Tuesday, October 18, Mike’s friends and colleagues are holding a benefit dinner and silent auction in his honor.
Please join us for an evening to remember our colleague, friend, and fellow cyclist: Mike Wang. We lost Mike on July 28, 2011, when he was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle home from work that day.
Mike was an exceptional photographer whose work has touched the lives of so many of us. On this night, we will feature several of his pieces in a silent auction to raise money for a college fund for his children, Sylvie (age 10) and Walter (age 12).
Additionally, the evening will include remarks from Washington State Representative Eric Pettigrew and PATH Leadership. Local radio personality and friend of Mike’s family, Cathy Sorbo, will emcee the evening.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available through Brown Paper Tickets
Grab a cup of coffee and take 8 minutes and 33 seconds to watch this trailer for a new documentary being created about cargo bikes.
More on the project here:
Do you love your cargo bike? Has it changed your life? Your family? Your town?
Join me in producing an authentic crowdsourced document of a cultural revolution in progress. I’m seeking submissions from cargo bike folk all over the world to combine in the form of a feature length documentary. Send me your video, audio and photos by uploading to Youtube and emailing me a link. More info at http://www.lizcanning.com. Watch the trailer, visit my site, send me an email and learn how to become a co-director!
via Matthew
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, family cycling, longbikes, sustainability, xtracycle
Tagged cargo bikes, documentary, Family Cycling, film
It’s been a year since we bought our matching yellow Bromptons.
Of all the bikes in our fleet, our Bromptons garner the most notice. Why? Obviously because of the tiny fold. And because they’re matching. And lemon-yellow. And we’re both quite tall and we look a little ridiculous riding them. And so on… basically they are not bikes for the shy.
Quite honestly, at the time of purchase Anne doubted our families’ need for Bromptons: we don’t travel much, we don’t have a shortage of bike storage space at home, and we aren’t big bus riders.
Tim’s purchase pitch smelled like bike lust to her: more of a want than a need.
But his negotiating skills (with Anne not the seller) prevailed and he eventually convinced her. He even pulled out the habitual-bike-purchaser’s classic line: “At this price, if we don’t ride them, we can easily sell them for more than we bought them!”
Anyone heard that one from a spouse before?
And we’re both glad he won the negotiation because in the past year, we’ve discovered so many uses for our Bromptons. Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bikes, cargo bikes, kids, kids' bikes, sustainability
Tagged Bike on Bike, Brompton, carfreedays, Utility Bikes
Maybe some of you parents can relate. One day your kid is on training wheels or a balance bike, the next they decide they can ride no hands.
It starts out simple enough–one hand up for a split second (see “the beginner in the video). Then two (for a split, split second). They start stretching it out. Longer and longer. The wobbles get bigger, and more dangerous because they aren’t going too fast to start out with and usually stop pedaling as soon as the hands come off. But still they wait even longer before returning to the safety of hands on. Eventually, they’ll realize speed is a good thing. It stabilizes the bike. But until they do … yikes.
The boy right now is in the early stretching-out stage. And it scares the crap out of me. Continue reading
Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, family cycling, kids, safety gear
It’s 4:00 PM on August 13th and we’re finally ready to head out on our first substantial (multiple days, 200 mile) family bike tour.
Starting point: our house in Northeast Seattle
Destination: the San Juan Islands, eventually.
Bikes: 1 tandem with front and rear paniers, 1 kid bike with token rear paniers, and a Big Dummy loaded down with most of the gear
Transportation modes: Pedal power, assisted by state, county and private ferries.
After several days of bike upgrades and maintenance, endless laundry and packing, we were finally ready to roll. Our dog/house sitter arrived and settled in for her week+ stay.
We planned to ride 13 miles to Edmonds, catch the ferry to Kingston, then pedal 12 miles to Kitsap Memorial State Park. We said our goodbyes, then pedaled out of the driveway heading in the direction of Edmonds.
Sure, our departure was about four hours later than planned, but so what. We were on the road.
And we made it about a block and a half. Seriously.
Though we thought we packed light, our bikes felt like RVs. The kids were moving even slower than usual. Uh-oh. Was this such a good idea?
That one long block made us realize 5-10 MPH would not get us to Kitsap Memorial before dark, especially with the threat of rain and darkness. Had we been kid-less (or just hauling them on the Xtracycles) we could have made it in time, even with the late start. But as a full pedaling family? No way.
Consider this reset expectation number one.
So now we’re not even out of the neighborhood and we needed a place to sleep that didn’t feel like defeat. Because our dog sitter was at our house, we couldn’t tuck tail and go home even if we wanted to. We had to go forward. Somewhere. Continue reading
Posted in bike touring, family cycling, San Juan 2011
Tagged family bike touring, Family Cycling, San Juan Islands, tandem, touring
Val (in the hat) at the start of 2008 Labor Day ride at 20/20 Cycle
As many of you know, Val Kleitz was a driving force for the Seattle holiday cargo bike rides. For us, he was the spirit of cargo bikes in general. So it’s quite fitting that this year’s Labor Day cargo ride is honoring Val as a memorial ride.
The Labor Day ride traditionally runs (very roughly) from 20/20 Cycle on Union St. to Cowen Park in Ravenna. Plan on a slow, cargo-and-kid-friendly pace. Make sure you carry enough in the way of food, beverages, and picnic supplies. Just in case!
We’re hoping to see a lot local riders and family cyclists showing support for Val’s memory, as well as enjoying some transportation cycling on a lovely day. As always, a cargo bike is Not Required (If you are hauling yourself, you’re hauling a load!). So come on out and join the pallet.
Details: Meet at 20/20 cycles (2020 East Union) noon Monday. The Pallet leaves at 1:00 and should take about 90 minutes to arrive at the Cowen/Ravenna park picnic shelter. Later Monday night is a wake for Val at Pike Brewery.
More details about both events here….
See you there!
-Tim & Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, cargo bikes, Events, family cycling, seattle
Tagged cargo bikes, Labor Day, seattle, xtracyle
We got the sad news tonight that Val Kleitz (ie, Bike Pilot, the Instigator, Rolling Jackass, Dreadnought, former owner of Bike Smith, and all around amazing spirit), died Wednesday at age 51.
Val had been fighting cancer for about two years.
If you knew Val, even a little, then you know what kind of loss this is. And if you don’t know Val, here’s a little story.
My earliest memories of Val are tied to fast road bikes and hot pink Lycra spandex, circa 1990.
Posted in bigger than here, bikes, cargo bikes, news, sustainability
Tagged RIP, Seatttle, Val, Val Kleitz
We found these stickers on our bikes today (outside of Goodwill in the U District).
When we got home, I looked up kickstandcampaign.org and found this blurb on their About page: Continue reading
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Anne & Tim
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