Seattle’s Pro Parks Levy was just the first income source that helped the Colonnade concept become a reality. The levy, approved by Seattle voters in November 2000, freed up $198.2 million for more than a hundred projects and programs, including $1.8 million for the project officially named I-5 Colonnade.
Other funding came from REI, Starbucks, Vulcan, Bikes Belong, King County (for a Youth Sports Facilities Grant) and the City of Seattle, as well as private donors.
Continue reading ‘Colonnade — The Money’
On Wednesday night BBTC.org held a reception out at the new Duthie Hill
mountain bike park location….
The reception was conducted by Justin Vanderpool and the new BBTC Director John Lang. King County, Various Local Bike Shops and many concerned riders were in attendance for this first look at the what will be King County’s Newiest Bike Park. Building on the ongoing success of The Colonnade, BBTC and King County have begun the work on this 120 acre park off the Issaquah-Fall City Road. King County has given a total of $150,000 in grants and further funding is being sought to complete work on this park that is scheduled to open December of 09. Continue reading ‘Duthie Hill Report’
Simon Lawton — professional downhiller and founder of first Downhill Northwest and now Fluidride — moved to Seattle in 1996. Two years later, he met Chris Leman from the Eastlake Community Council, who had seen Simon loading his bike for races, etc. Turns out both had envisioned mountain bike trails in the area below I-5 — and Chris had connections in city government from his work on the Council.
Suddenly, Simon found himself going to meetings with everyone imaginable — bike commuters, community councils, anyone who might work with him to create the Colonnade. Continue reading ‘Colonnade — The Concept’
Tuesday and Wednesday: Hood River, OR.
So, I crawled into Hood River, Oregon and met up with Mike Estes, Miles Sullivan and Carl Warren for a little ride and shoot among Bike Media types. You would have seen Carl Warren’s stuff here, as well as, on Pink Bike with Mike Estes and Miles Sullivan. Kim Sturts, Karen Johanson, and Leif Olson all came down from Seattle to ride with us. By the time we all got together and got up to Post Canyon it was getting a little late. Plus the rain just continued to come down on us. We all ended up riding some quick lines on Middle School and then taking the Super D line 7 Streams out to the bottom pick up. It was a great run out in the rain, but my legs were rebelling by the end of the trail. After Sea Otter they didn’t need to ride another long pedally course on a downhill bike.
Continue reading ‘Sea Otter Classic Road Trip’
Today dawned cold and overcast just like countless northwest days before it. The only difference was that there were six inches of snow blanketing South Everett on this particular April morning. Needless to say this unexpected little bit of precipitation put a damper on our plans to sample the best of Bellingham. But fear not, there was still some GnarlBurl to be had…
Continue reading ‘April ‘Snowers’ bring May flowers’
Olympic Dirt Society sponsored a shuttle day at Dry Hill in Port Angeles on March 8th and 9th. Riders in the PNW have come love these events put on by ODS and think of them as our little Whistler. I hear that over 180 riders registered for this last event. The lines were long, but the trucks kept hauling us up the hill and we never waited longer than one needed for a breather.
Continue reading ‘Port Angeles Shuttle Day’
It was one of the best girls riding weekends I’ve ever had! The first ever Dirt Rag Women’s Weekend at Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland, OH was a great success. From cross country riders to jumpers to bmx’ers, women of all bike disciplines from all over the US came to Ray’s for some fantastic winter riding.
If you have never been to Ray’s, you are missing out. It is an indoor mountain bike park built inside an old factory building. Instead of the usual dirt trails, everything is built out of wood – ladders, ramps, jumps, log pile crossings, even rock gardens (not built out of wood) create a plethora of trails, stunts and obstacles to improve your biking skills. There is a pump track to practice working the terrain for momentum, a cross country loop with tight turns and short climbs into the rafters, several short trails with a variety of challenges, a beginner room with skills sections low to the ground, a stunt section with a variety of teeter-totters, drops and interesting bridges, 4 different sized box jump rhythm lines with up to 6 jumps in a row, 2 skate park sections, and a foam pit to practice your tricks before trying them on hard ground. No matter what your skill level or preferred type of riding, there is something for you at Ray’s!
Continue reading ‘Dirt Rag Women’s Weekend at Ray’s’
The weather is breaking and riders are dragging their bikes out and dusting off their legs. The sun is drying up the trails in places like Seattle. Yeah, Seattle! While the East Coast of the States is getting rocked by a spring storm, and Cali is bracing for driving rains, Seattle has been sunny and down right special. Here’s a few photos from Saturday’s session @ SST.
Check out more of these Pics in the Gallery.
Up coming Spring Events:
March 8th an 9th: Port Angeles, WA. Spring Shuttle Details Here, Get The Best Room Rates For Port Angeles Here.
March 14, 15, 16: Spring Break Fat Tire Festival. Details Here.
(Leave a comment on this post to let us know abou your event)
Local ride group Olympic Dirt Society gets together with DNR and makes a ride area that is legal and challenging. Check out the video.
Continue reading ‘Dry Hill > Port Angeles, WA.’
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