One of the great things about our sport is how every event feels like a family reunion. The Transition Bike’s Demo Day at the Colonnade had exactly this tone. Riders came together under I-5 and put a hurting on the the jumps. Especially, K-line. The lip was built up on the Rainbow Bridge and riders such as Transition’s own Casey Groves were showing the rest of us how to trick a big jump. I admit, I don’t have the ability to throw a back flip over a gap, but my fun was just being there and taking part in a great fall afternoon of bike riding. An in my own way, I improved on my own abilities. It just seemed easier going hard when you are being towed in by some of the best - Mike Metzger, Lars Sternberg. Continue reading ‘Transition Bikes Demo Day @ The Colonnade’
Archive for the 'The Colonnade' Category
So I got a text from Pip saying, “Wade Simmons is shredding the Colonnade.”
Wade was at the Colonnade doing a shoot for his helmet sponsor- Bell. It’s always cool when a top rider visits your local ride spot. By the time I got down there the shoot was winding down. But I got to shoot Pip leading Wade down the line he’d taken the lead on developing. It was great to see Pip beam from the positive comments Wade directed toward the trail work of Pip and his friends. For video: Continue reading ‘Wade Simmons @ Colonnade - Quick Shot’
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’
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’
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