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Cyclefest: West Coast’s biggest Tour de France party for the whole family

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 by Anne-Marije Rook

Join us on Thursday for the biggest Tour de France-inspired festival on the West Coast!

For the ninth year running, we’re throwing a massive bike party for everyone! With exciting local racing, a beer garden, vendor booths, prizes, food stands, kids’ activities and the rebroadcasting of the Tour de France’s mountain-top finish — Stage 17 — on an outdoor big screen, this is a summer party not to be missed.

The festival, taking place at a new location this year at the Seward Park Amphitheatre, kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Thursday Night Bike Races. Here’s your chance to watch some exciting live races before we turn our attention to the screen. These roads are hallowed TDF ground! Pro bike racer Tyler Farrar, who is competing for stage wins in the Tour de France this year, competed in these very races before turning professional in 2003. (In addition to chasing down sprint stage victories, Farrar is also in the slow running for the Lanterne Rouge.) There will be a live announcer and a podium ceremony and prizes for the winners.

As you wait for the sun to set you can browse the booths, relax with a picnic in the grass, buy food at the delicious food trucks, or catch up with friends over a cold beer in the beer garden.

Meanwhile we’ll entertain the kids at the bike art table, where they can decorate their own bike, and at the Wheelie Fun Course, a fun and safe stunt course staffed with our wonderful volunteers.

And did we mention that there will be prizes?

We’ll be selling $3 drawing tickets throughout the evening for a 9 o’clock drawing. Prizes include:

A Raleigh Revenio 3.0 or a Capri 3.0 road bicycle (value: $1200+)
One registration for the sold-out Ride from Vancouver (B.C.) to Seattle and Party (RSVP) event (face value $100; market value “priceless”)
An Ortlieb messenger bag (value: $90)
A Detours pannier (value: $70)
And Bern helmets (value: $60)

As the sun goes down, all eyes will be on a giant, inflatable screen as the world’s best men’s cyclists compete for a Tour de France stage win in the mountains. [Read more....]

Posted in Cyclefest, Events, Racing | 1 Comment »

Rides, races and events all weekend

Friday, June 1st, 2012 by M.J. Kelly

We'll be back for more Kiddie Kilo this year!

There are all kinds of events and rides this weekend across the region!

Friday, June 1

Friday night races start tonight at the Marymoor Velodrome, including the first Kiddie Kilo of the season. Bring the youngsters to the track with a bike and a helmet and send them out on the velodrome for a quick lap in front of the cheering throngs. All ages welcome, including kids on balance bikes.

Saturday, June 2

Come explore the roads, trails and artworks of Kent on the Earthworks Tour. Ride on your own or join the group at 9 a.m.

SPOKESPEOPLE Rides: Fish Ladders & the Ship Canal Trail – Meet at the Wallingford playground and ride at an easy-going pace on easy-going roads and trails to the Ballard fish ladder. Family-friendly, with all ages and skill levels welcome.

Pull up a curb and get your race fix on at the annual Ballard Criterium starting at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 3

Bike Sunday – Cruise the Lake Washington waterfront car-free.

There will be hills and views on Jacquie & John’s Excellent Adventure, a beautiful ride at a moderate pace exploring Fishermens terminal, Discovery Park, Ella Bailey Park, West side of Magnolia, Queen Anne lookouts including Kerry Park, Bhy Kracke park, riding close by the Space Needle, Myrtle Edwards Park, and the Ship Canal trail.

Crepe Cruise – Take a leisurely spin to the Swedish Club, then spend the rest of the day cruising the city working off all the crepes you’ve eaten.

Scope for the next Ryder Hesjedal in Tenino at the Washington State Individual Time Trial Championship.

Wrapping around to Monday, June 4:

If you rode hard over the weekend, check out Small Chainring Mondays, an after-work recovery ride at a brisk pace on Mercer Island for cyclists who have spent the weekend riding at a strenuous, super strenuous, or race pace.

Bring your bike to Monday’s Fix-a-Flat Class to learn this simple and important skill to minimize delays the next time your tire fizzles. We’ll take the mystery out of wheel and tire removal, patching a tube and putting it all back together. Learn what tools to carry for a quick and speedy repair. Our class is hands-on your bike — so bring it along. We’ll send you home with patch kit and a step by step guide for the next encounter with a flat tire.

Posted in Around town, Events, Racing | No Comments »

Major Taylor takes on a cyclocross race

Monday, December 19th, 2011 by Emma Epstein

The group of nine bunched up, geared with new cyclocross tires on Redline bikes, ready for the Woodland Park Cyclecross Race. The air was crisp, but clear. Hundreds of people were shouting. On Sunday, Nov. 13, students in the Major Taylor program and members of Cascade staff (first Cyclocross race ever for yours truly and first race for Ed Ewing in 15 years), rode around the muddy, leaf-covered, race-track with almost 1,000 other riders of all ages.

Before the race, the students were firing up on hot cider and warm, homemade cinnamon rolls that Robin Randels brought and served. (Thanks Robin!) For those who had ridden a cyclocross race before, they knew what to expect, and enjoyed showing off how muddy they were after multiple falls. For the newbie riders, they showed up after three rounds a little cleaner; they were riding a little more carefully.

After the race, the group went to Tutta Bella on Stone Way. They played tables games and chatted with each other and staff. An hour later, with nine pizzas consumed and bodies reinvigorated, they loaded up in the 16 passenger van and headed back with new experiences in the biking world.

That Sunday in the park would not have been possible without our collective efforts…our Major Taylor community. A big thank you goes to Union Gospel Mission and to AJ Campanelli for safe transportation and guidance. Thank you to Zac and Terry of MFG for donating registration to the group. Tutta Bella offers an astounding philanthropic deal for non-profits: 50% off your total bill and the tab for nine pizzas came to a whopping $56.00. This student experience could not have happened without your support…thank you!

Posted in Kids on bikes, Major Taylor Project, Racing | No Comments »

Hell on Wheels

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 by Anna Telensky

Bicycle Film Series
Friday, Nov. 18
6:45 p.m. sharp, doors at 6 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
Tickets are available in advance through Brown Paper Tickets
Cascade members: $3

General public: $5

In 1994, documentary filmmaker Pepe Danquart won an Academy Award for his short film about racism on a German streetcar, Schwarzfahrer. He’s since turned his lens on sports, with a film about one of the last remaining East German hockey teams ten years after the fall of the Berlin wall, and another about speed rock climbing.

On Friday, November 18th, Cascade will be showing Danquart’s unique take on the Tour de France, Hell on Wheels. Going beyond the traditional tour documentary, Hell on Wheels focuses on the courage, the pain and the fear of the riders of the Tour.

Training his lens on German superstar sprinter Eric Zabel and his loyal domestique Rolf Aldag, Danquart captures the thrill of the race and the teamwork behind the stars of the peleton. He also shines light on the Tour’s supporting cast – the director sportifs, masseurs, and, of course, the wildly enthusiastic fans.

Reveling in the stunning landscape – from the Alps to the Pyrenees to the Massif Central to Paris – and with a nice dollop of Le Tour’s history, Hell on Wheels transcends the sport it celebrates to reveal an astonishing human endeavor.

Posted in Events, Films, Racing | 2 Comments »

Archive for the ‘Racing’ Category