Seattle D.I.Y.

Some of the best routes in Seattle can be found on page 4 of this PDF by Seattle D.I.Y. - the rest is a good read too.

Velo Routes - Elevation Feature

A coworker sent me the Velo Routes link yesterday; letting me know that they've added an elevation feature. I mapped my commute home and discovered that I'm completing a 400 foot hike on my rides home.

Choose Create A Route from the left sidebar to start. Once there, you'll want to enter your start address or double click to get in closer. Left click on your starting point, then continue doing the same to mark your path. Once completed you can either save your route, export it, or create an elevation image (similar to that above, my ride in to work, a must easier ride).

Google Maps for Bikes

Awwwwww Yeah People! Google announces they'll add bike there features to Google Maps.

Thanks to the Infrastructurist.

How Will I Get There - A Guide to Seattle

Simply deciding how to get from Point A to Point B can be challenging when you are new to biking in Seattle, or any city for that manner. What about the fastest way, the safest way or the most scenic way? While there are some great visual and printable resources in Seattle, I think the two biggest helps are this: find a bike buddy or a organized casual group ride and practice (the more you ride, the more you know).

As for visual guides for Seattle, you can find maps, guides and routes at all of the following locations:

• Cascade Bicycle Club Maps & Routes
• SDOT Maps
• King County Bike Maps
  
• Seattle Bicycle Club Maps
• Bikely - Seattle - You can search through hundreds of user created maps & guides
• Velo Routes Seattle

If you don't have any friends that ride (or that are willing to be patient as you get comfortable), I suggest trying out craigslist or group rides around the city:

• Seattle Bike Bicycle Club has weekend rides that range from social to expert.
• Cascade Bicycle Club also hosts rides, most seem more intense.
  
• Hello Bicycle has been known to lead some group rides.
  
• I Bike Seattle Tours - see local history with a guided tour, pricey.
• Your local bike shop, they seem to know the most.

Feel free to send me any links to other group rides or routes in Seattle.

Photo via Lisa Randolph and her beautiful Flickr Photostream. Who says it can't just be a pretty bike pic?

South Lake Union to Pioneer Square

After a great visit with my brother in South Lake Union, I decided to kill a couple of hours on the bike before my dentist apt. From his place near Snowboard Connection & Alley24 I headed toward 9th Avenue on Republican. 9th is a one way street with a clearly marked bike lane that will lead you straight to Bell Street Once you hit Bell, you can take a right on 3rd to go to Seattle Center or head straight for shopping & eating in Belltown. Around 2nd, I took a minute to check out Roq Le Rue & Halogen Galleries; if there was more time in the day I'd also stop by Mama's for mexican food or Shorty's for hot dogs, beers (also home to a classic Seattle pour) & pinball.

After a Belltown stop, I headed down to Western & hopped on the Eastern sidewalk until the Pike Place Market because of one way traffic; it gets pedestrian heavy at this point, so make sure to watch out for them. Once I hit the market I crossed the street to the bike lane that starts where Western splits to go to the waterfront. This is smooth sailing; make sure to pop into a couple of the great design, furniture & interior shops that line the street on both sides. Take a left on Yesler then Right on 1st, there is another bike lane on 1st. I took a left on Jackson & wiggled all around King Street Station, Punch Gallery, 4Culture Gallery, All City Coffee & then shot onto 4th back to downtown.

My last (fun) stop was the Seattle Central Library, seeing that I'd only been there once before at night for a private party, I decided to spend an afternoon taking pics & taking it in. It's a beautiful space inside & out; I can't believe it took me this long to get there. Heading home, 4th is a decent option because it's one way traffic, but busy none the less. At some point a bike lane starts on the left, maybe around University. The trip ended at 5th & Stewart where I got my teeth scrubbed for 45 minutes. Ugh.

Aside from the stop at the dentist, I recommend the urban jog. Here's the route & here are some pics.

Happy Hour Ride to the International District

There seems to only be one neighborhood in Seattle that sells bean thread (cellophane noodles) & considering that it was a main ingredient to my girls' night dinner - I got on my bike after work to head to Uwajimaya in Seattle's International District. Not only do they have some great Asian treats, housewares & gifts, but you can pop over to the Kinokuniya Bookstore for a fantastic selection of books and writing supplies (ohhhhh notebooks & gel pens). If you have a minute, I also recommend heading to Kobo & Momo on Jackson for a little shop stop.

Once I picked up my goods, I was ready to head home to Capitol Hill. Here's my route from work to Uwajimaya in the International District & then the route from there home. The whole ride was modest, each leg taking about 25 minutes.

From South Lake Union to the International District tips:

• Dexter has a nice wide bike lane & traffic is accustomed to cyclists on the road, that's where I hung out until Lenora
• I hopped onto 5th for a straight shot, because of rush hour traffic I spent Lenora to Yesler on the sidewalk
  

From the International District to East Capitol Hill tips:

• The whole stretch is a modest hill that goes slow & is very ridable
• I hop onto the sidewalk & crosswalks at Jackson & 12 Ave S intersection to get on the east side of 12th, heading north
• I use the sidewalk from Jackson to Yesler, where a bike lane starts mid-block
• This is also a great way to get to the Pike/Pine district or North Capitol Hill
  

Saturday Ride to Fremont & Ballard

It was a beautiful day in Seattle & I was set to head out for a modest ride into Ballard. While this is my usual weekend ride, this time I went out with a purpose. My main destination was Dutch Bike Seattle but Brouwer's in Fremont ended up being the prize spot. This route is fairly easy with little incline & lots of trail. You'll start by rolling through Eastlake (maybe you could even grab breakfast at 14 carrots or luisa's before you start) then head over the University Bridge. Right after the bridge you circle the exit ramp to jump on the Burke-Gilman Trail. From there it's smooth sailing (unless of course your front brake cable snaps) to Ballard & Dutch Bike Seattle. I ohhhhh & ahhhhh'd over their inventory, but realized that I'm way to frugile to ever treat myself to their $1400+ bikes (as gorgeous as they are). I did chat with Fritz about possible basket set up, he was ever so helpful & made my day by complimenting the Motobecane. After that it was lunch at Brouwer's Cafe (640 beers & a lovely falafel sandwich).

My route home was less exciting. I actually wimped out & tried to take the 8 up Denny, but it never came & I ended up riding up the hill anyway. The day ends at Velo where they replaced my cable for next to nothing & added a rear rack, with a promise to have it ready in an hour. I'm excited to start looking for a basket or saddle bags.

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop

The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is a six mile multi-purpose trail that stays surprisingly flat here in Seattle. Taken from the website, "The loop will create safe and attractive access to the lake for all Seattlites - connecting Gasworks and Lake Union Parks, linking more than 35 pocket parks, street ends and waterways that ring the lake, and improving access from adjacent neighborhoods, downtown, and the University of Washington."

You can download a great map available from Seattle Parks & Recreation; pointing out places of interest as well as the best roads to take if you want to shoot off to another neighborhood.