Cabin Fever? Ride the Trail

The day after I flew over and photographed the John Wayne Iron Horse trail I did the only sensible thing I could think of - ride the trail.  Sunday was clear and cloudless and almost warm so I called my buddy Brent (who hasn't learned not to answer the phone when he sees it is me) and told him I was driving down to Rosalia to ride the trail through town and east toward that cool trestle I flew over the day before.

Ok, just kidding, he knows not to answer the phone when I call but sometimes chooses to do so anyway.  Brent is a great guy, cyclist and neighbor so he asked for a hall pass from the wife and said "let's go."  He smartly chose his Gary Fisher Mt. Tam and I sort-of chose the Moots CX with studded tires because I am too lazy to swap them out.

The Clampetts go cycling - yes, that is a sack of grass seed separating/securing bikes.

We loaded the bikes in the back of the truck and blasted down to Rosalia.  Once there we only saw two people and they were riding horses through town.  We turned west on 1st and were at a trailhead in about 3 blocks.

We met two other residents wearing hunter orange and driving a jeep on the trail so the no hunting and no motorized vehicle postings at each access point appear to be more of a guideline in this case.

Despite reading several reports and blogs to the contrary, I still expected the rock to be more compact like the trail of the Hiawatha and not loose and deep in spots on this trail.  We went about 2 miles and I thought if I just let a "little air" out of the tires the ride would improve a bit.  It did until the rear went flat about 25 feet later - guess it was not little enough.

 

 

I love these rock cuts and just think about how loud it must have been with a train rolling through

The Moots rolled easily and did not require much in the way of inputs even in the deeper rocks.  The geometry is relaxed enough to be stable and confidence inspiring while still fun and lively on the road.

 

I thought the light hitting the trees with a shadow in the background looked sort of Ansel Adamsy...

We averaged just under 11 miles per hour without really pushing the pace and ended up riding about 21 miles total.  The goal was to get outside and just enjoy riding something different with a little adventure and spice in it.  We did not make it to the trestle from the day before so that may be a goal for next time.

Next time we will probably head west toward Malden and Pine City on the way to Rock Lake.  The Mt. Tam worked well and the lager volume tires allowed for more float in the deeper rock.

Riding up to and on the trestles outside of Rosalia has a surreal feel to it. 

 

 We learned that a better place to start riding is out on Malden Road toward the trestles.  It is a short distance out of town and lets you ride longer without the trail being interrupted several times from where we started.

If I were planning to ride the whole trail, I would probably opt for a 29er with a wide tire and tubeless setup so the tires roll and float well on the varying rock and dirt.  The rocks are mostly round so they do not compact well (think marbles) and tend to displace under the tire. For shorter rides, the Moots works well, but I would add a larger tire up front like a 38 and a 34 also in a tubeless setup.  Lower pressures would help smooth the ride just a bit.

The above tire setup will most likely be the setup for all gravel grinding I do this year since the rocks tend to get pushed together in deeper sections and on the outside of turns - it will be nice to have some flotation up front for those situations.

 After the ride we were both glad to be done and promised to come back later this year.  I can see this and other sections being particularly vivid when the fall colors start to so that is on the agenda for sure.  It will be important to be aware of hunters when the bird season opens since there is plenty of dense cover for birds and the elevated rail bed make an ideal walking and shooting platform.

Until then.

Cabin Fever? Fly the Trail

One of the cool things about being a pilot is that I get to perform some aerial recon of bikey stuff I am contemplating exploring.  Saturday broke cold but clear so I took off for a flight to check out the John Wayne/Iron Horse State Park.  The Trail runs officially from Idaho the west side of the Cascade mountains.

I have followed it from the air from Plummer, Idaho to west of Rock Lake (I initially reported Bonnie Lake which is in line to the north with Rock Lake - thanks Scott for correcting me) in the channeled scablands.  Only 31 miles south of Spokane, the abandoned railway is easily accessible from the town of Rosalia via Hwy 195.

From the air, the trail looks pretty cool as it meanders along basalt bluffs and through cuts and valleys. There are a couple of trestles though a number of them have been removed some time in the past.  The town of Rosalia has some of the most striking trestles which are formed of architectural concrete.

Elevated sections with trestles removed usually have these on/off ramps to keep you going

Looking east toward Tekoa, WA



Cool trestle still in place. 

Historic trestle outside of Rosalia, WA

North end of Rock Lake

The trail runs on the east/southeast side of the lake and this trestle and tunnel may be useable to cyclists

After the lake the trail turns westerly again

Trail runs through many man made canyons - this one has a really neat spire left in place

The trail looks very interesting from the air and should provide some good riding for adventurous cyclists.  Look for more info in the next segment.

Ben Burr Trail Improvements Require Partnership and Civil Dialogue

A little known local treasure has created some vocal opposition over the last few months. The Ben Burr Trail on the lower south hill is a 1.1 mile underutilized public treasure that will have its true potential either squandered or realized depending on the direction of the local community and City of Spokane.

What follows is the project as proposed, pros and cons and my take of what is at stake.  Regardless of positions, there are some choices that need to be made regarding this project - everyone should have a voice and the best solution will address legitimate concerns while balancing the preservation of the beauty and maximizing the utility of this public resource.

Project as proposed: Connect the south hill with a mostly separated, paved trail from 11th Ave and Fiske to the existing Centennial trail in the University District.  This involves using Federal grant money to pay for paving the Ben Burr Trail, installing safety measures like railing and then a dedicated paved path and bike lanes over to the Centennial Trail. More information is available at the City of Spokane.

Pros:

• Much needed infrastructure that improves safety for both non-motorist and motorist without adding to traffic and congestion
• Makes the entire trail accessible to hikers, joggers, cyclists, and wheelchairs (ADA Compliant)
• Improves safety in terms of traffic and potential falls on steep terrain
• Provide designated pathway (with the exception of about 100 meters with Sharrows) from southeast to the University District and Centennial Trail
• Utilizes existing easements and right-of-ways
• Usage and traffic will increase
• Trail will be paved
• Provides safe access to downtown from the east part of the south hill.

Cons:

• Usage and traffic will increase
• The trail will need to be widened in areas (some trees will need to be removed for safety and minimum width requirements)
• Some steep drop-offs will need railing (poorly planned rails may not be aesthetically pleasing) 
• As with any project there will be the need for retaining walls and slope stabilization
• Trail will be paved

After attending the informational meeting in the East Central Community Center I rode the entire trail to get a better sense of what the project was about and some of the concerns voiced by other community members. I traveled from downtown via 4th Ave to where 4th dead-ends.  The newly designated bike route also dead-ends and sends you down to 3rd Avenue to continue east.

There is not an easy way to access the trail by bike directly from 4th Ave., and remediating this is not part of the proposal.  The detour to 3rd would now have connectivity to both the Centennial trail and Ben Burr if the project moves forward as proposed.



The pathway to the park/trail has stone steps and some pretty nasty areas that have washed-out - ride-able by some but not many.

This is pretty representative of the current state of the trail for the majority of its length

 

Below is a section of the trial that appears to have a steep enough drop-off to require a safety railing.  One of the arguments against the trail is that railings would destroy the views and vistas from the trail.  As a Federally funded project it must meet certain standards for accessibility and safety so that is where these requirements come from. Look at the two photos below and decide whether a 42" railing (the height of kitchen counter-tops) will destroy the view from that point on the trail.

I have always loved this bridge and wonder whether it would have to be modified to meet the Federal standards.

The photo above shows a particularly secluded and scenic part of the trail.  It is easy to get to by bike or walking, but is all but virtually inaccessible for someone who requires ADA accommodations.  The trees on the right offer shade in the summer and brilliant foliage in the fall - hopefully the trail width requirements will not necessitate their removal.  During the entire trip I only saw two others on the trail despite it being early afternoon on a sunny Saturday.  When I stopped to ask them their opinions they indicated they have been long time residents of the East Central Neighborhood and support the project.

All of the above photographs depict the essence of this blog post; as users of this public resource we all have different opinions regarding what trail characteristics are important. Naturally there are questions as to whether these attributes can be preserved or even enhanced while making the trail accessible and a valuable part of Spokane non-motorized infrastructure.

Choices and compromises need to be made and the community at large and public officials will need to come together in a partnership and agree to meet for constructive dialogue.  Questions need to be articulated in an organized fashion and clear and honest responses should be communicated through consistent channels.  Otherwise an environment of misinformation, distrust and dysfunction will result and important community voices and priorities will be lost in the process.

The City of Spokane has begun this process with community informational meetings and listing questions and answers about the project at its Frequently Asked Questions website.

Finally, this brings me to another non-motorized paved trail that runs north and south between 57th Ave., and S Myrtle street on Spokane south hill.  The paved trail is bordered by farmland to the east and wetlands on the west.  To the south of it is S Ben Burr Road which is paved and runs through fields, forests and orchards.

I ride the trail and road frequently and see people commuting, walking, riding, running - all enjoying what is around them.  To a person, I never see anyone looking down and cursing the pavement.  Instead they are enjoying conversation with their companions and the accessibility, diversity and scenery both offer with close proximity to neighborhoods throughout the year.

In order to utilize the Federal grant the entire project must be paved and other requirements for safety must be met.  City engineers can apply for variances which may be granted but they will be the exception rather than the rule. 

In conclusion, it comes down to keeping The Ben Burr Trail the way it is and lose connectivity and infrastructure that will benefit the community for years to come or coming together for the greater good and working to make it the best project possible for all concerned.  I was one of the participants that raised my hand in support of the project during the meeting at the East Central Community Center and will work to support it if the City of Spokane decides to move forward.

MOOTS 1,000 Mile Update

I took the opportunity the first Saturday in 2014 to run the MOOTS on a road ride in the sun.  All the rides now are with studded tires on the road or dirt roads until we turn the corner on winter so I can't speak to any new discoveries on riding characteristics..  It was great to be out in the sun today if only for a relatively short ride.  I tend to forget the cold when it is clear and sunny.

Not much new to report from the last update 500 miles ago, I do find that I have to mess with the disc brakes a lot more than I am used to with a road bike.  I like having a really short lever stroke before the pads contact the braking surface and find that I need to adjust the pull every 250 miles or so.

Other than that the performance of the setup remains rock solid. I still am marveling at the versatility of a cross bike and look forward to some more adventure rides in 2014.  One such ride will be to explore the summer roads to the south as they present themselves this year.

 

Stay tuned for more updates as riding opportunities present themselves.

See you out there.

Christmas Day Ride

• Presents opened
• Thank yous all around
• Breakfast/Lunch dishes cleared
• Dinner ready to go in the oven
• Wrapping paper cleaned-up and gift bags collected for next year
• Time for a Christmas ride!
• A dozen near crashes on rutted ice. 
• Two crashes leaving holes in my left hip - oooh, that is going to leave a mark
• Beautiful sunset

And to all a good-night!

Time to Accept That Winter Might be Here

The recent arctic weather served to snap me from my denial that winter may actually be approaching when it comes to the interface between the bike and the road.  The only logical course is to improve the odds of an effective interface by adding some more metal where it counts.

 

 Clearance on the rear is a little tight since these are 35 Schwalbe Winter Marathons. Frame is specified to take a 34 in the rear, but if you are going to this route it is wise to get the longer chain stay option to provide a bit more tire clearance down low.

I think this will be my third season on these tires and they are in great shape.  Hope I get another pair of these moccasins for Christmas this year...

Crappy photos but this one best displays the actual clearance

This setup will be fine unless I break a spoke in the rear - I have seen chain stays where tire rub has started to saw the frame.  If it rubs - time to call the sag wagon.

See you on the road.

Road Trip Report

"On-your-left" -  are the three words a cyclist never wants to hear.  This means another (faster) cyclist is overtaking you and will be dropping you after passing to your left.  My wife even knows these words though she is not a cyclist and apparently should have married a faster one - but I digress.

It has been frigging cold in Spokane this last week as artic air made it down this way from the great white north.  The only folks riding outdoors are fat bikers and other hard core riders.  I made it outside 2 times last week before I cried uncle and headed for the dreaded trainer.  I know some folks who can ride the trainer for 2 and 3 hours at a time, but they also regularly watch soccer so I guess they are used to that level of boredom.  Some, even ride the trainer while watching soccer - which is a cry for help in my opinion.

Mrs. TWT and I had the opportunity to sneak over to Seattle this past Friday to watch our son's HS football team compete in the Tacoma Dome for the 1A State Championship.  This meant rationing  available luggage space so I had room for the Moots in case 24 degrees F felt more ride-able than 6 F.

We arrived about 3:30 pm on Friday and checked-in to the Silver Cloud at University Center on Montlake Ave.  We have stayed here many times and its proximity to dining on the Ave.,  Bellevue, I-5, and the Burke Gilman Trail make it our go-to place when we head that way.  I have not had any miles of consequence since riding the Moots out to 9 mile and back this fall and was hoping it would be warm enough to get some time in the saddle.

I was on the trail by 4 heading north to Woodinville in about 30 degree weather and a cold headwind.  I took-off at tempo pace with the bike in the XC Configuration and it just felt good to be not cold and out on the bike.  I have quite a few miles on this trail as it became my salvation each evening after sitting lectures all day during banking school at UW a few years ago.  I would take my bike over for each of the 3 sessions and enjoy the trail and warm weather every day could get out. 

I knew I would be out after sundown so I had the lights ready to go for as long as I felt like riding. The trail meanders along Lake Washington and provides some great scenery as you approach Kenmore.  The trail was in great shape with the exception of some tree roots bulging in a few spots and appears to have been repaved on some of the sections outside of Kenmore.

I made it to Woodinville just after dark and was about a 1/3 of the way back when I noticed I was casting a shadow in front of me - crud!  I glanced back and saw a REALLY bright light behind me and closing in fast.  About a minute later I heard the dreaded words over my left shoulder - at least it was a male voice so I wasn't getting "chicked" but it was still bad.  I sprinted to catch-up and it turns out the rider commutes daily on his Cervelo` to his job as a project manager in Everett and is a super nice guy.

I wanted to point out that I was riding an XC bike, with XC knobby tires, but my pride made me suffer in silence.  So yeah, I got passed, but nothing was going to detract from enjoying this weekend and getting to ride something different with some great views.  By the end of the weekend, I had logged a solid 5 hours in the saddle over 3 days and watched my son and his team dismantle the other football team 31-13 for the State Championship. As an added bonus, I reached my annual riding goal of 5,000 miles this year on the last ride of the weekend - Boo Yah! 

Looking toward Kenmore



Bridge over Sammamish River. Yes that is de-ice you see on the bridge - a very thoughtful touch.

Sammamish River

Sammamish River

A happy state champion