out there monthly april 2013

THE INLAND NORTHWEST GUIDE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION WWW.OUTTHEREMONTHLY.COM

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News: Regional Food Economy Conference: PG.9Roadtrip: Ski Mount St. Helens: PG.12What’s Your Gear? Betsy Lawrence Fitness Walking: PG.13Everyday Cyclist: Riverside Alley Rats: PG.14Last Page: Pictures of Pedal Power in China: PG.22

A Year’s Worth of Bike Events Starts on 8

RIDESRACES

VOL.9 // NO.8 // APRIL 2013

2 Out there MOnthly / April 2013

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p.5 / From the editor

Don’t Wake Me Up

By Jon Snyder

p.6 / photo oF the month

By Charlie Abrahamson

p.8 / out there news

Regional Food Economy

Conference, Teluride Mountain Film

Fest

p.11 / health & Fitness

Bacteria Ain’t All Bad

By Dr. Bob Lutz

p.12 /roadtrip

Skiing Mt. St. Helens

By Peter G. Williams

p.13 / what’s Your Gear?

Betsy Lawrence: Fitness Walking

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

p.14 / everYdaY cYclist

The Riverside Alley Rats

By Hank Greer

p.15 / cool stuFF theY sent us

Keen Water Sandals and Sneakers,

Cool Off Towelettes, Washington

Wild Roads

By Jon Snyder

p.16 / april inland

nw outdoor calendar &

6 month traininG calendar

p.18 / rides and races

A year’s worth of Bike Events

By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree

p.22 / last paGe

Pictures of Pedal Power In China

By Bradley Bleck

In�This�Is�s�ue

On the cOver: Overhead shot of the

2012 Ronde van Palouse road race. // Photo by

Chad A. Nelson.

www.OuttheremOnthly.cOm

Out there mOnthly / APrIl 2013

PublIsher And edItOr-In-chIefJon Snyder

[email protected]

Art dIrectOrKaitlin Snyder

heAlth & fItness edItOrDr. Bob Lutz

senIOr wrItersJon Jonckers, Derrick Knowles, Amy Silbernagel

McCaffree

cOntrIbutIng wrIters: Bradley Bleck, Hank Greer, Erin Muat, Peter G.

Williams

dIstrIbutIOn cOOrdInAtOrBarbara Snyder

To request issues please call 509 / 534 / 3347

Ad sAlesJon Snyder: 509 / 534 / 3347

Out there mOnthlyMailing Address: PO Box 559

Spokane, WA 99210www.outtheremonthly.com, 509 / 534 / 3347

Out There Monthly is published once a month by Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. No part of this publication may be reproduced without

written consent of the publisher.

©Copyright 2013 Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly. The views expressed in this magazine reflect

those of the writers and advertisers and not neces-sarily Snyderco DBA/Out There Monthly.

Disclaimer: many of the activities depicted in this magazine carry a significant risk of

personal injury or death. Rock climbing, river rafting, snow sports, kayaking, cycling, canoeing

and backcountry activities are inherently dangerous. The owners and contributors to

Out There Monthly do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they

are experts or seek qualified professional instruction and/or guidance, and are knowledgeable

about the risks, and are personally willing to assume all responsibility associated with

those risks.

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From�theEditor: DON’t wAke me uPEvErybody nEEds a fantasy that gets them up out of bed every morning. Here’s mine: a 100+ miles regional non-motorized trail system cen-tered in Spokane.

In my fantasy-world this system is the envy of every mid-sized city in America. It includes both the completion of major urban projects like the U-District Bike/Ped Bridge, the Mission Street Centennial Trail Gap, as well as rural projects like the Fish Lake Trail bridges and the westside Centennial Trail extension. It includes experiment-ing with new strategies such as Greenways on resi-dential streets and using tried and true methods like volunteer trail-building in conservation areas. It

includes regular expansion and maintenance for our “interstate” spine, the Centennial Trail. It includes trails that are multi-use and also exclusive to activi-ties such as horseback riding, cycling, or hiking.

In my dreams there would be major collaboration between users’ groups, government parks systems, private businesses, landowners, and non-profit organizations who would set aside their differences to create a master trail system characterized by con-nections, variety, and ease-of-use.

This vision would extend beyond Spokane County to embrace regional trail tourism by mak-ing connections with trails such at the Columbia Plateau Trail, the John Wayne Trail, The Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes and the Kettle Crest Trail. Trails

would connect to camping and fishing opportuni-ties that could be taken advantage of without a car. Spokane would become a hub for the “Sub-24 hour overnighter,” or spur-of-the moment bike camping.

My fantasy regional trail system would attract tourists, and larger events to facilities with few equal in proximity to a nice mid-size city. A trail-rich culture would put a high value on trails and full-time maintenance crews could be employed, consultants would help parse easement proposals, volunteers would work to improve the system, and local governments would recognize trail investment as a terrific economic development strategy.

The benefits of this trail system would be widely understood: regionally notoriety, improved tourism,

new tools to fight obesity and diabetes, assistance for aging in place, higher property values, more jobs and a deeper community connection to our natural environment.

I know: sounds crazy. But the crazy thing is we are half-way there already. We have plans. We could build out our entire regional tail system for less than a mile of freeway or a couple miles of road. With the right vision and political will anything is possible. Gotta get back to my fantasizing. //-------------------------------------------------------Jon snydEr, [email protected]. The dream starts here: http://www.inlandnorthwesttrails.org/

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April Showersdinner & auction

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Saturday, April 13th5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

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Mar. 2-3 Winter Mountain & Music Festival

Mar. 9 KPND Retro Ski & Board Party

Mar. 16 Hawaiian Daze Slush Cup/Ski Patrol Benefit sponsored by Kona Brewing

Mar. 23 Bavarian Race (Must be 21) Public Team Downhill Race

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Riverside State Park • Seven Mile Airstrip*Registration opens at 5 pm • Races start at 6:30 pmEach evening is sponsored by a local bike shop. Each shop has donated great prizes to be given away randomly at the end of ‘their’ evening. FREE cold refreshments will also be provided at the end of each race.

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telluRiDe mOuNtAiN Film FestivAlAt the Bing Crosby theater in April

OutThereNews�

for onE nIgHt only, the Telluride Mountain Film Festival shows the best and most popular mountain films at The Bing in Spokane. This is not a recycled event. These movies are not found online. This is a major film festival with recent, gripping, outdoor adventure films, plus a HUGE raffle featuring lots of gear and trips.

Wednesday, April 10th, the Selway-Bitterroot/Frank Church Foundation is hosting the Telluride Mountain Film Festival for the first time in Spokane. They distilled a weeklong festival in Telluride into a single night to benefit trail main-tenance and wilderness stewardship in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. If you have ever visited hot springs in central Idaho, you have benefited from their work. Considering these two conjoined Wilderness sections make up a land mass greater than TWICE the size of the entire State of Hawaii, it’s easy to see why volun-teering and stewardship play such a large role in this institution.

Admittedly, there isn’t space to list a synop-sis of every single film, but the night definitely includes something for everyone. There’s a fresh climbing film that features world-famous climb-er Lynn Hill. Count on the French for the latest invention in the realm of highlining, speedfly-ing and, err, line jumping? Whatever you call

this cross between highlining, bungee jumping and BASE jumping that filmmaker Seb Montaz-Rosset highlights in this teaser of I Believe I Can Fly. Climber Alan Gordon has been exploring the Alaskan Mendenhall Glacier for years, watch-ing as old features melt away and new ones are revealed, and now he’s determined to document its stunning but fleeting scenery before it disap-pears forever. There seems to be no end to what Danny MacAskill can do on a trials bike, whether it’s on the streets of Scotland, or in an abandoned industrial train yard.

The highlight of the evening includes a movie by Norwegian speed-skating legend Johann Olav Koss. He takes everyone on a journey they never expected. He uses the same singular determina-tion and focus that took him to the top of his sport to make a difference in the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable and victimized children.

Tickets purchased through the SBFC website on April 1st or later will be held at Will Call at the Bing Crosby Box Office and can be picked up on the day of the show. //

for more information, visit http://www.selway-

bitterroot.org/mountainfilm/


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as tHE fIrst of Its kInd in Spokane, the upcoming Power of Our Regional Food Economy: 2013 Conference will allow citizens, professionals and business owners alike to discuss the local and national food commerce and specific changes needed to improve the food economy.

According to the Food Access Coalition website, “It is time to combine public and private interests to strengthen Spokane’s regional food system together.”

The conference outlined four future objectives to be commenced and catalyzed during this day-long collaboration: the foundations for a food action plan, the creation of a local urban farm ordinance, the increase of membership in existing organizations to build capacity and the formation of a food policy council.

Other organizers such as Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart had more specific ideas in mind for the conference. “I would love for our community to set a goal that by 2020, 10% of all food eaten locally is local,” says Stuckart.

Spokane already spends approximately 540 mil-lion dollars annually on food purchasing, accord-ing to Ken Meter. Of that sum 510 million leaves the local economy, so 10% of that money staying in Spokane will have a “huge impact” says Sun People Dry Goods owner Juliet Sinesterra.

According to Sinesterra and Healthy Communities Specialist Natalie Tauzin from the Spokane Regional Health District, the importance of the food economy conference stems from its potential to improve physical health, create jobs and boost economic efficiency.

“More and more across the country, people are seeing local food as more than just a great way to support local farmers, but also a way to grow the local economy and create jobs. That’s sort of a new approach as to why we’re putting this conference together, to really connect the dots around those issues,” says Sinesterra.

“The more we can be eating whole foods either grown or raised in our area, the healthier the food is, it’s fresher. There are all sorts of health benefits, especially if we have more land in production,” says Tauzin.

Furthermore, this conference seeks to mend the wrongs and setbacks of Spokane’s food economy. For example, according to Tauzin, farmers face the difficulty of earning enough to support themselves. In addition, the average age of farmers is 57 years old.

“There’s a concern this land will go away with this generation,” says Tauzin.

This conference could then disseminate and gather ideas to and from the public on how to make local farming more profitable and how to encourage a younger populous to go into the farm-ing industry.

The ones who face such obstacles within the system are not only farmers, but business owners as well.

Entrepreneurial Spokanites looking to preserve, can or process homemade products on a larger scale have only two options: take the two-hour commute to Bonner County, which has a great commercial kitchen/processing facility or use commercial kitchens in area churches. “There’s nothing on an organized level,” says Sinesterra.

Especially for the abundant fruits and vegetables

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CONFeReNCe lOOks At whAt we eAtthe Power of Our Regional Food economy By erin muat

“more and more across the country, people are see-ing local food as more than just a great way to support

local farmers, but also a way to grow the local economy

and create jobs.

gathered during harvest time, flash freezing to pre-serve nutrients is essential in preventing the waste of unconsumed products. No facility to flash freeze on a large scale currently exists in Spokane.

Many successes have defined the local food economy in Spokane as well. Organizers hope to expand and develop these for the entire city. In 2011, West Central’s active neighborhood council established a healthy corner store with the help of Spokane Regional Health District in this US Dept. of Agriculture designated “food desert.”

Initially there were no large grocery stores within a mile of this low-income neighborhood, but now two healthy corner stores have sprung up, one containing fresh produce from regional farmers (Bong’s Grocery and Deli) and one not selling alco-hol or cigarettes (Parkside Grocery and Meat). This has helped encourage healthier lifestyles.

The conference also looks to fix little glitches in West Central and other low-income neighbor-hoods’ healthy food programs. Organizers and council members are trying to find viable ways of

lowering fresh produce expenses.“It’s a problem of scale,” says Tauzin, “If you

work with produce, highly perishable, unless you are able to sell a lot of it, you need to buy small quantities, which drives up the price. If you’re from a low-income neighborhood, it’s mismatched.”

Partitioned into four segments, the conference will start with a speech by nationally-renowned economist and Crossroads Resource Center presi-dent Ken Meter. Following will be a panel with a larger audience narrowing down national issues to a Spokane level. The three breakout sessions in the afternoon will consist of much smaller groups to promote interaction.

At the end the groups will converge to discuss and share information about their respective ses-sions.

A breakfast featuring goods from local bak-eries containing as much local grain as possible will be offered during the morning period. In the afternoon Gonzaga’s Sodexo will serve regionally sourced lunch to attendees. //

the food economy conference will take place

on April 19 from 8am to 4pm at spokane’s

university district, Phase One bldg, 668 n.

riverpoint blvd. tickets cost $35 (lunch and park-

ing included). Please visit http://www.realfood-

spokane.org/food-economy-conference for more

information and registration.

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a fEw montHs baCk, we looked at CA-MRSA, a “superbug” that’s become a scourge in the past few years. Recently, another of these resistant alphabet-soup bacteria hit the news, CRE that’s been deadly in some cases. Combined with Clostridium difficile infections, these bacterial illnesses reflect a nexus that’s arisen because of the overuse/misuse of antibiotics. The intro-duction of these drugs, beginning with penicil-lin in the 1940s, has been recognized as one of the leading public health achievements of the last century (http://www.whatispublichealth.org/impact/achievements.html). The average life expectancy of an infant born before 1930 was sixty years; it’s now seventy-nine. While this increase is not solely due to antibiotics, as other public health improvements, such as cleaner water and improved nutritional standards have also contributed, the control of bacterial infec-tious diseases has played a major role. That said, too much of a good thing’s not always better. Efforts to eradicate harmful bacteria have taken their toll on the good bacteria that make up the human “microbiome,” a community that’s com-posed of tens of thousands of different bacterial species constituting almost three pounds of an adult’s weight and outnumbering our own cells ten-to-one. And while causation hasn’t yet been determined, the existing association, or correla-tion, between a number of chronic diseases, such

Healthan�dFitn�es�s�BACteRiA AiN’t All BADsupport Your microbiome / By Dr. Bob lutz

as asthma, diabetes, and obesity, has provided good fodder for researchers.

Our microbiomes come to us at birth—the vagi-nal canal has more than two-thousand bacterial species. That said, almost one-third of births in the US occur by C-section, and these infants have been found to have higher rates of allergies and asthma (correlation, not causation). Bacteria are found everywhere – the mouth has eight-thousand species alone, while the gut wins with an estimated thirty-three thousand different species! And while our cultural “germaphobia” that’s come to us from medicine and the pharmaceutical industry has led us to believe all bacteria are bad, the reality is that we can’t live without them, as they’re essential for our survival, contributing to such things as diges-tion, vitamin synthesis and priming our immune systems.

Antibiotics and other germicidals have become ubiquitous in our environments and are big busi-ness, with more than forty-three million antibiotic prescriptions written in 2010. For example, more than eighty percent of adults are prescribed anti-biotics for sinus infections that are the majority of times caused by viruses, for which antibiotics are useless. Interestingly, researchers have identi-fied almost nine-hundred strains of bacteria in “infected” sinuses, while more than twelve-hun-dred strains are found in healthy sinus passages, suggesting the missing bacteria are essential for

Our microbiomes come to us at birth—the vaginal canal

has more than two-thousand bacterial species.

this practice to be banned in Canada and Europe. But not in the U.S., where industry usually trumps public health science. “For over thirty years, the (Federal Drug) Agency has been confronted with evidence of the human health risks associated with the widespread sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, and, despite a statu-tory mandate to ensure the safety of animal drugs, the Agency has done shockingly little to address these risks.” So wrote U.S. Magistrate Katz in this March 2012 ruling of a lawsuit brought by public health and environmental advocates.

So what to do? While regulatory efforts address-ing antibiotics in food production is a grindingly slow process under strong industry influence, help yourself by choosing only those animal products identified as antibiotic free (and hormone free). While science still doesn’t know whether human consumption of antibiotic-treated meat increases the likelihood of individual infections, the possible association is enough to consider better choices, and maybe changing consumer demand can influ-ence practice. Closer to home, don’t attempt to unnecessarily sterilize you environments—it’s an effort in futility and may actually cause more harm than good. Antibiotics aren’t the cure-all for every sniffle that comes your way—most of these infec-tions aren’t bacterial anyway. But when appropri-ately prescribed, take them as directed. Consider a probiotic when prescribed antibiotics to help regenerate the good bacteria killed off. Most importantly, accept your personal microbiome—it’s a unique part of who you are and may be a key to good health when it’s treated right. //

a healthy biome and their absence, possibly due to previous antibiotic treatments, may serve to increase the likelihood of infections. Since 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised doctors to practice “watchful waiting” and avoid giving antibiotics to children over the age of two if their ear infections aren’t severe. And yet, a 2010 survey of pediatricians found more than eighty-

five percent prescribed antibiotics anyway. This type of practice contributes to the average child being prescribed 10-20courses of antibiotics by the age of eighteen.

But antibiotics aren’t restricted to humans—eighty percent of these drugs, or an estimated thirty million pounds, are used in food produc-tion each year (contrasted to six million pounds for humans). Drugs are fed to livestock in low, or sub-therapeutic levels, dating to findings more than fifty years ago showing these low doses pro-moted a 3% increase in growth. Evidence support-ing a relationship between this practice and drug resistance (correlation, not causation) has caused

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for an ExHIlaratIng, IntErEstIng, and geologically fascinating adventure, try skiing off the summit of Mount St. Helens. Mount St. Helens offers a large gamut of additional activities, including hiking, cross-country ski-ing, snowshoeing, and, of course, geologic exploration.

The most famous active volcano in the con-tinental United States is located in the Cascade Range 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, and 300 miles southwest of Spokane. It is best known for the catastrophic eruption that occurred on May 18, 1980. This event was the deadliest volcanic eruption in the history of the United States. The massive eruption flattened 230 square miles of forest, killed 57 people, destroyed 250 homes, and reduced the eleva-tion of the mountain’s summit from 9,677 ft. to 8,365 ft.

Mount St. Helens was named for the British diplomat Lord St. Helens, who was a friend of the late 18th century Pacific Northwest explorer George Vancouver. This infamous mountain is located within the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Lord St.

RoadTrips�

ski mOuNtAiNeeRiNg mOuNt st. heleNsTrek Out To The Volcano / By Peter G. Williams

tive that you obtain your permit early.The best time for an ascent is spring to early

summer. Late season climbs are less attractive due to icy slopes and the prevalence of long pumice slopes. Plan on using telemark skis and skins, snowshoes, or kicking steps up more than a mile of snow in various conditions. Climbing is limited to the south side by the U.S. Forest Service. Trail heads for an ascent vary by season, as State Highway 503 is open year round, while Forest Roads 83, 81, and 90 are usually open from Memorial Day until snow blocks the road. You have the option to camp at the Climbers Bivouac Trailhead, or at Climbers Bivouac via the Ptarmigan Trail. From there, it is a relatively easy ascent along Monitor Ridge.

The Mount St. Helens Visitors Center at Silver Lake is a great place to learn more about Mount St. Helens. It is managed by Washington State Parks and is located adjacent to Seaquest State Park on State Route 504, five miles east of Interstate 5. The Center offers a wide assortment of information concerning the cultural, historical, and geological significance of Mount St. Helens. In addition, Silver Lake has a nice hiking trail, including boardwalks over wetlands populated by numerous migrating waterfowl.

The U.S. Forest Service operates the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which is located at milepost 52 on State Route 504 five miles north of the Mount St. Helens Summit. The Observatory, which is open seasonally, is located on Johnston Ridge in the center of the 1980 blast zone. The Observatory hosts interpretive displays, along with multiple award-winning films and ranger talks. It also pro-vides great access to a range of hiking trails.

There are a wide variety of hiking options avail-able on all sides of Mount St. Helens. Some can be shorter than an hour, while multi-day camping trips are also available. A wonderful short hike, ideal for young children, is to June Lake on the south side near Marble Mountain Sno-Park. The total round trip is 2.8 miles with 660 feet elevation gain. This short hike allows you to visit beautiful June Lake, with a picturesque waterfall dropping into the lake.

The Loowit Trail is a great way to experience the thousands of years of volcanic history on Mount St. Helens, which are revealed as layer upon layer of mudflows, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows. This 30-mile loop around the mountain is com-monly accessed from the June Lake trailhead. //

wHEn you go:To access Ptarmigan Trail, the primary south

climbing route, drive through the Tri-Cities to I-84 West until you arrive at Hood River. Take exit 64, turn right and cross the Hood River Bridge. Turn left onto Route 14, proceed to Carson, and turn right onto Highway 30. Turn left onto Curly Creek Road, left onto FR 90, and right onto FR 83 to Marble Mountain Sno-Park. Total distance: 360 miles.

if you are interested in climbing on a weekend, it is imperative that you obtain

your permit early.

THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, TAKEN MARCH 8, 2013.. // PHOTO PETER G. WILLIAMS.

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Marathon Relay & 10k

Helens never visited his namesake.Mount St. Helens was originally known by the

Klickitat tribe as Loo-wit-lat-kla, which trans-lates into a fair maiden who was transformed into the mountain. The journal of Lewis and Clark describes Loowit (the anglicized version of the original name) as “immensely high and covered with snow, rising in a kind of a cone.” Early explorers frequently described the volca-nic activity of Mount St. Helens. For example, John C. Fremont wrote on November 13, 1843, “St. Helens has scattered its ashes like a light fall of snow.”

Climbing Mount St. Helens is strictly managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Climbing permits are required above 4,800 feet elevation. Between November 1 and March 31 they are free and you can self-issue one at one of two climbing registers. One is located at the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, WA, and the other is located at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. Between April 1 and October 31 climbing permits must be pur-chased online (http://mshinstitute.org/index.php/climbing/obtain_a_permit) for a cost of $22.00. Between May 15 and October 31 there is a limit to 100 climbers per day on the mountain. If you are interested in climbing on a weekend, it is impera-


plaza and then take the bus home. As soon as it is a bit warmer (I am a fair-weather cyclist), I will bike to work.” Betsy hasn’t always been such a devoted fit-ness walker. “Last year, I had severe degenerative disks in my neck and a herniated disk in my lumbar spine causing sciatic pain. Walking was the only exercise I could do without discomfort, so I started walking two to four miles a day. Through surgery, physical therapy and steroid injections, my pain is under control, but due to that medi-cal crisis, I got hooked on walking. I used to find walking too slow, but by working on distance and speed, it is a challenging workout,” says Betsy, age 53. “I like that I can do it anywhere, in any clothes, and use it for socializing, exercising and commuting. I love to bike, but when I have an errand of just a mile or two, I walk for the weight-bearing benefits. I am inspired by all of the men and women I see who are much older than I and still walking with great energy.” Some of Betsy’s favorite walking routes include parks near her South Hill home, includ-ing Manito, Lincoln, Comstock and Cannon Hill. “More and more, when I have an errand to do or want to spend time with my husband or catch up with a friend, I turn that time into a walk,” she says. “If I have an hour between a class and a meeting, I grab a coworker or two and we walk along the river near Spokane Community College. I take longer, training walks on week-ends with my friend, Grace Leaf. We live near each other and keep a pretty swift pace. We are

What’s�YourGear: Bets�y Lawren�ce (fitn�es�s� walkin�g) By Am�y Silbern�agel McCaffree

If you see a smiling, petite woman in a purple jacket, crossing the street or powering herself up the South Hill, good chance it is Betsy Lawrence. “This year, I decided to make my exercise more organic. Rather than use natural resources to stay fit, I strive to find ways to incorporate fitness into my life,” she says. “I began taking the bus to work a few times a week. After work, I might take the bus to the plaza downtown and then walk the three miles uphill to get home, or maybe walk the four miles from my office to the

Belles and Baskets will again start-up its twice-monthly group rides. For more details, go to www.facebook.com/BellesandBaskets. Betsy is also a member of the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board and the planning committee for Bike to Work Week. “I am a cheerleader for any-one who wants to incorporate alternative trans-portation into his or her life,” she says. “When it comes to trying the bus/bike/walk route, my rallying cry is: ‘If I can do it, anyone can!’” Here is her walking commuter gear list, which she says also works for biking and teaching col-lege English.

------------------------------------------------------sHoEs: Currently wearing Nike LunarGlide 4, but wore Sorel boots for winter slush conditions. For summer, she uses Chaco sandals for biking, walking and water sports.------------------------------------------------------soCks: SmartWool PhD Outdoor Light Micro Socks.------------------------------------------------------Coat: North Face reversible 550 weight down jacket. “You can’t miss me crossing the street, and I am nearly always cold, so I wear it about nine months a year.”------------------------------------------------------ClotHIng: For walking or biking to work in warm weather, Betsy wears capris and tank tops from Title Nine; for cooler months, SmartWool medium-weight tops and Sugoi long pants, or White House/Black Market sweaters and jeans. ------------------------------------------------------bag: Dakine women’s backpack. //

“i like taking the bus and walk-ing or biking through different

neighborhoods—it makes me feel fully connected to my city.”

training for the Windermere half marathon (on May 19), which has given us a fun goal. I don’t listen to anything, but use the free Runkeeper App to record mileage and speed.” What she likes best about her walk/bike/bus commuter lifestyle is “the creative aspect of dis-covering ways to commute without driving,” she says. “I like taking the bus and walking or biking through different neighborhoods—it makes me feel fully connected to my city.” Betsy, who founded the local Belles and

Baskets women’s cycling group in 2009, describes her women’s Trek FX 7.2 as “a perfect commuter bike” for herself. “It is adjusted to sit upright, which is healthy for my back, and it combines the solid feel of a mountain bike with the larger diameter tires of a road bike,” she says. Her bike accessories include a Novara trunk on the back rack, a CygoLite ExpiliOn light, and a bell “that is loud and clear for the Centennial Trail.”

July 20, 2013 Saturday

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somE IdEas takE longEr to bear fruit than others. Cycling groups are like that. I remember my first FBC Fiasco in December 2007. It was a Festivus ride and there were eight of us. We rode from one bar to a market where we bought some beer, which we then took to a garage. After hanging out there for a while we rode to another bar before calling it a night. A year later, the Festivus ride was well attended by riders on bicycles decorated for the occasion, and they were participating in feats of strength and win-ning merchandize donated by local bike shops. FBC Spokane continues to thrive today. In February, I found another cycling group still in its humble beginnings. They call them-selves the Riverside Alley Rats. Benjamin Allen and Levi Guthmiller describe this as a collective project between some Jimmy John’s workers who work at the restaurant and deliver sand-wiches by bicycle. According to Ben, the Alley Rat name is a riff on alley cat, which is a type of race with roots in the bicycle messenger world.

Since Riverside Avenue runs near their work the name Riverside Alley Rats just came together. On this day in February the Riverside Alley Rats put on an event they called Drag Races, an intentional double entendre. Along with short races, participants were encouraged to add to the fun and dress in silly costumes. Ben and Levi both showed up sporting pink dresses. Nobody else dressed up but Ben and Levi were not disap-pointed. They had about 18 people show up. Ben had a stack of spoke cards he’d made to commemorate the event and generously offered one to me. The spoke card included Quick Response codes that link to music videos of songs that loosely relate to cycling and racing. (Ben helpfully suggested what app I should install on my smart phone to read the codes with.) After meeting at the Riverfront Park Rotary Fountain the cyclists cruised over to the Iron Bridge where the friendly competition was to take place. Racers paired up for single elimina-tion heats. Most of the cyclists were on fixed gears, but there were a couple with geared bikes and there was a lone BMX bike with no brakes. In between patiently waiting for pedestrians to clear the bridge, pairs sprinted as fast as they

EverydayCyclis�t

messeNgeR-stYle Bike RACesmeet the Riverside Alley Rats / By hank greer

i watched with envy as these young people seemed to vio-late the laws of physics as

they kept their balance while moving at a snail’s pace.

RIvERSIDE ALLEy RATS. // PHOTO HANK GREER.

Register Here

Spokane River Run is managed and operated by all volunteers. 100% of the funds raised go to youth education and wellness programs.

MCDOUGALL WILL GIVE A READING, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND SIGN BOOKS

Reading - 7:30 p.m.

ALL AGES AND PACES ARE WELCOME TO JOIN

STARTING POINT WILL BE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCC TRACK, WEST ON RIVERTON, ACROSS THE MISSION STREET BRIDGE, AND RETURNING ON THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL ALONG UPRIVER DRIVE

Bloomsday Training Run- 6 p.m.

Spokane Community College - 4 mile loop

www.ewu.edu/getlit

Free and open to the public

Wednesday April 10, 2013 could to the opposite end where Ben was keeping tally. Surprisingly, Asa Benn, riding the brakeless BMX bike, dominated his heats. Not only was he fast but his braking technique was impressive too. He would jam his foot onto the rear tire and skid, filling the air with the smell of burning rubber. In the final race Tanner Montano took the top hon-ors, but had this been a serious event there would have been quite the controversy. Some bystanders got in Asa’s way so he backed off to avoid a situa-tion where someone might get hurt. Since it was all in fun he did not feel slighted. Besides, he and Tanner were pretty tired after going all out three times each. Tanner’s prize was a humorously-impractical-for-a-cyclist, gold-painted 30-pound chain, which is to be passed on to the winner at the next racing event. He politely let Ben keep it.Next up were the slow races. Four and five at a time racers started at a line and crawled forward across two parking slots. The winner is the one who crosses the opposite side of the second park-ing slot last. Coming to a complete stop or touch-ing a foot to the ground results in a disqualifica-tion. I watched with envy as these young people

seemed to violate the laws of physics as they kept their balance while moving at a snail’s pace.Ben and Levi would like to see a variety of cyclists come out for their races. All that’s asked is that you have a good attitude, which seems to be a common trait of cyclists anyway. Their goals for the group are remain humble. A year from now they would be happy if 30 people showed up each time. Future events include just-for-fun rides where the group simply goes someplace together such as taking the Centennial Trail from Spokane to Post Falls and back. Alley cat racing is also in the cards, which should be exciting. Participants all receive a manifest at the same time. They then race to each checkpoint in the order listed on the manifest. They choose their own route to each checkpoint so knowledge of Spokane streets and traffic is a must. At each checkpoint they must obtain some sort of proof they were there, which could be picking up an item, taking a photo, or completing a task. While alley cat racing may be associated with bike messengers and fixed gear bikes, you don’t have to be a messenger or ride a fixie to join in on the fun. Something Ben said struck me. “Thanks for taking us seriously.” How can you not take it seri-ously when people want to have fun on bicycles? You can check out the Riverside Alley Rats at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverside-Alley-Rats/173954932679098. //


at otm wE gEt a Constant stream of new outdoor products in the mail: some mediocre, some very cool. Our “Punish Stuff ” gear col-umn only features gear that we have thoroughly abused—and that takes time. Sometimes we don’t want to wait to tell you about a cool item and that’s why we call this piece “Cool Stuff They Sent Us.” Allow us to suggest these items:

Cool Stuff They Sen�t Us�

Cool off towElEttEsInteresting idea: a disposable towelette infused with “natural cooling herbs, soothing botanicals, and therapeutic essential oils.” Smells really good, but also has a bit of alcohol feel to it. Can’t test if it cools you off yet because it’s still too darn cold outside, but stash one for your next summer trip for quick relief. More info: thequickchill.com.

wasHIngton wIld roads by sEabury blaIrOTM contributor Seabury Blair has wriiten a great book about enjoying the wild parts of wash-ington by car. The best thing about this guide is the wide range of maps, photos and road ratings that help you plan your adventure. And many of these roads lead to off-road hiking and biking opportunities. The guide could use a few more Eastern Washington routes, but that should keep this from taking up residence in your glove com-partment. More info: sasquatchbooks.com.

Season Pass13/14SALE

of the season! Lowest prices

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kEEn Cnx CasCadEWhen I first took this out of the box I thought for sure they had sent me the wrong size. But when I tried them on they fit like a glove. Keen has somehow mangaged to lower the bulk and profile of their new water sandal over any other water sandal I’ve worn before. The styling and color are still 100% Keen but now they are lighter. I love how they feel, but the test will be how they stand up to repeated abuse. Let the abuse begin! More info: keenfootwear.com/blog/?tag=keen-cnx

kEEn madEras laCEHere’s an unusual story: Keen searched every corner of the world to find a few dozen dusty models of a direct vulcanization vintage machine used over 60 years ago. With a lot of elbow grease these machines were repaired and ready to return to work. The result is a shoe made with heat and pres-sure to vulcanize the rubber sole to natural cotton canvas uppers. This means no adhesives. All your left with is natural rubber and natural uppers and linings. Pretty cool. Eco-friendly and comfortable.More info: keenfootwear.com.


CYCLING

(may through August) the inland Road Race series. When: 11 a.m. Where: Inland Northwest. Info: 509.270.8347, http://www.spokanerocket-velo.com/races/inland-road-race-series-general-info

(may) wine, Ride & Dine. When: 4:30 and 6pm. Where: Riverfront Park SkyRide. Enjoy a memo-rable evening tasting local wines, riding the SkyRide over Spokane Falls and eating a delicious dinner from Anthony’s or Clinkerdagger. $55 (wine, SkyRide, dinner and gratuity included). Info: spokaneparks.org or 509.625.6200

(July 6) lilac City twilight Crit. When: 5 p.m. Where: Downtown Spokane. Info: 509.270.8347, http://www.spokanerocketvelo.com/races/lilac-city-twilight-crit

RUNNING

(may 11) liberty lake trail run. When: 9:00 am. Where: Liberty Lake regional park. 8 mile trail run, beautiful course, great food and challeng-ing! www.trailmaniacs.com Info: 208-457-2726, www.trailmaniacs.com

(may 18) wilbur “wild goose Chase” 3k Run. When: 8:00am. Info: http://www.visitlincoln-countywashington.com/

(may 25) Creston “Butte or Bust”. 3.2mi and 6.2 mi. Run at 9:00am. Info: http://www.visitlincoln-countywashington.com/

(June 1) Reardan “mule Chase”. 5K and 10K. Run at 8:00am. Info: http://www.visitlincoln-countywashington.com/

(June 1) Red Devil Challenge, Cashmere, wash. Info: http://www.runwenatchee.com/

(June 1) mountan goats Challenge. When: 8am. Where: Chase Middle School. 10K of heart pounding agony! A Â± 660 foot elevation gain. Info: 509-869-0189 www.mountaingoatchal-lenge.com

(June 2) teen Closet 50 mile Relay. When: 6:00 AM. Where: Starts at Mt Spokane High School. 50 Mile Relay Race that starts, finishes and tran-sitions through every Spokane High School. Info: 509-993-5471, [email protected]

(July 6) Negative split spokane-half marathon and 5k Runs. When: 8:00am. Where: Spokane Riverfront Park. Enjoy this flat, fast half mara-thon and 5km run course. Info: [email protected], nsplit.com

(July 6) 4th of July 25k. When: 9:00 am. Where: 4th of July Pass Idaho. 25K and 5 mile trail run. This course is classified as moderate. If you’re new to trail running this is just for you! Info:

208-457-2726; www.trailmaniacs.com

(July, 16, 23, 30) u*District Foundation summer series Fun Run. When: 5:30pm. Where: 730 N Hamilton. Our annual fun run 5K series will take place the last three Tuesdays in July. Info: 509-458-7686, http://www.udistrictpt.com/foun-dation/programs/

(July 20) Davenport “Pioneer Plod” 5k and 10 k. Run at 8:00am. Info: http://www.visitlincoln-countywashington.com/

(July 20) schweitzer mountain trail Run, schweitzer mountain Resort. Info: www.smtrail-run.com

(Aug 4) Chewelah Peak trail Run. When: 10am Where: 49 degrees North.10M and 3.5M. Info: cptrailrun.com //

(August 16-17) spokane to sandpoint Run/walk Relay Race. When: start 7:00 a.m. Aug. 16. Where: start Top of Mt Spokane Fun overnight run/walk relay with teams. Info: 541-350-4635, www.spokanetosandpoint.com

(August 31) seven Bays “the seven k at seven Bays” 7k. Run at 8:00am. Info: http://www.vis-itlincolncountywashington.com/

(sept 21) 2013-Odessa “Deutschesfest Fun Run” 5k and 10k. Run at 8:30. Info: http://www.vis-itlincolncountywashington.com/

(september 21)River Run half-marathon, 10k, 5k, wenatchee, wash. Info: http://www.run-wenatchee.com/

(November 28) turkey on the Run, wenatchee, wash. Info: http://www.runwenatchee.com/

(sept 28) Almira Country Fair “ACFun Run” 5k. Run at 8:30. Info: http://www.visitlincolncounty-washington.com/

MARATHONS

(may 11) sunflower Relay and trail marathon. Info: mvsta.com

(may 19, 2013) windermere marathon, spokane. Info: windermeremarathon.com.

(may 26, 2012) Coeur d’Alene marathon. Info: cdamarathon.com, 509-979-4370.

(september 7) lake Chelan marathon, half-marathon, 10k. Info: http://lakechelanmarathon.com/

TRIATHALON / MULTI-SPORT

(may 18) 33rd Annual troika triathlon. Swim - 1.2 Miles \ Bike - 56 Miles \ Run - 13.1 Miles. Info: troikatriathlon.com //

OutdoorCalen�dar Subm�it your even�t at www.outtherem�on�thly.com�

Please visit www.outtheremonthly.com and click the “submit your event” link. // Events MUST be sent in by the 20th of the month to be listed in the following month’s issue. Please follow the when, where format as seen in the calendar. Ongoing events need to be re-submitted each month.

Have an� Even�t You Would Like to Lis�t? //

siXmonthtraininGcalendarCYCLING

(Ongoing) wOw Cycling spokane. WOW is excited that Spring is here! Check our FaceBook page for upcoming rides and activities! Tailwinds to you! Info: 509-951-6366, wowcycling.com

(Ongoing) Belles and Baskets. Whatever style your cycle, join other Spokane women for no-drop rides, treats, and friendship. Info: 509-951-4090, facebook.com/bellesandbaskets.

(Ongoing) BOmB mountain Bike Rides. When: Varies. Where: Spokane Area. Spokane BOMB (Believers On Mountain Bikes) is a non-denomina-tional Christian group leading rides in the Spokane area April-October. Everyone welcome, helmets required. Info: www.spokanebomb.com

(April - August) Baddlands Cooper Jones twilight series Races. When: Tuesday evenings at 6 PM. Where: Cheney, Spokane, Rathdrum, Liberty Lake, Steptoe Butte. USAC Sanctioned bicycle rac-ing. Info: 509-456-0432, baddlands.org.

(April 13) Ronde van Palouse. When: 11 a.m. Where: Spangle, Wash. Ronde van Palouse is a half road, half gravel, and 200% awesome bicycle race that will crush even the toughest riders. Come get some. Info: 509.270.8347, http://www.spokanerock-etvelo.com/races/ronde-van-palouse

(April 21) komen Race for the Cure. When: 9:00

CLIMBING

(Ongoing) vertical introduction. When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 – 8, Saturdays 4 – 6 PM. Where: Wild Walls 202 W. 2nd Ave. In this class you will learn the fundamentals to climb indoors: fitting the harness, knot tying, and proper belay technique. This class (or previous experience and passing our belay test) is a prerequisite for top roping in our facility. Ages 12+, $35. Info: 509-455-9596.

(Ongoing) introduction to lead Climbing. When: Last two Tuesdays of the Month 4 -6 PM. Where: Wild Walls 202 W. 2nd Ave. For climbers looking to further their climbing ability and increase the options available to them, our lead climbing class will prepare you for the world of sport climbing! With an emphasis on safety, you will learn proper technique for both lead belaying and lead climbing, as well as helpful strategies for efficient sport climb-ing. Experience required, $75. Info: 509-455-9596

(Ongoing mondays & wednesdays) spider monkeys Climbing Club. When: 5 – 7 PM. Where: Wild Walls, 202 W. 2nd Ave. For kids ages 4 – 10 years. Please call ahead. Come climb and meet new friends! Info: 509-455-9596.

(April 4) Discover Rock Climbing. When: 6 - 8 PM. Where: Mt. Gear 2002 N. Division. Everything you need to harness up, tie in and belay with confidence. This class is for those who wish to get into climbing, as well as for parents wishing to get their young ones climbing safely. $20. Info: 509-325-9500.


OutdoorCalen�dar APR 2013OutDOORCAleNDAR

AM. Where:Downtown Spokane. 5k Race through downtown Spokane and Browne’s Addition. Info: 509-993-5471, [email protected]

(April 27) kidical mass. When: 1pm. Where: West Central neighborhood. Fun, safe bike ride especially for kids. Family friendly 2-mile bike ride.Cannon Park. All bikes, trikes, trailers, tandems welcome. Info: [email protected]. www.summer-parkways.com

(April 28) lilac Century & Family Fun Ride. When: 7:00 am until 4:30 pm. Where: SFCC. The 20th Annual Lilac Century & Family Fun Ride. First century ride of the season, with additional ride lengths of 66, 50, 25, and 15 miles. Info: 509- 850-2808, http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id 66977

(may 4) Beacon and legs. When: 10:00 am. Where: Camp Sekani. Round three of the Fat Tire Revolution is rollin’ into Spokane for a piping hot serving of Beacon and Legs. Come and get it! Info: (509) 754-6361, http://rideviciouscycle.com/

HIKING/WALKING

(On-going) wed & sun hobnailer hikes. When: Varies. Where: Varies. Join Hobnailer hiking club for weekly 6-8 mile hikes in the Spokane area. Call 456-0250 for schedule or more information. Info: [email protected]

(April 6) hiking steamboat Rock Banks lake. When: 8am-5pm. Where: Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division. Beautiful 4-mile hike with 1/2 mile of steep trail to 640-acre butte atop Steamboat Rock. Wildflowers, rock formations, lake views and wildlife make this a perfect spring hike. $49–trans-portation included. Info: spokaneparks.org or 509.625.6200.

(April 14) walk ms spokane. When: 10:00 AM. Where: Spokane Falls Community College. Walk MS Spokane. Choice of 2 routes: 2 miles and 5 1//2 miles. Starting at Spokane Falls Community College, Student Union Bldg. #17. Info: (509) 482-2022, http://walkMS.org

(April 20, 21) Dishman hills trail work Parties. When: 8:30 to 3:30. In conjunction with the Dishman Hills Earth Day celebration. Info: wta.org

(April 23) liberty lake trail work Parties. When: 8:30 to 3:30. We will be widening and repairing an existing trail. Info: wta.org

(April 25) trails and Ales. When: 6-8 PM. Where: No Li Brewpub 1003 E. Trent. A Washington State Trails Association social event. Info: http://www.wta.org/events/trails-and-ales-spokane

RUNNING

(Ongoing) Fat Ass trail Runs. When: Varies. Where: Washington/Idaho. We meet 1-2 times per month for a trail run. FAT ASS is the name given to a series of low key runs that are frequented by expe-rienced runners & walkers and characterized by the phrase “No Fees, No Awards, No Aid, No Wimps”. Info: 208-457-2726, facebook.com/TrailManiacs

(April 6) gs Cookie Fun Run. When: 9:00am. Where: Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

Description: 3 mile and 1 mile fun run, cookie treats, awards for age groups and random prizes. Fun for the whole family. $15 before March 30th. Info: 509 327 3803, [email protected]

(April 10) An evening with Christopher mcDougall. When: 6:00pm. Where: Spokane Community College: Lair. Christopher McDougall will be offer-ing a Bloomsday Training run at 6:00pm followed by a Reading Session with Q&A. Info: 509.359.6977, [email protected]

(April 20) 2nd Annual suncrest senders 5k Fun Run. When: 9 am. Where: Lakeside Middle School, 6191 Hwy 291, Nine Mile Falls, WA. Fun 5k or 3k Run or Walk to raise support for Suncrest commu-nity youth missions locally, nationally, and globally. $20 includes t-shirt. Info: 509-474-9848, www.sun-crestsenders.org

(April 21) the spokane River Run. When: 7:45am/8:30am/9:40am/10:15am. Where: Riverside State Park. Single track trail w/some wide paths: 100% dirt trail; Some rocks, roots and mud; No asphalt. Finish next to Spokane River. Info: www.spokaneriverrun.com

(April 28) Chase strides For sNAP. When: 9:00am; packet pick up 8:00am. Where: Mirabeau Meadows on Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley Centennial Trail. Support a GREAT cause and join our 1st EVER 5k and 1k Fun Run/Walk! Info: 509.456.7111, http://www.active.com/running/spokane-valley-wa/chase-strides-for-snap-2013

(may 5) lilac Bloomsday Run, the 36th. Info: www.bloomsdayrun.org

TRIATHALON / MULTI-SPORT

(April 14) Rage in the sage mountain Bike Duathlon. Run 2.5 miles, Bike 10 miles, Run 2.5 miles. Info: 3rrr.org.

EVENTS/MOVIES/MISC…

(monday, wednesday & saturday) spokane table tennis. When: Mon & Fri (7-9:30) Sat (1-4). Where: 8121 N Division. We are Spokane Table Tennis the premier table tennis group in Spokane. We offer free coaching, match play and monthly tournaments. Info: 509-768-1780, www.spokanetabletennis.com

(April 12) spring Open house. When: 5-8pm. Where: Fitness Fanatics 12425 E Trent. Vendor Sponsored” Spring Kick Off Open House!!! Come celebrate the change of the Seasons with lot’s of giveaways and fun!! Info: 509-922-6080, www.fitfa-natics.com

(may 1) iNlAND emPiRe BACk COuNtRY hORsemeN POkeR RiDe. When: 9 am. Where: Fish Trap Lake about 24 miles west of Spokane. Additional details: 19th annual ride. Family fun, prizes and good, well marked trail. Event supports Leave No Trace Education program and trail mainte-nance projects. Info: Ken Carmichael 509-466-2225, www.iebch.com //

www.northdivision.comfind us on Facebook!

Taking great care of the customer and having fun doing it since 1983.

North Division Bicycle Shop • 10503 N Division • 467-BIKE (2453)

Two great events. One weekend.

April 11-15th-- and come see us at the 2nd Annual Bike swap April 13-14th.

Instant discounts on select bicycles. Check our website for details.


By Amy silbernagel mcCaffree

(every monday, April-August) twilight seRies - BADDlANDs CYCliNg CluB. There’s a road race, time trial, circuit race or criterium every Monday in and around the Spokane/CDA region as part of the Twilight Series, beginning April 9. On-site registration, 4:45 pm to 5:50 pm for all races. Races start at 6:00 pm. One-day licenses available. www.baddlands.org

(April 13-14) sPOkANe Bike swAP. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. $5 admission; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Centennial Trail. www.spokanebikeswap.com

(April 13) RONDe vAN PAlOuse ROAD RACe. 4th annual. 16-mile circuit near Spangle, paved and dirt roads. Puncture resistant tires suggested. Race 34-66 miles (2-3 laps) depending upon category. WSBA number and USA Cycling license both required. One-day licenses available only for Men Cat 5 and Women Cat 4. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(April 20-21) BeeZleY BuRN XC AND liONs shORt tRACk. Kick off event in Ephrata for the Fat Tire Revolution Series. Short track on Saturday; cross-country racing on Sunday. www.rideviciouscycle.com

(April 19-21) tOuR OF wAllA wAllA. Four stage road race, criterium and time trial. USCF 2013 license required to register. www.tofww.org

(April 18-21) NORthwest CRANk. Join the Seattle International Randonneurs for four days of riding around Wenatchee. Each day features several rides. www.northwestcrank.com

(April 28) lilAC CeNtuRY Bike RiDe. Organized by Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary Club. Five tour lengths, from 15 to 100 miles, plus a 15-mile fam-ily ride—all start/finish at Spokane Falls Community College. www.northdivision.com/Lilac%20Century_Home.html

(may 4) BeACON AND legs. Round 3 of the Fat Tire Revolution includes three different lap races, plus free kids race at Spokane’s Camp Sekani. www.ridevicious-cycle.com

(may 8-June 26, wednesdays) weDNesDAY Night mOuNtAiN Bike RACe seRies. 8th annual series at Riverside State Park, Seven-Mile Airstrip. All ages & abilities wel-come. $20/race; $10 for ages 17 and younger. On-site registration opens at 5:00 pm; racing begins at 6:30. Register for the whole series at the first race and get one race entry free. Online registration available this year at www.athletepath.com. Discover Pass required for parking. www.facebook.com/pages/Wednesday-Night-Mountain-Bike-Races

(may 11 & July 27) iNlAND ROAD RACe seRies: liBeRtY ROAD RACes. Two 29-mile loops through the Palouse

in the Spangle area. WSBA number and USA Cycling license both required. Some one-day licenses avail-able. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(may 11) gROuP heAlth iNlAND emPiRe CeNtuRY. Choose from 25 easy miles to routes of 50, 75 or 100 challeng-ing miles through the lower Yakima/Columbia River Valley. www.inlandempirecentury.org

(may 13-17) Bike tO wORk week. Begins with Riverfront Park Kickoff Breakfast, May 13 at 7:00 a.m. Energizer Stations and Ride of Silence (see below) on May 15. Wrap-up celebration on May 17. www.spokanebikes.net

(may 15) RiDe OF sileNCe. Memorial ride to commemo-rate cyclists who have died in traffic. Meet at 6:00 pm at Riverfront Park between the fountain and runner statues (Spokane Falls Blvd/Wall Street). Dedication will precede 7:00 ride start. Wear helmets. www.rideofsilence.org

(may 18-19) tOuR OF the swAN RiveR vAlleY (tOsRv) west. A two-day, 226-mile tour through spectacular western Montana scenery. Starts/ends at University of Montana campus. www.missoulabike.org

(may 25-26) 24-hOuRs ROuND the ClOCk. Spend Memorial Day weekend riding your mountain bike

around and around a 14.7-mile lap of Riverside State Park for 24 hours. Go solo or form a team. www.roundandround.com

(may 25-27) CeNtuRY RiDe OF the CeNtuRies. Three days of supported riding and meals with options each day through Eastern Oregon near Pendleton. Routes range from 52 to 100 miles, with a daily 25-mile “Easy Rider” option. www.cyclependleton.com

(June 1) BAvARiAN Bike AND BRews. Round 5 of the Fat Tire Revolution at Gibbs Organic Farm in Leavenworth. Rigorous 8.6-mile loop with 1800’ ele-vation gain per lap. Music and on-site camping. www.rideviciouscycle.com

(June 1) thRee RiveRs RACe. Despite the name, it’s not a race; it’s a fundraising ride through the Grande Ronde Valley in Eastern Oregon. Choose 55, 75 or 100 miles. Includes 5k, 10k or half-marathon routes for runners and walkers. www.3riversrace.com

(June 1) APPle CeNtuRY Bike RiDe. 25, 50 or 100-mile routes that start and finish at Walla Walla Point Park located along Wenatchee’s Apple Capital Loop Trail. The 50-mile riders turn around at Leavenworth, while the century riders continue to Lake Wenatchee. www.applebikeride.com

Birds chirping and magnolia trees readying to bloom means it is definitely time to get out there on your bike. Here’s a list of rides for pedaling on roads and trails around the Inland Northwest.

RIDES RACES: A YeAr’s WortH of BIke eveNts


(June 9) RiveRBeND CRit (iNlAND ROAD RACe seRies). Semi-flat, 1.13-mile crit course in Riverbend Commerce Park, Post Falls. WSBA number and USA Cycling license required; one-day licenses available. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(June 13-19) CYCle the DiviDe mONtANA. Six days and 252 miles of fully-supported touring through some of Montana’s best scenery, starting in Whitefish. Camping and catered meals. www.adventurecy-cling.org

(June 15) lOReeN milleR Bike RiDe. 20th annual 3-mile family ride (or walk/run options), plus 12, 25, 50 and 100-mile routes. www.cancerpatientcare.org

(June 15) ANN weAtheRill CYCliNg ClAssiC. 30, 60 and 100-mile options around Walla Walla. www.wheatlandwheelers.com

(June 15) i mADe the gRADe. Starting at Chief Timothy State Park on Hwy 12 west of Clarkston, climb 18 miles and 2000’ up the Lewiston Hill along the Old Spiral Highway to the scenic vista. www.prideofclarkston.com/#!__i-made-the-grade

(June 17-21) Bike week – PORtlAND. A BikeFirst! 5-day program using “iCan Shine™” specialized training and equipment to teach people with dis-abilities (ages 8+) how to ride a bike. www.bike-firstlttw.com

(July 10, 17, 24, 31) weDNesDAY Night RiDe (wNR) seRies. Farragut State Park, Athol, ID. Non-competitive individual and group mountain bike time trials, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, on a marked course of 10-13 miles. Free kids’ ride, 2-3 miles, at 6:00 pm. Post-race BBQ and raffle each week. On-site and online pre-registration; $20/race. www.allaboutad-ventures.com

(July 17-21) ReDsPOke. Fully supported, 5-day, 300-mile recreational touring ride from Redmond to Spokane. www.redspoke.org

(June 19) sPOkANe summeR PARkwAYs. 6:00-9:00 p.m. Comstock/Manito neighborhood. www.sum-merparkways.com

(June 22-29) CYCle the gORge. Six days and 350 miles of fully-supported touring, starting in Gresham, Oregon. Camping and catered meals. www.adven-turecycling.org

(June 21) RiDe the wAll. 16th annual non-compet-itive evening ride of 13 miles along the CCC-Wall Ridge route, winding along and above the Coeur d’Alene River. Starts/ends at the Enaville Resort, aka Snake Pit. www.svfch.org/bike_event.htm

(June 22) lAke ChelAN CeNtuRY ChAlleNge. Three loops, between 30 and 40 miles with 2500’+ of climbing each loop. www.chelancenturychallenge.com

(June 29) whitwORth CRit (iNlAND ROAD RACe seRies). Fast and slightly technical 0.9-mile crit course through Whitworth University’s campus. WSBA number and USA Cycling license required; one-day licenses available. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(July 4-7) NORthwest tANDem RAllY. Bellingham/Whatcom County. www.nwtr.org/2013

(July 6) lilAC CitY twilight CRiteRium. 40-50 min-utes of all-out racing around a .8-mile course on downtown Spokane streets, 5:00-9:00 pm. WSBA number and USA Cycling license required; one-day licenses available. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(July 13) ONe heleNA ONe huNDReD. Retrace the steps of Lewis & Clark with a fully-supported metric or full century ride. www.helenabicycleclub.com

(July 20) ChAFe 150 Bike RiDe. A Gran Fondo timed event that starts and finishes in Sandpoint. Also the first leg of the TriSandpoint, a three-event triathlon that combines the CHAFE with the Long Bridge Swim in August and Scenic Half Marathon in September. www.chafe150.org

(July 20) JeDeRmANN gRAN FONDO. 2nd annual. Non-competitive, timed rides for 112-mile and 66-mile routes on rural roads. Non-timed 30-mile route option. Start/finish in Cheney, plus cycling festival. Pancake breakfast before the ride; BBQ afterwards. www.emdesports.com

(July 20-27) mONtANA BiCYCle RiDe. 440 miles and over 21,000’ total elevation gain. Fully supported riding and camping; starts/ends in Missoula. www.bicycleridesnw.org

(July 21) RiDe the PAss. 3rd annual. Choose from 10, 17, 35 or 50-mile road biking routes (timed), or a non-timed 10 or 17-miler. Start/finish at 4th of July Nordic Ski Trailhead parking area. This year also includes marked 50, 35, 17 and 10-mile mountain bike rides. www.bicycleservice.com/4thJuly.html

(July 28) wAshiNgtON stAte seNiOR gAmes. For men and women 50 years and older. Includes two cycling time trials (5k and 10k) and a 44k road race. www.pugetsoundgames.com

(August 3-4) DOuBle DiviDe RiDe. Cross the Great Divide, twice! Starts/ends in Helena, MT; 75 miles on day one & 54 miles on day two. www.helenabi-cycleclub.com

(August 3) 8 lAkes leg AChes. Choose from a 15, 30, 45 or 75-mile route enjoying scenery of West Spokane, Cheney and Medical Lake. www.lcsnw.org/events.html

(August 3) sPOkANe miDNight CeNtuRY. No registra-tion, no swag, no support and no host, but lots of dirt roads. Riders must have lights, water, food and appropriate bike. Leave The Elk at 11:59 p.m. www.midnightcentury.com

(August 3-5) COuRAge ClAssiC. 173 miles over three days and three mountain passes; fully supported. Start at Snoqualmie Ridge near North Bend; finish at Skykomish. www.multicare.org/home/courage-classic

(August 3-10) RiDe AROuND wAshiNgtON (RAw). 15th anniversary edition, “Pines to Vines”—seven-day ride and camping tour with new starting location at Curlew Lake State Park. www.shop.cascade.org/content/events/ride-around-washington

(August 3-10) ORegON BiCYCle RiDe. 500 miles and over 29,000’ elevation gain. Fully-supported riding and camping itinerary. www.bicycleridesnw.org

(August 10) DeeR PARk time tRiAl (iNlAND ROAD RACe seRies). Individual time trial; details TBA. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(August 17) tOuR De leNtil. 50km or 100km ride beginning in Pullman, through Colfax to Palouse, passes Kamiak Butte, and heads back to Pullman. www.lentilfest.com/activities/100k-bike-ride

(August 18) west PlAiNs wuNDeRwOmAN (OlYmPiC AND sPRiNt) tRiAthlONs. www.emdesports.com

(August 25) mOuNt sPOkANe hill ClimB (iNlAND ROAD RACe seRies). Begins at Mitcham’s Barn. 10 miles climbing 3500 feet at inclines from 5 to 15 percent. Finish at the summit. BBQ afterwards. One-day licenses available. www.spokanerocketvelo.com

(september 8) sPOkeFest. Choose from one-mile fam-ily ride through Riverfront Park, 9-mile Spokane Falls (think Bloomsday) route, 21-miles through

rondE van PalousE road raCE >> aPrIl 13“The appeal of this race is that it’s disgustingly awful, miserable, and it makes you question why you’re doing it. Yet, when you finish it, you think: this is the most fun I’ve had on my bike in a long time,” says Spokane Rocket Velo President and Race Organizer Alan Jacob.

Now in its fourth year, Ronde van Palouse is known for its bumpy gravel roads and windy weather. “All the race tactics you planned are blown to smithereens in the first two miles,” says Alan. “With other races, you know how it’s going to play out—you know the route, the other riders. But with the Ronde van Palouse, it’s you versus the course, versus the other riders. The course itself is a separate opponent.”

But with only a $25 entry fee, it’s a great “bang for the buck—you get a T-shirt and a race unlike anything else, with a post-race party for every-body,” he says. “It’s great way to spend an awful Saturday.”----------------------------------------------------wEdnEsday nIgHt mountaIn bIkE raCE sErIEs >> may 8-JunE 26“It’s as much about pedaling your bike around Riverside State Park and sharing your stories about the race and drinking beer together,” says Race Organizer Eric Ewing of Milliseconds Timing.

Local sponsors include the Flying Goat and No-Li Brewing, who donates a barrel of beer each week. And yes, there is indeed free cold beer at the finish line—and root beer for the under-21 crowd. A different local bike shop also sponsors each night of the series, providing swag prizes and random drawings.

“The main focus of our series is ‘simplicity.’ We don’t have age groups or categories—but we sort of do,” says Eric. “You come out and choose to do one lap or two laps. We have an 18-and-under category, and we separate men and women—and we do have a 40-and-over masters category.”

Eric and his race co-organizer Gino Lisiecki teamed up with Athletepat.com to organize this year’s race series. This partnership will provide an online registration option, race results sent via text or email (within seconds of crossing the finish), and social media networking for participants.

Each Wednesday evening will feature a differ-ent lap-course of about 8-9 miles. “It’s a great way to learn Riverside State Park—there are forty-plus miles of trails. Unless you’re part of one of these events, you can easily get lost out there,” says Eric.

“We have pros who come out and hammer the courses, and then others who have hardly ever raced a mountain bike before…There is nothing that’s super-technical. There are some long, uphill grinds, some sketchy downhill stretches that are easily walkable, if desired—everything is really easy.”

A mid-season party, after the fifth race, will take place at the Flying Goat, and the end-of-season party will be at No-Li Brewhouse—both also sponsored by local bike shops.----------------------------------------------------lIlaC CIty twIlIgHt CrItErIum >> July 6“If people have never seen a bike race before, this is a great introduction,” says Alan Jacob, president for Spokane Rocket Velo—the local cycling club that organizes this event. “Riders

are passing by every two minutes at speeds of 35 to 40 miles an hour. The physics of criterium bike racing are phenomenal.”

Now in its second year, the Twilight Crit was scheduled earlier in the race calendar to draw more riders and to take advantage of more day-light for race set-up logistics.

Imagine this scene: A group of about 35 cyclists bumping hips and shoulders as they race in tight formation around corners on downtown Spokane streets at night, while spectators cheer curbside–safe behind hay bales and often while seated at restaurant al fresco dining tables.

“It’s insane that grown men and women will put themselves in this type of danger—this is not a safe way to ride a bike, but it’s so exhilarating. Every time I race a crit, I ask myself why I’m doing it,” Alan says. “It’s a combo of sportsmanship and cut-throat competitiveness. All the racers are trying to survive but also trying to win. At the end, you feel like a gladiator—you’ve survived!”

Best way to watch the race, Alan says, is “with a cow bell in one hand and a beer in the other.” Hang out at a restaurant, cheer on the racers and feel the rushing wind as they pass. Last year, there were 128 racers. This year, Alan hopes for 150 or even 175.

“It literally changes the landscape of downtown. It’s great to see a different side of Spokane…a dif-ferent cultural experience,” he says.

Starting line is located at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Washington Ave. A free kids race for 9-and-younger riders begins at 6:40 pm, and a free Citizens Ragtag Rally at 7:40 is for anyone—both require adult-signed waiver, available at on-site registration.

Street closures at 4:00 pm, and racing begins at 5:00—a must-see event!----------------------------------------------------sPokanE mIdnIgHt CEntury >> august 3“I’ve been aware of the ride for a number of years but once my brother decided he wanted to do it, sibling rivalry kicked in. We had a great ride,” says Hank Greer, OTM “Everyday Cyclist” columnist, who completed his first Midnight Century last summer.

Last year’s finisher times ranged from five hours and 15 minutes to nearly 12 hours. Some riders did not finish. Having a middle-of-the-night bail-out plan is a good idea.

Hank’s advice for Midnight Century rookies: “Get a good light. There are some spots where the darkness seems to absorb all the photons. It’s a long time to spend in the saddle so train for the ride. Bring snacks and drinks. Don’t be shy about urinating along the roadside, and hopefully you’re not bothered by the sight of other riders doing the same. The washboards will take you on a serious paint shaker ride—relax! It’s not a race so have fun. Riding with a friend makes it more fun. Don’t worry about the coyotes that sound like they’re trying to surround you, but to be safe make sure you’re faster than your friend.”

OTM wants to remind you: this race is 100 percent unsupported and un-hosted. Ride at your own risk. Finishers earn bragging rights for life.

Hank plans to ride it again this summer, and be better prepared with his “camera ready for those fleeting photo moments,” he says. “There was one point where the riders ahead of me were beauti-fully silhouetted by the rising sun. I admired it and missed a great photo.” //

MAY We suggest...


Riverside State Park, or 47-mile Four Mounds route. www.spokefest.org.

(september 8) high PAss ChAlleNge. 7500 feet over 114 miles, includes the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Start/finish in Packwood. www.cascade.org

(september 8-13) PeOPle’s COAst ClAssiC. Ride the Oregon Coast—choose the 6-day Classic, 2-day North Coast Ride, or 4-day Central-South Coast Ride. Gear transport, food and camping provided. Must fundraise for the Arthritis Foundation. www.thepeoplescoastclassic.org

(september 14-16) hOt sPRiNg eXPRess. Ride from Seattle to Harrison Hot Springs north of Vancouver, B.C. www.redmondcyclingclub.org

(september 15 & 29) gROuP heAlth kiDs Bike RACe seRies. Free to all kids 12 and under! Sept. 15 @ Shadle Park; Sept. 29 @ Mirabeau Park. Includes Wheel Sport/Specialized bike raffle, bike rodeo, face painting & pizza. www.emdesports.com

(september 16-21) wACANiD. Six days and 350 miles around the International Selkirk Loop through Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. Starts in Sandpoint with two routes going in opposite direc-tions. Fully supported. www.wacanid.org

(sept 21) tOuR De BlAst. Ride 33, 54, or 82-miles through the heart of the Mount St. Helens blast zone. Long route offers 6,200 feet of climbing with a 9-mile climb and descent! www.tourdeblast.com

(sept 28) hOOD RiveR gRAN FONDO. 30, 70, and 100 routes. Hood River Hops Fest at the finish. www.echelongranfondo.org

(October 5) elleNsBuRg mANAstAsh metRiC CeNtuRY.

Returns after canceling last year due to wildfire smoke. Metric half-century option. Ride from Ellensburg to Cle Elum and back along the Yakima River. www.drier-ride.org

(October-November) iNlAND Nw CYCleCROss seRies. First race will take place the first weekend in October. Specific dates/locations TBA. Format same as last year. www.emdesports.com

(December 7-8) wAshiNgtON stAte CYClOCROss stAte ChAmPiONshiPs. Hosted by Emde Sports in Spokane. Details TBA. www.emdesports.com

recurrinG rides

(Ongoing) sPOkANe BiCYCle CluB. Regular rides of vary-ing lengths and intensity. Non-members and new members welcome. See “Club Ride Schedule” at www.spokanebicycleclub.wildapricot.org.

(First sunday of every month) elk DRug DROPOuts viNtAge Bike RiDes. Meet at The Elk Public House in Browne’s Addition at 3:00 pm. Start riding by 3:30, and pedal to No-Li Brewhouse restaurant—arriving by 4:00. Restaurant/pub is kid-friendly and offers indoor bike parking. No event website, but Josh Scott from Time Bomb is the organizer.

(weekly, April-October) sPOkANe BOmB (Believers On mountain Bikes). Mountain bike “no drop” group rides 1-2 times a week beginning in April. Locations vary. www.spokanebomb.com

(monthly) FBC sPOkANe Full mOON FiAsCO. Check web-site for meeting place of the month (usually it’s The Swamp) and dates/times. www.fbcspokane.blogspot.com

BmX racinG

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(march 30 thru November 2) CheRRY hill BmX - sAtuRDAYs. Races every Saturday in Coeur d’Alene. Register 10:00-11:00 am. www.cherryhillbmx.org

(April 6 thru October 26) JOe AlBi BmX – sAtuRDAYs. The 2013 race season begins April 6th (weather permit-ting) at the BMX track at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex. Ages 2+. Register 6:00-7:00 pm; $10 fee for single points race. First race free for new riders. www.facebook.com/SPOKANE.BMX, www.usabmx.com

(June 11 thru August 22) CheRRY hill BmX - tuesDAYs. Races every Tuesday evening in Coeur d’Alene. Register 5:30-6:30 pm. www.cherryhillbmx.org

(June 13 thru August 29) JOe AlBi BmX – thuRsDAYs. BMX track at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex. Register 6:00-7:00 pm. www.facebook.com/SPOKANE.BMX

sold out this year—put on your calendar for 2014

(may 11-12) sCeNiC tOuR OF the kOOteNAi RiveR (stOkR).

(June 29) RiDe AROuND the PiONeeRs iN ONe DAY (RAtPOD).

(July 13-14) gROuP heAlth seAttle tO PORtlAND (stP) BiCYCle ClAssiC.

(July 14) vAlleY giRl tRiAthlON. Women’s Only Sprint Distance. www.valleygirltri.com

(July 25) RiDe AROuND mt RAiNieR iN ONe DAY (RAmROD) lottery closed march 27.

(August 17-18) Ride from seattle to vancouver (BC) and Party (RsvP #2). //


13-19 MAY Featuring

Bike to Work Weekregister today

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SPOKANEBIKE MONTHMAY is


This past summer I taught English for faculty and graduate students at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). Harbin and HIT are in north-east China’s Heilongjiang province, surrounded by Mongolia, Russia and North Korea. While cars are becoming ascendant in China, they are too expen-sive for the vast majority of Chinese. Without a car, transportation means walking, biking, the bus, subways where available, or a cab, either human or gas powered. When it comes to delivery services, it’s cargo bikes. What’s striking is that the seeming chaos of Chinese traffic, despite incessant honking and traffic laws that often seem a mere sugges-tion, allows for safe walking and biking, as long as one remains vigilant. Because bicycles are such a common way to get around, there is no ques-tion the roads will be shared. Each mode asserts itself in accordance with social expectations, and relative harmony ensues amid what looks to be anarchy. //

PiCtuRes OF PeDAl POweR iN ChiNABikes of Harbin and Qiqihar / By Bradley Bleck

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2. This cyclist in Qiqihar keeps dry in the rain thanks to a cycling-specific poncho. 3. Most street vendors use a cargo bike, including this one just outside the HIT’s main gate. Freshly barbequed or boiled corn is a common street food. 4. If it can be moved in China, it can probably be moved by bike, as seen by this refrigerator being hauled through rush hour traffic in Harbin.5. This is one of the few cyclists in cycling gear I saw in nearly a month. Behind her is a recycling collector, indicated by the plastic bucket he hits every few moments to signal “bring out your recy-cling.”

1. In China, every bike with a rack is a bicycle built for two. Try this on your next date.

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6. Though lacking any of the comforts taken for granted by west-erners, one can remain reasonably protected from the elements and still get around, no matter the weather. 7. It’s not uncommon for passengers to lend their pedi-cab driver a hand when the going gets tough, particularly when luggage is involved. This is outside Harbin’s main train station.


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