A redo of a recent ride, modified to incorporate a sweet one-lane bridge.
Some related albums:
More after the break…
Part 1: To Sumner
No big companies produce high-end steel road bikes today, so it only makes sense to go to vintage road bikes for steel instead. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I started at about 05:00 and went around the Fremont Bridge like last time, even though it was open this time. I had originally planned the route when the bridge repainting was closing the bridge, but I thought I might as well stick to it for the extra miles.
Rather than taking the 2nd Avenue bike lane, I just zipped down the parking lane to the right. I followed my usual route from there, including my deviation to 4th Avenue S to avoid the 1st Avenue S Bridge mess.
I eventually made it to the Interurban Trail and stuck to it through Kent and Auburn. It was cool and misty.
It definitely feels like Autumn.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
The weather is perfect for #cycling right now.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Once I got to Sumner, I stopped for a decaf drip since I was getting pretty chilled.
A bit cool and misty here. Am I in England again? (@ Starbucks in Sumner, WA) https://t.co/HB1upi5c5u
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Part 2: Foothills
My route took me to the Foothills Trail just like last time. There were a lot of people with fishing gear on the trail near Orting, and I saw where they were headed:
Makes me want to go out and fish again like when I was in Alaska.
I noticed that—With the recent crankset replacement—I was stuck to either spinning out in a 36:17 ratio, or pushing just a little too hard in a 36:15 ratio. I also noticed that I'd been using a stem of too great a length for a very long time, which is why I've had a better time on the drops than on the hoods for so long. I called my local shop about the latter while stopped for a minute on the side of the trail, but just dealt with the former for a while.
Once I hit the end of the trail, I continued along the highway, and saw where it is supposed to go over the continuation of the Foothills Trail. There was nothing but a barely-worn line in the grass below.
Maybe someday I'll have the privilege of riding the new bridges along @PierceCo's Foothills Trail…if they ever connect to anything. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 29, 2014
I then made the left to head to Buckley.
When I stopped to use the barely-maintained public restroom on the trail, I saw this weird bit of graffiti:
Also, a bunch of teenagers in suits and dresses were blocking the trail with their photography.
I took SR-410 to exit Buckley, crossing the chute and river there. Maybe someday I'll think to photograph it, but I really would rather not get caught stopped along that bit of highway.
I also zipped through Enumclaw, and headed straight for the same turnoff as last time. Along that road, I saw a few other cyclists, too.
I got really excited as I approached the intersection where I turned right last time, and continued straight along Green River Gorge Road. This led me to the bridge I had been anticipating.
The bridge itself was either a truss cantilever or truss arch, but I couldn't get a good photo due to there being chain-link fence in front of the only usable viewpoints. One of the cyclists from earlier stopped at the bridge to also take some photos, and a few others passed through.
Times like these I'm glad my rides take me out into the middle of nowhere.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I wasn't the only cyclist out there, either!
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I headed out of the gorce along the same road. It got pretty steep in places, but I didn't even hit the bottom of my cassette with my new 26/36/48 chainrings!
My next stop was at the gas station in Black Diamond, where I met back up with the the main highway. I got an ice cream sandwich and refilled my water bottles…after waiting in line behind someone who apparently didn't know the PIN number for the debit card she had.
It is neither misty nor cool now.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Rather than sticking to the highway, I along a familiar route to Ravensdale…after missing my turn and having to turn around with heavy traffic around. A lot of waiting.
I stopped in Hobart to eat some food. There were some folks with some very 'rural' accents and attire there.
From there, I went on my descent into Issaquah.
Sometimes a motorist honks at me when they're going the other way, despite there not being any cars behind me and my riding in the shoulder.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I really don't understand why.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
@anankaf People don't usually hold the horn for that long in positive situations.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I first stopped at the Red Apple Market to get some ibuprofen as the bottle I've carried for a long time was emptying. I stopped for a mocha made with 'white coffee' next, and managed to avoid my guilty pleasure of a caramel apple at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory shop next door.
Got to Issaquah at about 15:00. (@ Koffee Sutra in Issaquah, WA) https://t.co/LKdqrCIi1l
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Someone paid for my coffee, so I paid for the next guy's.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Part 3: Return Home
Rather than taking the busy road through the I-90 interchange, I took a parallel road that saw very little traffic. Unfortunately, it was closed after a point.
However, I saw other folks walking and cycling along the fresh asphalt, so I went along it anyway.
I did get off the street right before it merged with a very road and got on the Rainier Greenway Trail to pass under I-90, and then jumped over to East Lake Sammamish Parkway to go around the lake.
Excited to see the East Lake Sammamish Trail be properly completed. #seabikes
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Overexertrd myself on the Foothills Trail, winds have been unkind ever since. Putting that 26-tooth chainring to good use. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I stopped in Marymoor Park to eat, then continued using the Sammamish River Trail.
I'm at Marymoor Park - @iheartkcparks in Redmond, WA https://t.co/Re13NjuaBt
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
Getting a shorter stem on this bike. It's been needing it for a while.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 27, 2014
I stopped to call my local bike shop when I got to Forty Acres Park to see about resolving something.
My legs seem to want to cruse at 36:16, but I only have 17 (spin out) and 15 (so close I overexert). LBS said it can swap out a cog.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
Once I got to Woodinville, I saw more teenagers in fancy attire.
Oh great, more young people in dresses and suits. (@ Wilmot Gateway Park in Woodinville, WA) https://t.co/SpdWN9XFa3
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
According to one of my friends, it was probably homecoming. That would explain this, too.
@anankaf I saw it in multiple cities, so probably.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
I took my usual route from there, cutting over to the BGT as early as possible.
I got to the point where my legs stopped hurting normally and felt an entirely different degree of pain from the exertion all day. I hope the shop can figure that out before next weekend's ride.
Having a hard time.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
At some point, the muscle pain caused by exercise stops feeling worse.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
I stopped to pick up some groceries at my local Fred Meyer.
One last stop. (@ Fred Meyer in Seattle, WA) https://t.co/lUCfCjXIlz
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
I chatted with a girl who had a Campagnolo-equpped Surly Cross-check while unlocking my bike.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
Then I headed home and finished all this up.
The Two-bit Saloon is no longer operating. They announced it a while back, but I saw the building dark on my way home yesterday.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
i r ded
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) September 28, 2014
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