I took my fast bike around the lake through the latter half of the day. Aside from a mystery flat near Bellevue, it was a lot of fun!
Since this ride was a relatively short loop, I'm not going to divide it into sections.
More after the break…
I started mid-day, as I wasn't planning for a ridiculously long ride after having done a long ride recently. Rather than taking the official Lake Washington Loop to get around Seattle, however, I went downtown, then up to Broadway, and down over First and Beacon Hill, eventually making my way to the Chief Sealth Trail. I took the trail all the way to Rainier Beach.
Taking my Pacer out for a quick spin around Lake Washington.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 28, 2015
Once there, I joined the Lake Washington loop to Renton.
Still having a pretty good time.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 28, 2015
There, I saw that the Cedar River had flooded a pedestrian and bicycle underpass, and said underpass wasn't draining.
@kentsbike Sorry about not getting to you yet. I'll check Amtrak's site in the morning to see which weekends aren't sold out.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 28, 2015
I then headed east to what looked like an interesting route on the map. To my surprise, I found a route under NE Park Drive!
After passing through the area, I went along the rooty, crumbling Lake Washington Trail and the associated streets on the Lake Washington Loop to make my way to Bellevue. Once barely in the city limits, I noticed that my rear tire was very squishy, so I spent a good long while fighting the tire beads to get it off. I couldn't find anything in the tire, so I chalked it up to the horrid pavement of the trail, then proceeded to place in a new tube and fill it with air.
For the longest time, I've been using this nifty bit of hose with a typical pump head that allows me to convert any frame pump into a pump with a hose. Unfortunately, I didn't open the valve of the hose, so I kept pumping the pump itself with gusto…until I bent its shaft. A bit broken up, I tried a mini pump I had as a backup, but it wasn't able to get the tire pressure high enough. With much more care than before, I managed to use the bent pump to get the tire nice and firm, only after wasting way too much time.
Got a puncture. Gotta love our 'clean' suburban streets. #seabikes
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 28, 2015
Puncture was up on one of the sides, but didn't look like a typical pinch flat. Couldn't find anything in the tire. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 28, 2015
I proceeded through Bellevue, though avoiding downtown like the plague. My Pacer climbed beautifully with me out of the saddle, which was important with the steep hills around there. With effort, I climbed up and over the 520 Trail to Redmond, where I stopped for more coffee.
New tube seems to be holding air. I guess that trail was too broken up and rooty, so the old tube gave out. #cycling #seabikes
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
Got more coffee at the 7 Eleven here. Almost to the safe route of the SRT/BGT, so things are going pretty well.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
Still having a good time though.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
Managed to bend my frame pump while inflating the tube, though. It still works, but not as well. Need to order a new pump.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
The coffee wasn't very good, but it did get me going up the Sammamish River Trail with force!
#Coffee is the one, true energy drink.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
It was rather dark, but my hub dynamo kept me from getting discouraged.
Dynamo lighting is my treatment for battery anxiety. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
I've developed a habit of riding through the Google Fremont on Northlake because the speed bumps are less disheartening than the trail.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
I made it home rather late, but in a pretty good mood. I was glad I decided to ride that day after all.
Despite that flat in Bellevue, that was pretty good ride!
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
My arms are a little sore since I was using them to force my core to engage so much.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 29, 2015
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