Variety is the spice of life (words over background of spices)

Challenges: My #Errandonnee Track Record

Errandonnee is one of those made-up “just because” utility riding challenges I find entertaining. Created by Chasing Mailboxes blogger/rider Mary Gersemelina, this one involves doing 12 errands by bike in 12 days and covering 30 miles. (You can also walk or…Continue Reading

Peach e-bike in foreground with big medium blue handlebar bag, black pannier on back rack far side. Across the rialroad tracks and street, brick and glass building. Left side of building in orange metal, a face with words underneath Chief Seattle Is Watching. At right, building name in whit eletters, Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center.

#30DaysOfBiking, Days 15-26: The Twitter Story

Doing a blog post every day fell off the to-do list but that doesn’t mean I stopped riding. I’m rolling rapidly toward the end of the month with a nice mix of commuting, errands, and neighborhood noodling. Herewith, the last…Continue Reading

Introducing Zelda the E-Bike

Guess what I get to pick up tomorrow? Tralala, tralala. Hint: I’m going to @GoFamilyCyclery. More hints: Good for 🌎, makes me 😍, gets me up 🏔️ more easily. — Barb Chamberlain (@barbchamberlain) March 14, 2019 I’ve been talking up…Continue Reading

Side view of white cargo bike made by Urban Arrow with black front cargo box.

I’ve been developing this theory for a while now. The longer I ponder it the more I think it makes sense. Stay with me while I work through this line of reasoning: We’d dramatically improve transportation safety if we all moved…Continue Reading

Image of blue and white bicycle on bright green background. Text at bottom: My New Year's Resolution: Bike More!

#BikeIt: What’s On Your List?

You know what a bucket list is — the things you want to do before you die. I’m not looking quite that far ahead with this #BikeIt list, just musing about things related to bicycling that might strike you as entertaining, inspiring,…Continue Reading

Photo of a zombie woman crawling on the grass and reaching toward the photographer

Halloween provides the perfect excuse to make jokes about the zombie apocalypse. That isn’t the only potential — or real — disaster we face as a species, however. From hurricane relief to earthquakes, bicycles serve as a flexible, convenient utility…Continue Reading

Well, if the number 13 is unlucky for us, it’s only because it marked the last day of our fantastic multi-day bike tour through Washington state. Alas, the big loop is done. The final morning dawned bright and breezy, with…Continue Reading

When I started riding my bike to work I did so only on the days that I deemed “perfect” for bike commuting. Back then in the long-ago, this meant: No rain, no wind, no snow, no fog, no excessive heat, and…Continue Reading

Bike parked in bike rack made of bike parts at Kaffee Klatsch, Lake City Way, Seattle, WA

Errandonnee 2018: The Initial Plan

Challenges do motivate me, although my results in past attempts at errandonnee have been mixed. The 2018 errandonnee (errand + randonnee) dates, March 20-31, present some difficulties; among other factors I’ll be in Olympia several days for all-day workshops during this time…Continue Reading