Mike (on the right) heroically picked up the bouquet of flowers that fell out of my pack and _hauled ass_ to catch me, shouting his heroic head off to get me to stop.

Mike - you are awesome (cool bike too!). Both me & the spouse would have been very sad, and I am already at heightened risk for death by embarrassment so losing flowers might just have done me in.

Sincerely: Thank you Mike for going *hard* out of your way.

Howdy friends,

I’m in Ballard in looking to get a little dirty. Any group rides in or around Seattle?

Please have a discussion with the group about safety.

Several riders were riding in the opposite direction bike lane, taking up the full width of it, several of whom were on their phones. One guy was literally riding in the center of the opposite direction bike lane with no hands, looking at his phone.

I had to swerve into street because these people were not paying attention. This is especially dangerous on a day like today with lots of buckeye and twigs and leaves on the road.

Hey r/seattlebike!

Having long considered purchasing an e-bike, I was recently selected for a $1,200 voucher through the state's WE-bike rebate program and have started looking into the various qualifying models. I'm totally new to this, so it's been somewhat tedious and overwhelming. I could really use some help.

Here's a summary of what I'm looking for:

• Use case: Errands and shopping (groceries, smaller Costco runs, etc.); recreation and exploration; possible future commuting. For now, most trips would be local (southwest King County area) and under 6 mi. one-way. I'd ride primarily on neighborhood and collector streets, paved shoulders, shared-use paths, and sidewalks--safe bike lanes don't exist around here. I'm considering going car-free sometime in the near future.
• Appearance: Resembling a typical bicycle (no folding bikes or ultra-bulky frames). An upright or semi-upright riding position would likely be preferred.
• Hill-climbing power: My neighborhood is mostly flat, but there are several larger hills I'd have to climb, ranging from 2% to 9.6% (averaging 4.67%) in grade.
• Storage: I'd be carrying stuff on the bike semi-regularly, so a sturdy rear cargo rack with space for a basket and panniers is a must.
• Weight: ≤55 lbs, ideally. This is the max weight Metro lists for its bus bike racks, and I'd prefer not having to lift more than 1/3 of my body weight, anyway.
• Long-term reliability and serviceability: Established, reputable brands with decent warranty coverage and customer service are preferred.
• Budget: ≤$4,200 pre-rebate, pre-tax. Lower is better ofc, but I'm willing to pay a bit more if it means a higher quality bike with less issues down the road.

So far, the Trek Verve+ 2, Trek Verve+ 3, Trek FX+ 1, Trek FX+ 7S, and Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 5.0 EQ are some e-bikes that've caught my eye. Do any of these seem like a good fit? Are there any others I should be considering?

Some additional assorted questions:

• Classes: Do you find that Class 1 e-bikes are generally sufficient for urban/suburban riding in our region, or are the throttles and higher speeds supported by Class 2 and 3 e-bikes helpful?
• Motor / Battery: I was initially looking for e-bikes with Bosch motors, but it seems that many of the lighter weight models don't use them. Should I stick with Bosch, or are the others (TQ, Specialized, etc.) equally reliable? Also, some of the e-bikes I've seen have non-removable or dealer-removable batteries inside the frame. Is this a deal breaker? For context, my bike would be stored inside an attached garage (uninsulated, so it gets very hot in the summer and rather cold in the winter). I'd prefer removable batteries that could charge indoors, but I suppose non-removable batteries would be fine if our PNW temperatures won't impact performance/life.
• Step-thru vs. low-step vs. mid-step vs. standard frames: Which would you recommend? For context, I'm in my late 20s and don't have any mobility issues that'd preclude me from using a standard frame. I prefer the aesthetics of a standard frame, but do the other frames have any noteworthy benefits? Also, how do the lower-step frames handle/maintain stability when carrying added weight?
• Color: How much does bike color ultimately matter in terms of road safety, if at all? I prefer the appearance of black, grey, or navy-tone frames, but would these increase my risk of being involved in a traffic collision?

Any and all tips and recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone

Unfortunately my Specialized Diverge E5 Elite was stolen off my porch last night in Judkins Park neighborhood.

54cm, fern/dark green
Tan wall specialized tires
Matching top tube and frame bags (frame bag not pictured here)
Front handlebar rack
Scratches on the fork
Folding lock mounted under frame

I’m close to the i90 trail for any other bikers who frequent that path, between Rainier and Lake Washington bridge.

If you happen to see it out there, please let me know, thank you

Hi! Anyone happen to bike the Snowqualmie Valley trail today (Saturday 10-10)? Looking to get out there tomorrow, but was wondering if it turns into a slush fest after a day of rain (Friday was a pretty wet day). I was going to ride from Fall City to Duvall.

Has anyone had experience biking up / down Sunrise Road in Mt. Rainier around this time of the year? Weather says it’s raining and temperature drops below freezing at night, so just a bit worried with the road condition coming downhill and if it’s even worth the trip.

Edit: NPS cams are down but the Crystal Mountain Cam doesn’t look too bad.

I’m in the market for a new road bike and have it narrowed down to the Canyon Aeroad or Ultimate.

Before I drop the money, I’d really like to actually throw a leg over one and see how a 2XS fits me. Does anyone here ride a 2XS Aeroad or Ultimate and would be open to letting me take a quick look / test spin? Happy to meet somewhere public and buy you a coffee or beer for your time.

Alternatively, anyone if anyone knows a shop or demo event around Seattle where I could try Canyon?

Thanks!

I swear their website used to let you schedule appointments for the service center in Ballard, has this changed recently or am I just dumb and can't find the right button on the website? I've got a rad with battery issues, and cannot for the life of me find someone to take a look at it.

If you’re going that fast why wouldn’t you want to be somewhere else? I suspect all the pedestrians you’re near missing on these multi use paths would like you somewhere else.

I'm just over a year into dedicated cycling at this point, having extended my 2022 Kona Dew about as far as it can go. The Kona genuinely is an amazing all-rounder for the area: granny gears, fenders for PNW rain, and a bit heavier and therefore slower speeds on mixed-use trails which allows me to maximize my workout while staying at a safer lower speed. Between all-year commuting and Lake Washington multi-hour workouts, I couldn't have asked much more.

That said, I'm going to be spending a lot more time in the Cascades in the next 1-2 years, and with that, think it's proper time to consider a road bike. A friend/enthusiast recently purchased the X-Lab RS7 and raves about it. For the price ($2100), it seems like an exceptional offer. Seattle Facebook Marketplace has decent deals on used bikes from people trying to offload before winter hits, from what I see. But nothing on FB paints a story compelling enough to spend the time and risk going used when similar components are new through X-Lab.

Am I misguided here?

Hello! I am planning on getting my e-bike tomorrow to start commuting to my office. I’m very excited and also very nervous.

I will be getting a class 1 and riding with a pannier backpack. I feel good about accessories.

Before I start, I need to practice stopping in the proper way so I feel more confident on the bike. Starting is fine, the whole stepping off the bike and butt off the seat to stop scares me. I plan to practice that and one handed riding for signals this weekend.

I wanted to ask about this section of my commute. I don’t like going downhill fast and there’s a lot of cars here.

Does anyone have advice on this section? I am nervous

endo'd over my handlebars this morning when my bike rack broke (I think?), on Market St and 24th. this kind human stopped and came to my aid. thank you! I promise to pay it forward for as long as I can. forgot your name, I'm sorry!

bad road rash, but nothing broken thank goodness. bent fork and I'm out a bike rack and a camera but infinitely better than a worse injury.

For context I have a gravel bike but I don't have the tires or gearing (or fitness) for super chunky rides with lots of climbing. Rides like the Mountain Loop Highway, Palouse to Cascade Trail, or NF-23 (south of Randle) are my speed.

Can anyone recommend good Larch rides? Ideally within 80mi or so from Seattle - I don't have a car but I can do a 2-3 day bikepacking trip if I know I'll get to see pretty trees.

Has anyone had experience using Backcountry at UVillage for a deluxe tune? I usually go to my LBS but they don’t offer a similar service with a full wash and deep clean.

It’s only $150 so it seems like a really good deal but wondering if it’s too good to be true?

I run a teaching-focused bike shop in the CID. On Wednesday, 10/28, the shop will offer a different kind of instruction: how to date.

This is an event open to cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

I hired dating and relationship expert Cora Boyd to provide instruction on dating for anyone looking for love.

Love to learn? Consider it a date night.

Registration is live. Space is limited.

Format: guests arrive at 7pm. Cora will provide 30 minutes of date coaching. Guests will then get to apply what they learn at fun activities hosted by a wonderful collection of CID businesses. We’ll get back together in the shop for feedback from Cora. After the event, select bars and cafes will offer specials for daters.

Stakes: low.

Likelihood you will have fun: high.

Meet cute in the CID on 10/28? Priceless.

Businesses and neighborhoods win when people choose them as date spots.

It’s my shop’s pleasure to return the love.

Hey r/SeattleBike,

Starting a new job soon and picking up e-biking as my commute method and wanted to get some real input before I'm out there in the dark and rain for the first time.

My setup:

• Cannondale Tesoro Neo Carbon 2 (Bosch motor, 60Nm/600W, 400Wh battery)
• Commuting 3x/week, ~25 min each way, all paved roads/bike lanes
• I'm 6'2", 260 pounds
• Comes stock with a headlight, fenders, and rear rack, but I'm planning to add a brighter headlight and extra reflective gear/rear light

My questions:

1. For those of you riding home once it's dark, how safe do you actually feel? Any lighting setup you swear by beyond the basics?
2. Any general gear/accessories must haves? Socks, rain gear, anything you wish you'd bought on day one instead of learning the hard way?
3. If anyone's ridden / has a Tesoro Neo or similar Bosch-motor commuter, curious how it's held up, especially in our wet winters.

One thing I've already decided: on genuinely nasty rainy days, I'm just going to drive and pay for parking rather than fight the weather. More curious about the "normal drizzle" riding experience than the worst-case-scenario days.

Appreciate any input!! trying to set myself up to actually enjoy this instead of dreading it lol

https://bikegpx.com/qf4fiku3q/map

Tips:

1. Take the new bike lanes from Sodo to Georgetown. Although I did it on the weekend. I don't know if there aren't too many trucks during the week.
2. Some roads are very sketchy, like E Marginal Way S near Boeing Field. The sidewalk is wide enough to ride on.
3. The Green River trail should get you almost all the way, except that parts of it are closed, so you'll have to ride on the sidewalk on parts of Interurban Ave S
4. Don't worry. Ikea has a ton of bike racks

Hello! Posting here on a whim, and as a cautionary tale to those who trust the bike rooms in their apartments. The bike index page is here if you've happened to see a 2023 REI DRT 3.3 XL for sale recently: https://bikeindex.org/bikes/3510436

The only non-factory parts it had were a black Trek water bottle cage with a Blackburn Airstik SL Bike Mini-Pump on the side, and Ethirteen Base Pedals.

The story:

I purchased an REI DRT 3.3 about two years ago after a few outtings on a friends mountain bike. Until today I had been storing it in my apartment's bike room. Originally I didn't want to store it there due to concerns of theft, but there were several other expensive bikes in the room (including E-MTBs more costly than mine) and my 1bd apartment is tiny. I eventually gave into my girlfriends requests to stop storing it in the hallway (it was rather annoying) and purchased a chonky bike lock to keep it safe in the bike room.

The bike room itself seemed resonably secure against anyone who didn't live in the building. Its in our apartment's garage (that only residents should be able to access), and you had to ask for extra key-card access to get into the bike cage itself. I think it is very likely that someone with access to the bike room itself stole the bike, although I don't think it would be hard to bypass the cage's access system since it has a motion detector that can unlock the door from the inside.

This worked for at least a year, but sometime in the last 6 months my bike was stolen. The last time I went riding was FEB 1st of this year and I haven't been out since due to a health issue. I was planning to go out today but found only a sawed in half remainder of a lock where my bike once was.

If anyone has seen, purchased, or otherwise heard about an REI DRT 3.3 being sold around Seattle in the last few months I would appreciate the lead, but at this point I'm working on accepting the fact there's a very low chance I ever get it back. I'm going to meet with the apartment manager Monday to see if they'd be willing to let me review any footage, but I'd be amazed if they kept it going 6 months back (or if I was lucky enough it happened within whatever span they keep footage). They also don't have a camera that looks directly at the room... only nearby doorways...

I am new to bike riding, have been taking classes at Cascade bike club (high recommend for anyone considering) and I'm at the point where I'm shopping around. The bike I learned on is a hybrid (specialized sirrus) so I was planning to get a hybrid. Leaning towards Trek FX Sport AL 3, which I test rode and felt nice. However, is there anything else I should consider? I don't plan to commute with it. I want to ride for recreation and goal is to be able to do longer rides which I heard that a hybrid will not be good for. I'm still very new (my seat is lower than ideal position, and have trouble with tight turns and staying tight lane) so all the options feel overwhelming.