Cyclist of the Month: Julian Davies
Age: 37
Occupation: Pediatrician, University of Washington Medical Center
Hometown: North Carolina
Residence: Ballard
Wheels: MADSEN cargo bike, Dutch Azor Transport, Specialized Globe Live 02
Ditch your trailer. That is Julian’s advice to parents who want to ride with young children. You may wonder what type of Kool-Aid Julian is drinking, but you have to listen to a guy who can transport four kids on a bicycle.
Julian loves biking with his three-year old daughter, Drew, upfront — instead of in a tow-behind trailer. “We have some of our best conversations up there, and she gets to see more than my backside. It is much more enjoyable than listening to her cry or complain in a trailer.”
Solutions besides trailers do work. Like the Bike-Tutor from the U.K. that mounts on the top tube. Or the Bobike Mini, which mounts on the stem, for children aged 9 months to 3 years. Julian recommends both products as superior child carriers, but is also partial to cargo bikes like xtracycles, Dutch bakfietsen (“box bikes”), and MADSEN “precious cargo bikes.”
Julian has also installed bench and bucket car seats, complete with five-point buckle system, onto his MADSEN cargo bike. “Heavy? Are you calling my bike fat? I prefer strong-boned. She’s as heavy as she needs to be.”
NOTE: Julian points out that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not ride on adult bikes until one year of age, when they can safely wear a helmet and have adequate neck and trunk control.
That said, how long did he wait? 7 weeks, with an infant car seat in a trailer, and then his custom MADSEN infant seat with head/neck support.
Julian started commuting on a RANS Rocket recumbent during med school at the University of California, San Francisco; during his residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital, fatigue turned Julian into a fair weather commuter. Today, he commutes year-round on a Dutch bike or Globe city bike daily between Ballard and the U. District. The UW Medical Center provides an indoor bike cage and showers – although Julian prefers the endless supply of baby wipes at his pediatric clinic.
The family appreciates the convenience of step-through frames, available on many cargo and commuter bikes. This feature means Julian, 5’9”, can share the MADSEN and Globe with his wife Kim, 5’2.”
Julian is also a fan of “ridiculous bike lights.” His favorites are Rock The Bike’s Down Low Glow and MonkeyLectric’s spinning Monkey lights – a 32 full color LED-ensemble for your spokes. Stylish and safe, given how many car-bike collisions are broadsides.
Diagnosed with Obsessive-Cycling Disorder, Julian started a blog called www.TotCycle.com where families with similar conditions can share information. You can find a wealth of information on TotCycle.com, including the next monthly Kidical Mass – a fun, safe, easy-going family bike ride for kids of all ages.
Julian joined Cascade Bicycle Club to support its education work in schools, and its advocacy work. Julian worked with Sustainable Ballard and Friends of the Burke-Gilman on a rally for the Missing Link. He has also attended a Ride Leader Certification session and hopes to lead tot rides for the Club in the future.
What’s the largest haul Julian has accomplished on any of his cargo bikes? He humbly claims that carrying a 6’ Christmas tree from St. Alphonsus Parish was just an obligatory bike blog photo op. “The MADSEN is an epic grocery getter. My largest run to-date is $211 worth of Trader Joe’s.” I don’t ask if that weighs more or less than four kids in the bucket seat of a MADSEN.
If you are interested in family cargo biking, Julian recommends Aaron’s Bicycle Repair in West Seattle and Dutch Bike Seattle in Ballard, as well as Clever Cycles in Portland.
Julian looks forward to coordinating a Fiets of Family Cycling (fiets is Dutch for bike) next year, based on the French constructeur races. “We’ll hold silly cycling contests — like the dropped toy, the diaper change, synchronized signals, fancy dismounts, and ‘I’ll pull this bike right over’ sibling fights.”
The next Cascade Ride Leader Training is scheduled for March.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle. Nominate a cyclist of the month.
Cyclist of the Month: Allyson Welsh
Occupation: Software Consultant
Hometown: New York City
Residence: Kirkland
Wheels: Davidson Titanium
Let me tell ya, in 1990s Manhattan, it was too dangerous to ride a bike and too expensive to drive a car.
So moving to bike-friendly Seattle ten years ago was a blessing for Allyson Welsh.
When she was eight years old, Allyson broke her ankle in a bike crash. That is her most memorable bicycling moment. For decades after the accident, Allyson did not ride.
Today, Allyson is a ride leader and vice-chair of the rides committee for the largest bicycle club in the country. In January, she’ll replace Albert Meerscheidt as the rides committee chair, coordinating efforts for 160 Club ride leaders.
In 1996, while working as a trainer and software lead at Sealand, Allyson relocated from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina – where the friendly flats inspired her to start biking to control weight. At only 5’2″, she found her fit in a Trek WSB (the company’s first Women Specific Bikes line) with 650C tires.
Two years later she got married and moved to Seattle after her new husband Dave accepted a position with Amazon.com.
“I’d never ridden a hill. My only challenge had been riding against the wind to Myrtle Beach. I was scared riding downhill from the Burke-Gilman Trail to Magnuson Park.” The 124th to Willows grade was even scarier. Allyson also had to overcome the coastal climate change, buying all new gear so that she could ride year-round. And, she soon realized the comfort difference between titanium and aluminum.
Gregg’s Cycles suggested that she join the Cascade Bicycle Club. She loves the camaraderie of the Club, as well as the appreciation that she receives from the riders for her volunteering. She also appreciates Jim Eanes of the Seattle Bike Club for his patience and advice when she first started cycling in the Pacific Northwest.
Allyson volunteers for almost every Cascade event. She enjoys meeting new people at packet stuffing parties. Some weeks, you can find her at the Club almost every day.
Allyson thinks of herself as a spokesperson for leisure cyclists – her rides bridge the gap between the leisure and more popular steady pace group. She sits on the Cascade Training Series (CTS) subcommittee, where she leads the Red Group rides at a 10-12 mph leisurely pace, preparing riders for their first century, often the Seattle To Portland or RSVP.
Allyson also leads the popular Redhook Lake Sammamish Loop and the Brewpub Ride Series. “There’s nothing like a good beer after a ride to quench your thirst.” Her monthly leisure rides attract 15-35 Club members who are interested in socializing, as well as exercising. The Brewpub Series tours different microbreweries.
“As a ride leader, one of your most difficult tasks is keeping the pace of a ride to the posted limit.” Allyson explains two reasons for this problem. First, ride leaders get so much stronger over the course of a season that by the end of summer, they don’t realize their own strength. The second reason: riders showing up for rides that are too easy for them. “This group wants to be at the front of the pack, instead of pushing themselves to ride at a pace that would be challenging for them.”
Allyson looks forward to recruiting more ride leaders interested in leisure rides. She also hopes to help lead a multi-day tour someday.
The next Cascade Ride Leader Training is scheduled for March. The Cascade Training Series also begins in March.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
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Cyclists of the Month: Kristin & Isabel Jamerson
Age: 51 and 13
Occupation: volunteer
Hometown: Mercer Island
Wheels: Klein rain bike, Seven Axiom, Cannondale tandem
Kristin Jamerson’s idea of a Northwest lifestyle is admirable, even enviable, to anyone interested in positive social change.
Weekdays, you may find Kristin cycling across the I-90 bridge to volunteer for The Bush School or the Olympic Sculpture Park where she’s a docent. Once a week, she volunteers for the Christian Science Church. Plus, each month, Kristin participates in a community activity with her daughter, Isabel. Together, they support causes like the Ronald McDonald House and the YWCA. This fall they’ll plant trees for the Mountains To Sound Greenway.
June through August, Isabel contributes to the Mercer Island Summer Volunteer Program (SVP), coordinated by Parks & Recreation. SVP community activities include working with the elderly, disabled, homeless, animals, the environment, and community events.
Participants complete a minimum of four projects during the summer, and can choose from up to eight projects available each week. This summer, Isabel removed invasive ivy and blackberries, and supported regional youth programs.
Fifteen years ago, Kristin persuaded her husband to move from Florida back to her Pacific Northwest roots, to reclaim her exemplary lifestyle and to enjoy a more temperate climate.
She joined Cascade Bicycle Club to support the Club’s advocacy and youth education efforts, like the new Major Taylor youth program. She enjoyed reading the Cyclist of the Month profiles (started by Denise Chan). Kristin also used the Classic Hill Climbs column (by Steve Evans and Lee Stevens, 2004-2007) to create self-guided training rides.
Since joining the Club, Kristin has ridden Chilly Hilly, RSVP, STP, and the Ride Around Washington. Passing through the Okanogan and five mountain passes during RAW remains Kristin’s most memorable cycling moments. She has completed several Cycle Oregon’s and the Redmond Cycling Club’s RAMROD, but she prefers the smaller 200-rider RAW.
Isabel used to play soccer and swim. Then, in the summer of 2007, she finished the 12-mile bike relay of the Escape From The Rock triathlon on Mercer Island. By 2009, Isabel had finished the same triathlon solo. Today, Isabel prefers nothing better than bicycling while sporting fun socks. “You can bike whenever you want, and you can go places, and see more scenery.” The family is trying to find a way to transport Isabel’s heavy backpack, so that she can ride to and from The Bush School.
Kristin’s latest long-distance ride wasn’t just for fun. Kristin and Isabel raised $5,850 from 53 donors for The Climate Ride, an event that combined Kristin’s passion for cycling and climate issues. The five-day tour raised funds for three environmental charities: Clean Air-Cool Planet, Focus the Nation, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
The Jamersons rode from New York City through New Jersey Amish country to Washington, DC – where 190 Climate Riders rallied at the Capitol Building to raise awareness for climate issues. During the ride, they were interviewed by Josh Dorfman, star of The Lazy Environmentalist on the Sundance Channel. They also shared dinner with Colin Bevan – No Impact Man.
The mother-daughter team also learned how to ride their new tandem bicycle – improving their cornering and hill climbing abilities through better driver-stoker synchronicity.
Kristin recognizes the importance of trail networks in solving civic, environmental, and transportation issues. During the Climate Ride, the Denmark Ambassador to the US reported that 45% of Copenhagen citizens bicycle commute.
She donates to Cascade because she wants the Burke-Gilman Trail completed through Ballard. “Advocacy is needed to make cycling more accessible.”
Kristin looks forward to the day Isabel can fill her favorite pair of Sidi shoes. And, if she’s anything like her mother, Isabel will walk her talk too.
For more information about the Mercer Island Summer Volunteer Program, contact Joan, SVP Coordinator, at 275-7756 or joan.jankowski@mercergov.org.
The next Climate Ride is May 15 – 19, 2010 in California. Visit ClimateRide.org for more details.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
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Cyclist of the Month: Shaun Darragh
Age: 41
Occupation: senior lighting designer, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Degree: Communications & Theater Design, University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Hometown: Malden, MA and Tamworth, NH
Wheels: rain: 1986 Bridgestone MB3; touring: Surly Long Haul Trucker; go-fast: custom High Ti Cycles race bike; travel: Dahon D7 folding bike
Shaun Darragh divides his year into two parts: ski season and cycling season. Although Shaun bike commutes year-round, ironically, I reached his cell phone on one of the three days out of the year that he drives into work.
Shaun joined Cascade Bicycle Club 15 years ago, after moving to Seattle from Boston. He loves the mountains here, and enjoys skiing at Stevens Pass during the winter.
Plus, his Seattle commute is shorter. On rainy days, Shaun can ride less than two miles to downtown from Capitol Hill. In better weather, Shaun’s typical roundtrip commute is 10-15 miles, via the University District and Dexter Ave. His office building has five dedicated bike racks that are monitored by parking attendants; and a health club in the building provides lockers and shower to employees for $20 per employee per month.
Two blinky lights and mirrors are mounted on each of Shaun’s bikes, but his favorite commute accessory is Stella – a helmet-mounted 180-lumen LED bike light by Light & Motion. “A helmet-mounted light helps you capture drivers’ attention by directing the beam – particularly at drivers turning left in front of you. You can almost direct cars. It has saved me from collisions many times.”
Shaun has completed almost every Cascade “big ride” – including Flying Wheels, Kitsap Color Classic, RSVP, and the Group Health STP, which he volunteers for every other year. He even takes a weekend off skiing to ride Chilly Hilly.
And, each year, Shaun rewards himself with an end-of-season cycling trip. For example, in November, Shaun often travels to Arizona to race in the 109-mile Tour de Tucson, which attracts up to 9,000 riders to raise funds for a variety of charities.
But mostly Shaun prefers to ride his bike for transportation. “I’ve bike commuted since grade school. I rode to elementary school, junior high, high school, and college. I’ve commuted at least part-time my entire life.”
Last year, Shaun attended the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in Seattle where he met Preston Tyree [vice president] and John Allen [board member] of the League of American Bicyclists. Preston and John convinced Shaun to get certified as a LCI (League Cycling Instructor).
With his LCI credentials, Shaun plans to offer two bike courses, Commuting and Traffic Skills 101, this winter to employees of his office building.
Affiliated Engineers’ Seattle branch employs 70 engineers, including Shaun who works in the Pivotal Lighting division. The company is housed in Westlake Tower, which is home many law and architectural offices — including Coffman Engineers and KPFF Architects. So Shaun coordinates an annual intra-tower commute challenge as part of Bike Month.
In 2009, the three engineering firms fielded 44 bike commuters who logged 7,027 miles during the contest. Weekly tallies are posted publicly on the lobby reader board. The winning team is determined by the number of miles biked divided by each firm’s total employees.
For 2010, Affiliated Engineers has asked Shaun to coordinate an intra-company commuting contest for its ten regional offices around the country. Expect to see Affiliated Engineers jerseys coming soon to a town near you.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
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Cyclist of the Month: Marty Cavalluzzi
Age: 49
Occupation: Vice President for Instruction, Edmonds Community College
Degrees: Associates of Arts degree (Orange Coast College, CA)
BS in Fisheries (Humboldt State University, CA)
MA in Marine Science (College of William and Mary, VA)
Ph.D. in Marine Science (College of William and Mary, VA)
Hometown: Bainbridge Island
Wheels: 1998 Specialized Rock Hopper
Marty Cavalluzzi takes instruction seriously. A graduate of the Seattle Century and RSVP, this community college executive instructs staff in the hallways and on the roadways.
Busy with a wife and two young children, Marty appreciates the daily workout of his commute from Bainbridge Island to Lynnwood. Four days per week, Marty drives to Kingston, where his nine mile roundtrip bike route starts. On the fifth day, Marty bikes the full distance from his home, adding 34 miles to his daily log. It may only be nini miles per day on most days, but it adds up if you ride every day, no matter what the conditions are.
While on the ferry, he does not have to deal with inattentive drivers on cell phones — he enjoys stretching, reading and relaxing prior to his day.
Marty’s paper route inspired him to start biking more in his teens. In fact, Marty has never stopped biking to work.
His favorite past commutes include a 22-mile trip along the California coast to Laguna Beach, and an eleven-mile commute out of Bellingham to the Northwest Indian College.
After he joined the Club, Marty read about RSVP in the Cascade Courier and started training to finish the 2008 event, which he said was fantastic and well-supported.
He presents a standing offer to friends: bike to work with me for a week and you’ll be hooked within a month.
“I’m hooked,“ reports Rachel Solemsaas, Vice President of Administrative Services for Bellevue Community College. Three years ago while working at Edmonds Community College, bike commuting intimidated Rachel. She thought it would be a hassle. Marty convinced her to try cycling to off-site meetings, and he chaperoned Rachel during her early commutes. Today, Rachel bikes the 25 mile round trip four days per week. And she rode this year’s RSVP and Seattle Century with her former co-workers. “She’s a role model for executive staff,” says Marty.
This past May, Edmonds Community College hosted its largest ever Bike To Work station, coordinated by Claudia Levi, a Business Management teacher. The table included a raffle for new College-branded bike jerseys, which Claudia’s class printed as a school project.
Two different project management classes worked on the jersey project for two quarters. The first class did the feasibility study and the second class executed the project. The class raised over $5,000 in sponsorships and jersey sales, which were sold for $20 to students and at cost to everyone else. The goal of the project was not only to produce Edmonds Community College bicycle jerseys, but to learn the skills, practices and documentation of project management. The classes unveiled the bicycle jerseys at a celebratory August BBQ, just in time for some riders to wear them on this year’s RSVP.
“Marty is a great guy and fun leader; we all respect him very much,” says Claudia.
Like many executives, Marty keeps a busy schedule, filled with meetings. The College provides staff lockers, showers, as well as bike lockers. Marty brings fresh folded shirts and ties daily, but keeps his dress shoes and sport coats at work.
Marty has even inspired a dozen staff & faculty to ride casually at lunch, often enjoying the nearby Interurban Trail.
Ed. Note: Edmonds Community College admissions have increased 32% to 12,000 students this fall. Forty-one percent of the students are seeking academic transfer degrees. Articulation agreements allow students to transfer to four-year colleges as Juniors. Another 30% of students seek professional/technical degrees and certificates for professional development and new careers. Another 19% complete their high school diplomas, take Adult Basic Education classes or take English as second Language classes. The others take continuing education classes.
Thirty-five percent of all math, science, engineering and technology majors in the state of WA begin at a WA state community college;41% of four-college graduates begin their degrees at a WA state community college;53%of all teachers begin their degrees at a WA state community college.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.
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Cyclist of the Month: Max Shalitmontagne
Not a fat kid who plays StarCraft anymore
Age: 18
Occupation: student
Hometown: Seattle
Wheels: 1986 Team Fuji
Remember the kids in high school who patrolled the hallways? Well, that’s Max Shalitmontagne—except instead of the standard issue Maglite, Max patrols the streets on bike with a mini Kryptonite u-lock, wearing a black-and-white striped road jersey.
As a volunteer Cascade Ride Ref, Max rides Chilly Hilly, Flying Wheels and Group Health STP for free. The worst four offenses during events? 1) Listening to earphones, 2) passing riders without alerts, 3) not wearing helmets, and 4) walking bikes up hills in the middle of the road.
Just graduating from Garfield High School, Max is one of the youngest LCIs (an instructor certified by the League of American Bicyclists to teach BikeEd). For Cascade, Max teaches Urban Cycling Techniques (based on the League’s Traffic Skills 101) and Urban Riders—a hands-on bike safety program for teens 11-17.
Because of Max’s young age, and perhaps his ability to trackstand for an hour, students have more interest in his classes. “Students respect his abilities,” says Robin Randels, classes coordinator. She recalls Max cycling over 30 miles from West Seattle to Redmond for a 10:00 am class, after riding at a Friday Critical Mass rally until 2:00 AM.
Max is an assistant instructor, a junior mentor, for Group Health-sponsored Bicycle Camps for kids. The Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation coordinates the summer camp program with various King County YMCAs. Up to twelve kids attend each five-day camp, offered June through August. The bicycle camps are held at Magnuson Park and other venues.
Day One: Road Rules and casual park ride
Day Two: Learn how to ride on a track at the Marymoor Velodrome
Day Three: Mountain bike with Trips for Kids at St. Edwards State Park
Day Four: Freeride stunt course and basic bike maintenance
Day Five: Ride ten miles on the Burke-Gilman Trail
Alleycats are Max’s favorite events. Often coordinated by Emerald City Bike Bloc, or local bike messengers, alleycats are informal bike races that emphasize participation over competition. The races can be intense, but the social aspect is what draws riders.
The Westside Invitational is another popular Spring event: four days of bike activities, including a scavenger hunt, alleycat, time trial, bike polo, and Emerald City Sprints—400-meter indoor roller races on the second Tuesday of the month.
Another alleycat, the Resurrection Race, required each racer to carry a homemade duct-taped wooden cross. On the course, racers encountered a giant stuffed Easter bunny at a cemetery. Each Resurrection checkpoint presents another obstacle, like purposely deflated tires, a cracker eating challenge, and bobbing for beers. But Max enjoys challenges. That’s why he does things like the Christmas Disaster cyclocross race…on a brakeless Fixie…at NIGHT…in the S-N-OW.
Max also volunteers at The Bikery — a nonprofit, volunteer-run bike shop in the Central District. The Bikery teaches people how to fix and ride bikes. For every hour that you volunteer, you receive $10 in Bikery credits, which are often donated back to the organization. The Bikery is open Saturday through Tuesday, afternoons through evenings.
Max taught himself bike mechanics by hanging out at Aaron’s Bicycle Repair in West Seattle—as well as reading the cyclist’s bibles: Delong’s Guide to Bicycles and Bicycling, Glenn’s Complete Bicycle Manual, and, of course, anything by Sheldon Brown. He also browses YouTube for how-to videos.
Max credits cycling for his active, independent, and mobile lifestyle. “Now I can pretty much get anywhere without asking for a ride or waiting for the bus. I’m not a fat little kid who plays StarCraft anymore. I wasn’t that fat, but I was fat on the inside.”
For fun, Max enjoys Humpday Hustle at UW in Red Square. After his computer broke, Max started biking more because he no longer checked how far or how fast he was riding. Now he rides until he doesn’t want to ride anymore—as far as Olympia or Bellingham. Although his solo adventures surprise them, his parents are obviously pleased. His dad proudly shares a photo of Max riding his bike to senior prom.
This fall, Max attends Evergreen State College where he plans to study industrial design. He hopes to find a part-time job at a cool Local Bike Shop: a LBS with knowledgeable techs that promotes bikes for transportation. Since he cannot prevent potholes or aggressive drivers, Max hopes to use his skills to design better bikes for everyday cyclists.
For more information about Cascade’s bike classes and Ride Ref program.
Scott Marlow was marketing director for Cascade Bicycle Club from 2001-2005. The Club record-holder for the shortest commute (under six seconds), Marlow works from his home office in West Seattle.