Looking at the poster for next weekend’s Group Health Seattle International Bicycle Expo, it’s clear what’s important in this area.
A man is holding an umbrella, sitting in a cup of (presumably) coffee (never fear, he has waders on) with a friendly salmon, with raindrops falling and his bicycle in the background.
On the floor of the Seahawks Exhibition Center March 7-9, folks will be a little less laid back, jockeying for position at favorite booths, keeping an eye on the clock so they don’t miss Willie Weir’s latest adventure (biking in Turkey) or Erden Eruc’s tale of climbing Denali, after pedaling there from Seattle.
More than 125 exhibitors will show off bikes, bike gear and clothes, health-and-fitness items and approaches, and travel-related dreams.
There’s even a comic-book angle.
In a talk entitled "Comics, Musings and Rock ‘n Roll," four speakers hash over bikes and American culture: Dave Dederer, guitarist and vocalist for The Presidents of the United States of America; Jeff Mallet, award-winning syndicated cartoonist of "Frazz"; former professional racer and winner of the 1998 Giro d’Italia, Andy Hampsten; and author and columnist Maynard Hershon.
Many of the presentations, including "Comics," take place on two or three days, so grab a program when you walk in the door and map out your approach. Weir’s talk shouldn’t be missed, assuming he continues his humorous streak. The former actor has made a career out of biking and talking, and with good reason. Imagine what he can do with the title, "The Bad Road: Traveling Turkey"?
How can he go wrong? Weir had a three-month journey planned and a week before he left, U.S. troops invaded Iraq. Naturally, he went anyway.
There are more than talks and slide shows at Bike Expo.
RacerMate of Seattle has developed software that will let you and a CompuTrainer take a 10K time trial with rolling terrain and grades up to 3 percent. Up to eight riders can compete (of course) against each other in real time, complete with racers on a screen.
Demonstrations at the Cascade Bicycle Club booth will help answer the burning question, "How fast can I change a tire?" They’ll also poke holes in your theoretical ability to do basic maintenance, so listen up.
On one stage at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Cascade bike-outing leaders will answer another burning question: "Where should I ride this weekend?" Bring a bag, because there will be bike maps, ride information, and class handouts.
And if you’ve never ridden a recumbent, or can’t remember how it felt to ride a trike, or wondered what a full-suspension bike would feel like, there’s a test ride area to satisfy your curiosity.
For those more interested in the real thing, such as the Seattle to Portland ride, be sure to check out a training seminar, especially if you haven’t made the ride. Topics include bike preparation, training, preventing injuries, nutrition and riding safely in a pack of bikers.
Group Health offers training and nutrition workshops, including a cycling panel, treatment, and diet.
Bike Expo is open 4-9 p.m. March 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7, Seahawks Exhibition Center, Seattle; $7, $5 ages 6-12, 5 and under free.
And speaking of biking, Snohomish County’s B.I.K.E.S. is again sponsoring McClinchy Mile on March 20, which as you might guess, is longer than a mile.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be contacted at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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