There is Water at the Bottom of the Ocean!

Thanks to SFist, I came across this video and accompanying article that covers no less than 2 of my favorite things in the whole world: Bicycling and David Byrne.

Maybe we should invite him to join our team...

Views from Portland

Check out a few photos from Team PDX (Saul + Jules) beautiful training rides.

Last Thursday we took a short ride with some good climbs up to Rocky Butte and Mt. Tabor. Looking forward to more views like these! (Picture atop Rocky Butte with Mt.Hood in the distance.)

Yesterday we opted for a long flat ride out to Sauvie Island…nothing like stumbling upon blackberry bushes along the way and riding over the St.Johns Bridge.

RIDE ON...

What Climate Change?

Mention this to all those global warming skeptics....

An article in the New York Times tells the story of the first two ships in history to make the famed Northeast Passage from South Korea to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Thanks to global warming and the extensive melting of typically impassable summer ice, the German vessels are currently on the final leg of their journey across the Arctic.

Rider Ben Jervey had a first hand encounter with this same ice a while back.

Thanks to Rider Peter Prato who sent me this article.

Know the Facts

We're almost a month away from the grand departure from Arcata, CA!!! (yikes)

Since I won't be doing the full ride (only the flat, 1980's 10-speed worthy portions), I am doing a different kind of "training" that I think you all would benefit from as well...

How to talk to a Climate Skeptic

Knowing the facts about climate change, the basics of how that information is compiled, and where the holes/doubts are in the available science is will be very important to having intelligent, productive conversations with the people we meet along the ride. (If possible, I think that Alex Hooker should all give us a lesson on "verbal judo" too.)

Plus, since I'll be driving a 15-passenger van for the majority of our 350 mile journey, I feel like I need to brush up on my case for taking action on big-picture environmental legislation, and the nitty-gritty of why (despite my gas guzzling vehicle) I think 350 is the most important number on the planet.

Study up!


P.S. Also, while you're on Grist's website, you should check out this somewhat frightening article about what 1 degree of temperature change could do for CA wildfires. (double yikes)


hint:

The PDX team is now officially online.

Jules and I went on a great training ride yesterday and somehow managed to find the only block of time this weekend with no rain (0k...it rained a little).

We started out on some beautiful bike paths along the river and through Tryone Creek Park and then moved on to some good climbing (2,700 ft overall).

Here's the ride:
http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=eeixxuxbrcnmljim&isFullScreenLeave=true

With Ride350 only about a month away, we're looking forward to doing some longer training rides.

More to come...

Visions of a Training Ride

Check out these images from this past weekends' incredible training Ride in Marin, appropriately named the 7 Sisters.

We had a great turnout and even had the opportunity to take some team shots. Many thanks to the selflessness of honorary Ride350 team member Darcy (who lugged her camera along). Coincidentally, she never found it necessary to get off her seat while going uphill, either.

Sheesh.

Renewable Choice Energy Sponsors Ride350!

The Ride350 Team is, admittedly, not a carbon neutral bunch. That is why we are very thankful to have the carbon emissions associated with our week long edu-venture offset by the fine folks at Renewable Choice Energy.

We have purchased verified emission reductions (VERs) also known as carbon offsets, from RCE, in order to balance the emissions from our support van and from team members flying out for the event. Renewable energy credits are not the answer to global warming but they are a conscious step in the right direction.

According to RCE, "(purchasing) carbon offsets provide(s) economic support to make carbon projects more financially viable. A carbon offset is a reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. It ensures greenhouse gases, or GHGs, are being removed from the atmosphere or prevented from entering it."

For more information on carbon offsets or Renewable Choice, visit their website.

Training Ride Sunday August 30th

This Sunday, August 30th, members of Team 350 will be taking the plunge, riding for glory, and building group morale in the lead up to our October tour of the California coast. The featured Ride this week has been fondly dubbed the "7 Sisters" by participants Alex & Amelia Spilger. I think the name refers to the topography we'll endure. Whatever.

We will be leaving Sausalito at noon. Returning for an evening BBQ, frosty beverages, and tall tales. Hopefully someone will take a picture.

Team Brooklyn. Team PDX. Status?

McKibben on Colbert!

Last night, our endearingly "academic" (yet fearless) leader, Bill McKibben, was on the Colbert Report to discuss 350.org and the International Day of Action, October 24th, 2009. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to sit in that seat without a few precursory pina coladas or a beard and sunglasses. McKibben made it look simple. Way to go Bill!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bill McKibben
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Protests

California Coast - Take 1

Ah, cycling the California coast. I've heard the weather is much nicer in October.

In a fit of unusual ambition, I spent Saturday riding from Carmel-By-The-Sea (a real name of a real town) to Aptos, essentially skirting the Monterrey Bay on an adventure through every type of coastal landscape, from billion dollar real estate in Pebble Beach to the sand dunes of Seaside to the foggy/sunny/foggy again farmlands of Watsonville. The training ride epitomized what it is I love about California as well as what I've come to learn about bike riding. The diversity of landscape and people is intertwined and fascinating. The weather is anything but what it looks like in the movies. And there is just no better way to experience the nature of "place" and places than on two wheels.

I had the joy of experiencing Highway 1 for the first time on a bicycle. Big. Trucks. Lots of time to pedal and think about transportation. I pondered agriculture, the population of my home state, the population of the world, and all the land and water, not to mention diesel fuel required to feed us all strawberries in August.

Oh, and somewhere north of Castroville I came upon this little gem of a thoroughfare:



Keep your eyes out for our next Ride350 training session, coming soon to a(n unincorporated) town near you!