Cascade's Group Health Bike Expo . . . New Location!

[Susan126]

I see that Cascade is having their Bike Expo near Safeco Field this year. In the Princess Cruise Line's terminal 30! And it should be a lot warmer than previous years! I always remember the Bike Expo as COLD and WINDY!

Who's going please raise your hands! :D

[teigyr]

We'll be there! I'm not sure which day and I didn't even see that it moved. I am SO glad you noticed that.

[Susan126]

Yes and they have two nice maps!

http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/terminal30cruise.shtml

second one is even better:

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/expo/pdf/Expo-parking-map.pdf

:D

My hubby Joe, our daughter Jackie, and I will be there too. Not sure which day yet. My son may be driving home that weekend too from EWU. So we'll have to see!

[mimitabby]

a much shorter bike ride for me!

[auntiebobo]

I've never been, so am planning to go for the first time this year. Very much looking forward to it.

[KnottedYet]

When is it?

[auntiebobo]

Hours
Saturday March 8, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday March 9 10:00am- 4:00pm

[KnottedYet]

Oh, boogers, I'm at a training session that whole weekend!

Somebody go say "Hi" to the Ibex rep for me, ok?

[Aint Doody]

Me, too! Me, too! Mimi, I hope we finally get to meet this year. We'll have the CROC booth again. All y'all come on by. I work both days, but I probably won't have to work until the afternoon on Sunday. And I'll be strolling around checking everything out. Too bad Knotted can't make it this year.

I'm starting another thread about our ride. It's gonna be fantastic--as usual. I'm pretty sure Biker Hen is coming & hopefull TSPoet.

Susan

[bikerHen]

I almost have my husband retalked into going. Can anyone point me in the direction of cheaper lodging? Or is there such a think in Seattle? bikerHen

[evangundy]

So is this close to where they used to have it at the convention center? Or where Kingdome was? Is it close to the train station is a better question. Last time it was downtown, a group of us rode Amtrak up and back from Portland. Was so nice to not have to drive 3 hrs each way. Would love to do it that way again :-)

Thanks!
Edna

[salsabike]

Definitely walkable from the train station.

[jesvetmed]

I hope to be there also for the triathlon information seminars. I work Saturday, but plan to come Sunday. Would love to meet some of you all.

Jes

[mimitabby]

my hours at the RCC (Redmond Cycling Club) booth are Sunday 10-12

[Susan126]

my hours at the RCC (Redmond Cycling Club) booth are Sunday 10-12

Mimi if I had known you were a member of RCC I might have come to the annual "OPEN HOUSE" last Tuesday at the Mia Roma Restaurant in Kenmore. I got an invite from Greg S. I guess because I volunteered at last year's RAMROD. But Kenmore is such a long drive for me from Bonney Lake after work.

I read your Chilly Hilly report. Loved the tale of "POTTIES"! When is there not a line in front of the women's porto potties?! You lucked out that day. Too bad you forgot your memory card for your camera. Would have loved to have seen some! I haven't done the Chilly Hilly in 3 years!

[MM_QFC!]

I'll be working the 8A-12N volunteer shift on Saturday at the Cascade bike club "events registration" area, so if you're registering for the STP, or RAW or RSVP, etc, I'll take your check, so stop and say 'hi' TE women!
I've been helping on the Sat morning of the Expo for years, so that I can wander around later myself and will be back there on Sunday morning too, with friends.
Mary

[jodeet]

The Expo is a great way to get into the bikking mode after a crumby winter. We have gone over to Seattle from Spokane for the last 4 years. I had back surgery last week, so I won't be attending the Expo, but I am sending my husband over, so he can get his "fix" and get all of the info so I can work on getting back in the saddle!:)

[Susan126]

Jodeet I hope your back heals quickly and that you will soon be back on your bike! I know you had a snowy winter over there! My son goes to EWU so I know!

Hope your hubby finds some cool things on his trek to the expo!

[Starfish]

Well, sadly I will be working my own booth at a home builders show over in Sequim that weekend. :(

[Susan126]

Well, sadly I will be working my own booth at a home builders show over in Sequim that weekend. :(

Starfish, I'll try and give a report on the expo at it's new location. Sorry you won't be attending this year. :(

[Aint Doody]

Last year we all wore our Amici Veloci buffs. Can we do that again this year to help spot each other?

Susan

[jesvetmed]

I have all intentions of being there for the triathlon talks. Don't have a buff, though!!!!:(
Jes

[Aint Doody]

OK--look for cowboy hats. That's what we'll be wearing in the CROC booth. Hope to meet some of y'all. And I'll bend your ears on the CROC Ride!

[Starfish]

Starfish, I'll try and give a report on the expo at it's new location. Sorry you won't be attending this year. :(

Thanks...I'm bummed. I can only make so many runs to Seattle, though! This month it will be at least 3x, and 4x if I come to the Wahine/Knot thing! Five-six hour round trip...plus gas & ferry!

Anyhow, I will be working a booth over here at the homebuilder's expo...I don't think they would appreciate discussions about building with Campy, Shimano, or SRAM. :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

I am soooooo bummed that I can't go this year.

(darn medical training on a *weekend*, whose idea was that, anyway?)

[dex]

I think I have to try to make it to the expo, because according to this (http://raleighbicycles.blogspot.com/2008/03/seattle-bike-expo-this-weekend.html), I'll get to see one of these bikes (http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427) there. And I've been wanting to check the Sojourn out since I saw a little blurb in the Bicycling buying guide issue a little while back.

[salsabike]

I will be there on Sunday for the swimming and biking tri stuff. Will have AV buff if I have the presence of mind to remember, and AV armwarmers too. And an extra AV buff (if I have the presence...etc.) for anyone who wants one. Come say howdy.

[Susan126]

Joe and I left the house around 9:30 AM and just got back about half an hour ago. It is now 5:51 PM! We had a great time at the bike expo. Saw so many bikes, found some awesome rides coming up this season, bought some new bike jerseys, and met some pretty cool people. One person whom I truly enjoyed talking to, and Joe too, was a guy from Rodriguez bikes named "Smiley"! He is totally awesome! I told him that I would be buying a new bike next year when my two kids are finally out of college and that I wanted a 700cc wheeled bike. He told me when he fits me and sees that I would be better fitted with a 650cc he would tell me this. Then he went into this entire technical talk about why! Listening to him made me marvel at how much he knew about bikes and bike fit! We high fived and I told him that Joe and I would be visiting his shop soon. First to just see it and then next year to get our new bikes.

The second person I met was Chris Carmichael. I even got my picture taken with him . . .

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d167/Howler247/chrisandme.jpg

another really interesting person to talk with.

I took my camera along but only got two pictures. The one of Chris and me and this one:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d167/Howler247/helmetnet.jpg

If I hadn't bought myself a new helmet three months ago I would have purchased one of these. Wow netting! That would have saved my daughter's head last June from the bee sting she received when a bee got trapped in her helmet! This is my next helmet!

A totally enjoyable day!

Oh on our way home Joe and I stopped in Renton. First we stopped at Renton's Thrift Way Grocery Store and then we headed over to Cedar River Barbecue and had ourselves some mighty fine bbq sandwiches.

Now home I am beat! Tomorrow Joe and I will do one of our favorite rides starting from Black Diamond.

Hope to hear from others who attended the Bike Expo!

[mimitabby]

Will be wearing my Amici Veloce jersey today!

I hope to see SOMEONE there.

[Eden]

One person whom I truly enjoyed talking to, and Joe too, was a guy from Rodriguez bikes named "Smiley"! He is totally awesome! I told him that I would be buying a new bike next year when my two kids are finally out of college and that I wanted a 700cc wheeled bike. He told me when he fits me and sees that I would be better fitted with a 650cc he would tell me this.

I know a lot of people really like Smiley, but he seems to recommend everyone under 6' have 650c wheels...... Don't neccessarily believe this. I know a lot of people who have Rodriques bikes and they are very good bikes, but its downright silly to see 650's on a bike made for someone who is 5'6".... My coach also has one, and he told her the same thing, but she's a PT and knows very well what she wants and what she needs. She told him if he didn't make her bike to *her* specs she'd take her business elsewhere and actually got a bike with 700's. Yes - there are some smaller people who need a bike with smaller wheels to get the fit right, but we are all very different from one another, so make sure who ever fits you with a bike isn't so caught up in what they believe to be gospel truth that they refuse to look at alternatives. My body breaks all the rules. I fit better on a bike with 700c wheels even though I'm only 5' tall. I have long legs for my size and extremely short arms. I currently have 2 bikes, one with 650's and one with 700's and I know which one fits better. Now I'm not trying to say the you or anyone else is the same as I am (I think I have an odd body type...) and a bike with 650's could be just the ticket for you, just be aware.

[Susan126]

Thanks Eden! My hubby tends to agree with you! He said with today's geometry so much better than in the past I shouldn't have any trouble getting 700cc wheels on my new bike. I will weigh and ponder and really take my time when I finally do go looking for my new bike next year. I think there is a 700cc bike out there for me. I will keep my old 650cc that I currently ride as my around town/to the store/bad weather bike but I am looking forward to a new shiny 700cc bike next year. I think the hardest part will be choosing the color! I am so fond of red and black. Joe said it's time for a new color! I did like the pearlescent purple and green bikes I saw yesterday. Oh I hate making decisions sometimes! :confused:

But I will take my time. Weigh the pros and cons see how the bike fits. I too have an odd body shape. Like you I have long legs for my short height of 5'4" (well almost 5'4" . . . I round up! LOL) This time around I am going to take my time do my homework and see what feels right. I can't wait!

[mimitabby]

Hey Susan, we're the same size and I round DOWN! how funny!

Bike expo was a lot of fun; each year I go, I see more people I know. We rode there and then home again, so i really felt the part.

I saw East Hill. She has a new (old) Sachs that someone GAVE her...

that's MY big news; and it's not mine.

[KnottedYet]

I know a lot of people really like Smiley, but he seems to recommend everyone under 6' have 650c wheels...... Don't neccessarily believe this.

Smiley can be challenging at times. I gave up on Rodriguez after spending half an hour with him a couple years ago.

I've had to fix one of his "bike fits" where he (as my fit-ee described it) "washed his hands" of her, and told her he just couldn't make her bike fit her. All it needed was the saddle down and back. (his tapes were still on the bike, so I know the customer didn't mess with any of his fitting) Women have longer femurs to tibias, but he fit her by the book as one would a man, and it just didn't work.

Take everything with a grain of salt. (even what I just said!!!)

YMMV.

[Susan126]

Hey Susan, we're the same size and I round DOWN! how funny!

Bike expo was a lot of fun; each year I go, I see more people I know. We rode there and then home again, so i really felt the part.

I saw East Hill. She has a new (old) Sachs that someone GAVE her...

that's MY big news; and it's not mine.

Hey Mimi glad you had a good time at the expo. I love browsing and checking out all the bikes, clubs, rides, gear, and all. And you even got a ride in too. I didn't get a ride in yesterday when we went. So bonus for you!

Oh I almost forgot, I round up because I try to be as tall as I can possibly be! :p

[salsabike]

I had much the same experience with Smiley.

I am a little under 5'5". When I went to buy a road bike, I had fittings by Smiley and then by Erik Moen. I took that info and did a little spreadsheet (and I am NOT very OCD--I just wanted to get it more or less right, since the bike I had then was too big) with desired ranges of top tube length, seat tube angle, stuff like that. Smiley let me borrow a Rodriguez with 650c wheels for four days to do some 20-30 mile rides, which I really appreciated. In the end, I chose the Bianchi because any change in the Rodriguez was a charge of $250, and I had a few changes I needed to make in their model. The Bianchi gave me the measurements I needed at less money. And I concluded that I didn't particularly need 650c wheels either. But I did like the Rodriguez bike.

I think R&E are a bit like the Rivendell of the West--by which I mean, they have some VERY firm beliefs about bikes and how they should be. They seem to push 650s a lot--there's another article about them in the newsletter we got today. I think they're good guys and make fine bikes. It just helps to be aware of what each shop's beliefs are so you can filter them out for yourself when you need to.

We rode from Logboom to the expo and back yesterday. Saw Mimi and RD, which is always fun, and MM_QFC. Went to both the swim and bike tri lectures. Liked the swim lecture fine; bike lecture was okay. I still have plenty of questions so will be looking at some tri books and talking to some of you...

[Starfish]

Also not a big Smiley fan here. But, like Knot said, YMMV. I know at least one person who absolutely had a great experience and loves her Rodriguez.

[Aint Doody]

I had a wonderful time, too. But I still haven't had a chance to meet any of y'all. And after suggesting the buff, I forgot to even take mine to Seattle. We were busy in our CROC booth pushing our ride. I didn't feel that I had as much time to roam this year. I surely like the location, as we stay downtown at the Camlin. But I sorta felt that going through the different rooms was a minus. Still I'd rather be there--MUCH nicer bathrooms and plenty of them. Has anyone heard an attendance figure? It seemed to me that I wore my tongue out talking to more people this year. Our ride isn't full yet.....
www.cyclependleton.com It's gonna be lotsa fun!