Mountain Biking - Moving to Seattle, WA area

Hey,

I'm moving to the Seattle area on November 16th and was wondering if I'll still be able to get out on the trails there. It would be quite the tragedy to move all the way across the US only to have freezing rain and closed trails once I got there. Do any of you who live in that area know how long the Mountain biking season is? I also love to do urban Mountain biking so I know that will always be available, but I hope that the trails won't be closed during the winter months. Thanks in advance for any info!!!

No idea about the trails, but I will say this... Congrats! Seattle is a beautiful city, I loved it when I vistited. The thing that really struck me about it was how friendly just about everyone was, it totally floored me.

Our climate is temprate enough that there are a lot of trails open year round. Myself I just got into MTB so I am not sure but here is a link to one of our better MTB clubs

http://www.bbtc.org/home/index.php

ngateguy,

Thanks for the link! If you're the guy who I talked to on the temporary forum then I will definately be contacting you when I get out to Seattle and taking you up on your offer to show me around some of the trails.

I can't wait until I move!

ngateguy,

Thanks for the link! If you're the guy who I talked to on the temporary forum then I will definately be contacting you when I get out to Seattle and taking you up on your offer to show me around some of the trails.

I can't wait until I move!


UMMM excuse me, but can I come with you? HAHAHA. Just wanted to say good luck and let us all know how it is out there! I'm currently working on moving out that way myself. Have fun man!

My wife and I were talking over the weekend about finally relocating. Once she's healthy again (been sick for 3 years now) were outta here!

I've been talking about moving to the mountains for about 8 years now! Well, finally my wife is ready as well. I guess I'll start getting my resume together.

I really like Seattle, but don't think I could handle all the rain. I like the Hood River area in OR. I really like CO, and/or NC.

Anywhere really where there are mountains and a decent paying job!

L8R

My wife and I were talking over the weekend about finally relocating. Once she's healthy again (been sick for 3 years now) were outta here!

I've been talking about moving to the mountains for about 8 years now! Well, finally my wife is ready as well. I guess I'll start getting my resume together.

I really like Seattle, but don't think I could handle all the rain. I like the Hood River area in OR. I really like CO, and/or NC.

Anywhere really where there are mountains and a decent paying job!

L8R


HEY!! You gave me a great idea!! Lets start a shop up out there!

Ok oxygen_77 you have to give us the details of how it is out there.. we are counting on you man! HAHA

I'll give the details, as long as you don't exclude me from working at the shop you want to startup! hahaha... I plan on taking lots of pictures while I'm there Oct. 18-28th but I probably won't have time to do much trail riding during that time. I'll be too busy looking for a job and a place to live. When I move there in November I'll be sure to start posting on how I like it!

go to www.ridemonkey.com and find the forums section. there is a Pacific Northwest area and you will find plenty of people to show you around the area.

some trails do close for the winter months but there are plenty that stay open. just make sure you have the clothing for it.

Thanks for the info pnj! I don't know why I didn't think to check out that area of ridemonkey's site before now... stupid me... thanks again!

We get partial seasonal trail closures here. For instance, many of the more climate sensitive and fun stuff on Tiger Mountain are closed for the winter. However there are parts that are still open year-round.

I would suggest picking up the following two books:


Kissing the Trail: Greater Seattle Mountain Bike Adventures by John Zilly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1881583090/102-3511498-1151330?v=glance)

Mountain Bike! Washington by Alan Bennett (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0897322800/qid=1065546103/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/102-3511498-1151330?v=glance&s=books)



Some other good books you might want to look (but I have not actually grabbed myself) at include:


Mountain Bike! Northwest Washington: A Guide to Trails & Adventure by John Zilly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570611386/qid=1065546103/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-3511498-1151330?v=glance&s=books)

Mountain Bike! Southwest Washington: A Guide to Trails & Adventure by John Zilly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570611378/qid=1065546103/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-3511498-1151330?v=glance&s=books)

Mountain Bike America Washington: An Atlas of Washington State's Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides (Mountain Bike America) by Amy Poffenbarger, Mark Poffenbarger (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762709251/qid=1065546103/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-3511498-1151330?v=glance&s=books)

I'll give the details, as long as you don't exclude me from working at the shop you want to startup! hahaha... I plan on taking lots of pictures while I'm there Oct. 18-28th but I probably won't have time to do much trail riding during that time. I'll be too busy looking for a job and a place to live. When I move there in November I'll be sure to start posting on how I like it!


Heck no, we'll need employees... but don't expet to much work to be had, hope that doesn't bother you at all.. we'll all be to busy being out riding, we'll just have the shop open and work on the honor system... where people will just leave the money on the counter for parts they buy, and let them do the repairs themselves when we are out. Sound good? Yah thought so! :D

We get partial seasonal trail closures here. For instance, many of the more climate sensitive and fun stuff on Tiger Mountain are closed for the winter. However there are parts that are still open year-round.

Thanks for the info on Tiger Mountain! I looked it up online and it seems really nice. If anybody sees a 6'2" 158lbs blonde guy riding a Stumpjumper FSR there in the next couple of months it'll probably be me!!! WooHoo!

tiger mountain is probably the most overrated and overused of all trail systems in the greater seattle area. and it's closed about 6 months of the year. I would suggest buying "Kissing the Trail" as the others have and join one of the many mtb clubs. washington has lots to offer for year round biking if you don't mind being cold, wet, muddy and numb from november thru april.

My wife and I were talking over the weekend about finally relocating. Once she's healthy again (been sick for 3 years now) were outta here!

I've been talking about moving to the mountains for about 8 years now! Well, finally my wife is ready as well. I guess I'll start getting my resume together.

I really like Seattle, but don't think I could handle all the rain. I like the Hood River area in OR. I really like CO, and/or NC.

Anywhere really where there are mountains and a decent paying job!

L8R


Are you serious. That would be cool. Have a mtb bikeforum get together :)...that would kickass...especially if slcpunk ever gets out here :)

Are you serious. That would be cool. Have a mtb bikeforum get together :)...that would kickass...especially if slcpunk ever gets out here :)

HEY BUD!! You know I'm working on it!

HEY BUD!! You know I'm working on it!

I know...and it will happen it sounds like :)

Hey Mael, with all your contacts, do you know of any Construction Management related jobs in your area?

Let me know!

L8R

Construction. This is a booming booming area. With all the highway work and building going on I would imagine every company is hiring. I will pm you when I get home with a list of construction...I will also see if there is anything specific here to work with. I have some friends on the shore, maybe I could see something there too :)

Wow! Who'd have thought so many other's were also trying to move to the Pacific North West? Only 8 more days before I leave for my trip across the US to search for a place to live in Seattle!!! I'm so excited about this move that even the 3.5-4 day drive (that I'll have to do 3 times) isn't gonna' get me down.

I'm so excited about this move that even the 3.5-4 day drive (that I'll have to do 3 times) isn't gonna' get me down.

Hmmm... well you better move quick if you're intending to drive. Sometimes we'll get pass closures in the winter... even the I-90 pass. The closures don't last long but as you can imagine, it's not going to be fun to be stuck in the mountain during the middle of a snowstorm without any way out.

Khuon,

I'm leaving here on November 16th so I should be in that area around the 20th or so. Any particular roads I should try to avoid during that time? Thanks for the info!

I'm leaving here on November 16th so I should be in that area around the 20th or so. Any particular roads I should try to avoid during that time? Thanks for the info!

I think you should still be okay if you're sticking to the major expressways. Avoid the smaller passes like White Pass. Be sure to check the pass report webpage if you can before you cross.

http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/road/mnts/mntbas.htm

Khuon,

I'm leaving here on November 16th so I should be in that area around the 20th or so. Any particular roads I should try to avoid during that time? Thanks for the info!

You'll be going through Spokane on the way to Seattle - Let me know if you are interested in stopping here for a quick ride.

Khuon,

Thanks for the great link to the traffic cams and road status pages! I'm sure that'll come in handy!

sscyco,

I wish I would have time on my trip to stop, but the drive is going to take so much time and I need to find a place to live and work first. Thanks for the offer though! Maybe once I'm settled in I can plan a trip to spokane.



Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the info! This forum is really great!

Good Luck with the job search.

When I get home tonight, I'll get the title of a little book I found that helps with the interview process. I was flying out to Denver for an interview last year, and had a lay over in Atlanta. I was in one of the many magazine stands/book stores and saw this little book. It was easy to read and chock full of useful information. I followed the outline in preparation for the interview and ROCKED it! I knew I'd get offered the job as I got up and left the interview! It's a small little book, and I read the whole thing in like an hour!

L8R

Good Luck with the job search.

When I get home tonight, I'll get the title of a little book I found that helps with the interview process. I was flying out to Denver for an interview last year, and had a lay over in Atlanta. I was in one of the many magazine stands/book stores and saw this little book. It was easy to read and chock full of useful information. I followed the outline in preparation for the interview and ROCKED it! I knew I'd get offered the job as I got up and left the interview! It's a small little book, and I read the whole thing in like an hour!

L8R

UMMMM so did you get offerd the Job in Denver?

What do you guys think of Idaho? I am looking at the possibility of moving out there about 12 miles from Grand Targhee. Only issue is health benafits... the job as of right now offers none, uggg of course there is no garantee I have a job as of right now, but...... and the pay isn't that great, so it's not like I could afford them on my own. (crossing fingers that something in canada pops up, national health care!)

Yeah, I did get the offer. The problem was that while I was out there for the interview, my wife was being admitted to the hospital, and she's still pretty bad off. That was over a year ago and the Dr.'s still don't know what wrong with her. So, last fall, she was in NO position to pack up and move 1/2 way accross the nation.

Also, it was a cut in pay and more expensive to live in CO, so although a difficult decision to reject the offer, it worked out!

Now, she's a bit better, but more importantly, she ready "mentally" to move!

L8R

I don't know a lot about Idaho, except that when we drove through on our way to Washington about 8 years ago it was incredibly BEAUTIFUL county! Lots of mountains!

L8R

My wife had one of those mystery illnesses when she was in college. The crazy doctors thought it was Lupus. After a while it went away never to return...

The most aggrevating part is not know what IS wrong. The Dr.'s have ruled out was ISN'T wrong and that's good, but not definate diagnoses on her.

Stuff ruled out includes: MS, MDS, Lupus, Lyme Disease, Guillane Barre....etc.

L8R

So A2, what is up with your wife? Like how is she sick? Wouldn't mind trying to help, granted I don't know crap, but have alot of friends with weird illneses and most have to do with beleive it or not normal everyday chemicals as in house hold cleaning supplies!! I have heard everything from being dizzy, to getting vilontly (spelling?) ill as in throwing up and coming close to not lasting, even being allergic to crazy things that would never be considered an allergen. There's other stuff, too... just thought I'd give you some info if it could help.

Man, tell me this wouldn't be crazy if all of us ended up in the somewhat same area!

:D

Man, tell me this wouldn't be crazy if all of us ended up in the somewhat same area!

:D

That would be crazy... as in crazy on the trails because suddenly there's an influx of more riders... haha.. It's just a shame that around here (Charleston, SC) even the bike shops don't seem to take bicycling seriously. The only stuff carried in most of the shops is light XC or recreational bikes. Oh well, even if the biking here was much better it wouldn't be enough to keep me here... I've been planning on moving for the past 5 years...

Oh oh oh... just thought of another evil chemical that causes crazy off the wall crap like heart murmurs, foot pain, head aches respretory issues, joint problems, and tons of other stuff..... it's called Aspartame ( I beleive that is the correct spelling) it's found in most diet products, like diet coke, diet yogurt pretty much most things that are diet... I personally have cut it outa my diet (not like I ever had a diet...but you know what I mean)

Anyways even if I am having no clue as to what is wrong with your wife, I just have found that it is good to cut that out for anyone!!! It is one of the worst things you can put in your system, and there is some loop hole that allows them to still put it in foods even though it has been found to be very bad!

Edit: fixed spelling

Oh oh oh... just thought of another evil chemical that causes crazy off the wall crap like heart murmurs, foot pain, head aches respretory issues, joint problems, and tons of other stuff..... it's called ASPETHAME ( I beleive that is the correct spelling) it's found in most diet products, like diet coke, diet yogurt pretty much most things that are diet... I personally have cut it outa my diet (not like I ever had a diet...but you know what I mean)

Anyways even if I am having no clue as to what is wrong with your wife, I just have found that it is good to cut that out for anyone!!! It is one of the worst things you can put in your system, and there is some loop hole that allows them to still put it in foods even though it has been found to be very bad!

I think you meant Aspartame; a good alternative to Nutrasweet. It can be found in Equal sweetener as well as many other products. Aspartame breaks down to sugar in your body but other than that I haven't heard of all the problems you're talking about with it...

That would be crazy... as in crazy on the trails because suddenly there's an influx of more riders... haha.. It's just a shame that around here (Charleston, SC) even the bike shops don't seem to take bicycling seriously. The only stuff carried in most of the shops is light XC or recreational bikes. Oh well, even if the biking here was much better it wouldn't be enough to keep me here... I've been planning on moving for the past 5 years...

Are we long lost brothers? I have also been planning on moving for the past 5 years! All though 5 years ago I made it to Utah and lived there for a bit and worked as a mountain bike instructor and loved it!! But everything went wrong at once and had to move back to Chi town. So on again... I hope to move about the same time you do.... unless I get a job set in stone and I just wait till it starts.

But the job in Idaho could have me working the end of this month if it all worked out. (but personally I'd rather be a little closer to the coast and a little farther north say in B.C.) But anything is better than IL !!

Well, after our son was born, she was complaining of always being tired and exhausted. She went to the Dr.'s and they said it was just postpartum (sp?). Well, after a year, she went to another Dr. and he immediately said she was hyperthyroid. Got the blood work back and sure enough it was. They put her on a drug called PTU to reduce her tyroid hormone levels. Well, her body had an auto-immune reaction to the PTU and ended up with complete muscle weekness. She couldn't even hold her toothbrush up to brush her teeth. She spent 4 days in the hospital because the enzyme(chemical?) produced as a result of the reaction was attacking all her muscles, including her pulmanary and cardiac. (While I was in Denver) To the point she almost died! As a result, she was a totally weak slug for a long time, and trying to keep up with a 2 year old boy! That was last August, and she still has all over body pain and weakness, absolutely NO stamina. The Dr.'s are telling us they don't know what is the cause of this. They claim if it was a reaction to the PTU, she should've been better by now. So, we are schedule to see some specialist down at the University of Miami in mid-Nov., also probably the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville!

It's been a long three years!

L8R

The Panhandle of Idaho is becoming a paradise for cycling they have a ton of paved and soft packed trails there. I haven't had a chance to check any out yet but I will be there next spring and summer. They are actually cultivating it for skiing in the summertime and biking in the summer time so they want us there. When I get home tonight I will post some links on the trails there.

The Panhandle of Idaho is becoming a paradise for cycling they have a ton of paved and soft packed trails there. I haven't had a chance to check any out yet but I will be there next spring and summer. They are actually cultivating it for skiing in the summertime and biking in the summer time so they want us there. When I get home tonight I will post some links on the trails there.

Cool! I'll be very close to WY though, not in the panhandle part of the state, so it will be a bit of a haul up there. I have heard conflicting stories about if any of the resorts allow mtb on their chairlifts....also wonder about trees out there, I love dense forest and worry that it will be to much desert like. Also not having health benafits is a big worry, not sure how I could afford them on my own.

ngateguy,

I think you have your html tags backwards in your signature... ya' might want to fix it.

Hey SLC, I'm covered at my work, but the "family" plan for my wife and son was another $825/month, so I ended up getting them seperate coverage from a company called Mid-West something or other, for $219 per month!

So, there are cheaper alternatives!

L8R

Idaho the Potato State hope you like spuds, lentils too. Wallace Idaho was once famous for their gambling and prostitution (all ilegal of course)they are even proud of it to this day and have a brothel museum downtown. But that is just trivia stuff. The Pan Handle is nothing but lush forests and mountains sourthern Idaho I think is mainly desert and flat or rolling hills. the only time I have been there was years ag when we moved from here to St Louis. All I remember is snow taller than our Greenbrier van. r

Hey ngateguy,

I just read your signature (glad you fixed the html tags)... isn't that from "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?" If I'm not mistaken, it's kinda' how the first book starts isn't it? It's been a while since I read the five books in that trilogy. I'm trying to find the series on CD for my drive to Seattle (my wife has never read the books so I think she'd enjoy it).

Its from the Second book "Restaurant at the end of the galaxy" I believe is the title I have it at home my ex lent it to me to re read haven't laughed so hard reading a book in ages.

some of the best biking in washington is on the east side, the hard pack desert canyon trails are a nice change of pace from mud slinger trails on the west side. rides along the columbia river gorge have probably the best scenery I've seen in state.

oxygen_77 I highly recommend books on tape if you've got a cassette player in your car. It makes the time fly on those really long road trips!

Mountlake check out some of the canyon roads (not THE Canyon Road) that lie between the Ellensburg/Thorpe area and the Selah/Yakima area sometime I did Ellensburg pass a month ago on my cross pass MTB trip from Selah to Norhtbend what an awesome adventure all double track roads but it was friggin' cool
P.S. How's the collar bone?

ngateguy, I thought you were planning an Idaho panhandle trip this last summer. What happened? If you plan a trip for next summer, be sure to hit the Trail of the Hiawathas and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. You won't be disappointed. If you need a riding partner, let me know. I rode part of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes last week with a friend and only saw 6 other bikers, 1 rollerblader, and a lot of bear tracks and scat. Luckily, I can outride my buddy....

some of the best biking in washington is on the east side, the hard pack desert canyon trails are a nice change of pace from mud slinger trails on the west side. rides along the columbia river gorge have probably the best scenery I've seen in state.

The state of Washington seems like such a perfect place for mountainbikers... so many different places to ride and different types of trails. I'm so glad I'll be out there soon!

hey oxygen_77,

congrats on the move. Seattle's a cool place. and good for mountain biking.

as others have pretty much already said, you'll have no problems riding all year round as long as you're not a wuss --- you need the right clothing and have to deal with riding in col rain. also, wet roots and rocks make the trails tougher, but, heh, that's a good thing. and it's tough on your bike (particularly fork/shocks) so you might even think about getting a "winter bike" so you don't trash your primary bike.

in Portland (similar climate) i rode EVERY single week for the 3 years i was there. actually probably a bigger challenge than the wetness/mild cold in winter is lighting --- on weekday rides it gets dark early so you need good lights... (but then it doesn't get dark THAT much earlier than further south, so that problem is universal)

hey oxygen_77,

congrats on the move. Seattle's a cool place. and good for mountain biking.

as others have pretty much already said, you'll have no problems riding all year round as long as you're not a wuss --- you need the right clothing and have to deal with riding in col rain. also, wet roots and rocks make the trails tougher, but, heh, that's a good thing. and it's tough on your bike (particularly fork/shocks) so you might even think about getting a "winter bike" so you don't trash your primary bike.

in Portland (similar climate) i rode EVERY single week for the 3 years i was there. actually probably a bigger challenge than the wetness/mild cold in winter is lighting --- on weekday rides it gets dark early so you need good lights... (but then it doesn't get dark THAT much earlier than further south, so that problem is universal)

Hahaha... thanks. I'm pretty used to riding over slippery roots and through lots of mud because here in Charelston, SC all the trails consist of some swampy areas and are littered with roots everywhere... Hopefully I'm not a wuss.... I guess though that'll be determined when I get out there.. :) I probably won't be able to afford a bike right away, but I am planning on getting a new bike once I'm settled in (Kona Coiler) so that'll give me two bikes (one for summer, one for winter; or something like that). As for proper clothing... It rains alot here, but usually the rain is a hard pouring, Monsoon-like, rain not the misty all day stuff I've heard about in Seattle. What type of clothing is good for that? I was thinking that I could wear some type of windbreaker with some rain resistance (not waterproof) as a jacket, but I have no idea what to wear for pants nor what type of shoes will work. I have a pair of Vans shoes right now that I wear to ride, but I know they won't withstand lots of muddy abuse. Any suggestions on pants and shoes for MTB'ing during Seattle's winter would be appreciated!