A nd no wonder. F rom Bellingham's mucho-mellow Interurban Trail and Lake Padden, to Howell Lake near Belfair and on to Cashmere's gonzo Devil's Gulch downhill, the Pacific Northwest seems to have it all. From deep forest sog to desert dirt in a 90 minute drive. S ome say it's the mud. Others insist it's the trees, the woods, the water.
C ycling in unfamiliar surroundings means preparing for the unexpected-but also for the inevitable.
Always, always wear a helmet and get to know your bike on the street before you take it into the woods. If you're new to toe clips or clipless pedals, it's even more crucial that you familiarize yourself with your equipment before launching off for additional adventure. Carry a spare tube or patch kit, mini-pump and a chain repair tool and know how to use them . The basic loop, which circles sleepy Lake Padden at waters edge, is a good match for smaller children and fresh beginners. On the other hand, numerous intersecting spurs on the southern shore are there to beckon more adventurous riders upwards with the same rigorous pleasures and punishments that have challenged area cyclocross racers for several seasons running.