We decided to trek down to Issaquah yesterday and check out Duthie Bike Park as a family unit. After grappling with gear and kids in and out of the truck, and becoming slightly frustrated by the time we were ready to ride, a great time was had by all! I’ve got skiing with the family down, but still working out some kinks with mountain biking.
The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance did a fantastic job of creating a bike park with something for everybody and all skill levels. If you haven’t been there yet, check it out. Our kids are 7 and 8, but there are kids much younger rocking strider push bikes, as well as the big air crowd sporting full face helmets and neck braces, and spandex sporting XC and CX folks. The only thing you don’t see there are road bikes. Fortunately, the trail system is well marked with signage denoting level of difficulty and travel direction. As long as you can read, you’re not likely to get in over your head or get your kids out on a trail they should not be on. Even the more advanced trails seem to generally include an easier way around the more difficult trail features. If you haven’t done so, go check this place out while summer is here. You don’t need a fancy bike. Anything with knobby tires and you should have some fun. Link to Duthie Hill Bike Park
The first annual all women’s Surgar Showdown skills clinic day was going on while we were out there. Watching the gals work on their drops in the skills zone was great inspiration for the kids. The ladies are throwing down on the race course today. Wish I was there to watch some of that. Master trail builder and indoor bike park design/builder, Joe Prisel (Ray’s MTB, the Lumberyard), was out there yesterday setting up the Lumberyard’s tent. He is a judge for the ladies pro race today. I had the chance to chat with Joe about the Wellington Hills Bike Park project. That guy is a wealth of knowledge!
Unbelievably, neither Janet or I got out the camera once to snap a single picture memorializing our first family trip to Duthie Bike Park. I guess we were having too much fun. Good reason to head back there soon.
Wellington Hills Bike Park 