Houston, we have a bag problem!

We have a lot of bags as you, gentle reader may infer from reading this blog. We were smitten by these at the Fremont Solstice Festival but did not get one ... yet.

Currently in two sizes; big and bigger both have plenty of room for laptops, notebooks, camera, anything you need.

Both sizes have lots of options with enough pockets that you won't hunt for everything on the bottom of the bag. Slots inside the flap seem perfect for sketchbooks.

They are made from repurposed material; sails and truck tarps so each bag is different. The owners were at the fair and spoke of the fun they have in choosing where to cut the cloth. The fun is evident.

Some bags play with typography; a bit of a logo or letter, or swatch of color others have whole swaths of color. The repurposed material gives individual character to each bag. All are attractive but like a box of chocolates you never know what you're going to get. But you would be getting a unique and beautiful bag that's made in Seattle.

http://metamorphicgear.com/

Dear family of cyclist on the MUT (Multi use trail).

I know you love riding. I know you love your family. I think those are both great! Can you please find a more sensible way of doing it that won't kill us all like the one I saw you demonstrate today? Lots of options to choose from depending on age and ability of the fruit of your loins: trailers, trail-a-bikes or simple formation of a parent in front, parent in back and children riding in between parental units. Whose bright idea was it to tie the entire party and their bikes together with nylon ropes as if you're heading for an assault on Mt Ranier, ice picks in hand, crampons on the boots, all set for crossing the crevasses? Yes, gentle reader, they were in formation at the side of the trail astride their Walmart bikes and each member of the Donner party tied to the next, stem to stern to stem with knotted nylon rope. I hope I don't read in the news tonight any one of a myriad of disasters I could imagine:  little Timmy fell, drags entire family into Lake Washington ...  little Sally veers left, knocks out a blind runner and her dog ... Maybe this a test of my ethics like the series "What Would You Do?". I should have stopped to ask "Are you sure you want to do this??" I hope someone stopped to give you advice before one of you gets hurt. It was a sunny day (which in Seattle means wear wool. More on that later). Lots of families are out with trailers, their kids on bike or on trail-a-bikes. Maybe you saw one and said "Honey? Can we just get those?" Hopefully a cycling family stopped to show you the ropes so to speak. I regret not stopping to talk with you and hope you get the idea for your, everyones and my safety. Dear gentle reader if you're seeking safe, quality options to ride with your kids you can't get better than Burley.  http://www.burley.com/ We wish these were available when my step son was young. Oh well, now they are. Maybe I'll get to take the grand niece/nephew riding. Whether you want to introduce kids to cycling, take your beloved pet along for a ride or try a tour Burley has a well deserved reputation for being the best. Get them. Don't use nylon rope.

My other bike has fenders!

Seattle is the number one city in the United States for cycling. There are lots of urban, utility cyclists around. We also have club riders which I was and was more used to in sunny California. How do you tell the difference since both ride bikes? Well here you're not taken seriously until you have fenders. Without fenders the assumption is you are just a sunny day rider.

Club and charity rides are good too. But some clubs will not allow you to ride without fenders. The weather turns suddenly and fenders not only keep you from having a skunk stripe of water up your back but they keep the rider behind you dry as well. So just like stopping at stop lights and signs it's good cycling etiquette.

My commute/errand bike has front and rear fenders, my mixte has wood fenders. My road bike can not be fit with fenders or not easily. I'll check with my mechanic but don't think it can be done with such skinny tires, little clearance. 

I'll need a jersey that says "But my other bikes have fenders!" 

If you're thinking about cycling for errands, fun, just get a little exercise in and don't want to have to worry if it suddenly rains get fenders. Many of kinds are made here:

http://www.joe-bike.com/2011/03/24/portland-made-wood-or-bamboo-fenders-and-bottle-cages/