Dead Baby Bikes Downhill Race 2008: The Greatest Party Known to Humankind
It's the time of year again to fix up your mutant bicycle (or regular bicycle) and ride it at the 12th annual Dead Baby Downhill Race this Friday, August 1. Claiming to be the "greatest party known to humankind," the event is more than a bicycle race, it's an amazingly fun party.
Last year's turnout was about 1600 people, some of whom traveled from far away lands like Canada. This year over 2000 people are expected to partake in the merriment that is northwest mutant bicycle culture. Fortunately for a crowd fearing gal like myself, there will be plenty of space for the crowds so I won't have to be crammed up against a wall all night trying to avoid the sweaty masses of people. But enough about my social anxiety disorder, let's get to the details of the race.
FAQs about the Downhill
Do you have to be a bicycle person to attend this event?
Nope. You don't even need a bike to attend the party at the end of the ride in Ballard.
Is this an actual race or is it a party?
It's a race AND a party. The winner of the race gets an assortment of cool prizes and, of course, glory. The race ends in Ballard where there will be events like tall bike jousting, bands on three stages, bicycle dance performances, and other bicycle related events. The race is also a fun ride for those who don't care about winning the race. Last year I stayed to the back of the crowd and cruised at a nice, mellow pace with my friends.
What time does registration and the race begin? Where?
Registration is between 5-6:45pm and costs $20. With the registration fee you get a t-shirt and a water bottle and a chance to race or just cruise down the hill to Ballard. Registration ends promptly at 6:45 and the race begins promptly at 7pm. Registration and race starting point will be at El Chupacabra in Phinney Ridge.
Do I have to have a mutant bike to ride in the race?
No, but you'll definitely want to build one after you see all of the cool mutant bikes at the ride.
I personally love the Dead Baby Downhill, but you don't have to just take my word for it that it's great fun. Here are some posts from other blogs about Dead Baby Downhills of the past:
Starting Location: El Chupacabra 6711 Greenwood Ave N (map)
Time and Date: Friday, Aug. 1, 5pm
Price: $20
Weekend Festivals and Gay Ballroom Dancing
I'm leaving for the Blogher Conference tonight and I'll be there all weekend. That's right, there is such a thing as a women's blogging conference. I'm pretty excited about the conference and I hope to gain lots of new knowledge about blogging this weekend.In the meantime, if you're looking for something fun to do in Seattle this weekend:
- Shoreline Solarfest
- Bite of Seattle (not my favorite festival, but if you're in the neighborhood it might be fun to check out. Free admission.)
- SeaFair Indian Days Pow Wow
Century Ballroom has all sorts of different dance nights for straight people, too. I randomly stumbled in there a couple of Thursdays ago for salsa night. My friends and I were walking around Capitol Hill one night and we passed by Century Ballroom. We heard the lively music and we just had to check it out. That night I attempted to salsa dance with a very patient stranger who probably had very bruised toes the next day from me stepping on them repeatedly. The best part of salsa night at Century Ballroom was there were a lot of available dance partners. I have gone to swing dance events in the past where they claimed "no partner needed" but everyone else came with a partner and I did, in fact, need a partner. I was pleased to discover there was no need to bring a dance partner to Century Ballroom for their salsa night.
Best Way to Travel from Seattle
A couple of weeks ago I took the train to Portland, OR, for $54 round trip (including tax). The ride is about 3.5 hours each way which is about the same amount of time it takes to drive to Portland from Seattle, and it's less expensive than driving.
This weekend I'm going to Whitefish, MT, for a little vacation to visit friends and enjoy the mountains. Yes, this liberal California native has friends in Montana, if you can believe it. They tolerate me as long as I don't live there. My train ticket is $195 round trip, and the ride is 14 hours each way. That's the same amount of time it takes me to drive, and it's cheaper than driving. Plus, the train has amenities like food and movies in the lounge car.
Traveling longer distances by train takes a long time and is more costly, but it's a great way to travel short distances for weekend getaways. Check the Amtrak website for discounts on tickets. I got a 10% discount on my tickets because of my AAA membership.
First Thursday Afternoon Plans
It's the first Thursday of the month so S.A.M. and E.M.P. are free. E.M.P. free hours are from 5pm - 8pm. S.A.M. is free all day.
