Back Alley Blog
Check back often for news, events, ramblings, musings, minutia, etc.
PSq ALLEY RALLY – April 5th
Join us in Pioneer Square to celebrate the completion of Nord Alley and Pioneer Passage! Both alleys now feature beautiful new brick surfaces and improved stormwater drainage systems. Let’s kick off the new and improved alleys with music and art from local artists. Stroll the alleys and visit the adjacent businesses during April’s First Thursday Artwalk and help us celebrate this exciting achievement. Thursday, April 5th 4:30 – 5:00pm Remarks in Occidental Square Park 5:00 – 7:00pm Alley Festivities in Pioneer Passage & Nord...
read moreThe 5th Shortest Day/Longest Night Get Dowwn Downhill
Meet at Back Alley, 12 noon. Rolling 12:34. Aim to be back at Hooverville by sunset. Mmmm, Get Dowwn!
read moreIt’s a blast!
With road work along FR26 and FR99, the north side of Mt St Helens’ Windy Ridge (the Blast Zone) is seeing very little activity this summer. And so when a group of friends had in mind to take on the Ape Canyon/Smith Creek Epic we knew we would have a chance to enjoy “surfing the pumice” minus any crowds.
read moreGateway to Adventure
Out past Bremerton, Seabeck, Holly and Dewatto, the hills offer context and texture to the Hood canal and Tahuya Penninsula. You know you’ve arrived when you reach the Lost Highway. Stop in at our Radventure Emporium, enjoy a libation at our Counsultation Station and start your next radventure with us. Open M-W 9am-6ish, Thurs-Fri...
read moreSHOP EXPANSION – May 5th Open House
*BRING ON THE SPRING! OUR SHOP EXPANSION WAS A SUCCESS, AND WE’RE READY TO DIAL YOU IN FOR THE ROAD AHEAD!* SEE YOU ON MAY 5TH FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE – Cinco de Mayo, My oh, My oh, My, What a Nice Bike Shop! * Hi Folks – we’re growing!! And to express our gratitude for our awesome customers, we’re closing the shop 4/14 and 4/15 (and working throughout the weekend) to create our new and expanded Service Laboratory and Radventure Emporium. We’re...
read moreBOOM! Shop Hoodie!!
Last October, we had a visitor from Maine who came wanting to rent a sweet Bridgestone RB-2 for several days. Happy to oblige, I asked what brought him to Seattle. “I’m here doing a bit of research for a book I’m writing” he replied. I nodded, “right on, riding bikes helps me ‘peel back the layers of the onion’ too. You’ve picked a fine destination.” He was looking forward to exploring the San Juans and taking in the sweet vistas while diving into some family history. We set him up, and...
read morePortland Design Works (PDW) Full Metal Fender Road
Love ’em or hate ’em, fenders help make the wheels go round during Pacific Northwest winters. I’ve been using the PDW Full Metal Fenders on one bike or another over the last 3 winters. Initially, I was using them on a tight-clearance road bike that did not have front or rear eyelets for mounting fenders. They worked perfectly, as advertised. Which means that with a lil bit of initial fidgeting, these wrapped elegantly around 23c tires and protected toes and drivetrain alike. Typical with all fenders, there is the occasional...
read moreCOMPASS CYCLES Barlow Pass 38mm tire review
COMPASS TIRES BARLOW PASS 700cX38mm REGULAR TREAD MODEL TIRE REVIEW The Barlow Pass 700cx38c folding clincher is the latest tire design from Seattle’s own, Compass Tires. Featuring the Bicycle Quarterly’s famous-by-now mantra of “supple tire casing”, this 38mm ups the ante in the 700c plump tire market. As with all of Compass tires, the Barlow Pass employs Panaracer’s premium race-light casing and a glued on file tread pattern. Available in a “standard” (380g claimed, 390g actual) gum-wall casing or an all-black “extra-light”...
read moreLuke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, all rolled up into one
A conversation with Zack, from NW Asian Weekly, turned into these nice words… *click pic for full interview* We’ve been based in Pioneer Square for over 5 years. We’ve seen a lot of change, and some of it, we’re very proud of participating in. If you’re new to Seattle or Pioneer Square-curious, stop by for a chat, some maps, some high-fives and some jams, M-F, 9-ish to...
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