If we move back to Seattle we will live in West Seattle. For the ~2ish years until I know I'm going to make partner and probably until I actually did so we'd live with my mother in law and rent out this house here in Denver. (The house should rent for about $500 more than my PITI payment: :notbadobama: ) After that then I'd start looking painfully for a ~$1M house in that neighborhood, a figure that should buy something slightly smaller and shabbier than my decidedly not $1M house here.
That's not the important part, though. The important part would be that we'd be in West Seattle. This would be good for the girls, as they'd be within a mile or two of their beloved grandmother and various and sundry other relatives. This would be good for me, as I'd have built in childcare and thus more freedom than I currently have to head out for the day to go biking or skiing. (I'd keep my 5010, of course, and just hit up Tiger and Duthie instead. I like rocks but I also like roots so this is ok with me. I'd also ski on the Cascade Concrete, since that's largely what I'm used to anyway.)
Anyway, back to the West Seattle thought: most of this neighborhood is up on a plateau. I'd probably be based in the downtown/Capitol Hill area most of the time, so most days I'd be able to commute to work on two wheels: ride down to the West Seattle Water Taxi, shuttle on said taxi across to downtown, and then ride on into work. There's a slight gradient coming from the King St water taxi dock to Capitol Hill but moreover there's a quite large hill coming back up to West Seattle/Admiral.
Thus I'd probably revisit the e-bike idea much as I had in my prior Seattle stint(s). The nice thing is that that market has matured a lot. I wouldn't need or want to cobble something together and could instead opt for one with a warranty and local dealers. The one that's caught my eye today as I browse around idly is this one:
That's a Wallerang M.01. 250W Shimano STEPS mid-drive with a 36V ~10Ah battery. Alfine Di2 8 speed internally geared hub with resulting clean chainline, and I'd be willing to overlook the odd gear spacing that infuriated me so on the Charge Grater that I returned to REI given that I'd have electricity to smooth things out. Alfine hydraulic brakes as well, and of course those funky integrated racks, lights, and fenders befitting its Swedish origin. (Actually built there, too, supposedly! Amazing to see something not from China.)
In any case the point is that there exist many options these days. There are 3 electric bike-dedicated shops in Seattle alone, as far as I can tell! and even the local West Seattle bike shop has e-bikes in the front window.
That's not the important part, though. The important part would be that we'd be in West Seattle. This would be good for the girls, as they'd be within a mile or two of their beloved grandmother and various and sundry other relatives. This would be good for me, as I'd have built in childcare and thus more freedom than I currently have to head out for the day to go biking or skiing. (I'd keep my 5010, of course, and just hit up Tiger and Duthie instead. I like rocks but I also like roots so this is ok with me. I'd also ski on the Cascade Concrete, since that's largely what I'm used to anyway.)
Anyway, back to the West Seattle thought: most of this neighborhood is up on a plateau. I'd probably be based in the downtown/Capitol Hill area most of the time, so most days I'd be able to commute to work on two wheels: ride down to the West Seattle Water Taxi, shuttle on said taxi across to downtown, and then ride on into work. There's a slight gradient coming from the King St water taxi dock to Capitol Hill but moreover there's a quite large hill coming back up to West Seattle/Admiral.
Thus I'd probably revisit the e-bike idea much as I had in my prior Seattle stint(s). The nice thing is that that market has matured a lot. I wouldn't need or want to cobble something together and could instead opt for one with a warranty and local dealers. The one that's caught my eye today as I browse around idly is this one:
That's a Wallerang M.01. 250W Shimano STEPS mid-drive with a 36V ~10Ah battery. Alfine Di2 8 speed internally geared hub with resulting clean chainline, and I'd be willing to overlook the odd gear spacing that infuriated me so on the Charge Grater that I returned to REI given that I'd have electricity to smooth things out. Alfine hydraulic brakes as well, and of course those funky integrated racks, lights, and fenders befitting its Swedish origin. (Actually built there, too, supposedly! Amazing to see something not from China.)
In any case the point is that there exist many options these days. There are 3 electric bike-dedicated shops in Seattle alone, as far as I can tell! and even the local West Seattle bike shop has e-bikes in the front window.
Last edited:
Maybe more writing shit here about cars and bikes, heh.
