2010 is Dancing on the Pedals from the Starting Line

In the fall of 2009 my road led back to the Central Coast of California and the little town of Atascadero.

I was met by it's wonderful inhabitants and some of the best cycling terrain I've ever had the pleasure to explore.

With breathtaking scenery on all sides that often had me whispering to myself "I'm soooo lucky!" I set about to regain some of the fitness I'd lost between Interbike and Thanksgiving.

I asked the locals where the main bike shop was and they pointed me in the direction of Kman Cycle and Run. My aging "Fiery Steed" was already having saddle slipping issues. Also, Kman's sister website Team Kman (@teamkman) provided me with a comprehensive list of trail maps incuding mileages that I went to right away to plan my training routes. It was a great way to get acquainted with the area.

My friend Martha VanInwegen (@marthvan) lives in Atascadero and, knowing me, also mentioned that Kman's had a BIG BLANK WALL that might be hungry for a Bike Scribble! Hmmm, do tell!

(photo courtesy of Todd Ventura (@tventura)

Well, I'm a muralist at rock bottom so while I may love to paint on canvas and draw on paper, I pretty much want to put everything I do on a big wall in the open air. Ever since I painted the first Bike Scribble on canvas I wanted to see it on a bike shop wall.

To my surprise, when I met with the owner Keith "KMan" Schmidt and his wife Robyn, they were smitten with the concept straight away. I don't think I've ever seen a project come together more quickly.

Keith "Kman" Schmidt

I chose my colors from the landscape of vineyards, olive orchards, lakes and lavender sunsets.



We met the first week in December and by January 8th the Scribbles were spinning vibrantly on the two story wall and visible from Highway 101. While I wasn't sure why I chose Atascadero for the next chapter when I arrived, now the purpose is absolutely clear.

While there were some grumblings from the city about needing sign permits and such, nothing in that regard has materialized. The City of Atascadero doesn't really have a public art policy or process and we're hoping, now that some redevelopment in the historic downtown area is planned, that public art will be a larger part of those plans.

With any luck this mural is the first of many. The plan is to have a whole peloton's worth of Bike Scribbles on as many LBSs (Local Bike Shop) as will have them, promoting the joy of cycling through public art. I've been talking to bike shop owners in several cities across the country and there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the energetic designs.

In between the brush strokes I've put in some delightful miles over the rolling hills from Atascadero north through Templeton to Paso Robles and west to Morro Bay. There are wineries and wildlife in every direction. The cycling community here is serious, dedicated, warm, wonderful and completely wacko in love with their region. I don't blame them. It's gorgeous here and I've made some great friends.

The Central Coast is Cycling Heaven.

On to the next Bike Scribble!

"@bikechik Thanks for sharing your great passion, inspired by riding through vineyards, indeed, almost a surfeit." -@RandallGrahm President, Bonny Doon Vineyard

It is Finished. And it is Varnished!

It's official

The mural for Carmichael Training Systems in Colorado Springs is complete. Here are the photos and text supplied by Marian Hunting of Women's cycling Magazine. They have put the article on their site with an interview they did with me when I began the project. I will edit this post more after I have had some sleep but couldn't wait to share.

The WHOLE thing

El Diablo terrorizes the leader up Alpe D'Huez

Kathleen King’s Tour de France Mural

Courtesy of Marian Hunting, Women's Cycling Magazine

July 19th, 2009

Kathleen King is a cyclist and an artist who began her career as a muralist in 1983 in San Diego, California. More recently, Kathleen was commissioned by Chris Carmichael to paint an indoor mural for the new Carmichael Training Systems facility. Kathleen began researching her latest project, an 8 foot by 13 foot indoor mural, in January of this year and began painting in March.

Kathleen’s painting is visual representation of the history of the Tour de France with a timeline composed of sunflowers, one for each year of the Tour since it began in 1903, and a peloton composed of all of the 56 Tour winners done in Kathleen’s distinctive scribble style.

At the head of the peloton she painted 8 of the stars of the Tour de France history: Lance Armstrong (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, & 2005), Miguel Indurain (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, & 1995) Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, & 1974), Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 & 1985) , Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, & 1964) Fausto Coppi (1949 & 1952), Gino Bartali (1938 & 1948), and Maurice Garin (1903). Kathleen has also depicted 8 of the popular climbs that are often featured in the Tour (including the Alpe d’Huez), the popular El Diablo, and the celebrated Lanterne Rouge.

Kathleen will be unveiling her latest project at the Grand Opening of the new Carmichael Training Systems facility today. You can follow Kathleen on twitter here, follow her on her blog here, and purchase some of her wearable art here.