Category Archives: Coffeeneuring

A surprise entry from Charlie T. is today’s guest post. Charlie is a D.C. Randonneur who I had no idea was coffeeneuring until I read a Velo Orange blog post by VO staff member and randonneur Scott G. that featured one of their coffeeneuring outings.

When I received Charlie’s “Coffeeneuring Paper,” as he called it, I brewed some herbal tea and settled in for a good read. Coffeeneuring with a little bit of everything: Bikeshare; family; friends; cool local coffee shops; the Midwest; the Mid-Atlantic; a group ride on a CaBi (!); myriad cappuccinos; and some reflecting about the benefits and beauty of coffeeneuring.

Congratulations to Charlie for his successful completion of this year’s Coffeeneuring Challenge, and to Katrin and Scott for their honorable mentions!

After Paris-Brest-Paris 2011 I heard about a gentler, caffeinated cycling adventure called coffeeneuring but I forgot all about it. In fact I didn’t ride a brevet again for over a year until the October Old Rag 200K. Setting off in 30 degrees I rode in the company of a new randonneur, Chris N. I asked how he had decided on a rando ride. He told me about a Friday morning club of coffee drinkers at Swing’s Coffee on G Street– a stone’s throw to the Old Executive Office Building. He had met Ed Felker there. He also mentioned Mary’s annual Coffeeneuring Challenge, which was already underway. This time it stuck in my memory. Hot coffee sounded pretty good that morning of the first freeze warning of the year.

On the left, Chris the man unwittingly responsible for my coffee drinking (Bill Beck on the right!)

I was worried about Chris. On a Surly disc long haul trucker with loaded pannier and u-lock, he looked more prepared for a coffeeneuring excursion than 125 miles with plenty of climbing. He was riding pretty hard too and I was sucking air to stay abreast of him. As a randonneur with some experience I freely, and quite sillily, dispensed with the usual advice to people new to the sport. I told him not to overexert himself early in the ride and to save some for the meanies to come in the second half of the day. I warned him especially not to try to stay with two speedsters, Kelly Smith and Bill Beck. Later that day Chris dropped me and rode on to join Bill, but not before recommending the hot soup at the last control. It hit the spot.

As soon as I got home Saturday evening I thought of hot coffee and reviewed the fine print on the Chasing Mailboxes blog. This was not going to be easy. After the day’s ride I was toast; a spin for coffee was out of the question. The next morning I wanted to sleep in, take a long bath and generally laze around. Before I knew it I’d lost that day and another week- end for the challenge. I’d have to wait for next year. The following Thursday my wife Katrin and I were flying to Minneapolis to visit our daughter Miriam, who is building homes with Habitat for Humanity. We wouldn’t have bikes.

1. Mill City Farmer’s Market, 704 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota

In Minneapolis the next Saturday, October 20, Miriam told us to meet her at the Mill City Farmer’s Market downtown by the Mississippi on a square next to the Guthrie Theater, a fabulous building impaled on a giant cantilever running through its middle.

By now I’d been impressed by the large number of cyclists on the streets and the town had to have the largest number of coffeehouses per capita of any state I’d been to. Miriam had pointed out that there were bike cafes where you could have your ride tuned or pimped up while you drank fine pour-overs or French-pressed coffee.

Indeed local cyclists, she said, were hopping mad (Minnesotans drink as much or more good beer as coffee) that Portland had been named the most bicycle-friendly city in America this year. (A popular recreational activity was riding and drinking with a group of revelers on a dutch-made pedal-pub while touring the city.)

First coffee, Guatemalan drip

I’d noticed a station of pea-green “Nice Ride” bike share bikes a block from our hotel. It is operated by the same Montreal company as our own Capital Bikeshare. Katrin and I decided to ride a couple miles over to the farmer’s market.

Katrin on a Nice Ride

It was chilly and the first order of business at the market was coffee. Two brothers were selling coffee from beans grown on their family’s Palmira estate in Guatemala. Will this count toward coffeeneuring, I wondered? Katrin snapped my picture and the quest began.

I had a delicious fresh cinnamon roll from a neighboring vendor. Looking at the calendar I realized I could miss only one Saturday or Sunday through November 11 to grab the steaming grail of coffeeneurdom. Total mileage was 20 or so, as we continued riding all over the city.

The view outside from a window inside The Guthrie

Another view of Mill City from The Guthrie’s cantilever

Miriam and Katrin

As it turns out we hopped on Nice Rides many times during our visit to crisscross the city on visits to museums, mills, breweries and, of course, cafes – if only all of them would have qualified for coffeeneuring I’d have been done in a single weekend. One of these, Sebastian Joe’s, had delicious rich homemade ice cream with arch flavors such as pothole choco named for a street cursed by cyclists.

2. Angry Catfish, 4208 28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The next morning, Sunday, I left Katrin to pack up and check out while I rode a Nice Ride to the Angry Catfish, a bicycle coffeehouse with the highest rated coffee in the town. On the map it looked close but Minneapolis, beyond its downtown, is very spread out, and two inches of map on the cell screen turned out to be many miles. On the way I had to detour around the tail-gating and cheerleader pom-poming for the Minnesota Vikings game. Some bridges over the greenway I was following were under construction, requiring more detours.

The Angry Catfish was worth every drop in my cup, though. While waiting for a cappuccino I admired Surly bikes with the fattest tires I’ve ever seen awaiting the Minnesota snows in the weeks to come, and I settled up with the mechanic for a handmade glass pendant, purchased for Miriam, with an iridescent metallic catfish on the inside. Mileage estimated at 12 including bonus miles.

First Detour

The Angry Catfish bicycles + coffee at 4208 28th Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55406

And then it was on to Duluth, Minnesota, three hours to the north and 20 degrees colder. The coffee was good there too and the hills were as steep as the streets of San Francisco. Apparently they are heated underground so that cars can climb them free of ice in the winter. Every street was connected with a skywalk between buildings – we had seen many of these in Minneapolis too, which made me wonder if you could ride across the city by skywalk.

3. Northside Social, 3211 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia

Back in D.C. we somehow forgot to smell the coffee the next Saturday, and that added to the excitement. I couldn’t miss another week-end day. On Sunday, October 28, just before Frankenstorm arrived, I walked over to the CaBi station a couple blocks from home and rode a couple miles to Northside Social, the home to the best coffee, some say, in Northern Virginia.

CaBi station across from Northside Social

The coffee is very good but I especially savored the chocolate espresso torte with hazelnuts, swishing it around in my mouth with the cappuccino froth. The baristas here are very accomplished at laying on designs on top of the foam. They usually sport intricate tattoos too.

Northside Social Cappuccino with Chocolate Espresso Hazelnut Torte

Total mileage from home and back about 4 miles.

The art of the pour

4. Buzz, 818 North Quincy Street Arlington, Virginia

Saturday next, November 3, I decided to try a new coffee shop in the area, Buzz . It had received several thumbs up on Yelp for its baked goods. The pumpkin whoopee pie went down swell with the cappuccino.

One of the benefits of coffeeneuring is the discovery of new places and faces and Buzz was one of them. Total mileage about 3.

Buzz

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie with Cappuccino at Buzz

5. Java Shack, 2507 Franklin Road Arlington, Virginia

Until Sunday, November 4, all of my rides had been by bikeshare. That is no accident. Thanks to Capital Bikeshare I’ve rediscovered this year the joy of jumping on a bike in street clothes and not having to don bike shoes and helmet. Now I go to the library, Trader Joe’s, doctor’s appointments, you name it, on a CaBi.

I hopped on a CaBi at the station across the street from FreshBikes in Arlington and joined in one of their monthly Tuesday night 15-mile group rides. It is quite hilly but the three speed is geared low enough to make hills easy.

Unfortunately all of my rides had also been alone which diminishes some of the pleasure of coffeeneuring. The conversation that goes with the coffee, for example. But Sunday the 4th I managed to entice the fellow who got me hooked on randonneuring, my friend Scott Gater, into joining me for a 30-mile ride to the National Harbor on the Mount Vernon trail.

Our ride included a stop at Java Shack in Arlington. Strangely, even though I am an Arlingtonian and a cyclist, I had never been to this community café, a favorite among cyclists and a place where most of the locals know the baristas. For many years Java Shack has also sponsored Arlington’s cycling team Squadra Coppi. Now Scott takes his coffee seriously. He gave my cappuccino a hard look. The cup is way too big and you have more foam than coffee. But Scott’s company that morning, the catching up with each other while riding at a conversation inducing gait, was great.

Scott at Java Shack

Scott at Java Shack ( at 2507 Franklin Road Arlington, VA 22201)

By the time we got to the National Harbor I discovered I’d forgotten to capture my cap on camera. So back I went for another one, properly sized I think.

Java Shack Cappuccino No. 2 almost gone

6. Beans in the Belfry, 122 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, Maryland

Scott was sold on another ride. We thought about the Flatbread 200K the following Saturday, November 10. A coffee-seeking ride afterwards would not feel celebratory. It would feel like obligation. And then there was the rising at o’dark hundred. Compare that with sleeping in again, meeting up at 10:00 am in Germantown – “you mean when it’s warm outside,” said Scott – and riding 30 miles to Beans in the Belfry in Brunswick, MD. I was sold. It is a magical place, a coffeehouse inside of an old church with all the stained glass intact, a pew alongside plush chairs, a balcony for a choir, and great pecan pie to go with my cap. Again there was too much foam, but fun it was!

Scott, basking in post-prandial sun at Beans in the Belfry

.

Go ahead, Scott…

Coffee and Coke in church

You’ve earned that coffee and coke in church.

Scott, top left, receiving the divine

7. Filter at 1726 20th Street Northwest, Washington, D.C.

Down to my last day, Sunday, November 11, it was back to the CaBi, and this time Katrin joined me for a 6-mile ride into DC to a serious coffeehouse, Filter. It had received Scott’s stamp of approval.

I ordered a 10 oz. pour-over of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe ECX. According to the menu, I was in for “a complex cup with notes of apricot and flowers, a honeyed sweetness, and silky mouthfeel with tea rose and perfume aromatics.” While I can’t say I discovered all of that in my cup of joe, I did learn serious coffee takes time; the cup was 10 minutes in the making. Total ride distance 13 miles out and back.

Ready to ride with the caffeine molecule cap

CaBi Coffeeneuring. Katrin in front of Filter

Reading about the Tour de Farce at Filter with my Ethiopian Yirgacheffe ECX

I like the coffee equation (top right). It
beats the Angry Catfish’s Bicycles + Coffee.

Capping it off with another cappuccino and a Filter coffeeneuring souvenir

Slowing down and taking time out to appreciate life is a key part of coffeeneuring, I think. Too many cyclists, especially on the club rides I go on, roll at one GU-fueled speed all year round.

Real fitness, mental and physical, comes from varying the speed. Coffeeneuring definitely fits into my fitness plan. And the coffeenées are chances to spend time with loved ones after the many times you’ve been away on randonnées. It can be more expensive than randonneuring, though. By the time I’ve tucked away a slice of pie and a coffee with an extra shot of espresso, and then another coffee because I forgot to take a picture of the first one, I’m way past the entry fee to a D.C. brevet.

Yes, it is true that coffeeneuring can run up a higher tab than a brevet, but most times I find it more pleasurable than gas station dining!

Thank you again, Charlie, for your thoughtful (and thorough!) writeup. Hope to see you on a ride again soon.

Today’s Coffeeneuring Challenge edition is brought to us by Julie up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Julie and her husband visited various Maryland coffee destinations during the weeks of the challenge, and perfected the cyclist with bike in front of the coffee shop photo along the way. Julie completed all seven trips for an official finish, and her husband finished 6 out of 7  for an honorable mention!

Thank you, Julie, for your guest post and congratulations to both you and Steve on your coffeeneuring honors!

Coffeeneuring #1:  Caribou Coffee  
5562 Norbeck Road, Rockville, MD
Saturday 10-06-12, 9.43 miles

Caribou Coffeeneuring

My husband Steve and I rode in the cloudy 70′s through Rock Creek Park and took a back way to the Norbeck shopping center. After a lovely brunch with sangria at a Tex-Mex place, we had Cafe Mochas and cookies at Caribou Coffee. Unfortunately, I forgot to order them without whipped cream, so they were just too much sweet for both of us, and we pedaled home with too full stomachs.

Coffeeneuring #2:  Mark’s Kitchen,
7006 Carroll Avenue  Takoma Park, MD
Monday 10-08-12  (Columbus Day – worked on Sunday, so counted either way  )
23.37 miles

Mark’s Kitchen

Steve and I rode to Takoma Park to meet my friend Sandy for lunch at Marks’ Kitchen. We planned for riding in the cloudy low 50′s but it stayed in the 40′s a lot of the time. Good thing we packed extra clothes and I thought to bring Toe Warmers for the way back. Hot cuppa Earl Gray when I got there and then a Cafe Latte after lunch.

Coffeeneuring #3:  La Madeleine,
11858 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
Saturday 10-13-12, 6.23 miles

La Madeleine

Steve wasn’t feeling too well, but we rode off to Rockville anyway. First stop was Safeway to get my flu shot. Then on to La Madeline for lunch and a Cafe Americano accompanied by their mini strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Yum!  Last, shopping at REI.

Coffeeneuring #4:  Mon Ami Gabi,
7239 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD
Sunday 10-14-12,  14.64 miles

Mon Ami Gabi

Steve and I rode to Bethesda for Sunday brunch at Mon Ami Gabi complete with Cafe Au Lait with warmed milk. We sat outside in the cloudy, breezy 60′s, which turned to sunny 70′s as we finished. We made a quick pop in the bookstore across the street before heading home.

Coffeeneuring #5:  Panera,
13521 Connecticut Avenue, Aspen Hill, MD
Saturday 10-20-12, 6.82 miles

Panera

Steve and I biked to Panera for lunch. Then we sipped on a couple cups of house blend coffee in some cushy chairs while we read our ebooks.  Sunny & 60′sF.

Coffeeneuring #6:  Capital City Cheesecake,
7071 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD
Monday 10-22-12 , 23.82 miles 

Capital City Cheesecake

This week I worked Sunday and was off Monday. After riding with my husband to the metro, I continued on via Sligo Creek Trail to Capital City Cheesecake in Takoma Park, where I met my friend Sandy for lunch.  I had an Earl Gray tea upon arriving and then a Cafe Americano with dessert. It was tricky dressing for 46-71 F, so I ended up carrying an extra bag full of clothing layers on the ride home.

Coffeeneuring #7:  Starbucks,
1621 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
Saturday 10-27-12, 6.44 miles

Starbucks

Sun filtered in through the cloudy afternoon sky as we rode in the 60s to Starbucks. After our cafe mochas no whip, we headed over to REI. We were hungry after, so split some vegetable fried rice at Rolls N Rice. The ride home was cloudy at dusk.

Thanks again for sharing your coffeeneuring with us, Julie. I have new places to visit on my ever-growing coffee shop list!

While the beginning of this guest post may sound more like a medical diary than a coffeeneur tale, I assure you it is not.

Joe Platzer, the Seattle randonneur behind the concept of coffeeneuring, provided me a convincing doctor’s note about why he was starting the challenge late, and I gave him a small extension to complete the challenge.

The stories of his trips follow, and include photos of  a few Pacific Northwest randonneur all-stars as well as pictures of Joe’s beautiful self-built (is that a word?) Platzner bicycle. He even coffeeneured once via tandem (see trip 6)! Thank you for being part of the challenge this year, Joe, and for your guest post.

At first I didn’t think I’d make this. In March, I was in New Jersey for high school reunions, and I went for a little ride with Ron Anderson (a New Jersey and PA Randonneur).  At some point I felt like my Sidi was rubbing on my ankle.  It got really sore, and I thought perhaps I had banged my leg into something. The problem was, however, I didn’t recall banging my leg. After the ride, I took off my sock and discovered a big marble-sized lump that was kind of like a blood clot.

It turns out that the varicose veins I’ve had my whole life were finally causing problems. It wasn’t anything urgent, but I needed to get them worked on. So in early October I had the surgery.

I was moping around complaining to Mark Thomas about how long recovery was taking when rando legend Vinnie — a surgeon when he’s not riding — said something to Mark along the lines of, “Of course he’s complaining. Have you seen that surgery? It’s disgusting!”

Anyway, a whole lots of whining and pain meds later, Mark and I headed out for coffeeneuring

1. We rode to Starbucks in Issaquah (9.6 Miles RT) on October 18.

I had a grande nonfat latte. Mark probably had a straight up four-shot espresso. He doesn’t mess around. We ran into distance cycling and blogosphering legend Kent “Mountain Turtle” Peterson. Good times were had by all.

2. “Hipster Coffee”

The next day, October 19th, I drove to Seattle to visit Andy “the Frenemy” Spier because he has Italian cutting tools and offered to give an “Italian Face Job” to the bottom bracket of a Merckx I had repaired. Yeah, he’s strange that way.

Andy is a pain in the ass to ride with, and then he gives you a sandwich. I brought my Brompton and when we were done with the Merckx, we rode about 4 miles round trip to a fancy pants hipster coffee shop in Freemont (the center of the universe). I don’t know the name of the place, but let’s call it Hipster Coffee.

The barista was not unattractive and had a tattoo of a bike across her chest. I tried not to stare. Andy, always the gentleman, asked if he could see the rest of it. Amazingly, she said “no.” I had a tall nonfat latte, and Andy had hot chocolate.

3. Starbucks on Lakemont Boulevard

For coffeeneuring number three, I stayed close to home. My closest Starbuck’s is on Lakemont Boulevard.  Only 4.4 miles round trip on Oct 25. I would not have gone for a ride if not for the desire to complete the challenge. I had a tall Americano with room.

4. Trip number four, on November 2, was to the Tully’s in Factoria for a total of 3.5 miles.

You know, the Tully’s near the Toyota dealer over the pedestrian bridge. Yeah, that one.

Funny, but for a minute I thought I copied the same picture twice. I’m pretty sure that’s a medium nonfat latte. The pumpkin bread was flowing too.

5. Peet’s Coffee, Redmond, Washington

Finally able to go more than a few miles, I ventured up the gravel trail to Peet’s in Redmond for trip 5.  20.8 miles on Nov 8. 2012 Anno Domini. This large nonfat latte in a real mug was clearly the winner of my set.

Believe it or not, I like Starbuck’s, but Peet’s is just, well, a whole other level. Peet had a hand in the original Starbuck’s and I think they own the small chain now. Plus, this particular Peet’s puts up with us at crazy hours and can be seen in the famous Winter Solstice Ride video. Oh, and the gravel felt really bad on my post operative legs. A bit too far.

6. Coffeeneuring with Munchkinhead and Bun Bun at the Starbucks in Factoria near the Toyota dealer

For the penultimate coffeeneuring run of the series, on November 9, I wanted to stay close to home. Even though I’m in the ‘burbs, there is an endless supply of coffee stops in the 5-mile window.

This is yet another Starbucks in Factoria near the Toyota dealer. 3.8 miles total with Munchkinhead on the tandem. I had a short americano, and munchkin had a vanilla creme even though she is a short americano. That was our first try with a “vanilla cream” instead of a “kid’s vanilla cream.” You get 2 more ounces, and the price goes from $1.00 to $3.05.

We decided to go back to “kid’s vanilla creams” from now on seeing as Munchkinhead is a kid. Oh, and her bunny, creatively named “Bun Bun,” came along in the bar bag for fresh air. A good time was had by all.

7. Starbucks in Factoria, Washington, near QFC

Lastly, today, November 15, was a quick run to yet another Starbucks in Factoria. I know! This is the one near QFC that we often use for the start of permanents. I’m surprised they didn’t ask if I wanted a receipt, as they are wise in the way of the rando. Just a total of 6 miles, but the hill home makes it count.

I had a tall Americano with room. It was a cold but sunny day in the Pacific Northwest, and it is going to rain for as long as the forecast shows, so I’m glad I got out.

Well done, Joe. Congratulations again on completing this year’s Coffeeneuring Challenge (especially after ending up on the Honorable Mention list last year) and thank you for coming up with the idea in the first place!

As I continue to homologate results, I learn more about the appeal of the Coffeeneuring Challenge. Liz, today’s guest contributor, is a #BikeDC commuter who rides extensively during the week– 28 miles every day. She used the Coffeeneuring Challenge as an opportunity to work in more casual weekend riding. 

As a bicycle commuter with a 28-mile round trip commute, I have no lack of time in the saddle. However, with a husband and busy son, I rarely take time for pleasure rides on the weekend. If I’m on the bike, it is usually a quick trip to the grocery store. So thank you for the Coffeeneuring Challenge, because it added some variety to my cycling!

#1: Pastry Xpo in Merrifield, VA (October 13, 2012, 14.8 miles)

A group of us had just attended a ribbon cutting for a new bike lane in our county. Being cyclists, they had no objection to my suggestion that we stop for coffee. I had decaffeinated coffee and a cranberry scone. Highly recommended!

# 2. Caribou Coffee in Crystal City, VA (October 14, 2012, 29.7 miles)

I had to teach a class in Crystal City, so I came early and had a Pumpkin Spice Decaf Latte while frantically reviewing my notes for class.

3. Caffe Amouri in Vienna, VA (October 20, 21012, 2.7 miles)

I went to the Vienna Farmer’s Market with the intention of buying coffee there, but the coffee purveyor did not have any decaf. I bought an Apricot Jalousie from a vendor and went across the street to Caffe Amouri for a cup of decaf. I enjoyed my treats while watching people playing at the caboose, riding by on the W&OD Trail and making their way to and from the Farmer’s Market.

4. Whole Foods in Vienna, VA (October 28, 2012, 2.0 miles)

Hurricane Sandy was blowing in and we needed provisions! I rode my bike to the grocery store to stock up. While there, I enjoyed a spiced pumpkin decaf latte. I did not discern any major flavor difference between pumpkin spice (Caribou) vs. spiced pumpkin (Whole Foods).

5. Silva’s Patisserie in Vienna, VA (November 3, 2012, 2.2 miles)

This pastry shop is a little gem, located just a couple of blocks from the W&OD Trail. They have the most wonderful baked goods! I had a cup of decaf and an almond croissant. I am not usually a croissant lover, but it was heavenly. Stop here if you find yourself in need of sustenance on the W&OD in Vienna.

6. Community Canteen in Reston, VA (November 10, 2012, 34.3 miles)

Emboldened by my coffeeneuring success, I expanded my weekend riding and went on my first shop ride ever. Afterwards, I went for coffee (decaf, as usual) and an omelette with the other cyclists at this wonderful restaurant. And while I acknowledge that coffeeneuring cannot be part of an organized ride, please note I rode my bike (7+ miles each way) to actually get to the shop ride.

Also, this was the first cup of coffee consumed for the challenge served in actual china. Classy!

7. 7-Eleven in Washington, DC (November 11, 2012, 44.5 miles)

My husband and son were out of town, so I took a long ride to enjoy the fall color along Sligo Creek in Maryland. Afterwards, I stopped at . . . 7-Eleven?!

In all seriousness, we used to live in the neighborhood and know the family that operates this store. I stop by to say hello whenever I get to those parts. I bought a Peppermint Mocha Latte (you were expecting decaf?), muffin and banana. The parking lot ambience left something to be desired, but what can I say, I have low brow tastes.

Conclusion: What did I learn from the Coffeeneuring Challenge? It is possible to ride my bike on the weekend. For fun even! Also, while I hope to continue the occasional coffeeneuring ride beyond the challenge, I think I need to lay off the pastries. The “winter base layer” seems to be building up a bit too quickly.

I had that pastry problem, too, Liz. They’re just so difficult to resist! Thank you again, for sharing your Coffeeneuring Challenge.

NOTE: I plan to announce the Coffeeneuring Challenge Champions and Honorable Mentions sometime next week. In the meantime, still some great stories to come from the coffeeneur community.

Today features a guest post from the I Was Going to Complete the Coffeeneuring Challenge, but… category.

Sara and her husband, Gary, are North Carolina randonneurs turned Maine residents (and coffeeneurs). Without further ado, here is their story, along with an extensive excuse well worthy of a Coffeeneuring Challenge Honorable Mention. Something about this thing called “running.” Thank you, Sara, for guest-posting!

Trip 1: Frosty’s Donuts, 54 Maine (that is not a typo) St., Brunswick, ME.
Saturday, October 14. 14.5 miles.

Our first coffeeneuring ride had two purposes:

1. to eat donuts and drink coffee at the famous Frosty’s in Brunswick; and
2. to finally bicycle to the farmer’s market at Crystal Springs Farm.

I rode my mountain bike, Gary his cyclo-cross/heavy touring bike with the trailer hitched up to it. It was a gorgeous blue sky day and we got a late start, but they still had donuts when we arrived at Frosty’s, although a limited selection.

Frosty’s opens at 4:00 am 7 days a week and closes when they run out of donuts! They serve great Green Mountain coffee as well. We sat outside in the sun at a sidewalk table and enjoyed our huge donuts and strong hot coffee. We were not the first cyclists at Frosty’s that morning; another was enjoying his coffee and donuts inside, but all three of us got back on the road about the same time and rode up Maine St. together, chit-chatting about the new Frosty’s that had just opened in Freeport, making a two-Frosty’s ride a possibility!

We hadn’t gotten but a half-mile up the road when I noticed Gary slowing down behind me – yep, flat tire. So we pulled over for the repair and I did the math as to whether we could still get to the farmers market before it closed – Gary got it fixed in short order and we decided we had plenty of time and pressed on. We passed part of the sheep flock on the way, then uphill to the farm, which was not as busy as normal – starting to wind down. We were too late for bread from the bread guy, but piled up on vegetables! The trailer easily handled our groceries.

The ride back though Brunswick, over the Androscoggin River, and home through Topsham was gorgeous and uneventful.

Trip 2: Bowdoinham Town Landing Place, 12 Main St., Bowdoinham, ME.
November 4.  19.4 miles.

This ride also had two purposes:

1. to ride out one of our favorite roads, Browns Point Rd, to see the Abbagadassett River and Merrymeeting Bay, perhaps for the last ride out there of the year; and
2. to stop for coffee at the Bowdoinham Town Landing Place on the Cathance River, which has the best molasses cookies around and great Green Mountain coffee.

One of the great things about Maine is that pretty much any country store, convenience store, or gas station has great coffee, enabled in large part by the Green Mountain coffee folks. We rode out the flatter way to Bowdoinham, with a few views of the Bay, then over the Cathance River, through quaint Bowdoinham, and onto Brown’s Point Rd.  This is a lovely rural road that starts out rolling, then heads down to the Abbagadassett crossing at a one-lane bridge where the river flows into the Bay, then runs flat along the Bay.

It was a beautiful clear day, but with a stiff biting wind straight off the Arctic, and the flat portion here did not offer much protection from the cold wind.  It was freezing, colder than we had dressed for, and we turned around a bit sooner than usual to head back to the Town Landing Place.

Normally we see lots of ducks and even a heron on this route, but no one was out today, too cold!  They had already headed out farther into the Bay, where many overwinter.  We were happy to reach our coffeeneuring spot and warm up with some hot coffee.  I enjoyed one of their molasses cookies (the cakey kind I love) and Gary some salty chips. Normally we eat down by the River, but too cold today and we found a sheltered spot in the sun near the building (they do have sit-down inside).

Then we headed back home the hilly way, and I was looking forward to that to keep me warm!  Up the big hill in Bowdoinham, then left onto our road, Fisher Rd in Bowdoinham, Cathance Rd in Topsham, which is the most awesome biking road around.  It twists and turns through woods and farmland, up and down many hills, over the Cathance River twice, for about 6 miles from Bowdoinham to our place in Topsham.  We had no clue when we moved here how great a cycling road this is, it was just sheer luck, but our road is on everyone’s cycling routes. A fun day out, and perhaps one of our last real rides of the year up north. We warmed up with more coffee at home.

I Was Going to Complete the Coffeeneuring Challenge, but…

So, why did we only manage to do two coffeeneuring rides? Well I think two main reasons. One or both of us was out of town sans bikes for two of the eligible weekends, including the three day Columbus weekend. So that cut down on our eligible days.

The other reason is that we’ve been trying this brand new sport – it’s called “running” and it’s quite interesting. It has some similarities to randonneuring, as some people are able to travel amazing distances in all kinds of weather and terrain by this mode of transport. But there are no pedals or wheels or gears involved. You actually propel yourself forward by hitting the ground with your feet, if you can believe it. There’s no saddle either, so you actually have to stand up the entire time! In fact there’s no equipment of any kind, except for yourself and protection from the elements – it’s very strange.

Anyhow, we have started this strange new sport just for something new and interesting to do, particularly during the winter up north here, and we have been preparing for a “5k run” November 18. Now here you are saying, 5k what’s the big deal, that is barely a prologue, that’ll only take like 5-15 minutes at most to complete! But here’s the beauty of “running” – you get far more entertainment time out of every kilometer running than you do bicycling! So even a decently fast runnier can get 15-20 minutes of entertainment out of a 5k run, while most get even more entertainment time. The slowest, like me, get 40ish minutes out of it.

So we spent most of the coffeeneuring weekends working hard on both Saturday and Sunday to prepare for our running 5K, and the Coffeeneuring Challenge suffered as a result. Maybe next year we can have a Coffeeneurrunning Challenge that would allow transport by bicycle or running? From what I have seen, these very odd running folks are even more serious about their coffee than randonneurs. It could open up a whole new participant group.

Hmmm… I will give it some consideration, Sara. In the meantime, congratulations on Gary’s and your recent involvement in this activity called “running,” and A+ on your Coffeeneuring Challenge excuse.

It’s a thrill to announce that we had our first Coffeeneuring Challenge participants from Delaware this year. 

Patti, a runner as well as cyclist, embarked on at least two of her coffeeneuring outings on the heels (ha ha!) of a trail run. Does that count as a brick workout? She also completed over half of her coffeeneuring with her husband, George, which means that he has earned an honorable mention. Well done to you both!

Ride 1: Saturday, October 20, 2012 – Central Perk, Main Street, Newark, DE (12 miles)

After running 21 miles on trails with my dog, giving him a bath, walking my rescue foster dog 2 miles, I showered and hopped on my bike to begin my Coffeeneuring Challenge. As tired as I was, it actually felt pretty good to stretch my legs on the bike.

I rode 6 miles to Newark’s Central Perk, and enjoyed a nice blended coffee drink: Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Coffee. Did that ever hit the spot! Saturday was homecoming for the University of Delaware and Main Street was packed to the gills with intoxicated college students. It was perhaps not the best day to cycle into downtown Newark, but I needed to get a coffee ride in for the day and didn’t want to venture too far on legs that were less than fresh.

Ride 2: Sunday, October 21, 2012 – Starbucks, Main Street, Newark, DE (58 miles)

My husband George and I headed out to Port Deposit, MD from our home in Newark, DE. We weren’t lucky enough to find a coffee shop in Port Deposit, so we stopped 6 miles from home at the Starbucks Coffee Shop on Main Street. Downtown was much quieter today, and the coffee shops were busier than the pubs! It was a little chilly, but thanks to some hill climbing, we managed to keep warm – so warm, that we treated ourselves to frozen mocha lattes!

Ride 3: Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Brew HaHa!, Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE (22 miles)

It was a great day to be outside!! I ran 21 miles of beautiful trail at White Clay before getting on my bike. I wanted to stop at a coffee shop in Hockessin, but after the hilly ride into Hockessin and not finding a coffee shop where I thought there would be one, I rode back to a Brew HaHa! location on Limestone Road. I made it just minutes before they closed. I had a nice ride, but it was starting to get chilly, so I ordered a hot cup of coffee to keep me warm on my ride back home.

Ride 4: Sunday, October 28, 2012 – Brew HaHa!, Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE (5 miles)

With Hurricane Sandy heading our way, I wondered if I’d be able to get a ride in at all. We spent the morning cleaning leaves out of already overflowing gutters and pulling in lawn furniture and other things that could go crashing around outside our house in the expected high winds.

Once that was done, we donned our rain gear for our coffee run. I’m not a fan of riding in the rain, so we opted for the closest coffee shop – a Brew HaHa! at Christiana Hospital. We rode 2.5 miles in the rain, stopped and had our coffees, then rode another 2.5 miles in the pouring rain back home. Hurricane Sandy would keep us stranded inside for 2 days. We were fortunate to get out for our short bike ride.

Ride 5: Saturday, November 3, 2012 – Brew HaHa!, Main Street, Newark, DE (12 miles)

Trail running and then bike riding has become my Saturday activity! It was cold for my 20-mile run. Still any day on trails is a great day.

Once I got home and showered, I drove up to Mt Laurel, NJ, to deliver my rescue foster (pictured on the sofa above) to his permanent home. What a great feeling!! On the 1.5 hour drive back, the weather got much colder and I wondered if I would be able to force myself back out on the bike.

As soon as I got home, I changed into my cycling gear and put on a couple of layers. It was cold and windy on my ride to downtown Newark. Living near a college town has its advantages with many coffee options. I elected to try the Brew HaHa! Coffee shop on Main Street. It was too cold to get a frozen blended drink, so I went with a nice, warm mocha latte instead.

Ride 6: Sunday, November 4, 2012 – The Perfect Cup, Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE (32 miles)

I am not much of a cold-weather cyclist, but in trying to stick with the coffee challenge, I’ve ridden when I normally wouldn’t. Fortunately, my husband can be talked into just about anything – even a ride in the cold for coffee.

We delayed getting started by 2 hours, hoping it would warm up, but eventually just headed out the door. We rode up some hills to keep ourselves warm and tried out The Perfect Cup Café. The special was a pumpkin spice latte and that’s what I got. It was really tasty!! George, not being much of a coffee drinker, went with his usual – a frozen mocha latte. How he could drink that as cold as it was is beyond me!

Ride 7: Sunday, November 11, 2012 – Java House, Main Street, Middletown, DE (58 miles)

We lucked out with a beautiful day for my final coffee ride! George and I began our ride by heading down to Chesapeake City, Maryland. We rode around downtown looking for a coffee shop, but didn’t locate one. We decided to ride to Middletown, Delaware to a little coffee shop on Main Street – Java House. There we enjoyed frozen mocha lattes and a pleasant conversation with the shop owner. It was a great place to end our coffee challenge.

Since the weather is definitely getting colder, we’re thinking about starting an Irish Coffeeneuring Challenge!

I’m with you. An Irish Coffeeneuring Challenge does sound appealing this time of year! Thank you for your coffeeneuring guest post, Patti, and congratulations on completing the challenge. 

We’re kicking off the week with a Coffeeneuring Rewind from another Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, participant. Hyla’s succinct write-ups and accompanying photo-diary make for an amusing read and had me reliving the days when there were more leaves on the trees. (Yes, that was just last week for  those of us in the D.C.-area!)

• Coffeeneur #1: Hot Chocolate at the Coffee Tree Roasters in Shadyside. 5524 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh! 10/7/12. 6 miles Round Trip.

I snuck out of the house while my non-bike-riding houseguest was enjoying a nap (Hi Mom!). It was a cold wet day and the Steelers were playing the Eagles, so the streets were pretty quiet.

I saw some girls playing field hockey: one of the few sports I actually enjoyed in Junior High. I enjoyed hearing the sticks hitting the ball.

• Coffeeneur #2: Big Dog Coffee 10/13/12. Approx 14 miles Round Trip.

Passed a bunch of people listening to a 1960s World Series radio broadcast outside of the old Forbes Field. Then I stopped by Iron City to have some more tweaks done to my new old bike (note dangling cable in bike photo). Really old friction shifters swapped out for kinda old friction shifters and new cable. Yay!

Stopped at Big Dog Coffee at 2717 Sarah Street, but was in the mood for Early Grey Tea with a spot of milk. Delicious buttery toast with cranberries and walnuts. Not too sweet or greasy (not counting the butter).

Then off to find a parking chair to photograph for the Wheelset of Fortune game played each week on the Bike Pittsburgh online message board. Not as easy as I thought…lots of zig zagging through South Side alleys and crowded streets. Great day to ride!

• Coffeeneur #3, Highland Park’s Taza D’Oro (1125 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh). 10/14/12. Round Trip ~6.5 mi.

A popular spot for cyclists to convene, this is where the seasonal Team Decaf rides depart from. Not only does this place have good coffee, tea, pastries and lunch/Sunday savory items, they also have a lovely set of baskets filled with inner tubes, water bottles, and a few other items for sale. The normally springy sfogliatelle was a bit soggy today, but I enjoyed it with a macchiatto.

It was nice to cross paths with a few familiar faces and indulge in some cautious filtering along the seriously-jammed Southbound S. Braddock Avenue. These Squirrel Hill Tunnel Diversions are no fun. Also: IT’S PLONK SEASON! Watch out for walnuts, acorns and beech nuts.

• Coffeeneur #4:  Café at the Frick. A “running some errands” 4.5 mile loop. 10/20/12.

Rode the nutty, twiggy, leafy Forbes Ave bike lanes to the Squirrel Hill Post Office. Mailed a package to Connecticut for $6.30. Stopped by Probikes and bought a helmet on clearance for $20.

Had the house blend tea at the Café at the Frick (7227 Reynolds Ave, Pittsburgh) with a side of scones (plain, sour cherry & pumpkin sage) + clotted cream for $10.12 + gratuity.

Visited the carriage & car museum for the first time: highly recommended and FREE.

Stopped by FIKS for a lightning-quick retroreflective transaction, and back home. Found a crisp $20 bill on my front lawn!

• Coffeeneur #5:  Coffee Tree — Bakery Square, 10/21/12.

Lots of stuff to do around the ol’ homestead today so got another short loop in: ~4.5 miles. Mediocre Darjeeling tea and an orange-walnut dipped biscotti at Coffee Tree — Bakery Square (6425 Penn Ave Pittsburgh).

Bike racks and plastic outdoor furniture abound. Oogled Pittsburgh’s nascent bike-sharing system.

• Coffeeneur #6: Biddle’s Escape, 10/27/12. Round Trip 3.8 mi.

The East End Brewing charity reverse keg ride was a lot of fun! Afterwards, I stopped in at Biddle’s Escape (401 Biddle Avenue, Wilkinsburg) for a cappuccino and chocolate croissant. It is so great to have an alternative to the terrible Katerbean in the Regent Square neighborhood.

Biddle’s Escape now has a wellness center upstairs with yoga, pilates and sundry corporeal offerings. The back of the coffee shop has beautiful beads and spools of hemp twine with which you can do crafty things to your bike.

• Coffeeneur #7: Eat N Park, 10/28/12. Round Trip 3.4 miles

At Marko’s suggestion: Eat N Park! New-ishly remodeled Squirrel Hill location (1816 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh). I eat plenty of junk food, just not usually at chain restaurants.

I’m confused by the gimmicky menus: I like to know what the ingredients are. What is a Breakfast Smile? Promise Spread? Scrambled better-n-eggs?. The waitress was awesome & the place seemed filled with regulars. Overheard: “Parking is gonna be a b*tch dahn ’ere. You’ll hafta pay like 30 or 40 bucks.” [not if you ride your bike to the stadium!!!]

I do have to hand it Eat N Park for sourcing a portion of their ingredients regionally, and for doing a lot of outreach about nutrition and offering non-heart-attack-inducing square breakfasts that looked appealing on the menu. I ate there by myself but they gave me a huge comfortable booth and didn’t make me feel rushed.

Thank you for guest-posting your coffeeneuring rides, Hyla, and congratulations on completing the Coffeeneuring Challenge!