Coffeeneuring Challenge 2020: One Good Thing
Where shall we start with 2020? I have an idea. Let’s start with one good thing. On October 10, 2020, the Chasing Mailboxes Coffeeneuring Challenge returns. That’s right my friends, […]
Coffeeneuring Challenge 2020: Starts October 10
The Coffeeneuring Challenge is on for 2020. It runs from October 10 through November 23 this year. The coffeeneuring framework is going to look somewhat different this year, based on […]
Ride Your Own Ride
Ask a randonneur what it takes to tackle a big brevet and you’ll get a million pieces of advice (at minimum!). Most of this wisdom can find a home under […]
N-1 Right Sizing Resulting from N+1
Years ago, I wrote about n+1, the silly philosophy that people should perpetually aspire for their bike stables to have one more bike. I called the piece The Truth and […]
Message in a Bottle: Stillness
Back in April, I wrote some initial thoughts about the pandemic and cycling in a column for American Randonneur – the quarterly newsletter of Randonneurs USA. Like sending a message […]
Letter from Washington, D.C.
Hello, everyone. In mid-March, the mayor directed D.C. residents to stay at home and since then it’s been strikingly quiet. People venture outside like they’re taking their vitamins, no one […]
Dandelions and Big Hair Blossom Days
Back in the days when a house with a yard was part of my life, my dad – who prided himself on a dandelion-free lawn – would enlist my sisters […]
Personal Sphere of Freedom: The Six-Foot Social Contract
Mayor Bowser called me today (yes, on my phone!) to advise that D.C. is under a stay-at-home order and to limit outings to essential trips. After talking with her – […]
Tired is Not an Emergency
“Tired is not an emergency” reads the note on my D.C. Randonneurs cue sheet. “But please do let us know if you abandon.” Unlike club centuries or event rides, randonneuring […]
Seeing Clearly through Anxious Times
Hello readers, how are you doing? I wanted to say hello and that I hope everyone is taking care of themselves. In D.C., the flowers are blooming, and the cherry […]
A Fraidy Cat’s Tale of the Monster Cross 50 Miler
Everybody, I met someone. It happened last week at the Monster Cross 50 Miler in Pocahontas State Park, Virginia (route here). I’m still reeling from our interaction. This person is […]
Valentine to the Active Transportation Seekers
I see you run commuting, riding to the grocery store, and walking to places unknown purely under your own power. I observe your subtle acts of social change as I […]
One Month Plus with No Added Sugar
Every year I write goals about not eating junk food and losing weight. Almost every year I declare failure in meeting these targets, and add them onto next year’s resolution […]
Digging Deep with D.C. Randonneurs: Kelly Smith
This year our local cycling club, the D.C. Randonneurs, added two new categories of recognition to its 2019 awards. The first of these was the Digging Deep award. Criteria for […]
Winter Challenge: The Errandonnee 2020 (ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Errandonnee is suspended as of 3/15. I’ll open up another window for Errandonnee completion once the current situation settles and we are free to move about again. If […]
All My Yesterdays
My yesterdays are all stacked up in piles. I have the yesterdays of high school, where I dreamed of moving away to the city. There are yesterdays of college and […]
