-
The Magic Errandonnee Map and Other Important Errandonnee News
Today we’re back with Errandonnee news. Here is the exciting rundown: Continue reading
-
Dialing in our New Co-Motion Java Tandem
Earlier this year, Felkerino’s and my new tandem arrived from Co-Motion. Some of you may remember that a crack developed in the stoker seat tube of our previous tandem, a Co-Motion Speedster, which required either a mend or a replacement frame. We ultimately chose to replace the frame and, rather than another Co-Motion Speedster tandem,… Continue reading
-
One Final Errandonnee Tweetstorm
Because I loved them so. As always, thank you errandeur tweeps. Continue reading
-
Errandonnee Bloggin’ from the Errandeurs
I have been so inspired by all of the riding, errandeuring, blogging, and tweeting going on this past almost-fortnight (I like to refer to things like a major tennis tournament). While I have not been writing as much these days, I have been immersed in perusing as much Errandonnee activity as I can. Today’s post… Continue reading
-
Errandonnee: Give Me the Tweet and Nothing But the Tweet!
Alright then. All photos are courtesy of the errandeur who originally tweeted it. Thanks, tweeps! Continue reading
-
The Errandonnee and Simple Pleasures
When I was little, my sisters and I used to play a game we invented called “Sister.” Our variation of playing house, it entailed us making formal visits to each other’s bedrooms, speaking in what we imagined were elegant tones, and frequently employing the term “sister” as we conversed about the goings-on of our lives.… Continue reading
-
Errandonnee Musings: If One Errandeurs, But No One Blogs It…
Did it make a sound? Who can say? Just in case it doesn’t, I know several people who have dedicated time not only to errandeuring, but to writing about their experiences as well. I am quite impressed with how quickly people are putting together their posts. They’re faster than a speedy roadie on a fenderless… Continue reading
-
Errandonnee Updates of the Twitter Kind
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has embraced and participated in the Errandonnee so far. The tweets are alive with errands, and they have been so much fun to follow. Here are some of the highlights: Continue reading
-
Your Errandonnee Questions, Answered!
Looks like quite a few people got out this weekend to ride around and get things done! Good job, errandeurs. Errandeur is a French word for people who do errands on their bikes. Kidding! I made it up. Thanks to all the errandeurs who are tweeting and blogging their trips! (Blog roundup later this week:… Continue reading
-
Winter Challenge: The Errandonnee
Winter got you down, craving the warmth of home? Feel down no more and hop on that bike. It’s time for a February challenge designed for the utility cyclist with lots of errands to do, even in wintertime– the Errandonnee! If you are a cyclist with places to go and people to see, this challenge… Continue reading
-
The Old Bike Shop Recyclery
The past weekend, Felkerino and I made a field trip out to Arlington, Virginia, and peeked our heads into the new bike shop known as The Old Bike Shop. We stopped by late in the day but Larry, the owner, was more than willing to stay after hours and chat with us about his recyclery.… Continue reading
-
Becoming Vulnerable to Change
For the past several months, whenever I have ventured to the gym for a weight workout on my own, I’ve repeated the same routine. A routine that works the basic muscle groups, I have felt locked into doing it because it’s what I know and I was at a loss for how to switch it… Continue reading
-
The Politics of Bike Parking at Work
I recently began a new job, and my lovely setup of parking my bike in my office is no more. I now work in a cube and have no space to park a bike. I could use my Tikit or Dahon folder, but I have not put the time in to make either of them… Continue reading
-
Pitter Patter: Cold Winter Days in D.C.
A midday run on the Mall. A bitingly cold commute to work. The city looks different, feels distinct over a light powdering of snow. Tourists head indoors, to museums and gift shops. Runners dwindle, leaving only those undeterred by the chill. Continue reading
-
Winter Weather: Testing Your Mettle and Your Wardrobe
It is unusual for D.C. to go into the deep freeze, but it happened this week. We’re experiencing the coldest weather we’ve had since March 2009, according to Capital Weather Gang. Given that we seldom have snow or ice during the winter months, the cold and wind are the primary deterrents to riding, as opposed… Continue reading
-
Inauguration Weekend & Pennsylvania Avenue Bike Lanes
The city is almost ready for Inauguration Day. Yesterday I tried to capture the final preparations from a perspective slightly higher than ground level. On my commute home I took the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes in order to see the Art of Weiwei projection on the exterior of the Newseum. This is only on display from… Continue reading
-
I’m Not Training; I’m Having Fun
Earlier this week I read a brief but informative article in the New York Times called “Training Insights from Star Athletes.” The Times interviewed three elite athletes who discussed various facets of their training, including the importance of making it focused and structured. When Felkerino and I agreed to ride Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) in 2011, I… Continue reading
-
A Run in Rock Creek with Ultrarunnergirl
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my friend Kirstin, aka Ultrarunnergirl, inviting me to go trail running with her in Rock Creek Park. Her timing could not have been better, as I had just been lamenting my “story of sameness” and the need to mix it up with other activities this… Continue reading
-
The Wheel of Influence
Why did you start riding a bicycle? Who are the people that influenced you? I’ve been giving these questions heavy consideration as I think about the reasons that I started to ride and continue to do so today, especially when I see the numbers showing how few people ride bikes. While the data I’ve come… Continue reading
-
D.C. Commute Scenes: Getting Ready
It’s been a while since my last “D.C. Commute Scenes” post. Guess everything became routine landscape the past few months. Not lately, though. Right now, big things are happening right here in Washington, D.C. (Insert snide comment here if you feel like doing so.) The city is rapidly preparing for the presidential inauguration. People are out… Continue reading
-
Employers: Setting the Tone for Bike Commuters
Since I began commuting nine years ago, I’ve worked for three four different employers. All have been located within five miles of my residence at the time, and that short distance encouraged me to leave the Metro behind and either bike or walk to work. Now I exclusively bike or walk to my office, something… Continue reading
-
Looking Ahead Without a Spreadsheet
As mentioned in a previous post, I track the miles I run and ride. I keep tabs on the number of days I do each activity. Bike ride? Check. Trip to the gym? Check. Miles ridden or run? Write them down. I usually take great pleasure watching the trips and miles add up over the… Continue reading
-
The Cold & Blustery BikeDC Hot Chocolate Ride (aka, the Chocoride)
Having spent the bulk of the last four days in self-imposed isolation, I busted out of my hibernation state today and joined the Hot Chocolate Ride for a few miles in the saddle and hot beverages with BikeDC buddies old and new. Continue reading
-
2012 in Review: Variety is the Spice of Life
Another December passes, the sun sets on 2012, and I find myself reflecting about the activities of the past year. While Felkerino and I focused on preparing for and completing Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011, our 2012 cycling proved more varied. We commuted, completed a Super Randonneur series with the D.C. Randonneurs, trained to ride the Colorado… Continue reading
-
Happy Holidays (and a Book Recommendation)!
Happy holidays! If you have any breaks from the hustle and bustle this week, I recommend a read of this lovely book, The Velocipede: its History, Varieties and Practice , by J.T. Goddard. Written in 1869, The Velocipede offers an informative look back at the bicycles and bike culture of the time. It even includes… Continue reading
-
WABA’s Women & Bikes and the Hains Point 100
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) recently launched a Women & Bikes initiative. WABA describes the intent of Women and Bikes on its website, stating: The mission of Women and Bicycles is to get more women on two wheels through mentorship and peer-to-peer learning, between those who already ride and those who would like to… Continue reading
-
Unintended Consequences of Not Setting Goals: A Century a Month
Lately, I have been mulling over the question of what we can accomplish even when we do not set specific goals. This is a concept I was first introduced to when I read an interview with Leo Babauta, the author of the Zen Habits blog. Babauta writes that goals foster inflexibility and turn activities into… Continue reading
-
A Return to the Single Bike Lifestyle
This past year, we retired our custom-fit Co-Motion tandem. It wasn’t by choice. Over the six years we had owned it and an estimated 25,000 miles, it gradually developed a crack in the area near the stoker seat tube. Felkerino wrote a post about it complete with a photo of the crack, here. As you… Continue reading
-
A Coffeeneuring Map Made by a Pro
COFFEENEURING OFFICIAL BUSINESS: If you were a Coffeeneuring Challenge finisher or honorable mention, please send me your snail mail address via my gmail address OR the “Contact” page so that I may send out your PRIZES! Earlier this week, I received a note from a North Carolina randonneur and blogosphere buddy. Andy had used the… Continue reading
-
The People who Coffeeneur: Participation Rates of Women and Men
As I looked through the coffeeneuring submissions, I thought it might be fun to share a few more facts about the 2012 coffeeneuring community. So hang onto your helmets and be prepared to be wowed by my data mining skills. The first topic I thought I’d cover is the participation of women versus men in… Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 