-
Birthday Cake Commuting: The Felkerino Way
Before I launch into the sweet topic of my post, I’d like to welcome another researcher to the cupcake commuting circle. Girl on a Bike has sucessfully completed her first cupcake experiment. She used cakelove cupcakes. I love how she describes cupcakes as “a frosting transportation device.” She has a point. Read about her experiment… Continue reading
-
Darts and Fleches and Things
This weekend was largely spent on the bike, as Felkerino and I embarked on a couple of back-to-back rides that took us far away from our housework. Saturday, we checked out part of our fleche route, pedaling from D.C. out and about to: Brunswick, Md.; Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown, WV; Waynesboro, Guilford, and finally Gettysburg, Pa. We… Continue reading
-
Spring Blossoms and Capital Bikeshare Tourists
241/365: Capital Bikeshare Tourists = YES!Originally uploaded by Gersemalina Spring again. Another year of roadies on Hains Point, tour buses, high school classes on the National Mall, and wait! What’s that? Something’s different this year. Continue reading
-
It’s that time of year again
Today, on my commute home (in GLORIOUS daylight), I spied this treasure. That’s right, people. The trees in Washington, D.C, are showing signs of spring. Continue reading
-
South Mountain X3 Populaire – 84 miles
This past weekend, Felkerino and I ventured out with friends to ride the South Mountain X3 Populaire, which was designed by Crista Borras. South Mountain X3 is an 84-mile ride that starts in Thurmont, Maryland, and takes you three different ways over – you’ll never guess- South Mountain. If you’re looking for a ride that… Continue reading
-
Cupcake Commuting: Furin’s Cupcakes
In my initial cupcake commuting post, I clearly showed that my bicycle transportation technique needed work. I received a number of helpful comments from readers about possible improvements. These included a couple of comments suggesting alternate transportation devices, one comment noting that the butter in the frosting hastened the demise of my cupcakes, one person… Continue reading
-
Cupcake Commuting: for Science!
It’s been a great day over here at Chasing Mailboxes. First, yesterday’s post about Capital Bikeshare was featured on DCBlogs. Second, I learned that I have a collaborator on my rapidly unfolding cupcaking commuting research project. My new partner in cupcake commuting research is fellow D.C.-area cyclist and blogger, Freewheel. What a relief! I’d hate to think… Continue reading
-
Capital Bikeshare Checklist
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a big fan of Capital Bikeshare. It’s a great way to travel around town. Bike riding outdoors in the city on a bike you don’t have to clean or maintain. I love it! In their January newsletter, Capital Bikeshare featured a “Winter Ride Checklist.” The checklist… Continue reading
-
Weekend Riding and Randonneur Hijinks
It was a fine weekend of riding for the MG/Felkerino household. We skipped the Saturday miles due to the crazy high winds beating up the Mid-Atlantic, but made the most out of Sunday and Monday. Felkerino wrote up a nice report of our weekend here. However, there were a couple of things his writeup did not… Continue reading
-
Commuting in the City: Bikes, Horses, and Tour Buses
Today, as I was riding along Ohio Drive between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson, I came across the following scene. It looked so funny that I had to grab the cam and memorialize the moment. What are the U.S. Park Police doing? Is there something wrong with the bus? Do they wish they were… Continue reading
-
What to like about the RUSA P-12
Randonneurs USA (RUSA) recently introduced a new domestic award called the P-12. To qualify for this award a person must ride a sub-200km randonneuring event for 12 consecutive months. You cannot qualify with an event that is longer than 200km. This award is modeled after the popular R-12, where riders must complete an event that is… Continue reading
-
Bicycle Art on the Sunday Ride
Sunday, I made it out into the near-60-degree (!!!) weather to enjoy another cycling outing with friends. Yes, friends of the spoked wheel, spring will come. I am sure of it. The warmer weekend weather renewed my faith. During our ride, I spied this amazing tricycle sculpture off of Park Road in Mt. Pleasant. Continue reading
-
A Bike Ride and a Trail Angel on the Capital Crescent
Today offered up a pleasant 40-mile ride with friends through town into the Maryland ‘burbs. We took Rock Creek on our way out. On the return to D.C., we decided to take the Capital Crescent Trail (from Bethesda). While making our way down to Georgetown, we came upon a person shoveling a path through one… Continue reading
-
Velocity Bicycle Coop: Schwinn Paramount or Rivendell custom, anyone?
Last night Felkerino and I went to visit the Velocity Bicycle Coop in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s been up and running since May of 2010, but yesterday was our first visit. We stopped by at a good time because a collector had just given some of his beautiful bikes to the coop. These included two Rivendell… Continue reading
-
Cupcake Commuting
Like other cities, the Washington, D.C., area has been seized by an obsession with cupcakes. That suits me perfectly because I love sweets. A few months ago, my friend and I rode to lunch in Ye Olde Towne, Alexandria. After our meal, we decided to pop by Lavender Moon Cupcakery and get a treat for the… Continue reading
-
Raceyatarocco’s Populaire
Joel and Chuck Originally uploaded by Gersemalina What an awesome day in the Mid-Atlantic! Felkerino and I decided to take full advantage by riding a 102.8-mile populaire out of Frederick, Maryland. Our ride was an out-and-back course that took us on fairly gentle terrain through Frederick County and into Adams County, Pennsylvania. That means… Continue reading
-
Capital Bikeshare’s Christiania Bike
Christiania bike for Capital Bikeshare Originally uploaded by Gersemalina This week I saw one of the Christiania cargo bikes that Capital Bikeshare is using to service its Bikeshare stations. I learned about the Christiania bike through boxcycles, which imports the bikes from Denmark. The bike has internal gearing (7 speed, I think) and has disk… Continue reading
-
Building up the Velo Orange Mixte
Felkerino and the VO MixteOriginally uploaded by Gersemalina Felkerino’s been working on this winter’s project bike, my Velo Orange Mixte. It’s coming together! Continue reading
-
DAR Constitution Hall, Robert Plant, and Capital Bikeshare
Tonight was so much fun! First, Felkerino and I saw Robert Plant and the Band of Joy (including two of my favorites, Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller) at DAR Constitution Hall! I thought the night couldn’t get any better, but I was wrong! Two blocks from DAR Constitution Hall is a Capital Bikeshare station. I… Continue reading
-
Inclement Winter Days and Capital Bikeshare
When I looked out the window this morning, it didn’t look like a good day for bike commuting. Cloudy sky. Slush and snow on the sidewalks. I resigned myself to taking the Metro. En route to my station, however, I noticed that the roads were wet but clear, the rain/sleet/snow was not falling too furiously,… Continue reading
-
2nd Annual TDR Rando Photo Contest
Brrr! Did you get outside this weekend? If so, extra credit. It was not that nice out there! This week, it’s all happening on The Daily Randonneur as we reveal the winners of our 2nd Annual TDR Rando Photo Contest. Check it out. I think you’ll like it. Continue reading
-
Cyclist Stan Miller and Community Impact Statements
Yesterday was the sentencing for the person who killed our friend and fellow cyclist, Stan Miller. Prior to the sentencing, individuals were invited to submit Community Impact Statements that would then be read and considered by the judge in Stan’s case. The purpose of these statements is to show the implications of a person’s death… Continue reading
-
Capital Bikeshare Makes Life Better
In my efforts to avoid Metro and breathe in the fresh Washington, D.C., air as much as possible, I’ve started riding Capital Bikeshare more frequently. Bikeshare is awesome! I just run over to the station nearest me, plug in my key to get a bike, yank the bike out as hard as I can, and… Continue reading
-
TDR Rando Photo Contest – Wild Card
The fourth and final category of the 2nd Annual TDR Rando Photo Contest is the Wild Card. This category allows photos from Populaires and Permanents, and is the catch-all category for those brevet photos that do not seem to fit in Randonneur Lifestyle, Obligatory Cow Photo/Nature Shot, or Spirit of Randonneuring. I had a couple… Continue reading
-
TDR Rando Photo Contest – Spirit of Randonneuring
Since I began riding brevets, I have often heard the phrase “Spirit of Randonneuring.” Blah blah blah represents the Spirit of Randonneuring. Doop be doop does not. Randonneuring means different things to different people, and the selection of photos below represents the images from this past year that fall into my own definition of the… Continue reading
-
TDR Rando Photo Contest – Obligatory Cow Photo/Nature Shot
With the recent announcement of the 2nd Annual TDR Rando Photo Contest, I’ve been itching to show some of my favorite 2010 brevet moments captured on film. You saw my Randonneur Lifestyle favorites, and today I’m displaying the Obligatory Cow Photo/Nature Shots that I thought worthy of sharing. Continue reading
-
TDR Rando Photo Contest – Randonneur Lifestyle
Happy New Year, all! Last week, Felkerino and I launched the 2nd Annual TDR Rando Photo Contest. This is a way for us to highlight all the awesome rides and and the people who rode them over the past year. The fabulous Gregg Bleakney is judging the Rando Photo Contest, and Felkerino and I are… Continue reading
-
Happy New Year!
To more coffee shop rides… Commutes and fun rides… Continue reading
-
Holy High Winds, Batman!
Somehow Washington, D.C., avoided the predicted snow, and we got only winds. Wow! I’m glad we didn’t get the snow, but those winds. WOW! I love commuting during the holidays, though, so I happily hopped on my bike and made for the office. Continue reading
-
Santa Hat Helmet Cover = Extra Festive + Extra Nice Drivers?
Chasing Mailboxes readers!! I believe I have hit upon something brilliant and economical that combines the spirit of the holidays and cycling safety. It’s my Santa hat “helmet cover.” Since I began wearing this helmet cover, I’ve noticed drivers and pedestrians being especially nice to me. People have remarked, “Nice hat,” shouted “Ho ho ho,… Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 