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What Makes December Cycling Fun
Is it the balaclavas, booties, and lobster gloves? Think again. December is a fun month for commuting in Washington, D.C. because the streets and paths of the city become scarcely populated and the city brings out its holiday lights and decor to celebrate the season. It’s also a great month to be a cyclist for a… Continue reading
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Tree Decorating, Bicycle Style
The past several days, Felkerino and I have been hard at work on the 12 Days of Randonneurmas, an annual feature of The Daily Randonneur that celebrates our favorite randonneuring goodies of the past year. As we’ve been writing away, I took some time to think about other bicycle things that make our life great.… Continue reading
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Nostalgia Edition: A Tandem Century First Date
This month marks the sixth year of the formation of Felkerino’s and my tandem team. Felkerino’s and my first date was a century ride on a tandem bike. As our friends well know, I never tire of telling that story! Four Super Randonneur brevet series’, one 1200K, a 1000K, and several summer tours later, here… Continue reading
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Missing the Bike: Surly LHT Edition
Remember how I said I did not write a thank-you note to my Surly LHT and felt somewhat guilty about it? This week I unearthed this draft post from a fall trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. Bike love is everywhere! Enjoy!! Continue reading
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Back in the Saddle: 93-Mile Tandem Ride
Because we are wimps, Felkerino and I rode from home yesterday, rather than drive ourselves out to colder weather where our D.C. Randonneur buddies spent the day riding a 200K. Our route started in D.C. and took us out through Potomac and around to Poolesville, Maryland. We then decided to be adventurous and take White’s… Continue reading
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Missing the Bike and Thank You Notes: Co-Motion Tandem Edition
After I finished writing my Quickbeam “thank you” note for Lovely Bicycle’s recent “Thanking Your Bicycle” giveaway, I started thinking about Felkerino’s and my Co-Motion tandem and all the great experiences we have had with it. That Co-Motion is one awesome bike, I thought. It also deserves a few lines. Dear Co-Motion Tandem, Continue reading
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Missing the Bike and Thank You Notes: Quickbeam Edition
Before hitting the road to Florida, I participated in Lovely Bicycle’s “Thanking Your Bicycle” giveaway. She invited people to write a few lines thanking their bikes for all they do. Cycling has become such a pivotal part of my life. It’s how I recreate, commute, shop, and maintain fitness. It was fun to take a… Continue reading
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Brrr! Cold Weather Riding!
Hi, everybody. Remember the good old days of fall riding? Well, I think they are over! Time to haul out the winter wool, booties, and heavier gloves. Maybe even the balaclava. As for me, I’m heading to Florida. Ha! Saturday, Felkerino and I made it out with a few friends for a mostly cloudy 90… Continue reading
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Treasure! Velo Orange Mixte
This week, a present arrived for me. What? A present for me?! What could it be… Continue reading
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Capital Bikeshare. Crazy Dreams Coming True.
If anyone had ever told me that one day in the future I would be able to walk around Washington, D.C., with a special key, pass by racks of bikes peppered throughout the city, insert my special key, and ride off with a bike underneath me I would have said “No way! That’s just a… Continue reading
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Catching up with George Swain
George Swain was about 25 miles into this past August’s Endless Mountains 1000K when his ride abruptly ended. A car rear-ended him at speed. I remember seeing George at the accident scene that day. Helplessness, shock, and worry all ran through my body. I learned later that, by some miracle, George had escaped neurological injury.… Continue reading
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Pennsylvania Randonneurs Stillwater 200K
Tandem partner Felkerino, friend Lane G., and I packed up our bikes and our randonneur passports this past Friday and headed to Pennsylvania for their November 200K brevet. The ride up was a solid five hours, but the trip was worth it. Tom Rosenbauer, the RBA, put together an awesome 200K course, full of beautiful… Continue reading
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Our Co-Motion Tandem
Felkerino and I ride tandem together a fair amount, with our longest tandem ride being a 1200 kilometer grand randonnee. I only share that with you in an effort to brag socially unacceptably establish my tandem credentials. Continue reading
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Seen at the Seagull Century
While Felkerino and I started our bike tour, the rest of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area cyclists made their way down to Salisbury, Md., to ride the Seagull Century. OK, not everyone, but a large number of them. Continue reading
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Cycling the C&O Canal
This Sunday, I briefly met up with those doing the Chuck and Crista ride out of Hains Point. They were going the opposite direction from me, however, so after a couple of miles I left the group and pedaled the Quickbeam out to White’s Ferry via the C&O Canal. Continue reading
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Farmers’ Market and a Rivendell Romulus!
My stop by the White House farmers’ market today proved particularly fruitful, not only in terms of the apples I bought, but also because of the bike I ended up spotting. Continue reading
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The Accidentally Humbling Multi-Modal Fall Bicycle Tour
When Felkerino and I began planning our recent bike tour, we put a lot of thought into where we wanted to start. Should we drive somewhere with the bike and begin pedaling? Fly to a distant location for a supported tour? We determined that we wanted to ride from home. No gas, no car, no… Continue reading
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The Tour that Keeps on Giving. From Harpers Ferry, WV – Home
Felkerino and I rode the final 50 miles of our fall tour today. Middletown, Virginia to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Tailwinds and more quiet back roads. Excellent views of the Shenandoah River. Easy rolling terrain, sun, and bare-legged riding. Yes! Continue reading
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We interrupt this tour for the D.C. Randonneurs 200K Brevet
Felkerino and I ditched the bags for the day and rode the Cacapon 200K brevet out of Middletown, Virginia. A group of around 35 people participated. Even though we rode much of the ride alone, it was great to see and ride in the vicinity of fellow riders. This route has about a kerpillion feet… Continue reading
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Skyline Drive – mile 105 to 42
The day started in mist, fog, and a climb from Waynesboro, Virginia, up to Skyline Drive. Morning fog kept us well-insulated from any mountain views so I spent the morning focused on the trees and falling leaves within ten feet of me. Continue reading
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Field Trip: Harper’s Bike Shop. Knoxville, Tennessee
The final stop of the recent Tennessee bike tour work trip was Harper’s Bike Shop in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was a large shop just outside of the University of Tennessee campus, and has been around for 50 years. At least, that’s what I was told. Continue reading
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Waynesboro, Virginia
Hey, we’re in Waynesboro! The last time Felkerino and I passed through here we had been rescued off the Blue Ridge Parkway by an Appalachian Trail trail angel. Why, you ask? Thanks for asking! Continue reading
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With Love from Raphine, Virginia
It’s another great day on the Virginia roads. Continue reading
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Fall Touring Fun
I’ve never cyclo-toured in the fall, and now I see that I have been missing out. It’s not just the fall colors and smells that make it great. It is also seeing how people celebrate the season. Continue reading
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Hello Virginia Highlands!
Hi there! Wish you could be here with us. The best fall colors I have ever seen, warm sun, and leaves gently falling. Well, most are gentle. Continue reading
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Franklin, WV
Boo! Day three is a wrap! After lunch we made our way through the Sweedlin Valley and then over South Fork Mountain. The climb over the mountain is tough. But the view is worth it and so is the downhill. Vacation is awesome! Continue reading
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On the way to Moorefield, WV
Winding roads, fall leaves, awesome temps, almost no cars. Words cannot describe the splendor we are riding through. Continue reading
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Commuter Kryptonite: Wheel Eating Pothole on 15th Street
Hi. Can anyone tell me what purpose this big hole on 15th Street serves? This bad boy, located in front of Old Ebbitt Grill near the corner of 15th and G, is a hazard to cyclists. Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 