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Theme for 2019: Seeking Possibility
Happy New Year, dear readers! It’s been a while. In case it hasn’t been completely obvious, I have not felt much like writing lately. Instead I used unexpected free time that I was dealt in January as a time to build my fitness (through running) and let go of tension (with lots of yoga classes).… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Challenge UPDATE
Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! This post is to update everyone on the status of coffeeneuring patches and bandanas. On January 1, patches and bandanas were mailed out to all who completed the challenge and ordered (and paid for) the grand patch prize. It appears that some patches this year (more than usual) were… Continue reading
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2018 in Photos: Focus and Flame
Before 2018 slips completely into yesterday, I am sifting through my memories of the last 12 months. As regular readers will know, I have not blogged much this year, but I did keep on living life and taking photos here and there. While I’ve missed the writing, time away from the computer screen has been healthy.… Continue reading
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Just In: Coffeeneuring Bandanas are Back!
The much-circulated rumors of the Coffeeneuring Bandana’s return are TRUE! As so many showed interest in bandanas, I’ve brought them back for 2018. The fruits of this project are thanks to the work of Doug of Umbrella Works, who has created another stylish yet practical bandana that can be used for many purposes – so… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Challenge 2018 Prize Reveal!
It’s go or no-go time for the 2018 edition of the Coffeeneuring Challenge. If you want to be part of this year’s activities, you must begin coffeeneuring this week. There’s no time to lose, friends, just get on your bikes and ride them to a coffee shop near you. Bam! One down, and six to… Continue reading
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Four Men and Their Bikes Coffeeneuring Challenge in Pinellas County, Florida
The Coffeeneuring Challenge has just kicked off, and already people from all over the world have been going out on their bicycles to be part of the action! As the weeks unfold, I’ll be highlighting the adventures of previous year participants. I receive so many great submissions each year, and enjoy being able to share… Continue reading
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Never Forget the Pastries: Helsinki Coffeeneuring with Jussi
The Coffeeneuring Challenge countdown clock is on, with five days remaining until the official start of the 2018 challenge. Time to plan for where you will ride and imbibe this year! Recently, someone asked if the Coffeeneuring Challenge was purely a U.S. activity. While it’s true that the majority of coffeeneurs are in the U.S.,… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Rewind: Erin’s Coffeeneuring Journal
Wondering how the Coffeeneuring Challenge really works? Pondering what kind of theme you might use to guide your coffeeneuring outings? Today the blog features Erin, a Missouri coffeeneur, who used a lovely combination of pen, paper, and pictures to log her coffeeneuring travels. As we begin the run-up to this year’s Coffeeneuring Challenge, I hope… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Challenge 2018: The Best Intentions
The Chasing Mailboxes Coffeeneuring Challenge is a relaxed cycling endeavor for people everywhere, and it’s coming your way once again, starting October 12, 2018. If you like riding a bike and enjoy drinking coffee or tea (or even hot chocolate or cider), consider this fall challenge. Back for year eight, the Coffeeneuring Challenge has almost reached the age of… Continue reading
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Adebe Bikila International Peace Day Marathon
It’s been a glorious summer of riding bikes, but in the interest of change and a chance to exercise everyday pedestrianism, I lined up with a few hundred others to participate in the Adebe Bikila International Peace Day Marathon. With cycling as our overriding summer focus, the time on two feet has been limited, but… Continue reading
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Leaving a Space: Planning for a 1200K
It’s easy to make summer ride plans in winter, a time of possibility for lots of us. The year stretches out ahead like an open road, just waiting to be ridden. It’s another matter to follow through on one’s winter ambitions. After riding Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011, I realized that life has to make a space… Continue reading
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Coulee Challenge 1200K: Four Sunrises Postcard
A fourth sunrise signals the final day of the Coulee Challenge 1200K. Hazy light illuminates the morning rises. Despite being fully awake and alert – something I wasn’t sure would happen after this many hours and miles – remembering where we are eludes me. We’re somewhere lush and lovely, but the rolling terrain doesn’t distinguish itself to… Continue reading
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Favorite D.C. Coffeeneuring Locales and Rides
This is a post prompted by the occasional inquiry about coffee shops and/or coffee shop rides in D.C. Essentially, we’re dabbling in two topics here: best coffee, and best local rides for coffee. I often find it helpful to spin my legs with a particular destination in mind. And I like the destination to offer… Continue reading
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Favorite Bike Rides Near Washington, D.C.
Because Felkerino and I are frequently asked for ride recommendations around the area, I thought I’d put together a post of some of our favorite local routes. All start in the city and I’ve included rides of around 80 miles up to 200. Note: For any rides that include White’s Ferry, you will need to… Continue reading
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The Secret Society of Randonneuring: Kit ‘n Kish 600K Permanent
3:30 a.m. Felkerino and I quietly maneuver our eight-foot tandem out of the hotel room, and Felkerino muscles it into the elevator, hoisting the front half of the bike into an upper corner, since it is too long to naturally fit the space. Our cycling cleats tap purposefully on the floor as we exit through… Continue reading
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Abandoned Turnpikes and 300K Pipedreams
Long summer days mean it’s time to ride bikes. None of this put on a bunch of layers, gloves, and booties, and go ride bikes. No. It’s toss a rain jacket in, and let’s go frolic in our short sleeves. Don’t forget sunscreen. Felkerino, Eric P., and I settled on a plan to check out… Continue reading
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Shrinking the Giants
Thoughts can be so heavy. Literally weightless, still they will press down, anchoring us where we stand if we let them. Daily actions also take their toll. Routine activities, interactions, and the small challenges of everyday life tempt the body to stop moving when free time comes around. If we succumb to inertia our world… Continue reading
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Review: Po Campo Bergen Pannier
Ever since my ride to work went from 2.5 miles to 7.5 miles one-way, I have been in pursuit of the ideal bike commute setup. After a few months, I settled on using a Carradice Camper for the to and fro, and that worked well, as long as I did not need to ride anywhere… Continue reading
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Shenandoah 600K: Ride With What You Have Inside
While in the midst of final preparations for the weekend’s Shenandoah 600K in Virginia, a friend asked me how I was feeling about the ride. I raised my eyebrows and said, “I’m ready for it to be over.” “You need your face!” she responded. Ah yes, I was so proud of dialing in my 400K… Continue reading
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D.C. Randonneurs 4 States 400K: Bring Your 400K Face
Want a successful 400K ride experience? Bring your 400K face to the ride and no other. After over a decade of randonneuring, some lessons have begun to sink in, and I’m finally figuring out what a good 400K face looks like. My 400K face is one that begins a ride full of a week of… Continue reading
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Mother of All 300Ks and the Passage of Time
Fourteen years ago I rode my first 300K brevet with the D.C. Randonneurs, and this weekend Felkerino and I were back on that very same course, now fondly titled the Mother of All 300Ks given the gnarly 13,600 feet of climbing in 189 miles. One of the first weekends to give a clear indicator that… Continue reading
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Bike In Bloom Destiny
One lesson I keep relearning is that you can’t work too hard to make things happen. You can put your shoulder into something only so much. After that, other factors must play a role. Nowhere in my life is this more true than with Capital Bikeshare‘s elusive Bike In Bloom. In concert with the annual… Continue reading
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Errandonnee 2018: The Details of our Lives
The Errandonnee is back for its sixth year, my friends. This challenge is designed for the utility cyclist and transportation runner with errands to do, no matter the season. That cyclist or runner might be you! The short version of the Errandonnee is: Errandonnee: Complete 12 errands in 12 days, and ride or run a total of… Continue reading
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Peaceful Everyday Actions
You may not have noticed, but the time I’ve spent in this space has reduced over the last year. Several factors contributed to this, but the most dominant was the belief that my energy needed to be spent understanding the state of current affairs in the U.S. For much of 2017, I took a deep… Continue reading
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Landscape Adjustments on Ohio Drive
Over the years that I’ve lived in the District, Ohio Drive has become one of my favorite city streets, especially around this time of year – the non-tourist season. Compared to many other routes, the car traffic is relatively light. The road follows the bends of the Potomac, offering up rare views of open space… Continue reading
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Winter Commute Days
While winter is not my most preferred cycling season, it does have its perks. Fewer people are out, making the city a more contemplative place, and non-cycling friends and colleagues regularly give me props for riding in less-than-inviting pedaling conditions. (“You’re so tough, MG.” Ha ha ha ha, we know the truth.) In exchange, I… Continue reading
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Try Harder, Calm Down: Final Thoughts on 2017
At the beginning of each year, I like to set an intention to carry me with me over the next 12 months. These are usually developed as a way to address some aspect of life I’m wrestling with. For 2017 my intention was “Try harder, calm down.” Stuffed with anxiety about 2017, I resolved to somehow… Continue reading
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2017: A Fine Year to Ride Bikes – And the Photos to Prove It
Around this time last year, I was 90 percent blah about cycling. I appreciated the bike for how it improved my quality of life and distanced me from driving and other transportation options, but I was not enjoying the rides. Blah, time to go get groceries on my bike. Blah my boring commute awaits. Blah… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Challenge 2017 Finisher’s Prize Reveal!
The Coffeeneuring Challenge continues to roll strong. Submissions are beginning to trickle in (four people as of this writing) and it’s time to announce the 2017 Coffeeneuring Challenge Finisher’s Prize. Each year the patch design varies, and is only available to those who complete the Coffeeneuring Challenge. Chasing Mailboxes has again partnered with Doug of Umbrella Works for… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Rewind with John: Coffee Outside and Meanders along the Chesapeake Bay
One of the kerpillion things I love about coffeeneuring is the virtual journey I go on through people’s submissions. Some people send snapshot summaries, while other write-ups read like a travel journal. John, who rides in the areas on the Virginia Peninsula is one of the latter. He not only shows us around his neighborhood,… Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 