bicycling
-
Coffeeneuring Clatch: November Days
So much coffeeneuring happening, it’s like a coffetti explosion. No, coffetti is not a real word, but it’s fun to say, fits with the season, and conjures all kinds of exciting images. Speaking of which, let’s jump into a little roundup like a kid hurtling themselves into a leafpile. Am I using up all the… Continue reading
-
Almost There! Coffeeneuring Challenge 2025
Hello friends. Have you been thinking about the Coffeeneuring Challenge? I have and I’m ready! I hope you are too. I’ve seen lots of people getting in their final Always Be Coffeeneuring rounds and organizing themselves – as well as friends – to be ready for the big day. There’s a bunch of stuff going… Continue reading
-
Coffeeneuring Challenge 2025: You’re Only 15 Once
Readers. Bike riders. Randonneurs. Always Be Coffeeneuring Club members. Scenesters. People (on Earth)! It’s back again and it’s a big one. That’s right, it’s the 15th edition of the Coffeeneuring Challenge. You’re only 15 once so let’s make it the most of it. Saturday, October 11, we launch. If you ride a bike, enjoy low-key… Continue reading
-
Coffeeneuring Challenge 2024: The Year of Small Wins
Readers. Bike riders. Randonneurs. Members of the Always Be Coffeeneuring Club. Everyone (on Earth)! The season has arrived. Year 14 of the Coffeeneuring Challenge. I’m pretty excited to say that we’re still here. We are still here and October 6 we roll. If you ride a bike, enjoy low-key adventures, drink coffee or tea (or… Continue reading
-
2020 on Two Wheels
Nothing like waiting until the last day of the year to put together the year end posts! I lost a lot of motivation for writing this year because all my thoughts and activities felt frivolous in light of current events. Still, I love doing the wrap-up and seeing what the year in photos looked like… Continue reading
-
The 50 States Ride, 2020 Edition
The ultimate concept ride, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) put their creativity to work and pulled off a socially distanced edition of the 50 States Ride – a here, there, and everywhere course that traverses all four D.C. quadrants and covers all streets named after states (except D.C., that’s a pending addition). Despite having… Continue reading
-
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 daring. Roots and gravel roll under her wheels and her face is unruffled. Bring it, her expression seems to say. She has no qualms about… Continue reading
-
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 move through the city, and this year you inspired me to write you a valentine. Active transportation seekers, you are changing the landscape and I… Continue reading
-
BikeDC’s Dave Salovesh
We had the ghost bike installation for Dave Salovesh this past weekend, and I stood there staring in disbelief the whole time with my leg propping up my bike as I wondered when Dave would ride by to see it and what he would think when he did. This can’t be happening. This didn’t happen.… Continue reading
-
Bike Tour Birthday Contrasts
March 2018. It’s my birthday and Felkerino and I are bike touring through California desert. Sand spreads out on all sides, the road undulates ahead. Cars and trucks zip by periodically, reminding us that we are not alone. Even so it feels like we are the only exposed creatures out here. Nonstop sun pours down,… Continue reading
-
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
-
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
-
Made-Up Me: D.C. Randonneurs 600K
The uncertain arc of a ride as long as a 600K draws me to it. So many factors define the ultimate experience: fitness, weather, terrain, traffic, and the bike itself. Moments where I wonder why the heck I’m doing this are almost a given over such distance. Frustrating as these times are, it intrigues me… Continue reading
-
Once in a Blue Moon: 2017 D.C. Randonneurs Fleche
That Jerry Seager sure is a charmer. After swearing off the flèche for the rest of my days, Jerry’s keen routing skills and thirst for adventure convinced Felkerino and me to join him yet again for the 2017 edition of the D.C. Randonneurs flèche with Team Once in a Blue Moon. This year our team consisted of… Continue reading
-
2016: Bike as Backbone
My year in cycling was another surprise when I compare how I felt about it versus the story reflected in photos and miles. The story was far better than perception during a period when time on the bike was – like my running in 2016 – inconsistent from month to month, making for a herky jerky year.… Continue reading
-
Opting
The last couple of days, my Instagram feed has filled with the #optoutside hashtag, as Insta connections spend the day in nature and the outdoors instead of dedicating time in retail spaces or in front of their computer. Part of me is glad for that, although I suspect that most of the people I know would choose… Continue reading
-
Heavy Hearts and Bicycle Breezes
Heavy hearts are the worst. A heavy heart burrows into your stomach and crowds other organs, causing discomfort. A heavy heart – being so burdened – needs extra oxygen to function, which can leave a person deflated and lethargic. It takes a lot of energy to endure a heavy heart. While it seems counterintuitive, a bicycle breeze may help temporarily lighten… Continue reading
-
The Coffeeneur Behind the Coffeeneuring Patch Designs: Doug of Umbrella Works
The 2016 Coffeeneuring Challenge prize is about to be revealed, but before the grand unveiling, I’m featuring the man behind the excellent coffeeneuring designs of the past two years. Doug of umbrella works stepped forward last year to offer his skills in creating the Coffeeneuring Challenge patch prize, and we’ve been working together since. Many… Continue reading
-
Remembering Michael Prater: Cycling Fed His Soul, Coffee Fueled His Ride
The Coffeeneuring Challenge allows for an appreciation of cycling different from the oftentimes more active spring and summer months. Slow down. Relax. Spend time with a friend and drink a cup of coffee (or similar). Such was the case with Michael and Chauncey – best friends and riding buddies – who took on last year’s challenge… Continue reading
-
A Theme Within a Theme Coffeeneuring Rewind: Visual Journaling with Kathy
Last year’s Coffeeneuring Challenge introduced a new option for participants: the theme within a theme. The idea took off with quite a few, including Kathy, the author and illustrator of today’s post. Kathy took on the theme of visual journaling, and the result is a vivid set of watercolor pieces Kathy painted during the course of… Continue reading
-
The Capital City of Coffeeneuring: Pittsburgh, PA
When the Coffeeneuring Challenge first began, I had no idea who would participate and what cities would be represented. Over the years, Pittsburgh has consistently emerged as the city with the most participants. Last year, Pittsburgh coffeeneurs put together a poster announcing the challenge, and also worked with a local bike shop to coordinate both… Continue reading
-
The Always Be Coffeeneuring Club
Do you ride your bike to drink coffee or tea? Or even hot chocolate? Do you not care about rules, or perhaps not care for rules? Are you in training for the upcoming coffeeneuring season? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might be want to join the Always Be Coffeeneuring (ABC) Club. Requirements… Continue reading
-
Coffeeneuring is Coming: An Inside Look at Coffeeneuring in Milwaukee
After five years in existence, the Coffeeneuring Challenge is becoming a fall tradition. For most of us, coffeeneuring never truly stops, but there is something especially enticing about the cool fall air, crunchy leaves under our wheels, and rides to coffee (or other coffee-ish) beverages with friends. This year, I talked with people in a… Continue reading
-
Ride Your Bikes, People
I’m fond of my active commute routine. My regular commute to work is predictable, pleasant. Over the years I’ve devised a sweet route that minimizes high-volume car traffic, and I store a nice selection of seasonal work clothes in my office. This week I’ve been thrust outside of my routine, which is pretty much a… Continue reading
-
Making the Experience Yours: Randonneuring
A while back, I wrote a post called Randonneur- and Real-Life Spouse, which attempted to articulate my frustration about feelings of exclusion from a particular brevet experience (the #randbro adventure). This piece also discussed some of the demeaning comments we have received over the years from men who think that my willingness to stoke a tandem was my partner’s… Continue reading
-
Bicycle Estrangement
I kicked off 2016 with cycling and running foremost in my mind. I participated in the area’s Freezing Saddles challenge – to ride as many days as possible from January through March – and signed on to ride the best flèche ever with our friend Jerry. From the beginning of the year through April, I enthusiastically pursued daily riding… Continue reading
-
Real Life Lessons From Randonneuring
I started randonneuring because I wanted to see what the distances beyond 100 miles held for me. I hoped randonneuring would make me fitter and stronger, and help me see new places. What I did not realize, though, is that randonneuring was stealthily strengthening me in other ways, too. Over the past two years, other life… Continue reading
-
Beyond Fun: D.C. Randonneurs Frederick, Maryland 300K
As I set out my gear for Saturday’s 300K, I noticed the 2015 cue sheet for the same ride still in my bag. One year later, back again. For a while Friday evening and into the next day, I wondered yet again why I thought of randonneuring as a worthy pursuit. Early ups, questionable weather… Continue reading
-
The Highs and Lows of New Bike Day
One year ago, fate and desire intersected to create an opportunity for Felkerino and me to purchase a custom steel tandem. Prior to this tandem, our main brevet bike has been a custom-sized Co-Motion Java that has served us well and I’m not going to say one bad thing about it. Except one thing. We found… Continue reading
-
Tulipmania
I suspected that I’d experience post-flèche fallout, and over the last two weeks I’ve been proven right. The energy expended from 24 straight hours without sleep, 232 miles of pedaling over sawtooth terrain from Pittsburgh to D.C., and rough overnight conditions complete with snow squalls took their toll on my body. Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 