bicycling
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Link Love
I used to do a “Link Love” every so often. This feature is simply sharing some of the posts or articles I’ve recently read that I think might be enjoyed by Chasing Mailboxes readers. Today I brought Link Love back with the gems that follow: Endless Velo Love, Transportative Bicycle. “Bicycles are an interesting machine. They have the power to transport physically,… Continue reading
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Week One of 30 Days of Biking in Washington, D.C.
Day 1 When I was just as far as I could walk From here today, There was an hour All still When leaning with my head against a flower I heard you talk. —Robert Frost, The Telephone Continue reading
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Stillness in the Ruckus of Washington, D.C.
Buses align Ohio Drive, one after the other, and block my once-daily view of the Potomac. Large chatty groups of tourists swarm the National Mall, oblivious to the bike commuters that weave around them. They start the day early, and I fail to wake up any earlier to avoid their field trips. The sudden influx is an annual… Continue reading
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Riding in Search of Weak Spots
Some randonneurs maintain brevet fitness throughout the year, but I haven’t managed to achieve that. When September arrives, I ride for fun, and run myself into shape for a fall marathon or two. Winter weather tempers my riding ambitions. It’s just not as glorious to ride around the countryside through various shades of winter browns… Continue reading
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Birthday Week Bike Rides in BikeDC
Dear Washington, D.C., my current city of residence, I discovered a better way to maneuver around you after too many years as a subterranean Metro passenger. Continue reading
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Randonneuring In Retrospect
I’m a randonneur romantic. Sure, longer brevets almost always include periods where I question my recreational pursuits due to discomfort, exhaustion, or some dissatisfaction with a route segment, but they don’t hang on. Eventually, those feelings fade and bike riding reclaims its place on my list of favorite things to do. Continue reading
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Errandonnee 2015 Blog Highlights and Blogroll!
Four days and change remain for those on a quest to complete the 2015 Errandonnee. On March 17, the Errandonnee is over and you can cry into green beers and return to your regularly scheduled errand programming. You will also be able to pedal down memory lane when the Errandonnee is said and done with the posts, tweets,… Continue reading
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Errandonnee 2015 Update: Best Year Yet?
As I write, there is warmth in the air and light in the sky here in D.C. Lots of people were out and about this weekend, not only to celebrate the warm weather and the arrival of Daylight Savings, but to make inroads on their Errandonnee quests! If you haven’t started the Errandonnee, it’s not too late.… Continue reading
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Winter Challenge: The 2015 Errandonnee
Hey winter, you’re not the boss of me. It’s time for a March challenge designed for the utility cyclist with errands to do, even during cold winter days– the Errandonnee! The tweet version of the Errandonnee is: Errandonnee: Complete 12 errands in 12 days and ride a total of 30 miles by bike between March 5-16,… Continue reading
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Figuring Out How to Speak Bike
Recently Elly Blue put a question out to the Twitterverse, asking people about the things they found difficult when first taking up cycling. Her question took me back to 2003 or so when I began cycling around Washington, D.C., for transportation and fitness. Continue reading
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Why Write About Bicycling
As I was padding around the Mall on a meditative lunch run, I pondered what keeps me writing about time spent on my bicycle. Continue reading
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Bikes Are Not Family Members, But…
After a month spent in delightful lollygag mode, Felkerino and I pumped up the tires on the Co-Motion Java tandem for our first century ride of 2015. As I rode along looking alternately at Felkerino’s backside and a somewhat snotty top tube resulting from my runny nose, I was wholly grateful for the hours and… Continue reading
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Combating Cynicism Through Active Commutes
Today I was reading David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech “This is Water.” In it, he addresses the theme of selfishness, as well as the tedious aspects of adult life and how we all construct and view our life experiences. Our challenge, he says, is to step outside ourselves, take an active role in interpreting our surroundings, and… Continue reading
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BikeDC Commutes 2014: The Months in Photos
As I was assembling my recent post about 12 months of running in D.C., I realized that I wanted a memory of the past year’s bike commutes in the city. Considering I spent much of the year feeling blasé about the urban bike experience, my photos make it seem like it wasn’t so bad. As if I enjoyed… Continue reading
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The Wheelman’s Song
Those of you who follow me on Instagram may have noticed that I’ve been perusing old issues of The Wheelman and Good Roads. Both magazines were publications of the League of American Wheelman, which is now the Bike League, and date back to the late 1800’s, when people’s fascination with the bicycle was just beginning… Continue reading
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2014: Bike Rides (Mostly) and Photos
As December approaches its final days, I find myself in a reflective mood. As in previous years, I’ve put together a set of Year in Review photos to summarize many of the year’s activities. This is my image-centric summary of 2014. Continue reading
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Big Dummy Family Coffeeneuring with Judy, DS, and DD in Toronto, Ontario
Today’s guest post may require you to employ your conversion skills, because it’s kilometers-centric. Yes! In addition, get ready to enjoy a peek into bicycling life with kids and a Big Dummy. Judy, of Toronto, completed the challenge this week, managing several rides with DS and DD. Thanks so much, Judy (and DS and DD, too!), for… Continue reading
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We Love Coffeeneuring: A Chat with Original Coffeeneur Vannevar in Pittsburgh, PA
The Coffeeneuring Challenge kicked off four years ago as a small affair with 12 finishers. Thanks to their efforts, word of mouth, and I’m not even sure what else, coffeeneuring is now an annual event that keeps expanding in popularity. Some don’t know the history of coffeeneuring, and that’s okay. There are enough of us around… Continue reading
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Contemplative Fall
Recollections of the harvest and farmers working fields long past sundown. Walks across campus, heavy book-filled backpacks on our shoulders, feet drifting through drying leaves. The donning of long sleeves to absorb the chill of mornings that advise of even colder times to come. It’s odd how this time can feel like a stopping point. The end of one cycle,… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Week 1: It’s On!
We’re almost one week into the Coffeeneuring Challenge, and already I’m amazed by all the people riding their bikes to tasty beverages all over the land. Some ride to four-walled establishments, and others enjoy beverages in the open air. Much of the coffeeneuring activity is taking place on Twitter (search the #coffeeneuring hashtag), the Coffeeneurs Facebook… Continue reading
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Mr. and Mrs. Bike Snick Go Coffeeneuring
We can’t go into the weekend (THE FIRST WEEKEND OF OFFICIAL COFFEENEURING SEASON) without another example of how coffeeneuring happens. And, of course, it’s always nice to give the locals of #BikeDC and #BikeArlington a shout-out, especially ones who’ve taken such care with capturing their coffeeneuring images. With that, I present you with the coffeeneuring… Continue reading
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Coffeeneurs International: Martin in Ye Olde England
It’s not every day that someone says coffeeneuring has the potential to change his or her life. Coffee and bike riding can be powerful stuff, however, so who’s to say it isn’t these little pleasures that have great impact on us over time? I will let you ponder that, as I share this post from… Continue reading
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Flat, Fast, & Camaraderie-Filled: My First Time at the Sea Gull Century
Crowded and flat. Windy. Dangerous. The words often used to describe the Sea Gull Century out of Salisbury, Maryland, did not endear me to it. For more than 10 years I had avoided the Sea Gull, telling people that I wasn’t sure if it was the ride for me. This year two registrations fell into Felkerino’s… Continue reading
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Team Coffeeneuring with Jason in Lancaster, PA
October 4 is when it all starts– the 2014 edition of the Coffeeneuring Challenge. Yes, it’s less than a week away so I hope you’re getting ready. There’s no one way to coffeeneur. You can do it by yourself. You can do it with your friends. You can pedal to an actual coffee shop, or… Continue reading
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Family Coffeeneuring: Dan, Owen, and Elaine in Pittsburgh, PA
Coffeeneuring isn’t just for grown-ups, as 5-year-old finisher Sally proved last year. Coffeeneuring can be for kids, too. It can even be fun for the family. Plus, who can resist the great photo ops Family Coffeeneuring provides?! Many thanks to Dan, Owen, and Elaine for representing the Family Coffeeneuring contingent, as well as the fine… Continue reading
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A Coffeeneuring Meander with Cindy C. in North Carolina
Cindy C. of North Carolina participated in the Coffeeneuring Challenge for the first time last year. The descriptive recounts of her rides, diverse beverage consumption, and her conclusion that bicycling might be the cure for the common cold make for excellent pre-coffeeneuring reading. Enjoy, and thank you, Cindy for the guest post! Continue reading
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Fourth Annual Chasing Mailboxes Coffeeneuring Challenge
Coffeeneuring season has arrived! Hard to believe that the Coffeeneuring Challenge is now in its fourth year, but I looked at my calendar and it really is true. From 12 participants that first year to over 125 last year, coffeeneuring continues to grow. I hope you will consider giving it a go this year. Coffeeneuring… Continue reading
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Coffeeneuring Challenge 2014 Edition
It all starts October 4. Mark your calendars. More details coming your way next week. Continue reading
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Melting Time Under the Moonlight
A self-confessed person of routine, I don’t stay out late and I don’t rise before the sun most days. I eat three meals a day, work Monday through Friday, and try to sleep seven to eight hours a night. I’m a huge fan of sleep. Randonneuring appeals to my affinity for routine. I select the events I… Continue reading
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Bicycle as Escape
I never seem to tire of writing about bicycles. I love talking about them, dreaming about my next bike trip, figuring out the perfect bike commute setup, pondering the ins and outs of randonneuring… you get the idea. This love of riding bikes led me to start Chasing Mailboxes. I was searching for an outlet… Continue reading
Chasing MailBoxes 