Tag: rawland

Rawland

Rawland Nordavinden Update: 44-Mile Shakedown Ride

A few weeks ago, fellow #BikeDC’er Hyunoo came over to test ride my new Rawland Nordavinden. Since bikes like Rawlands are hard to come by for test rides I was happy to help him out in deciding 1. if the Nordavinden was “the right bike” and 2. what size frame set to purchase.

Rawland Nordavinden

Seeing Hyunoo take the bike for a quick spin and really enjoy it (he ended up purchasing a frame of his own, which he is now building up) made me want to take the Rawland for a real shakedown ride. A few days later, Felkerino and I took our singles on a rolling 44-mile ramble from D.C. out to Maryland to accomplish just that.

Continue reading “Rawland Nordavinden Update: 44-Mile Shakedown Ride”

MG9 Comments
Dining Room Bike Shop, Rawland

New Bike Day! Rawland Nordavinden

Felkerino and I celebrated New Bike Day at the Dining Room Bike Shop this past weekend. New Bike Day New Bike Day!

This edition was particularly exciting, as 1. the bike was for me; and 2. I purchased the frame and fork in June of last year, but took another ten months to get the parts for the bike in order.

The bike I purchased is a Rawland Nordavinden, designed by Rawland Cycles out of Danvile, California. Unlike the Rawland dSogns that Felkerino and I own which are a mix between a mountain and cross bike, the Nordavinden is meant to be a fast-ish touring “all road” bicycle.

Rawland Nordavinden
Photo by Felkerino

While I think it could be a little duplicative of my Rivendell Romulus in some ways, the Nordavinden appealed to me for several reasons.

Continue reading “New Bike Day! Rawland Nordavinden”

MG41 Comments
Whatevering Rides

Spring Fever: On the Bike, Off the Clock

This weekend’s spectacular weather made for an invitation to ride that Felkerino and I could not refuse. We ditched the indoors for a weekend of riding with friends.

Barry and Ed at Harpers Ferry
Barry and Ed at Harpers Ferry

Saturday, we oiled the chain on the Co-Motion tandem and met up with Barry B. and Lane G. for a meander from Poolesville, Maryland, to Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and back.

Having all ridden the flèche last weekend (though not all on the same team), we delighted in riding free of any time table.

Continue reading “Spring Fever: On the Bike, Off the Clock”

MG2 Comments
Whatevering Rides

Mandatory Fall Foliage Dirt Road Ride

With the shades of fall intensely pulsing through our area, Felkerino and I decided we better get out for a good autumn ride before showers or windy days wrested the brilliant leaves from the trees.

(c) Felkerino

We looked at the Saturday forecast, which indicated overnight temperatures would not be bitingly cold. Sun was also predicted, with the day warming from mid-40s up to the mid-60s.

That’s my kind of fall riding! Felkerino convinced a couple of friends to join us and we spent the day riding the dirt roads around the Middleburg, Virginia, area. It was a great reprieve from the pavement and a rare treat to ride enveloped in the peak of autumn’s colors.

Continue reading “Mandatory Fall Foliage Dirt Road Ride”

MG8 Comments
Brevet Training, Brevet Training Rides, Centuries, Whatevering Rides

Spring Training Rides, Leaving the Pavement Behind

The Rawland and a nice rollout

The past two weekends, Felkerino and I put the brevet cards aside to enjoy some excellent training rides. As you may know, I like to qualify weekend non-brevet cycling as “training.” It’s like a doctor’s note that excuses me from my household responsibilities.

Continue reading “Spring Training Rides, Leaving the Pavement Behind”

MG10 Comments
650B, Populaires, Randonneuring, Rawland

The Road Less Travelled 130K Populaire on the Rawland dSogn

Over the past weekend, Felkerino and I met up with fellow D.C. Randonneurs Chuck, Crista, and George to ride the recently approved Road Less Travelled Populaire.

This ride, designed by George Moore, totals 130K/83 miles, with approximately 60 percent of featuring unpaved roads. It starts in Haymarket, Virginia, and takes a blend of back roads and pavement to Purcellville, on to Middleburg (the heart of Loudoun County’s horse country), and back again to Haymarket.

Continue reading “The Road Less Travelled 130K Populaire on the Rawland dSogn”

MG4 Comments
Bicycling Events, WABA 50 States Ride

WABA 50 States Ride

Want to do a ride in the District that’s 65 miles long, takes 212 cues, and feels like a daily commute that keeps on giving? Then maybe you would be interested in the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s annual 50 States Ride. That’s where I was this past Saturday.

Traffic light photo opp on the 50 States Ride (c) mcn7

The course is a drunken sailor tour through all the District quadrants, and takes you over the city’s 50 state streets. It’s a great concept, and I’m proud to say that I have now ridden my bicycle over all of the state streets in Washington, D.C. I’m not sure I’ll ever do it again, but I definitely think it is worth doing once.

Continue reading “WABA 50 States Ride”

MG12 Comments
650B, Bikes to Like, Dining Room Bike Shop, Rawland

New Bike! Rawland dSogn

Felkerino’s Rawland

Felkerino liked his Rawland dSogn so much, he bought and built me one, too!

Today Felkerino and I took my new ride on its maiden voyage. I love it! This is my first bike with 650B tires and disc brakes.

Continue reading “New Bike! Rawland dSogn”

MG1 Comment