As the climate has turned increasingly warm, an October-November bicycle challenge becomes less about pedaling forth in challenging weather and more about finding the fun. Yet unforeseen challenges have a way of throwing a wrench in our best plans.
As the weather in the DC-area was so lovely this October, I did intend to venture forth on the early side of coffeeneuring to take advantage of it, as we never know how long good fortune will last. As fate would have it, it was quite fortunate that I took my last official ride on Thursday, Octrober 30. The next morning, I went to the gym for a group exercise class and ended up severely straining a calf muscle. And while the strain is progressing, I’m not sure when I will be up to full speed or ready to get back on a bike.
But I’m proud to have another year of coffeeneuring in the bag (I’ve lost count of my total), to have combined coffeeneuring with a plethora of other activities, and to have enjoyed some delicious beverages and treats for a total of nearly 50 enjoyable miles.
Ride # 1 – October 6, 2024 – 5 miles
I wanted to check out the Arlington library book sale and used it as my excuse to begin the coffeeneuring season. There are many coffeeshops to choose from in the area, but I noticed Aroma, which I don’t recall seeing in the past. They offered fresh ginger tea, which was ok, but – honestly – not as good as I’d make at home.
Ride #2 – October 7, 2024 – 9 miles
I was eager to VOTE, so I rode to the Arlington Courthouse – which I feel I’ve done many times during coffeeneuring season, and I always enjoy Bayou Bakery, which is nearby. I was disappointed that they weren’t heavily decorated for Halloween, as they usually are. But they did have a praline scone, which was quite tasty and needed the cortado I ordered to offset the sweetness.
Ride #3 – October 13 – 17 miles
What better way to celebrate my 72nd birthday than to ride the Arlington 17-mile loop with my partner on a perfect Sunday? I always like to stop in Shirlington at the 12-mile mark and generally opt for a sticky bun at Best Buns. But we got a late start and the sticky buns were gone. Not to worry – I’d seen that Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken opened in Shirlington and was in luck: they had my favorite choice – a crueler – which isn’t always on the menu, that I got with an Americano. The coffee was so-so and mostly served again, as a way to offset the sweetness of the treat.
Ride #4 – October 17 – 5 miles
This proved to be the most challenging ride. I was spending the weekend in Philadelphia where my partner, the Cycling Yogi, lives. He dragged the tandem out of his basement, pumped up the tires, greased the gears, and we practiced our starting and stopping, as we hadn’t ridden the tandem in over 5 years. If you’ve never ridden a tandem, you may not know the learning curve can be challenging and communication is key. Our biggest issue is that I’m accustomed to starting off with my right foot on the low pedal, and he likes to start with his left foot on the low pedal. Since I believe he is the more adept cyclist, I insist that he adapt to my preference, which he’s reasonably willing to accommodate, despite my whacking him in the shin with the pedal multiple times.
Our idea was to ride together from his home in Mt Airy to 30th Street Station where I was catching Amtrak back to DC and he would ride the tandem back home by himself. But our plans were foiled when we started having chain problems. We foolishly had left without any bike tools and the first time the chain jammed we waited until another cyclist came by with an Allen wrench. We’d planned to have lunch and coffee at a nice restaurant near the train station, so we’d allowed plenty of extra time.
But after the 3rd time the chain got horribly jammed, I called a Lyft for me and the Cycling Yogi walked the bike to a shop where it got a much needed (and very expensive) tune up. Clearly, if my calf muscle is healed by my next visit to Philly, we will need to ride the refurbished tandem.
I was very thirsty and opted for a grapefruit juice mixed with a ginger shot from Pret a Manger – along with a caprese sandwich. Ordinarily I avoid chain establishments for my coffeeneuring adventures, but had to compromise this time and declare the 5 or so miles we made it a win.
Ride #5 – October 23, 2024 – 5 miles
I had recently pulled out my old tenor recorder and tried to play it, but couldn’t remember much of the fingering, so when I saw someone on my local Buy Nothing group giving away a children’s plastic recorder with instruction booklet, I figured it might help me re-learn a forgotten skill. I used the pick up as an excuse to get out on my bike and then rode to Northside Social in Falls Church. They make a delicious turmeric latte and I got a chocolate chip cookie too. But the latte was so sweet, I ended up bringing the cookie home for later. There was, however, a very sweet dog on the patio.
Ride #6 – October 25, 2024 – 7 miles
This was just a lovely day for a ride so I took the long way both to and from Good Company, where I had a cider donut and an Americano. As the second so-so American of the season, I concluded that it’s either not a preparation I enjoy or I have to make sure to ask for less water than usual.
But I enjoyed the fall colors and the chance to take paths that aren’t part of my usual routes.
Ride #7 – October 30, 2024 – 10 miles
Well, this was lucky 7, since I had no way of knowing I’d go on to injure my calf the next day. I had errands to do and also wanted to take some photos of the wetlands area I often ride past but hadn’t stopped to photograph on previous rides. After stops at MOM’s Organic Market and Trader Joe’s I made my first visit to Tatte – which is growing its presence in the area. They had the elusive kouign-amann which I ordered with a London Fog (an Earl Grey latte with lavender).
I’d gotten a late start on the day, and honestly, the kouign-amann was a bit stale, but dipped in the foam of the latte was quite yummy. I wanted to get a photo showing off my coffeeneuring socks, which I proudly donned for the ride.
The display case at Tatte convinced me that I will most certainly return to sample more of what they have to offer!
I had planned to do additional rides, but given my injury which is making me stay home to rest the leg, I decided to go ahead and summarize this year’s rides now.
Enid writes 