Jan 2010 Ride recap

I actually missed this month’s ride due to a scheduling conflict.  However thanks to the vigor and diligence of some dedicated beer lovers and bike riders, the ride happened and was quite a success.  I didn’t get the final headcount, but it looks like about 10-12 people rode a fun little loop through Fairmount Park on their way to Dock Street Brewing in West Philly.  While I couldn’t be there, I enjoyed this ride vicariously through pictures:

Pictures are courtesy of Denine over at the Bicycle Chef

Last minute ride plans

Meet at the Art Museum steps this Sat, 1/23, at 11am.  We’ll be doing some riding through the park then head over to Dock St in West Philly

Dec 09 Ride Recap

Man, this was a cold ride.  Temps were in the 20’s, and as soon as I left the house, the wind was fighting.  And it never let up.  We ended up riding out to the General Lafayette Inn, via the Valley Forge trail to Barren Hill Rd on the way there and Forbidden Dr on the way back.

I don’t know if I could imagine a better post-frigid ride setting.  Fireplaces, dark wood, low ceilings, and hand pumped beer.  It really was an oasis.  They had their Sunset Red and an old ale on cask, and they were perfect.  The place got crowded, but we stayed at the bar, had some lunch, and otherwise avoided having to go back out in the cold.

But we did, and made it safely back.  A lucky few of us enjoyed some homemade chili at Chateau Keenan.  This was definitely an epic and enjoyable ride

Dec Ride?

The holidays have arrived and found me completely unprepared for a ride this month.  For this I apologize.  So lets once again make it happen, impromptu style.  We’ll be meeting at the Art Museum this Sat, Jan 2nd, at 10am.  Lets start the new year right, with bikes and good beer!

Tis the season, for Barleywine

I just saw on Meal Ticket that Yards is putting out a Barleywine.  This got me really excited.  I’ve haven’t talked much about it this year, but come winter, barleywine is my beer style of choice.  Well, I would take it in any season, but most of the breweries put them out this time of year.  And there is nothing like cuddling up on a bitter cold winter night with a snifter of aged barleywine and a hunk of stinky cheese.  So bring it on, winter!

Nov 09 Ride recap

I’m way late for a recap as the ride was 2 weeks ago, I’m sorry.  We did actually ride, and it was pretty fun.  Our final destination was Philadelphia Brewing Co’s holiday party, but we had no real route or plan to get there.  We started into Fairmount Park, on a route that I know well.  But back by the recycling center we turned off onto some fire roads.  I was really interested in checking these paths out, and I’m glad that some of the guys knew them well.  They weren’t paved, but most everyone had no problem riding them, even with skinny tires.

We rode around for a bit, and decided to head down to the newly opened Hawthorne Cafe in south Philly for lunch.  Hawthorne Cafe is a little beer cafe owned by Bella Vista Distributors.  The beer selection, as expected, was awesome.  They have a growler filling station with an amazing taplist.  Sadly though, no single glass pours.  I went with a pair of Dark Horse beers, including the perfectly paired oatmeal stout.  Early in a late autumn day, after a chilly ride through the woods, a hearty stout was the perfect lunch beer.  Well, not exactly lunch.  For some reason, they don’t serve their lunch menu until 3pm on weekends, and there was nary a lunch dish to be found on the “brunch” menuu.  This was my only complaint, as I was really looking forward to one of their hand carved sandwiches.

From there we rode up to PBC.  Some mechanical issues broke up the group, but we all arrived safely.  We all had a glass of their new winter ale and settled into a table in the loading dock turned courtyard.  We had a chance to recount the ride over some pipe tobacco and free beer, a fitting end to a wonderful day.

My two cents

There is all kinds of bike talk going on lately in the Philadelphia area.  If you’re remotely interested in cycling, I’m sure you’ve heard some of it.  Talk of bike registration, increased fines, angry motorist rants, etc.  I’ve only read some of it.  I’ve purposefully avoided the more hateful bits (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about).  I’ve also avoided getting into discussions about it.  It’s a polarizing issue, and there are strong feelings all around.

With that said, please allow me to offer two points that I haven’t seen come up yet.

First, it should be understood that there is some overlap in bike and car use.  Most cyclists have a license, and many motorists have a bike.  The average cyclist is also a motorist, and likely is a decent driver with a keen understanding of the rules of the road, and how to share the road, drive defensively and safely, etc, etc.  The average motorist, on the other hand, is very likely NOT a “cyclist”, familiar with how to ride in heavy traffic and in a dense urban setting.  Articles which attempt to attack cycling in the city serve only to incite motorists, who have little to no concept of what a cyclist has to do to ride safely.  So all you belligerent writers and angry motorists, please invite conversations, don’t incite anger!

Secondly, I hear people ranting about how cyclists don’t obey the law.  I would like to compare the common cycling act of treating stop signs as yield, and red lights as stop signs (which should be the law, but that is another discussion) to speeding.  Any motorist who claims they don’t speed is either lying, or infuriating other drivers on the road.  We all do it, and to an extent, its condoned.  On a highway, it’s arguably safer to go 5 mph above the speed limit and flow with traffic, than to be the car everyone is trying to swerve to pass.  I would argue that cyclists running stop signs and red lights is the same thing.  Sure, its illegal, and it’s not always a good idea.  But in real life riding, its sometimes safe and ok to do.  If you disagree, I challenge you to never crest 55mph on Route 95.

And if you care about this stuff, I implore you to join and support the Bike Coalition of Philadelphia

Beer by Bike, Post-Thanksgiving edition

We’ll be riding the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov 28th.  It will be a little different from our normal format.  Meet at the Art Museum at 10am, we’ll do a couple hours of riding.  Afterward, we’ll be heading to Philadelphia Brewing Co’s Holiday Open House.  Maybe we’ll throw a lunch stop in there somewhere too, who knows.  We will also be discussing and planning an exciting potential future ride.  Hope to see you there!

Tweed Ride recap

The weather couldn’t have been better for our 2nd semi-annual Philadelphia Tweed Ride last weekend.  I had missed the first one last spring, along with most everyone else in the city.  There were 9 riders on that ride.  This time around, there were over 100.  I was thankful to be a part of the planning of this ride, and being the person signing everyone in I got a chance to see everyone’s dapper attire and bikes.  Everyone really did a wonderful job of dressing the part for this ride, there were very few slackers to be found.  Most everyone had on lovely period clothing, well cut suits, appropriate headwear, and a variety of facial hair to boot.  We were all blown away by the good turn out and positive response.  All the bystanders we rode past had smiles for us, even the drivers!

This was the maiden voyage of our newly appointed Kona Ute, featuring an amazing kid-rack hand-built by the talented Dan/Niedz.  The girls (Madeline and Jane, Penny’s seat isn’t quite ready yet) absolutely loved it.  I put on a bell for each of them, and they had a blast on the ride.  I’ll post a review and more pics of this ride in the future.

The ride was short, with a stroll through Rittenhouse Square and some games and food at Taney Park.  The end point and prize ceremony was held at the Institute (who gracefully handled the larger than expected turnout).  There were a decent amount of prizes, including a Brooks Saddle for the best dressed man and woman.  We were also graced with the presence of Lord Whimsy, who unfortunately wasn’t able to join us for the actual ride.

I think I’m not the only one who would say that this ride was incredible fun.  I really wish I had more time to meet people, as I only knew maybe 20% of the riders, and they all seemed to be having a blast.  We’ll definitely be doing this ride again, and I hope it continues to be as great as this one.

Real Life

In case you don’t  subscribe, my wife and partner-in-parenting Lois has a blog:  lovermother.blogspot.com.  Lately she’s posted a string of awesome photos and videos.  I tend to keep the focus tight here, bikes, beer, food, etc.  But 99% of my life and time is spent being a parent to 3 awesome little girls.  So lest you begin to believe that my life is all bikes and beer, you should click over and see where most of my energy is spent.