Now that it's coffeeneuring season, I realized, again, that getting out of the house on some kind of schedule is hard, especially when it comes to cycling. First, you need to understand that I managed to get on my bike 27 times (including today) since the beginning of September and 23 of those times have been commuting and another of those times was a family trip by bicycle. So riding for fun seems to have largely faded from view. Having said that, I already have family approval for a coffeeneuring trip to Western Massachusetts next week and that includes 40 miles, 4000 feet of climbing, and somewhere close to 15 miles of dirt roads. But generally it is hard to get out of the house and this coffeeneuring season is getting a slow start. To be honest, a lot of it has been my fault. I instigated a trip to Cape Elizabeth in Maine, accepting friends' invitation to spend what turned out to be a rainy Saturday and sunny Sunday in a beautiful corner of the world with great friends. I could have squeezed a coffeeneuring trip in early Saturday before we drove up there but it would have been stressful so I didn't. Yesterday, the Saturday of the second coffeeneuring weekend, found us driving again, this time to the Ashfield Fall Festival and visiting some of my oldest friends, from college back in the 1970s. We all had a great time, except my wife was pretty tired after driving back late with the boys (late for boys, not adults, except adults with children). Riding before the trip was impossible, especially with me trying to get the the boys hair cut, which was successful. So today was my first chance. And here is what it looked like:
My wife is now aware of this challenge and while she undoubtedly scoffs at it (and is reading this post), she did encourage me to get some paint after I got some coffee (unfortunately the paint store was already closed for the day before I left the house) and even mentioned the challenge. So I got out for some coffee and a nice ride, even if it was on busy streets. On to the questions.
1) Where do you live?
Arlington, MA
2) How did you decide to coffeeneur?
I like coffee and I like to ride my bike. And I ran the Northeast Regional Office for Coffeeneuring last year, making the digital map and I'm making the digital map again this year.
3) What bike are you using as you coffeeneuring bike? Tell us a little about it and why it makes a good coffeeneuring bike.
Well, it's a Suly Cross Check frame built up with Shimano 105 shifters/brakes and derailleurs along with a Shimano 3N80 front hub and a White Industries MTB rear hub. It has fenders and racks, lights powered by the generator and others powered by batteries and it even has a bell. It serves as my commuter and carries the boys and one day I'l go for a short tour on it. The racks make it a good coffeeneuring bike since I can carry panniers and fill one of those panniers with locks so I can confidently lock my bike. (The locks include two Kryptonite locks and two cables, one locking and one used with one of the u locks, so I can park it for all of 20 minutes without worrying too much.) I guess being able to carry locks is what makes it a coffeeneuring bike. That said, I intend to do a coffeeneuring without walls sort of trip this coffeeneuring season and I'm thinking that I won't be locking my bike on that trip.
4) Where did you choose to coffeeneur for your first trip?
Diesel Cafe, Somerville, MA. That's where my wife and I met, 12 years ago. It's a great place but my wife always complains when I go there by myself. Maybe she worries that I'll meet someone else but it's more likely that she wants to feel like she has a life outside of work besides kids. Believe me, no one was interested in me and I just wanted to enjoy a cup of espresso. Expecting to meet someone wasn't on my radar, nor was talking with anyone - I seriously needed alone time.
5) Would you recommend the Diesel Cafe?
Heck yea! I met my wife there and you might meet your future spouse there too. And the coffee is good and the space is expansive and cool, although at my age I can't even be considered a hipster. You can play pool while you drink coffee, if you happen to time it right.
6) Is there bike parking?
Yes. The city of Somerville re-purposed a parking stall or two in front of the cafe and put in a decent bike rack. I even found a spot there today although bike parking in the Davis Square hipster district is tight, given all of the people who ride bikes and like to hang out there.
7) Did I forget to ask you anything that you want to share?
Well, no. I think you have it covered.
My coffeeneuring bike:
You may notice that I was carrying a tire on the bike. I made a stop at a bike shop to get a new tire for my son's new-to-us bike. So this could have also qualified as an errandoneuring trip, if you happen to know what that is.
My wife is now aware of this challenge and while she undoubtedly scoffs at it (and is reading this post), she did encourage me to get some paint after I got some coffee (unfortunately the paint store was already closed for the day before I left the house) and even mentioned the challenge. So I got out for some coffee and a nice ride, even if it was on busy streets. On to the questions.
1) Where do you live?
Arlington, MA
2) How did you decide to coffeeneur?
I like coffee and I like to ride my bike. And I ran the Northeast Regional Office for Coffeeneuring last year, making the digital map and I'm making the digital map again this year.
3) What bike are you using as you coffeeneuring bike? Tell us a little about it and why it makes a good coffeeneuring bike.
Well, it's a Suly Cross Check frame built up with Shimano 105 shifters/brakes and derailleurs along with a Shimano 3N80 front hub and a White Industries MTB rear hub. It has fenders and racks, lights powered by the generator and others powered by batteries and it even has a bell. It serves as my commuter and carries the boys and one day I'l go for a short tour on it. The racks make it a good coffeeneuring bike since I can carry panniers and fill one of those panniers with locks so I can confidently lock my bike. (The locks include two Kryptonite locks and two cables, one locking and one used with one of the u locks, so I can park it for all of 20 minutes without worrying too much.) I guess being able to carry locks is what makes it a coffeeneuring bike. That said, I intend to do a coffeeneuring without walls sort of trip this coffeeneuring season and I'm thinking that I won't be locking my bike on that trip.
4) Where did you choose to coffeeneur for your first trip?
Diesel Cafe, Somerville, MA. That's where my wife and I met, 12 years ago. It's a great place but my wife always complains when I go there by myself. Maybe she worries that I'll meet someone else but it's more likely that she wants to feel like she has a life outside of work besides kids. Believe me, no one was interested in me and I just wanted to enjoy a cup of espresso. Expecting to meet someone wasn't on my radar, nor was talking with anyone - I seriously needed alone time.
5) Would you recommend the Diesel Cafe?
Heck yea! I met my wife there and you might meet your future spouse there too. And the coffee is good and the space is expansive and cool, although at my age I can't even be considered a hipster. You can play pool while you drink coffee, if you happen to time it right.
6) Is there bike parking?
Yes. The city of Somerville re-purposed a parking stall or two in front of the cafe and put in a decent bike rack. I even found a spot there today although bike parking in the Davis Square hipster district is tight, given all of the people who ride bikes and like to hang out there.
7) Did I forget to ask you anything that you want to share?
Well, no. I think you have it covered.
My coffeeneuring bike:
You may notice that I was carrying a tire on the bike. I made a stop at a bike shop to get a new tire for my son's new-to-us bike. So this could have also qualified as an errandoneuring trip, if you happen to know what that is.
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