It's been a year, and I still miss you Philadelphia.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Thursday, May 16, 2019
"...and no one Dared Disturb the Sound of Silence."
Yesterday was an important day in the cycling world across the globe, as thousands of cyclists participated in the 17th annual Ride of Silence. My girlfriend and I attended here in Columbus:
If you're unfamiliar with the ride, it's an international event in memory of fallen cyclists who were victims of traffic-related fatalities. It's much different than any other ride throughout the year, as it's not only at a very casual pace, but also in complete silence out of respect for the deceased. I estimate about 200 cyclists participated in the Columbus installment, which met at City Hall:
Before the ride, there were brief presentations on the state of cycling infrastructure in and around Columbus (including appearances by several local police officers), and the names of cyclists who passed away in the past year were read aloud to the crowd:
This particular part of the evening was extremely moving, as several of the Columbus-area cyclists were quite young. One was the exact same age as our daughter is currently:
It struck me even more when my girlfriend pointed out how many attendees were adorned with red ribbons that had been distributed to cyclists who'd survived incidents with cars (yours truly included, twice):
I consider myself fortunate to have been able to wear one last night, because there have been plenty of others who weren't as fortunate. I'd like to take a moment to thank Yay Bikes for coordinating the volunteer efforts for this event. These gestures were extra reminders of why advocacy is so important, and that cyclists' lives affect everyone, not just the humans riding the bikes.
The ride itself was as perfect as it could have been, with favorable weather and no incidents to speak of. Everyone was well-behaved and the only sounds I heard (besides pedaling) were solo bell dings when we passed a ghost bike on High Street:
I don't look forward to this event, yet it's one I feel I need to participate in every year. It's a strange feeling because the ride exists for all the wrong reasons and all the right reasons all at the same time. I can only hope that one day we're riding in celebration of zero traffic deaths.
So, if you are a cyclist, or you know or love someone who's a cyclist, I ask that you support us. I ask for your patience as you drive. I also ask that you understand why riding is important to so many people and think about how it affects everyone in some way. Because we're all out here riding, and we love it as much as we love you.
And of course, ride on no matter what. Tomorrow is Bike to Work day, after all...
Before the ride, there were brief presentations on the state of cycling infrastructure in and around Columbus (including appearances by several local police officers), and the names of cyclists who passed away in the past year were read aloud to the crowd:
This particular part of the evening was extremely moving, as several of the Columbus-area cyclists were quite young. One was the exact same age as our daughter is currently:
- Brooke Hoffman - 22
- Milton Shetler - 79
- Daniel Ball - 71
- Michael Flynn - 23
- Kevin Johnson - 56
- Shane Cash - 33
- Oliver Seikel - 80
- Paul Klein - 66
- Lawon Tilley - 43
- Shannon Mills - 26
- Caiden Balash - 11
- Mark Wladecki - 60
- Ronald Chamberlain - 59
- Mark Esposito - 57
- Christopher Clifford - 51
- Javonte Brunston - 17
- Nickolas O'Donnell - 65
- Mary Sheeler - 18
- Alan Sellers - 58
- Laqua Darnell Burton - 38
It struck me even more when my girlfriend pointed out how many attendees were adorned with red ribbons that had been distributed to cyclists who'd survived incidents with cars (yours truly included, twice):
I consider myself fortunate to have been able to wear one last night, because there have been plenty of others who weren't as fortunate. I'd like to take a moment to thank Yay Bikes for coordinating the volunteer efforts for this event. These gestures were extra reminders of why advocacy is so important, and that cyclists' lives affect everyone, not just the humans riding the bikes.
The ride itself was as perfect as it could have been, with favorable weather and no incidents to speak of. Everyone was well-behaved and the only sounds I heard (besides pedaling) were solo bell dings when we passed a ghost bike on High Street:
I don't look forward to this event, yet it's one I feel I need to participate in every year. It's a strange feeling because the ride exists for all the wrong reasons and all the right reasons all at the same time. I can only hope that one day we're riding in celebration of zero traffic deaths.
And of course, ride on no matter what. Tomorrow is Bike to Work day, after all...
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
The Outer Bikes
I feel like most of my life can be summed up by the phrase "Better late than never." Another example happened this week, when the family and I found ourselves in the Outer Banks, NC. We'd vacationed there last Summer but due to some horrendous weather, our outdoor activities were severely limited - biking included. This time around, we were a little more fortunate:
We didn't bring our bikes with us on the trip, but luckily bike rentals are a dime a dozen at the beach. This time of year, most of the rental bikes are in great shape because no one has used them yet. I mean, check out this memory foam seat - no butt prints!
Anyway, after we geared up, we decided to head south from our location in Duck and just see where the path would lead us. Like most beach communities, the Outer Banks are very bike-friendly, with a trail paralleling NC-12, the main road in OBX:
You don't actually get to see the ocean from here, but you can hear it off in the distance and feel the sea breeze. In some cases, a little cover from the ocean wind is actually preferable.
We also spotted these markers on the ride, and I'm not sure what they mean:
I'm wondering if "MV" stands for "Motor Vehicle," because these appear near every intersection. The Outer Banks used to have a lot more sand roads (as opposed to paved), so perhaps these were used to mark motor vehicle routes. I'll dig into this more if I have time later. If you have any idea what these are, let me know.
At any rate, we had gotten about 6 miles down the coast before we decided to turn around, but not before stopping for a snack at a random place of our choosing:
I'm not a big fan of the glass, but the beer was pretty awesome. After that, it was time to saunter on back to our temporary home. After we got back, of course we couldn't help but feel like we wanted to go further, but still grateful we had gone anywhere at all on a bike. Can't wait to do it again!
If you're wondering why you haven't seen Faith through all of this, she decided not to join us. I think she was still exhausted after we made her climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in the morning:
That was the best I could do with the wind. I made sure to show her the pictures of the bike trial when we got back. She'll definitely be joining us next time, which will hopefully be sooner than later, but always better late than never.
We didn't bring our bikes with us on the trip, but luckily bike rentals are a dime a dozen at the beach. This time of year, most of the rental bikes are in great shape because no one has used them yet. I mean, check out this memory foam seat - no butt prints!
Anyway, after we geared up, we decided to head south from our location in Duck and just see where the path would lead us. Like most beach communities, the Outer Banks are very bike-friendly, with a trail paralleling NC-12, the main road in OBX:
This particular stretch is called the Duck Trail. Outside the town, I don't think it has a name. In any case, it's pretty much a flat ride mostly on pavement through some nice beach greenery:
You don't actually get to see the ocean from here, but you can hear it off in the distance and feel the sea breeze. In some cases, a little cover from the ocean wind is actually preferable.
We also spotted these markers on the ride, and I'm not sure what they mean:
At first I thought they were milepost markers, but every one of them is engraved with an "MV" symbol, so that clearly can't be the case:
At any rate, we had gotten about 6 miles down the coast before we decided to turn around, but not before stopping for a snack at a random place of our choosing:
We chose the Coastal Provisions Oyster Bar & Market. In addition to snacks, you have to try some authentic North Carolina beer too:
If you're wondering why you haven't seen Faith through all of this, she decided not to join us. I think she was still exhausted after we made her climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in the morning:
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
30ish Thoughts on 30 Days
We made it! Or at least I did...
It's April 30th, which means 30 Days of Biking is just about over, and for the 4th consecutive year, I've completed the challenge as of 6AM today:
Once again, I wasn't sure I'd be able to commute safely due to possible weather-related issues, so I changed up my morning loop to include a trip to the recycling drop off. 2 productive miles right before work isn't a bad way to begin any day.
But of course, it was day 30, and that just wasn't going to cut it. I had to get in just a little more riding when weather permitted and time allowed. After work, I trekked into Downtown Columbus to take a peek at the festivities going on in advance of the Blue Jackets' first ever second-round playoff game. If nothing else, I wanted to see if the atmosphere matched the buzz I'd heard so much about:
As you can see, it wasn't really hopping at 4PM, but I'm sure things picked up soon after I headed back home. By the way, it will never compare to Philly, but I am cheering for the Jackets this series, because Boston is not allowed to win anything anymore. Ever.
Anyway, those 9ish miles would end up being my final ride this month, as I'm settled in for the evening now, writing this post. Each time I do this, it's a little bit different, and this year was certainly different.
I don't put much stock in mileage other than trying to beat my own personal benchmarks, but one major difference this year has been my distance. This is the first 30 Days of Biking I've completed without logging over 500 miles. But, when you consider it's also the first such go around that I've accomplished without the aid of a full-time bicycling job, logging over 400 miles is something I'm personally very proud of.
I also felt very emotionally different this time. By that I mean this was my first time attempting 30 DoB outside of Philly, a city and region that's still very familiar to me. I'm still not as comfortable around here as I was back east (I may never be, but who knows?), but I appreciate so much more of this area after forcing myself to ride a bike around it for 30 consecutive days. My homesickness may never completely go away, but most days this month, I've felt more positive than negative, and I have a bike to thank for that. I may have finally turned a corner out here.
This is also the first time I've had the chance to share most of my favourite month with a child. I stopped keeping track of how many days Faith rode this month, but I can assure you it was the majority. Coincidentally, she got a brand new bike this month at just the right time.
And with that, it's a perfect segue way to my favourite moments from this month. It's (mostly) all about the kids!
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Final Total: 410.5
But of course, it was day 30, and that just wasn't going to cut it. I had to get in just a little more riding when weather permitted and time allowed. After work, I trekked into Downtown Columbus to take a peek at the festivities going on in advance of the Blue Jackets' first ever second-round playoff game. If nothing else, I wanted to see if the atmosphere matched the buzz I'd heard so much about:
Anyway, those 9ish miles would end up being my final ride this month, as I'm settled in for the evening now, writing this post. Each time I do this, it's a little bit different, and this year was certainly different.
I don't put much stock in mileage other than trying to beat my own personal benchmarks, but one major difference this year has been my distance. This is the first 30 Days of Biking I've completed without logging over 500 miles. But, when you consider it's also the first such go around that I've accomplished without the aid of a full-time bicycling job, logging over 400 miles is something I'm personally very proud of.
And with that, it's a perfect segue way to my favourite moments from this month. It's (mostly) all about the kids!
- YOU get a Bike, and YOU get a Bike! - After much anticipation, Faith got a beautiful new bike "from the Easter bunny."
- Baby Bike (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo...) - My nephew got a balance bike for his 2nd birthday. We've ushered in a whole new generation of riders this month!
- The Family That Bikes Together... - Sharing my first after school ride with our family for the first time in what felt like forever.
- Ride for the Moment - Appreciation for some beautiful morning views on my commutes that I had sorely missed over the Winter months.
- Roll: Out! - The 2019 return of one of my favourite monthly rides, the Roll: Bicycles Pub Ride.
- Happy (Opening Day for) Trails! - 25 miles on opening day for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, with a completely new (to me) group of cyclists.
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Final Total: 410.5
Monday, April 29, 2019
The Little Engine That Can
On the penultimate day of 30 Days of Biking, I definitely had a case of the Mondays. I didn't get the best night of sleep on Sunday and didn't feel up to commuting this morning. At all.
All kidding aside, there was also a strong chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, so commuting via bicycle probably wouldn't have been the safest of options if it proved true. After a quick morning lap, I threw my bike into the car once more and decided to take to the Camp Chase Trail after work:
All kidding aside, there was also a strong chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, so commuting via bicycle probably wouldn't have been the safest of options if it proved true. After a quick morning lap, I threw my bike into the car once more and decided to take to the Camp Chase Trail after work:
I learned today that the Camp Chase Railroad is actually still in operation, even though some of those engines look in pretty foul shape.
Anywho, with no real plans in store for the evening, my destination was left unknown. I settled on "ride as far as you can in 45 minutes" or "ride until it starts raining," whichever came first. I kept heading west until I got to Georgesville Road, where the trail turns right and becomes a roadside trail. I eventually encountered a strange phenomenon I've noticed a ton since I moved here, sidewalks and mixed use paths that abruptly stop for no apparent reason:
Anywho, with no real plans in store for the evening, my destination was left unknown. I settled on "ride as far as you can in 45 minutes" or "ride until it starts raining," whichever came first. I kept heading west until I got to Georgesville Road, where the trail turns right and becomes a roadside trail. I eventually encountered a strange phenomenon I've noticed a ton since I moved here, sidewalks and mixed use paths that abruptly stop for no apparent reason:
What's even weirder to me is that in some instances, enough people keep walking straight after the pavement ends to wear a dirt path in the same direction:
I mean, I get it - this path and others are probably intended to continue being built eventually, connecting to whatever other destinations that also have yet to be constructed. I just don't understand why there's rarely any signage to let you know it's ending.
Whatever the case, this seemed to be a pretty good turnaround point and it did start to drizzle around this time, so I fleet footed 4.5 miles back to the car. We didn't get much more than that though, so the family and I also managed to sneak in a quick ride this evening before dinner. That short jaunt happened to put me over 400 miles for the month. I'll take that as a win for my Monday, and keep chugging along for one more day. It's hard to believe April is almost over. I think I can, I think I can...
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Total: 400.6
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Total: 400.6
Sunday, April 28, 2019
From Gray to Great
This has been my first attempt at 30 Days of Biking since moving to Central Ohio from Philly. Aside from the obvious structural differences you would expect me to have experienced moving from a dense east coast concrete jungle to midwestern suburbia, I've been pretty surprised by how drastically the weather patterns change around here. Day 28 has been a prime example. The family and I took a nice short ride to the store this evening, and it felt just as beautiful as it looks:
Side note: this was Faith's first ride in a few days, as she came down with a stubborn Springtime cold that actually kept her out of school for a couple days and beyond. I think she left her windbreaker open so she could look like a superhero to match how she was feeling after being cooped up inside for most of the last week.
Anyway, contrast the above 65 degrees and sunny conditions with how my late morning ride to the recycling drop-off looked (and felt):
I didn't get a picture of the temperature gauge, but temps were hovering around the low 40's and winds were pretty fierce, so I'm sure the wind chill factor was at least below freezing. It was brisk enough that I was wearing my heavy gloves and jacket...on April 28th. Usually on Sundays after church, parks like these are filled with kids. Today, not so much:
Still, with any gray Spring day, there's usually a good chance you can find something beautiful if you know where to look:
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Total: 388.1
Side note: this was Faith's first ride in a few days, as she came down with a stubborn Springtime cold that actually kept her out of school for a couple days and beyond. I think she left her windbreaker open so she could look like a superhero to match how she was feeling after being cooped up inside for most of the last week.
Anyway, contrast the above 65 degrees and sunny conditions with how my late morning ride to the recycling drop-off looked (and felt):
I didn't get a picture of the temperature gauge, but temps were hovering around the low 40's and winds were pretty fierce, so I'm sure the wind chill factor was at least below freezing. It was brisk enough that I was wearing my heavy gloves and jacket...on April 28th. Usually on Sundays after church, parks like these are filled with kids. Today, not so much:
Still, with any gray Spring day, there's usually a good chance you can find something beautiful if you know where to look:
We used to have some a saying in PA that it was the only state where you could use the heat and the air conditioning in the same day. I guess Columbus isn't that much different in that respect. One thing's for sure, at least it keeps things interesting.
Two more days, folks. I hope you had a good weekend. Let's finish this month off strong!
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Roll: Out!
The arrival of Spring means a lot of group rides get going again after a Winter hiatus. Last night was the return of what's become one of my favorite Columbus rides, the Roll: Bicycles Pub Ride. It was a near perfect night for it too, with temperatures hovering in the high 50's and no rain to speak of. Let's just ignore the wind, shall we?
My friend Jason showed up for the meet up but didn't join us for the actual ride. He did bring along this ridiculous piece of awesome that I just had to show you:
The "easy rider" handle bar name is almost laughable. I did take it for a quick spin around the block (sorry no pics) and it was as comical as you could imagine. I love it. Can you imagine trying to pedal that thing for anything longer than a few miles?
Anywho, I wanna say there were about 25 cyclists who joined in last night. We started with a few miles south on the Scioto Trail:
It seemed like the perfect time to take a bad selfie:
We then headed east through the German Village and found our way to our first stop. I'm diggin' the modest bike pile here:
Our first stop was Parsons North Brewing, which is a completely a new (to me) brewery:
That's one of the reasons I get involved with these rides. In addition to being social with other cyclists, it gets me out and patronizing more local businesses. And still finding new ones, at that, because I'm still very much a newbie to this city.
One sight I always love to see here is the Scioto River at sunset, which we were treated to after we headed out from our first stop:
Beautiful. We continued heading west through Grandview Heights and after a brief detour, eventually ended up at our second destination, Endeavor Brewing:
I love that they always let us bring our bikes in the patio area if it's not crowded. We don't even need to lock up. Simple pleasures. I started a conversation with a new friend here whose wife happens to hail from the Lehigh Valley. Small world, right?
We rolled out once more heading south back towards the Scioto Trail on the other side of the river and found our way to our final destination, Brewdog in Franklinton:
Another solid group ride in the books, and a good break-in to start the season. After many great conversations and cycling miles, it was time to trek home. This city does look pretty under the lights:
30 Days of Biking 2019 Mileage Total: 379.3
My friend Jason showed up for the meet up but didn't join us for the actual ride. He did bring along this ridiculous piece of awesome that I just had to show you:
The "easy rider" handle bar name is almost laughable. I did take it for a quick spin around the block (sorry no pics) and it was as comical as you could imagine. I love it. Can you imagine trying to pedal that thing for anything longer than a few miles?
Anywho, I wanna say there were about 25 cyclists who joined in last night. We started with a few miles south on the Scioto Trail:
It seemed like the perfect time to take a bad selfie:
We then headed east through the German Village and found our way to our first stop. I'm diggin' the modest bike pile here:
Our first stop was Parsons North Brewing, which is a completely a new (to me) brewery:
That's one of the reasons I get involved with these rides. In addition to being social with other cyclists, it gets me out and patronizing more local businesses. And still finding new ones, at that, because I'm still very much a newbie to this city.
One sight I always love to see here is the Scioto River at sunset, which we were treated to after we headed out from our first stop:
Beautiful. We continued heading west through Grandview Heights and after a brief detour, eventually ended up at our second destination, Endeavor Brewing:
I love that they always let us bring our bikes in the patio area if it's not crowded. We don't even need to lock up. Simple pleasures. I started a conversation with a new friend here whose wife happens to hail from the Lehigh Valley. Small world, right?
We rolled out once more heading south back towards the Scioto Trail on the other side of the river and found our way to our final destination, Brewdog in Franklinton:
Another solid group ride in the books, and a good break-in to start the season. After many great conversations and cycling miles, it was time to trek home. This city does look pretty under the lights:
Including riding to the meetup and from the final stop, I put in nearly 38 miles. Not a bad way to spend a Friday evening on day 26 of 30 Days of Biking:
Day 27 is going to be a little more subdued. The kiddo and I are hoping to go on a ride later, but she's not been feeling so great this week. I'm sure she wouldn't be up for 38 miles even if she was feeling 100% haha. Whatever the case, I'll be on my bike at some point. I hope you'll get out and enjoy your weekend too.
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