Hanging Out With The Pros.

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CLICK HERE for all the flickr photos. Use any you want.
Thursday night is the Driveway criterium races in Austin. When I go away alone, I usually rent a bike in stead of a car and sometimes stumble into the local bike culture. In Austin that is very easy to do. Go to a bike/coffee shop or a hipster bar or two on your bike and, wah lah. Your a member.

A few of us met at Mellow Johnny’s (Armstrong’s bike and coffee shop). It was pretty neat riding my comfort bike and wearing my best hat with a few of the racers in their full kits for the six mile ride to the races.

It was very dark when we left the race (we all had lights), which made and equally neat ride to our dinner destination, East Side King, a food truck behind and attached to Liberty Bar.

We did get side tracked however on the easy spin to dinner, when we heard this loud commotion and yelling off to our left side as we were about to cross a busy intersection. A couple of dozen of the racers, who normally ride to and from the event, had stopped at a convenience store and bought a couple of cases of cheap beer, Miller High Life. They insisted we stop and join the party. Who are we to refuse? So we stopped.

Coffeeneur Challenge #1 Austin Texas Road Trip

GEDSC DIGITAL CAMERA — Mellow Johnny’s bike and coffee shop. In Austin, Tx.

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I waited till today to begin my challenge in order to do it on a road trip. First order of business in Austin was to rent a bike. Austin Bike who sponsors #3 son gave me a good deal. (I think). “Take the bike and we will settle up when you bring it back” was the owners comment. I have no idea what it’s going to cost, but I have confidence he will do me right.

Brandon, had a training ride today with his group that met at Lance Armstrong’s bike and coffee shop. We decided that was our coffeeneuring challenge #1 entry. An iced latte for me and a regular old hot coffee for him. His gang went off on their ride while I hopped on ole 40 Scott (the bike brand) and rode to a great dog, jogging, biking, fitness park in the center of Austin. Norwood Estate park sits on the bank of the Colorado River. It’s a really nice spot.

Brandon coffeeing up for his training ride in Austin at Mellow Johnny's Bike and coffee shop. — Brandon coffeeing up for his training ride in Austin at Mellow Johnny’s Bike and coffee shop.

We are doing all our transportation around the city by bike. Tonight we will dine at G’Raj Mahal on Rainey St. And for those back in the Northeast wondering about riding a bike at night in October. It’s 8:30 PM here as I write and it’s 85 degrees. No sweat. Um well you know what I mean.

Coffee challange #1 is done and it was a very sweet one. Nothing like a road trip, with a bike on a warm October night.

Save The Bay Bike Ride

Bike for clean water at Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride on Oct. 4

10 towns from Westport to Woods Hole are on the Watershed Ride route.

I got to do the whole 75 miles with a caveat. I was the SAG mechanic, and did it in my car. It was the easiest 75 mile bike ride I have done since last year. Fun too.

All the photos are on Flickr HERE. Feel free to use any or all of them for your website.

SAVE THE BAY BIKE RIDE from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

The Coffee Challenge Has Begun

You love to ride your bicycle. You like a great cup of coffee. The Coffeeneuring Challenge could be for you. It’s simple. It’s fun. From their website.

You have 7 weeks to do the following:

Get on your bike

Ride to a coffee shop

Drink a beverage

Take a picture

Ride your bike home (or elsewhere)

Repeat 7 times

You can do it alone, with friends, accompanied by your kiddos (or parents), in a “real” coffee shop, in a gas station, in a park. Twice in a weekend, one time a weekend, or any combination until you reach the magic number of seven. I think Marvin K. Mooney would excel at coffeeneuring.

Drink coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate, or whatever else catches your fancy (within reason). Share it on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Instagram, or don’t. It’s what you want it to be.

Hashtag it out. #coffeeneuring

Have fun, and I’ll look for you! Bikes + Coffee + October = Coffeeneuring Challenge

Bow Wow Talk

I occasionally go to some bicycle forums, not as often as I did in the past. A couple of things drove me away. Within a few posts, the original poster’s question, comment etc. was long gone, often replaced by bad humor, corny statements or the post being completely hijacked. The other was what I heard a long time ago is called bow wow talk. That’s when it takes multiple paragraphs to say a sentence. That’s what I did today on someone’s blog and ended up talking about me. I have to keep reminding myself to write about me on my own forum and keep my comments short, stick to the authors story and keep it about them.

Now. About me: I didn’t expect to get any riding done this week because of the stormy weather. There was a lull in the rain today but not the wind. But as we bike riders all subscribe to is that the wind is our friend. Hills too. You agree? The gym, coffee, shopping all got done by bike today as they should.

The coffeeneuring challenge begins next week and I’ll be in Austin for the first installment. Road trips, biking and coffee are the staff of good living. I’m staying at the Austin, Motel and it’s sign is an icon that either brings a smile or a shake of the head.

It’s Going To Be A While Before Getting On The Bike Again.

This is predicted to hang around for a week. Tomorrows ride on Martha’s Vineyard with visiting friends from Austin looks like it’s off the schedule. I did find some leftover photos of my last coffee run on “the Vineyard”. Just to fill in this post. There is also a major fundraising ride this weekend that I am sagging. That’s could be in jeopardy also.

Done riding. Heading Home — Had to use wife’s Mini Coachman for this trip. Such a cool car and sweet ride.

Edgartown Pizza — If you ever find yourself in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, be sure to have lunch here.

Mocha Motts on the Vineyard — Great Little Coffee Shop on Main St. in Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard.

On the freight ferry to Martha's Vineyard — I was late to the terminal so had to settle for the freight ferry.

Wood’s Hole Coffeneuring

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CLICK HERE for all the photos of today’s ride.

The coffeneuring challenge begins next week and today’s pre challenge training ride couldn’t have been better. The Shining Sea Bike Way is a ten mile paved Rail to Trail conversion from Falmouth to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Because these converted trails are usually isolated, it’s a good idea to get off the path and ride some of the local roads when possible. The Shining Sea, being a coastal trail has some really spectacular scenery for the more astute riders who take a chance and leave the trail.

One block from the trail we came across sights like this.

At the end of the trail is the town of Wood’s Hole. The ferry terminal to Martha’s Vineyard is always bustling and the town has the typical quaint New England look and feel. Woods Hole also host the National Marine Fisheries part of NOAA, and Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute. Both are the mecca for marine biology and a visitor will hear a plethora of languages being spoken around those sites. It’s also the home port of Robert Ballard who found the Titanic in 1985.

There is not a lot to see in Wood’s Hole, but that doesn’t preclude the place from being pretty spectacular. On the trail I stuck up a conversation with a couple from North Carolina. We began riding together, hit things off pretty good which allowed me to be their local guide to the Secret Places. That being those places that a traveler would never experience without the aid and knowledge of a local. A few years ago I had a local show me those secret places and today I got to share them with new friends. I did go off script in Wood’s Hole when I recommend they lunch at the very popular Pie in the Sky cafe. We became separated on the trail just outside of Wood’s Hole before I could ask them to join me at the secret spot for lunch. They dined at Pie in the Sky and I at the place that will remain one of the Secret Places. We did meet up again after lunch for a tour of the town it’s scenic waterfront and harbor.

Oceanographic ship at Wood's Hole — Oceanographic ship at Wood’s Hole

And for my coffeeneuring challenge practice ride.

Coffee at the still secret place in Wood's Hole — Coffee at the still secret place in Wood’s Hole

All the photos of today’s rider are HERE

Coffeeneuring the Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides End to End and Crossing Both Bridges

First a word about Coffeeneuring. CLICK HERE to learn all about it. Then give some though to participating.

Today’s coffee stop was at Dunkin Doughnuts in the town of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. This was after a 25 mile ride of the Cape Cod Canal with a few friends. Since DD is not a place for really good coffee, I had to settle for a regular old coffee from a pot. Not my favorite but this was only a practice run. At least I didn’t get it from a clown.

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Four of us took advantage of a really nice day to ride the Cape Cod Canal, doing both sides and crossing both bridges. (The Bourne and Sagamore bridges). The access points for walking and biking across the bridges are pretty well hidden and there is no signage to get you there. Someone, like me, for instance has to show you how to get to the sidewalk access. Once there it is highly recommended that you walk your bike over the bridge. At 135 feet above the canal, walking takes most of the stress out of crossing this span on your bike. It’s also much easier to take photos like this one.

The cape side of the canal from the top of the Sagamore bridge.

We did end to end on the canal side but decided not to ride to Scussett Beach on the mainland side knocking a couple of miles off the ride. Once back on the mainland side we were like cows smelling the barn and our pace noticeable picked up as we raced back to the starting point. My three companions left me in the town of Buzzards Bay where I decide to do a practice run of the upcoming “Coffeeneuring” challenge.

The head of the canal on the cape side across from Mass Maritime Academy

The head of the canal in Sandwich on the cape side

Sue and Geoff after crossing the Sagamore Bridge

South Coast Bikeway Award Ceremony

Cape Cod Canal Both Side, Both Bridges tomorrow, Sunday, Sept, 20 at 8:30 AM. Meet at the lot next to the RR bridge in Buzzard Bay. Set you GPS to 61 Main St.

This morning I led a ride through the back roads and side streets from Fairhaven to the event in Dartmouth. None of the riders in my group are native to this area and I decided to give them a tour to point out some of the area’s gems. Whaling Captain’s and Textile moguls small mansions, fantastic restaurants in out of the way locations, scenic waterfront streets and roads that only the locals know exist were on this short 9 mile route. Coincidentally, this route was also a shortcut of sorts to the event that knocked off a couple of miles of heavy traffic on streets that drivers often confuse for racetrack straightaways.

Three of us didn’t participate in the Bike Challenge this year, so we left once the awards began for the ride back to Fairhaven. I hung back to get some errands done and, as we on bikes often do, stumbled upon a really good, authentic Spanish food hut. I say Spanish, not Mexican because I think the owner and workers are Central Americans from El Salvador or Guatemala by their dialect. I usually ask, but not this time because I was the only Gringo in the place. The food was very good and the staff I think, got a kick out of my Boston accented Spanish.
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The gang ridng the side streets of New Bedford

Waiting for the Mattapoisett group at the Gulf Hill Ice Cream place.

Lunch in the Spanish district of New Bedford

South Coast Bikeway Meeeting and The Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides, Both Bridges

Saturday September 19

Ride to the Award Ceremony in Dartmouth on Saturday. Meet at 99 in Fairhaven at 9 AM for the short ride across the river to the Dartmouth YMCA. (A little over 8 miles). It should be a nice day. Wear your colors and helmet if you want but neither is necessary for this short ride to the event.

Sunday September 20

Meet Sunday Sept. 20 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start at the Buzzard Bay Parking lot adjacent to the RR Bridge.
Don’t miss this one. It’s a favorite of mine and a very cool ride. Be sure to bring your camera. Bring your helmet if you want, but it’s not necessary for this easy paced, traffic free ride.

Directions:

Set your GPS to 61 Main St. Buzzards Bay.

We will cross both bridges and ride both sides of the canal, visiting Mashnee Island, the Sandwich Power Plant. Scussett Beach and the railroad bridge like you have never seen it. There are “secret” access points to both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges giving access to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. It’s safe and fun to cross these bridges.

Meet Saturday Sept. 12 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start. This is a very easy 25 mile flat ride with a couple of stops for photos.

Click Here for everything you need to know about this ride. Directions, photos, etc.

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Bike for clean water at Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride on Oct. 4

10 towns from Westport to Woods Hole are on the Watershed Ride route.

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Cape Cod Canal Both Side, Both Bridges tomorrow, Sunday, Sept, 20 at 8:30 AM. Meet at the lot next to the RR bridge in Buzzard Bay. Set you GPS to 61 Main St.

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Saturday September 19

Sunday September 20

Directions:

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