Kidical Massive: Were You There?

This one got by me, but if you were at the Kidical MASSive today, let me know how it went. I'm curious to see how people feel about riding with kids: more confident than in the past? Have drivers habituated themselves to moms and dads taking the little ones for a spin? What do the kids say?

And how many of you have something like this? Nothing like waterproofing the kiddos.

Coffee or the Egg...

 
Not sure which comes first: the coffee that fuels the bike ride, or the bike ride that is motivated by the promise of  the second cup at the end of ride--because it's not unusual for me to have a cup before getting on the bike in any given morning---but 'tis the season for Chasing Mailboxes' Coffeeneuring Challenge 2015.

And this year, I might actually pledge allegiance to the Caffeine Nation and manage to organize myself, my thoughts, my calendar, my cyberlife, to pull it off.

Check this link for the rules of engagement:  Coffeeneuring Challenge 2015 . Maybe I'll bump into you as I reach for the sugar at the counter. Or maybe I'll spot you in the Coffee Shop Without Walls. There are so many pleasant outdoor spots in our region.  

All roads lead to...bike shops.

Some people can't pass by a certain type of shop without stopping to look in the window. For some of my friends: that's a shoe shop. For others it's hardware stores. For me? It's bike shops. 

This weekend, Bicycle Space opened two new shops: one on K Street and one in Adams Morgan. I never need an excuse to visit Adams Morgan, so I stopped in. The video here gives you a quick look.

Everyone has a favorite bike shop: I've had many. I've heard the raps on some shops: that the mechanics at Shop A have too much "attitude", that staff at Shop B are slow to help, or too aggressive in trying to upsell. I have to say, I've had good experiences at the various bike shops I've patronized over the years here in DC, Maryland and Virginia. (Jeez, I do like bike shopping...)

I've only had one experience where I felt like I was interrupting a bro-fest and couldn't get arrested, let alone waited on. And yes, I never returned. That was years ago, and I'm betting that seeing the change in the market, that more women are getting to where they go on bikes, that's probably changed.

What do you look for in a bike shop? Proximity? Great selection? Price?  Feel free to share recommendations. 

"Even grown-ups turn back to children"

The thing about living in a city, and getting out of your car and going places by bike or on foot, is that you have closer contact with the things going on around you. That can have its drawbacks, but more often than not, I find it a real pleasure. 

Today, I stopped to listen to two men playing for the crowds that were drifting by at the farmer's market at Dupont Circle. Meet Zach and Will--just Zach and Will--they told me.