A Gravel Adventure – The Scratch ‘N Denton Gravel Grinder

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A long time roadie dips a toe into a different cycling style, and comes away energized.

At the finish of the Scratch ‘N Denton Gravel Grinder. The background is the Eden Town Brewery.

It is early in the morning of August 29th, 2026, at the Eden Town Brew Pub in Denton, Maryland. I arrive early to score one of the scarce and valuable parking spaces in the pub’s lot. I’m not alone, only the first 50 get the choice parking, but I get what I wanted. Now I begin my preparation for a new experience. A gravel event. Not simply a ride on a path, but 37 miles split into sections of gravel roads and pavement. A new test for me.

I am an experienced cyclist. Most events are similar, and you prepare for them the same way every time, but this one has small differences. I know that the surfaces will change often. I’m riding a bike with much wider tires at much lower tire pressure than my road bike. This ride will be 35 psi front and back, and I really don’t know if that’s a good tire pressure for this ride. I’m guessing at it. As it turns out, it’s a good guess. I have no tire issues at all, and no matter what surface I’m riding on it feels good. More tire volume at lower tire pressure can be very comfortable, but if your tire pressure is too low you’re working harder on the pavement and if its too high you risk a flat on the uneven gravel surfaces.

I won’t be going as fast as I would on my road bike, but I’ll see different things. I’m ready to go, but I don’t know what to expect. I can’t decide if I’m more excited or worried about this ride. I check in at the start and get my tickets for post ride beer and snacks. There are 3 potential distances. I signed up for the “Mid” – 37 Miles. There is also a 25 mile “shorty” and a full 60 mile ride. I have the computer files. Two guys who parked beside me are also riding the 37, and we decided to ride together. Jerrell and Alex are good company and we set off together at a quarter past 7 into a bright morning. We stayed together for the entire ride. It turned out we were all riding a compatible pace!

Only a couple of miles in, we reach the first gravel section. This is what I came here for! A road bike on a gravel road is NOT in its element. My road bike instincts are working against me. The tires on my Cinelli Nemo are much wider than my road tires (40mm) and I’m running less than half of my normal road bike tire pressure. I think to myself “trust the bike”. I chose the safest line I could, and stayed with my more experienced riding partners. I needed to concentrate, but by the end of that first gravel section I’m smiling. Trust the bike. The feel is different. The bike floats over the gravel road, and I’m enjoying what I came here for. A new experience.

However, I was NOT done learning. Pavement is relatively uniform. Gravel roads are NOT. I found that I had to stay sharp. There were ruts, mud, loose spots you could slide out on and hardest of all, a section of deep sand. I tried to stay composed, and soon I was getting better at choosing a line to ride on. It was not unlike skiing – pick your line well and you can stay out of trouble. We saw a couple of groups pace lining on the course, even the gravel sections. I wasn’t ready to ride that hard. Some guys can really rip on those surfaces, but I doubt I will want to go much harder than I rode that day, even as I gain experience and skill. I think I needed more concentration when riding on gravel than I had to on the pavement. It was worth it! We found out later that one rider had a bad crash. We thought maybe the deep sand section that we had to work hard on may have caused it. That can happen, and we all hope he’s all right, but fortunately we came through it feeling great.

Alex, Jerrell and I in between gravel sections. We had a great day!

I normally don’t use my computer’s map display. I know most of my rides by heart. That day I kept the map display on, and I was fortunate that I did so. On at least one occasion, the direction said go left, when the map display showed the course going right. I chose to follow the arrows on my map, and they didn’t steer me wrong. I found out later that at least one rider was confused by this. It’s a minor detail that the organizers will certainly correct. They did a great job. The only rest stop on the 37 mile ride was at 27 miles. It’s a long way to go before getting a rest, but we took advantage when we got there. The rest of the ride seemed to go too quickly, or maybe it felt that way because I was having such a good time. In any case, my first gravel event was a positive experience.

The post ride beer! A tasty end to a terrific experience!

Because the ride started and ended at a brew pub, the celebration was virtually built in. I had an Octoberfest lager that was perfect for that celebration. I’m looking forward to coming back next year. I hope to pull a few old friends in to share the experience. This experience was too good not to share. It certainly energized my cycling!

The Patuxent Rural Legacy Ride (PAX)

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Rediscovering the enjoyable experience I know as Pax – a ride for the soul!

Myself, Eric, Carol and John at the Magruder’s Landing rest stop at Pax.

This year the Patuxent Rural Legacy ride was scheduled for the second weekend in June, so it didn’t conflict with the Tour De Talbot, which was held a week earlier. This meant I could ride both. I have ridden the Patuxent Rural Legacy Ride (Which I refer to as Pax) many times. It’s very popular among my friends. After the Covid cancellations in 2020, it wasn’t held again immediately, and I started riding the Tour De Talbot instead. When it started again, I was riding TDT and I didn’t come back to it until this year. I forgot what I was missing!

Where TDT is a flat ride, Pax has climbs. It challenges you. The rest stops are by the Patuxent river. You go downhill to get to them, then climb back out. Those aren’t the only climbs – there are several climbs that challenge you on all the courses. It’s a very rolling ride.

Pax is run by the Oxon Hill Bicycle Club, which does a wonderful job of organizing this event. I arrived early and bumped into some friends who were volunteering at check in. I also ran into some gentlemen who were impressed with my steel bike. It gets a lot of attention. People who ride vintage steel bikes are very proud of them, and the conversations are always lively. I’m interested in classic steel bikes, and talking about them with like minded individuals is a treat.

I rode with old friends Eric, John and Carol. We were just in it for a good day, and Carol was recovering from a surgical procedure last winter with this event being one of her early rides. We settled on a 35 mile ride, taking it easy and staying together. This was to be a ride for the soul. The day was warm but not oppressive. We started out about 8:30 in the morning – quite late by our standards. The ride starts with a climb – a couple of miles of easy uphill that everyone is happy to re-visit as they glide downhill to the finish at Jug Bay. By the top of the hill at Croom Road we were warmed up. Pax is a scenic ride with old wooden barns, fields and river views at the rest stops. I recognized lots of landmarks as we cruised along. I love that feeling of being among friends in familiar places. I know that in years past my friends and I would ride the longest distance (a metric century, 62 miles) as a matter of course. I didn’t think about lesser distances. Now it’s a matter of what I feel like riding – I ride for fitness these days. It’s strange to think that I get what I need with a hilly 35 mile ride. I have to admit that it took a long time to transition from an identity as a century riding enthusiast to a more relaxed rider. I can only say that as I age it’s been a good transition.

We pulled into Magruder’s Landing feeling good. The routine at rest stops never changes, no matter how far or how fast you ride. We were having a good time and enjoyed talking to other riders as we got our snacks (strawberries!) and filled out water bottles. Of course, roads that descend must climb back up, and we climbed out of Magruder’s landing and headed away from the river, taking the tough climb on Baden Naylor Road and heading for the Merkle Wildlife Center and the second rest stop.

Myself, Polly and Eric at the Merkle Wildlife Center rest stop.
Eric, Myself and Carol playing to the camera at Merkle!
Two excellent Wilier bicycles – a modern model on the left and my steel Superleggera on the right.

We had another good stop at Merkle, meeting up with old friend Polly Choate who was volunteering at the rest stop. I parked my classic Wilier bicycle next to a modern Wilier. It was an interesting contrast. After Merkle we had another hard climb at St. Thomas Church Road, and we took a break for water at the top. When we got back to the final descent, Eric took over for a quick ride to the finish. I joined him. It was a quick finish to a great event.

Afterward we sat down with some beer and I brought another treat – a flask of 12 year old Caol Ila Scotch Whisky. Eric and I enjoyed them, and we had a social circle in the shade at lunch provided by OHBC. It was a ride to satisfy my soul and company to make it special. It may be worth choosing Pax over TDT if there is a conflict next year!

Libations for post-ride, beer in the cooler and good scotch whisky in the flask.

The Tour de Talbot 2026

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Another perfect day for a ride. I was hoping for a fun event, and this one did not disappoint.

On the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry during the Tour de Talbot. It was an ideal day, and I rode well.

I’ve been riding the Tour de Talbot for the last few years. I’ve come to enjoy it. It’s a flat ride with a ferry trip across the Tred Avon river in the middle. You can choose 30, 40 or 62 miles – I chose the 40. I could ride a full metric century, but I have to admit that my training hasn’t been good for long distances of late, and I see this tour as a more relaxed affair. Usually.

I have a friend from Virginia named Stephanie who is a natural born social director. She has been riding the TDT for as long as I have, with a big group that she has introduced me to. I ride with them, or at least we all start out that way. Big groups have a way of expanding, and you never know who you’ll run into at such an event. Some of the group follows me on Strava, and though Steph wasn’t there because she’s training for the Reston Triathlon, the group was looking for me.

Last year a fellow named Warren rode with us. He had a heavy bike and he didn’t ride with us the whole way. This year he found me. He had done a LOT of training and had a new Trek Domane to ride. I agreed to ride with him. He had become a road monster. He put it down to the new bike – but that wasn’t the case. It was the rider, not the bike. We were going the same distance, so we rode together. We rode a remarkably consistent pace, starting with the metric riders from the bigger group. They were going at a good clip in a line, and that pace suited us for the first 12 or 13 miles until the routes split. We rode together at a strong pace for the rest of the TDT.

Warren and I on the ferry. We rode together for the entire TDT.

At the first stop an old friend named Dave Robare found me. We hadn’t talked in years. The cycling community is a small group. After a brief stop, Warren and I headed for the ferry feeling good and riding strong. The wild card was wind, or what my good friend Ron calls “the eastern shore mountains”. It was supposed to build as the day progressed. On the way to Oxford and the ferry, the wind was in our faces. Still we found ourselves holding an 18-20 mph speed and passing quite a few riders. There was a rest stop in Oxford at the ferry landing, and after a brief wait we were on the ferry. The final miles were fun. Warren decided to pull past a group of riders and I picked up the pace to join him. Later I decided to drop an annoying wheel sucker, and he pulled in with me. We worked well together at speed. There are times when riding hard can be great fun. We returned to the start after a strong ride. Beer and food awaited us. It’s hard not to look forward to next year’s TDT when you have a good time like this!

A post-ride brew to celebrate another enjoyable TDT.

Planning Cycling Events in 2026

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After a year of adjustment in 2025, I’m finding a new frame of mind for cycling in 2026.

After a 2025 with few events and no motivation, I’m getting back to events in 2026.
This photo was taken during a rest stop at the Patuxent Rural Legacy Ride 7 years ago.

2025 was a transition. I ended 2024 with a century, but 2025 included no such ride. I was surprised to find that I hadn’t missed them. I rode shorter rides, I rode alone, and my yearly distance dropped off. I still love to ride, but those rides last year were different. 2025 was a mental and physical adjustment. How will I approach 2026?

Winter has always been tough on me, and after a hard, cold and snowy winter, the onset of spring 2026 has been welcome. One thing a new year brings is event registration emails for local clubs and events. I’m on the email lists of all of my local clubs and a few outside of my home area, so registration emails arrive before the weather warms and Daylight Savings Time makes evening rides safe and comfortable. This year, planning is fun again. It isn’t about riding because my friends are going, or because I ride these every year, but just to ease up and enjoy the ride.

I’m going to ride events, but somewhat lesser distances. 40-60 miles at most. Part of that is a concession to age, part is that I have fewer companions to go with, and part is just understanding that I want to keep riding and moving to stay fit. Speed? I’m not worried about that yet. I have no idea what I’ll be capable of. I have nobody to compete with anyway. The point is to recharge my riding, and I’m looking at events as a way to keep riding and stay motivated.

I started with the Tour De Talbot (TDT). A ride in early June that I’ve been riding for a few years now. I’m going again in 2026. It is a typical eastern shore of Maryland ride – flat, perhaps windy, but enjoyable, and this one has a ferry ride in the middle of it. That kind of experience is so enjoyable for me that it’s easy to look forward to.

On the Ferry during the Tour de Talbot a few years back.

This year TDT doesn’t conflict with the Patuxent Rural Legacy Ride, which I’ve enjoyed in the past. Pax runs the weekend after the Tour De Talbot. I’m riding that again in 2026. I know it won’t be the ride I remember, because I’m not the rider I remember being, but an easy, comfortable spin through those familiar surroundings sounds wonderful. All of the stops are by the Patuxent River, and riders cruise down to them and then climb out again. Most riders just remember the climbs. I’ve gone there many times, and I can’t remember not having fun there. Oxon Hill bike club puts on a good event.

Last year I got a gravel bike for a change of pace, and I’ve loved riding it. This year I’m going to ride my first Gravel Event – the Scratch ‘N Denton Gravel Grinder in August, run by the Chesapeake Cycling Club. I’ve wanted to try new cycling adventures, and this is the definition of “new”. For decades I’ve been strictly a roadie, and getting off the road for a little while is something new for me. Since this event has such novelty for me, it is probably the one I’m looking forward to the most.

My gravel bike will be ready for action at the Scratch ‘n Denton Gravel Grinder in August!

There will be more to come. I may ride the Potomac Pedaler’s Lewes Delaware weekend. I’ve never done that one before, often because of event conflicts. I may go back to Portland Maine in early September for the Lighthouse Ride, but for now I’m entering spring with a mental tailwind – the kind that comes with renewed energy. I’m going to ride for the soul, and as I satisfy this urge to ride events again, I hope that they will keep me motivated. In 2025 I spent a lot of thought looking backward at what I did for the last 20 years, thinking of what has changed, and thinking of ways to define what a successful year of riding will look like. 2026 will be the start of that new definition of what riding will mean to me. Signing up for events is a good start, and I believe in starts!

Railroad Adventure

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A special evening with a “Murder Mystery” Train trip on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

Outside the Train in Cumberland. We boarded at sunset, and had an enjoyable evening.

There are times when ideas come from strange sources. Dianne found a Murder Mystery dinner party game and asked about trying one. We weren’t too sure about them, but the idea stuck in the back of our minds. I had signed up for a “Rails and Ales” train trip last year, but that had been cancelled. I found myself looking at the schedule again to see if they had set up another such trip this year, when I saw the “Murder Mystery” train trip. That was an easy decision – when I mentioned it to Dianne, she was immediately enthusiastic. So it was that in May I got tickets for early October.

The murder mystery was provided by a group of players, who would go up and down the train performing for the passengers in each car. A program gave us the background and some details of the characters. A nice dinner was served. At the end, we had to guess who the killer was, and among those who chose correctly, one name was drawn to receive a prize. (We didn’t choose correctly, but we still had fun with it.)

Our table. We had a nice trip, a good dinner, and a mystery to solve!

We sat with another couple and enjoyed the company and the time. The trip was at night, but with the entertainment on the train itself, we had plenty to see and do, and enjoyed good conversation, a nice dinner, and of course, the Murder Mystery itself.

We stayed in a Fairfield Inn only a quarter of a mile from the station. It was a pleasant walk. The area includes restaurants, and everything you might want is nearby. We want to go back for another trip, maybe a fall foliage tour or another day trip on the trains.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Station. The platform is at the back of the building, and our hotel was a very short walk from there.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has many specialty trips, including day trips from Cumberland to Frostburg, and specialty trains such as a “Polar Express” ride near Christmastime, dinner trains, and of course the Murder Mystery train. We’re going to be riding again in the future!

Identity and Evolution

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I’ve been working hard lately, riding my bike alone after work and generally trying to keep busy. Much of my cycling has been on my gravel bike. It’s a very comfortable and fun bike to ride. I’ve written about it here before. Mostly it feels DIFFERENT, and that’s what draws me to it. The road bike is still my friend, but I haven’t been training for any events this fall. Training for long rides is a very serious thing. It was much easier when I was riding lots of events from spring to late fall, and I had a group of friends to ride with and keep me motivated. That’s been changing too. Those friends have mostly moved on from the events if not my local area. It has become harder for me to commit the time and effort to solo training, and events can be expensive to sign up for and travel to attend. I’m still riding often, but this year it’s been shorter distances and slower speeds. Those 100 mile events that I used to be enthusiastic about started to wear on my body. That was my first clue that I had to evolve.

For the first time in 19 years the Seagull Century in Salisbury Maryland has been held without me. For a long time, I thought I would miss it, but yesterday the event went on, and I didn’t feel like I missed out. It felt more like I’ve moved on. I’ve ridden it 17 times, and most of the friends who rode with me during the best of those years stopped riding it long ago. A post on the Seagull Century Facebook group suggested that less than 2500 riders were there. When I started, there were 6000-8000 riders per year. Whatever the reason for the reduction in participation, it seems like the event has changed too, and that’s another reason for me to change with the times. I’ve been thinking of new ways to spend my time, and I’ll certainly write about some of them, but for the last 20 years or so a large part of my identity has been “hardcore cyclist”. It’s time I dropped the “hardcore” part, ride for the soul, choose different events for different reasons, and look for different activities and interests. Change is never easy, particularly not to a part of my identity that gave me good times and introduced me to so many excellent people. I have to find a good level of cycling to match my ambitions. Perhaps more than this year’s miles to keep a good fitness level, but no century rides. While I’ve loved riding them, in recent years they’ve started to take a toll on my body. I’m told that a tradition is an experiment that worked. This is true of century rides. The Seagull was an experiment that repaid me many times over for the effort to train for it and complete it. Yet both the event and my relation to it have evolved. As a dear friend asked, Am I going out of habit? Or does it serve a purpose? I think it didn’t serve me to continue. That isn’t a source of sadness, more an acknowledgment of my own evolution. I have good memories and feelings bound up in them, but they don’t serve a purpose for me as they once did.

Recently, I met with a group of friends who all share my love of good Scotch Whisky. My contribution to that meeting is pictured below. We’ve been meeting over good Whisky for many years. We’ve been doing it so long that we’ve refined our tastes. We tend to agree that we like single malts from the Islay region. I’ve found that just because a whisky is aged more doesn’t make it more interesting. Smoother, yes. But the enjoyment is often in the complexity and fullness of the taste. I like whisky that is 14-16 years old for a balance of smoothness and taste. While the Jura 18 is an excellent whisky, my friends and I agree that the Jura 16 is actually a little more interesting on the palate. Tastes change over time just as people do. I enjoy different whiskies as time goes on. Whisky is a complex subject. As you can likely guess, these whisky nights with friends (which include good food as well) are deeply enjoyable and memorable times. It struck me that evolution was happening all around me.

I’m a fan of good Scotch Whisky. This is an 18 year old single malt from the Isle of Jura Distillery that I shared with close friends. It’s very smooth with a rich, smoky flavor that makes Islay malts some of my favorites.

Among these whisky enthusiasts are some whom I once cycled events with. These are times to laugh, share, sift through old memories and even emotions, and let the whisky and camaraderie flow. When I talked of backing away from these events, I was greeted with “It’s about time” and “We all change”, but of course we also set up a short (20 mile) ride in a month or so starting and ending from a brew pub, so despite our advancing years we remain committed to maintaining some of our hobbies and habits, at least for now. The point is that we have all evolved. I am evolving, and it feels odd to have this part of my identity changing. I suppose that my awareness of the changes has caused me to put a lot of thought into what I will become. I have had time to reflect and discuss my desire to move on and explore other interests with close friends, and even through a whisky haze, it made perfect sense. As time goes on, I will write about these new lines of thought and new lines of interest as they come up. This has been a cycling blog for the most part, because cycling has taken up a good deal of my time, but as I evolve, this blog will evolve with me. Stay tuned.

In the Moment

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I had a day of fun, camaraderie, speed and scenery at the Tour De Talbot this year. This was my third TDT, and it’s an area that I like to visit, so I signed up early.

Before the start of the Tour De Talbot.

I had a strange approach to the Tour De Talbot this year. The weather was threatening and thunderstorms were in the forecast. I was tempted to simply cancel my hotel room and stay home. Though it didn’t look good, and even the organizers were making plans in the event of thunderstorms, I decided not to let the potential for rain stop me and I went to Easton on Friday afternoon resigned to accept what the weather would send my way. I got my packet and shirt, found a nice spot for sushi (Sakura on Rte 50 West in Easton), and went to bed with a “wait and see” attitude.

Normally at such times I’m excited. That implies a kind of tension, which feels normal to me. I had no such tension that day. The forecast I looked up on Saturday morning looked hopeful. No thunderstorms forecast until late afternoon. It looked like the Tour would happen, and we would stay dry. I went to the ride start at the Easton Fire Hall feeling relaxed. I had given myself plenty of time to prepare, and I got ready to ride slowly and carefully. My friend Stephanie had a group of riders that I was welcome to join, and I gladly accepted. We would all meet in front of the Easton Fire Hall at 7:30. It turned out to be a large and friendly group.

Standing at the back of a crowded group photo!

We started out at a conversational pace, around 15 mph, and it was nice to talk to new people. I spent a lot of time at or near the front of the pack, and I was enjoying myself as we rolled through town and then northeast into the open expanse of Talbot County beyond Route 50 that most travelers miss. I have a good memory for routes, and I was confident in the road markers. I didn’t need to look at my GPS, even though I had downloaded the route.

It was extremely humid and my glasses were fogged, so I took them off. Since it was overcast I didn’t need them, and I decided to clean them at the first rest stop and wear them afterward. I had planned on riding the 40 mile distance, and many of the riders in the group were riding the metric. I decided to stay with the group on the metric course for the first half of the ride, then finish on the 40 mile route after the ferry from Oxford to Bellevue. It added 5 miles or so to my total, but I had done the same last year and it felt fine to me.

Some of the roads on that part of the course had been recently chip sealed. That means they added tar and fine gravel to the surface of the road, which traffic compacts over time. For cyclists with road tires (like myself) this presents the dual danger of sliding on the gravel and getting flats from it. You have to be very careful on that surface. I wanted to be on my gravel bike with its wide tires on those roads – and true to the nature of such surfaces there were several riders who had flat tires in those sections. I was lucky and made it through intact. We were all happy to get back on smooth pavement again.

We approached Trappe, a town east of Easton at route 50, and despite some concern in the group about route markings, I knew the way. I took the lead and pulled the group toward the first rest stop. I had to pick up the pace to get our group through a green light as we crossed Route 50, but we managed, and I made the correct turn for the first rest stop, which I promptly rode past. Thankfully my friends didn’t, so I turned back when they called and got a rest, some snacks, and some Gatorade for my water bottles.

We were less than 15 miles from the Oxford-Bellevue ferry, where we get a rest no matter what we do, so some of the team decided to pick up the pace. Naturally I picked up speed with enthusiasm. We didn’t have much wind to contend with, and with a wide shoulder and light traffic on the way to Oxford the team really got moving. I’m sure I was grinning like a madman as we set a brisk pace that I felt I could manage, knowing that I would get a rest at the ferry. Oxford is a pretty little town. I’ve stayed there on a vacation mini-break, and I appreciate its charm. It looked like they had a sports car rally there as we came in, and I watched the cars go by with interest. We cruised to the ferry dock just as the ferry came in, so we went aboard without stopping for drinks or food.

Waiting to board the Oxford-Bellevue ferry. I didn’t have time to get food or drinks before boarding.
On the Ferry. Crossing the Tred Avon river is part of the joy of the TDT.

From the ferry to the decision point between the 40 and 62 mile routes we were still moving well, and I was enjoying the speed. I was riding strong in a line of riders, doing my share. Coming off the ferry I knew that I had less than 15 miles to go to get my 40 miles, but I was being encouraged to go for the full metric. I knew that my training to this point wasn’t that impressive, and I felt that it was likely that I would begin to suffer a little in the final miles if I went the full 62 mile distance, so I stayed on my course. It was a close run thing though. I wanted to keep riding. I was feeling good at the final decision point and more miles sounded inviting.

A well earned post ride beer. I didn’t know what to expect before I started, but it was a great finish!

Practicality having won out, I rode the last 3 miles on my own. I rode with joy and power, and got back feeling very satisfied with my experience. I had spent that entire ride living in the moment. No plans or expectations. I just took in the sights as I rode along and rode like a good team member when I was needed. Since I wasn’t sure if there would even be a ride for me that day because of the weather, it was a small joy just getting a ride in. I may not be riding as many events now as I once did, but I still enjoy them and this is one event that I’ll continue to ride in the future.

Addition by Subtraction

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The rest stop on my C&O canal towpath ride. The Cinelli Nemo is a great ride.

I have had quite a few bicycles over the years. As the Spring of 2025 came in, I saw that I simply had too many of them. I thought I could let go of 3 of them, and to help me do that, I decided to get ANOTHER bike. My current road bike, a Wilier Superleggera, is a custom build that I absolutely love, and I must keep it. Two older road bikes and a very old hybrid bike could go. I would get a gravel bike to replace them. That way I exchanged 3 bikes for 1, while reducing clutter and helping me let go of the old bikes at the same time. I wanted a change, and riding off road would be perfect. There are plenty of places nearby to ride on gravel, and that would motivate me.

Since I had a general idea of what I wanted, I spoke to my friend Travis at Just Riding Along Bicycles in Laytonsville MD. He had put together the specification for my Wilier road bike, and I’ve been very happy with that custom build. I’ve received a lot of compliments on it. I decided to ask for another custom build, rather than buying a gravel bike off the floor of a random shop with a parts specification determined by the company whose brand name is printed on the down tube.

I wanted a gravel bike with a steel frame and Shimano GRX gearing, which was designed for gravel riding. Travis put together a parts specification for me, and I trusted his experience. I asked him to be creative. I ended up with a bike that feels great and rides like a dream. It’s a Cinelli Nemo Tig steel frame, Shimano GRX gearing and pedals, Thomson Seat Post, Bars and Stem, and Rolf Prima Hyalite wheels, and Vittoria T-50 40mm gravel tires. For a steel off road bike, it’s quite lightweight, built with Columbus Spirit tubing, and I think it’s beautiful to look at too. Once the frame and parts were ordered, it was just a matter of time until they all came in and Travis could assemble the bike. When the time came, I felt like a child on Christmas morning.

After a full check-out, bike fitting and bedding in the brakes, I got together with friends the following day and rode 26 miles on the C&O Canal towpath. It was a lot of fun! I felt I’d made the right decision.

Every time I ride my Cinelli, the bike feels better. I’m still a road biker, but now I have the option to ride on dirt and gravel trails, and I am starting to feel comfortable riding on new surfaces, as long as they’re not too technical.

At the towpath with the Cinelli Nemo. It feels better every time I ride it.

My bikes are unique. They’re not mass produced corporate machines you can find in a catalog or the floor of your standard shop. For example, one TREK Checkpoint ALR 4 is just like any other, and they’re common. My bikes are not like anyone else’s. Both frames are made by Italian companies that aren’t common in the US, and they stand out in a crowd of generic bikes.

Now I’m looking at more off-road adventures. It’s exciting to go new places and ride new terrain.

Breaking Free of Winter

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March is here, the forecast is looking slightly warmer, and the time has come to get outdoors again.

Spring cycling time has arrived, and my road bike is ready to go!

For me, the worst time of year is the winter. There are good things about it, but the days are short and cold and to be honest, working out indoors just doesn’t appeal to me. That sweet weekend when Daylight Savings Time comes in really gets me started. Daylight Savings Time is finally here, and I’m getting excited about getting outdoors. My bike is back from the shop for its yearly service and it’s time to get out and ride. I’ve already had some rides on my backup bike. I have some new things to try as well. I have a new kite design to refine, I have some new fishing spots to try as the weather warms, and I have recently found a meetup group for steel bicycle enthusiasts. When I get the chance, I want to ride with them after my bike has been serviced. The combination of daylight and new ideas has me feeling excited about the spring. I have another new idea that I’m excited about – a different kind of cycling adventure for me. I will write about that in a few weeks, and by then I expect to have many more springtime miles under my wheels, and other ideas to end those wintertime blues!

The Zen Fighter Kite

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A simple new fighter kite design that I created to build from cellophane floral wrap.

The front side of the first Zen Fighter. No bridle yet.

This week I decided to design and build another fighter kite. I recently found some new clear floral wrap to use as a sail material. It comes in a variety of colors and using it as a sail material gives a kite a stained-glass look in the sky. The sail material can be found on Amazon. It’s called Shareluck Colored Cellophane Wrap Roll. The other materials needed are clear packing tape, loose leaf page reinforcements, bamboo for the spine, round graphite rods (.05) for the bow, and contact cement.

The back side of the Zen Fighter.

I designed the Zen Fighter to be small and simple. I will use a 3 point bridle to make it easy to adjust the balance. I didn’t use battens on the sail to keep the look clean in the sky. I don’t expect it to be fast like many other North American fighter kite designs. Since I designed it for use with cellophane, this will not be a high wind kite.

Once I’ve bridled and flown the Zen Fighter, I will post my impressions of the kite’s performance, and also post the plan!