In my city, (Kenosha, WI) there's a group of cyclists called Saturday Coffee Riders. We meet in Kenosha at a nice ma 'n pa coffee shop. Some of us come early and have breakfast and coffee and talk for almost an hour before leaving. Others show up right before 8 AM when we leave to ride to the next coffee shop, about 12 miles south.
Then we ride along the lake and chat, around 12 mph average in the winter with the heavy clothes and more like 14 mph in the summer to the next shop. Those who showed up late get breakfast as THIS shop, the others of us get another cup of coffee anyway.
Today, I showed up at the first shop about 7:23, enough time to order a lox bagel and a small coffee. Talked to some old buddies here for 40 minutes or so, then we rode to the next shop. I decided to get another coffee and split a piece of almond rum cake with a Coffee Rider named Amy.
Let me introduce you to the cast, via this video:
0:10, the person in the front with the blinking headlight and blue jacket is Amy. She is a regular at these coffee rides, and does a few long rides every year, like around Lake Michigan, the tri-state ride down through the Chicago area, into NW Indiana and back. She only has one bike, the Trek gravel bike she's on here, and she changes tires now and then to change the flavor. She's pretty strong, but doesn't like to go fast. She's happy averaging 12-14 mph. She also gets up at dawn every day to walk the dog two miles and then meet Mike by the lake for some morning exercise. (more on Mike later) She coined the phrase "outdoorphins", meaning endorphins (the chemical that makes us feel good after cardiovascular exercise) but gotten outdoors with fresh air and sunshine.
The guy behind her is Terry. He's 73 and a retired runner. He's riding an old Gary Fisher mountain bike with street tires, but has no problem keeping up with much younger folks on road bikes. REALLY strong. He's part-time financial advisor and he got me into NW Mutual where I'm happy. He drives a Corvette, one of the last front engine, rear-drive ones, and figured out that his road bike will fit in the back if he takes the wheels off. Really cool guy. He rides every Saturday and Sunday when it's above 20 °F. He's the one that said "All right Jeremy!" to me as he rode by. He's easily the strongest rider in this group. He used to belong to my bike club, but left when they refused to use club funds to buy flowers for a member who had died. Last year, we were talking about bike seats at the coffee shop one time, and I said I loved my Selle Anatomic X-2 saddle on my road bike. (a leather, hammock-style saddle) He said he thought he had one he wasn't using that I could have. He looked, and it was a Selle X, original one. He gave it to me and now it's on my gravel bike, and I happily ride hundreds of miles per year on it.
Behind him in the orange vest is Mike. He's a character. He's riding an old Trek aluminum mountain bike, which he refers to affectionately as "The Beast." He has a front fender mounted on the rear, covering the rear of the tire, but not the top or front. So it's VERY good to not roost him or others, but doesn't protect the driveline at all. He has a rear rack mounted to the front, and a retired tube from the bank drive-in attached under his seat. (very durable, those things!) He has a single purple pannier that he got somewhere. He walks his elderly dog twice a day, every day, no matter what. He exercises with Amy by the lake; mostly stretches and yoga s**t. He also bike commutes to work 4 miles each way every day. He manages maps for the city through the computer system. Cool guy. Different.
The guy behind him in the dayglow jacket and on a gravel bike is Tom. He seems to be late 70s, and is living his dream of cycling in retirement. Word has it that he got big miles in 2024. I asked him and he said: "Naw, not as much as 2023." I said: "Stan said you rode almost 10,000 miles." → "No, only about 9400." Dude is one of those slow-rollers that just keeps going and going. I'm a bit over half his age and only managed 4100 miles last year. (1100 of them on eBike) He said: "Well, you're still working, so that's good. That's about what I rode when I was working." Dude is really chill and a very smooth rider. He dismounts if there's any chance of ice hidden under the snow. We respectfully waited for him. Falling off a bike onto ice at 78 (or whatever) is no joke! I just followed him on Strava.
Behind him is Ray. Nice guy, about my age (late 40s) pretty strong. Maybe just a bit stronger than me? Or pushes himself just a bit harder, hehehe. He got ahead of us earlier on the ride; I thought he was showing off, but he wanted to get a video of us riding by. I hope I can find it. I returned the favor with this video, while we were waiting for Tom to walk over the ice, re-mount and catch up. After the video, I engaged the warp drive (motor) and caught up with the group again.
I was on my eFatty again, trying to ride unpowered as much as possible without being dropped by this group. I wound up using motor about 25% of the time, into strong headwinds and up hills, where the 80 lbs. was a handicap.
I wound up with about 30 miles today. I think I will get out for maybe another 20-30 tomorrow on my gravel bike to burn the calories I will consume in beer during the playoff games in the afternoon and evening.
Then we ride along the lake and chat, around 12 mph average in the winter with the heavy clothes and more like 14 mph in the summer to the next shop. Those who showed up late get breakfast as THIS shop, the others of us get another cup of coffee anyway.
Today, I showed up at the first shop about 7:23, enough time to order a lox bagel and a small coffee. Talked to some old buddies here for 40 minutes or so, then we rode to the next shop. I decided to get another coffee and split a piece of almond rum cake with a Coffee Rider named Amy.
Let me introduce you to the cast, via this video:
0:10, the person in the front with the blinking headlight and blue jacket is Amy. She is a regular at these coffee rides, and does a few long rides every year, like around Lake Michigan, the tri-state ride down through the Chicago area, into NW Indiana and back. She only has one bike, the Trek gravel bike she's on here, and she changes tires now and then to change the flavor. She's pretty strong, but doesn't like to go fast. She's happy averaging 12-14 mph. She also gets up at dawn every day to walk the dog two miles and then meet Mike by the lake for some morning exercise. (more on Mike later) She coined the phrase "outdoorphins", meaning endorphins (the chemical that makes us feel good after cardiovascular exercise) but gotten outdoors with fresh air and sunshine.
The guy behind her is Terry. He's 73 and a retired runner. He's riding an old Gary Fisher mountain bike with street tires, but has no problem keeping up with much younger folks on road bikes. REALLY strong. He's part-time financial advisor and he got me into NW Mutual where I'm happy. He drives a Corvette, one of the last front engine, rear-drive ones, and figured out that his road bike will fit in the back if he takes the wheels off. Really cool guy. He rides every Saturday and Sunday when it's above 20 °F. He's the one that said "All right Jeremy!" to me as he rode by. He's easily the strongest rider in this group. He used to belong to my bike club, but left when they refused to use club funds to buy flowers for a member who had died. Last year, we were talking about bike seats at the coffee shop one time, and I said I loved my Selle Anatomic X-2 saddle on my road bike. (a leather, hammock-style saddle) He said he thought he had one he wasn't using that I could have. He looked, and it was a Selle X, original one. He gave it to me and now it's on my gravel bike, and I happily ride hundreds of miles per year on it.
Behind him in the orange vest is Mike. He's a character. He's riding an old Trek aluminum mountain bike, which he refers to affectionately as "The Beast." He has a front fender mounted on the rear, covering the rear of the tire, but not the top or front. So it's VERY good to not roost him or others, but doesn't protect the driveline at all. He has a rear rack mounted to the front, and a retired tube from the bank drive-in attached under his seat. (very durable, those things!) He has a single purple pannier that he got somewhere. He walks his elderly dog twice a day, every day, no matter what. He exercises with Amy by the lake; mostly stretches and yoga s**t. He also bike commutes to work 4 miles each way every day. He manages maps for the city through the computer system. Cool guy. Different.
The guy behind him in the dayglow jacket and on a gravel bike is Tom. He seems to be late 70s, and is living his dream of cycling in retirement. Word has it that he got big miles in 2024. I asked him and he said: "Naw, not as much as 2023." I said: "Stan said you rode almost 10,000 miles." → "No, only about 9400." Dude is one of those slow-rollers that just keeps going and going. I'm a bit over half his age and only managed 4100 miles last year. (1100 of them on eBike) He said: "Well, you're still working, so that's good. That's about what I rode when I was working." Dude is really chill and a very smooth rider. He dismounts if there's any chance of ice hidden under the snow. We respectfully waited for him. Falling off a bike onto ice at 78 (or whatever) is no joke! I just followed him on Strava.
Behind him is Ray. Nice guy, about my age (late 40s) pretty strong. Maybe just a bit stronger than me? Or pushes himself just a bit harder, hehehe. He got ahead of us earlier on the ride; I thought he was showing off, but he wanted to get a video of us riding by. I hope I can find it. I returned the favor with this video, while we were waiting for Tom to walk over the ice, re-mount and catch up. After the video, I engaged the warp drive (motor) and caught up with the group again.
I was on my eFatty again, trying to ride unpowered as much as possible without being dropped by this group. I wound up using motor about 25% of the time, into strong headwinds and up hills, where the 80 lbs. was a handicap.
I wound up with about 30 miles today. I think I will get out for maybe another 20-30 tomorrow on my gravel bike to burn the calories I will consume in beer during the playoff games in the afternoon and evening.
