Inspired by Portland, Oregon’s bike culture playbook, Buffalo’s GoBike, a mobility advocacy organization, hosted a fun event. Cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders, and wheelchair users could participate in an activity where they spin laps, a whopping 100 of them! around Downtown Buffalo’s Niagara Square.

Back in Portland, there’s a neighborhood called Ladds Addition. It’s a nearly ten-block by ten-block area with a central traffic circle. For almost a decade, riders turn left for a while and complete 500 laps of the quarter-mile loop, which amounts to a century, 100 miles of riding. The event takes place mid-April under the slogan “It’s spring, let’s do something stupid.” more...

Today’s ride was significantly shorter than yesterday’s. The remaining distance to downtown Buffalo was only thirty-seven miles. I had until 4pm to get there, so even if I encountered a headwind and challenging riding conditions, I had the time. 

The route for today consisted of a mix of roads and trails, with approximately fifty percent of the distance covered on multi user paths and dedicated cycle ways. Although I hadn’t ridden the trails in this area before, I was aware that they were paved, eliminating the unpleasant surface conditions I had experienced yesterday. Paved trails are a bonus to me, I don’t require them that way. more...

I finally fell asleep around midnight. I should have packed earplugs. I’m sure they will be handy for other nights to come. Despite the noise and adjusting to the first night outside in over a year, I had a pretty restful sleep. The last time was just after we moved back to New York. My daughters and I visited Watkins Glen, at the southern end of the next lake over, Seneca. The international Raceway was holding an event, closed off to car, but open to cyclists. We did a few loops around the track and then camped at the state park. more...

It’s 6:30am, and the transition from darkness to twilight is just beginning. Sunrise will occur in just under a half hour. Sunset will be almost exactly twelve hours later. The roads are wet, and the air is humid, although it’s not currently raining. As the day progresses, the winds will pick up, but for now, the air is still. After I ride north past the length of Cayuga Lake, I’ll turn left, heading west, and ride into the wind for the next 110 miles until I reach my camping spot for the night. Or at least that’s the plan.

The first 45 miles along the lake are somewhat familiar. more...

Over the years, through various adventures across different disciplines, I’ve compiled a gear inventory that works for different conditions. Through my obsessive research, waiting for sales, and volunteering with outfitters who offered industry discounts, I’ve been fortunate enough to acquire gear that is lighter and more compact whether I’m stuffing it into a pack, kayak hatch, or pannier. Whether it’s three-season, winter, solo trips, or when the family joins me, I have options for most endeavors. With so many choices, it can be challenging to narrow down the selection. Sometimes there are still compromises based on the weather conditions, or choosing gear for a single overnight trip that I wouldn’t for a week-long adventure, or just being willing to endure a little more discomfort. more...

I had planned to write down some thoughts and reflections of my journey, but it didn’t seem to happen. A combination of the lack of time, motivation, or electrons in my devices. Many books are written with the end in mind and work backwards from there. So I guess this should be okay as well.

So, where should I start? The beginning of this trip, or somewhere between the last one and now? Or even further back?

I wouldn’t have called myself a cyclist back in 2014. Sure, I owned a bike. I’ve had one for most of my life, ever since I learned to ride as a kid. more...