2025 Philly Bike Expo, via Amtrak

The Brommie Ride, allowing other folder brands in 2025 - one of the
Philly Bike Expo's organized bike rides.

Why do I attend the Philly Bike Expo? It's the experience: organized bike rides, after-party, seminars, and vendor booths. It's also an excuse to connect with friends from around the country.

One of the Brommie Ride stops. A race on grass. I ogled the pristine Raleigh Twenty.

Memento Cycles is so creative! Check out the racks and "internal" cable routing.

The exhibitors range from frame makers, accessories, jewelry, bag makers, recumbents/adaptive cycles, bike clothing, and art, to advocacy. There's something for everyone! The two-day event is small enough to see in 3 hours, leaving room to attend morning and evening rides, and seminars, or get outside for fresh air and sightseeing.

A Bilenky - same colorway as my Hard Rock - and a colorful Velocity Wheel. Pink and Purple bicycles are popular.

Seminars attended: The Impossible Routes Q&A by Jeremiah Bishop, and How to Make Your Life into One Big Bike Adventure – a workshop by Pamela Murray.

I like checking out options at the Schwalbe booth. I noted an all-road tire that might provide more traction on Rachel.

Testing the Tern Spartan rack with front panniers.

What I did right

• I'm rocking two front panniers instead of the former large bag on the handlepost. It's more stable handling all-around, and the Dahon folds nearly as small as before.
• One bikable footwear option was perfect with slipper socks for AirBnB wear.
• I was so happy to stay at the same place as last year. My accommodation came with a full kitchen which meant comfortable evenings and breakfasts before setting off for daily activities.
• A foldable tote bag that also doubles as a backpack, adapts to grocery shopping, picking up souvenirs, or as extra storage on the train. Arriving at 8 pm Friday evening, I'd made a grocery list, then hightailed it to a store soon after check-in. I'm efficient - I bought enough for 3 days, and nights of breakfasts and dinners, while leftovers provided two meals for the return trip. 

View outside from the Expo windows, and the same view at street level.

Sunday afternoon exploring with lunch/dessert at the Italian Market.

Sunday morning gravel ride meetup. I opted for the shorter distance, navigating a stretch of single track on 20" wheels, though I knew most of the route was paved. A local guy named Patrick personally escorted me back to the Expo, avoiding a chunky section of the path. He turned out to be a history buff, explaining places en route. Thank you, Patrick!

AirBnB entryway and a homecooked meal.

What I learned

• Normally I fold and store the Dahon in a tote bag. This works well for one train journey, keeping me and the bike clean. But, it was an arduous transfer between Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall in NYC - I'd forgotten how arm-busting the distance had been the previous year, reminded again this time around!  There had to be a better way. At the Expo, anyone entering with a folding bike was required to fold it to save on bike parking space. By accident, I discovered that once folded, I could gently roll the Dahon by grabbing the seat, slightly extended, initially to move away from a crowded line and unfold it to get my stuff situated to ride. However, I practiced rolling it on the polished floor, because, I figured it could ease my return train connection. I found that as long as the fold is a bit loose, otherwise, the brake lever rubs on the spokes - not a pretty sound - but I was fairly sure that I could make the arrangement work. And I did! As it turns out, I keep the bike fairly clean anyway, and wearing black pants helps. The fold needs to be a bit loose, otherwise, the brake lever rubs on the spokes. There might be a way to improve the fit of the fold so that it doesn’t rub. In the future, I’ll figure out something to attach to the bars—perhaps a small block of foam—that will prop the bar in the perfect position. I'm always learning!
• Once in Philadelphia, especially after dark, it's not intuitive access from the station to the Schuylkill River Trail. But in daylight, it made more sense (as the photo below shows). Two years in a row I had difficulty getting to the AirBnB. Next year I'll get it right.
• Pack less next year. Two pairs of tights are fine, not three. And no need for two jackets. One is adequate. 3 lightweight top layers. It helps to wash items after the first day so they're dry and usable for the latter portion of the trip.

A visual reminder of directions so that next year I can do it correctly in the dark. Crossing Market Street Bridge (arches) I need to exit onto the ramp in the opposite direction to double back, traveling underneath the bridge to find the AirBnB. The Amtrak Station is the historical, square building on the left.

Late afternoon ride along the Schuylkill River.

Slowly heading to the train station on Monday morning, soaking up more sunshine. We were lucky again to have perfect weekend weather.

Left: Dahon folded in the Philly Amtrak Station, ensuring the seatpost is lowered enough to protect the crank. Middle: on board the train. Right: unfolded in the Moynihan Train Hall because as a solitary traveler, I needed to wheel the bike and my stuff around, including visiting the bathroom!

The Mittens that Everyone Needs

My hands suffer when it gets cold. While I have bar mitts attached to my commuter Peugeot, that bike is also decked with studded tires until the weather gods decide it's really spring, so alternative mittens are required to keep my digits from freezing, especially if I ride another bike on dry roads. Or, walking, shoveling, etc. 

I'd read how leather mittens with wool liners are some of the warmest outdoor wear you'll find, so I took the opportunity to replace some failing synthetic lined mittens with LLBean's version.

Call them what you will: double layers, choppers, chopper mitts, work mittens, or leather mitts, ultimately, they're the warmest mittens I've ever used!

The leather shell blocks the wind, grips the handle bar, while the wool liner is warm and replaceable, should one eventually need to. Critical is the air pocket between liner and shell that traps warmth. And if both get wet, just air dry separately. 

There are many brands available in this type of arrangement. And not to worry, I can grasp the shifters and brake levers just fine.

I'm reminded of the Dr Seuss book, The Lorax and  Thneed - the thing that everyone needs!

Riding Packed, Plowed Rail Trails

Last week's 16.5" dump on top of several packed inches plus drifts meant the snowblower had to clear one narrow corridor by shooting snow through the fence onto rail tracks.

It's been a wild one this winter, with regular snowfall and normal below-freezing temperatures. For the past 5 years, I've gotten used to frequent rides on a nearby, plowed rail trail. Until this year, trail coverage was thin or even clear pavement at times during typical globally warmed Vermont winters. This meant easy access with or without a studded tire bike. I could get used to this!

My tires are all over the place in thicker, trodden snow.

It's been tricky even with 1.75" studded tires this year. If the paths aren't cleared close to the surface, my rear tire, especially, fishtails, losing traction. I often need to put a foot down, which is all the more reason I ride a step-through bike. Bike handling is tough: hands loose on the bar, spin in low gears usually gains traction. It takes a toll on my body though. A 10-mile ride is plenty in these conditions and I rest between outings, sometimes for 3 days.

But watching the sunset over Lake Champlain; stars appearing in the sky; and solitude, keep me coming back for more.

The left, ice-lined area had the best traction. Note the ski tracks on the right. Burlington plows half the path in winter to allow other snow sports.

Yesterday's climb into the 30'sF created soft paths. Oddly, I sought out ice-filled lanes! The top layer had just enough grip, but smoother going overall. Go figure.

Often, the bridge connecting Burlington to my Colchester community loses its snow first. I think it's the lack of tree coverage. Note the ski tracks continuing across the bridge.

The Colchester side had the smoothest surface, cropped close to asphalt. There are few riders compared with walkers, so often snow is pockmarked and frozen - terrible to ride!

Is all this worth it? For an avid rider, yes. I like the challenge. The important thing is I'm safe and know my limits.

The Specialized Hard Rock with the Best Bag Setup

The Specialized Hard Rock has become my alternative winter ride during Vermont's periodic dry spells. While the Peugeot step-through, bedecked with studded tires, always takes precedence on snowy surfaces, I've learned to keep a backup bike handy. The Hard Rock's wider tires strike the right balance for safety; handlebars easily support my lights; and two racks allow ample carrying capacity.

The best use for this bag.

Recently, I moved a favorite, versatile bag behind the seat, using it like a quasi-seat pack. Straps are secured to rails with buckles looping around the rack. Any weight is fully supported on the rack. It has been perfect: extra cargo space for a few tools, my purse, a lock, and room for other things. If I plan to pick up a few groceries, I bring an additional bag, attached to the front rack. In the past, all my bikes had panniers - the more space, the merrier! - but for once, just enough space seems like a better arrangement. It's also been much easier to clean the drive train.

I've thoroughly enjoyed riding the Hard Rock this winter.

The more I ride the Hard Rock, the more this bike makes me smile.  

I'm Considering Buying Another Dahon

Dahon Archer.

I continue to love my Dahon Boardwalk, but I wanted to experiment with a different model, seeking another riding experience. Astute readers know I picked up an Eco 3 not too long ago, but I rehomed it because it wasn't vastly different from the Boardwalk. Most bike lovers continually search for something else - it must be wired into our brains - and while I've searched online locally for years, I broadened to our son's Colorado community (I'm visiting in May), scoring on a couple fronts.

I liked the double chainring Dahon Archer, not sold in the US. The owner brought it back from Asia a few years ago. At a steal of a price, I hoped our son could investigate, but the bike sold fast. 

Dahons are good value  - ultimately I'd like a Bike Friday at some point, but I'm not ready for a big investment. I hope to find a used Dahon with features like a broader gear range, and the ability to swap handlebars, possibly in a lighter-weight package. Our bike mechanic son could likely update anything I find.

Dahon Briza

Then I came across a Dahon Briza. I like the 24" wheels and curved frame. This bike strikes a balance between a small wheeled folder and a full-sized bike yet weighs 32lbs. - about the same as my steel Dahon! Folded dimensions are 34"x17"x32", a bit larger of course due to 24" wheels, but should still fall under Amtrak's radar, guaranteeing hassle-free boarding. Disguised in a bag, the folded bike shouldn't be larger than any of the roller suitcases travelers tote on board. While the Briza is available to purchase new, I'll continue looking for a used model.

The fold-and-go, fold-and-stow lifestyle appeals to me as a solitary traveler. Whether pedaling directly to/from an Amtrak station or storing the bicycle inside accommodations, it all adds up to freedom and security. Freedom to hop on a train with a bike without reserving a bicycle slot (folding bikes are treated like luggage); freedom to leave the car at home; freedom to visit a new area - this is the kind of mindset fueling my small wheel adventures.