Ideas for 2025

Cycling goals for 2025: keep touring, painting, and exploring new bike styles.

I make an annual pilgrimage to the Kingdom Trails, but with good weekend weather, I plan to explore more of southern Vermont. Some of the ideas below require planning.

• In May, I'm returning to Fort Collins to visit family and once again explore by bike.  This time, I'm excited that my husband will attend.
• Inspired to find another folding bike, I've been researching the Tern Node and Dahon Briza. Both have 24" wheels, but should fall under Amtrak's free onboard, non-reservation status for folding bikes. I prefer a used bicycle - the goal is to locate either model within a reasonable distance for test rides.
• Touring ideas include a loop connecting the Cross Vermont Trail and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and/or portions of the VTXL or a compilation of all three! Both Cross VT and LVRT trails sustained significant damage from 2023 and 2024 floodwaters. Due to ongoing maintenance, expecting both to be passable from end to end is unrealistic. Including the VTXL means there are more options for an interesting weeklong route.
• I have a travel painting kit. I plan to ride locally for inspiration and try out mini paintings.

5 Years after The Pandemic - the Beauty of Exploring

The Trek Marlin 7 continues to provide comfortable meandering on nearby wooded trails. It's a perfect vehicle
for discovering flowers.

Since 2020, I've learned to take nothing for granted, a feeling that still resonates: not our health, our 2020 move to a beautiful location, the ability to travel, or the natural world that continues to provide peace and connection. I have so much to be thankful for. 

Riding with my adventure buddy on the Colchester Causeway; our home and backyard view.

I love to travel by bike, whether driving to ride rail trails or carrying gear for multiday excursions. 

Brewery in North Hampton, NH. Tacos at a food truck in Fort Collins. Real maple creemees only 3 miles from home.

Stops for food and beer are destinations themselves.

Visiting our son in Fort Collins, Colorado, and riding Soapstone Prairie's trails. Riding Pine Creek Trail with my husband in Pennsylvania.

Riding with family is always an opportunity to connect and explore.

After work or on weekends, rides rejuvenate me, whether pedaling along Lake Champlain during daylight or at sunset, even year-round. I frequently visit an icefall to watch its spring-fed metamorphosis. We discovered a local sugar house this spring!

Amtrak fuels adventure opportunities. Take the train to a new locale or use the service one-way and pedal back.

When our axis shifts and world events spiral faster than seems possible, I try not to feel hopeless. In some respects, we've been here before, 5 years ago. Instead, I remind myself, how truly lucky I am.

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!

2024 Rewind

2024 started off well, plunged into winter conditions, easily adapting to riding safely on snowy bike paths. I set my yearly intentions to have something to look forward to - it's the way I roll.

I broke my ribs in late January. Fortunately, it was only a hiccup in my cycling life. I fully recovered in 6 weeks and attended the Philly Bike Expo. The bonus was meeting and riding with online friends! 

I put together these bags for our son the bike mechanic. No two are alike.

On the creative front, I explored gouache painting for the second year for the Coffeenuring Challenge, tried a new stem bag pattern, and later sewed 4 more.

In June, I visited our son in Fort Collins, Colorado, and came home in awe of their cycling infrastructure and surrounding beauty.

Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pennsylvania.

My husband and I purposely sought new local trails in 2024, experiencing the D&H Rail Trail, Adirondack Rail Trail, two trails in New Hampshire, and a weeklong adventure in Pennsylvania. 

I went on solitary Amtrak adventures: riding one-way from Hudson, NY to Saratoga Springs during peak foliage (part one) and finishing a few weeks later, and from Castleton, VT homeward.

It's interesting to see the Monday-Friday progression.

Yearly accounting: I sorted the rack situation between the Rachel and the Hard Rock so both are touring-ready. I made it, finally, to the Philly Bike Expo after several years of trying (the pandemic didn't help). Due to two years of flooding, what's still elusive is riding across Vermont and back. 

I went out of 2024 with a bang, finishing the year with 3532 miles!

2024 Autumn Dahon Ride - Try, Try Again

Spoiler alert: I made it!

If plans go awry, get back out there and try again! Recently, when I set off on a 3-day journey via folding bike, a slashed tire sidelined the completion of day 3. Serendipity intervened in the form of a stranger who delivered me and my bicycle to the Amtrak station for the journey home. Luckily, another weekend weather window opened 3 weeks later, this time for an overnight only, hopefully, this time, making it to Saratoga National Historical Park.

With the Amtrak schedule running an hour late, I would be pushing daylight. However, most of the route to Troy was familiar, including the comfortable B&B. In addition, I was down to the wire, finishing the Coffeeneuring Challenge, and the only viable option open late was a Starbucks. Somehow I managed the visit: the latte was terrible, though the franchise sported the best, visible, sheltered bike rack. Go figure.

After a comfortable night's sleep, I set off northward, repeating miles in a frosty morning that gradually warmed.

I made it to the park! It was hilly, however, so between my flatlander legs and limited gears, I stuck to the main road following a ravine. There was a lot to explore, so a return trip would be necessary. At the visitor center, I hiked for 2 miles, guided by an online tour, then set off to Saratoga Springs and later Amtrak reservation. I enjoyed Google's hilly rural route by horse farmland, then around a portion of Lake Saratoga and its well-heeled lakeside homes, and eventually riding a main route into the city with wide shoulders. The gargantuan famous racetrack was a shocker, including the accompanying barns, stables, accommodation, parking lots, and museum. As I've said before, when you allow ample time for a new adventure, surprises make the journey.

With sunset at 4:30 in mind, I had ample time to safely pedal to the train station in daylight, so I visited Whitman Brewery, chosen for its long list of IPAs - I'm a big fan - and accompanying food. The burger and fries were delicious. Whitman was a good choice, so if you're in the area, check them out.

Remember, adventures are not always about the miles, but about encountering something new. 

Coffeeneuring 2024 - More Gouache Exploration, Rides 5-8

Coffeeneuring #5 - I painted this one with an acrylic gouache (more opaque, sharper edges).

This one is with my typical gouache (softer edges).

Vivid is a large coffee shop (formerly New Moon, with the vertical sign still evident). Without a nearby bike rack, I made do by wrapping my cable lock around a tree. I sat in front of the garage-type window, sipping my first Matcha Latte - wow, delicious!

5. The Place:  Vivid Coffee in Burlington
Date: Wednesday, November 6
Observation: Took the day off for Election fallout and decompression.
Total Miles: 13

Drink: Matcha Latte - my first!

Coffeeneuring #6 at Scout.

The Rose donuts at Scout are sooo good.

Local roaster Scout has a few cafes open later on the weekend, so I went to Winooski's location in a historic building. I am continually impressed with their smooth dark roast. Their cappuccino, once again, was exceptional. And their chewy donut is to die for!

6. The Place: Scout Coffee in Winooski

Date: Sunday, November 10

Drink: Cappuccino
Observation: Warmish and pushing daylight to arrive after 4 pm. Scout's coffee is very smooth, and likely the best brew around.
Total Miles: 15

Coffeeneuring #7 at a Starbucks.

I was away during the final weekend of Coffeenuring (and on a train for most of the day), so I sought out a cafe that would be open late afternoon—Starbucks. What could go wrong? I'll give them kudos for providing a visible bike rack, but the latte was watered out and the barista sheepishly said, "I'm sorry I don't know how to create coffee art." Fortunately, I found out later that the deadline was extended another week!

7. The Place: Starbucks in Troy, NY

Date: Saturday, November 16

Drink: Latte
Observation: low 50s, arrived at dusk, terrible latte for a Starbucks
Total Miles: 16

Coffeeneuring #8, going out with a bang - more delicious matcha

Bonus round thanks to Queen Coffeeneur for graciously extending the deadline.

I headed to downtown Burlington on a weekend, selecting Black Cap for its glass storefront and convenient bike rack. Their matcha was stellar and the flourless chocolate torte was very yummy! I delivered half the dessert to our youngest son, the bike mechanic because I can't treat him well enough for maintaining my bicycles!

8. The Place: Black Cap Coffee in Burlington

Date: Saturday, November 23

Drink: Autumn Harvest Matcha Latte
Observation: Downtown Burlington feels unsafe due to unhoused people yet it's where there's the widest variety of coffee shops. I was delighted to find Black Cap with a bike rack in front.
Total Miles: 17

I learned that I prefer the coffee shop without walls venue versus working around coffee shop hours. I enjoyed painting coffee art plus adding the handwritten details. Who knows, maybe I'm ready to incorporate mini landscapes into next year's coffeeneuring theme?

And like last year, the Coffeeneuring Quilt:

Three Day Dahon Adventure During Peak Foliage

I prefer to streamline luggage into as few bags as possible-less to keep track of.

In late October, peak foliage and weather aligned for a two-night, 3-day one-way ride on my Dahon Boardwalk. It was also an experiment, hauling extra gear on small wheels.  As mentioned before, I enjoy taking Amtrak, especially with a folding bike, because I avoid the standard bicycle reservation. Folding bikes are treated as luggage. The goal this time was to ride more of the Empire State Trail, a mostly trail-only segment from Hudson, NY northward, then explore the Saratoga Battlefield - a place I've meant to visit for 30+ years.

After several hours of staring out the train window at the spectacular fall color, anxious to ride, I arrived at 3 pm in Hudson, NY. Time was of the essence. I had 3 hours of daylight to ride 17 miles to a motel. 

The sunshine and warmth were intoxicating. I immediately stumbled onto these abandoned Hudson River fishing camps and I remembered something about their controversial removal. I couldn't linger, so I immediately connected with the Empire Trail—straight up a hill!

The Electric Trolley portion of the Empire State Trail was a gentle roller coaster, running beneath powerlines, overall hillier than a standard rail trail, yet the route was straightforward with adequate signage. The amount of on-road sections were more frequent than I expected, however, lower traffic, and winding through the colorful landscape beside a river had its merit. Pushing daylight, I managed to buy food and arrive at a motel by sunset.

I had invited a friend to join me, but she wasn't feeling well. I'm comfortable traveling solo so I don't let the lack of companionship deter me. It's important to keep exploring, and I certainly couldn't pass up this opportunity during peak foliage!

The next morning was chilly but I came prepared, so with a little backtracking I was soon back on route, heading northwest towards Albany. More rollers, more sublime scenery, including riding beside beautiful lakes.

Nassau Lake.

By late morning, I rode by more urban areas, connected with neighborhood roads, and eventually lost a lot of elevation in Rensselaer/Troy communities, arriving at the Hudson River. 

From there it was a familiar route, heading northward on the Mohawk Hudson Hike Bike Trail to my accommodation in Troy. Well ahead of check-in time, I decided to enjoy the last 10 miles.

I noticed that my front bag was coming apart, though it would probably hold up for the rest of the trip. Between the gravel trail, some dirt roads, the possibly overstuffed bag unlatched from its Klickfix attachment a couple times, though not dangerously so - I wind the shoulder strap around the handlebars for extra security. I caught the problem immediately in both instances and stopped to reattach it firmly in place. 

I spent the next several miles savoring the sunshine, thinking it was probably time to investigate using a front rack. Initially, I didn't want to add more weight to a 30 lb. bicycle - also carrying it on board trains - but redistributing the weight near the front wheel would likely improve handling and visibility, offsetting added rack weight. I already own midsize panniers. I also worried that the plastic Klickfix attachment might fail under too much load - the problem sometimes with proprietary gear. A small duffel or trunk bag on the rear rack could further enhance carrying capacity. 

Entering Troy, I found a riverside spot and enjoyed an early dinner at Browns Brewing due to the lack of eateries near my accommodation.

Afterward, I pedaled on, and scouted the B&B spot, but still early for check-in, nearby I discovered an entrance to Oakwood Cemetery. I pushed my bike up the steep road until gaining the plateau. What a stunning, winding, beautifully landscaped cemetery with many old graves, gates, monuments, and churches! I could spend hours wandering the grounds and put it on my radar to return someday.

Uncle Sam Bikeway. 

Upon my descent, I also found the Uncle Sam Bikeway, a trail I would take the next morning northward that would bypass narrow roads through neighborhoods.

Between the cemetery and the newly discovered trail, it felt like gifts. I allow extra time and/or don't focus on riding all day because I thoroughly enjoy finding new treasures.

The third day started wonderfully, chatting with an English couple at breakfast, setting off riding the colorful Uncle Sam Bikeway, then northward on the Champlain Canalway Trail.

The trail ended and I followed Empire State Trail signs northward on secondary roads, hugging the west side of the Hudson River. In Stillwater, I ate lunch in a lovely riverside park complete with a reconstructed blockhouse, watching and listening to geese and ducks in the water. 

Five miles later, I heard a bang and my bike was forced to a halt. Yikes, this wasn't good! I got off the road into the grass, and inspected the flat rear tire, discovering a 1.5" slash. Not good at all. Checking the road berm, I found sharp, flat scissors. Somehow, I hadn't seen them. I spent the next hour, dismantling the rear wheel, not an easy task, but I had brought a special long-handled 14/15mm wrench for axle and pedal removal, booted the gash with sections of blown tube, and inserted a new tube. Unfortunately, as suspected, I couldn't inflate the tire much without the new tube bulging through the cut. 

Two vehicles had stopped to see if I was okay. I assured them and waved them on. After the "repair" I rolled the bike - at least it was rollable - back to an intersection where a route headed more directly to Saratoga Springs and the Amtrak Station where I had a return reservation later that day. With my thumb out, the second car immediately pulled over (a vehicle with a bike on the back - yay!) and Anita brought me to a bike shop in Saratoga Springs. Unfortunately, the mechanics didn't have a narrow enough tire, so Anita then drove me to the Amtrak Station, gave me her bag of leftover pretzels, and felt bad about leaving me there 2 hours before departure. Holy cow, what a kind woman! 

My adventure proved that it's worth allowing extra time and cyclists are generally wonderful people. I texted Anita when I got home so she knew I was safe. I had also invited her to come and ride with me in Vermont. I plan to pay this favor forward to others.

As for visiting the Saratoga Battlefield, I'm monitoring the fall weather. I now know a lovely B&B place to return to for a fresh redo of that day.