On growing older, finding the energy to do what you love, and bike camping

12 April 2024. Olympus OM-1n--OM Zuiko 50mm f/1.8--Kodak Portra 160 It's Tuesday April 23rd. If I had stuck to my plans, I'd be waking up at Ainsworth State Park in the Columbia Gorge, on my first bike camping expedition of the year. But instead, I'm at home. What exactly got me here, or more correctly,...

It’s spring, so time to think about bike camping…again

Women's Forum Viewpoint in the Columbia Gorge, 27 April 2023. Camera: Olympus XA Film: Kodak Ektar 100 While it is possible to bike camp here in the west-of-Cascades Pacific Northwest all year (at least in the lower elevations), winter bike camping isn't exactly ideal. Sunsets before 5 PM equal long and lonely nights, something I...

My 2023 in bicycles and biking

The Bantam at Johnson Creek Park at dusk, 13 Dec 2023. Olympus XA/Kodak Ultramax 400 Hello, friends. Here is my year end reflection on my year in bikes. Overall it's been a pretty good year, but there's always--always--room for improvement. Here's how it went down: A state of the fleet The more things stay the...

On another season gone, getting older, and default travel methods

We are now in mid-September. While technically summer lasts until Equinox on Friday September 22nd (though meteorological summer is over), with a few rains and some cooler temps, thoughts are now focused on autumn. I do like autumn (when we get a real one, which wasn't last year), and there is still some more time...

On the changing definitions of bike packing, bike touring, and credit cards

Out in the Gorge, 28 April 2023. Olympus XA/Kodak Ektar 100 I try not to be one of those people who get too hung up on language. I realize that language is a living thing, and meanings of words can change over time. OK, I do get irritated when people use "literally" to mean figuratively,...

REMINDER: Bike Touring Workshop is Saturday, and spots are still available

Hey folks! It's just a few days until my Bike Touring Workshop, and there's still spots available! Please join me at Lords Luggage,  3616 SE Knapp St (Portland OR 97202) on Saturday May 6 from 2 to 4 PM for an informative session. Deets below: Are you itching to hit the open road and explore nature in...

An end of February State of the Bike Address, and plans for warmer bike adventures. (Plus: Snow in Portland)

From a snow ride in February 2018. We got much more snow this time. Even though selling the Raleigh Crested Butte was the right decision, as it was never, ever going to fit me correctly, I still miss it from time to time. I type this missive on Thursday evening, February 23rd. Portland has just...

Goals and plans for bicycling in 2023

Elderberry Trail on the "deep forest" side of Powell Butte. 28 Aug 2022. So deep I needed to use the flash! Olympus XA2/Fujicolor 200 Last year I decided to log every ride, something I had never done before. (Why no, I am not on Strava!) Inside a tiny Rhodia notebook (orange cover and grid pages,...