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Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Coffeeneuring Challenge 2024
My ride, snug in the bike shed at Geonetric
Week One
1. Wednesday, October 9 (sunny 80F)
Coffee at: Converge Cafe in the Geonetric Building, 415 12th Ave SE [round trip 4.6 miles]
One Million Cups day at Geonetric!
I was Two-Days-Ago Years Old when I found out about the Coffeeneuring Challenge, an annual celebration of autumn, bicycles and coffee, on a Mastodon post. Coffeeneuring was begun by twelve individuals in the Washington, D.C. area in 2011; in 2021, the last year for which there are data, there were 329 riders from 41 states and the District of Columbia, as well as thirteen other countries. Decorah, Des Moines and Waverly, Iowa were represented, but... not Cedar Rapids! I'm fixing to change that this year.
Coffeeneuring season begins this week. My first ride was to 1 Million Cups, the Cedar Rapids locus of the Kaufmann Foundation's national gatherings of entrepreneurs. I rode over about 8 a.m., which is when Cedar Rapids traffic is as busy as it gets, but managed to elude most of it. I take my coffee black, today opting for the Colombian blend. Today's featured speaker was Shafira Rizki, whose organization Lead With Her promotes leadership by women in southeast Asia.
Shafira Rizki (right) presents at 1 MC Cedar Rapids
2. Friday, October 11 (sunny, 87F)
Spiced cider at: Roaster's in the New Bo City Market, 1100 3rd Street SE [round trip 4.4 miles]
Bike parking at the Market
New Bo Open Coffee on the second and fourth Fridays of each month was an institution by the time I started frequenting the district eight years ago. In its heyday it drew 15-25 people from nearby businesses. Alas, time, relocations, and the infamous pandemic has reduced the crowd to three very persistent men, of whom I am one. Today it was just Sam and me, though Bill checked in by video call from Wisconsin. Celebrities spotted included Anna Dombkowski, the Market's new development director; former Cedar Rapids mayor Brad Hart; and Corridor MPO transportation planner Roman Kiefer.
Another 8 a.m. call meant riding through traffic, but I was lucky in finding gaps in it so I could make the necessary left turns on my . Too many cars means I'm fighting a losing battle for space, but I like having someone around to protect me from turning traffic, and to trigger the traffic lights. Today was close to the ideal bike commute. The weather's been ideal for biking, but of course our unseasonable warmth is inextricably connected to the horrible hurricanes that have been ravaging the southeast, and here it hasn't rained in six weeks.
We had a frost last night, and it was still in the 30s when I set out this morning. This is more seasonable weather, but not my favorite for biking. It was not too windy riding in; with a light coat and leather gloves, though, I was fine, except for my ears.
Today's destination was meeting a friend at Craft'd, barely a block from City Hall, in the space formerly occupied by Early Bird. It was hopping when I arrived just before 9; I counted 16 customers, including some gathered to celebrate a co-worker's 40th birthday. (I took a picture... not sure what happened to it. I did not have a reusable cup recommended in the Coffeeneuring Challenge rules, but I brought by crocheted sleeve, which I'd bought at New Bo City Market BP (before-the-pandemic).
I like my dessert bars like I like my ciites: dense and diverse
The ride home was breezier, but by mid-morning traffic was sparse, so no complications except for these garbage cans which are apparently stored in the bike line. (Garbage pickup was four days ago.)
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