Silver Cycles in Silver Spring, MD. Located dangerously close to some of my favorite ice cream on earth.
My Saturdays are usually fairly structured. I attend a Weight Watchers meeting at 8:30 (but since losing my meeting buddy “8:30″ has become a lot more flexible as long as I go weigh in). Then I have breakfast with a friend. Every other week I need to be in Adams Morgan between 9 and 1 for my CSA pickup. And then I usually have a few assorted errands to run. I always do all of these things on my bike.
Today, though, started later than I planned. My breakfast friend was not able to make it. Another friend that I had made plans to ride to the farmers market in Silver Spring with had a meeting come up and would not be able to make it. It was not a CSA pick up week, I had no errands to run and I no longer need the items I intended to go to the market for anyway (I usually go to the larger and closer Sunday market). I also woke up sore. Yesterday was my first day lifting weights in over 2 weeks, and my first session with my trainer in 3 weeks, after injuring my back while on the elliptical (really, no idea how I managed that one). My only incentive to get out of bed this morning was to placate the whining cat that kept trying to jump on my head since that magically makes his breakfast appear.
I finally left the house some time going on 10, instead of at 8, and made it to my weigh in. I was also on time for the later meeting but decided to skip since I figured I might as well continue with my Silver Spring plan anyway. I wanted to check out Silver Cycles. When I was at the WABA’s Women’s Bicycling Forum in December I learned that it was a women owned shop so I thought it made it worth the trip. But I could not figure out how I wanted to get there so I headed a little west for some coffee and breakfast at Bourbon Coffee to fuel up and figure it out.
My two travel options were the Capital Crescent Trail, which I have never been on, or through the city. After reading about the Georgetown Branch (Interim) Trail I was not sure if it was something my tires would handle. I thought they would, but figured I would ask around first. I had only considered the trail because I knew if I stuck to the roads I would have to deal with hills. I hate hills and live in one of the lower sections of the city so everything is up hill from me. However, I have a new training goal in mind so I need to get better at hills. I am told one day I may even enjoy them (I am not convinced). So, through the city it was!
Did you know Sherman Circle in DC has not only no statues of William Tecumseh Sherman, but no statues whatsoever? Apparently the Sherman sculpture is downtown. (The statue of Philip Sheridan is in Sheridan circle though.)
On my ride north and east through the city, I was thinking about how much simpler my ride would be if the Metropolitan Branch Trail were complete. When I got home tonight I found out I might be wishing that for another six years. I had saved a google map with a route that I could access via my phone and that I more or less followed.
I decided to stop by the farmers market on my way to the bike store since I was riding right past it and I did not know how long I would be. I was rewarded (rewarded as in found and paid for, not won in some awesome farmers market bike riding competition) with a goat leg, goat sausage (some of which will be part of breakfast tomorrow with the grits I am making from the hominy I recently acquired), goat milk soap, spinach, Brussels Sprouts, leeks and (finally) a huge bag of kale that is predominantly my favorite variety- lacinato. I have been having a hard time getting it before it sells out at the Sunday market.
I grabbed a bottle of water and refilled my travel mug with fresh coffee before finishing my ride to the bike store. It was my first time at the bike store, but when I got to the strip mall I knew where I was immediately and was thankful my toes were so cold that I could not contemplate consuming anything cold. I was in the land of Tropical Ice Cream. I immediately texted my boyfriend to find out if it was OK to eat it if I rode my bike to get it. For very good reasons, Tropical Ice Cream is not allowed to leave the store with us on the rare occasions we go there. This stuff is the real deal and would have totally undone any calorie burning from my ride there and back. I think the Weight Watchers calculator would explode if I tried to figure out the points on this stuff. I will definitely be doing a warm weather ride there and getting some though (coconut please!). Anyway, I ignored the ice cream and browsed the store. They let me park my bike against their row of Surlys. They had a great inventory of Long Haul Truckers if you are in the market for one.
After my Bike Shop visit, I headed back to DC via Takoma to go to The Big Bad Woof to get some items for the previously mentioned pain-in-the-ass cat and his more charming companion. As my bags were getting fairly full at this point it was time to head home.
At some point I noticed signs along the road marking the Metropolian Branch Trail which it was mostly my intention to follow. I was more or less successful and luckily noticed the sign marking the turn off by the Fort Totten transfer station on the back side of Catholic University. As I made my way along, I decided to divert one more time to the Yes! Market in Brookland for some cheese for the grits. It was about this time (around 19 or so miles into the ride) that I realized I needed more food and water. I also realized I was nearing my upper limit for a chamois-free ride. I got a few things at the store, including my favorite Luna Bar to eat outside. Then I headed back to the trail and rode at that quick pace I can only seem to attain on trails. At the end of the trail I stopped for a sandwich and finished eating just as the rain started. It never reached more than a drizzle before I arrived home.
I rode 27 miles total and have many places to choose from on the control card for this ride (Breakfast or Lunch, Grocery Store, Any Store that is not a Grocery Store, Bike Shop, and whatever category I end up substituting Farmers Market for if I do not put it in place of Grocery Store). I am marking it as a Bike Shop trip for now since that was the furthest point out on my trip and the only specific place I probably would not have ended up at otherwise. I did take some other pictures to document the trip though if I need to use it as something else later. Since I have this fairly well planned though I do not see that happening.
The Big Bad Woof, a pet supply store in the Takoma neighborhood of DC.
fThe Freshfarms Market Saturday market in Silver Spring, MD.
Ride Details
Week 1 of 6
Ride 2 of 2
Control Card Category: Bike Shop
Date: 2/4/2012
Destination: Silver Cycles, Silver Spring, MD
Miles Completed: 27
Night Ride?: no
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Bravo. You put me to shame. My ride was a little eclectic. (http://rootchopper.blogspot.com/2012/02/utilitaire-gone-wild.html) I did lots of stops too but it never once occurred to me to buy goat meat. I think you’ve broken new ground.
Also, as someone who lost 70 pounds during sophomore year in college, I hereby give you an official pass on the ice cream.
Thanks!
Goat is actually a regular part of our diet around here when I can find some good cuts so I may be making that trip a little more often.
You hit some of my favorite stores! I think Silver Cycles is great.
I may pop in more often as I do longer rides!
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