Coffeeneuring Challenge 2017

Ride 1 

Monday October 23rd

Latté at Zoka Coffee

Zoka Coffee, Kirkland WA

Latté

I followed Mark downhill from his house conveniently rolling to a stop at a coffee shop in downtown Kirkland.  Bike parking consisted of us leaning our bikes against the glass.  I wasn't too worried about bike theft since I was borrowing Vinnie's bike.  The place was bustling with youngish business types that had lost hipster status due to their current tax brackets.  Mark had a quad Americano before showing me the Kirkland lakeside.  We gram'd on a dock, rode by his original west coast place of employment, cruised through a Google Campus and then eventually climbed back up to his house hauling "burritos as big as our heads" for a hearty lunch.

Distance:  6.6 miles 3,466 kCal positive ride after burrito

Vinnie's beautiful 333 Ti Fabrications 650b (don't look at the front fender line)

Mark's head for scale

Ride 2 Double Trouble

Tuesday October 23rd

Tully's Coffee, Hunts Point

Intense Dark Chocolate Mocha

Caffè Umbria, Pioneer Square Seattle

Macchiato

Mark and I rode over Mercer Island and across the scenic I90 bridge into Seattle for a big day.  We fueled up with mochas at Tully's in Hunts Point wondering which driveway belonged to Bill Gates.  We sampled local oysters at Elliott's and then topped off our tanks at Caffè Umbria in Pioneer Square where we bumped into Gary Prince.  Next, it was over to Back Alley Bike Repair where we hooked up with Ian and Gabe.  A spirited tour of Seattle's shred portals ensued adding Theo and Peter at Holy Mountain (this is where coffeeneuring stopped and beereneuring began).  Eventually we climbed the iconic Interlaken to Chuck's Hop Shop Central District where we hooked up with Jason and Hahn over falafel and veggie dogs with mayo.  A few local beers were sampled.  Mark and I took the bus home with our bikes on full display on the front rack.

Distance:  79 kilometers 4,899 kCal deficit ride

Thea Rose is not impressed.

Gabe holding court. Many problems were solved.

Ride didn't count because of rule limiting coffeeneuring rides to two in one week

Thursday October 26th

Olympia Coffee Roasting Company

Intense Mocha with Kouign Amann

Ricky, Mark and I rode from Chateau Ricky to Olympia Coffee Roasting Company downtown Olympia.  We met Ian who gave us the insiders only tour.  The Kouign Amann was so good I got two  to carry back to Asheville for Amy and Abbey.  I asked the barista if he thought they would make it back to North Carolina and he said, "If you don't eat them!"  I conceded the point.

Distance:  who cares since it didn't count, but if you're asking, it was 2.1 miles! Boom! 765 positive kCal ride

Ricky refuses to be roasted.

Ride 3

Thursday November 2nd

Edna's of Asheville

Cortado

Grabbed a cortado on my way to early voting.  It was very good despite the to-go cup!

Distance:  3.8 miles  kCal neutral ride


























Ride 4

Saturday November 4th

Bomba,  Asheville

Cortado

Hit Bomba on my way to some weekend work stuff.  Finished up and then met Amy and Denise for some DJ Marley Carroll on the South Slope.  John and Stephanie joined us a bit later for the main event, Of Montreal!  The Of Montreal show was full of energy even though it was a free afternoon event.

Distance: 4.2 miles 42 kCal deficit

Ride 5

Saturday November 11th

Liberty House Coffee and Café, Asheville

Solo coffeeneuring outing to a new spot, Liberty House.  Cortado and Apple Galette on a brisk morning.  The post yoga crowd sat inside while I had the patio to myself.

Distance: 2.2 miles, 565 kCal positive ride

The Moulton waits patiently across the street.  Imported bike helmet from Melbourne Bike Share.

Ride 6

Saturday, November 18th

Dobra Tea House, Asheville

I rode with our daughters, Abbey and Clare, who patiently guided me through my first ever tea house experience.  We took off our shoes and sat on the floor on cushions. It had a strangely familiar feel to randonneuring except for the cushions. We got lost for a while in the booklike menu but eventually rang the bell to place our orders.  The girls had bubble teas and I had a Masala with honey and almond milk. I really enjoyed it but I'm still a coffee guy.

Distance:  5.6 miles, 325 kCal deficit ride

Organic parking out front

Ride 7

Sunday November 19th

Vortex Donuts, Asheville

Piccolo with Salted Caramel Bacon Donut

I love visiting Vortex.  They have excellent coffee and an expensive donut menu that comes in yeast or cake - suiting all moods.  They have vegan donuts and gluten free donuts and then some that are neither, like I got.  I like how you can take a picture if you sit at the front capturing your ride through the window.  A fitting finale to the Coffeeneuring 2017 Challenge!

Distance: 9.8 miles, kCal neutral until I stopped at the Wedge on my way home.

Piccolo with Salted Caramel Bacon Donut