Double-take: Does That Say "Leisurely"?!

Saturday, April 25 was a day for firsts here Colorado. Primal and Audi of Denver sponsored the inaugural Colorado Bike Expo at the Denver Convention Center, and Leisurely Pedaling participated in its first ever vendor event! Let's pause and reflect on this a moment...

Denver Convention Center

...Paws and reflect a moment? (You see what I did there?) The bike expo hosts were very attentive and accommodating throughout the experience: here's to hoping all vendor events flow as amazingly well! I'd certainly come back to this one again just for the variety of bike-related industries mingling throughout the day.

Loading up!

Pre-planning *smile*

Our immediate neighbors were Bolle Eyewear and Presserly. Across the aisle were Denver's version of The Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, a cyclist injury law firm, and ladies performance yoga-wear. Directly behind the booth was an adult big-wheels racetrack. Our wonderful neighbors, proximity to the racetrack, and proximity to the beer garden made for an exciting day filled with fun interactions and the most wonderful conversations!

Learn-to-ride area (separate from the big-wheels race course)

I found it refreshing the amount of interest in Leisurely Pedaling and what we're all about, and the many friendly individuals who also acknowledged the odd presence of "leisure" throughout most bike events these days. A walk-through of the expo is a prime example of how many ways a cyclist can do it stronger/faster/farther/longer/weekend-warrior through nutrition, equipment, varied physical activity, and coaching. For the record, I love a quality cycling challenge as much as the next enthusiast (my cycling history is a few stories for another day), but when do cyclist remember to really smile and enjoy the journey? Aside from the two yoga-focused booths and paint studio, Leisurely Pedaling was the "relaxed cyclist stronghold" on the floor. This fact alone contributed to the majority of smiles, chuckles, and friendly banter throughout the day.

Thank you all who stopped by the Leisurely Pedaling booth and brought additional smiles and inspiration to my day! My helper (Marcia, also my beautiful mother) and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the opportunity to site-see Fort Collins and Northern Colorado by bicycle with us this summer and beyond!

Cheers for now,

Adventure Jes

ready for business!

brochures, T-shirts, and stickers!

Eye-catching, yes?

Our trusty Vintage Cruiser, Courtesy of the Fort Collins Bike Library!

Just a trailer full of T-shirts!

Owner Jes Mallory ready for fun!

Dust off the bikes- it's time to cruise!

Spring is near and my heart sings for joy when I embark on leisurely, exploratory rides around town! The last couple months have been devoted to minor maintenance and repairs on the bikes so that all are ready to roll once the snow melts. Oh no, I'm not talking about the Leisurely Pedaling Cruisers for which we have the Fort Collins Bike Library to thank for their rental agreement and partnership (more on that in a future story)...

Yes, I have several bikes and each serves a unique purpose. The mountain bike got a deep cleaning: sure it'll be coated in trail dust within seconds of its first ride, but a well-oiled machine is much more forgiving as I work out my "early season jitters!" The daily commuter has freshly patched tubes, a new squeak-horn, and a "lick and a promise" for replacing the chain and casettes this summer. the Super-fast road bike is currently having its 10,000 mile once-over maintenance visit: the drive train is getting replaced, wheels trued, and brake pads refinished. I can't wait to head outside the city and enjoy the nearby mountain roads with this baby! Finally, the cruiser is getting a bath and some new accessories. I love the cruiser for its around town handy nature. It's too heavy to steal (easily), and it has a very functional basket to carry all my whimsical necessities. Most importantly, this city is flat enough to get away with the single gear on a casual cruise.

From our home base in Old Town North, I can effortlessly cruise over to O'Dells, Funkwerks, and New Belgium breweries... or venture to Blue Sky Winery... or drop in for some spirits at Copper Muse Distillery. Venturing a bit farther and landing in Old Town affords a variety of shopping, people watching, and live music. I can't think of a more relaxing shopping experience!
Most importantly, adventures like these don't require your standard hard-core cycling apparel (which I have plenty and use frequently). A close second in important details: 2-hour parking only applies to cars! *smile* Bike parking is aplenty, and Fort Collins keeps adding innovative and convenient options for avid bike commuters. In fact... I'll finish these thoughts later: the sun is shining and my cruiser is calling!

Happy Holidays from Adventure Jes!

Bike bells ring- are you listening?

In Old Town FoCo- lights are glistening

A leisurely site!

We're bundled up tight!

Biking in a winter wonderland!

Old Town Fort Collins lights up for the winter!

All smiles at freezing temperatures!

Fortunately for the year-round bicyclists in Northern Colorado, the winters are fairly mild in the snow-dump department. When the flurries do arrive the bike routes and paths are cleared of snow long before the neighborhoods and secondary street routes!

We've been hard at work dialing in the last of the logistics to open up shop first thing in the New Year! The itineraries are set, and the daily site-seeing options are plentiful. Our neighbors, colleagues, and friends eagerly anticipate the moment they can share our unique and unhurried approach to exploring the cities along Colorado's Front Range with distant family and friends. 

With that, we're taking a moment to breath, choose the best publicly advertised name for these sock-rockin' tours, and embrace the winter for what it is before the big launch into welcoming the world into our expert site-seeing care!

May the holidays be treating you and yours festively well throughout the holidays and always!

Cheers for now,

Adventure Jes

Designing the Adventures- Leisurely ;-)

Public Art: Andy Warhol, Soup Can

The proposed itineraries are coming together quite nicely, and we cannot wait to have AdventureJes.com ready to handle all the fun! Mapping out points of interest with the limiting criteria including "comfortably bike-able" and "I personally love this spot, and so does everyone who visits me regardless of age, origin, and inclination to travel!!" You'll find everything to be distinctly Colorado in theme and feeling.

For example, Fort Collins is known for Breweries (they're popping up EVERYWHERE!), Bikes (Platinum Bicycle City anyone?), and an Ample Supply of Restaurants (highest number per capita in the US!). What you might not know is the city also houses the broadcasting of the Nation's Atomic Clock, Colorado's only "Wild and Scenic River" as designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Old Town which became the model for Main Street in Disneyland!

Plotting Fort Collins Attractions!

While Loveland is known as one of few access points to Rocky Mountain National Park (and the town of Estes Park), you might not know that Loveland is one of the Nation's top artist communities and boasts more than 200 pieces of public art and the largest outdoor sculpture gallery in the US. As well, the town is proudly "Sweetheard City USA" and you may recall this fun factoid from having a Valentine re-routed through Loveland to be delivered to your sweetheart with an extra-romantic and charming postage cancellation. Who knew snail-mail could be so fun?! Actually we did, so we're sharing with you! ;-)

As you can imagine, even more fun, unique, and inspiring distinctions are true of the rest of Northern Colorado. We can't wait to share what fun, leisurely, and inspiring stories will come to life for you during your leisurely pedaling adventures with us.

Cheers for now,

Adventure Jes

The Foliage Continues... as Does Adventure Development!

The end of September was "Foliage Prime-Time" in the high country, and this second week of October has been quite the show of reds, oranges, and yellows here in the Fort. Even the sky seems ablaze with autumn mischief!

Looking West at Sunset in Fort Collins, CO

The sky and trees aren't the only lively news coming out of the Fort: both National Geographic and American Express featured stories on our little gem of a city nestled at the base of the Rockies. You can check out what they have to say about the commitment to safe cycling routes and the community's visitor-and-local-friendly culture in the links highlighted above.

In other exciting news, the "Route Research" is continuing to roll out beautifully (puns intended all around), and we'll likely have something to show publicly for all our hard work within the month. Keep an eye on that official website: things are about to shake up!!

Cheers for Now,

Adventure Jes

Let's Get Down to Business, Adventure Jes LLC!

Today the dream has become reality as Adventure Jes takes form in the annals of public records and tax responsibility! I am very excited to bring this business to life and share our adventures in the many seasons to come.

Won't you pedal with me a moment? It will be fun: I promise! What are the details you say? This is an adventure- the details will be along shortly... :-)

Cheers for now,

Jes