For the second year in a row we attended "
Le Cirque du Cyclisme," in
Leesburg, Virginia. "Le Cirque" is a three-day celebration of classic
vintage steel bikes and a showcase for "keepers of the flame," artisans
who are carrying on the tradition of building lugged or fillet-brazed
steel bicycle frames. These contemporary artisans are not only carrying
on a tradition but are also developing new and creative techniques and
designs. Their vision includes a blend of artistry and function.
We departed on Tuesday for our three-day road trip to the east coast,
travelling through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to our first day's
destination, Straits State Park just north of the Mackinac Bridge. The
next day's stopping point was East Harbor State Park in Port Clinton,
Ohio, another 400-mile day. By the time we reached Ohio, the trees were
leafed out and the vibrant greens were so refreshing to see.
We took a stroll
through the park in the early evening and came upon a trumpeter swan
with three cygnets (baby swans).
We arrived in Leesburg by early evening on our third day of travel but
stopped to see the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath trail
on the outskirts of Leesburg at Point of Rocks before heading to our
hotel.
The C&O is a gravel path that parallels the north bank of the
Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland,
Maryland. At Cumberland, one can get on the Great Allegheny Passage rail
trail that goes another 150 miles to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I would
love to do a bicycle touring trip that combines, to the extent possible,
trails like this, paved or gravel, into one long passage across the country.
The Cirque agenda includes getting in some rides as well as workshops,
seminars and, on the third day, an expo and swap meet. Within a mile
from the Cirque headquarters, there is easy access to the 45-mile
Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) rail trail that goes from
Arlington to
Purcellville, VA.
This paved trail is a delightful haven from the
heavily-trafficked roads and is a joy to ride. On Friday afternoon we
rode the 20-mile round-trip to Purcellville from our hotel and had a
delicious dinner at Magnolia at the Mill, a restaurant conveniently
located at the end of and right next to the W&OD trail.
After dinner, we took a short walk to
Velo Classique, the bike shop run by one of the Cirque organizers, Wayne Bingham, that specializes in vintage and classically-styled bicycles, parts and accessories.
The Cirque ended today and tomorrow we head to New Jersey. In the next couple of days I will post photos of some of the bicycles we've seen at the
Cirque but in the meantime you can see photos and interviews of
attendees at Mike's blog:
http://biciak.blogspot.com/
