What is #coffeeoutside?
As summarized by the good folks at ridewithgps.com, #coffeeoutside is “a loosely defined social phenomenon whereby cycling enthusiasts meet at a specified time and location to hand-make coffee, enjoy snacks, and meet with friends, outside, oftentimes despite the weather.”
#coffeeoutside gatherings have been taking place all over the world for over a decade. While some of us in the Frederick area have been stopping mid-ride to hang out and brew coffee for just as long, Frederick never hosted an official regular #coffeeoutside ride…
Until now.
Who’s it for? Anyone and everyone who likes starting their morning outdoors with a bicycle ride, some delicious drinks, and good company and conversation.
What do I bring? All you’ll need is your bike, water, and a mug or insulated cup to drink from. If you prefer, you can bring a beverage you made at home or picked up on the way. If you’ve got an outdoor-friendly setup for brewing coffee*, pack it with you and get in on the fun. This might include:
- Coffee beans, which you can grind at home or bring whole
- A hand grinder to grind whole beans if you’ve got ‘em
- A coffee maker, like:
- An Aeropress®
- A non-breakable pourover setup
- A stovetop espresso maker (or Moka pot)
- A camping French press
- A percolator
- An Aeropress®
- A camp stove to boil water, along with fuel and something to light your fire
- A pot to boil water in, unless you use a stovetop espresso maker or percolator, which can go right onto your stove
*If you’re not into coffee, bring tea/cocoa/cider/lemonade… whatever shakes your maraca.
Don’t forget to bring a camera—phone or standalone—to capture some photos and share them on social media with the hashtags #coffeeoutside and #coffeeoutsideFDK (naturally).
When and where is this happening? We meet the second Wednesday and the last Wednesday of every month from around 7:30 a.m. until around 8:30 a.m. Our destination is posted by 8 p.m. the night before each ride on this site, in the Frederick County Cyclists Facebook group (membership required), and on Instagram @coffeeoutside.FDK and @gravelandgrind.
For those wanting to ride together to the destination, a group departs at roughly 7 a.m. from Gravel & Grind.
What about the weather? Our #coffeeoutside gatherings are generally fair-weather experiences (except for snow, because snow riding is objectively awesome). If there is active precipitation by 7 a.m. the morning of the event, it may be cancelled. Check Instagram for any last-minute posted announcements, just in case.
What bike do I ride to get there? Ride the bike you’ve got! #coffeeoutside rides are intentionally shorter in distance—depending on your starting point—and casually paced, so any bike should work. As some routes have mild off-road/trail segments, tires at least 28–32mm wide with some tread are recommended.
Make sure your bike is properly tuned up before you set out and that you can safely transport whatever coffee-making gear you want to bring with you. Front or rear racks, bike bags (handlebar, saddle, frame, panniers, etc.), and baskets are all useful in this regard.
Where do I learn more? Check out the links and videos below for some background information and a better sense of what to expect: