BAFS2025 Team 18

[G-Daddy]

Hey Gang,

Ken Gordon here, a.k.a. G-Daddy. I’m a would-be high mileage guy who keeps getting waylaid by injuries [audio NSFW], business travel, and the occasional head cold or saddle sore.

Trying to gear up for race season, and riding outdoors is great to keep up that bike handling. Last summer (Aug 2024) I completed a Detroit-to-DC ride in 5 days, which was vindication for the same attempted ride July 2023 which ended at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border with two fractured ribs.

I live south of Reston and work from home. Trying to get these miles in has been killing me with the W&OD and Fairfax County Parkway trails out of commission. 1-2 hour rides through the subdivisions and cul-de-sacs are just a nonstarter, but I’ve been doing them anyway and counting the days until a reasonable thaw.

I’m a family guy first and foremost. Our two daughters are grown and out of the house, and my wife is a football FANATIC so these days I’m a football widower spending most of my time on the bikes or fixing them.

I’m currently planning a coast-to-coast solo ride, likely in 2026. A big part of the planning process is route design—I like wide shoulders, low speed limits, and lots of room to escape right of the shoulder if needed. 3 out of 3 is a dream segment, 2 out of 3 is preferred, and at least 1 out of 3 is a must. It takes time to scope out the route mile-by-mile on Google Street View. I’ve been planning my path since August—so far I’m 60 miles east of Memphis. Across the Mississippi and almost home!

Can wait to meet my teammates at a team group ride or (W&OD permitting) happy hour that we can reasonably get to. Introduce yourselves here or on Strava. And to the Secret Group Member #13 in our Strava Group, I will find you! I have a particular set of skills…

[Suzanne]

I’m so glad to get moving with team play! Ken – one of the guys from PWCC rode across the country solo a few years ago after retirement and I can hook you up if you need some sage advice.

I had to take most of last year off from cycling bc I worked a TON for office of elections running early voting, training, etc. now I’m back and signing up for the long supported rides and working to get back in shape.

I’m a retired CE and worked in land development my whole career. I bike for exercise but I love biking to coffee, food, and sightseeing. I’m a Mont Co native and went to college in DC so I consider it home. Want to go visit somewhere? I’m in!

First supported ride – Ocean to Bay in Bethany – my favorite! We’ll have cyclists at every speed and distance. Let’s ride!

[benlindorf]

Hey Team!  Second time doing Freezing Saddles for me, and I share Ken’s frustration with the W&OD being out of commission right now!

I have lived in the Oakton, VA area for the past 24 years, and my wife and I have four children – with only one still at home.  I am an attorney with a local non-profit, and have been an off-and-on bike commuter to DC or Alexandria since graduating from law school.  In January 2021, I made the decision to completely stop driving to work, which quickly expanded to using my bike as much as possible for errands, social visits, and “collecting” heat map segments on Strava!  I alternate between e-bikes and analog bikes, and generally only “wimp out” when it comes to ice – after a few bad falls, I HATE riding on ice!

I am also a coach with NICA (the national racing league for for youth cross-country mountain biking), so I need to maintain some semblance of biking shape in preparation for practices to start back up in March!  My favorite recreational riding activity is bikepacking, and after doing the C&O and GAP several times, I am looking forward to finding some new trails (and people to ride them with me)!  I’m typically not available for group rides on Sunday, so I’m hoping we can find a way to get together on other days of the week as well.  My winter availability is also compromised by my youngest daughter’s penchant for skiing as much as possible, so I’ll be juggling that as well.

Looking forward to another great Freezing Saddles season!

[jinomas]

Hi, Team.

This is the third time that I have done freezing saddles.  The first time, my goal was to get on the bike everyday.  Last year my goal was to bike ten miles everyday.  I met both of these goals.  My goal this year is to try keep biking even after this competition is over.  “Springing Saddles” or “Blazing Saddles” anyone?

I have been in the area since 2012 excepting one year I spent in Nepal.  I also used a bike to get around during law school and when I lived in DC proper.  Sadly, I work from home now and live in a suburban bike desert.  When I need that sense of purpose again, I tend to bike errands rather than simply ride in circles.  Or I go dodge squirrels with Red or GA!

I have also served as an election officer for the last few years.  Luckily I have worked at polling locations that were all within biking distance, including a few times where Cap. Red votes.

I’m not sure whether it is possible to bike on ice, but I have never tried studded tires .  I have been tempted to use zip ties, but haven’t.  Luckily I am close enough to George Mason that I haven’t had to rely on either.  The University keeps its roads clear and salty.

[celestesollod]

Celeste Sollod here! I live in Baltimore with my husband and three kids (one away at college most of the time), so you might see some new sights and trails in my posts. This is my second year doing Freezing Saddles.

[Mike R]

Hello Team 18 – I am a FS newbie, hoping to find motivation to ride in winter conditions. So far, so good.  I missed 3 days earlier this month due to travel and family commitment, but back at it every day since then.  Like others, had injuries derail my riding last year so I’m grateful to be able to ride now but won’t be a hyper-miler. My bicycling history includes bike messenger work in Manhattan during my teen years, bike-packing in the Rockies and NorthEast, circumnavigating South Korea by bicycle, and a cross-USA ride (Southern route, San Diego to St Augustine  – happy to talk, Ken).  I’ve ridden the GAP once and loved it – would do it again. I’m a part-time adjunct at GMU and otherwise keep busy pursuing new interests and with volunteer work, including helping out at Phoenix Bikes in Arlington.

I am interested in how you all keep your toes warm – that’s been my greatest challenge so far.

Go Team 18!

[jinomas]

As for cold toes, I haven’t had any issues since I found some Fizik Articas on clearance.  I was already using wool socks.  Toe warmers?

[benlindorf]

Same – I struggled with cold toes using wool socks, toe covers, shoe covers, etc. until I bought a pair of Bontrager OMW winter biking boots on off-season clearance at my LBS (The Bike Lane in Reston) 2 seasons ago.  They are a bear to put on and take off (keep hoping they will soften over time and use), and the fit is so on-the-nose that I can’t wear thick socks with them, but they keep my feet toasty in any temperature.

You didn’t ask about hands/fingers but I can’t sing the praises of Bar Mitts enough.  They admittedly look stupid, but they are a game changer for me in keeping my winter rides comfortable.  I spent years riding with bulky ski gloves and hated sacrificing control for warmth.  No more!  I can ride temps in the teens with thin cycling/winter gloves and still be comfortable.

[karenbikes2@gmail.com]

Hi all, Karen Hass here, for my 6th year of BAFS. Happy to be a part of this awesome team – thanks Red for being our captain! I’m looking forward to meeting everyone on a group ride one of these days.

I’m a cold weather person (grew up skiing in New England) so BAFS is right up my ally. I love the strategic aspect, planning my daily ride around the weather (riding at midnight to beat a snowstorm, anyone?) and the other parts of my life — family, planning bike tours for a club I belong to, hiking, working PT at REI Tysons, and cooking delicious plant-based meals. I’ve also been an election official since 2015.

Ken, if you haven’t already, check out Adventure Cycling for maps and info on various x-country routes.I rode x-country in 2021 on a variation of their northern tier route. It was a supported trip, not bike packing, but happy to talk with you about my experience.

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