[Boomer Cycles]

Thanks to these dedicated Freezing 🥶 Saddlers who braved perhaps the last cold night of BAFS2025 to appreciate public art!

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My final and perhaps favorite because it was hiding in plain sight “bike art” on the staircase leading up from Gypsy Sally’s on the CCT up to the C&O canal towpath just below Francis Scott Key park and bridge over the Potomac River, Washington DC

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My bike leaning against the 245-foot mural at the entrance to the Mount Vernon Trail from the (recently revamped in 2024) Crystal City Water Park, which highlights the area’s connectivity, according to the artist J.D. Deardourff.

“The shapes of the map flow with the curvy shape of the wall, with a shifting gradient of greens and blues to illustrate the Mount Vernon Trail as a connection between an urban environment, land and the Potomac River.”

Deardourff drew inspiration from a vintage map of the area, emulating the neighborhood’s topographical features in 1910 to convey its transformation.

“With a wall like this,” Deardourff said, “you want the design to be simple enough to pop if you’re speeding by on a bike, but have enough detail to reward close inspection and multiple viewings.”

I find that it “pops” most when the late afternoon, low angle sun light hits the wall just before sunsets behind the buildings across the street.

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Kermit w/ “Del Ray Play” at Simpson Park Playground in Alexandria VA (next to the YMCA).
Commissioned by the City of Alexandria, May + Watkins created three wonderfully unique pieces for the playground at Simpson Park in Del Ray. The larger climbing structure includes steps and a ramp for a birds eye view of the park (in above pic w/ Kermit). Underneath is a tunnel for children to crawl through. There are also two free-standing mosaic pods are also climbable and complement the playgrounds overall theme of explorative play. May + Watkins also deigned the art-deco inspired gate at the new entry to the playground.

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“Rustic Love Hearts & Homes” mural by local artist Teresa L.C. Ahmad at Greenheart Vienna, just off the W&OD trail & Church Street NE, Vienna (opposite the caboose which captures your attention and makes you look the other way;)

The Rustic Love Hearts and Home mural is an extension of the genuine concern and generosity expressed by the local community during and proceeding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The idea for the nonprofit came from eight children who sought to “spread love” in the Vienna community by selling wooden signs with painted hearts to benefit the Vienna VA FoodiesFacebook group, which began organizing support for local restaurants, frontline workers and families experiencing food insecurity.

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My bike leaning against a butterfly at Art Space in Herndon VA alongside the W&OD trail, west of the Green Lizard

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3-14-25 PIECE

Kermit went to the Post Office and posted a PIECE of mail.

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Kermit next to a Jeep Wrangler of his same ilk, with a daisy flower on its tire cover, near the Alexandria YMCA

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03/13/25 – I had to CHASE down my BAFS2024 #publicartfinder & #socks pointless prizes which I finally caught on today’s LOCO gravel ride with the Babes on Bikes (shout out to courier extraordinaire @karenbikes2 !:-)

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my bike leaning against a mural in the outdoor garden center of  Willow’s Vintage Charm Antique Store, Lovettsville VA

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Kermit at ease while #errandonneuring, next to a South Mountain Creamery truck with a mural depicting their farm, making a delivery in the wilds of Old Town Alexandria VA

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My bike leaning against an artsy sign at the Piedmont Child Care Center in Upperville VA

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My bike leaning against the 2nd installment (2 of 7) of “Connections” by Barbara Bernstein at Crystal Drive & 19th in Crystal City, Arlington VA. See background on this art series  here https://www.bikearlingtonforum.com/forums/topic/pointless-prize-public-art-finder/page/23/#post-1137677

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I’ve flown about a dozen times with bicycles across the country, the Atlantic & the Pacific. I own two different soft side cases (EVOC and SCICON), sold a third (Thule Transition) hard case after 2 trips (took up too much storage space when not in use), borrowed hard side clam shells from WABA & the Reston Bike Club, used freebie one-way manufacturer bike boxes from stores that were happy to give them away, and a very thin skinned nylon bike bag that I bought used in a pinch and had to scavenge cardboard out of a dumpster to safely get my carbon frame bike back to DC from Morocco (long story). I’ve spent between several hundreds of dollars and nothing for them and they have all done the job, but definitely have their respective pros & cons. Regardless, the key is (1) how you  pack/protect the bike, and (2) if you have storage available for the case/box at your destination… assuming that you will arrive and depart from the same airport. Expect TSA and/or border customs agents to open up your case/bag and have no idea how to repack your bike properly. My bags/cases have been damaged / wrongly reassembled in transit, but never my bicycles (hint: it’s how you protect the bike that matters most). Feel free to DM me for any questions: boomermx5 at gmail dot com

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My bike leaning against storm waves in a Georgetown alley near Q and 35th Street NWDC (near Georgetown University).

Based on the Great Wave of Kanagawa by Hokusai, this mural by J. McConnell is one of DC’s most instagrammed places.

According to Wikipedia, the Great Wave off Kanagawa has been described as “possibly the most reproduced image in the history of all art”, as well as being a contender for the “most famous artwork in Japanese history”.

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