2010 DC Tweed Ride Announced!

Join us for the 2010 Tweed Ride! from Eric Channing on Vimeo.

Time to sharpen my mustache.

Seersucker Socialized

The Dandies & Quaintrelles answer to their ever popular DC Tweed Ride was this weekend's Seersucker Social at the Hillwood Estate and Gardens.  As expected it was a smashingly good time in an ideal setting.  There was something surreal about watching DC socialites in their finest seersucker, sipping gin drinks and playing badminton or croquet on the lawn of the Hillwood Estate. I would move that all future D& Q socials be held there. The only thing lacking was the ability to shut down Dupont Circle during the ride.


I was sporting my $11.45 Brook Brothers Seersucker suit which I had converted into shorts to combat the DC humidity. I would like to note that the Clark Gable mustache was not an easy feat and hurt like hell to achieve... but hey, I'm an achiever.


The Sweat Pea was sporting a cute little seersucker dress which was a crowd favorite.


I was delighted that my pants had a watch pocket which allowed me to rock my 95 year old pocket watch thanks to my great uncle Herschel.

Hendrick's Gin was the perfect match as a sponsor as they have a very unique marketing flavor that suits both seersucker and tweed. I was very happy because Hendrick's happens to be my gin of choice.

The Hendrick's custom Pashley was making most onlookers drool.

The Hendrick's custom cucumber something-or-other was making most onlookers drunk.

And then of course were the people:

Keith, (on the left) was responsible for the ample bike parking seen above.

Sadly I didn't have time to take many bike photos but I did snap a shot of a nicely de-decaled LHT. Does anyone know what kind of rack that is? 

A job well done to the folks at Dandies and Quaintrelles for hosting another outstanding event.

Cheers!

UPDATE:
Here is a nice little video from mdmerino95:

Seersucker Score!

I bought my tickets to this weekends Seersucker Social and just scored a Brooks Brothers seersucker suit for $11.45. Thank god for Bethesda thrift stores. This means I am close to being fully prepared.

If you can't tell I'm pretty excited. Such excitement can only be expressed though artwork like the following masterpiece by my buddy Clay Yount.


My money's on the freaky Horse / Narwhal hybrid thing.


UPDATE:
Anyone know anyone who can make me a cycling cap if I provide the material?

Hit me up quick if you do.

Seersucker Silliness

There has been some buzz about The Seersucker Social brewing for a while and I have neglected to blog about it for two reasons: laziness and I couldn't make to the event. I just found out there is a good chance I'll be able to attend so here's the post. I know, I'm selfish.



The good folks at Dandies and Quaintrelles are putting on a Seersucker Social next Saturday at the beautiful Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. I would imagine it'll live up to the hugely successful DC Tweed Ride they put on last November. If I can find the right jacket I'll be there for sure.

Washington, DC Got Tweeded But Good

The first semi-annual Washington, DC Tweed Ride was a great success! Eric and the crew from Dandies and Quaintrelles really pulled it off. Thanks to you and all your volunteers, and kudos on the great piece in The Post this morning! Over 200 people pre-registered, so I imagine there were a lot more who showed up. It certainly seemed that way.

The weather was perfect and the enthusiasm and motivation were palpable. Everyone was amazed at how great the event was and how much they were enjoying themselves. The event started with some wrangling to get signed up and have photos taken but before we knew it the ride was on.

The nice part of the route is that it started in a relatively passive neighborhood on the Hill. This meant that those who were timid about riding on the DC streets started off easy before they hit the downtown traffic. Well played indeed.

There was hound's tooth and wool as far as the eye could see, or for several blocks at least.

A brief rally at the Obama's house before pressing onward.

One of the finer moments of the ride came when the main group reached Dupont Circle. As everyone entered the circle all automotive traffic came to a halt, and for two delightful orbits the epicenter of DC traffic congestion belonged to the velopeds. Also, seeing a penny farthing in the circle was quite satisfying.

Eventually we arrived at Marvin where the gin was flowing, the pipes were smoking, and the bike racks were provided by WABA...

...some needing less tweed than others. (I hope that tweed was lined, for her nipple's sake.)

It's interesting that when compared to a more serious cycling movement like a critical mass ride, a tweed ride seems to gather a great deal more people. Looking at yesterdays event I think the tweed ride might be more effective at creating positive awareness of cycling as transportation without the negative press and connotations that the critical mass gets. Thoughts?

It was the perfect way to spend a 70-degree Sunday in November. And since this was advertised as a semi-annual event the big question is when is the next one?

There are a ton of you who have great photos of the event. Please post a link to the photos in the comments section so we can all enjoy them.

Daniel sent me his flicker set this morning.

Here is a link to the pile of photos on Flickr

A video of the ride is here.

Also, I found a pump along the route, hit me up if you lost yours on the ride.

Have a smashingly good Monday ole' chaps!

Sweet Irony

My definition of irony is when you wait until mid November when it's properly cold to have a tweed ride only to find out it's going to be in the low 70s. I am wearing wool knickers and a tweed jacket for craps sake. It's funny how fitting it is though: perfectly illustrating DC's capricious weather patterns.

Maybe we can all wear old timey one piece bathing suits. See you there!

Washington DC Tweed Ride Route

The DC tweed ride route has been announced over at Dandies and Quaintrelles

View Larger Map

Looks like a jolly good tour!
Don't forget to register.

I Feel The Need, The Need For Tweed!

Huzzah!

A Washington, DC tweed ride emerges! You may remember my post from late September, whining that other cities were having all the fun and DC was in desperate need of tweed. It looks like my whining has payed off. Now I don't think that the ride is a direct result of my post but I'll just pretend it may have helped things along.

Here is the info from Dandies and Quaintrelles

Washington D.C.'s first ever tweed ride is set to begin on November 15, 2009. Our reason is pleasure and style. Our cause is Arts for the Aging, Inc. (AFTA).

Some of you have been waiting for a tweed ride in D.C. Others are confused and uncertain of it's point. We'll let points be made by politicians. Style is our concern. Amusement is our desire. We saw great style and imagined considerable amusement in the images of tweed rides in other major cities. Use your google skills and see what fun has been had in London, Chicago, San Fransisco and Boston.

We'll begin our ride at 11:00 am on 8th and H Street N.E. behind the great bank. There's an appropriately appointed photo studio that has been preparing to capture respectable images of our fashionable participants.

We'll end our ride on 14th and U where Marvin will provide us with nourishment, libations and fine soul. Non riders are welcome to join us in the festivities. If you need any more details on why you should spend a fall Sunday with us in your finest tweeds, you're making too much of a fuss of things.

Leave the fussiness to us and avoid it by appearing on vintage bikes, vintage inspired bikes, fixed geared machines and dapper attire. Leave the fleece, lycra and rugged outer shells at home. This ride is for the dandy!

Don't have a bike, Don't worry! Join us for the afterparty at Marvin. There will be raffles, giveaways, specialty drinks offered by our sponsor Plymouth Gin, and wall to wall dandies dancing to the finest britpop and soul this side of the Atlantic!

Return to this invite frequently for more surprising details.

View the lovely photos below for our inspiration!

So there you are chaps. Save the date and some festive spirit.

Cheers

Monday Product Review: Clubman Mustache Wax

All my talk about tweed rides have got me anticipating the eventual invite to a newly formed DC Tweed Ride. When this happens I will be ready. I recently procured a tube of Clubman's Moustache Wax from the interwebs.

The directions say to use the brush that come with the tube to apply the wax. I found it easier to soften it up between my thumb and index finger and apply it directly to the mustache. Being my first time it took me about 10 minutes of twirling and reapplying to get a good curl. I couldn't tell if it made a difference which direction I curled the hair so I went counter clockwise, I will need to do some research on this. I also used the wax on my mustache when not curling and it made a big difference. It was very well behaved and no wild hairs going every direction. Had this been an actual Tweed Ride I would have shaved my chin to get the full effect.

Now all I need is a monocle and a Hendricks gin and tonic in a flask.

Bottom line: Recommended.
Buy it if you have a flavor savor or are an old Russian woman.
Don't buy it neither of the above apply to you.

Washington DC Needs A Tweed Ride (I Think)

via dustinj

What the hell DC? Where's your tweed? I keep seeing tweed rides advertised in other cities and I am getting a little jealous. I have a Brooks B17 Special on my nekkid LHT and an easily "handlebarred" mustache and no place to showcase the them. If you google Tweed Ride you'll see all these great photos and flyers of retro'd out 'tweedsters' having fun and NONE OF THEM ARE IN DC*. Are SanFran and Portland the only places where such veloshenanigans thrive?

Maybe I'm way off but I think there are a good number of people out there who would give the idea of a Washington DC Tweed Ride the ole' how's yer father. Am I right? Anyone?

*Here is where I stipulate that if there are indeed tweed rides going on in DC and I am just severely out of the loop (highly probable) than I apologize and beg your pardon and invitation to said event.

Have a dashing Tuesday ole' chap

UPDATE:

Here is teh follow up post from the November 15th 2009 DC Tweed Ride.

Washington, DC Got Tweeded, But Good