Cupcake Bike Ride

It’s no secret here at Traveler that we’ll go just about anywhere for a good cupcake. So when our Geotourism Intern Christina Stockamore told us about an actual bike tour with cupcakes built in we immediately demanded she share the details.

Will work for baked goods: Christina, far left, poses with the group.

After purchasing my first road bike a few months ago, I was anxious for the weather to turn a little warmer to join a group bike ride. I noticed that City Bikes, a full-service shop in D.C., offers a weekly 18-mile bike ride called the Cupcake Ramble. The route starts at their shop in Adams Morgan, passes through Rock Creek Park and ends at their other location in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The best part: The ride is led by pastry chef Sol Schott, of the popular D.C. eateries Open City, Tryst, and The Diner.  

So on a recent weekend I decided to try it out, and I met the group at 11 a.m. on Sunday outside City Bikes in Adams Morgan. Sol arrived a few minutes later apologizing for his delay–he had just wrapped up his work in the bakery. I noticed we had a mixture of bikes–road bikes, hybrids, cruisers–and as we got moving, I was grateful that mine had gears.  

We began riding through the back streets of Adams Morgan until we arrived at the entrance to Beach Drive, the portion of Rock Creek Parkway that is closed to traffic on the weekends. About a half hour into the ride, our group faced a decision–either we take the flatter road to Chevy Chase or opt for the hilly, more scenic path. I was happy our group was up for the challenge and we all agreed to take on the hills, as the climb really allowed me to test out all the gears on my new bike.

As we flew down the hills, I breathed in the crisp air and took in the sights of the tree-lined parkway.  A little over an hour later, we arrived at the bike shop in Chevy Chase and gathered around a few picnic tables to catch our breath.  Then Sol reached for his backpack and revealed his freshly baked black currant coffee cake. Ah, sweet reward! After savoring Sol’s delicious treats, we jumped back on our bikes for the ride home. And to think this happens every weekend? I wonder what Sol will bake next…

City Bikes host its free Cupcake Ramble Bike Rides on Saturdays from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.; registration is recommended. If you’re planning on visiting the area and renting a bike, the store can recommend bike rental shops nearby. +1 202 265 1564. 

Photo: Sol Schott