‘25: My best year yet. A recap.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I am close to riding 12,000 miles in my nearly 4 years in Michigan. Since winter knocks out no small amount of time I can ride, I’m really thrilled to have gotten to that number.

‘25 was my best year, though, because not only did I hit 4,000 miles (and counting) but I also had so many new experiences. I learned the wonders of bike touring and bike camping. I got my first road bike (it’s Charlie; he’s a real road bike, don’t you say otherwise). When I looked back at my year, I could not believe how many trips I got to take - starting in JANUARY! I rode in several states. Brought my Platy on Amtrak. Tossed my Platy on a ferry. Hugged the necks of RivSisters I’d only ever spoken to online. Met new friends. Made precious memories with my son.

What was the best trip Leah took, you might wonder. 

The one where my college boy and I rode the top of the Mitten (that’s Michigan’s lower peninsula for you out-of-staters). We couldn’t have asked for better scenery and we were mostly on bike trails. (Our first camping trip took us on highways and we were white-knuckling it all the way to Niagara Falls.) I rode along Lake Michigan’s teal waters and white sand beaches with my angel son astride his college Clem beside me and wondered how I got this beautiful life. When we ran out of things to talk about, we rolled along, each with an audiobook playing in our ears, in companionable silence. We met new friends in Traverse city (hi John and Tracy!) and had the time of our lives!

The people made all the difference. People are so important. The ones you meet on the road and in little coffee shops, the ones you ride with, the friends you meet just because you all love bikes…people enrich a bike trip. 

The bikes also make the experience. My bikes are utterly capable and comfortable. What can I not do on a Rivendell? I love how they ride, how they look, the sounds they make as they roll over dirt and pavement. I’ll never get enough of this. 

I made an Instagram video for my year in review, and if you’re curious, you’ll find the details here:  

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQeZ1ATkVIi/?igsh=MTN3eHU1YzZnd2kxZA==

Thanks for reading, and for all the knowledge you shared to get me out there doing the new things this year! I had a ball.

Leah

[Ben Miller]

Leah, you're an absolute BEAST!

Stephanie and I watched you're Insta video together last night and got a kick out of it!

[Julian Westerhout]

Leah, this is a great video!    I generally dislike instagram because I could not for the life of me figure out how to control video (sound, size) on my desktop, but found a Chrome extension that allows it -- and installed it just to watch this video. Well done Leah!   Nice recap of your year-to-date. Really glad you like bike camping. My wife and I hit 4000 miles on our tandems for the year today (2nd year for that distance) -- I have ~ 1500 more on my single bikes -- and hopefully more miles to come this year. Bikes have meant freedom to me since I was about 12, and the joy you express in your videos and posts captures that really well for me. Thanks for sharing your adventure! 

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, IL 

[Leah Peterson]

Ben, I love having Stephanie on my RivSister chat! Is her drop-bar periwinkle Platy working out??? She can take up bike camping and be a dirt bag like meeee!

Julian, I owe you a lot of gratitude and credit for the bike camping part of my year. The reason my kid wanting to go is because he met you and Pam at Philly Bike Expo and discovered that bike camping is A Real Thing. And then you got him started with a tent and other great camping essentials and that was truly our catalyst, and we will never forget it. I spent a mint getting all the stuff, but I didn’t have to ALSO spend a mint getting him his stuff! He went on to take your things all over the US on a weeks-long backpacking trip. And he’s taking them on more trips with his university backpacking club. They are getting use! 

I’m also tickled that you figured out how to watch that video on the dreaded Instagram/desktop setup. I don’t take that compliment lightly! If there was any other way to send it I would have, but that video is huge and this was my only solution.

I really learned a lot from you all on the List this summer. I went on my trips and I DID NOT LACK ONE THING because you had already told me what I’d need. And I had it. All of it. And I did not bring too much stuff, either. It was perfect.

One thing I will put a plug in for here is Modl Infinity Tools. They are straps you use to lash things and they are 1000x better than the John’s Irish straps (disloyal!) and better than Voile. Voile still have their place for super heavy-duty use (like strapping down my rear wheel on my vehicle bike rack) but for everything else, use an Infinity Tool. I am now using them in place of basket nets on my bikes, too.

On Oct 31, 2025, at 7:30 PM, Julian Westerhout <weste...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah, this is a great video!    I generally dislike instagram because I could not for the life of me figure out how to control video (sound, size) on my desktop, but found a Chrome extension that allows it -- and installed it just to watch this video. Well done Leah!   Nice recap of your year-to-date. Really glad you like bike camping. My wife and I hit 4000 miles on our tandems for the year today (2nd year for that distance) -- I have ~ 1500 more on my single bikes -- and hopefully more miles to come this year. Bikes have meant freedom to me since I was about 12, and the joy you express in your videos and posts captures that really well for me. Thanks for sharing your adventure! 

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[Mike Godwin]

So cool, I want a Platy too! Bike camping is the best. You can see things at a slow pace, but you avoid carrying everything on your back. But I do that too. 

Congrats on your annual mileage Leah.

Mike SLO CA

[Leah Peterson]



Mike, I really hope you get a Platy. I just can’t imagine a better bike. Riv found a few in the warehouse and sold them last week. I hope they can find one more for you! I have honestly used mine for everything. It was my club rider for 3 seasons until I got Charlie (that scoundrel!). Charlie is a better choice for club rides, but the Platy was plenty good. 

The Platys really shine as bike campers. No worrying about jumping off the bike to see the sights and hitting your luggage as you swing your leg over a diamond frame’s top tube. My college boy told me that he wondered what it would be like to have that top tube; he thinks frame bags look cool. I told him after riding a Clem L he would hate a diamond frame’s top tube. He grabbed my other son’s Clem H just to see and nearly toppled over. Cannot program his brain to accept that top tube. He went right back to his Clem L and said no more about frame bags. The younger son rode my Platy one day and now doesn’t like his Clem H. I’ll be selling it someday.

In other Platy-related news. Today I’m taking my OG Platy out for coffeeneuring with my carbon-riding pal as she tries to get to 3,000 miles before the snow flies. She has 160ish miles to go and I have told her I’ll ride with her while she strives for her goal. Riding in cold temps in winter gear is not my favorite and I’d much rather ride 25 mile rides this time of year. She planned a 38 mile route for today and I nearly slugged her. But I’m going. 

Go get yourselves a bike camping Platy, my friends! Your ‘26 will be LIT!

L

On Oct 31, 2025, at 10:21 PM, Mike Godwin <spoke...@gmail.com> wrote:

So cool, I want a Platy too! Bike camping is the best. You can see things at a slow pace, but you avoid carrying everything on your back. But I do that too. 

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[Jay]

Nice recap of a great year in 2025!  Those trips with your kid, those are gold (only go up in value!).

Mine was great, because I had Leo (Roadini) the entire year and he's still going strong.  These Riv bikes and their comfort is what makes it the best for me.  I would rather ride a bike as comfortable as this on the same old rides, 50k from my house, than ride an uncomfortable bike and see the world.  For someone who's always had bike fit issues, ongoing 'pains', this IS the ticket.

[Jason Fuller]

Love the recap!  Nothing like your fresh romance with Charlie to make you feel alive, no doubt.  4000 miles takes consistency!  I tend to come in right around that as well, though I'm counting in kilometres - usually crack 6000 km but that's still a little under 4000 miles. Raspberry's transition to camping Platy is both surprising and lovely to see. It makes perfect sense, though. I've said it before, but I'm so glad you're traveling and touring by bike now. It's such a wonderful way to see the world, and the novelty never wears off!  

My 2025 was good, I got out for three multi-night camping trips which exceeds my average of one or two per year.  I have lofty goals for 2026 to double the nights I spend in a tent compared to 2025.  Two of those trips were aboard the drop bar Bombadil, which has been my adventure pal all year.  One was on my Stooge trail bike, excessively robust and capable of steep and technical trails that the Rivs are simply no match for (as I've learned the hard way before..)

I'm currently building a new bike for 2026 adventures, and it's not a Riv I'm afraid, but I think you'd quite enjoy it, Leah. I should send you some sneak peeks and solicit some feedback ... it's a colourful one!  My two Rivs aren't going anywhere, though. Sam will always be my road bike, even if he's a little thicker than the more athletic road bike types, and the Bombadil will always be my forest exploration bike. 

 

[Leah Peterson]



Jay - sounds like you feel about Leo how I feel about Charlie. Comfort and the quickness…it makes for dreamy road bikes, doesn’t it?

Jason - I think I’m going to love your new bike when you get it built (he snuck it in my DMs and it’s gonna be good, y’all!). Color, color, color. You can’t regret color. 

I did another 37.3 mi today in high 30s/low 40s. I’m at 4065 for the year now. 4200 is maybe in reach.  I like Jason’s idea of focusing on camping trips over mileage. You take enough trips, the mileage will come. One of the women in my bike club went with her husband out their front door and rode 350 miles in Michigan on one trip. They credit card tour, but it’s a great way to get your miles AND your adventure, and they rode right out the garage. I kind of want to do her route. Maybe.

On Nov 1, 2025, at 9:02 PM, Jason Fuller <jtf.f...@gmail.com> wrote:

Love the recap!  Nothing like your fresh romance with Charlie to make you feel alive, no doubt.  4000 miles takes consistency!  I tend to come in right around that as well, though I'm counting in kilometres - usually crack 6000 km but that's still a little under 4000 miles. Raspberry's transition to camping Platy is both surprising and lovely to see. It makes perfect sense, though. I've said it before, but I'm so glad you're traveling and touring by bike now. It's such a wonderful way to see the world, and the novelty never wears off!  

My 2025 was good, I got out for three multi-night camping trips which exceeds my average of one or two per year.  I have lofty goals for 2026 to double the nights I spend in a tent compared to 2025.  Two of those trips were aboard the drop bar Bombadil, which has been my adventure pal all year.  One was on my Stooge trail bike, excessively robust and capable of steep and technical trails that the Rivs are simply no match for (as I've learned the hard way before..)

I'm currently building a new bike for 2026 adventures, and it's not a Riv I'm afraid, but I think you'd quite enjoy it, Leah. I should send you some sneak peeks and solicit some feedback ... it's a colourful one!  My two Rivs aren't going anywhere, though. Sam will always be my road bike, even if he's a little thicker than the more athletic road bike types, and the Bombadil will always be my forest exploration bike. 

 

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