Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park

On August 20, 2008, I crashed on a group road ride in New Jersey. That crash gave me my first collarbone fracture, but I didn't know it yet as I rode back across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania to face the disapproval of my family. There was no such drama today: I returned to New Jersey for the first time since that bad day 18 years ago, and the experience was outstanding. I spent more than two hours exploring the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park from Lambertville to the trail's northern terminus outside of Frenchtown and back, a 36-mile trip.

The Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park runs for 70 miles, so the 18 unique miles I saw today were perhaps only an introduction to a bigger adventure in the future. I already want to see this trail again, but not until next year at the earliest. Tomorrow will be my last full day on this East Coast trip. I expect to be back in West Bend late Thursday night.

Why X-LAB? Why Not X-LAB?

What differentiates your favorite bicycle brand from all others? Is it 50 years of American design innovations, 100 years of Italian cycling heritage, a commitment to sustainable manufacturing processes? Chances are, it’s decals. Take any carbon frame–they’re all basically the same–attach some Shimano or SRAM parts, then slap on a decal that says “TREK” or “Specialized” or “Colnago” or whatever. Almost all of this stuff is coming out of just a few factories in China and Taiwan. The industry’s not-so-very-well-kept secret is that bikes are bikes and brands are created by marketing teams, not by engineers, and certainly not by craftsmen.

You probably know that. So, why do you continue to pay a premium for a bike that wins Best in Show at the start of the group ride but performs no better–and perhaps even worse–than bikes with far less sex appeal? And could you be persuaded to give up the brand to which you’ve attached your identity if there were an alternative offering such insane value that staying the course felt almost irresponsible?

X-LAB is a recent entry in the American market with the potential to redefine the expectations of the enthusiast/racer crowd. The Chinese brand is making people ask, for the first time, “Why wouldn’t I want a carbon frame road bike with carbon wheels and a power meter for $2,099?” Even with Di2 electronic shifting, you’re still coming in at $2,899.

If you’re wondering how this is possible, then check out the Emery’s event next Saturday in Menomonee Falls. I’m kind of curious myself. Maybe I’ll hurry back from Pennsylvania just for this!

Autumn 2026 In Pennsylvania

Today's roll through New Britain and Doylestown Township.

I arrived in Pennsylvania one week ago today for a stay of at least two weeks. Like all of my recent trips, this one isn’t really a vacation. Not yet, anyway. Tonight’s shift will be the last of five straight solo shifts from my temporary office in Mom’s kitchen. Thursday and Friday will be my regular nights off–my coworker will be back from his vacation–then I will work solo again on Saturday and Sunday. I will be off next Monday through Friday. The current local forecast suggests many opportunities to get on the bike.

Will I stay in Pennsylvania for a third week or return to Wisconsin before October 24? That depends mostly on the weather. If the weather is appreciably better here than in Wisconsin, then I will stay here. Otherwise, I might as well go home, fire up the furnace, and commit to six months of cold, dark, and wet.

As planned, I rode a section of the Great Allegheny Passage near Pittsburgh last Thursday. That same ride included a side trip around West Newton, my childhood home. I arrived at Mom’s house last Friday afternoon and had time for only a short ride that day. Rides on Saturday and Monday got me to 100 miles on this trip. Sunday was lost to an all-day rain. Tuesday was lost to an inexplicable bout of digestive distress. I can’t tell you how rare that is for me, but something was wrong with my gut. Things were back to normal today, so I cranked out 32 miles in sunny, 81° splendor to bring this year’s outdoor mileage total to 3,249. That beats last year (3,246), and it’s always good to beat last year.

Back On The Framed

With only a few days remaining before my next trip to Pennsylvania, today I climbed aboard my Framed Gravier for the first time since August 21, 2025. It’s still a very good bike, but I thought it had become obsolete when I purchased the even better Scott Addict. Prior to today’s ride, the Scott was the only bike I had ridden outside this year. (My mountain biking plans are still on hold.) Unfortunately, on the Scott’s last ride, a rear shifter issue surfaced and I don’t have time to get it fixed before I leave town. So, the Framed is back in service as the “go anywhere, do anything” bike. It’s capable enough on the road–most of my miles in PA will be paved–and it’s more than capable on gravel. I hope to return to a gravel section of the Great Allegheny Passage near Pittsburgh next Thursday afternoon, and there may be some additional gravel miles after I reach eastern Pennsylvania next Friday.