5ive Points with Douglas Takeshi Wolfe

Doug Wolfe: cyclist, photographer, purveyor of fine coffee – a man who despite being one of the busiest guys we know, will always make time (mid customer espresso onslaught) to catch up with the interesting goings on at the art and photo galleries. Doug is one of the main men at La Colombe coffee (now with a third Manhattan location at 400 Lafayette Street in NOHO). As far I know, Doug is still the only barista (yes he makes an mean cup too) mentioned specifically by name in the Zagat guide. A dapper man of quick wit and generosity, we are stoked to have Doug participate in our Q&A.

NYC VELO: What bike do you ride?
Douglas Takeshi Wolfe: I ride a Seven (a custom bike builder from Watertown Mass) that wasn’t custom to me but still fits me great.  It needs to get tuned up bigtime though, can I bring it by the shop?

NYCV: What’s your favorite ride?
DTW: My favorite ride is with good friends- it has multiple coffee stops- one hard ass element to make me realize I’m mortal, and good amount of bull shitting, lollygagging, and a little fun-competition thrown in there!  Its even better if I get to see some kind of bird of prey – hawks, eagles, etc. Love big ass birds soaring around while I’m riding.

NYCV: What’s your favorite post-ride food?
DTW: Favorite post ride food is leftover pasta bolognese-  I know it’s not the best recovery food but damm that taste good!

NYCV: What’s one thing you always take on a ride?
DTW: I always take some gels on the ride with me now.  I tried to be an all natural granola-and-banana-eating dude but after multiple extreme bonks I am happy to gulp down multiple hammer gels on the journey back home.

NYCV: What’s next?
DTW: What I’m doing next is diving back into photography, shooting as much as I can in the next 3 months with a good trip to Mexico in the works.
Riding wise, winter is some of the best riding!  No one is on the bridge to f with you, you don’t have people coughing on you on a tightly packed subway car, there is more pain from the elements, but serenity and peace is easier found!