Official Thread for the 50+ 5th Annual Ride
01-08-13, 09:57 PM
#76
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01-08-13, 10:08 PM
#77
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This guy is in, I love Boston. Now all I've got to do is shake this cold that is kicking my beeeeeehind
01-08-13, 11:11 PM
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Jim,
From what you've posted about last year's ride, I am guessing that the ride start will be at Lexington High School again. I am browsing maps and hotels and it would appear that Belmont is midway between Lexington HS and Boston, yes? Does that seem like a reasonable area to look for hotels?
From what you've posted about last year's ride, I am guessing that the ride start will be at Lexington High School again. I am browsing maps and hotels and it would appear that Belmont is midway between Lexington HS and Boston, yes? Does that seem like a reasonable area to look for hotels?
Actually, I'm surprised if there are hotels in Belmont, since it is a ritzy suburb. In fact it is the official voting residence of Mitt Romney, he of the "one percent."
As I recall, there are some hotels along the Rte 128 beltway in Waltham, that are also convenient to Lexington.
01-09-13, 08:44 AM
#80
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01-09-13, 10:24 AM
#81
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Picked up a room at the Aloft hotel in Lexington, about 2 miles from the HS. Used points off my amex card at spg.com, so I'm all set. Even talked the wife into joining me (yippee!) We're in on Friday, out on Sunday.
Thanks Jim from Beantown for working this through, I am seriously looking forward to this.
Thanks Jim from Beantown for working this through, I am seriously looking forward to this.
01-09-13, 12:56 PM
#82
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Jim,
From what you've posted about last year's ride, I am guessing that the ride start will be at Lexington High School again. I am browsing maps and hotels and it would appear that Belmont is midway between Lexington HS and Boston, yes? Does that seem like a reasonable area to look for hotels?
From what you've posted about last year's ride, I am guessing that the ride start will be at Lexington High School again. I am browsing maps and hotels and it would appear that Belmont is midway between Lexington HS and Boston, yes? Does that seem like a reasonable area to look for hotels?
…Actually, I'm surprised if there are hotels in Belmont, since it is a ritzy suburb. In fact it is the official voting residence of Mitt Romney, he of the "one percent."
As I recall, there are some hotels along the Rte 128 beltway in Waltham, that are also convenient to Lexington.
As I recall, there are some hotels along the Rte 128 beltway in Waltham, that are also convenient to Lexington.
As a primer for those driving to Boston, the city streets, though charming and/or interesting, are very confusing, so it might be best to stick to expressways to get from one point to another. There are two major arteries serving the western suburbs including Lexington: the above-mentioned Rte 128 circumferential Beltway, and the Mass Pike (I-90), an east-west toll road that intersects Rte 128 and goes straight into downtown Boston through Newton. So you may want to be near those two freeways to get about. Another interstate is I-93 north of Boston, also with hotels along it.
If you stay at a hotel in one of the Boston’s inner suburbs, they may be served by the Light Rail system known as the (T). There are four major lines, distinguished by colors, that go into the city. Three allow bikes during off-peak hours, including the entire week-end, but not the Green line, which goes west to Newton. There are a lot of hotels in the central city, but they are the most expensive.
Another logistical consideration is parking a car, but we can figure that out later as plans materialize.
See also my post about lodgings in general:
…LODGING:
In general, hotels in Boston proper and vicinity are more expensive than in the Midwest, though the rates decrease farther from downtown. There are some hotels near the starting point of the ride, Lexington, MA. I have perfunctorily searched for campsites, and the few there are are pretty far from Boston and Lexington.
The cheapest alternatives are that perhaps we could provide floor or couch space for a few riders (not more than four), but this is not a promise. A new Boston Youth Hostel has opened in downtown Boston so you might want to check availability (bostonhostel.org). There are several colleges in the area, but I don't know what their policies are about rentals of dorm rooms. There are also fraternities and sororities, which I think allow alums to stay short-term. Finally, perhaps some visitors have friends or relatives in Boston and environs who could accommodate them for a summer weekend.
In general, hotels in Boston proper and vicinity are more expensive than in the Midwest, though the rates decrease farther from downtown. There are some hotels near the starting point of the ride, Lexington, MA. I have perfunctorily searched for campsites, and the few there are are pretty far from Boston and Lexington.
The cheapest alternatives are that perhaps we could provide floor or couch space for a few riders (not more than four), but this is not a promise. A new Boston Youth Hostel has opened in downtown Boston so you might want to check availability (bostonhostel.org). There are several colleges in the area, but I don't know what their policies are about rentals of dorm rooms. There are also fraternities and sororities, which I think allow alums to stay short-term. Finally, perhaps some visitors have friends or relatives in Boston and environs who could accommodate them for a summer weekend.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-09-13 at 02:26 PM.
01-10-13, 09:45 PM
#83
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When I was thinking about riding the Fourth Annual Ride, I made up this check-off list in approximate chronologic order:
It's never too early to arrange accomodations:
* schedule time off from work: four driving days, ride day, 2-3 days to hang out
* train with winter commuting, then intensify in mid March (10 weeks until June 2)
* ask Family permission to go away for one week (they probably would not want to go)
* arrange accommodations
* pre-ride bike check at LBS
* rent car if necessary
* map driving route (~1100 miles)
* pack
* train with winter commuting, then intensify in mid March (10 weeks until June 2)
* ask Family permission to go away for one week (they probably would not want to go)
* arrange accommodations
* pre-ride bike check at LBS
* rent car if necessary
* map driving route (~1100 miles)
* pack
Picked up a room at the Aloft hotel in Lexington, about 2 miles from the HS. Used points off my amex card at spg.com, so I'm all set. Even talked the wife into joining me (yippee!) We're in on Friday, out on Sunday.
Thanks Jim from Beantown for working this through, I am seriously looking forward to this.
Thanks Jim from Beantown for working this through, I am seriously looking forward to this.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-10-13 at 10:00 PM.
01-11-13, 08:59 AM
#84
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I'm booked into a room in Sommerville for the weekend. I'm looking forward to this because I was planning to take a week long loaded tour in Quebec, so this weekend will be a good warm up for me. I'll be in Friday afternoon until Monday morning and am good for whatever. I found a really reasonable room on "Air BNB" for the weekend, these are privately owned rentals, not commercial hotels so you have to select carefully, but the prices and locations are great and the hosts are usually worth knowing by themselves.
Marc
Marc
01-11-13, 03:15 PM
#85
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Wow! A few of those trips seem to be over a thousand miles, I reckon. If I had no a family wedding in Tampa, Fla he weekend before, I might have tried to make the Fourth Annual Ride in Tennessee, about 1100 mils (two day drive), if the family permitted. I guess the Force is stronger in the Fifty Plus Forum than I originally thought. 
So what are the proposed dates/location for 2013?
01-11-13, 03:53 PM
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Got it. July 27.
01-12-13, 07:29 AM
#87
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I'm booked into a room in Sommerville for the weekend. I'm looking forward to this because I was planning to take a week long loaded tour in Quebec, so this weekend will be a good warm up for me. I'll be in Friday afternoon until Monday morning and am good for whatever. I found a really reasonable room on "Air BNB" for the weekend, these are privately owned rentals, not commercial hotels so you have to select carefully, but the prices and locations are great and the hosts are usually worth knowing by themselves.
Marc
Marc
I was glad to read that you use Air BNB. I am planning to ride Assault on Mount Mitchell in May and the wife and I were looking at a room on the same site. I haven't booked it yet, wasn't quite sure how I felt about renting a room from private owners. Would you say this is a rewarding experience? The place we are looking at is in Asheville NC and it looks beautiful, and close to Mt. Mitchell which is a big plus. No problems going this route for you in the past?
01-12-13, 08:21 AM
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I'm booked into a room in Sommerville for the weekend. I'm looking forward to this because I was planning to take a week long loaded tour in Quebec, so this weekend will be a good warm up for me. I'll be in Friday afternoon until Monday morning and am good for whatever. I found a really reasonable room on "Air BNB" for the weekend, these are privately owned rentals, not commercial hotels so you have to select carefully, but the prices and locations are great and the hosts are usually worth knowing by themselves.
Marc
Marc
01-12-13, 10:50 AM
#89
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https://content.usatoday.com/communit...st-city-list/1
It's not a proud distinction for the city known as "The Hub (of the Universe)" and is attributed the large number of college students who live here, but they will be gone for the summer. Nonethless, Boston is a fun- and party-town, especially in the summer.
01-12-13, 11:19 AM
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I wasn't there, but I understand some sort of ultra-light expedition-grade portable martini kit was involved, using only the finest in freeze-dried Mercury astronaut approved alcohol.
01-12-13, 11:21 AM
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01-12-13, 12:29 PM
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I wasn't there [at the Second AnnuaFifty-Plus Ride], but I understand some sort of ultra-light expedition-grade portable martini kit was involved, using only the finest in freeze-dried Mercury astronaut approved alcohol.
That's the story, and I'm sticking to it.
01-12-13, 05:49 PM
#93
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Marc,
I was glad to read that you use Air BNB. I am planning to ride Assault on Mount Mitchell in May and the wife and I were looking at a room on the same site. I haven't booked it yet, wasn't quite sure how I felt about renting a room from private owners. Would you say this is a rewarding experience? The place we are looking at is in Asheville NC and it looks beautiful, and close to Mt. Mitchell which is a big plus. No problems going this route for you in the past?
I was glad to read that you use Air BNB. I am planning to ride Assault on Mount Mitchell in May and the wife and I were looking at a room on the same site. I haven't booked it yet, wasn't quite sure how I felt about renting a room from private owners. Would you say this is a rewarding experience? The place we are looking at is in Asheville NC and it looks beautiful, and close to Mt. Mitchell which is a big plus. No problems going this route for you in the past?
Marc
01-12-13, 08:22 PM
#94
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01-13-13, 06:12 PM
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01-13-13, 07:01 PM
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01-15-13, 05:01 PM
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"... fly like an eagle ..."
03-29-13, 11:49 AM
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We're now at the threshold of April, and I'm curious about what plans exist. I've got several lists of possible bike rides to put in my schedule, and I want to know what's current in 50+ for an Annual Ride.
If the topic has not been moved to Foo ... my final discussion with Marc about the basics of life may have done that.
If the topic has not been moved to Foo ... my final discussion with Marc about the basics of life may have done that.
Last edited by Road Fan; 03-29-13 at 11:56 AM.
03-29-13, 02:57 PM
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July 20 & 21 we're planning a ride near St Louis. July 20 is an out-and-back Katy Trail ride starting in St Charles followed by dinner at a local restaurant. July 21 is a 32 mile ride mostly on the Madison County, Illinois trails. It might be hot but both rides include a lot of shade.
There is no fee for these rides and no services are promised. In other words, we are going to ride a designated route and, if you choose, you are welcome to ride along at your own risk.
There is no fee for these rides and no services are promised. In other words, we are going to ride a designated route and, if you choose, you are welcome to ride along at your own risk.
Last edited by Retro Grouch; 03-30-13 at 09:54 AM.
03-30-13, 09:03 AM
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