Metro Boston: Good ride today?
09-18-18, 10:01 PM
#7726
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After Florence had blown out to sea in rags and tatters, good riddance to her, I took the Rawland Nordavinden out for a mental health ride on the Minuteman. The skies were amazing, with high cirrus clouds that lit up as the sun set, lovely stuff. I rode back with lights on, which was just as well, since most of the pedestrians and too many of the cyclists were playing at invisibility once the darkness closed in.
The temperature was dropping, and a silvery ground fog veiled Arlington's Great Meadow.
We seem to be back in the season for sunset rides. Night riding's just around the corner.
rod
The temperature was dropping, and a silvery ground fog veiled Arlington's Great Meadow.
We seem to be back in the season for sunset rides. Night riding's just around the corner.
rod
09-19-18, 08:10 PM
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Took the old GT Karakoram out on the Minuteman for a mid-afternoon ride on a cool, gray day.
The most noteworthy feature of the ride was a training run by ~100 high school girls, arranged in groups of 4 running in staggered ranks of 2. The whole group kept a consistent pace with admirable discipline. No pictures of that, more's the pity.
rod
The most noteworthy feature of the ride was a training run by ~100 high school girls, arranged in groups of 4 running in staggered ranks of 2. The whole group kept a consistent pace with admirable discipline. No pictures of that, more's the pity.
rod
09-20-18, 07:44 PM
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09-21-18, 04:42 AM
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Best of all, my telecommuting to Budapest for the week has just ended. So I have "Friday afternoon" off.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 10-05-18 at 08:20 AM.
09-21-18, 07:59 AM
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when I moved from walking at lunch to running & pressed too hard to extend my stride & speed too much I strained my Achilles. read that cycling was actually good for recovery. so started cycling at lunch. not the same situation as you by any means, but what is your prognosis?
09-21-18, 09:08 AM
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I’m in a splint for another 158 hours. (Yes, I have a countdown app.)
Prognosis is excellent, though a long return to 100%. I’ll be back to the boot with big wedge to small wedge, then to shoes with lifts, then to just shoes and then PT all over again. But the whole process is months not weeks.
As far as cycling, yeah, they loved it when I rode to PT before, and are encouraging me to go on the trainer one footed, and want me back on the bike two footed when I feel ready.
-mr. bill
Prognosis is excellent, though a long return to 100%. I’ll be back to the boot with big wedge to small wedge, then to shoes with lifts, then to just shoes and then PT all over again. But the whole process is months not weeks.
As far as cycling, yeah, they loved it when I rode to PT before, and are encouraging me to go on the trainer one footed, and want me back on the bike two footed when I feel ready.
-mr. bill
09-21-18, 09:20 AM
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yikes, hang in there, be a good patient & sounds like you are
09-21-18, 02:09 PM
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Hi all, I've been on my cross bike this week. Monday and Tuesday I rode my 30 mile loop. It no longer is as visually stimulating as July but instead feels just like cycling in the dark. Wednesday morning I was cruising along until I felt the back end bounce a tiny bit, I thought that's kinda funny that usually only means one thing. About a 1/2 mile later it was unmistakable, I figured maybe It'll get to a low pressure and hold just long enough for me to limp the last 3 miles home. I stood over my front wheel and kept coasting until I couldn't. I pulled into a parking lot and swapped in my spare tube with the intention to patch the flat at home and make that my spare. I checked the tire for sharp pointy things inside and out. Shorty after pumping it up enough I heard the unmistakable hiss of another flat. I pulled the tube again and patched it and checked the tire again, found nothing. I remounted and pumped it up again and it held-woo hoo! Thursday I rode another 30. 3 flats in 9 months on those tires.
Last edited by Ghazmh; 09-21-18 at 02:12 PM.
09-21-18, 10:46 PM
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Took the LHT East today.
In addition to the usual stop at the stupa at the Kurukulla Center, I paid my respects to this fine old Detroit artifact parked on Central Ave., Medford ("Don't even THINK of parking here"). They don't make 'em like that anymore.
The Northern Strand Community Trail is, of course, built on railroad right-of-way, and shares that with high-voltage pylons and a high-pressure gas main. The latter is getting some maintenance (what could happen?), and huge wooden mats composed of some serious timbers are being placed on the dirt alongside the trail to prevent the heavy equipment from fracturing the gas pipe (yes, please!). The guys doing the work are courteously directing bikes around the work areas, and the trail isn't (or wasn't) closed. Good luck to 'em.
A blustery wind rose up as the ride progressed, blowing Summer away.
rod
In addition to the usual stop at the stupa at the Kurukulla Center, I paid my respects to this fine old Detroit artifact parked on Central Ave., Medford ("Don't even THINK of parking here"). They don't make 'em like that anymore.
The Northern Strand Community Trail is, of course, built on railroad right-of-way, and shares that with high-voltage pylons and a high-pressure gas main. The latter is getting some maintenance (what could happen?), and huge wooden mats composed of some serious timbers are being placed on the dirt alongside the trail to prevent the heavy equipment from fracturing the gas pipe (yes, please!). The guys doing the work are courteously directing bikes around the work areas, and the trail isn't (or wasn't) closed. Good luck to 'em.
A blustery wind rose up as the ride progressed, blowing Summer away.
rod
09-22-18, 07:08 AM
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can probably fit a whole bike in that trunk w/o removing the front wheel!
09-24-18, 03:18 PM
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For non cycling related reasons I have not ridden since Thursday and am off from work for a few more days. I was more than anxious to get back on the saddle this morning. So much so that I rode twice today. I started with 30 miles in the wee hours of the morning with my cross bike and for the first time this season my 3/4 tights, a thermal long sleeve jersey and my lightly insulated gloves. Around 11:30 I took out the Roubaix for another 44.5. Besides being overcast it was perfect riding weather, turning leaves, pumpkins, and the smell of autumn was a welcomed constant companion.
09-24-18, 07:41 PM
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Rolled out to Depot Park in the late afternoon, long pants and long sleeves in the balmy 50s that seemed like the chilly 50s from lack of recent practice. Encountered mr_bill, out Knee Roving, at Mill Street, and had a nice chat.
rod
rod
09-24-18, 08:15 PM
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Hi Rod! Broke half-a-century “walking” this morning and on track for a metric century this week, even with the coming rain.
No pics out in the world, but cooking on one leg sure makes me pay attention to my mise en place.
-mr. bill
No pics out in the world, but cooking on one leg sure makes me pay attention to my mise en place.
-mr. bill
09-26-18, 02:44 PM
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One advantage to using the "official" entrances/exits off the Minuteman is remembering. At Sunrise one of the original bollards is hiding in plain sight, although in a different color way.
(Hit the metric century "walking" today.)
-mr. bill
(Hit the metric century "walking" today.)
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-26-18 at 04:14 PM.
09-26-18, 10:34 PM
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Took advantage of the bonus Summer weather to take the LHT on a 14-mile ride down the Charles as far as the Museum of Science causeway, then back overland on Cambridge Street to Inman Square, Beacon Street to Porter Square, then up the hill through Davis Square and Teele Square and down the hill on Broadway back to Arlington, and home. Warm and windy day, good day to be rolling.
The homeless encampment under the Route 2 overpass is back, reminding me of what Anatole France said about the rich and poor being equally forbidden to sleep under bridges.
Having painted my own house purple recently, I found myself enjoying Jose's color scheme with renewed enthusiasm.
Clouds scudding, shells sculling.
Go play in, or next to, the freeway.
Who has seen the wind?
The key to happiness: return to the trees.
Fast!
A bride, a groom, a wedding photographer or two... and a howitzer...
The Registry of Deeds, a database made of bricks.
You gotta love East Cambridge.
rod
The homeless encampment under the Route 2 overpass is back, reminding me of what Anatole France said about the rich and poor being equally forbidden to sleep under bridges.
Having painted my own house purple recently, I found myself enjoying Jose's color scheme with renewed enthusiasm.
Clouds scudding, shells sculling.
Go play in, or next to, the freeway.
Who has seen the wind?
The key to happiness: return to the trees.
Fast!
A bride, a groom, a wedding photographer or two... and a howitzer...
The Registry of Deeds, a database made of bricks.
You gotta love East Cambridge.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 09-26-18 at 10:52 PM.
09-27-18, 06:12 AM
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You have to special order the signature product now.
It’s still the place to go for (frozen) turkey outside of holiday season, and one of the few places outside Chinatown to offer chicken feet (phoenix claws) all year, not just during the Chinese New Year.
They take a half-hour to do any custom butchering though, but will offer you change to feed the meter. Feed the meter? I don’t feed meters. Bike parking is available at the crosswalk, but almost always full, so locking to parking meters is the old school way.
-mr. bill
It’s still the place to go for (frozen) turkey outside of holiday season, and one of the few places outside Chinatown to offer chicken feet (phoenix claws) all year, not just during the Chinese New Year.
They take a half-hour to do any custom butchering though, but will offer you change to feed the meter. Feed the meter? I don’t feed meters. Bike parking is available at the crosswalk, but almost always full, so locking to parking meters is the old school way.
-mr. bill
09-27-18, 03:57 PM
#7746
Chuggin' Along
I did a little cross-country ride today from Auburn to Billerica using Strava to plot my route. Just about at the beginning there was a monster of a hill which is near the Auburn Sportsman Club. According to Strava it was a tad over 200 feet, but to this 65 year-old, it seemed like 2000 feet. It was great to break out of my routine area where I normally ride, but I was sure glad to get back in home waters, and especially my usual Dunkin' in West Concord.
I made a new friend.
An old mill going condo. (I think)
I thought this was cool, so I took a picture of it. (It doesn't take a lot to amuse me.)
This barn looks like it's getting a second lease on life.
Unfortunately, Inspector Clouseau was nowhere to be found.
I made a new friend.
An old mill going condo. (I think)
I thought this was cool, so I took a picture of it. (It doesn't take a lot to amuse me.)
This barn looks like it's getting a second lease on life.
Unfortunately, Inspector Clouseau was nowhere to be found.
__________________
Note to self:
If a road has the word "Hill" included in it's name, it might not be a good idea to try it.
Note to self:
If a road has the word "Hill" included in it's name, it might not be a good idea to try it.
09-28-18, 10:46 PM
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In case anyone wants to meet up at Saturday's Minuteman 25th anniversary celebration, I'll try to be in the vicinity of Swan Place at noon.
rod
rod
09-29-18, 03:11 AM
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I had hoped to attend and meet you and some others, but I have a busy day today, mostly southwest of Boston pretty far from Arlington. I look forward to your report.
JfB