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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Old 09-29-18, 07:04 AM
  #7751  
rholland1951
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Originally Posted by Town of Arlington

Today is Minuteman Bikeway Day
Date: 09/24/2018 3:21 PMSept. 29 Minuteman Bikeway Day
Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford host events 11AM-3PM

The bikeway was completed and dedicated by the three towns during 1992-93, and its success has inspired countless rail-trail and pathway projects in New England and beyond. Community receptions will be held simultaneously from 11:00am–3:00pm along the Minuteman Bikeway in all three towns. Arlington’s Minuteman Bikeway Day celebrations will include a community reception at Whittemore Park in Arlington Center with live music, local food vendors, beer garden, and additional bicycle racks. Along the bikeway, live music performances will be staged along the path, where you can view "Bikeway Haiku" from Arlington to Bedford.
Read about the Arlington events.
Read about all events.
Check out the music schedule.

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Old 09-29-18, 07:51 AM
  #7752  
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What a gorgeous day would def ride over there today but I’m in Vermont visiting Daughter looking at a cycling Canada brochure over coffee
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Old 09-29-18, 01:56 PM
  #7753  
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Solitude's my friend
Gray black pavement and green leaves
Haikus burst bubbles

And the thought that other riders and 'destrians have one more distraction is frightening.

We did 43.1 miles on the randem today. ( Hi, Rod!) Saw probly half a dozen bands, all but one playing. Pretty cool. Traffic was nuts however.
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Old 09-29-18, 03:49 PM
  #7754  
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Yesterday morning I believed the Accuweather iPhone forecast that there was a 50% chance of rain at 8:00 am. I figured since its only 5:00 am I should be fine to leave the fender and rain gear at home. I was wrong, it began raining and with no fender my backside was a soaking wet road grime mess. Today was much nicer, I delivered my Roubaix to its new owner which brings me one step closer to my Seven. Afterwards I brought the Smoothie to the CCRT for a 64 mile ride.
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Old 09-29-18, 10:01 PM
  #7755  
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I was all set to join the fun along the MM today, then had a work emergency and ended up in the office most of the day. No ride

But at least the computers are happy.
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Old 09-30-18, 07:47 AM
  #7756  
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Spent the middle part of Saturday riding around in the midst of the Minuteman Day festivities. Had a chat with mr_bill at the little park at Swan Place, and hailed Jim and Sharon up towards the Heights as Jim piloted the tandem through the traffic like an aircraft carrier surrounded by sampans (Hi Jim! Hi Sharon!).


Rode the Minuteman from end to end, from the hobo jungle and bark park up to Depot Park. Lots of live music, most memorably (for me) the brass band at Spy Pond belting out a loose-jointed version of "Miserlou". Cheerful throngs on the path, about as well-behaved as throngs ever are.


















The haikus whipped by, mostly unread except in fragments. However, if one adheres to the definition of poetry as "memorable speech", this line makes the cut:

The bunnies may clobber us

rod

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Old 09-30-18, 08:00 AM
  #7757  
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Haha nice!
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Old 09-30-18, 08:53 AM
  #7758  
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Yesterday was a lovely day along the Minuteman. I rode from Andover to Arlington with an old friend and his wife met us at my place in the Heights for beers, then rode down to the Aeronaut beer garden for more refreshment and some Sabra steak tips and empanadas.

Before rolling back to my place we listened to some poetry at Uncle Sam Place. Charles Coe of the haiku selection committee was reading his own poetry when we stopped by (with organizer/curator Cecily Miller left of the stage).


Installation of some of the 110 selected haikus was delayed this week by the rains, including the following that I conjured during a summer commute on the trail:

Pedaling so fast!
Lightly a leaf blows past me
Clouds move quicker still
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Old 09-30-18, 01:52 PM
  #7759  
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The MM celebration looks like it was a fun time. My day as a cyclist began with my 520 and my Nomad trailer and a local grocery store, 1.5 miles. After that me and my 520 ride to Wilsons in Lexington to fill the panniers and handlebar basket adding 13.4 more miles. Lastly I took my Boone 7 cross bike out for 52 more Sunday gorgeous miles. 38mm tires and canti brakes (which I locked up while a motorist took a right with no signal right in front of me) yet it's still as fast as the Roubaix was on the road.
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Old 09-30-18, 06:41 PM
  #7760  
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Yesterday was nice but so was today, though a bit cooler. My sweetie shoved me out the door with a bike this morning so I rode the Masi 54.75 miles. The target destination was the Assabet River Rail Trail. Waltham to South Acton, the ARRT down to its southern end at the Wildlife Sanctuary in Maynard, 2 more miles on dirt to (surprise!) an airfield with some sort of fly-in happening. After that the road got muddy so I turned around. Well, I was riding on 23mm sew-ups. It was a great day up until the little collision I had on the MM. This little stinging thing and I had a run-in. I'm sure he came out worse but only after he stung my face, seemingly a few times, right below my right lower eyelid. Um, it still hurts but fortunately I'm not allergic to much (as long as it isn't seafood related).



Spotted this unusual sign in Acton on the return
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Old 09-30-18, 07:17 PM
  #7761  
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My first stop is always at Fern's in Carlisle. From there, I always decide (roughly) which way I want to head. Today I decided to go up Westford Rd. and take on the hills there. I was pleasantly surprised to see new pavement for much of that road. It's a lot safer on the downhills now! From there, I went to Pedal Power in Acton, and ordered a Garmin 520 plus. I then backtracked a little and got onto 27 toward Maynard where I promptly got a flat. Meandered along until I got to DD in West Concord, and ran into the Bambino along the way.
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Old 10-01-18, 04:58 PM
  #7762  
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I took my cross bike out for a shortish 22 mile spin early morning spin. After many miles over the weekend my legs weren't spinning fast enough to get 25 or more. Almost my entire ride was in the dark.
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Old 10-03-18, 11:12 PM
  #7763  
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A post on another list suggested that Bikes Not Bombs had a Rivendell Rambouillet among their collection of refurbished bicycles offered for sale, so I drove over to Jamaica Plain to check it out. Sure enough, the bike was there, at a price I considered reasonable, and I bought it.


I threw the bike on the rack and drove home, then raised the seat and took it for a shakedown cruise on the Minuteman. I began to get a sense of its characteristic handling, and assigned myself a little series of wrenching chores, starting with swapping in a new set of pedals.


While I was mostly focused on the bike, I did notice a tree spirit hanging out in the little park at Bow Street, Lexington, perhaps supervising the arrival of Fall foliage colors.


Hurrah for novelty!


rod
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Old 10-04-18, 07:23 AM
  #7764  
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nice color frame for Fall! & all fendered up right off the bat, gotta love that!
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Old 10-04-18, 07:11 PM
  #7765  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
A post on another list suggested that Bikes Not Bombs had a Rivendell Rambouillet among their collection of refurbished bicycles offered for sale, so I drove over to Jamaica Plain to check it out. Sure enough, the bike was there, at a price I considered reasonable, and I bought it.


I threw the bike on the rack and drove home, then raised the seat and took it for a shakedown cruise on the Minuteman. I began to get a sense of its characteristic handling, and assigned myself a little series of wrenching chores, starting with swapping in a new set of pedals.


While I was mostly focused on the bike, I did notice a tree spirit hanging out in the little park at Bow Street, Lexington, perhaps supervising the arrival of Fall foliage colors.


Hurrah for novelty!


rod
Really sweet find.
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Old 10-05-18, 09:13 AM
  #7766  
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So, the Baikus on the Minuteman are particularly wonderful at night.

At my "walking" speed my "be seen" bicycle light illuminates just far enough in front of me so I can safely navigate at human speeds.

It also illuminates just one line at a time, so they emerge out of the darkness.

I can't help but say the Baikus out loud as I "walk" past each line.

Long pause.
Five syllables.
Pause.
Seven syllables.
Pause.
Five syllables.
Long pause.

A beautiful rhythm.




Yesterday I hit the century on my way back from my appointment at BIDMC to finally remove the stitches. Yeah!

"Walked" back to Harvard Square again. The "walk" to the BU bridge on wheels is unpleasant, and wanted to hit the Paul Dudley White bike path anyway.

I was certain that the Bay State Road footbridge is inaccessible, but couldn't remember if the Silber Way was too, so walked to the Harvard Bridge.

But this also allowed me to visit Open House on the Commonwealth Mall just west of Charlesgate West.

Inspired by the Baikus:

Gray chairs beckoning
on an overcast gray day.
Uncomfortable.




And love the new signs on the Esplanade, though I can't ever recall seeing three person sculls in real life.


-mr. bill

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Old 10-05-18, 10:02 AM
  #7767  
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This morning I rode 30 miles on my cross bike almost completely in the dark except for the final 5 mile leg of my route. Today for the first time this week I was ever so aware that it's autumn. There were more leaving blanketing the ground and the scenery is getting more and more colorful! Seeing other cyclists out when I am is getting less and less, I occasionally cross paths with another bike and rider shaped silhouette behind a headlight which is a far cry from seeing the Lycra clad masses I would see in July.
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Old 10-05-18, 10:27 PM
  #7768  
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Took the LHT out and rode East.


Serious gas pipeline work continues on the Northern Strand Trail, but the trail remains open.

rod
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Old 10-06-18, 09:48 PM
  #7769  
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Spent a little more tinkering time with the new-to-me Rambouillet, fitting it out with lights, a saddlebag, a bottle cage, a pump, and the traditional very loud bell. Thus equipped, it seemed road worthy, so I took it out for 18 miles of somewhat aimless peregrinations through Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington, stopping to visit Tyler Oulton, master mechanic emeritus and the guiding spirit behind the late, lamented Paramount Bicycle Repair. He gave the orange bike his blessing. I rode back by way of the Fitchburg Cut-off Trail and the Minuteman; at some point, night fell, and the lights showed their mettle; I had the darkened trail mostly to myself, and made good time. The bike handles very well indeed, a rare mix of stability and agility... and it likes to go faster... The new platform pedals (MKS Allways) are a win, natural-feeling and with an adequate deck for the foot to apply power comfortably.








The Colour Out of Space.












rod
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Old 10-07-18, 04:35 AM
  #7770  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951


priceless
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Old 10-07-18, 12:33 PM
  #7771  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
priceless
Feel empowered... I guess
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Old 10-07-18, 03:56 PM
  #7772  
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Originally Posted by E53
Feel empowered... I guess
The back story is that some years ago, the folks on Oliver Street, Belmont, petitioned for signage to prevent the street from being used as a cut-through route between Lake Street and Brighton Street. The vehicular traffic during rush hours was awful, and this fixed it. But some wise people figured bicycles weren't the problem, and so bicycles were excluded from the prohibition. Civilized traffic management.

rod
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Old 10-07-18, 05:01 PM
  #7773  
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All in all I racked up 86 miles between grocery shopping via bike, riding to RSC in Lexington to test ride a full ti Seven and then riding a whole bunch more miles afterwards. The weather and scenery was everything a Sunday ride should be.
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Old 10-07-18, 08:03 PM
  #7774  
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Originally Posted by Ghazmh
All in all I racked up 86 miles between grocery shopping via bike, riding to RSC in Lexington to test ride a full ti Seven and then riding a whole bunch more miles afterwards. The weather and scenery was everything a Sunday ride should be.
How was the Seven?

rod
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Old 10-08-18, 04:16 AM
  #7775  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
priceless
Originally Posted by E53
Feel empowered... I guess
Originally Posted by rholland1951
The back story is that some years ago, the folks on Oliver Street, Belmont, petitioned for signage to prevent the street from being used as a cut-through route between Lake Street and Brighton Street. The vehicular traffic during rush hours was awful, and this fixed it.

But some wise people figured bicycles weren't the problem, and so bicycles were excluded from the prohibition. Civilized traffic management.

rod
FYA, I saw this similar bicycle exceptionalism in Toronto:



Originally Posted by cooker
Here's another look at Shaw St. in Toronto, not far from the spot shown by Jim from Boston. That's why the sign in his pic says "bicycles excepted" - there's a contraflow bike lane on an otherwise one-way street.

Since we're talking about signs, it's interesting that they a put a speed-bump warning sign up even for the cyclists heading north. Another sign of sorts, is the sharrow endorsing southbound cyclists taking the lane
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
…Here in North America, I have found Toronto, ON a virtual sister city to Boston…

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