Metro Boston: Good ride today?
08-23-18, 11:36 AM
#7651
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they are a Seven dealer and have bikes ready for test rides. The internet rumors and my own mixed experiences with carbon frames has me seriously considering a titanium frame for my hopefully soon (4-6 months) to be built dream bike.
08-23-18, 11:47 AM
#7652
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08-23-18, 07:59 PM
#7653
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Had a low-energy day, and twiddled my thumbs for most of it in lieu of riding any of the several more ambitious routes that occurred to me given the nice weather; finally settled on a ride to Depot Park on the grounds that it was completely undemanding. Rolled out on the old GT Karakoram, and got on with a low-energy ride.
Uncle Sam, who's been a little weird lately, was shrouded in mystery, or at least plastic.
Stopped to admire the best-looking wrecked car in Mal's yard in living memory, an old Jaguar XK150, the fastest sculpture in any sculpture race. This occasioned a serious bout of covetousness, even in its damaged state.
The Mile 4.0 cairn is now Pezcentric.
Then there were the trees...
The old red bike keeps rolling.
rod
Uncle Sam, who's been a little weird lately, was shrouded in mystery, or at least plastic.
Stopped to admire the best-looking wrecked car in Mal's yard in living memory, an old Jaguar XK150, the fastest sculpture in any sculpture race. This occasioned a serious bout of covetousness, even in its damaged state.
The Mile 4.0 cairn is now Pezcentric.
Then there were the trees...
The old red bike keeps rolling.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 08-24-18 at 06:57 AM.
08-24-18, 04:23 AM
#7654
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night ride on the ARRT & BFRT Stowish to Brickhouse Restaurant in Chelmsford. glad I got out but wow it's dark & lonely out there.wasn't entirely alone tho which was nice
Last edited by rumrunn6; 08-24-18 at 09:12 AM.
08-24-18, 04:54 PM
#7655
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I've been off the bike since Tuesday and living vicariously through all your pictures! if fate allows me I'll spin up the R3's wheels tomorrow for what is sure to be a hammer fest.
08-24-18, 08:48 PM
#7656
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Rode East today. Gorgeous day for it. ("Gorgeous" was the summary weather forecast on Channel 5.)
This was another exercise in urban cycling and up-hill/down-hill, all over rough pavement. Good to exercise those skills, made better time over similar routes than I used to. Good tires (Snoqualmie Pass Extralights) help, of course.
rod
This was another exercise in urban cycling and up-hill/down-hill, all over rough pavement. Good to exercise those skills, made better time over similar routes than I used to. Good tires (Snoqualmie Pass Extralights) help, of course.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 08-24-18 at 09:00 PM.
08-25-18, 10:25 PM
#7657
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The Ant Bicycles seemed to be migrating through Arlington today. The first was observed while shopping in East Arlington, mid-afternoon.
The second (or was it a second look at the same bike?) was seen on the Minuteman, when I took the Rawland out for a spin up to Lexington before dinner.
The weather was benign, lots of folks were out riding, walking, chatting, etc.: the cheerful Minuteman weekend scene.
rod
The second (or was it a second look at the same bike?) was seen on the Minuteman, when I took the Rawland out for a spin up to Lexington before dinner.
The weather was benign, lots of folks were out riding, walking, chatting, etc.: the cheerful Minuteman weekend scene.
rod
08-26-18, 05:06 AM
#7658
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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We took the tandem out of 44 miles yestidee, a nice day for a picnic.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
08-27-18, 09:31 AM
#7659
Chuggin' Along
I rode 52 miles last Sunday. I took 126 past Walden, and eventually wound up in Framingham. I got back to Concord in time to catch a traditional dance performance. Here they are just before the performance...The ones in the white costumes were doing a
traditional English dance, and there was Irish step dancers and another group who danced with swords. It was quite a spectacle to see.
traditional English dance, and there was Irish step dancers and another group who danced with swords. It was quite a spectacle to see.
__________________
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.
08-27-18, 10:08 AM
#7660
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"Dance in Colonial New England, Concord Free Public Library, 120 Main St., Concord, Saturday, Aug. 25, 1 to 5 p.m. Come see the Pinewoods Morris Men dance with Orion Longsword and a team from England, Silver Flame Rapper. The groups plan to perform multiple dances throughout town, focused on traditional sword and Morris dancing. The first performance is scheduled to take place at the Concord Free Public Library at 1 p.m. Later dances are scheduled to happen in Monument Square and at Verrill Farm."
I have very fond memories of heading to the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. We were there for a visual arts exhibition (a friend had a major piece on display, but we couldn't make the opening), but while there discovered a town full of Morris dancers there for a performing arts exhibition.
Even walking down the street from performance location to performance location they sounded divine.
Oh, plus the culinary arts, so much wonderful food.
Art art art.
-mr. bill
I have very fond memories of heading to the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. We were there for a visual arts exhibition (a friend had a major piece on display, but we couldn't make the opening), but while there discovered a town full of Morris dancers there for a performing arts exhibition.
Even walking down the street from performance location to performance location they sounded divine.
Oh, plus the culinary arts, so much wonderful food.
Art art art.
-mr. bill
08-28-18, 10:41 PM
#7661
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The stretch of the Minuteman that I habitually ride when I don't have time for more contains one distinctive micro-climate, the cold spot at Arlington's Great Meadow and the Brown Homestead. This stretch has very little asphalt (aside from the Minuteman itself) and is consistently 3degF cooler than Arlington Center or Lexington Center. The transition is quite abrupt. I most often notice this in Winter, of course, but on the little ride I took late this afternoon, with the temperature at 96 and muggy when I set out, those three degrees made all the difference between sweat working to cool me, and the hot breath of the day just making me hotter. The cool bits were delightful, the hot bits were wearing. Floated along on the Rawland, capturing what breezes there were to be had, and making a few more.
Ozone alert on Wednesday, I think I'll take it seriously this time...
rod
P.S.: Ever since Google dumped Picasa for Photos, I've been getting intermittent problems sharing images (most often having to do with permissions, but sometimes having to do with CODECs. I seem to have run up against a now use case. If you CAN'T see the two images in this post (above), please send me a PM letting me know the device and browser you're using to view. I can currently see them in Chrome running on a laptop, but not on Firefox. I can't see them in Firefox or Chrome on my Samsung phone (Android operating system). Whatever it is, it appears to have reared it's ugly head in the wee hours of this morning.
P.P.S.: Fixed the problem, through what should properly be understood as cargo-cult ritual applied to the great bacterial plaques of our distributed computing infrastructure. Bicycles are more fun, IMHO.
Ozone alert on Wednesday, I think I'll take it seriously this time...
rod
P.S.: Ever since Google dumped Picasa for Photos, I've been getting intermittent problems sharing images (most often having to do with permissions, but sometimes having to do with CODECs. I seem to have run up against a now use case. If you CAN'T see the two images in this post (above), please send me a PM letting me know the device and browser you're using to view. I can currently see them in Chrome running on a laptop, but not on Firefox. I can't see them in Firefox or Chrome on my Samsung phone (Android operating system). Whatever it is, it appears to have reared it's ugly head in the wee hours of this morning.
P.P.S.: Fixed the problem, through what should properly be understood as cargo-cult ritual applied to the great bacterial plaques of our distributed computing infrastructure. Bicycles are more fun, IMHO.
Last edited by rholland1951; 08-29-18 at 02:54 PM. Reason: Apologia.
08-29-18, 11:55 AM
#7662
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The stretch of the Minuteman that I habitually ride when I don't have time for more contains one distinctive micro-climate, the cold spot at Arlington's Great Meadow and the Brown Homestead. This stretch has very little asphalt (aside from the Minuteman itself) and is consistently 3degF cooler than Arlington Center or Lexington Center. The transition is quite abrupt. I most often notice this in Winter, of course, but on the little ride I took late this afternoon, with the temperature at 96 and muggy when I set out, those three degrees made all the difference between sweat working to cool me, and the hot breath of the day just making me hotter. The cool bits were delightful, the hot bits were wearing. Floated along on the Rawland, capturing what breezes there were to be had, and making a few more.
As I got on 225 in Bedford, right by that swampy Carlson Conservation area, the temperature felt like it dropped 10 or more degrees. I was starting to get chilled! That may have contributed to my legs cramping up so I decided to shorten the ride through Monument St. (was going to ride through Great Brook Farm). My legs just weren't cooperating that morning.
The Concord River delivered once again, with a lone stand-up paddler moving through smoky waters
Things got very pleasant, but humid in Carlisle. Made for some amazing scenes which my camera just can't capture
After a short water and snack break in Concord I decided to check out 62 West to Old Rd. To 9 Acre Corner (what a name for a road!). I want to ride 62 West to Wachusett Mtn. one day. My legs were feeling stronger; so instead of turning around to Concord to head back on Virginia Rd, I continued through parts mostly unridden, east on 117, north through Lincoln, and back via Trapelo. 33 miles total in about 2.5 hours.
On Tuesday night, went out with wife and daughter to Bedford Depot... on the way back it got dark very early, and very quickly. We were prepared for the darkness with lights, but we weren't prepared for the amount of bugs attacking our faces.
It may be record-breaking hot today, but the writing's on the wall...
08-29-18, 02:40 PM
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08-29-18, 04:07 PM
#7665
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Early AM rides on the Roubaix Monday and today. Monday was with my ever foggy Smith Pivlock glasses which may find themselves chucked into the back of the trash truck that passes me every morning on 117 or the other that passes me on 126. Leaving a trail of scented goodness for me to ride through. Today I wore my old backup cheapo Tiffosi glasses which seem to always be fog free. As with the past few weeks that headlight sure is getting left on more and more every week.
08-30-18, 10:02 PM
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After the weather broke and the housepainters left for the day, I took a gentle spin up to Lexington and back on the LHT, a sort of tonic for the hot-and-bothered state the last few days had induced in me.
Shoaling in Arlington Center, with clouds promising shade, if not rain.
Happy folks coming and going on the shady Minuteman. A general feeling of relief prevailed.
The happiest guy of all was wearing a gray tee shirt and staying upright on his unicycle. Never seen one of those with a flashing rear light before, but why not?
The clouds gave us the most subtle of drizzles for a few minutes, more the idea of a drizzle than the thing itself, but still enough to suggest cooling.
Mercy! The house turned purple!
rod
Shoaling in Arlington Center, with clouds promising shade, if not rain.
Happy folks coming and going on the shady Minuteman. A general feeling of relief prevailed.
The happiest guy of all was wearing a gray tee shirt and staying upright on his unicycle. Never seen one of those with a flashing rear light before, but why not?
The clouds gave us the most subtle of drizzles for a few minutes, more the idea of a drizzle than the thing itself, but still enough to suggest cooling.
Mercy! The house turned purple!
rod
08-31-18, 05:34 PM
#7667
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Rode East today, with a cooling sea breeze that made everything aero (especially my descent down High Street, Medford) and got the prayer flags working overtime.
If you stool this tennis ball, you should be ashamed of yourself!
rod
If you stool this tennis ball, you should be ashamed of yourself!
rod
09-01-18, 12:38 PM
#7669
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This morning I went out for a splendid 63 mile ride on my R3. It began like most rides getting going on 117 into Weston. I rode through Weston Ctr and on past Regis College into Wellesley. From there I took a right onto 135 then a left onto 27 in Natick Ctr. I followed 27 on down to Sherborn and stopped into Ride Headquarters to have them measure my R3 so I can test ride a Seven (super bike build to replace the R3 and possibly the Roubaix)! From there I rode around some nice side roads before linking back up with 27. I backtracked to Weston Ctr and then went 20 West to 126 which I followed to Concord Ctr for a much needed water refill. I went up Monument st and took a left onto 225 and stopped at Ferns for a drink and a snack. From there I continued on and rolled down side roads which included Pope St and Strawberry Hill. I rode back to Concord Ctr and as usual took my predictable route home.
09-01-18, 01:48 PM
#7670
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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We took the tandem out for a quick 23 mile spin this morning, Bedford north through wilderness, back south and west, then eventually back to B'ford. @Ghazmh, we rode part of your route but most likely earlier. We arrived at Ferns at a time more appropriate for second breakfast than lunch. Yowee it was a nice morning, waznit?
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
09-01-18, 02:12 PM
#7671
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We took the tandem out for a quick 23 mile spin this morning, Bedford north through wilderness, back south and west, then eventually back to B'ford. @Ghazmh, we rode part of your route but most likely earlier. We arrived at Ferns at a time more appropriate for second breakfast than lunch. Yowee it was a nice morning, waznit?
09-01-18, 11:42 PM
#7672
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Took another little ride on the Minuteman before dinner, on the Trucker DeLuxe this time, the fat, soft Rat Trap Pass Extralight tires making it feel like a personal hovercraft.
Summer is flickering a bit, but looks like we get to keep it a while longer. Just how much longer is an open question; if this frog knows, he's not saying.
rod
Summer is flickering a bit, but looks like we get to keep it a while longer. Just how much longer is an open question; if this frog knows, he's not saying.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 09-02-18 at 06:59 AM.
09-02-18, 08:59 PM
#7673
Chuggin' Along
Fifty five miles today: Ferns to Concord Center, then out to Walden and I followed 126 to Rt 27. From there I got back to West Concord via 62 where my trusty Dunkin' Donuts was waiting for me on Powdermill Rd. There I was able to add some ice to my water bottles, and down a nice large iced coffee. Concord Center again, Monument Road, and back to Fern's. I was disappointed when I found that I didn't have the miles I thought I had, so I went up 225 where I picked up the Freeman trail, and after dodging pedestrians, and baby carriages for I while I was soon back on the road again. Anyway, I got my fifty in plus a few more.
__________________
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.
09-02-18, 10:04 PM
#7674
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Took the GT for a quick spin on the Minuteman before dinner, Lexington Center and back. Uncle Sam is looking dapper after his spa treatment.
rod
rod
09-03-18, 02:19 PM
#7675
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I rode 79.2 miles this morning on my R3. It was a great morning for a ride. I got home a little after 12:00 and it seemed to get hotter afterwards. I rode down to Sherborn and into Dover (I think) to discover and enjoy new roads. I eventually got back to Weston Ctr and followed 20 into Sudbury and eventually landed at Concord Ctr with a few drops in the bottle. After refilling at the fountain I rode up Lowell st and on over to Ferns for a light snack and iced coffee. From there it rode through Carlisle's side roads continuing to enjoy the morning and the countryside before bringing it back through Concord Ctr then on back home.