Ghazmh

Didn't they harvest Spy Pond ice back in the old days? I'm so glad I've got these studded tires for my hybrid. I'm contemplating a skinnier pair for newly ordered yet to be delivered winter road bike.....

anx

That looks like fun times! You convinced me, I know where I will be with my studded tires this weekend now. That crack has hopefully resealed itself. I didnt manage to get out on my bike today due to work deadlines.

mr_bill

Indeed they did harvest ice here.

Also several ponds around this area had much to do with the Bruins success.

-mr. bill

autonomy

I'm afraid the only way across any pond this weekend will be in snowshoes or on skis. That is a LOT of snow out there...
Forget about bike lanes, they are going to become snow storage lanes with the cold that's coming.

rumrunn6

yeah it was rough out there today. just going thru my pics & vids. more to follow I'm sure. bathrooms at Bedford Depot, Lexington Visitors' Ctr & Cafe in Arlington all closed. some plowing on the MM but not all of it

anx

@autonomy Yeah, not today but I feel like by this weekend I will have so much cabin fever again the urge will overcome any common sense
@rumrunn6 i think you are my hero! Ha, i almost passed out just shoveling the snow off of our driveway never mind getting out there on the bike today!

Ghazmh

Rock on!!!!

autonomy

Kudos for getting out in that
I'm actually amazed the path was plowed today. Seems like they can barely keep up with the roads - at least the parts I can see out of my house.
@anx Heh cabin fever... instead of bike parts and bike clothing I've been looking at snowshoes online for the past week... I bet Great Brook Farm will be quite busy this weekend.

rumrunn6

yeah, they were no picnic

autonomy

Bleech. That's x-country ski territory. Question - how do you clean your bike after an outing like this? I imagine hosing it down is not really an option...

rumrunn6

yeah it's gonna be a while before I hook up the hose again





I bring in back down to my basement to drip dry



my bulkhead entrance, after the Christmas morning storm



however it has been obliterated

NomarsGirl

You're crazy!

rumrunn6

thanks but the "plan" was to get off the trail as the snow was starting so I could have a little fun in the snow. wound up getting there 2 hours later than the plan. I considered adding 6? miles by riding the Reformatory Branch Trail from Concord (1st), but really glad I didn't

Ghazmh

What kind of poagies are those? I bet poagies would have made my New Years ride more tolerable.

rumrunn6

quite happy w these. roomy enough for PI lobster gloves. I was impervious & that combo can easily bring me down in the hellish cold

RockBros, $26
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

anx

The main roads around Medford and West Medford Square are in pretty good condition, but take any side road and it's crapshoot out there, didn't make it to Arlington Center. Did a quick loop around town in 4 layers of clothing and did my best to avoid traffic, was hard with all the bike lanes either being full of snow or parked cars, most drivers were good though giving plenty of elbow room when overtaking.

anx

I need to get me some of those, had 2 pairs of gloves on today and still my fingers felt numb after an hour.

Wearing two pairs of thermal socks though in my cycling shoes did the trick and kept my feet from feeling 'the bite', and yes it was a little tight fitting but worth it.

autonomy

Wow, that sure is a lot of snow on the bike. Having a bulkhead is nice. I have to carry my bike to the basement through the kitchen. With that much snow no way I could manage to keep things dry even in the basement.

rumrunn6

good job! it was super cold!

anx

Snow shoes would be fun, I've been toying with the idea of getting some cross country skies myself, I just dont know i would get enough use out of them to justify the $. Not sure if they'd work well on untreated pavements like there are everywhere around right now, or local trails.


Thanks! I see high 40s in the forecast next week, will feel like summer!

rumrunn6

if you get snow shoes be sure to get the correct size. bought some for my Dad (good ones from EMS) a long time ago & he recently gave them back to me cuz he can't do that anymore (at 90). I've used them a cpl times but I require larger for proper flotation. I got some cheap ones that were designed for kids I think for Wifey from Ocean State Job Lot. they have two issues even tho she can use them & enjoys them. 1st they should be larger & 2nd the buckles aren't as easy to adjust as the good EMS models

this is from the crazy winter of 2015, before it got really bad

jimmuller 

You guys are completely nuts to be biking in this stuff! I doff my helmet to you all.

Snow shoes?

This morning at Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Concord. 11:45AM. 9 degrees F, almost no wind.

rumrunn6

gorgeous

anx

Are those cross country ski tracks or some sort of snow mobile? Snow shoeing looks fun!

jimmuller 

Thanks!

Yes, there were ski tracks. That causeway gets a lot of foot traffic and a lot of wind so the snow was quite packed in that section. At the end of the causeway there is a section perpendicular to it, running between the lake (actually a large marsh separated into two by that causeway) and the Concord River just beyond those far trees in the long distance pic. Part had been skied but had seen minimal walking, part had seen no traffic at all. The snow on those sections was about a foot deep so the snow shoes were a big help.

That area is national wildlife sanctuary, the only access allowed is by foot on those particular trails and a few off in the woods. The Old Reformatory Trail runs along it too. Bikes and snowmobiles are forbidden entirely (except on the ORT which I guess is not part of the wildlife sanctuary).

Sharon and I have done lots of x-c skiing, mostly up north. Snow shoes are more convenient in some ways, though waaay slower of course, because you can walk through anything, rocks, ice, snow, thick woods, whatever. Skis aren't so versatile.