rholland1951

Took the Rawland up to Lexington Center before dinner, a bit later than usual, the clock and the calendar jointly advanced just enough to make it a legitimate sunset ride, the air cooling, the Night Chorus tuning up, a delicate, peach-colored fringe glowed on the Western horizon on this clear evening. Set a pace that might be described as gently brisk. Exchanged greetings and, a first, names, with one of the Minuteman regulars.




rod

Ghazmh

I've recently taken a new job, as such I'll be heading to Sunnyvale Ca for 3 weeks for training. Although I'll miss enjoying the New England countryside, I'll still be riding. I shipped my Smoothie ahead via Bikeflights.com in a velo vault container. Evenings and weekends will be completely free of the usual parent and homeowner responsibilities, I plan to get in a lot of riding! This Saturday-San Fransisco!

rholland1951

Enjoy! The hills overlooking Santa Cruz look like they could be a lot of laughs on a bike. Please post your adventures in Extreme Metrowest...

rod

jimmuller 

Ghaz, good luck with your new job. Enjoy your time in Cal!

I rode my commute again this morning. It was pretty normal except for one episode on the Minuteman of the type that unfortunately is getting to be more the norm than not. I was passing a woman pushing a baby stroller so I called out that I was passing. She conscientiously stayed over to the right. But as I was passing her by riding just to the left of the center line I saw a shadow of another cyclist, I guess to be a twenty-something, come up on my left and zip by me. Now what's wrong with this picture?

He took away what safety zone I might have needed had her path not been so controlled. Some people when they hear a voice from behind turn around to see what it was, not a good thing on the Minutemen. In doing so he threatened the safety of four people. Furthermore, he didn't announce his presence, so while I was watching the stroller he startled me. As he went by I called out that he should announce his presence at least when passing someone who was at that time passing someone else.

In typical [I need a derogatory term, I'd use "millennial" but he might have been a bit too old for that, and that would do injustice to other millennials who might actually have a brain] <something derogatory> fashion he kept his head straight ahead, ignored me as if he hadn't heard, kept pumping the pedals as if that's all that mattered in this world. I was, ah, ticked.

So I kicked it up a notch, upshifted and sucked his wheel for the next half a mile. He ignored me, or perhaps tried to. I wanted him to know that he wasn't going to pull away easily from this graybeard on a steel bike. We finally approached an unobstructed section of path a few hundred yards from where I had to turn off so pulled up beside him and called out that he would do well to learn some courtesy. He finally turned his head and asked "Eh?" I repeated my statement. His reply was a non-committal something. I had to turn off then.

jimmuller 

Continuing: I had a similar experience on a weekend a few weeks ago westbound on the MM. I'd pulled around the gate at rt225. 10 yards past the gate two young women (I'd guess late teens or early twenties) were stopped on the right shoulder, sort of in the way but not seriously so. However a third women in the party had gone around the gate on the left then pulled over to her friends by stopping sideways across the path. Of course I had to stop. She figured out her mistake, apologized and pulled off the pavement. But at that time a woman with a stroller was approaching on the left from the other direction and another woman on a bike came up behind her. Okay, I was stopped and a squeeze was coming so I figured I'd wait till they passed.

Just as I was starting to push off another cyclist I'd passed earlier forced his way to my right through the narrow gap. Yow, discourteous idiot! Than another older gentleman followed him. Yeesh.

The first guy turned off shortly thereafter but the older guy kept on the MM. Well, it happened that I caught him (unintentionally). He asked what town we were in, I said Bedford. Then I brought up that incident back at rt225.

He apologized, said he'd realized he was being discourteous when he saw me start push off. He then said he should know better because he was <some officer, I forget which but maybe secretary> of Bike Texas, in town to help out his daughter who just given him a granddaughter. He thought maybe I'd stopped to help them but I explained I had to stop because they'd blocked the path, that I was ticked about that other guy blowing though and he'd just followed, no biggie. We spoke a bit and he turned around at Depot Park.

I wish there was a way to educate everyone about the need for courtesy. Maybe even just one idiot at a time.

Ghazmh

Forgive my lack of understanding on how to post pictures. I think I figured it out this time. I attached an older pic of my smoothie from before I ditched the Turbo saddle.

Pics of Silicon Valley to follow as soon an I pick the bike from the local FedEx ship center tomorrow. Most roads I've seen have dedicated cycling lanes!

rholland1951

That worked...

rod

rholland1951

Took the LHT up the Minuteman to Lexington Center after work, 96degF/51% relative humidity when I set out, lost 3 degrees along the way, had some cooler temps around Arlington's Great Meadow and the Seasons Four spray park. This is near, but not over, the threshold of real heat, evaporative cooling, a.k.a. sweat, still worked. Reminded me of my South Georgia childhood.


rod

jimmuller 

Did you find them on the return trip? Otherwise they might be lost forever (which wouldn't be a bad thing, come to think of it).

rholland1951

They came back the following day...

10 miles on the Rawland in the moist air this evening, just another happy noodle in the soup.


rod

Ghazmh

My Smoothie survived the week long trek across America pretty well. I wrapped the frame in foam pipe insulation and filled the box with lots of bubble wrap. I found a blemish on the chains stay, but I can't say it wasn't already there. I got the saddle and wheels mounted pretty quickly and went out for a 15 mile shakedown ride. Despite the mountainous backdrop the valley is very flat and therefore fast. I rode out through Cuppertino right by Apple's infinite loop. The rush hour traffic volume on the main roads was akin to 128. Despite that the bike lanes were clearly identifiable. the dry air, scenery, and ambiance made me realize that I'm not riding through Carlisle anymore!

Ghazmh

69 miles from Sunnyvale to Crystal Springs and back. Not quite San Fransisco-yet. The toughest thing so far is navigating and staying on course. As I stopped yet again to check my phone to make sure I was on track I linked up with a software developer named Andy. I pedaled for about 10 miles with him until our intended destinations dictated we go separate ways. He gave me some valuable local knowledge that got me on a much more scenic and less car filled route. That being said its like cycling heaven out here. Amazing rolling mountainous terrain. I stopped in a town called Belmont for a picture. It bears no resemblance to the Belmont I'm used to. It really is an awesome place to ride. Instead of crossing paths with dozens upon dozens of riders as I do back home on the weekends, I crossed paths with hundreds upon hundreds and not once was I honked at!

rholland1951

Had a couple of hours free Saturday, and rode East along the Northern Strand Community Trail in pursuit of the rumor of a sea breeze. Found that breeze at the Rumney Marsh, in Revere. 18 miles through Arlington, Medford, Malden, and Revere.

Made the customary stop in Medford to pay my respects at the stupa; Washington Street was fragrant with incense.


In Malden, I came upon a runner lying supine in a shady patch of pavement, eyes closed, motionless; before I could render assistance, she began a series of slow, deliberate, stretches. I rode on.


Malden: a bottle collector in the foreground, a construction crane in the background, enterprise everywhere you look.


Revere: the wildflowers were in their glory at Rumney Marsh.


The tide was out: Rumney Marsh had a muddy face.




Revere: phragmites and pylons go about their vertical business with a faintly Deco air.


Revere: these trails are public goods, coexisting with numerous, smaller private goods. This is one.


Malden: another sign worth heeding.


Malden: community gardens in the sun.


rod

verbcrunch

I ride the Northern Strand as part of my commute into Boston. Can't wait for the day someone figure outs the path could continue UNDER Route 16 and Route 99, sparing us cyclists (and pedestrians) the harrowing journey through Sweetser Circle. Right now we're forced into dangerous rotary if we wish to continue into Boston, while under the overpasses where the bike path could go it's chained off with weeds growing.

jimmuller 

Yesterday I took the Grandis out for lovely 50.36 miles. Had to check out old Farmer Burke's crop of geese.



Pretty warm here in the Boston area today. Heat index for Waltham was supposed to hit 105 but it's down to 103 now.

I got out on the Grandis again today, 42.6 miles. "They" issued a heat alert starting at 11 so my goal was to be home by noon. I made it by 10 after. The last hour was a steamah. Well, they were all steamahs but the last one was a lobstah pot.

Cool early lunch in the shade:

rholland1951

From what I've read, it's possible that this, or something like it, will happen as part of the Everrett casino development. Without being too specific about the actual route, it looks like there will be a connection from the Everrett terminus of the Northern Strand into Boston constructed as part of some larger agreement. The devil, as usual, is in the details.

rod

Ghazmh

Today's adventure took me again to the Crystal Spring reservoir in San Mateo. Using the lessons learned from yesterday's less direct ride coupled with assistance from local riders I was able to continue exploring and enjoying the magnificent cycling areas. After another uphill climb I went to the head of Cańada rd at the end of the reservoir and rode it back down to Woodside-mostly down hill and breathtaking mountain scenery. I now have enough confidence to retrace the same route and with a little more planning take it to the outskirts of San Francisco next Saturday. I have a feeling the weather will still be 80 and sunny.

https://goo.gl/photos/2ZdWKgm4mHGJzhNw5
https://goo.gl/photos/x2qTAt7LySPB2Wbs6
https://goo.gl/photos/1KkwQFa6S4ioodV5A

jimmuller 

Ghz, you are having too much for a business trip!

rholland1951

Late in the day, got the Rawland out for the customary short ride up to Lexington, made a little longer when I discovered a slow leak in the rear tire. Normally I would have just swapped out the tube by the side of the road, but... blame the heat, I simply didn't feel like it, and finished the ride by pumping up the tire every couple of miles. Hot ride under a hot sky.


The Arlington DPW is re-striping the Minuteman, although in some cases the semiotics get a little funky...


rod

rholland1951

Took the LHT on a gentle spin up to Lexington Center, a slow, tired ride at the end of a day that began too early. The heat eased over the course of the ride.


rod

sherbornpeddler

August has been steamy. Last week we rode on the Cape Cod and Old Colony rail trails and stopped to swim in adjacent ponds. Yesterday I rode my favorite 37 mile loop de loop from Sherborn through Dover Westwood and Medfield. Humid

Jim from Boston

This morning I came upon this Northeast Discusssion Forum thread, “[post=18979186]Most daunting hills in (or around) NYC?[/post].” I thought about the challenging ones here in the Metroverse [Metro Boston = Hub of the Universe]. The ones that most immediately came to mind (extending IME to the I-495 perimeter) were:

• Rte 85 south of Hopkinton, and Rte 135 just west of I-495
• a short segment of Concord Ave west of Belmont Center
• Burgess Ave in Westwood between High St and Hartford Ave
• Pemberton St (I think; next to acemetery in Walpole). North of Rte 1A

I’ve been trying to ride as much as I can this summer, and I use hills for my intervals, so many have become less daunting than in prior years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherbornpeddler

Nice ride today. Rode w good friend Bill and rode south through Millis, Norfolk and Wrentham into Rhode Island on Burnt Swamp Rd. to Reservoir Rd between Diamond Hill and Arnold Mill reservoirs then headed back north through Franklin. Water level is down quite a bit. It is still 39 miles but the last time I rode here was two years ago andthere is a lot of new pavement otherwise it would have seemed longer.

BTW, @sbp, last year I rode down to Sheldonville to visit a friend and he said I should check out Burnt Swamp Rd. This year I rode from Norwood down Rte 1A, past Wrentham Premium Outlets and took High St to BSR…it was sublime cycling, then took Sheldon Road back to Franklin. That was a nice, but not strenuous hill. Since it was early Saturday morning, I rode around the Outlets but when I rode onto the inner concourse (with all the shops closed) I was told no bikes allowed.

Below is a picture of an interesting, isolated house on Burnt Swamp, and the adjacent road.

Ghazmh

I squeezed in 25 mile rides the past 2 evenings from Sunnyvale to a picturesque town called Monte Serrano. While on the return leg yesterday I pulled into the Apple Infinate Loop. It was pretty anticlimactic. Actually it was just a big office building. I joined a gaggle of tourists snapping picture and snapped a pic too which I ended up deleting.

sherbornpeddler

[QUOTE=Jim from Boston;18993096][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]....BTW,.., last year I rode down to Sheldonville to visit a friend and he said I should check out Burnt Swamp Rd. This year I rode from Norwood down Rte 1A, past Wrentham Premium Outlets and took High St to BSR…it was sublime cycling, then took Sheldon Road back to Franklin. That was a nice, but not strenuous hill. Since it was early Saturday morning, I rode around the Outlets but when I rode onto the inner concourse (with all the shops closed) I was told no bikes allowed. ...Below is a picture of an interesting, isolated house on Burnt Swamp, and the adjacent road.......

Jim, I'm always impressed and inspired with your rides. I shy away from Rt. 1A type roads even though it limits my radius. Wrentham Outlets is more of a walkable place than some suburban malls but has never occurred to me to cycle to there or to malls in general as they are so car oriented. I mentally stare into the headlights in confusion riding the acres of parking lot. I can understand why they ban bicycles inside the mall when that moat of a parking lot is so bicycle unfriendly. I'd say it isn't friendly to people walking to and from their cars but then I'd appear just plain chicken.

I may be a mangy rooster but to crow a little bit, I ride south down from Sherborn through Franklin via Summer/Sheldon road to Burnt Swamp Rd. and just after your picture of the fancy house stuck in the middle of farm land, I turn right (west) on Torrey Rd to Reservoir Rd that runs between the two reservoirs then head north up on Diamond Hill (RT 114) then turn left (NW) up even more hill on Arnold St up (up as in, "I wish I had set this bike up as a triple" up) past "The Big Apple" and Saint Mary's Abbey and come out on King St just west of Rt. 495 then just after Rt. 495 left on Union St and ride north on the west side of Dean College to downtown Franklin and back to Sherborn.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherbornpeddler

..Jim, I'm always impressed and inspired with your rides. I shy away from Rt. 1A type roads even though it limits my radius. Wrentham Outlets is more of a walkable place than some suburban malls but has never occurred to me to cycle to there or to malls in general as they are so car oriented…

I may be a mangy rooster but to crow a little bit, I ride south down from Sherborn through Franklin via Summer/Sheldon road to Burnt Swamp Rd. and justafter your picture of the fancy house stuck in the middle of farm land, I turn right (west) on Torrey Rd to Reservoir Rd...to downtown Franklin and back to Sherborn.

Thanks @sbp for your, as usual, gracious reply. On that ride I rode 1A from Norwood on a Saturday at 6 AM. The riskiest segment IMO is from Norwood to Wrentham. On that Saturday was my first time on 1A south of Wampum Corner. Over the past couple years I have found very nice parallel routes though Walpole and Norfolk with good cycling anytime.

FYA, last year I offered some advice to a California tourist who came out to New England with a group going from Boston to the Cape and Islands via Concord and Providence:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

…Just this past Saturday morning I rode Rte 1A through Walpole into Norfolk and Wrentham for a few miles and then doubled back and onto Rte 115. Rte 115 is a really nice cycling road, but I would caution that the segment of Rte 1A as routed is narrow and fairly heavily trafficked. It was getting busier even on a Saturday AM before 8:00, and you will be traveling on a Friday, presumably later in the day. It looks like that segment is about 3-4 miles. The turnoff to Rte 121 at “Wampum Corners” puts you on a nicer road (as I did it on a previous Saturday AM last year).

Nearby Wampum Corners is the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, if you are into shopping, but most of its traffic is by car; I have never visited myself….

The areas we have been discussing are at my southernmost limit, and I only got into Rhode Island (Cumberland) once, in 2014. I was very impressed with the riding, and I adopted this imposing statue below at Mt St Rita Health Center on Rte 121 as my Guardian Angel of the Road.