jimmuller 

From this evening's ride home, a brief stop in Arlington Center:

Ghazmh

Sunday I drove over to Depot Park with my Montare (something I haven't done in years) as it is heavy, lumbering and too slow to make a trip from home to the minuteman an enjoyable ride. I was steering toword each patch of ice to continue to establish my comfort level with my Schwable Marathon Winter tires. It was a fun outing. I was accompanied by my memories of my first time riding from Watertown to depot park almost 20 years ago, and the fun times pulling a trailer with the kids stopping at Lexington Center for picnics in more recent years.

I rode my fairy typical for winter 25 mile route Tuesday evening with my rain-winter road bike. At 5692 miles it looks like 2016 will be a 5700 mile year.

rumrunn6

anyone been on the minuteman today Bedford to Arlington? dry pavement? spotty frozen slush?

rholland1951

Not me...

rod

mr_bill

Walking a few hours ago. Tough conditions then. Easier to walk off the pavement.

-mr. bill

Ghazmh

I put my Montare's Winter Marathon tires to the test today on the Charles River path from Walthams Prospect st to River st near the Watertown border. Lots of long path wide bumpy ice sheets. I would consider this the first real encounter as the last few weeks I have been seeking ice the occasional patch to ride over. Today there was no alternative. I've been lowering the pressure until I have reached what I believe I will stick with-15PSIG.

Happy New Years,

jimmuller 

We tried to take the tandem out today. Got 1.4 miles out from Depot Park, decided the icy shoulders gave us too little road width to brave the heavier than expected traffic. Our turn-around point:



We had already decided to try going east on the MM if the roads weren't in a welcoming mood. A 20yd-long patch of ice glaze just out of DP made us change our minds. The MM wasn't too welcoming either.

rumrunn6

15 psi ? really?

rumrunn6

drats, what a hassle. thanks for the update. I noticed lots of auto traffic today too. was thinking about a ride when I found out the football game is tomorrow, but by time I had my errands done, it was too late. think tomorrow I'll try the dirt trail from Concord to Bedford & maybe a little longer with my studded tires. no grand expectations for mileage or speed. hoping it's not too bumpy & rutted. should be warmer & softening a little tomorrow but maybe not till mid-day? traffic on the roads should be light before noon

Ghazmh

Ya, from what I can tell The outer row of studs is making contact with the road. I "feel" confident knowing the contact patch is wider. I also don't mind the minimal impact absorption as I tossed the lame spring fork and installed a Salsa ridged fork 5 years back.

rumrunn6

sweet. think you can have full contact higher than 15 tho

jimmuller 

We took the tandem out again today. After yesterday's aborted ice run we decided to start closer to town and do some exploring. Rode from home in Waltham to Alewife, out the MM to Lexington. The Fitchburg Cutoff trail was okay. The MM was okay too until we got near the Arlington-Lexington line. We ended up leaving the MM and taking Mass Ave into Lexington, doing a bit of exploring northward, heading back into Arlington on Mass Ave. As we entered Arlington Sharon spotted a Whole Foods Market (sometimes called Whole Paycheck Market but we won't mention that).

Ah, right. Quick U-turn, head back uphill to WFM. She promised not to buy any more than one pannier's worth. Ah, right. We came home with some veggies and a chicken. (How do we always end up pedaling home with more weight than we started with?)





Unpacking when we got home:



25.1 miles, a very nice start to the new year.

Ghazmh

'Started the year with a short 16 mile ride to Walden Pond and back to help burn off last nights indulgence in Chinese food and champagne. Too much of both I might add. Upon arrival home my Montare had enough salt encrustation to rim a Margharita glass that would make Jimmy Buffett proud of. It was time to drag out the hose and wash it off.

mr_bill

I don't think I've ever seen only one bike there. Their heart is in the right place, but execution is wanting.

Is it me, or did you not lock up?

I used to pannier from Fresh Pond (always LOTS of bikes), but now I usually carry out on foot.

I headed to Hmart in Central Square on the bike today. A messenger bag instead of panniers keeps the cash-and-carry load manageable.

-mr. bill

jimmuller 

Yeah, they have two bike racks but the positioning isn't very convenient. We used to carry a small cable lock but we never used it, never left the bike unattended. It isn't likely anyone would steal a tandem but it's possible I guess. So when she shops I stay with bike. Otherwise I'd try to get her to buy less!

mr,grumpy 

Are ALL you guys running studded tires?

jimmuller 

Noop. Not at all, at all. None.

rholland1951

I am, on two bikes. 559-47 Nokian W240s on my old GT Karakoram rigid mtb, and 622-42 Schwalbe Marathon Winters on my LHT. 240 carbide studs in each tire type, both can handle smooth or rutted ice, the more aggresive tread in the Nokians probably handle somewhat deeper snow than the 3mm tread depth on the Schwalbes, the Schwalbes may roll somewhat better on dry pavement. Both are considerably more of a chore to ride than any of the Compass tires I roll on during the other three seasons, but this is more than made up for by the absence of stress hormones secreted when ice is encountered...

rod

jimmuller 

Today after we'd been to the gym and run some errands my sweetie said I should take a bike out for a spin. Yowee! No studded tires but that didn't matter. 23mm sew-ups in fact.

It's been a while since I took the Motobecane out so that was today's choice. About 25 miles; don't know exactly because the bike doesn't have an odo and I didn't feel like running a phone app to track the course. I don't really care how far it was, even if it means I don't get braggin' rights.

Plan 1 was to investigate some areas I haven't ridden, specifically Linear Park running northeast from Alewife. I ended up in Davis Square, Somerville. The sharp-eyed among you will spot the tandem toodling along on the far side of the street.






Somerville has lots of "official" bike routes with "Bike Route" signs all over the place. I started up that way then realized it was a one-way street and I wasn't at all sure how easily I could follow a morass of "Bike Route" signs back to Davis Square. So I bailed at the first right turn and followed roads I knew back to a road I knew.

The rest of the day was to Lexington and back. A nice day!

rumrunn6

ran the dirt trail from Concord to Bedford then the MM to Arlington. the Lexington visitors' center was closed not sure if it was just for an observed holiday or what. so it helped encourage me to continue to the Kickstand, bathroom & fresh veggie raisin scone. so crowded, sat outside to eat before the ride back. the crusty leaves on the edges had the best traction. but that was short lived. lots of ice ahead. didn't hit reliable dry paved trail till Lexington. 1st ride w the studs so I was good

mr_bill

Urge you to explore the seven hills.

When I first moved to Massachusetts folks would talk about living on the Cambridge/Somerville line, they lived in Somerville. Now folks talk about living on the Somerville/Cambridge line, they live in Cambridge.

(23 mm too, but threadless/needleless.)

-mr. bill

jimmuller 

He! I'm quite aware of Somerville's hills, didn't know there a nominal seven of them though. I spent rather a long time in grad school in Cambridge too.

Last night's ride home was an adventure. I was prepared for the rain, took my Gran Sport with fenders. I wasn't prepared for this:



Despite what it looks like, it wasn't a case of the RD stop screws letting the cage catch a spoke. The bottom of the cage where the spokes are further away toward the wheel's center line is where it caught. I think either chain suck or some other failure deformed the cage or parallelogram first. At about 12mph on clean new, wet pavement the rear wheel locked, the bike spun out, and I went down all in the blink of an eye. Fortunately it was on a road I ride specifically because it carries almost no traffic. I spent only 45min waiting for the AAA truck.

The bike seems okay and the DO looks fine. I seem to be unhurt and my clothes didn't take any road rash. My fancy USB-rechargeable headlight broke it's mount when it hit the pavement but superglue seems to have fixed it well enough. First time in my adult life I've gone down while moving.

I rode to work today on a different horse, but I rode after all.

rumrunn6

dam. by AAA truck do you mean your significant other or an actual AAA truck?

jimmuller 

Actual AAA truck with bike rack. Not a tow truck, but one of those trucks with a few dozen batteries in the back. Yes, they do cover bike trips, at least here in Massachusetts.

This is the second time I've called them for a commute home. The previous was a year or two ago when the FW came apart in just about that same spot.

rumrunn6

excellent idea!