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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Old 02-23-19, 05:02 PM
  #7951  
Ghazmh
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This morning I mounted my Bar Mitts to my cross bike and clacked away for 25 miles. It was an absolutely gorgeous winter ridding day. I was out early enough that the roadside snow hadn’t melted which made it a dry ride. I can’t wait to swap in my summer wheels with a fresh set of Pannaracer Gravel King tires. Hopefully less than 30 days!

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Old 02-24-19, 10:54 AM
  #7952  
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This morning I kept the Bar Mitts on from yesterday and rode another 21.5 miles in the rain, it kinda sucked.
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Old 02-24-19, 11:39 AM
  #7953  
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Originally Posted by Ghazmh
This morning I kept the Bar Mitts on from yesterday and rode another 21.5 miles in the rain, it kinda sucked.
but weren’t the bar mitts good for the rain? I’m in VT leaving an AirBnB cabin in the woods, we show shoed- didn’t suck
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Old 02-24-19, 02:28 PM
  #7954  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6

but weren’t the bar mitts good for the rain? I’m in VT leaving an AirBnB cabin in the woods, we show shoed- didn’t suck
Hey Rum, I was glad to have used them. My “waterproof” Goretex gloved hands still got soaked and saturated. The Bar Mitts blocked the wind which would have otherwise froze my fingers. They remained wet but stayed warm,
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Old 02-25-19, 06:20 PM
  #7955  
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I went to the installation of Paula Sharaga’s
ghost bike yesterday.

-mr. bill

Last edited by mr_bill; 02-25-19 at 07:48 PM.
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Old 02-25-19, 08:07 PM
  #7956  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
I went to the installation of Paula Sharaga’s ghost bike yesterday.
how was it? Wifey found out that she was once a teacher at our kids preschool, but not while they attended​​​​​​
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Old 03-03-19, 03:39 AM
  #7957  
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pumped up the mountain bike tires & got out early on the MM before the snow started. timed it just right to be done w just a cpl inches on the ground.



had a little fun by taking a detour on a trail into the great meadows.







wish the raised boardwalk was a little wider. took it real slow. didn't ride off. but was planning in my head how I might fall. almost did at the end


rode longer than usual from Bedford Depot to Alewife Station in Cambridge on the Minuteman. only saw 4 other guys on bikes. wonder if they're anyone I know!?









took a little look at Spy Pond


something about our storms, when heading back West on this trail the precip is usually in my eyes. by time I rode the last leg I had switched to a Showers Pass rain cover, cheap Bolle goggles with the air filter foam removed & a cheap open faced Carhartt balaclava, which all worked pretty well. I was eager to try these goggles again since opening up the vents in this way




my apologies for the obligatory snow/ride selfie


making that left on Mass Ave is always interesting


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Old 03-03-19, 06:59 AM
  #7958  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
pumped up the mountain bike tires & got out early before the snow started. timed it just right to be done w just a cpl or 3 inches on the ground. had a little fun by taking a detour on a trail into the great meadows…
So, @rumrunn6 , who takes these photos, both at a distance and close-up?


I’m reminded of a long-ago MAD Magazine feature about a poor, unrecognized photographer who had to schlep his heavy equipment around and get to a destination before his subject in order to capture the moment of success.

For example, that photographer had to get to the top of the Mountain first, in order to shoot the celebrated Mountain Climber making the first successful ascent.
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Old 03-03-19, 10:35 AM
  #7959  
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Haha I know those photogs rarely got proper credit. but at least back then ppl used photogs. nowadays everyone has a sport cam strapped on

don’t think your question was serious but for reference yesterday I had a cam on my helmet and another in my feed bag. When I donned the rain hat I put the helmet cam on the bar mount and still kept the other handy in the feedbag
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Old 03-03-19, 02:04 PM
  #7960  
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Metro Boston: Good ride today? Pills & Ills edition
MB: Grt? P&I edition

Six months ago today I ruptured my achilles tendon.

At least another three months of PT to go.

Good news is I can ride a bike again (not approved for out of the saddle climbs though), and walking again (with only a slight limp).

Also a friend now has my knee scooter, so it rolls on in the wild.

-mr. bill
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Old 03-03-19, 04:47 PM
  #7961  
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Today I got out for 42 miles on my Trek Boone 7 cross bike with the oh so heavy Schwalbe Winter 30mm studded tires (they felt heavy after that many miles). It felt really good to be out for the longest ride of 2019 and despite the roadside crud I could have easily done this route without studs. I’m looking forward to pulling them off as soon as I can and trying out my new set of 32mm Gravel Kings.

Last edited by Ghazmh; 03-04-19 at 12:49 PM.
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Old 03-06-19, 09:12 AM
  #7962  
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Google maps adds Lime Bikes
Arlington approves permanent Bus/Bike lane : East Arlington inbound

-mr. bill
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Old 03-06-19, 03:47 PM
  #7963  
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Now that we’re in March I am trying to ratchet up my saddle time. Yesterday afternoon I mounted my Bar Mitts to my Boone 7 cross bike equipped with my Schwalbe Winter 30mm tires. I rode 20 miles and do wish I remembered that although it’s below freezing the sun is still melting snow and causing standing puddles. Had I been thoughtful enough I would have clipped on my fender. Oh well, nothing the washing machine couldn’t clean. This morning I suited up with my goggles and full face balaclava, SPD winter boots, and 45Nrth Sturmfist winter gloves with chemical inserts and slid them into the Bar Mitts. I ​​​​​went out at 0500 for 14.4 miles. If I didn’t dress the way I did I don’t think I would have made it for 4 miles.
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Old 03-06-19, 04:00 PM
  #7964  
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Originally Posted by Ghazmh
If I didn’t dress the way I did I don’t think I would have made it for 4 miles.
yup, bitter cold this week!
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Old 03-07-19, 08:07 AM
  #7965  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
yup, bitter cold this week!
I did the same thing again this morning. I wore the same ensemble as yesterday but added my old PI barrier wind/rain resistant pants over my tights and my windbreaker over my soft shell jacket. It was brutally cold. Unsurprisingly I saw no other cyclists but did manage to pass 2 runners. I had a long breathsicle hanging from my frozen over balaclava face panel.
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Old 03-07-19, 09:16 AM
  #7966  
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Originally Posted by Ghazmh
same ensemble as yesterday but added my old PI barrier wind/rain resistant pants over my tights, It was brutally cold
yeah when it's really cold I use two layers on the legs. been playing with approx 6 different combos. just when I get it figured out, the weather changes ... approx 8 yrs ago I saw a set of bib style winter tights, during an early spring visit to a bike shop. they were marked way down. they were thick & awesome & specifically designed for cold weather cycling. shudda got them
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Old 03-07-19, 09:17 AM
  #7967  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
bus/bike lane
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Old 03-07-19, 02:51 PM
  #7968  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
Bus/Bike Lane
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
Nacto Shared Bus-Bike Lane

The feedback during pilot was good from all users - riders, bus operators, and bike riders.

When there are no buses (minutes at a clip) - it's a dream to ride in a shared bus-bike lane.

When there is a bus, especially since it's a slight downhill segment, you pass a bus at a bus stop and never see them again during peak - it takes too long to load/unload.

Much different experience than shared bus/bike/taxi/uber lanes.

-mr. bill

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Old 03-07-19, 02:58 PM
  #7969  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
pass a bus at a bus stop
is that "allowed"?
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Old 03-07-19, 03:51 PM
  #7970  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
is that "allowed"?
On the left side of the bus, yes. (These aren’t school buses.) On the right side of the bus, no.

Bus operators will be trained not to leapfrog bikes. It doesn’t save time for the bus operator.

-mr. bill
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Old 03-08-19, 07:08 AM
  #7971  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
bus/bike lanel
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
Just this morning on the 6-7 AM segment of the Jeff Kuhner talk show on WRKO, he discussed proposals by mayor Marty Walsh to decrease the speed limit in Boston to 20 mph, and increase the number of bus and bike lanes. He was vehemently against it, as were many of the callers, with snide comments about cyclists.

I called in as Jim from Boston “speaking for "Boston’s cycling community” and introduced myself as his Number One Fan among Boston cyclists. I made two points: bicycles are entitled to be on the road, and the more cyclists, the fewer other cars, and the more parking spaces available.

Jeff was pretty gracious, but I (accidentally) got cut off. Afterwards, he made some reasonable remarks about my call, but took me to task to speak for Boston’s cycling community, as “another protected class.” (Another WRKO talk show host, Howie Carr, once referred to us as Spandex-Americans. )

I sent a rebuttal text to the station, FWIW:
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
Hi Jeff,

I called in this morning to “speak for the bicycling community” insofar as I was certain to be the only bicycle commuter to call in. I was speaking for myself, but I am an active participant on an Internet Bike Forum, with much discussion about cycle commuting. I’ve been cycle commuting in Boston for decades so I do claim expertise.

Before I got cut off I was going to make my third point that cyclists are ultimately responsible for their own safety, and I agree with your subsequent comments about cycle-auto collisions.

In the “cycling community” there are two schools of thought about riding in traffic:
As Far Right as Possible: close to the curb; or Take the Lane to be out there and visible to cars. Bike lanes encourage the former behavior, likely more tolerated by motorists.

Bike lanes are not that wide, but then cyclist is in the “door zone” in danger of opening doors from parked cars.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-09-19 at 01:18 PM.
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Old 03-08-19, 07:51 AM
  #7972  
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ahh, I see I'm a little late to the party here.

As many of you know from the Winter Cycling thread, I'm a 365-day cyclist, when it gets too crazy though I do admit I take an Uber/Lyft to work.

I'm up here in Metro West near Rt 38. @rumrunn6, thanks for posting those pictures of the Bedford train stations. My buddy and I cycled over there last summer. We cycled through Concord and Carlisle before taking a dirt road opposite direction of Minute Man National Historical Park. So I guess not too far from Walden, either
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Old 03-08-19, 07:58 AM
  #7973  
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I sent a rebuttal text to the station, FWIW:
Give 'em hell for me, Jim!
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Old 03-08-19, 09:16 AM
  #7974  
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good, thank you Jim!
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Old 03-09-19, 02:15 PM
  #7975  
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Well, the weather was even nicer than predicted today -- if you haven't been outside yet today, get out there; tomorrow will be nasty. I rode from Purgatory Chasm home to Medford, which is always a nice ride. (My husband drives down there for something non-bike-related a few times a year; occasionally I throw the bike in the car and ride home.) Though I realized while putting the bike away that I'd had my lights on all day; extra training, I guess! (I have a dynohub, so the lights pull a few watts off my production.) I was worried there might still be a lot of ice on the roads, especially out further, but they were pretty clear, and once I got back into Lincoln I started seeing a lot more cyclists venturing out of their winter lairs and onto the roads.
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