Metro Boston: Good ride today?
09-09-18, 08:38 PM
#7701
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
It means I injured myself. Months of riding out to PT gone in less than a second with pop-pop Labor Day night - I was walking and tripped but did not fall.
I ruptured my left achiles tendon, go in for surgery this week.
(Maybe we need a pills and ills subthread of Good Ride Today?)
On the plus side, the Kneerover Go Hybrid is awesome, and anytime I’m on the Minuteman is all good. And first time ever that I ever had someone say “way to go” as they passed me.
On the negative side, I always knew that brick sidewalks suck, but BRICK SIDEWALKS SUCK SUCK! Before or after.
-mr. bill
I ruptured my left achiles tendon, go in for surgery this week.
(Maybe we need a pills and ills subthread of Good Ride Today?)
On the plus side, the Kneerover Go Hybrid is awesome, and anytime I’m on the Minuteman is all good. And first time ever that I ever had someone say “way to go” as they passed me.
On the negative side, I always knew that brick sidewalks suck, but BRICK SIDEWALKS SUCK SUCK! Before or after.
-mr. bill
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
09-09-18, 09:52 PM
#7702
Chuggin' Along
I'm still trying to find my perfect fifty-mile route. From North Billerica, I go to Ferns, then Concord Center, Walden Pond, then I follow 126 to Rt 27. I normally take 62 back into Concord Center, but today I Picked up Baker Rd.off of 62 and crossed Rte 2 from there. I ended up back at Fern's eventually, and after checking my mileage I decided to go through Chelmsford to get home. By the time I rolled up to the house, My mileage was 49.9 miles. Arghh!
Somewhere along the ride, I saw a large handmade sign in front of a nice white picket fence. The sign read: Please "return our flower box". Pathetic!
Somewhere along the ride, I saw a large handmade sign in front of a nice white picket fence. The sign read: Please "return our flower box". Pathetic!
__________________
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.
09-10-18, 06:40 AM
#7703
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
Sunday morning I rode my R3 to a shop in Lexington to take a carbon/titanium wonder bike for a ride. I managed to get a flat in Bedford on 62 while on the test ride. Thankfully I brought my tool keg and pump along! Needless to say the R3 is now for sale!
09-10-18, 10:02 AM
#7704
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
I thought we could agree on a specific meeting time and place for a meet and greet and group photo followed by a show and go ride. Maybe allow a fifteen minute grace period, and perhaps a coordinator with cell phone access. Over the next week or so we could haggle over the details.
We did such an event over a year ago for a visiting Bike Forums “dignitary,” @qcpmsame, visiting from Florida. Jimmuller and Sharon, Ghazmh, (?) someone else, and myself showed up on a raw April Saturday morning.
Saturday is always a busy day for me, with evening plans requiring me to be home in Kenmore Square by at least 5PM. I would sugggest meeting in Arlington about noon or so.
....
We did such an event over a year ago for a visiting Bike Forums “dignitary,” @qcpmsame, visiting from Florida. Jimmuller and Sharon, Ghazmh, (?) someone else, and myself showed up on a raw April Saturday morning.
Saturday is always a busy day for me, with evening plans requiring me to be home in Kenmore Square by at least 5PM. I would sugggest meeting in Arlington about noon or so.
....
rod
09-10-18, 10:11 AM
#7705
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
rod
09-10-18, 11:22 AM
#7706
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
ps. Thanks for all the well wishes. My bike is now on a trainer, so will be one-legged riding nowhere for a bit. (With a post-surgery hiatus even of that.)
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-10-18 at 12:50 PM.
09-10-18, 02:58 PM
#7707
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,585 Times
in
2,344 Posts
09-10-18, 05:48 PM
#7708
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
Hi Rod! I tested a 622SLX and am pretty sure that's what I'm going to have built up. I loved every aspect of the ride (except for the overly cushioned saddle) but may still test a full ti bike before fully committing. So far the 622SLX is the model they recommend based on my objectives. The example I rode has bare carbon tubes, bare titanium chainstays and orange lugs. It had SRAM Etap. I rode Mass ave over to 2A then to Concord Ctr where it literally disappeared under me as I pulled each pedal stroke effortlessly up Monuments St. Seeing as I'm really really into cycling it seems like the next step for me to transition to something custom. Lord knows I'll get returns on every penny spent. I'm thinning the herd for sure. The R3 is going and when I get a moment I'll prep the Roubaix for a photo spread. For the past 8 months my cross bike has filled the Roubaixs role and that of a winter road bike, enough so that I think there is too much overlap to keep the Roubaix. After putting almost 5000 miles on it I have to say I like the comfortable ride but won't do road disk again. They are powerful but having been there and done that I can say based on real world experience rim brakes are lighter, cheaper, and good enough that the advantage of disk doesn't outweigh the added cost of acquisition ownership. Maybe others made the same conclusion without needing to own a disc road bike.
Last edited by Ghazmh; 09-10-18 at 05:54 PM.
09-10-18, 08:38 PM
#7709
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Boston Roads
Posts: 975
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 507 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
133 Posts
I misjudged the forecast a bit today. Great, cool morning ride on the way in, more than just a drizzle on the way back. I got to be a good samaritan today - as I was passing the crazy intersections by Alewife station, I saw a bike lying in the middle of the road... "oh crap!", I thought, and started looking for a person. Thankfully it belonged to a lady and her daughter in a car who had to stop a little further down the road. The bike apparently dropped from the hitch rack - they never unfolded it open so all the weight was on the rubber straps. I showed them where to pull over safely, how to use the rack correctly, and then secured the bike. Phew. They offered me a ride but I was close enough to home plus I needed the work out.
And then just as I left it started pouring buckets. I haven't ridden in rain like this in a while and forgot how much fun it was! My shorts got a little wet but my jacket held up and for the rest I have fenders. There were still cyclists and soccer players out everywhere despite the rain.
09-10-18, 08:44 PM
#7710
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Boston Roads
Posts: 975
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 507 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
133 Posts
Hi Rod! I tested a 622SLX and am pretty sure that's what I'm going to have built up. I loved every aspect of the ride (except for the overly cushioned saddle) but may still test a full ti bike before fully committing. So far the 622SLX is the model they recommend based on my objectives. The example I rode has bare carbon tubes, bare titanium chainstays and orange lugs. It had SRAM Etap. I rode Mass ave over to 2A then to Concord Ctr where it literally disappeared under me as I pulled each pedal stroke effortlessly up Monuments St. Seeing as I'm really really into cycling it seems like the next step for me to transition to something custom. Lord knows I'll get returns on every penny spent. I'm thinning the herd for sure. The R3 is going and when I get a moment I'll prep the Roubaix for a photo spread. For the past 8 months my cross bike has filled the Roubaixs role and that of a winter road bike, enough so that I think there is too much overlap to keep the Roubaix. After putting almost 5000 miles on it I have to say I like the comfortable ride but won't do road disk again. They are powerful but having been there and done that I can say based on real world experience rim brakes are lighter, cheaper, and good enough that the advantage of disk doesn't outweigh the added cost of acquisition ownership. Maybe others made the same conclusion without needing to own a disc road bike.
Prices starting at $7,704 - not surprising... but still
Honestly, Seven is definitely the dream/Lambo of bikes... this or Firefly. I see them on the trail/roads quite often and I really like how awesome yet unassuming they look. If you don't know what it is, you'll never guess.
09-14-18, 11:26 PM
#7712
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
Rode the LHT East on Friday.
A flagman's work is never done.
Tombstones and buttercups at the Bell Rock Cemetery.
Moonlight on the Northern Strand.
rod
A flagman's work is never done.
Tombstones and buttercups at the Bell Rock Cemetery.
Moonlight on the Northern Strand.
rod
09-15-18, 06:52 AM
#7713
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,585 Times
in
2,344 Posts
just heard we might get 4" of rain Monday night. I know that's nothing compared to the Carolinas right now. but it will probably mean some basement flooding at my condo. I took Tuesday night off from my 2nd job so I could rest or go for a bike ride. forecasting Florence remnants so far away is not reliable, especially with it moving 2mph right now
Rod, the flagman pic is outstanding!
Rod, the flagman pic is outstanding!
09-15-18, 06:57 AM
#7714
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
just heard we might get 4" of rain Monday night. I know that's nothing compared to the Carolinas right now. but it will probably mean some basement flooding at my condo. I took Tuesday night off from my 2nd job so I could rest or go for a bike ride. forecasting Florence remnants so far away is not reliable, especially with it moving 2mph right now
Rod, the flagman pic is outstanding!
Rod, the flagman pic is outstanding!
rod
09-15-18, 09:02 AM
#7715
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
I’m planning to attend and hope to bring a non-BF local cycling companion who lives in the vicinity of the MM:
Minuteman Bikeway Day
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Minuteman Bikeway on Saturday, September 29, when Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford will host a tri-town celebration of the popular rail-trail…
Arlington’s Minuteman Bikeway Day celebrations will include a community reception at Whittemore Park in Arlington Center, co-hosted by the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee (ABAC) and the Aeronaut Arlington Beer Garden with live music, local food vendors, additional bicycle racks, and (of course) great beer! …
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Minuteman Bikeway on Saturday, September 29, when Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford will host a tri-town celebration of the popular rail-trail…
Arlington’s Minuteman Bikeway Day celebrations will include a community reception at Whittemore Park in Arlington Center, co-hosted by the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee (ABAC) and the Aeronaut Arlington Beer Garden with live music, local food vendors, additional bicycle racks, and (of course) great beer! …
Thanks for that announcement, Rod. Since the Minuteman is so central to this thread, would anyone be interested in meeting up that day, maybe for a group photo and/or ride?
Jim from Boston, that seems like a natural. How do we organize it?
rod
rod
I thought we could agree on a specific meeting time and place for a meet and greet and group photo followed by a show and go ride. Maybe allow a fifteen minute grace period, and perhaps a coordinator with cell phone access. Over the next week or so we could haggle over the details.
We did such an event over a year ago for a visiting Bike Forums “dignitary,” @qcpmsame, visiting from Florida. Jimmuller and Sharon, Ghazmh, (?) someone else, and myself showed up on a raw April Saturday morning.
Saturday is always a busy day for me, with evening plans requiring me to be home in Kenmore Square by at least 5PM. I would sugggest meeting in Arlington about noon or so.
We did such an event over a year ago for a visiting Bike Forums “dignitary,” @qcpmsame, visiting from Florida. Jimmuller and Sharon, Ghazmh, (?) someone else, and myself showed up on a raw April Saturday morning.
Saturday is always a busy day for me, with evening plans requiring me to be home in Kenmore Square by at least 5PM. I would sugggest meeting in Arlington about noon or so.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 09-15-18 at 09:06 AM.
09-15-18, 12:20 PM
#7716
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Boston Roads
Posts: 975
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 507 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
133 Posts
That's a great interaction, love those kinds of random encounters! I was biking near The Constitution in Charlestown, and a bike sign was sending me through a gated street. I would've gone through but at the same time a security attendant was coming out if his booth. I asked him if I could go through - just in case. His response was "Of course, it's your park!"
Not cool at all: https://lexington.wickedlocal.com/news/20180914/several-hundred-tacks-found-on-minuteman-bikeway-in-arlington
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
I am lucky to be on the Cape and did a 15-mile ride this morning through some of the smaller streets of Centerville and Osterville. Man, there are some houses here... the scenery and roads are just OK (I'm spoiled plus it's mostly houses), though the dead end Sea View Lane or whatever it's called brings one to a lovely harbor (uploading from a phone, hope it doesn't end up being huge)
Not cool at all: https://lexington.wickedlocal.com/news/20180914/several-hundred-tacks-found-on-minuteman-bikeway-in-arlington
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
I am lucky to be on the Cape and did a 15-mile ride this morning through some of the smaller streets of Centerville and Osterville. Man, there are some houses here... the scenery and roads are just OK (I'm spoiled plus it's mostly houses), though the dead end Sea View Lane or whatever it's called brings one to a lovely harbor (uploading from a phone, hope it doesn't end up being huge)
09-15-18, 03:15 PM
#7717
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
I was biking near The Constitution in Charlestown, and a bike sign was sending me through a gated street. I would've gone through but at the same time a security attendant was coming out if his booth. I asked him if I could go through - just in case. His response was "Of course, it's your park!"
Not cool at all: Several hundred tacks found on Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington - News - Lexington Minuteman - Lexington, MA
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
Not cool at all: Several hundred tacks found on Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington - News - Lexington Minuteman - Lexington, MA
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
And I guess I should carry a flat kit with me on my kneerover. Will have to source 9” tubes too. Sigh.
-mr. bill
09-15-18, 03:43 PM
#7718
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
Rode the GT to Arlington Center to help man the ABAC booth for Town Day. Good engagement, busy day.
That done, I rode on up the Minuteman to Depot Park, enjoying the fine Late Summer weather and marveling at the throngs, basically the same demographics that I had spent the morning talking with. The congestion only got a little nuts a couple of times.
For all that, it was a peaceful ride.
rod
That done, I rode on up the Minuteman to Depot Park, enjoying the fine Late Summer weather and marveling at the throngs, basically the same demographics that I had spent the morning talking with. The congestion only got a little nuts a couple of times.
For all that, it was a peaceful ride.
rod
09-15-18, 07:43 PM
#7719
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,585 Times
in
2,344 Posts
we stumbled upon the same thing. we strolled only briefly cuz we wanted a sandwich & salad from The Kickstand after riding from Bedford. Wifey was the driving force cuz she got back on the horse after breaking her wrist on July 4th
we passed up the festival food
showed her the green bike box on Mass Ave
it was a shake out ride with a new to me old GT. the fork has a squeak & it had a little chain suck? sometimes in the middle front ring. wider tires should arrive in a cpl days. previous owner swapped in these 40mm WTB Nano tires for speed. he had a regular run thru the woods he kept trying for a personal record. I put them at 10 below max in rear & 20 below max in front for the paved MM trail. the center line runs swiftly but there was a tiny hum from the tread. gonna put them on my Trek FX to sell it
we passed up the festival food
showed her the green bike box on Mass Ave
it was a shake out ride with a new to me old GT. the fork has a squeak & it had a little chain suck? sometimes in the middle front ring. wider tires should arrive in a cpl days. previous owner swapped in these 40mm WTB Nano tires for speed. he had a regular run thru the woods he kept trying for a personal record. I put them at 10 below max in rear & 20 below max in front for the paved MM trail. the center line runs swiftly but there was a tiny hum from the tread. gonna put them on my Trek FX to sell it
Last edited by rumrunn6; 09-16-18 at 06:28 PM.
09-16-18, 07:01 AM
#7721
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
we stumbled upon the same thing. we strolled only briefly cuz we wanted a sandwich & salad from The Kickstand after riding from Bedford. Wifey was the driving force cuz she got back on the horse after breaking her wrist on July 4th
we passed up the festival food
showed her the green bike box on Mass Ave
it was a shake out ride with a new to me old GT. the fork has a squeak & it had a little chain suck? sometimes in the middle front ring. wider tires should arrive in a cpl days
we passed up the festival food
showed her the green bike box on Mass Ave
it was a shake out ride with a new to me old GT. the fork has a squeak & it had a little chain suck? sometimes in the middle front ring. wider tires should arrive in a cpl days
Which GT (model/year) is that? I've had a lot of fun with mine (1987 GT Karakoram) over the years.
Enjoy!
rod
09-16-18, 10:05 AM
#7722
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,585 Times
in
2,344 Posts
Timberline 29r 1.0. don't know what year. maybe 2014 if I'm lucky. but it got tortured. chain is clean & lubed. but got some burs on the small chain ring that could be the cause of some chain suck. gotta try filing them before bailing on the middle chain ring which looks worn. previous owner had a shop change his rear cog & chain, but not the chain rings. this is my 3rd GT, the others were conventional rigid 26ers
Last edited by rumrunn6; 09-16-18 at 06:11 PM.
09-16-18, 01:22 PM
#7723
Full Member
Not cool at all: Several hundred tacks found on Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington - News - Lexington Minuteman - Lexington, MA
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
Not cool at all: Several hundred tacks found on Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington - News - Lexington Minuteman - Lexington, MA
Glad this didn't happen during the am commute.
Could be unrelated, but that both incidents involve thumbtacks is suspicious.
Newton incident:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/newt...tepping-patrol
09-17-18, 10:57 PM
#7724
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,176
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
Rolled out at noon on Monday on the Trucker DeLuxe and its Rat Trap Pass Extralights, 29 miles through Arlington, Lexington, Bedford, Concord, and Lincoln, a mix of rail trails and roads, dirt and pavement that stopped just short of the Concord River, a pleasant ride in nice weather.
A Bedford Town truck on a mysterious mission on Reformatory Branch.
The Cambridge Reservoir was looking a bit lower than I expected. Perhaps Tuesday's Florence fragment will fix that.
Nice day, Summer while it lasts.
rod
A Bedford Town truck on a mysterious mission on Reformatory Branch.
The Cambridge Reservoir was looking a bit lower than I expected. Perhaps Tuesday's Florence fragment will fix that.
Nice day, Summer while it lasts.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 09-17-18 at 11:22 PM.
09-18-18, 11:18 AM
#7725
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Easton, MA
Posts: 632
Bikes: Specialized Ruby Sport
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 318 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times
in
165 Posts
That's one of the biggest pink flamingo infestations I've ever seen. Someone sprang for the extra large flock. I've seen this done as a fundraiser. You pay to have someone's lawn flamingoed. The recipient of the flamingos pays to have them removed. For an additional fee, they can send them to someone else. I wanted the marching band to do it when my daughter was in high school, but the director wasn't looking for any new ideas. He just had them try to collect money door to door.