Ghazmh

Cool, thanks!

jordibeard

Not sure if it counts as metro boston but I rode from Cambridge down to Providence on Saturday, before all this cold weather rolled in. Surprisingly nice roads all the way until I hit RI. We rode down, hung out in Providence for a few hours and then hopped the commuter rail home in the evening. Lovely day all around.

rholland1951

Rode out on the Ebisu in the early afternoon: the temperature had hit 50, it was sunny, and conditions were better than those forecast for the immediate future. My imagination seems to have gone out for a beer, so I simply rolled up the Minuteman towards Depot Park. Once I made it to Arlington's Great Meadow, the Bicycle Gods decided I should stop and change a flat, either as penance for some infraction (take your pick), or simply because they consider it fun to watch. This may be my first flat this year, or maybe not, but it's definitely the first flat on the 670+ miles that I've put on this set of Compass Stampede Pass Extralight tires. So far, so good. I got to work, pausing from time to time to chat with people (pedestrians, cyclists) who inquired as to my well-being and offered to help. My two favorites were an old Japanese couple who, on being told that I had a spare tube and tools, said, "Oh! Tools!", nodded sagely, and walked off, along with the cyclist who asked, "You got air?" while I was holding a Zefal Hpx in my right hand. Nice folks, all 6 or 8 of them... Found the hole in the tube, couldn't find a corresponding sharp embedded in the tire; while that's an unsatisfying state of affairs, there was no second flat during the subsequent 17 miles or so of riding.




That dealt with, I enjoyed the rest of the ride, grooving on the cool air and clear light.




I invited this turkey home for Thanksgiving Dinner.




Encountered a pair of Zagster users in Lexington, the first I've seen. Happy with them, apparently.








rod

rumrunn6

better now than when the temps fall further

rholland1951

My hat's off to anyone who rides in this cold wind today. And what it's blowing in is a caution: February in November.

rod

rholland1951

Sounds like a great ride! Definitely counts.

Jordi, what route did you take?

rod

mr_bill

Yesterday I watched two flocks of geese take off from the reservoir at sunrise. Today nowhere to be seen.

-mr. bill

autonomy

Oh yeah, absolutely. How was your experience taking the bike on the commutter rail?

I picked up my new bike from REI last night and was going to ride it to work today, but was too tired to set it up. I didn't push on it because the wife wanted me to carpool with her and take the car back, as she's going into the city in the afternoon. Car thermometer said 41 at 6:30am so it wasn't that bad... but it's dropping and will be below freezing for the evening commute. I did see quite a few people on bikes this morning.

My new bike, the ADV 3.1, will be used for mixed terrain and general 'workhorse' activities like commuting, kid hauling, etc. Can't wait to take it out on some shakedown rides, the cold isn't pleasant but I'll be well prepared

autonomy

P.S. A couple days ago I saw a lady cycling uphill on Park Ave in Arlington on a Yuba or Xtracycle with two - TWO - kids of elementary school age. Don't know if she was going all the way up but huge kudos

mr_bill

Something that you don't see in the Netherlands.

(Though I was amazed at how much climbing my runkeeper logs showed. About the same climb, similar grade, but just a few meters up and a few meters down, over and over and over again.)

-mr. bill

mr,grumpy 

Holly Molly is it windy out today! Peddling like crazy and getting nowhere!

anx

It's been way too cold for me out there this week, managed to get out at lunch today tho for freezing cold ride along the Mystic River, didn't stop to take too many photos but glad I got a chance to get out and see the sun, hoping for a little warmup at the weekend and more sun.

Ghazmh

Ill be out tomorrow mid-late morning, hope to exchange waves with y'all.

jordibeard

No issues. We planned it so that we'd be on a relatively empty, off-peak train. Would be an utter pain in the ass on a rush hour train, if they even let us on with bikes. The conductor was nice enough to let us store our bikes in a closed train car.

Didn't really plan it out at all ahead of time. Rode from Harvard Square through Newton to meet a friend in Dover, then more or less watched the sun and guessed which way was south until we hit the RI border. I'd never biked in Dover— ended up on a few gorgeous farm roads. It was a blast to do a ride that didn't loop back for once. Really felt like we were covering territory.

I've been out riding the past few frigid days. Did a nice loop out from Cambridge to Needham yesterday. Learned my lesson and bought some winter riding clothes this morning. This evening it felt like i was going to blow right off the Mass ave bridge too! Was hoping to do a ride out west of Boston this weekend... but I think it might be just a bit too cold

rumrunn6

working 'till 10 maybe I shud bring my bike to work for afterwards

jimmuller 

Nice!

I spent about three years commuting via car/bike/train. I'd drive from Waltham to the Univ/RR Ave train station, take the commuter train to N Attleboro, then bike over to Lincoln, RI. I imagine that's the same commuter line. It was quite nice, but of course they let you do it during commuter hours only in the non-busy direction. You roll your bike into the handicapped romm at the end of the car, find a way to lean it against the side wall, and just sit or stand thee keeping it company. I got to know the conductor pretty well and he always showed me special small courtesies. Some days there were a lot of bikes!

We are planning to walk parts of Great Meadows in Concord and then ride the Old Reformatory RT. We figure it might be in the woods and less susceptible to the wind, less stressful. Maybe we'll see you.

mr_bill

Mystery trail starting at Scutra.





-mr. bill

anx

Flour?

jimmuller 

Don't know. It looks like power.

Last year (I think it was) I saw a white trail in the Spy Pond area and it turned out to be from some guy dragging a block of marble or something. When I overtook him he had been stopped by a policeman and was getting a talkin' to.

rumrunn6

artist, no doubt

Ghazmh

This weekend was pretty cold. I was out Saturday and Sunday mid to late mornings for 30 mile rides. Short by warm weather weekend standards but pretty good for mid 30's. Plenty of other riders to be seen enjoying their ride. Fingers and toes remained content enough.

anx

It was definitely warmer today than yesterday, or even Friday when i was last out. Managed to so some riding through Medford and Winchester, a quick 10 mile loop. On the way back saw police and fire in North Medford but no smoke thankfully.

Heading to rt16 by the Mystic River


Perfect timing at Rt16, someone had just pressed for the light and no cars ran through the light today, that must be a first!


Bridge over the Mystic


Crossing Main St in Medford, Colleen's


At the light at the crossing over Governers and Lawrence


Emergency Vehicles in North Medford



I hate this rotory at Winthrop and High


Heading home and the Canadian Geese were playing chicken with the traffic, and me

eabeaj

Same guy, same thing. I heard he was trying to drag a chalk path all the way out to the prison in Concord. Don't know if he made it. As public art goes I actually find it kind of subtly moving, but that's just me.

Got to try out a new gift this weekend on a 36-mile group ride in 30-40 degree temps: a Rapha "Pro Team" (!) baselayer. All I can say is I forgot I was wearing it within minutes, and as one of two thin layers it kept me appropriately not too chilly. Score one for the wife.

mr_bill

He made it.

Elm Street near the Route 2 Merge at Best Western:



-mr. bill

drewguy

I hope he accepted!