Hello to this Forum from Boston
 

Hello to this Forum,

I stumbled upon this Forum from another totally unrelated Blog and I was quite impressed at the volume of activity and range of interests. Back in the 60’s in the Motor City, I had an “English Racer,’ and longed to tour at about age 14, but then joined the car culture. In Ann Arbor MI in the 70’s I really realized the utility of bicycles for commuting, and began touring on a five-speed Schwinn Suburban, but soon bought a Mercier as did my girlfriend, later my wife. We toured in Michigan and Ontario.

In 1977 we moved to Boston on our bikes, as a bicycling honeymoon from Los Angeles to Washington, DC and then took the train up to Boston. We have toured in New England and the Maritime Provinces, and one trip to the DelMarVa peninsula. The Mercier wore out and now I ride a Bridgestone RB-1 purchased in about 1991. After the birth of our son in 1988, I have pretty much been a year–round commuter only, but in the past few years I have done a century or two a year and I follow a ten week training program for centuries published long ago in Bicycling Magazine.

I have a really great commute that belies, IMO, the image of Boston as a city unfriendly to bicycling. I live in Downtown and ride to a suburb 14 miles distant in the reverse traffic commuting pattern. Then in the evening, I take my bike back to Boston on a commuter rail train, since the train is empty on the reverse commute. The Train Station is about 3 minutes from work, the Downtown Station is about three miles from home, and the train ride is about one-half hour long. For those who commute in the regular direction, I feel your pain, but my half-commute is so tolerable, that I miss only a few days during the entire year, usually because of rain. I furthermore usually leave home before 6:00 AM, and this is my idea of Peace on Earth. To train for a century, I just do ever-lengthening routes to work.

I have been perusing this site for a few weeks and I have had several comments to make so I hope to make useful contributions to future discussion threads, as well as glean from the comments of others.

Sincerely,

Jim from Boston

Addendum: Since joining Bike Forums, I have also ridden on the Second Annual Fifty Plus Ride at Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes Region in 2010 in conjunction with the (NY) Southern Tier Bicycle Club; and with the Third Annual Ride in Chelsea MI in 2011, called "One Helluva Ride," sponsored by the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society.

Also since subscribing, I have adapted to riding my Cannondale Mountain Bike in rain and winter precipitation, including on icy roads, thanks to advice from the Forums.

Second Addendum: On June 1, 2012 I was hit from behind by a car while commuting home on a Friday evening. I was off work for three months, and off the bike for five. See this post, “One of our own was hit Friday Night,” with my first reply a few weeks later:

The Bridgestone was totaled in the accident, and in April of 2013, I bought a Specialized S-Works.

Third Addendum:
On 7/28/13, I was the "host" for a Fifth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride held in the Metropolitan Boston area.

Fourth Addendum:
On 7/26/14, we did the Sixth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride again in Boston.

Fifth Addendum:
We did the Seventh Annual Fifty-Plus Rides in Chelsea, MI on 7/11/15, and in Raystown, PA on 10/10/15.

Sixth Addendum:
In August this year of 2016, I bought an aluminum Specialized Diverge to use as a new. lighter beater bike, and reserve the heavy duty Cannondale MB for Winter riding, with studded tires. For the past three weeks though, I have had plantar fasciitis, and it's too painful to just stretch my left foot to mount any bike, so I've ridden it just two blocks.

In addition, this has been the nicest riding summer since my accident in 2012. The fasciitis has been getting better, so today (9/10/16), I plan to go for two separate rides, totaling about 25 miles, on the Cannondale which is more comfortable to ride with the platform pedals. Then hopefully, I can resume riding again on the clipless bikes.

See also this summary:

Hi Jim, it sounds as if you never let go of your love of cycling! Glad to have you here to contribute :D .


Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions :) !

East Hill
Forum Moderator

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...a/pinkstar.jpg

Hi Jim, welcome to BF! That's quite a riding schedule/commute you have! I live in Cambridge. Check out the regional forum http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=232 and also this Boston-area one http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=385697

Nice introduction. I should write one about myself. We have a fair bit in common. I lived in Boston and cycled there extensively. I also worked at the Bicycle Workshop on MIT campus. Maybe you were a customer of mine back in 1980 or 1981.

@Jim from Boston, took me a while to figure this thread out. Welcome to BF!! :D

It’s about time…I’ve been on Bike Forums since 2008! FYA, I reconnected with deburn above, just this summer since I remembered his name.

BTW, if I may reciprocate to you, see this post.

Jim

this is hysterical

Glad you're still here, Jim!

What a coincidence that your wife and girlfriend both ride the same bikes. Do they ride together?

I had an 1988 RB4 (wrecked, sadly.) Awesome bike ... way better than a Schwinn Suburban.

Lol, I'd advise against that. I have had more than enough cold rain to satisfy me in this life. Good for you if you can tolerate it.

Now that just sucks ... or half-sucks, because you got a new S-Works. But those Bridgestones .... Solid and dependable commuters in all conditions.

Sorry I didn't do nested quotes in your honor ... maybe after the next cup of coffee.

anyone know how to find your 1st post? I doubt mine was anywhere near as articulate

Hi @Maelochs and @rummrunn,

Thanks for those greetings to this old introduction to BF from 2008.

FYA, I recently wrote about my posting style. rr6, since you asked, my first post to BF after this Introduction, was on 7/14/08. You may find it amusing, since you are a fellow Metro Boston cyclist, and as you previously posted to my thread last January,

My reply (not nested):

In a much later post, written this year I wrote: