rumrunn6

Bedford to Arlington roundtrip on the MM
snuck a ride in last nite after work cuz the weather was turning downhill & family holiday plans this coming weekend. turns out, I don't need a light to see by until 7:15pm, but a light was handy anyway for rd crossings

don't know what this art is on the kiosk at Bedford, but it caught my eye because it is backlit


fading light is fun cuz it's spooky

jimmuller 

Nice pics, especially the B&W of the Budliner at dusk.

IIRC that art is the same image, or part of it, as is in the rosetta on the ground in the picnic bench circle at Depot Park. I'm no historian about this kind of stuff but another BF member (who hasn't been around for a year or so) was. He one posted that was or was part of the battle flag of the Bedford militia at the time of the Revolution. Victory Over Death or some misinterpretation. My Latin is a bit rusty.

rumrunn6

ah! interesting trivia! thanks! now I'm curious! according to Wiki:

The Bedford Flag is the oldest known flag in the United States. It is associated with the Minutemen of Bedford, Massachusetts and the Battles of Lexington and Concord of 1775.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Flag

anx

@rumrunn6 nice pics, and yes the light this time of year is great. I am loving the extended sunny hours, getting back in to my routine of riding everyday again, hopefully will start losing the pounds gained since Thanksgiving

I had fun checking out the beach on my Trek Hybrid at upper mystic lake, not quite beach weather yet but it's getting coming hopefully!

rumrunn6

rholland1951

¨Victory OR Death¨, I think. Those boys were serious.

I took the Ebisu on a quick sprint up to Lexington and back on the Minuteman, didn't really have time for it so I stayed focused on making time and didn't stop whenever an image presented itself to be photographed. I was quick enough, and took one photo of the Ebisu at the end of the ride. Temps in the 50s, a bit more like Spring than some lately. The snow was melting fast.


rod

mr_bill

Usually translated as "Conquer or Death". Legend has it it was the only militia flag at the Concord Bridge, so it predates the war.

You can see it in the Bedford Free Public Library. From the end of the Minuteman, take Railroad Ave around John Glenn Middle School, and at the stop sign where nobody stops, take a right onto the bike trail around the field and past the High School.

rumrunn6

that was a fun day (but early) when I took my son to see the re-enactors in Lexington 16 yrs ago I think he was 6 yrs old

anx

I can't believe it's almost Patriots day again! I too had fun there myself 9 years ago, in Concord. May have to take a ride on over again this year. Being of British heritage myself I enjoyed watching the red coats marching ;p

jimmuller 

Speaking of Patiot's Day, that's the weekend when some of us who participate in the C&V forum do our spring CCRT ride. About 50 miles, Dennis to Wellfleet, over to the Atlantic, back to Dennis. All are welcome!

I rode my commute again today, took the Grandis, a.k.a. the Blue Streak w/Yellow Trim. A nice day!

rholland1951

Win or die, yup. Fun with Latin.

Took the LHT on another quick spin to Lexington, begun too late and so not doted on. The trees definitely still have the "bare ruin'd choirs" look, it's getting on time for them to leaf out so we can get some sweet birds singing in them again.


rod

rumrunn6

great pic

rumrunn6

on my calendar. hoping to make it this year. I know I say that every year, but the odds increase every year

anx

Thanks, '09 was back when photography was more of a hobby for me than biking/cycling has become.

Jim, can you share more details. One of my New Year resolutions was to not turn down the chance to ride any group rides this year

jimmuller 

Ah! First, some pics:

4/25/2015

My sweetie brings cookies

Arriving at the Atlantic


4.16.2016


4.15.2017


You get the idea.

Okay, nominal start 10AM. Unless BF member @spiker checks in and says the westward extension is compelete we'll start from the Dennis trailhead parking lot, rt134, on the left about half a mile south of exit 9 on rt6 (the Mid-Cape Highway). The run to the South Wellfleet trailhead is 22 miles, so the complete round trip is 44. The Wellfleet end is at Lecount Hollow Rd which allows a mile or so run over to Lecount Beach. A few miles from the Dennis end is the Harwich Rotary (yes, a real bike rotary, hey this is Massachusetts after all) with the Old Colony Rail Trail going about 5 miles over to Chatham. Anyone who absotively posilutely wants to hit 50 miles can zip over that way for a bit. Otherwise the entire trip is a bit under 50.

The southern/western end has a road crossing seemingly every mile but they thin out as you go further. There are no steep hills to speak of except two bridges over rt6 and one place where the trial joins a road to go over another bridge. It is all paved. Mostly it runs through scraggly pine forest. There are few amenities though the restroom building at Nickerson State Park (~10 miles) is usually open, and in Orleans (~13 miles) there is a great coffeeshop called the Chocolate Sparrow with restrooms and great hot chocolate. On cold rides it is highly welcome. On Lecont Hollow Rd a hundred yards or so from the trailhead is a popular bakery, and I think a sub shop or something.

We usually run it at a moderate pace but don't make a point of everyone sticking together. Typically everybody will stop at Nickerson S.P. and the Ch. Sparrow, and we generally don't get too separated since it is supposed to be a group ride, not a bunch of individuals. We usually eat lunch (which at least some of us carry with us) in Wellfleet. On the return we sometimes split up more if some are more anxious to head home. But at the end it is typical for most of us to wait for everyone else to finish.

Oh, one more thing. It can be cold and windy.
Lunch at the Wellfleet end, 2016

anx

@jimmuller Thanks for sharing info and pics, this looks fun! I wish my wife was in to cycling and would join but maybe I can convince her we should stay in a B&B in Dennis for the weekend

I'll check out the C&V thread

rumrunn6

re: weather, my Mom is fond of saying, any day is a Cap Cod day
re: making a weekend out of it, definitely if you can. I have to work early Sunday morning but I might stay in a cheap motel the night before (see Expedia, etc) but I'm close enough to make a "Cape Cod day" w/o a stayover

I've done this trail solo but never in a group, so that would be a highlight/milestone. I think each leg takes approx 1.5 - 2 hrs under best conditions? Jim do you have any records of time to turnaround & whole elapsed time? meaning, if we start at 10 are we done at 2? 3? 4?. estimating this might help ppl plan their travel either before or after

jsilvia

What is the date for this ride ? Saturday ,Sunday or Monday? If its a Sunday I'm in.

jimmuller 

Hmm, never kept any records. I'd guess being back in 4 hrs is aggressive but doable. Someone needing to get back quickly (or not wanting to keep a bike out in the rain any longer than necessary) can always jump out ahead. The return has usually been more fragmented as folks tire or are in a bigger hurry. So getting back by 2 isn't likely, by 4 certainly is. If you figure 12mph that's 4hrs of riding, than add in 10 to 15min in Orleans and half an hour to an hour for lunch/photos/"ohh, ahh"-ing in Wellfleet.

Can't be Sunday, has to be Saturday for me. Sorry.

jsilvia

So the date would be 4/14/18 @ 10am? I'll try to make it. Sounds like a fun Ride.

anx

Weather permitting, I'm in!

Had fun today on a group ride on the Boston marathon route out to Wellesley and back in to Boston (and onward to Medford for me). Heartbreak Hill definitely does earn it's name, a good 35 miles for me when all said and done door to door. A good workmen never blames his tools so it was the Trek Hybrid that kept from the front of the group on the return leg but rather my own legs.


I'm at the rear here.


I'm somewhere at the back in the middle.



Made a few new bike riding friends and caught up with one or two old ones.

Ghazmh

Took Ghazmh junior for a ride along the Minuteman today. I was on my steel Soma Smoothie with its silvery components and 5800 groupset. It was the first ride of the year on this bike and it was begging to be pushed hard. I had to reign her in however as Ghazmh jr was setting the pace and he is 11. Somewhere in Arlington we were heading West and I saw Jim and Sharon on the tandem heading East. I gave a quick wave but didn't have enough time to get out a verbal call. I don't think they saw or recognized me. It was a great day to enjoy a ride.

Ghazmh

I'm tentatively in. I took that Monday off and if the weather is tolerable I plan on doing an overnighter to Portsmouth Sunday and backtracking home Monday. If Mrs Ghazmh gives me a hall pass for Saturday too I'll be there.

jimmuller 

Great to get G Jr out! No, we didn't see you enought to recognize you. Sorry. It would be great if you can make the CCRT ride.

We ended with 58 mile, about 3 of which were walking the bike through Great Meadows. A great day.

rholland1951

Had a late afternoon ride on the Minuteman up to Lexington, on the Ebisu this time. Spring definitely has its nose under the tent flap, sniffing audibly. Some on the path responded with short pants and short sleeves; not me, but I managed to lay off enough layers to avoid overheating, and at times to avoid heating, period. It was one of those days when there was a lot of company on the Minuteman, but the ride managed to be serene anyway. I blame the Ebisu.








rod