Metro Boston: Good ride today?
07-14-18, 06:19 PM
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Today I went back to the Vineyard for a 85 mile ride. 79 on the island and 6 for the round trip to and from the small parking lot in Falmouth.
I soaked in every bird song, sea breeze, farm field and mile after mile of rock walls. I gazed upon a rolling meadow in Aquinah and could imagine Chief Brody trying to convince the mayor to close the beaches.
I soaked in every bird song, sea breeze, farm field and mile after mile of rock walls. I gazed upon a rolling meadow in Aquinah and could imagine Chief Brody trying to convince the mayor to close the beaches.
rod
07-15-18, 08:46 AM
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Took my first ride on the CCRT yesterday. Started in Brewster and rode to Wellfleet. 29 miles round trip. It was a perfect day for a ride.
07-15-18, 08:51 AM
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Back from Copenhagen. Last day we hired a Christiania Bikes bike and headed out.
Rare “selfie” while on the bike. We are in Refshaleøen outside of Copenhagen Contemporary, a brand new museum which very recently opened in an area rich in industrial & water heritage, but is gentrifying with brewers, distillers & food. You can take a ferry there, or go around the long way. Remind anyone of part of East Boston?
-mr. bill
Rare “selfie” while on the bike. We are in Refshaleøen outside of Copenhagen Contemporary, a brand new museum which very recently opened in an area rich in industrial & water heritage, but is gentrifying with brewers, distillers & food. You can take a ferry there, or go around the long way. Remind anyone of part of East Boston?
-mr. bill
07-15-18, 02:27 PM
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Back from Copenhagen. Last day we hired a Christiania Bikes bike and headed out.
Rare “selfie” while on the bike. We are in Refshaleøen outside of Copenhagen Contemporary, a brand new museum which very recently opened in an area rich in industrial & water heritage, but is gentrifying with brewers, distillers & food. You can take a ferry there, or go around the long way. Remind anyone of part of East Boston?
-mr. bill
Rare “selfie” while on the bike. We are in Refshaleøen outside of Copenhagen Contemporary, a brand new museum which very recently opened in an area rich in industrial & water heritage, but is gentrifying with brewers, distillers & food. You can take a ferry there, or go around the long way. Remind anyone of part of East Boston?
-mr. bill
rod
07-15-18, 08:05 PM
#7455
Chuggin' Along
While I was at the Dunkin' Donuts in West Concord, I spotted this crew. What a cool Mom!
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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.
07-15-18, 08:21 PM
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Last edited by mr_bill; 07-16-18 at 11:35 AM.
07-15-18, 09:12 PM
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Took the GT Karakoram up the Minuteman to Lexington Center before supper. Warm and humid afternoon, nice if you don't mind wet air.
rod
rod
07-16-18, 07:04 AM
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07-16-18, 07:59 AM
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nice to see ppl riding the cape & the vineyard. the Lexington bike share seemed well equipped (& unused) when I passed Friday night's concert on the green
I think this is near "Mal's"? so maybe Arlington? looks like that area is "rated"? as bicycle friendly? by the League of American Bicyclists? hmmm should have them evaluate the Bruce Freeman in Chelmsford & the Assabet River in Maynard & see what they think
I think this is near "Mal's"? so maybe Arlington? looks like that area is "rated"? as bicycle friendly? by the League of American Bicyclists? hmmm should have them evaluate the Bruce Freeman in Chelmsford & the Assabet River in Maynard & see what they think
07-16-18, 09:29 AM
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#4 ), communities, businesses, and universities for their "bike-friendliness", as part of their Bicycle Friendly America program. The process for getting ranked involves an application and testimonials and evaluation against published criteria; it keeps those involved busy for some months. There are levels (Gold, Silver, Bronze) for communities that qualify. Locally, Cambridge and Somerville are Gold, Boston is Silver, Arlington and Lexington are Bronze. Each rated community gets a limited number of signs like the one you saw to post at their border; Arlington has a few, too, one of which I believe is posted on the Cambridge line on the Minuteman (but I could be wrong about that). So, the Minuteman doesn't have a rating, but Cambridge, Arlington, and Lexington do (and their stewardship of the Minuteman presumably contributed to that). Bedford doesn't, whether because they chose not to commit resources to the somewhat involved application process, or because the League flipped them off when they applied, I don't know. None of the Bruce Freeman Trail or Assabet Valley Rail Trail communities are League-rated, for whatever reason.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 07-16-18 at 09:41 AM.
07-16-18, 09:51 AM
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the Minuteman doesn't have a rating, but Cambridge, Arlington, and Lexington do (and their stewardship of the Minuteman presumably contributed to that). Bedford doesn't, whether because they chose not to commit resources to the somewhat involved application process, or because the League flipped them off when they applied, I don't know. None of the Bruce Freeman Trail or Assabet Valley Rail Trail communities are League-rated, for whatever reason.
07-16-18, 10:30 AM
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07-17-18, 03:54 PM
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Monday's bicycle content involved driving into Boston to donate a bike to Bikes Not Bombs. Mr. Google led me a merry chase, but I finally got to the address on Amory Street. Good folks.
Today's bicycle content involved riding the Nordavinden out the Minuteman a ways around lunchtime, ahead of the promised thunderstorms. I had glanced at the weather radar before I started and it looked like the only serious action was in the Northwest corner of Massachusetts, so I assumed I had several hours, and rolled off merrily through air like bathwater.
I stopped to take a picture of the Norda grooving with the vegetable riot in progress at Arlington's Great Meadow.
A warm wind was tossing the treetops like the manes of a herd of horses, under clouds marching North..
I turned around at Bedford Street and rode home, noting that the vernal pools had turned into mudflats; perhaps today's rains will recharge them. A woman walking asked if I were going to get caught in the downpour; remembering the weather radar, I told her I expected to be under a roof by then. She seemed displeased with that answer. As I crossed into East Arlington from Arlington Center, the wind, still frisky, got about 10 degrees cooler in the space of half-a-block. I put the bike away and opened up the house, grateful for the cool air. The rain began, and the thunder. It's still raining now, four and a half hours later.
rod
Today's bicycle content involved riding the Nordavinden out the Minuteman a ways around lunchtime, ahead of the promised thunderstorms. I had glanced at the weather radar before I started and it looked like the only serious action was in the Northwest corner of Massachusetts, so I assumed I had several hours, and rolled off merrily through air like bathwater.
I stopped to take a picture of the Norda grooving with the vegetable riot in progress at Arlington's Great Meadow.
A warm wind was tossing the treetops like the manes of a herd of horses, under clouds marching North..
I turned around at Bedford Street and rode home, noting that the vernal pools had turned into mudflats; perhaps today's rains will recharge them. A woman walking asked if I were going to get caught in the downpour; remembering the weather radar, I told her I expected to be under a roof by then. She seemed displeased with that answer. As I crossed into East Arlington from Arlington Center, the wind, still frisky, got about 10 degrees cooler in the space of half-a-block. I put the bike away and opened up the house, grateful for the cool air. The rain began, and the thunder. It's still raining now, four and a half hours later.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 07-17-18 at 04:29 PM.
07-18-18, 12:59 PM
#7465
Chuggin' Along
I always like to find tools on the road. I found this "experienced" pair of channel locks on Concord St. in Carlisle.
From my palatial summer home in North Billerica to Fern's in Carlisle, then to Concord, then Rt.62 toward home. It wasn't a big ride, but it was enjoyable. This crew was getting ready to set out on the Concord River. It got me thinking that I should dust off my kayak.
__________________
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.
07-18-18, 02:21 PM
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I've been up to my old AM tricks again. Monday and Tuesday each culminated in 35 miles with my newly adopted primary AM route on my Roubaix. Yesterday was very foggy, about half of it was on my glasses. Today I took the 28 mile abbreviated version on my cross bike. while riding up Baker Bridge rd a baby deer and it's mother (I assume) pranced up the hill in front of me until they could leap between the trees away from the road. I eased off the cranks so as not to get too close although I think they were already startled.
07-18-18, 09:29 PM
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Plan A was to take a ride around the Charles Basin after lunch, just for a change of scene. Plan A got to the Minuteman/Lake Street intersection when my rear tire flatted. It was not subtle: a honking big staple through the tread.
I set to work, swapping in the spare tube I had along (Schwalbe SV18). When the valve stem blew out of that, I realized it was special: the valve itself seemed bent. Did I do that with the Zefal HPX, or did some German quality control technician go out for a beer?
I got it put back together and pumped up, and after searching the area where I thought I must have picked up the staple for more of the same (with recent events in Newton in mind), I rode the 4 or so blocks back to my house, to get another tube before continuing the ride. While I was at it, I took out the valve core, put some grease on the threads, reassembled it, and pumped it up again. Between the time already spent and my lack of confidence in this odd tube, I switched to Plan B, which called for riding out to Depot Park and back with a new spare, just in case. On the Arlington to Lexington segment, I thought the rear felt soft on a couple of occasions, as if there was a slow leak. And immediately beyond the Woburn Street intersection, the rear tire abruptly flatted again. Once again, it was nothing subtle: there was a rip several inches long in the rim side of the tube. Not a candidate for patching, I think.
I took a photo of the cock-eyed Presta valve for posterity, before rolling up the tube for disposal. One hypothesis is that the crooked valve was leaking slowly, the tire pressure was dropping, and that rip in the tube was actually a king-hell pinch flat.
I installed the new tube (also an SV18), pumped it up, and rode out to Depot Park and back without further incident (unless you count a couple of Minuteman near-misses due to bad choreography, your basic idiot story). Took a photo of the LHT snuggled up to the Buddliner (they're old friends) to prove I got that far.
So, not the ride I had intended, but a nice ride nonetheless, albeit interspersed with bouts of Grease Monkey duty.
rod
I set to work, swapping in the spare tube I had along (Schwalbe SV18). When the valve stem blew out of that, I realized it was special: the valve itself seemed bent. Did I do that with the Zefal HPX, or did some German quality control technician go out for a beer?
I got it put back together and pumped up, and after searching the area where I thought I must have picked up the staple for more of the same (with recent events in Newton in mind), I rode the 4 or so blocks back to my house, to get another tube before continuing the ride. While I was at it, I took out the valve core, put some grease on the threads, reassembled it, and pumped it up again. Between the time already spent and my lack of confidence in this odd tube, I switched to Plan B, which called for riding out to Depot Park and back with a new spare, just in case. On the Arlington to Lexington segment, I thought the rear felt soft on a couple of occasions, as if there was a slow leak. And immediately beyond the Woburn Street intersection, the rear tire abruptly flatted again. Once again, it was nothing subtle: there was a rip several inches long in the rim side of the tube. Not a candidate for patching, I think.
I took a photo of the cock-eyed Presta valve for posterity, before rolling up the tube for disposal. One hypothesis is that the crooked valve was leaking slowly, the tire pressure was dropping, and that rip in the tube was actually a king-hell pinch flat.
I installed the new tube (also an SV18), pumped it up, and rode out to Depot Park and back without further incident (unless you count a couple of Minuteman near-misses due to bad choreography, your basic idiot story). Took a photo of the LHT snuggled up to the Buddliner (they're old friends) to prove I got that far.
So, not the ride I had intended, but a nice ride nonetheless, albeit interspersed with bouts of Grease Monkey duty.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 07-18-18 at 09:42 PM.
07-19-18, 02:17 PM
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Next time that happens, let me know, since I live right there and have a garage full of tools and a floor pump for you!
07-19-18, 08:06 PM
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epic
07-19-18, 10:34 PM
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Took the LHT up to Lexington before dinner, to take the air and see if the tube on my rear tire would hold air (it did) or blow up (it didn't), 10 miles of confidence building, as the dips say. Fine weather, lots of folks out.
Exchanged greetings with Jim Muller on the Minuteman. As is almost always the case at such times, he was inbound, I was outbound. Hi, Jim!
Fun With Aging Ears Department: Near TJs I passed a man straddling a bicycle, cellphone pressed to his ear, who I distinctly heard say, "And just how big is this AI?" Oops, wrong movie...
I was struck, no, wait, I was impressed by the number of tiny children on two-wheelers, out with their parents, who were holding a competent line and not terrifying me. I guess I should stop thinking of them as zerglings.
rod
Exchanged greetings with Jim Muller on the Minuteman. As is almost always the case at such times, he was inbound, I was outbound. Hi, Jim!
Fun With Aging Ears Department: Near TJs I passed a man straddling a bicycle, cellphone pressed to his ear, who I distinctly heard say, "And just how big is this AI?" Oops, wrong movie...
I was struck, no, wait, I was impressed by the number of tiny children on two-wheelers, out with their parents, who were holding a competent line and not terrifying me. I guess I should stop thinking of them as zerglings.
rod
07-20-18, 05:53 AM
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still photography will never be the same. I particularly liked when the cam is stationary & shadows or rain drops flicker! above you tried what I never completed (series of images while in motion) I love seeing that!
07-20-18, 11:00 AM
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Yesterday morning I hesitantly rolled out for my usual AM ride with my Roubaix. I had absolutely no energy, feeling very drained and almost didn't go. I wrapped it up with 21 miles at a slow poke pace. Today I got my groove back and racked up another 30 at my usual energy and pace. I was pulling a 20 person paceline until I broke away. I noticed the hellicopter hovering above following me while fans lined both sides of the road cheering me on. Shortly after I emerged from my fantasy bubble to find my kids waiting for me at my driveway holding Moms phone with the Livetrack app open. For a moment that made my fantasy feel real.
07-20-18, 11:45 AM
#7474
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...Today I got my groove back and racked up another 30 at my usual energy and pace. I was pulling a 20 person paceline until I broke away. I noticed the hellicopter hovering above following me while fans lined both sides of the road cheering me on. Shortly after I emerged from my fantasy bubble to find my kids waiting for me at my driveway holding Moms phone with the Livetrack app open. For a moment that made my fantasy feel real.
I just rode my bike to and from work yesterday, as usual. (Hi, Rod!) Someone else said hi as we passed in opposite directions a few minutes later. Was that you mr_bill?
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07-20-18, 08:34 PM
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Took the LHT East today.
Up hill, down dale, across lots of rough pavement and various sorts of detritus. The new lightweight tube in the rear tire didn't even blow up once. I'm starting to trust it, don't tell it.
rod
Up hill, down dale, across lots of rough pavement and various sorts of detritus. The new lightweight tube in the rear tire didn't even blow up once. I'm starting to trust it, don't tell it.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 07-20-18 at 09:13 PM.