Go Back  Bike Forums > Community Connections > Regional Discussions > Northeast
Reload this Page >

Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Notices
Northeast Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New York |Rhode Island | Vermont |

Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Old 01-13-23, 05:50 PM
  #10451  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
This afternoon, between the rains, I took the LHT out on the Minuteman to enjoy riding in temperatures in the mid-50s. The wetlands appear to be getting wet again.


Spent much of the rest of the afternoon at Battle Road Bikes, working with them on a couple of Winter projects.

Weather's changing again, we must be in Boston.

rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-15-23, 07:03 AM
  #10452  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
had a road trip out of state yesterday & have to work today. around 8am in CT the roads were littered w/ wrecked 18 wheelers & route 84 was completely shut down on the eastbound side in 2 separate places about 10 miles apart
this used to be an 18 wheeler



they were pulling the smoking rig apart so they could haul it off


lots of other cars & trucks off the road on both sides. the freezing rain in central CT early yesterday must have been unexpected & the roads weren't treated
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-15-23, 07:38 AM
  #10453  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
had a road trip out of state yesterday & have to work today. around 8am in CT the roads were littered w/ wrecked 18 wheelers & route 84 was completely shut down on the eastbound side in 2 separate places about 10 miles apart
this used to be an 18 wheeler



they were pulling the smoking rig apart so they could haul it off


lots of other cars & trucks off the road on both sides. the freezing rain in central CT early yesterday must have been unexpected & the roads weren't treated
Yikes! That's more than the usual CT unpleasantness!

rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-15-23, 04:19 PM
  #10454  
EVlove
Full Member
 
EVlove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 326

Bikes: 1980 Dawes Super Galaxy + 1981 Lotus Classique + 1986 Bianchi Sport SX + 2005 Van Dessel Project WR + 2021 Zizzo Liberté

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 217 Posts
^Scary stuff

Just dropping in briefly to pat myself on the back for today's ride. The day seemed agreeable enough when I set out, at 2:30 or so, and except for my thumbs and toes when going downhill, I was warm enough. Meandered to the BFRT at I-495 and pretty much didn't stop until I was at NARA Park. Very few other trail users, I believe it's some kind of important gameday in the local rugby variant? Some dog walkers, a few families, and only one other adult on a bike.

Furthest point from home and, naturally, now the wind really picked up and even carried the occasional snowflake. My fingers were barely nimble enough to text my whereabouts to my wife, so no pics today. Nothing to be done but start cranking, get low, narrow and aero, and leave the trail in South Chelmsford because that cuts short by almost a mile, at the expense of an extra hill to climb and descend.

A hot shower and a cup of even hotter chocolate soon set me to rights again but I did wonder why this seemed like a good idea at the time 19.3 miles and 615 feet climbed.
EVlove is offline  
Likes For EVlove:
Old 01-15-23, 08:51 PM
  #10455  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by EVlove
^Scary stuff

Just dropping in briefly to pat myself on the back for today's ride. The day seemed agreeable enough when I set out, at 2:30 or so, and except for my thumbs and toes when going downhill, I was warm enough. Meandered to the BFRT at I-495 and pretty much didn't stop until I was at NARA Park. Very few other trail users, I believe it's some kind of important gameday in the local rugby variant? Some dog walkers, a few families, and only one other adult on a bike.

Furthest point from home and, naturally, now the wind really picked up and even carried the occasional snowflake. My fingers were barely nimble enough to text my whereabouts to my wife, so no pics today. Nothing to be done but start cranking, get low, narrow and aero, and leave the trail in South Chelmsford because that cuts short by almost a mile, at the expense of an extra hill to climb and descend.

A hot shower and a cup of even hotter chocolate soon set me to rights again but I did wonder why this seemed like a good idea at the time 19.3 miles and 615 feet climbed.
it was cold today! I had to work (indoors thankfully)
& yes, it's football playoff season. keep an eye out for the Super Bowl soon
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-17-23, 04:56 AM
  #10456  
Ghazmh
Senior Member
 
Ghazmh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,020

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: 693 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times in 486 Posts
MCRT ON Saturday;



MCRT on Monday;


Ghazmh is offline  
Likes For Ghazmh:
Old 01-17-23, 05:39 AM
  #10457  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by Ghazmh
MCRT ON Saturday;
MCRT on Monday;
awesome, thats New England for ya! road bike one day, fat bike just a cpl days later. well played, Sir
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-17-23, 04:22 PM
  #10458  
EVlove
Full Member
 
EVlove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 326

Bikes: 1980 Dawes Super Galaxy + 1981 Lotus Classique + 1986 Bianchi Sport SX + 2005 Van Dessel Project WR + 2021 Zizzo Liberté

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 217 Posts
There wasn't much daylight left when I got a chance to head out today but I wasn't going to let a 50 degree spell in mid-January go by. My favorite pump was AWOL (still is, and I know for sure I last used it in the basement to change some tires), which delayed departure, but what the hay, second best was going to be good enough for 7 miles. That's all it was, my default quick loop, just so I could bring you this magnum opus of suburban documentary photography:



And also so I could claim that I rode in shorts, tights, and fingerless gloves on January 17 with snow on the ground:


Leaving the under-helmet cap at home was a little too optimistic, however, my ears were cold. Please forgive the grubby and loose bar wrap, this should be the off-season after all, when those things normally get rectified.

I never even touched my water bottle but the bike needed a good rinse. Given the forecast, we may not have riding weather again until... this weekend! LOL

Last edited by EVlove; 01-17-23 at 05:03 PM. Reason: my Latin teacher spinning in his early grave
EVlove is offline  
Old 01-17-23, 11:08 PM
  #10459  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
Monday I indulged in my other Winter sport, snow shoveling. Tuesday afternoon I took the GT Karakoram, in its ice bike persona, fenders, studded Nokians and all, out for a ride on the Minuteman. There were only a couple of small, very wet slush patches, so the carbide studs mostly just added their jolly crackle to the mix. But it was fun to play at Winter riding, regardless.




Paid my respects to the time-traveling ghost bike.


The wonderfully put together backyard rink awaits only sufficient cold to be back in business. It now sports the flag of Ukraine.


I started out just a little too early to make this a sunset ride. But the colors, somewhat subtle, appeared in my rearview mirror as I was wrapping up the ride, and followed me home.




rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-18-23, 05:59 AM
  #10460  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by rholland1951
Monday I indulged in my other Winter sport, snow shoveling. Tuesday afternoon I took the GT Karakoram, in its ice bike persona, fenders, studded Nokians and all, out for a ride on the Minuteman. There were only a couple of small, very wet slush patches, so the carbide studs mostly just added their jolly crackle to the mix. But it was fun to play at Winter riding, regardless.Paid my respects to the time-traveling ghost bike.The wonderfully put together backyard rink awaits only sufficient cold to be back in business. It now sports the flag of Ukraine.I started out just a little too early to make this a sunset ride. But the colors, somewhat subtle, appeared in my rearview mirror as I was wrapping up the ride, and followed me home.


thank you for sharing. I'm expecting our metro-west rail trails will be clear as well
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-18-23, 04:24 PM
  #10461  
EVlove
Full Member
 
EVlove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 326

Bikes: 1980 Dawes Super Galaxy + 1981 Lotus Classique + 1986 Bianchi Sport SX + 2005 Van Dessel Project WR + 2021 Zizzo Liberté

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 217 Posts
Not much to report but near as I can tell, and care, I broke 100 total miles for the year today with a simple grocery run on the Zizzo. Which is not something I do very often, as I don't like the hassle of securing a bike at the store, and our car pretty much runs on solar energy for short trips (5kW system on the roof and a plug-in hybrid). Some day I'd like to have a Brompton. No locking, just folds small enough to go anywhere, including in shopping cart mode. The Zizzo is very nice for a sub-$500 bike but it can't do that. 4.6 miles, 350 feet.
EVlove is offline  
Old 01-18-23, 07:18 PM
  #10462  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
45 degrees, quiet & dry, out my way

rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-19-23, 04:06 PM
  #10463  
bike_tom
Full Member
 
bike_tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 285

Bikes: 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR5, 2014 Cannondale Trail SL1, 1983 Fuji Royale II

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 235 Posts
For various reasons I didn't take advantage of the mild weather the last couple of days, but I did get out this afternoon just before the rain. The weather folks were saying it would be dry till about 3pm, so I headed out to Lexington on the Minuteman after lunch. It was about 41' and very little wind, so quite comfortable if appropriately dressed. I had a very pleasant ride and got home about 45 minutes before the rain arrived at my house.

Arlington Great Meadows:



The ice on Peeper's pond is completely gone, making it more inviting for the ducks that are still around:



I keep wondering when winter will really arrive. It is looking like the current storm is going to end with about an inch of wet snow, some as the last one.

Tom
bike_tom is offline  
Likes For bike_tom:
Old 01-19-23, 06:14 PM
  #10464  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
A call Wednesday afternoon from Pete at Battle Road Bikes had me stopping by the shop late Thursday morning to have a look at the cockpit setup on the Nobilette project bike.


All the cockpit components, especially the handlebars and brake levers, were in their places, as was the saddle, after Pete performed a final adjustment from previous measurements. I rolled out on a 3-mile test ride on the Minuteman.


That went very well indeed. This Nobilette frame and fork were designed, back in the early 90s, for building go-fasts, with a Columbus TSX tubeset and a lean, quick geometry, and they're still going fast with this build 30 years later. Yippee! Pacenti rims, White Industries hubs, Sugino triple crank, IRD front derailluer, Deore XT rear derailleur and a 9-speed casette, Nitto 177 handlebars (Noodles), Shimano brake levers, Paul Cross Levers, Paul Racer Medium brakes (with Moon Unit straddle cable carriers), Suntour Power Ratchet bar-end shifters (it's a friction-shift build), MKS Lambda pedals, 26mm Rene Herse Cayuse Pass Extralight tires, WTB SST saddle, Campagnolo Super Record headset (a gift from Tyler Oulton), Crane Suzue bell... did I forget anything? Anyhow, an eclectic build kit of parts that should likely work well together on this bike.

After giving Pete a good report on the test ride, I went to see the dentist while Pete wrapped the bars and finalized the build. I suspect he had more fun than I did. I returned for the bike and drove home with it in the beginnings of the rain. I put the bike up on a repair stand, wiped it down, and started to marshal the last few bits of the build (headlights, taillights, saddlebag, pump, lock, bottle cages).


No fenders on this bike, so it's destined to be a fair-weather ride. One more reason to look forward to fair weather.

This bike build represents the final step in drawing down my bike tinkering backlog, in partnership with the excellent mechanics at Battle Road Bikes. Thanks, folks!

rod

Last edited by rholland1951; 01-21-23 at 10:34 PM.
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-19-23, 07:55 PM
  #10465  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
in the western suburbs, the light users are more agreeable. not like the panic stricken on the MM. no one freaking out flashing their lights or shouting things. no need to go minimal w/ your lighting, just don't look directly at anyone. live & let live
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-19-23, 09:17 PM
  #10466  
bike_tom
Full Member
 
bike_tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 285

Bikes: 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR5, 2014 Cannondale Trail SL1, 1983 Fuji Royale II

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 235 Posts
Originally Posted by rholland1951
I rolled out on a 3-mile test ride on the Minuteman..


rod
One of these days, we are going to arrive at that bench at the same moment...

How many rear cogs do you have on that bike? (can't quite make it out from the drive side pictures)
bike_tom is offline  
Likes For bike_tom:
Old 01-19-23, 09:28 PM
  #10467  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
Originally Posted by bike_tom
One of these days, we are going to arrive at that bench at the same moment...

How many rear cogs do you have on that bike? (can't quite make it out from the drive side pictures)
I know!

It's set up 3×9. I find that works well with friction shifting.

rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-21-23, 04:19 PM
  #10468  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
was nice to see I wasn't the only crazy one today

rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-22-23, 09:09 AM
  #10469  
bike_tom
Full Member
 
bike_tom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 285

Bikes: 2022 Trek Checkpoint ALR5, 2014 Cannondale Trail SL1, 1983 Fuji Royale II

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 235 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
was nice to see I wasn't the only crazy one today

Terrific picture - the lead rider looks like she is having a great time!
bike_tom is offline  
Likes For bike_tom:
Old 01-24-23, 04:59 PM
  #10470  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
riding conditions 4pm Thursday. 1st # is temp, 2nd # is "feels like"

rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-25-23, 10:10 AM
  #10471  
EVlove
Full Member
 
EVlove's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 326

Bikes: 1980 Dawes Super Galaxy + 1981 Lotus Classique + 1986 Bianchi Sport SX + 2005 Van Dessel Project WR + 2021 Zizzo Liberté

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 217 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
riding conditions 4pm Thursday. 1st # is temp, 2nd # is "feels like"

Perhaps but with up to 4 inches of snow between now and then, and 32 mph gusts, I'm taking a pass...
EVlove is offline  
Likes For EVlove:
Old 01-25-23, 12:20 PM
  #10472  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by EVlove
Perhaps but with up to 4 inches of snow between now and then, and 32 mph gusts, I'm taking a pass...
yeah maybe I was being a bit too optimistic. today would have been nice day if one could find something to ride on. I'm guessing they've been plowing the Minuteman. the BFRT is hopeless once the snow falls (w/ rare exceptions)

flurries right now, out by me, but I'm working from home so I'm not free until 4pm. maybe I should take the studded hybrid out to Bedford ...
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 01-25-23, 03:06 PM
  #10473  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
yeah maybe I was being a bit too optimistic. today would have been nice day if one could find something to ride on. I'm guessing they've been plowing the Minuteman. the BFRT is hopeless once the snow falls (w/ rare exceptions)

flurries right now, out by me, but I'm working from home so I'm not free until 4pm. maybe I should take the studded hybrid out to Bedford ...
The snow is slow to arrive. Perhaps the rain will be, too. Sporting propositions are attractive, but betting against Ma Nature is fraught with peril.

rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-26-23, 11:33 PM
  #10474  
rholland1951
Senior Member
 
rholland1951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,157
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 532 Post(s)
Liked 1,696 Times in 872 Posts
Wary of ice in spite of the thaw conditions, I rode the GT, with its studded Nokians, to an appointment Thursday afternoon at Battle Road Bikes.


Finding the Minuteman wet, but ice-free, I left the GT at the shop and rode the Surly Long Haul Trucker back home.


In between times, I worked with Jim on a fitting and prototyping task, which may bear fruit in the Spring.

rod
rholland1951 is offline  
Likes For rholland1951:
Old 01-27-23, 08:40 AM
  #10475  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5219 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by rholland1951
Wary of ice in spite of the thaw conditions, I rode the GT, with its studded Nokians, to an appointment Thursday afternoon at Battle Road Bikes.I left the GT at the shop and rode the Surly Long Haul Trucker back home.
Finding the Minuteman wet, but ice-free,
haha that's great. I love riding 1 bike to the shop & another home!
fwiw - the BFRT still has long stretches of hard frozen footprints. lot's of long dry stretches too. it gets worse the further North one goes. I drive parallel to it when I car commute so I get to glance at it, at all the road crossings. it's rideable, if necessary, but doesn't look pleasant. since my weekend road trip got postponed, I think a cold, winter roll, on the MM, Bedford to Spry Pond, Arlington, on the road bike, is in order for tomorrow
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.