jimmuller 

Interesting. I've never stopped to read the signs but I had gotten the impression from something that it was part of the GM Wildlife Refuge.

We always paid the fee for the Concord Unit off Monsen Rd, but once when we were going in a park ranger happened to be there for something. I have a Senior Pass for the National Parks so I asked whether it was applicable to there also. He said yes. Not that the fee is a big deal one way or another. I suspect many people, perhaps most, don't bother.

JohnHuth

I drove in that day, one of the rare occasions. This morning - a cold wind from the NW got my finger tips numb. I sure hope we get some warm weather soon.

anx

Of course it is! With all these great meadows no further explanation seems unnecessary, good to have the clarification on the different orgs involved.

Thanks, that's good to know before I went and ventured out that way on my bike.

jimmuller 

For those of you who plan to ride the CCRT on Saturday, be aware that the Sagamore Bridge is undergoing some work involving lane closures. Hence crossing the canal may involve a delay. Give yourself plenty of time to drive down.

If you are so inclined, drop me a PM with some contact info and I'll return the same. If you get held up we can know whether or how much to wait for you.

anx

I tried to go ride the Middlesex Fells but the place is a mess of downed trees, even though it's mostly dry. Ended up sticking to the fire roads, mostly, and carrying the bike through any obstacles or turning around where necessary. May have to stick to road riding for a little while longer on the Trek hybrid.





Still enjoyed the serene beauty of the reservoir free of off leash dogs and other riders for now.

Ghazmh

I'm bummed to say I won't make it.

rholland1951

Rode the LHT East today. Lovely weather for it. Murphy had it in for my phone, so no pictures and no track. After a week off the bike, it felt good.

rod

anx

Anyone riding Concord to see the reenactments this weekend? Supposed to have been meeting a buddy out there this afternoon but he dropped out. Hope to be able to get close enough on my bike, heading out there now on 2 wheels as to not have to worry about parking.

anx

Managed to make it to see the the Battle Road reenactment, didn't stay for the full thing, but fun to see the militia practicing and the red coats marching.

The good thing about all the Patriots weekend activities was the Reformatory Branch trail was deserted on my return trip with everyone occupied with the activities elsewhere.







All in all a 30 mile round trip, definitely could feel the day getting cooler as the afternoon went by.

jimmuller 

Tour de Cape Cod (including this thread's founder @sherbornpeddler):

rumrunn6

wow great turnout!

rumrunn6

slept late but got out anyway, later, approx 1pm. didn't have a chance in heck to get to the cape. weird weather day, sunny & warm but turned cold & breezy. wound up in shorts sandals & a heavy fleece. was good to finally try the Zoic unlined MTB shorts I bought in February. busy day on the MM

anx

Sorry i couldnt make it, hope it was warmer down there than in Arl/Lex/Con!

Once you got past Lexington center, a little further on from your photo for those who don't know, it wasn't bad at all, and once on the reformatory branch it was next to deserted.

Not looking forward to the next 2 days of bad weather, I was really getting in to a roll of getting out on the bike if not every day, every other.

Ghazmh

I took my R3 out yesterday morning for 55 miles. Started out sunny and promising and ended cool cloudy and windy. There was something going on at the North Bridge, lots of folks and what looked like the local National Guard.

anx

I believe the local militia try to fight off the British from the other side based on what I remember seeing in past years

anx

Got out this morning when it was dry because the weather forecast said the bad weather was going to miss the metro Boston area. I should have known better than to trust the local weather guys, ha, got caught in several hail storms while out on the local trails. Luckily, I had several layers on so didn't get too soaked or cold, but still managed to have some fun in the forest for ~90 minutes.

jordibeard

Had by far my longest day in the saddle yesterday. Rode from Cambridge down to Charlestown, RI. Took a lovely route through Dover, Franklin, and Woonsocket. Got lucky with the weather— managed to stay in the sun for most of the day. Eyeing another long ride once the weather gets a bit nicer... maybe Portland down to Boston if they allow bikes on the Amtrak up there.

rumrunn6

"shot heard 'round the world" 1st shot fired in the American revolution

mr_bill

Bikes on the Downeaster.

The bigger problem is the timing of the trains Boston->Portland. You get up there after noon, so it's tough to see how you'd make the 125ish mile ride back during daylight. The alternatives are a night train with an overnight stay in Portland leaving the next dawn, *OR* splitting the trek into a two day with Portsmouth NH a nice place to spend the night.

Happened to pass on the bicycle on Saturday instead spent part of the day in Portland at the Portland Public Library.

-mr. bill

mr_bill

Since so many of us ride the Minuteman so often, sometimes it's easy to miss some big deal changes.

So, get out your Party Horns, the great yielding has taken place!



At Season's Four, the stop signs are gone but the stop line is not (traffic to and from Season's Four now have STOP signs):



At Woburn St, the awkward STOP signs remain:



But we YIELD at Fletcher Ave:



Give way at Edison Way (stop line still needs to be shark toothed) (but Edison Way has STOP signs):



Continue to STOP at Meriam St:



And Hancock St:



The bicycles are out, the bicycles are out at Revere St (YIELD sign, but SHARK teeth missing):



The STOP lines are still in the wrong places at Bedford St, unless you have REALLY REALLY LONG arms.



And finally the STOP lines are in the right place but the STOP signs are not at Hartwell Ave:


-mr. bill

AlexGS1

I rode most of the marathon route (Brighton to Hopkinton) out and back on Sunday night. I started at 8:30 pm, and had no problems until Framingham, when the rain and wind really picked up. This turned to sleet and ice through Ashland up to the marathon starting line. I had to change my base layer, gloves and socks for the trip home and still had numb toes for most of the return journey. I thought that I had over-prepared by bringing so much extra clothing, but, I would have had to bail otherwise. The headwinds on the way home were absolutely brutal; I'm not sure I've ever been so miserable on a bicycle. Last year at 70 degrees, I got caught in a pack of hundreds of riders on the way out, but, had the road largely to myself this year.

No pictures, as I was mostly concerned with self-preservation. I still look forward to next year.

anx

@jordibeard Welcome! And wow, that's quite a route! I've never made it to the state line when setting off from the Boston area yet, closest I made it was going north to Lowell. Is that mostly rt102 you are taking through RI?


@mr_bill You are much more observant than I! I feel the road crossings get worse the further north out of Arlington. I'm surprised I hadn't noticed the change to the 4 seasons one though having passed it several times last week. None of them are as bad as trying to cross rt16 in Medford though even with a traffic light most cars take the red light as a suggestion rather than a rule. I did notice the dirty snow piles though on several places along the minuteman.


@AlexGS1 That's impressive, I had planned to do the route this year but the weather gave me the excuse not too. It sounds brutal indeed, well done on persevering!!

autonomy

I've been given the green light by my doc to use a stationary bike so I've been riding indoors for flexibility purposes. I have to use the step-through stationary bike at work as I can't get on my actual bike/trainer at home though I might try very soon. The stationary bike is boring and uncomfortable, even though I use it for only 20 mins a day. I miss the feeling of holding the bars in my hands and steering the bike to go... somewhere. Cool to read everyone's reports and see the changes on the Minuteman, hopefully I'll be able to ride in a month or two.

@AlexGS1 My wife was interested in biking the pre-marathon route but I told her that without me (for moral, technical, and safety support) she should not as 1. she hasn't biked at night before 2. she hasn't ridden that far before. The weather would have stopped her anyway but I'm glad to hear some people were still out. Maybe we'll try next year.

AlexGS1

@AlexGS1 My wife was interested in biking the pre-marathon route but I told her that without me (for moral, technical, and safety support) she should not as 1. she hasn't biked at night before 2. she hasn't ridden that far before. The weather would have stopped her anyway but I'm glad to hear some people were still out. Maybe we'll try next year.[/QUOTE]

Indeed, completing this ride in a regular year wouldn't be a big feat, but, this year its a profile in bad-assery! I highly recommend it (both ways if you can)if the temperature approaches normal next year. There has been a lot re-paving in Newton and Framingham and the ride quality is forever improving.

rumrunn6

better days & weather ahead ... hang in there