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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Old 11-28-21, 10:00 PM
  #9626  
rholland1951
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
came across a decent shelter

That's a good one. Whereabouts did you encounter it?

rod
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Old 11-29-21, 07:28 AM
  #9627  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
That's a good one. Whereabouts did you encounter it?
oh sorry, around the Assabet refuge. there's always one in this spot & I've contributed to them over the years but this one is grand!
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Old 11-30-21, 05:27 PM
  #9628  
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Took the new-old 1982 Sequoia out for a ride on the Minuteman about an hour before sunset, temperatures toppling out of the 40s and plummeting into the 30s.


Saw lots of funny bikes, most of them electrical; this one can stand for all the rest.


Seen but not shown was the mismatched pair on bike and unicycle, riding two abreast and chatting amiably, no batteries required.

Before I set out, I put a tiny carbon fiber bicycle pump in the Sequoia's saddle bag, next to the spare tube. This is a departure for me: frame pumps are the norm, but there's no peg on the Sequoia, and I figured the little pump would accord with the general weight-weenie build of this bike. I was cranking down the hill in Arlington, making good time, when the rear end began to shimmy in a manner that was arguably aesthetic but none of my doing. I prudently stopped the bike and had a look: sure enough, the rear tire was flat. I walked the bike to the nearest likely spot to fix the tire, which turned out to be the back yard of The Bike Stop, which had a very helpful sign that said FLATS FIXED WHILE YOU WAIT. I reflected that I could test the little pump on a warmer, brighter day, found my mask and put it on, and walked the bike into the shop to be fixed while I waited. And it was. Thanks, guys!

It's close enough to being Winter to start noticing the Friends of the Lexington Bikeway's charitable solicitations. These are the folks who keep the Lexington segment of the Minuteman plowed, and generally do a good job of it, to boot. While it's true that the taxpayers of Arlington and Bedford pay for it there, Lexington does things a little differently. If you ride the Minuteman in Winter, it's good to throw a few bucks in when they pass the hat. Extra credit if your phone's QR reader can get to their site off this image, scanned from your PC display. Or you can cheat, and use the URL.


rod

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Old 12-01-21, 08:20 AM
  #9629  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
Before I set out, I put a tiny carbon fiber bicycle pump in the Sequoia's saddle bag, next to the spare tube. This is a departure for me: frame pumps are the norm, but there's no peg on the Sequoia, and I figured the little pump would accord with the general weight-weenie build of this bike. I was cranking down the hill in Arlington, making good time, when the rear end began to shimmy in a manner that was arguably aesthetic but none of my doing. I prudently stopped the bike and had a look: sure enough, the rear tire was flat. I walked the bike to the nearest likely spot to fix the tire, which turned out to be the back yard of The Bike Stop, which had a very helpful sign that said FLATS FIXED WHILE YOU WAIT. I reflected that I could test the little pump on a warmer, brighter day, found my mask and put it on, and walked the bike into the shop to be fixed while I waited. And it was. Thanks, guys!
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Old 12-01-21, 01:48 PM
  #9630  
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I finally made it all the way through Estabrook Woods from Concord to Carlisle today. My previous attempts, back in the summer, were thwarted by mud or mosquitos or both. By contrast, today was a wonderful late fall day: dry, cool but not bone-chilling cold, with a moody cloudy sky.

I started out by taking the MM to the Bedford Depot, the Reformatory Trail to Monument St, then up and over the North Bridge to pick up Concord's paved section of Estabrook Road. The North Bridge:





Estabrook Woods was the driest I have seen it. There's the section of the trail that is basically a stream bed. Today there was just a little water, with a skin of ice. I was on the lookout for the wooden teepee that so many others have posted photos of. A bit further north I was very happy to finally see it with my own eyes:




A little more woods riding brought me to Carlisle's paved section of Estabrook Road. A woman on horseback was just about to enter the woods there, so I said hello. I think she was inclined to look askance at bikers, but I was so gushing with enthusiasm that I think I won her over!

I made my way to Fern's via School St:



From there I took 225 east to Bedford Center and the Depot. It was 9.5 miles from the Depot to Ferns via the Reformatory Trail and Estabrook Woods. A little over 5 from Ferns to the Depot on 225. I made my way home on the MM for a total just shy of 34 miles.

A very enjoyable ride and a sense of accomplishment.
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Old 12-02-21, 04:49 AM
  #9631  
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sounds like mid-day today, the weather will be nice for a ride, after the morning rain, during drier warmer hours, before the afternoon rain. of course I'll be handcuffed to my office chair ...
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Old 12-02-21, 04:50 AM
  #9632  
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Originally Posted by bike_tom
just shy of 34 miles.A very enjoyable ride and a sense of accomplishment.
healthy ride! jealous!
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Old 12-02-21, 08:14 AM
  #9633  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
healthy ride! jealous!
Thanks for the support. I should also thank other BF members who made me aware of Estabrook Woods, including providing details on which forks to take to stay on the remains of Estabrook Road.

As I mentioned, I got back to the Bedford Depot via Carlisle Center and 225, but on a future visit I would like to try a loop within the Woods. I found this map online:



It looks like the East Hubbard Trail would be a good east side complement to Estabrook Road on the west side. I have no idea what the trail conditions are, but I hope to explore on a future ride.

Tom
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Old 12-02-21, 08:22 AM
  #9634  
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Originally Posted by bike_tom
Thanks for the support. I should also thank other BF members who made me aware of Estabrook Woods, including providing details on which forks to take to stay on the remains of Estabrook Road.

As I mentioned, I got back to the Bedford Depot via Carlisle Center and 225, but on a future visit I would like to try a loop within the Woods. I found this map online:



It looks like the East Hubbard Trail would be a good east side complement to Estabrook Road on the west side. I have no idea what the trail conditions are, but I hope to explore on a future ride.

Tom
I used to be fond of making a loop involving Estabrook Road out to Carlisle, and Two Rod Road back to Concord. Two Road Road is no longer two rods wide, however, and riding it is a bit of a stunt. Our abandoned carriage roads are real treasures, and how to preserve them (cut down that sapling in the middle of the path?) is an interesting question.

rod
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Old 12-02-21, 09:51 AM
  #9635  
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is that from openstreetmap.org?

https://www.openstreetmap.org/search....4958/-71.3501
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Old 12-02-21, 10:50 AM
  #9636  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
The map I posted is from mobilemaplets.com
I had an embedded link in my post, but here it is explicitly:

https://mobilemaplets.com/showplace/13347
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Old 12-02-21, 05:40 PM
  #9637  
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Wednesday evening, I got a call from Battle Road Bikes that my Surly Long Haul Trucker was ready for pick up. This is the 700c touring bike that I put 13566 miles on until that came to an abrupt stop in September of 2019 due to a bike-bike collision on the Mill Street intersection with the Minuteman. I hopped right in the car and drove down and picked it up. It's the sibling to the Surly Trucker DeLuxe, a 26" travel bike, but is sufficiently distinct that I've never regretted having and riding both.

Today I took the bike out for a little test ride on the Minuteman. Nobody collided with us, I'm pleased to say, and everything worked as well as I remembered it, or better.


I'm delighted to have this bike back in riding condition. I snapped this photo of the bike propped against the Battle Road Bikes sign on the Minuteman by way of an homage to some great wrenches and good folks.


After putting the LHT away, I put the Ebisu on the bike rack and drove back to Battle Road Bikes to drop it off. The backlog reduction program continues.

rod
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Old 12-03-21, 04:14 PM
  #9638  
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And then... I stopped by Battle Road Bikes again to have some work done on the Rivendell Rambouillet. Aside from bare frameset projects, the whole bike tinkering backlog is now either completed, or is being addressed as we sit here playing with our computers. Frameset projects will, perhaps, start to get theirs in January.

rod

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Old 12-04-21, 11:40 PM
  #9639  
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Took the Surly Trucker DeLuxe with its fat Rat Trap Pass tires and rode East.


Riding on the Rat Traps reminds me of gastropod locomotion, except faster: like the Racing Snail character in a children's movie I once watched over my kids' shoulders. It was a cool/cold blustery day, but the layers were working and I was cozy, and the bike was working and I felt swift and nimble, up and down hills, in and out of traffic. As happens all too soon just now, a sunset dashed through and night fell. As I began to descend the long hill on Fellsway East, I saw the Planet Venus floating over a street light while a moth played in the headlights of passing cars.


rod

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Old 12-05-21, 02:27 PM
  #9640  
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Out Sunday afternoon on the 1982 Sequoia, cranking up the Minuteman at a good clip, not a maximum effort by any means, but enough to flirt with the bike's go-fast build and help us get further acquainted. Played one round of the saddle-height adjustment game, successfully, I think. I was concentrating on making time and waking up my old corpus, so the many tempting images provided by the clear air and low sun went begging, as I followed @buzzman 's one-photograph policy.


rod
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Old 12-05-21, 05:13 PM
  #9641  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
saw the Planet Venus floating over a street light while a moth played in the headlights of passing cars
another terrific loop
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Old 12-05-21, 05:21 PM
  #9642  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
another terrific loop
Thank you, sir!

rod
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Old 12-07-21, 12:43 AM
  #9643  
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Monday, I took the newly restored LHT out for a roll up the Minuteman to Lexington Center and back, enjoying the cool-not-cold temperatures and breezes that became gusty winds that made the fallen leaves dance and occasionally offered to help steer the bike. I enjoyed what a tall, stable perch that bike is, with its 44mm 700c Snoqualmie Pass Extralight tires and its long wheelbase.


Lots of company on the Minuteman, including a young woman valiantly piloting an Elliptigo; I didn't manage to take her picture, but here are some other folks.


rod
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Old 12-07-21, 04:50 AM
  #9644  
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Wednesday should be interesting ...
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Old 12-07-21, 08:19 PM
  #9645  
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Took the GT out on the Minuteman at lunchtime, conditions cold and windy and most folks somewhere else. Nice day if you don't like crowds

rod

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Old 12-08-21, 10:43 AM
  #9646  
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In addition to yesterday mornings ride I squeezed in 25 more miles this morning too. I’ve got the cross bike with the studded tires all aired up,chain lubed and ready to go. I have the fattie in the same state of readiness. We’ll see what I take out next.
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Old 12-09-21, 04:36 AM
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got out last night. Bedford to Concord. unfortunately I endured the cold before the flurries got good. didn't need the studs, but they're on ...
Bedford Depot restrooms closed for the season but I could see the light was on inside the ladies room. must be some malfunction
saw 1 runner & 1 person on a bike. temps in the low 30s & high 20s by time I got back home

got the barmitts on too

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Old 12-16-21, 08:54 AM
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got out for a spin on the MM last night. Bedford to Spy Pond, Arlington. finished up just as some light rain was starting. fairly quiet but still many ppl out. threw the drop bar, barmitts on & gave the toe clip covers another try, for some breeze protection, on some flat pedals, w/ low hikers. used more light than I needed but I was testing a bunch of stuff & tried to dip the bar lights & reduce the helmet light when approaching anyone
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Old 12-18-21, 04:51 AM
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a little light snow on the way & we have to spend the day driving into it. ugh. would rather be on my bike. but my adult kids haven't seen my 91 & 94 yr old parents in 2 years ...

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Old 12-23-21, 02:20 PM
  #9650  
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Got fooled by the sunshine today and couldn't resist taking my bike out for a short spin around the block. Boy was it cold!! Heading out to get some decent gloves in case the urge strikes me again before spring.
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