rholland1951

Took the GT out on the Minuteman this afternoon, the trail mostly clear, a little ice in the shadows, thaw conditions with temperatures in the mid-30s and a NW wind that slowed progress outbound.


Not today, but while riding on another snowy day earlier in the week, I came upon a half-dozen robins, hopping around in the snow. I was glad to see them, and hoped the adverse conditions didn't do them harm. Today, once again, something was singing in the wetlands and woodlots along the Minuteman, in spite of the cold and snow. I'm impressed by their resilience.

rod

rumrunn6

pretty pic, some of winter's beauty but with the safety of a dry surface

rholland1951

Friday, took the GT out on the Minuteman again, a little thaw following rather more freeze, just a little ice left on the trail, all of it just requiring a little care to avoid. While I'll be delighted to see the end of these Winter tableaux, I'm doing my best to enjoy whatever's left of them.


rod

rholland1951

Took the GT again, rode East again, in thaw conditions which I overdressed for.


Rode hard, climbed vigorously, descended whizzily, sweated some, did the vehicular cycling thing in traffic. In general, it felt good to be out in the weather that had some hints of Spring to it.






rod

NomarsGirl

Actually got cooperation from the weather for a birthday ride. But I'm working.

rumrunn6

Happy Birthday! at least now you don't have to ride your age ... ;-)

NomarsGirl

It would be my longest ride. I'm old.

rholland1951

Took my 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker 700c (the "LHT"; cf. the Trucker DeLuxe, which is another bucket of eels altogether) for a spin up to Lexington Center on the Minuteman in the early afternoon. This was one of those Race the Clouds rides, since if the precipitation developed the way the Pocket Devil prophesied, I should expect to start getting wet around 3. As the accident willed it, however, a gentle little rain shower began in Arlington Center, and persisted most of the way up to Lexington Center, with the entire return ride spent evaporating the outbound ride's moisture. Not a bad way to organize things, really, if a little unexpected, but it was a pleasant ride, with temperatures in the low 60s, and Winter's ice melting into vernal pools.


The frogs sang convincingly. The LHT rolled joyfully, if a machine can be said to be joyful. 13614 miles on it thus far, and today was the first time I had ridden it since New Year's Day. Look ma, no studs!

rod

rholland1951

Took the LHT out on the Minuteman for an early afternoon ride on a bright, windy day, WNW winds at 20 mph and occasional gusts to perhaps twice that, enough wind to fly the flag, enough sun to cast sharp shadows as the flag flew.


Headwind outbound, stiff enough to slow the bike down. Tailwind inbound, fast enough that I could match its speed and have that familiar illusion of calm as I made up for the time previously lost. Either way, the stable LHT frame and the supple 44mm Compass Snoqualmie Pass Extralight tires danced serenely through the gusts.

rod

rumrunn6

wow, love the animated shadow. as an artist you can do a whole series using just shadows

rholland1951

There's a lot of information in a shadow.

rod

rumrunn6

just recalled something obscure from my childhood. maybe I listened to reruns? or I just got used to hearing references in other paces? no idea really ...

The Shadow knows! “ In 1937, the young Orson Wells lent his voice to the radio show and helped to popularize this fighter of evil who was himself a dark and shadowy figure. The Shadow knew about darkness because he had lived it. It was his territory and his area of expertise.

"who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men"

rholland1951

Oh yeah! Orson Wells! LaMont Cranston! The ability to cloud men's minds! A later (1958) manifestation of the same vernacular tradition was this song by The Coasters.

rod

rumrunn6

lol that is bizarre

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle on a shakedown ride on the Minuteman at sunset. Pete at Battle Road Bikes had given it a much-needed overhaul, partially rebuilt the rear wheel, swapped in a new front derailleur, and mounted a pair of Honjo fenders and a Pletscher rear rack. It all looks good, and rides better than it looks, stable, nimble, and quick.


The day was noteworthy for the self-shoveling snow that was no longer on the trail by the time I rolled. Lots of people were out in the 50° weather, and the Minuteman was merrily bustling.


The sunset clouds were striking, and while I was there to crank and put the Ebisu through its paces, I did manage to photograph a few.


Towards the end of the ride, as I was pedaling homeward in the dark, I had one of those "I love this bike" moments. Many happy returns.

rod

rumrunn6

I love it when the athletes come out on bikes & roller blades. I often marvel at their legs, which I envy

bike_tom

Hi all. I haven't ridden much or posted lately, but I have enjoyed following the reports of those who stayed active all winter. I got out for a ride today, out and back on the MM to Bedford Deport. The MM was clean and mostly dry, no standing puddles and just a few damp spots. It was great to be out there!

The "inspiration stones" on the foundation ledge at the Lexington Visitor's Center have multiplied - I wonder who puts them there:



The Bedford Depot was quiet, but there was a sense of Spring being around the corner:



I'm looking forward to a lot of biking in 2022.

Tom

rholland1951

A free Spring day! No need for studded tires. Took the trusty veteran LHT Friday afternoon and rode East.


The usual round of hill climbs, descents, and consorting with auto traffic was more fun with the LHT and its supple 44mm Compass Snoqualmie Pass Extralights (Snoqs to their friends), which incidentally sailed over such broken pavement as was encountered. This hilltop stands for all the ups and downs on this route, with a little traffic thrown in. Fells Escarpment, hurrah!


Rode until dusk, more or less, and observed the Kurukula Center's stupa lit with Winter lights. Sometimes a stupa resembles a Tesla coil.


rod

rumrunn6

did you happen to notice if they opened the restrooms yet?

bike_tom

I didn't check, but they generally don't reopen quite this early in the year. Hopefully sometime in the coming month.

Sometimes they post notices on the Depot website: Friends of Bedford Depot Park

rumrunn6

thank you. didn't know they had a web camera! & never saw this photo before!

rholland1951

Assembled a bike for my granddaughter. We'll see how she takes to it.


rod

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu All-Purpose Bicycle for another shakedown ride on the Minuteman. Made a minor adjustment to the saddle height, and reacquainted myself with how the gear ratios are arranged on this bike. Another pleasant ride on a beautiful Spring day, temperatures in the low 50s, enough sunlight to share.


rod

rumrunn6

how do you like that saddle angle?

bike_tom

This morning I decided to ride east and see what had changed on the Cambridge and Somerville paths over the winter. The weather was great.

The entrance to the Watertown Cambridge Greenway is technically still marked "Path Closed" at the Fresh Pond end, but I wanted to see if the Mt Auburn St underpass was now open. It was!
That's the Star Market on the left below:




I was able to ride all the way to the Arsenal/School St intersection in Watertown:



(I rode the MTB cause it pretty rough riding from Alewife to Fresh Pond.)
It's really just a stone's throw to the Charles at this point, and I believe there is planning in the works to make that connection more straightforward.

From there I doubled back to Alewife and then out through Davis Square and the current end of the Somerville Community Path at Lowell St. The Path's extension along the new Green Line tracks is tantalizingly close to being finished. They installed the lighting since I was last there, but the entrance is blocked by a chain link fence pending completion of the Green Line. BTW: the Union Square branch of the Green Line extension opens next Monday.

I always enjoy the scrapyard art installation in Somerville:



I headed back to Alewife and did the out-and-back in the Fitchburg Cutoff. I was lucky enough to be at the Blanchard Road turnaround when an MBTA work train came through:



I stopped at Spy Pond before heading home:



It was a great not-quite-Spring outing.