autonomy

I will definitely keep it in mind. I started thinking that I need to find some organized rides I can get the wife interested in (she definitely doesn't want to do D2R2 due to gravel). The only big problem is it's at night which can screw up your schedule when you regularly wake up at 5:30am.
She wants to do PanMass - which seems to be hugely popular - but I'm not willing to deal with the fundraising. Suggestions welcome.

Yeah, for sure *looks at calendar* (and out the window) - about time! Looks like Spring will finally come next week, opening the (comfortable) riding season.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by autonomy

... She wants to do PanMass - which seemsto be hugely popular - but I'm not willing to deal with the fundraising.Suggestions welcome.

Yeah,for sure *looks at calendar* (and out the window) - about time! Looks like Spring will finally come next week, opening the (comfortable) riding season.

See the Charity Events sub forum. The first two listings are in New England. In particular the Alzheimer’s ride intrigues me. The courses start in Rye, NH on June 9, including a century ride. The fund-raising minimum is not too steep (and likely tax-deductible since I usually self-fund).

I try to follow a ten-week training schedule for a century, and I’ll have at least seven weeks if I start Monday, perhaps with more than the recommended mileage on the schedule.

anx

@autonomy have you looked at Bike MS charity rides? They got several events throughout NE. I was thinking of doing the one in NH Seacoast in August, 60 miles is definitely more doable for me than a century. Like Jim mentioned for some of these rides the fundraising is only 250 bucks, compared to something like 1500 for the best buddies ride that I was looking in to that's nothing.


Got out on my offroad bike yesterday for some fun riding in the local woods, lots of the trails were like waterfalls from the previous days rain, took a pass on going out today though with all the hail, snow and rain.

hubcyclist

Hi everyone, just figured I'd plug a local event my club is putting on July 28th, a 70 mile granfondo, including a climb up Wachusett and a mix of gravel and road (there's a shorter 40 mile option that's only on roads but still includes the Wachusetts climb). Please consider joining in on the fun! https://www.bikereg.com/tim-johnsons-wachusett-fondo

drewguy

What about biking to Portland and taking either the 2:25p (arr. 4:55) or 6:15p (arr. 8:45) trains home (3:30/6:55 on weekends)?

mr_bill

What kind of pace to you ride double metric centuries? But yes, that direction makes more sense.

For me I'd be really hard pressed to make the 3:30. (Also remember that the New Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth often opens for boat traffic at the hour and half-hour during the summer.)

-mr. bill

drewguy

I don't judge pace! - just was looking at the schedule and seeing that if the ~noon Portland arrival didn't give you enough time, the reverse might do so if you start in morning and don't want to bike at night (except maybe upon arrival back in Mass.)

Anyway, if you figure 8-10 hours of riding and 3 hours of train the only way it would seem plausible to bike entirely in daylight in a single day is biking north because you can get started earlier in the day.

Ghazmh

This is What I want to do this summer. A 4 day overnight mini tour to Portland with an overnight in Portsmouth. I downloaded a route using the East Coast Greenway website but have not tried it yet. I figured I'll start out with a 2 day overnight trial run to Portsmouth first.

anx

Portland is a fun city to bike around, drove there last summer with some friends and spent time on the local paths and ended up a microbrewery to celebrate the days accomplishments. Wish it was closer than a 2 hour a drive. To bike there that's a nice challenge to set oneself, making it an overnight would definitely give you more time to explore.

anx

I just wanted to give a shout out to the kind Medford driver who saw me pushing my bike home, with a flat from an afternoon out riding the Middlesex Fells. They offered me usage of their bike pump! You Sir have restored my faith in humanity, and reminded me that not all drivers on the road are to be feared

Was a great day to do outdoors exploring new places.




I always knew i liked Mini owners!

ZIPP2001

I think it is finally safe to say Spring is here and winter has left. I may even have the leg and arm warmers off in the next couple days if the wind plays nice. Went out and did and bunch of climbing and playing on one of my favorite roads (rte. 12) out of the Burg. Oh how I've been longing for this weather and hope we have a hot humid summer.

Ghazmh

This was by far the best weekend of the year. I bagged 63 miles yesterday with my Roubaix. Getting a little bored with my usual routes I decided to try something different. I rolled on over to Weston ctr and headed towards Wellesley, took a right onto 135 on into Natick. From Natick I took a right onto 27 and followed it into Acton. I jumped onto a trail I've never been on before, for a few miles, the Assabet River trail. I got off and followed School st in the general direction of Concord until I got into Concord. Having never cycled that particular road I wasn't fully sure where it would take me, as suspected it took me to a road I usually ride on. I looped up back into Acton and hopped on the new section of the Brude Freemen trail to 225 and followed it on back to Concord ctr and then home. Today I packed my Smoothie in the back of my Fit and headed to Dennis to bag another 65 on the Old Colony and CCRT. As you can suspect it too was awesome. I stopped for lunch and coffee at the Sparrow.

NomarsGirl

Finally got out today. Rode the East Bay bike path starting at the Bristol end. We turn around at Borealis coffee. 20 mile flat round trip with a coffee break. Still kicked my butt. I'm old, fat and slow but I guess I'm lapping everyone on the couch.

rholland1951

Was feeling a little jet-lagged today, and took the LHT out the Minuteman looking for Spring. Found some: shorts in Arlington Center, bright yellow blooms of forsythia, an unexpected bed of little purple flowers (violets, or ?) shocking Winter zombies, the beaver dam and lodge freshened up and in good order, the wise old tree putting out new growth for another year.
















rod

jimmuller 

All I did was ride to work yesterday. (Finally recovered from overnight flights, a couple of 12-hr days, and long road trips in Germany.)

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu for a quick spin up to Lexington Center and back in the late afternoon. The Minuteman was hosting throngs of users of all types. On several occasions, I was passed by a cyclist who was in turn being passed by a cyclist, with a chorus of "on your left"s; this was particularly delightful in the presence of on-coming cyclists, strollers, etc. The choreography was a little random today, but that will presumably change as the season progresses. Even though the clusters ranged in size up to about two dozen, there were times when I had the place all to myself for a minute or so. Both modes were enjoyable, but in different ways.




Rode home and made a pot of fish stew.

rod

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu for a quick spin to Lexington Center on a warm, sunny, breezy Spring day above reproach. May we have more such.






The best thing: the frogs were singing! Full-throated, unambiguous songs of amphibian territoriality and lust, phatic communication at its most emphatic. Froggy went a courtin'...

rod

anx

I've been doing a lot of trail riding this week, avoiding the days when it's raining, a lot of rain this week making things very soft out there and limiting my options, but still having fun being off the road away from cars and for the most park pedestrians.

@rholland1951 I've had the same experience and think I will be leaving by Arlington bike path riding to off peak times during the week as the season progresses and the weather improves the masses have returned at weekends.

Lots of water out there still.


On the day I made it downtown Boston I was happy to see some new separated bike paths around the Garden.

antimonysarah

Boston to Portland -- have done it a bunch of times. (Sometimes staying over, sometimes on the New England Randonneurs 400k where it's the turnaround point and after a late lunch it's time to do it all over again, because for some reason we think this is a good idea.)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22091455 is the NER route for the 400k -- a coastal route up, a slightly more inland route back, both are really nice. More hills on the way back, but both ways are pretty flat.

rholland1951

Thanks for posting that, it looks lovely. And long. But the season is young, who knows what might happen...

rod

rholland1951

What a beautiful day! Only had time for a quick 14 miles on the Minuteman, but put the Rawland Nordavinden back on the road and kept a brisk pace, riding through the interstices of the throngs. The bell helped.




rod

rumrunn6

this person was a highlight



this was interesting



lot's of ppl out today. I can see why the city is investing in bicycle infrastructure. but this is just a beginning



walking love birds still taking up a bit more roadway than they need to, but no trouble getting by



gotta share the road right?

NomarsGirl

Perfect day for a ride today and didn't let it go to waste. Great ride on the Shining Sea Bikeway.

rholland1951

That looks like a lovely ride!

rod

anx

I Managed to get out this afternoon for a ride along the minuteman and around Arlington's great meadows during a break in the showers, although the skies remainded omninous during my entire trip it stayed mostly dry





rumrunn6, @rumrunn6 I've also saw that guy on the skateboard, didn't put it together at first that it was powered being so small until I realized he was defying gravity by going up hill. Pretty cool, wonder what the batter life on one of those things is?

NomarsGirl, @NomarsGirl Nice Trek, I think we have similar models, still happily riding my Trek Multitrack after many many years of service, wish i had your suspension on the front.