rholland1951

Sunday was another hot one. I took the Rambouillet out for a late afternoon spin on the Mystic Valley Parkway, quick reconnaissance of the Mystic Lakes scene. Shannon Beach was jumping; everywhere else was relatively calm. Had fun with the bike, and fiddled with the saddle height and a recently installed QR binder bolt. Tinker, tinker.


A brief ride, but a merry and vigorous one.

rod

rholland1951

Tuesday afternoon, I took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle for a spin before dinner. The weather was pleasantly warm, and big, puffy cumulus clouds drifted overhead. How sweet to be a cloud!


The good weather and the impending holiday brought the cheerful throngs out on the Minuteman. How sweet to be a crowd!

Of course, with crowding came the need for lane arbitration. I used my Crane Suzu bell for that. How sweet to be so loud!

rod

rholland1951

Like clockwork, took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle out on the Minuteman before dinner. Contemplated some of the Object Lessons at Mal's yard.


Lots of bikes out, mostly good old diamond frame pedal bikes, but there were recumbents, two-wheel and three-wheel, there were electrical bikes and elliptical bikes, all cutting right along. As near as I could tell, there were no electrical elliptical bikes, but when they show up, I won't be surprised. Then there were these folks: both sitting, both steering with the same set of handlebars, on a bike that seems to have been purpose-built for this, both smiling. There's a story there, and I don't know what it is, so rather than make one up, we'll just leave it at that.


Shortly after taking that picture, I experienced one of the nastier cases of chain suck I can recall. I did discover that the Ebisu frame has a braze-on chain hanger that's helpful in the situation, which I did manage to fix quickly enough. Here's a souvenir of the disaster:


rod

rholland1951

Thursday, I had an unexpected slice of time for a short ride, hopped on the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle, and headed up the Mystic Valley Parkway, riding close to water on a warm day. The first of the water was the local spray park at Thomson Elementary School. As public accommodations, I think of these as equivalent to opening a fire hydrant.


Shannon Beach: kids, parents, ducks, and the ducks' kids, quietly enjoying the water. I suspect it will be bustling with an older crowd tomorrow, when the heat rolls in.


The Bacow Sailing Pavilion was even quieter.


As I pedaled along, I found myself moving from one pool of shade to the next, the shadows of trees that had found the fringe of the water long before I had. It was cool there, and the Sun's touch was immediately noticeable when I moved out from under their protection. Riding beside water...

I discovered the Winchester Semiotics Depot. Need to indicate something on the road? They can set you up.


rod

rholland1951

The weather broke in favor of cycling on Saturday, with rain in the morning and the early evening, but a lovely, warm afternoon with blue skies and squadrons of tropical-looking clouds, that transitioned gently to the evening's thunder showers by way of cooling drizzles. Having reassured myself on this point by staring at the weather radar, I took the LHT and rode East.


The LHT has proved itself in more than one downpour, and was shod with 44mm Compass Snoqualmie Pass Extralights, known to be able to bounce out of unexpected flooded potholes while holding a line. Fortunately, no such amphibious hijinks were called for by conditions this afternoon, and I went bombing up and down hills and in and out of traffic with all the comfort and speed that I could have asked for.

Eventually, the sky stopped looking so blue. After the first few raindrops landed on my nose, I checked the weather radar, and saw something that reminded me of "The Blob".


Being ware of the The Blob, I cranked towards home in earnest. I clocked 27 mph through this section of Fellsway East (after the light changed, of course).






On the crest of the big High Street hill, a man cautioned me not to shelter under trees.


The Blob caught a train in West Medford, and had a bit of fun with me at the same time. Still, the relatively gentle drizzle was nice and cool after cranking up and down High Street.


I've only ever caught one lightning display with a digital camera, and the one I saw here did not improve my batting average. What would Ben Franklin do?


The basketball players were abandoning the wet courts in Dugger Park as I crossed the Mystic River on Harvard Ave.


Arrived slightly moistened, but without complaint.

rod

rholland1951

My son John and I took an Independence Day ride, on a day that one would be hard pressed to improve on where weather and traffic conditions were concerned, 30 miles (more or less) that began and ended at Depot Park, Bedford, and made a great counter-clockwise loop up 225 into Carlisle, to Great Brook Farm State Park, past the Cranberry Bog at Curve Street, over to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail at Chelmsford, on down through Westford, and Acton until the posted end of the Bruce Freeman was reached (more to be seen there, I think, but the sense of the afternoon was not to push our luck), then N and E across Acton, Concord, and Carlisle to Carlisle Center (Ferns!), and on back on Route 225 to Depot Park again. John rode his Surly Cross Check, I was on my Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle. The rolling hills on much of the route supplemented the gentle rail trail grades of the Bruce with a healthy dose of climbing and descending.

Maple Street, Carlisle: the Maple Street Beaver Lodge rode on puffy clouds as the pond held the sky.


North Road, Carlisle: c1789, one of the numerous time machines encountered on the ride.


North Road, Carlisle: John encounters a time machine.


Great Brook Farm State Park: John encounters ice cream, the very thing on a warm, sunny day.


Carlisle: Tattooed Poultry, registered with the Mass. State Police. Perhaps they don't make 'em like that any more, but the sign, while fading, persists, another time machine. A tip of the helmet to jimmuller who established this sign's landmark status with this thread.


Acton: one of the many handsome wetland views from the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. If I were a frog, I'd move there.


Acton: a pond with a gazebo. That does it, I'm definitely going to look into turning into a frog.


Acton: the temporary end of the Bruce Freeman. It's not one of those AND WE MEAN IT barriers, and it might have been interesting to explore, but the sense of the day was to leave it for another time. It's enough to know that this trail is continuing to grow.


And that was that for the photos, but a sustained sprint through some lovely bits of Acton, Concord, Carlisle, and Bedford remained before we were back at Depot Park and continuing with the day. Good day for a turn of the crank, and for a smile.

rod

bike_tom

Been riding but not posting lately. Thought I would share today's ride. Got out early, and as it turns out I beat the (not really predicted) afternoon rain shower.

Out of my bag of favored rides I selected the MM->Reformatory Trail ->Battle Road -> Lexington Center-> MM loop.

End of the Reformatory Trail at Lowell Rd, Concord:



A change at that location: Trails End Cafe is now a place called "Nosh by Concord Market". The one time I stopped into Concord Market I thought it was a bit too precious for my taste...oh well.

Merriam's Corner:





What's left of the Hartwell House on Battle Road in MM National Historic Park:




Overall a pleasant 29 miles.

Tom

bike_tom

As I am sure you know, that closed section leads to the new bridge over Route 2 and then to West Concord. While originally scheduled to open this summer, the latest news on Concord's website is that it has been delayed till November. My understanding is that the bridge is structurally complete but various finish work, including the top layer of asphalt, won't be done till the Fall. Pity!

rholland1951

The Concord material is helpful, thanks. This situation reminds me of the long delays while the Northern Strand was receiving finishing touches.

rod

rholland1951

My son Sam invited me to lunch at his house in Watertown, so I hopped on the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle and rode on over. I paused to take a photo of my favorite Belmont street sign.


We walked over to Mt Auburn Street to pick up some falafel. Along the way, a few signs caught my eye.






Ah, the Watertown gestalt! As long as the insects stay out of my lamejun, I'm good with it. After a good meal and a good talk, I rode back to Arlington.

rod

bike_tom

Yeah, slow but sure progress. I'm looking forward to the BFRT Route 2 bridge opening, to the Somerville Community Path opening to the Charles, etc. At least the Watertown Cambridge Greenway is done.

BTW, the document I linked was rather far down in the Concord website hierarchy. If anyone wants more general info about the BFRT in Concord, it can be found here: https://concordma.gov/980/Bruce-Free...rail-Committee

Tom

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle up the Minuteman All Purpose Bikeway before making a pot of All Purpose Fish Stew for dinner. There was a stiff breeze, a headwind outbound, a tailwind inbound.


Reached the tentative conclusion that the faster one rides on the Minuteman, the quicker one meets any idiots who might be lurking there. This finding is pending peer review.


rod

rumrunn6

w/ the shadow, are you referring to meeting yourself? as-in the faster one goes, the more one realizes, they themselves are going to fast? I've done that & embarrassed myself

rumrunn6

Rod's trailside chain problem reminded me:

was able to escape family matters, meaning driving to NY every weekend to help elderly parents, long enough to get a nuclear family vacation (+ Daughter & Son's partners) on Martha's Vineyard. 1 big family ride, a cpl shorter rides w/ Wifey & a cpl solo rides w/o being accused of being anti-social. 1 ride w/Wifey featured a beach & a lunch break at Noman's restaurant. on the way back to the house, just after leaving the rest. a chain quick-link separated on my bike & I heard it clink away into the trailside brush. as-with most vacations, there's always a long list of activities & losing my chain several miles from base was a big hiccup. not to mention that my physical state was not happy w/ the prospect of the long walk in the sun. the 2 kids had our 2 cars so I might have been rescued. dug into my trunk & found some things to try. of the 3 chain tools I own, the one I had with me, broke while trying to remove the pin on the remaining side of the existing quick link. I wasn't thinking clearly. then I realized what was in play & I found a complete pair of old, used quicklinks. I struggled for a considerable time getting one of the sides to mate with what was still on the chain. kept trying one, then the other w/ just fingers, & to my delight, was able to attach it & got it to lock in place. we rode home as if nothing ever happened. thank you disposable gloves & a patient Wife

since it was later in our stay I thought it would put an end to my riding. so I bought a chain. however, since I didn't bring chain pliers on vacation, I wasn't able to disconnect the new/old quick link connection w/ just my hands. heck, if I can't get it off, it's certainly not going to fall off on it's own! it's not an old chain, so I think I'll just keep it as-is, for now & I ordered a cpl new quicklinks for the trunk

the ones on the chain now are the type that have 2 sides that look like this


which is what I struggled with, trailside

but then I saw this other type, so I ordered a cpl of these. they appear to be maybe easier to use? I may not find out for several years when I'm in distress trailside again

rholland1951

Well, a shadow is literally a projection... It gets crowded out there. ;-)

rod

rholland1951

Took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle out on the Minuteman at lunchtime. Sam complained that reading the newspaper had made him tired and cranky, and he wanted a nap. I bade him pleasant dreams, the likelihood of which he sourly doubted. Oh well. I went cranking off at a good clip, took no more pictures, and chatted up no more statues.


rod

jimmuller 

This reminds me of the guy who when his doctor told him they had cured his schizophrenia got so excited he was beside himself.

It's been a while since I last posted here. Have been riding mostly indoors, not commuting to the office any more except walking from the dining room to the dining room. But today I did get out for 29 miles on the PF10.

rumrunn6

splendid summer scenes

rumrunn6

got out for a little while today

this whole stretch is usually under water. I've ridden thru it. if it was covered in water now it would be hard to see the washout!

rholland1951

Yow! Is that at the Assabet NWR?

rod

rholland1951

Hopped on the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle on Saturday afternoon and rode East.


This was the usual mix of hills and traffic, with the usual virtues and vices, although there were a couple of cases of minivan-dwelling children making what I took to be intended as clever remarks about the old guy on the bike. Couldn't really hear them, anyway. Presumably, their mothers could. They can either spank them, or raise their allowance.

When I first crossed the Mystic, into West Medford, the kayaks were on maneuvers.


Climb the hill up Main Street in Malden, and you will encounter Dairy Delights. The cows do look delighted. A cooling sea breeze slowed the melting process. Also the climbing process.


Speaking of climbing, here's a back yard in Malden that wins the Best 3D Landscaping prize.


Anyhow, this ride fed my hill climbing and descending addiction for another week. We've got hills here, may as well play with them.


rod

Ghazmh

Lots has happened, lots to discuss since my last post here. Having started with a local tech company in Watertown at the beginning of April I can now fulfill my long time desire to commute to work on my touring bike, that is on days when I’m not chauffeuring our young immediately before or after work. Also since my last regular post I rode Raid Rockingham in June, 60 mile easy gravel ride in NH in early June, Vermont Gran Fondo in and the Vineyard in mid June, and hundreds and hundreds of miles in Weston, Lincoln, Concord, Carlisle, Acton, Wayland, and Sudbury. Today I was riding along on Monument St when I spied a familiar looking pair of red panniers. My first thought was that’s a tandem but it was too far to say for sure. As the delta between us narrowed I saw that it was a tandem, a blue tandem. It was Jim and Sharon! it was a delight to see them after a few years. Eventually we met up a short while later at Ferns and enjoyed the gorgeous Summer Sunday sunshine catching up before heading back out on the road.

I’ve attached a few noteworthy pics from the past few months. I seem to enjoy taking sunrise pictures.



Bristol Vermont





Ponyhenge

jimmuller 

Mike, great pics!

Here's the pic Sharon took. It was great visiting with you! Our last contact was the ride we did with Bill in the rain April, 2017, I believe.

bike_tom

My New Bike Day post!

I've been wanting a new road bike for a while. Partly because I wanted to enter the 21st century, partly because my old Fuji is getting to big for me. (Funny how frames grow in size over the years. What else could it be? ) And mostly because I just wanted N+1. After a lot of searching, waiting, and near misses, I scored a ride that pressed all the right buttons for me: Trek Checkpoint ALR5



This is classified as a "gravel" bike. It's got 40mm tires stock and can go larger. I only had time for a quick ride to Lexington Center and back this morning, but so far I am enjoying it. Its actually surprising that a machine running such wide tires can be relatively so nimble. I am looking forward to using this for extended mixed surface trail rides, like MM + Reformatory + Bruce Freeman. I've been using my hardtail MTB for rides that include off-pavement sections, but 3 hour rides on flat bars leave me wanting less weight and more hand positions. I think this will be just the ticket!

FYI: I got the bike at the new Trek owned store that just opened 2 days ago at Fresh Pond in Cambridge. These bikes are hard to find, but I went there before their inventory showed up online.

Tom

rholland1951

Took the Rambouillet out for a quick spin on the Minuteman before dinner. Good weather for it, with a bit of breeze.


Good to be back on the Ram again. It was speedy today. And orange, of course.


The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway edition of "Make Way For Ducklings" was in session, in the spot where Mill Brook passes under the trail surface. The ducks prefer to walk that.


I brake for ducklings. For snapping turtles, too, come to think of it.

rod