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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

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Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Old 05-13-22, 10:56 PM
  #10001  
GarageAlwaysFul
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I really need to finish my poor mans xbike project, and yesterday I made a big brain move, I purchased ANOTHER bike project that I am really stoked to have in the fleet. So......that means I will actually finish my first project so I can get to this new one, duh! Shoulda done it sooner.... Haven't been able to ride just yet, having a baby sorta changes things, I had no idea
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Old 05-14-22, 06:21 AM
  #10002  
rholland1951
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Originally Posted by GarageAlwaysFul
I really need to finish my poor mans xbike project, and yesterday I made a big brain move, I purchased ANOTHER bike project that I am really stoked to have in the fleet. So......that means I will actually finish my first project so I can get to this new one, duh! Shoulda done it sooner.... Haven't been able to ride just yet, having a baby sorta changes things, I had no idea
Welcome!

Having a baby is THE PROJECT for many a year. Enjoy!

rod
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Old 05-14-22, 06:26 AM
  #10003  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
Took the Rivendell Appaloosa out for a ride in the beautiful weather Friday afternoon, up the Minuteman to Depot Park, then on to the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail as far as the Billerica lin
rod
Congratulations on making the 10000th post to this thread! After I made my post yesterday I saw that it was 9999. I am glad you had the honor of 10000 since you've been so prolific and poetic here.

As for the NGRT: yeah, it has a character that makes it a very different ride than the Reformatory and a nice change of scenery.

Tom
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Old 05-14-22, 08:03 AM
  #10004  
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Originally Posted by bike_tom
Congratulations on making the 10000th post to this thread! After I made my post yesterday I saw that it was 9999. I am glad you had the honor of 10000 since you've been so prolific and poetic here.

As for the NGRT: yeah, it has a character that makes it a very different ride than the Reformatory and a nice change of scenery.

Tom
Thanks! This thread is pretty special, I think. Congratulations to sherbornpeddler for initiating such a rich and enduring community.

rod
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Old 05-14-22, 05:32 PM
  #10005  
rumrunn6
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Originally Posted by GarageAlwaysFul
having a baby sorta changes things
great news! congratulations. hang in there, you aren't alone
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Old 05-14-22, 05:39 PM
  #10006  
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rode some forest trails down in Carver today. a cpl video frames
forest road

I guess it's summer now? got a little sunburn, a little heat exhaustion & depleted my electrolytes. at the end of the day wound up on a bench in front of a grocery store massaging a cramping calf. lucky for me. it subsided after a few painful minutes. but at the onset, a neighbor saw me & came to the rescue. she was visiting the phone store but saw me & came over to say hello. seeing my predicament she promptly ran into the store for a jar of pickles, so I could chug 'pickle juice". the kindness of others never ceases to warm the heart. when I got home, I took the sodium, calcium, potassium & magnesium that I should have taken during the day!

almost forgot how much I love the heat & the aroma of drying pine needles in the sun
foot trail, a guilty cycling pleasure

paved bike trail

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Old 05-14-22, 09:55 PM
  #10007  
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Took the Ocean Air Cycles Rambler out on a warm and sunny day, and rode East.


This was the standard eastern hills-and-traffic drill, but with extra sweat. I'm the child of a place with a hot climate, so that comes naturally. Went through a lot of water, and refilled one of the two water bottles mid-ride. Hit 28mph on the fastest descent, which provided plenty of evaporative cooling. Spent my time cranking, but did take one opportunistic photograph of a 1957 Ford Thunderbird, resting pleasantly at the curb in Medford. I love it when the time machines show up.


rod

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Old 05-15-22, 10:04 PM
  #10008  
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Oh most definitely! Can't wait for the bike trailer days!
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Old 05-16-22, 04:52 PM
  #10009  
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After having done a little research on the rotating Billie bars problem on the Rivendell Joe Appaloosa, I used a 6mm wrench with a relatively long lever arm (7") to loosen, reposition, and then tighten the handlebars in the Technomic stem. The calm application of a reassuring amount of force was involved.


After that, I took the Appaloosa on a shakedown ride out to Depot Park, Bedford. The handlebars gave me no further trouble, and this freed me to notice that the saddle height was a little too high. I lowered it, and was suddenly in the bike, not on it, as the saying goes. Felt good. What had been a somewhat awkward riding position (reminiscent of Pee Wee's Big Adventure) became natural. In general, I relaxed and just rode along.


Thunderstorms could be seen in the distance, doing their wet and noisy work. I was content to admire them from afar. A warm South wind orchestrated it all, a pleasure to ride through.


rod
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Old 05-17-22, 03:53 AM
  #10010  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
After having done a little research on the rotating Billie bars problem on the Rivendell Joe Appaloosa, I used a 6mm wrench with a relatively long lever arm (7") to loosen, reposition, and then tighten the handlebars in the Technomic stem. The calm application of a reassuring amount of force was involved.
interesting ends
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Old 05-17-22, 10:05 AM
  #10011  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
interesting ends
Hobson-Zingo Allen key via Rivendell.

rod
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Old 05-17-22, 03:08 PM
  #10012  
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Braved the wind this morning and rode the MM out to the Bedford Depot. Beautiful crisp air compared to the unseasonable heat of the weekend.

Past few rides out that way I've noticed what looked like expanded outdoor seating at Revolution Hall in Lexington. That's the trendy food court just off the MM near the Westview St crossing. On the way back I detoured into the parking lot to check it out. There is indeed a lot more outdoor seating compared to last summer:




My wife and I ate there last year (a salad for her and a pizza for me) and we thought it was pretty good. At that time they only had the tables on the pavers.

Anyway, it was a nice ride. Headwind on the way out and a good push in the back on the way home.

Tom
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Old 05-17-22, 10:44 PM
  #10013  
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Took the Ocean Air Cycles Rambler out to dance with the wind on the Minuteman before dinner. The low trail geometry and 38mm Soma C Line tires give it both nimbleness and stability. The wind was blowing from the West again, headwind outbound, tailwind inbound, the way Nature intended. Treetops were tossed, and their shadows were tossed, too.


Meanwhile, the Mile 4.0 Cairn Builders have given us an austere rendering of Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx.


rod
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Old 05-18-22, 10:55 PM
  #10014  
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Took the Rivendell Appaloosa out on this beautiful May afternoon. Vernal greenery dominated the scene.


The green bike fit right in.


Lots of kids came out to play.


Had a good ride, got a little more familiar with just how to ride this bike. I'm enjoying the long wheelbase. I'm starting to appreciate the upright riding posture. I'll have to test it on hills--I'm skeptical about the limits of the 1x10 drivetrain, but for today, I just had a pleasant ride that helped oxygenate my brain before Town Meeting tonight.

rod

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Old 05-19-22, 07:51 AM
  #10015  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
ow look at all that green. as-if winter never happened
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Old 05-19-22, 07:52 AM
  #10016  
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Originally Posted by bike_tom
Past few rides out that way I've noticed what looked like expanded outdoor seating at Revolution Hall in Lexington. That's the trendy food court just off the MM near the Westview St crossing. On the way back I detoured into the parking lot to check it out. There is indeed a lot more outdoor seating compared to last summer:

My wife and I ate there last year (a salad for her and a pizza for me) and we thought it was pretty good. At that time they only had the tables on the pavers.
wow, so inviting!
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Old 05-19-22, 10:11 PM
  #10017  
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Took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle out the Minuteman for a ride in the drizzle before dinner. A Taiga shell kept me cozy.


The Ebisu transported me into the domain of an Enigmatic Presence, then transported me elsewhere. Just as well.


No karmic entanglements kept me from my cooking.

rod
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Old 05-20-22, 08:55 AM
  #10018  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951
Took the Ebisu All Purpose Bicycle out the Minuteman for a ride in the drizzle before dinner. A Taiga shell kept me cozy.
The Ebisu transported me into the domain of an Enigmatic Presence, then transported me elsewhere. Just as well.
No karmic entanglements kept me from my cooking.
hehe what are those (2) dark or black blurs that pop in & out of the frame. one on the tree to the right & one on the left side, lower in the frame? black squirrels? something more ominous?
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Old 05-20-22, 09:07 AM
  #10019  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
hehe what are those (2) dark or black blurs that pop in & out of the frame. one on the tree to the right & one on the left side, lower in the frame? black squirrels? something more ominous?
Lesser Enigmas?

rod
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Old 05-20-22, 07:30 PM
  #10020  
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Friday, the last day before the weather gets silly for the weekend, was not half shabby for riding. I took the Rivendell Appaloosa out for a spin before dinner. An angel's wing overspread Arlington Center, a good omen.


The Burma Shave signs are back. Is it merely coincidence that they appeared the day after the Enigmatic Presence? Public service announcement, or curse?


Cranked along on the bike. It got a few compliments from other riders. Rivendell makes some pretty bicycles, regardless of their various eccentricities.


rod

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Old 05-21-22, 05:45 PM
  #10021  
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think I saw an electric unicycle today. seemed very space-age!

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Old 05-21-22, 06:32 PM
  #10022  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
think I saw an electric unicycle today. seemed very space-age!

The faster I go, the rounder I get.

rod
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Old 05-21-22, 06:41 PM
  #10023  
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& an electric biker with beach chairs & maybe 2 pizzas?

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Old 05-21-22, 08:41 PM
  #10024  
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Took the Ocean Air Cycles Rambler out this afternoon and rode East.


The ride started warm, but the further East and North I got, the more a sea breeze ruled, and by the end of the ride, I was a little chilly in the shorts and short sleeves that had served me well in the heat. Hill climbs helped warm me, however. As I was cranking up Fellsway East, I observed a bit of a drag race between muscle cars with tuned exhausts. Loud. I stayed out of their way.

Not a lot of photos today, but I did get another picture of the 1957 Ford Thunderbird, again parked in Medford, from the front, this time. Pretty car. If they tried to make it these days, it would be an SUV with 4-wheel drive, and they'd call it the Tundrabird.


Went sailing over the High Street hills and home. To be greeted by turkeys. I didn't eat them this time.


rod

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Old 05-23-22, 07:37 AM
  #10025  
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Originally Posted by rholland1951

Went sailing over the High Street hills and home. To be greeted by turkeys. I didn't eat them this time.


rod
Wow. I've seen wild turkeys in the parks and fields in Arlington, but never in anyone's driveway!
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