Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Boston ride Tuesday

The same group from last Thursday is meeting up Tuesday (8/23) for a shorter ride, probably around 30 miles. Departing at 4:30 from Porter Sq. Maybe that makes it a Cambridge ride. Whatever.

Translation: Get your butts out there. Spandex and fixies. Woowoo!

No promises, but I'll try to make it. Also, Alexi (http://www.reynaulds.com/Preiser/images/45073.jpg) is having a blast-off-to-Cambodia shindig at All Asia tomorrow night, perfect post-ride R&R.

Cool, I hope you can. Sorry I missed last night's ride, but I was on my way back from DC. I got in some good riding with *new*guy while I was down there. And Trevor, I've totally found my snow bike. I just have to persuade its owner to sell it to me.

You guys mind if a non-spandex clad big guy comes along on this one? Im off from work today and could really use the ride.

Yeah definitely come. We'll desperately be in need of non-spandex-clad people to maintain our street cred.

By the way, despite the "roadie-ness" of our rides, everyone is always welcome. We're not trying to set any speed records. The more bikes the better!

This guy said he was moving to town this past weekend and was wondering if I could show him around. His Orientation is today and he hasn't PMed me...but Im just now realising that if he just moved to town he probably doesnt have internet. He left me his number. Ill give him a call I think and invite him.

Cool, I hope you can. Sorry I missed last night's ride, but I was on my way back from DC. I got in some good riding with *new*guy while I was down there. And Trevor, I've totally found my snow bike. I just have to persuade its owner to sell it to me.

You've still got at least two weeks before the snow flies in Boston.... Plenty of time to find one.

I'm down for a ride today. Let's try to keep this a relaxed ride.

Any idea on route?

Damn it. I may not be able to make it today. Boss just dumped a load of work on me. Im going to try to rush and finish it, but my damn roomates wont wake up and I need to record a ton of stuff before noon. (My recording equipment and computer is in my room)

I'm down for a ride today. Let's try to keep this a relaxed ride.

Any idea on route?

psn had originally suggested a loop up through Lexington or something. We rode at a relaxed pace last week. I expect it will be similar today.

just a rerminder, pop into All Asia tonight at 9.30 for a bit of a send off...

Yeah, basically go up Mass Ave. to Lexington, follow Mass Ave. as it curves west, runs into N. Great Rd., which runs alongside Minuteman National Park, then cut through that on Old Bedford Rd., which runs into 62. Take 62 up to Bedford, go down the *gasp* Minuteman bike path to Lexington, and back on down Mass Ave. It's fun, couple of rolling hills, mostly flat, and about 28 miles. Average pace of 16-17 mph. Ain't no thang but a chicken wing.

Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/b62my

I shall partake in this afternoon's gathering.

I would be there if something in my drivetrain (BB? cog?) wasn't slipping, and if my parents weren't coming in to town. I'm missing out on all the rides lately. Grrrr.

i would have partaken in todays ride, except im just reading this now, at 20 past 5, which makes it over an hour too late. maybe next time though. is this a fixed ride, or are road bikes optional?

That was fun.

What's up with the thursday ride?

-G

Hang on, you're BostonFixed? Imagine that.

Yeah, it was a nice ride. I don't like coming back on the path, though. Too sketchy. I propose we avoid it in the future.

Thursday's ride is organized by the MIT guys. Somebody will post, but it will probably start at the same place and time and be ~50 miles.

go4broke44, all bikes are welcome. Right, psn? Two of the MIT guys were on road bikes last week.

Hang on, you're BostonFixed? Imagine that.
Um? No. Yes. Maybe? Internet alter ego, I guess.

I'll try to make it out on thurs.

All those slow people on hybrids and rollerblades make the path sketchy?

Yeah go4broke, ride whatever you want, as long as it isn't one of those recumbents. Those little commies...

jrowe, you say sketchy, I say entertaining. But fine, fine, we can take Mass Ave. down from Lexington from now on. Taking South Road down from Bedford is probably just as sketchy as the path, especially with the construction making it narrow up top. We can check it out on Thursday if the ride goes up there...I'll get in touch with Jason tomorrow hopefully.

Bike paths are dangerous for cyclists because of the pedestrian traffic and the speed differential. Lots of people walking with dogs and little children, people roller-blading, people learning how to ride bikes, and they are all going slow, like 3-12mph. We were cruising along at 17-25+. That's what makes it dangerous.

Well...you guys kicked my ass soundly. I guess I needed that. Thanks for the ride. Ill try to muster my courage for another one soon. I actually had a great time. I think I will make those changes and if anyone knows of a front wheel (any front wheel) laying around that would be great.

b00sh00 said it best...
b00sh00: It's talking to you.
Me: Yeah...its saying, "Help me! Help meeee!"

Yeah, I have to say that our ride was just plain fun, although I'm not sure what we did to make it that way. I think it's summed up best by the following stoplight conversation toward the end of the ride. To set the scene, DancesInTraffic and I are stuck at a red light on Mass Ave., while the rest of the crew has gone ahead. A few roadies pull up, and one of the older (50s, probably) roadies starts talking to us with a nice kangaroo (no offense, I love Aussies!) accent.

Old Aussie roadie: "Are those singlespeeds you're riding?"
Me/DIT: "Yeah/no - they're fixed gears."
OAr: "Oh, those are just masochistic."
Me: "No, they're fun!"

And then we jetted off into the sunset. Beautiful.

I enjoyed DancesInTraffic claiming his name to fame with a frightful lil' dance at the beginning of the ride. Splendid!

Sorry I didn't make it. You know, work and the like. The bacon has demands.

For what it's worth, I'm trying to get out of work on Friday. Perhaps an early afternoon spin for those around.

(Alexi, sorry I didn't make your do. I was battling with the evil lord SIS all evening and in a pretty bad mood as a result, hardly fit for human company.)

so when will the thursday ride take place? im guessing spandex/lycra isnt looked down upon for this event?

Normally we leave sometime between 4 and 5 p.m. I haven't stopped by my lab to see my boys, but I'll send them an e-mail now and find out. Seeing as all of them are roadies, lycra shorts are the norm.

is it any of the kids from the MIT team? i know one kid named julius, and have seen a few of the others around, i race for wentworth

Yeah, Jason, he's the captain of the men's team for either this coming year, or he was last year. And he's roped me into it for this coming year...

There's a good chance I'll miss the ride tomorrow (Thursday). Have fun without me. I'd like to arrange a Sunday ride, though. I'll post on Friday.