Rides and Races - Boston rides

Saturdays route: this is not a perfect trace of the actual roads to save your browsers from freezing. http://tinyurl.com/9fq4x

This is the route ... not Waterville. Lincoln - Lincoln 80 mile loop. RT-112 E to Bear Notch Road (seasonal shortcut to Barlett/Bretton Woods area) to 302 W through Crawford Notch SP back dow RT 3 S through Franconia SP to the Lincoln starting point. We had dinner at the Mad River Tavern near Waterville in Campton.

so whats the over-all summary of the NH ride? it was basically in the waterville valley ski area, right? also, how bad were the climbs? I would really like to try it, but i dont feel i'm at the level i should be , to be able to make it up through mountains, when climbing parker hill ave gives me some trouble, although it prolly is 11% though.

There was definitely a 3.5 mile climb at a 9% grade right in the beginning (about the 11 mile mark?) followed by a 4 mile descent. There was another really tough climb at mile 45 but that was short. Everything else was tough but manageable. I wasn't sore, really, until mile 65 when my knees started complaining a bit. Nothing achy and no real intense pain, though. Also, I was climbing with an 8-speed cassette that had the easiest gear locked out (due to a slightly bent derailleur). Also, I'm fat. So I'd say it's an achievable route.

rob

Pics from NH:

Top of the first climb:
http://www.speakeasy.org/~jrowedc/IMG_0974.JPG

Myself, rithem, and stickfoot. Sorry about the lighting.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~jrowedc/IMG_0978.JPG

I'm working on a flyer for "RETURN TO FRANCONIA" echo voice. for 10.22 there will be some prov riders interested so I'll post prints at the Hub and a copy here when I'm done if enough people come we'll rent a van. thanks for the moniker BT
I know the 22nd is supposed to be return of the Franconia Notch ride,

that cinelli is hot

I'm crossing my arms in the photo because I was freezing my balls off. Next time I'll bring warmer clothes.

look at those 3 lame dudes ...
i'm kiddin... So bummed that I couldn't go. When we going to plan another fixed ride?
It's either that or I go buy a geared and I dont see that happening until after the holidays.

How about tonight?

lets do it! I have to be back before...say 10:30 so I say bar @7:30-8pm then ride by 9.

I suggest the Pig 'cause I think It's pretty close for everyone right? let me know!?!

rutt: go to this because we really need to discuss Chi-town.

Sounds good. What is the Pig and where is it?

Right, I guess we never met up to talk about Chicago, did we?

Is that the Squealing Pig on Huntington? I'll try to be there and I'll try to drag a friend, but we might be late.

I have responsibility for the dog this evening, but I'm going to try to make it. I think we've already discussed how I really can't ride if I have anything in my stomach, so depending on how much I eat or drink, I may or may not be down for the ride. But at the very least, I haven't seen you chumps for a minute, so I'll make an effort to be on the spot.

That's just down the hill from my place, so I'll try to drop by. No promises.

Do it!!!
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=134+Smith+St.+Roxbury+Crossing,+MA&spn=0.031162,0.058545&hl=en

I'll be there it's called the squealing pig it's right off of huntington. I guess I'll be there for a while then if nobody shows up by 9 I'll be off. hope to see ya'lls lovely faces.

Wow, just saw this. Okay, I'll be there, sometime between 8 and 9.

my knees/legs are still messed up from my poor decision to do sets of 270 on the leg press monday with my friend, otherwise i'd be in. I've been off the fixie for the last 3 days, although i've still been doing around 20-25 miles a day on the roadie. maybe next time though, and i'm definitely down for next time's NH ride.

Hey guys. Just walked by the pub and saw your bikes on the fence. I would have come along, but it finally happened. My front wheel fell apart on me going down a hill yesterday. Axle snapped inside the hub. Wheel fell right against the fork. I steered right onto a sidewalk and went over my handlebars into the grass. Ouch. I've got a hub and a rim, but Im waiting on money to come to me to finish building the wheel. Im pretty upset about this. I can feel classes begin to take their evil hold on me and I am riding less and sitting around more. I can't allow this to happen this year. Maybe I'll go to the gym instead. :(

Sorry to hear about that man. We mostly sat around ourselves. Then rode home. Several of these guys are going to drive to Chicago though. rithem, I voluteered your roof rack since your trunk ate my alien tool.

Dude. I just took my Pulse out for its first ride. This thing is fast as ****. Crap. And I weighed it with my crappy M520 pedals on it, and it still barely broke 16 lbs. I don't care if my left arm falls off - I'm bringing it tomorrow night to the ghettodrome (cuz I miss you guys...awww).

Alright then. I'll bring my 14lb Major Taylor.

Damn you. I want my half second of glory.

Wait a minute - how many bikes do you have?

Yeah, I mean it's not like we were riding around in the bar.

Well stickyfoot might have been, but you know how he rolls.

edit: never let a page sit open for 30 minutes and then reply. Nothing good can come of it.

Ha! I wish I saw the replys earlier. No worries though, I was at work until 12. Freakin work. Do we work to live or live to work? I confuse these things sometimes.
I'll swing by tonight.. weather permitting ... apparently only showers "early in the evening"

whats everyone doing this weekend? i finally don't have to work, so i'm looking into going on a fairly lengthy road ride, anyone else down? i havent come up with any exact details yet, i know the BU team has a route they frequent on the weekends, so i've been looking into going riding with them.

Sorry to hear about that man. We mostly sat around ourselves. Then rode home. Several of these guys are going to drive to Chicago though. rithem, I voluteered your roof rack since your trunk ate my alien tool.


what? I'll look for that alien tool. My roof rack only fits on a 1990-1993 Honda Accord. If some one has Thule bars on their car they can borrow the 4 trays I have. Otherwise, sorry. Thule racks are vehicle specific.

I'm coming up early tonight, I want to go to Wheelworks to get some knickers for New Mexico ... we're racin' tonight right? I'm going to eat earlier so I don't puke.

If it makes you feel better, Jeff's apartment ate my wheel. And my bag ate the leftover bananas.

I have something going on until 9:00. But I'll be around after that if people want to gather. Hopefully the rain will miss us today, or it'll have stopped before then...

Not in the mood to race today, but I should be over in the cambridge area this evening, so I'd drop by for a beer. Location? Or the usual (bukowski's)?

Apologies for not showing last night. A friend of mine just passed his "Series 7", which I guess means he's a certified stockbroker now. Apparently after passing something like that, you're supposed to go get trashed with your friends and talk about how much money you're going to make and how all the fly *****es will be up on you because of your hot new BMW. Couldn't pass up an opportunity at witnessing unmitigated greed and free beer, you know?
--alex

rithem, what knickers are you getting at wheelworks? Are we talking about manpris? I didn't know they carried them.

I have a '99 accord. I've looked at thule stuff before...in theory, I would just need to get the feet, and then the bars and trays would fit my car. But, that seems like a pointless expense, considering I already have a trunk rack that I don't use very much.

Edit: Clarification. My car is the candidate for the road trip to chicago, and jrowe offered up your roof rack.

rithem, what knickers are you getting at wheelworks? Are we talking about manpris? I didn't know they carried them.

I have a '99 accord. I've looked at thule stuff before...in theory, I would just need to get the feet, and then the bars and trays would fit my car. But, that seems like a pointless expense, considering I already have a trunk rack that I don't use very much.

Edit: Clarification. My car is the candidate for the road trip to chicago, and jrowe offered up your roof rack.

Like these minus the dude. I'll see what they have.
http://www.assos.com/products_images/63/Knicker-T-Rubi-Black_m.jpg

Foot packs cost about $100 bucks not to mention cooridinating with each other to put on take off your car and visa versa ... I wouldn't hesitate using the trunk rack, just get some foam pipe insulation for H-Depot for the frame tubes at contact points and use an old tire tube to tie it all down tight and don't get rear ended!

Lets meet at Bukowski at 9:15ish if y'all are up for it. I'll be around earlier if anyone wants to hang out before that let me know.

That dude looks awesome! He's thinking: "Where'd my chest hair go?!"

I'm down for Bukowski at 9:15. We're talking the Inman Square Bukowski in Cambridge, by the way, for you kiddies out there who don't know better.

Oh, are you flying solo tonight, rithem, or are you dragging some PVD kids up here? Derek keeps asking about Dan. He's crazed that there's a dude out there faster than he is. He wants another shot...

Oooh, that's what you mean by knickers. I was thinking of these (http://www.prana.com/storefront/ProdBot.aspx?prodID=1260) (no bare chested dudes, sorry).

Edit: I'll try to make Bukowski's, but I won't get out of work until around 9:30. Track time is still 10:30, right?

Hannah has too much home work and is going to T-town Sat. with Dan and few others. I rode road with them last night for awhile, Dan can't go this week. Sorry Derek. So I will be S-O-L-O.

Maybe I'll have to gather a crew of Bostonians and head down to Providence for another showdown.

Oh, are you flying solo tonight, rithem, or are you dragging some PVD kids up here? Derek keeps asking about Dan. He's crazed that there's a dude out there faster than he is. He wants another shot...

Is he!?! oh man... My shoulder hurts too much to race if he wants a re-match. That kid is fast!!! I'm not sure though derek usually takes me so he should be able to pull something off.

Well there is that Alleycat in Dec. over the Cross Nat'ls weekend and possibly coming up soon; that guy Isacc that was with us last week is putting one together TBA.

Holy crap, I just rode to Allston and back (from downtown) and the wind is not to be trifled with. An entire tree was knocked over near Kenmore Square. Be careful out there, kiddies.

yeah .. the wind is gnarly today.
my co-workers and I usually get lunch at a taco shop on Causeway, we were sitting out on the usual ledge when a gust of wind took my co-workers plate and slapped his lunch against some burly business guy's back .. he turned around and grunted at my co-worker ... it was funny sh*t.
It's raining .. hopefully it'll stop before tonight.

Well the rain has stopped and it looks like the wind has calmed down. I'll meet yall at the track - have to be at a friend's place beforehand. Turns out my rear tire is leaking a bit...maybe Jeff and I can have a tubular discussion at the track (as in how to make the leak go away).

Well crap. Yet again, circumstances have prevented me from making it out to the track. I didn't get out of work until way late, but on top of that, a female coworker accidentally wore my helmet home. How exactly that happened is beyond me. We're almost complete opposites physically, and her helmet is a blue casual helmet, while mine is a black racing helmet.

Wouldn't you put it on your head and think "hey, this feels a bit too large, and you know, this little tightening doohicky isn't the same one I used this morning"?

And yes, I suppose I could have made it out without my helmet, but even the five minute ride home was uncomfortable.

You missed a great pissing contest between two light aluminum bikes with their two slow ass riders. Though I'd say Jeff is faster than I am any day; he just likes to lose Miss n' Out (Miss-n-Out?) on purpose.

this is fun:

http://www.rushinrevolution.com/images/UnionCrit/UnionCrit.mov

nosepicker crash

I can't even tell if I'm in that video. I don't think so. Too bad.

I'm pretty sure your out front with Alex an 3-4 others then me a length back and then the Nosepicker crash. Video quality is poor we look hellablurry.

I wonder if Nosepicker went down on purpose. It'd be just like that kid.

You can see his back tire hit the painnt right before he goes down. It's a shame the camera guy didn't pan with the crash. Rob, how did the rest of your night go? You missed a good single miss and out. I won ... cuz you weren't there. Howell tried to catch me no dice though.

Oh and you missed a pretty hilarious attempt at finding a boston-side bar nearby afterwards. Sorry about that guys, one of the people I lived with last year used to rave about that place (I'd never been). In retrospect I realize I lived with some severe meatheads. Who knew?

I think we need better cameramen at all our events.

Congrats on your win! I probably would've lost to you last night. My legs were feeling heavy for whatever reason. As for the rest of my night, lady drama does not rule. When do you take off for the newest Mexico?

What place were you looking for?

Well, that was the issue. We weren't looking for anything, all of us were headed into boston though, so it seemed pointless to go back towards central. I knew the Beacon Hill Pub was right across the longfellow and one of my old roommates used to go there all the time, so I suggested it.

I forget that I lived with 8 football players last year; I never went out with them or anything. Now that I understand what they were up to, I'm very glad I didn't.

Night was saved though by hauling a** into brookline.