Northeast - Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Hurting after last night's club ride. Launched off the front of the pack at the start of the ride with the "fast guy" in our club and proceeded to suffer for the next 25 miles. Seems like every time I looked at my speed, we were in excess of 25mph. I felt like I was going to blow for most of the ride. My riding partner took mercy on me and allowed me to catch back on every time I looked as if I was fading. Finished the ride with a 21mph average (which accounts for stops, slow sections and me gasping for air on the climbs).

That sounds like my Saturday ride. It's always fun to suffer like that. Well, when it's over. On the other hand, I was an idiot and went and raced Sunday.

I'm quite excited to have Thursday/Friday off so I can head off on a long solo adventure. I need to bury myself in a hole since I'm heading out of town and will be off the bike for several days.

Well I got out for about 7 miles around Newton and Watertown this afternoon. So there, nyah! :) My cold is going away but I'm tired.

I envy all of you your riding opportunities and I have a hard time believing that cmolway or godshammgod are ever hurtin'! SBP either. And ZIPP2001 too for that matter. Spin and climb to your hearts' content, gentlemen!

How do you find the time to ride centuries already? I feel lucky to have gotten out for even one or two weekend days and a bit of bike commuting this spring. Too much to do.

Saturday my band plays in Ashburnham. Details at http://www.SouthernRail.com if you're looking for a bike destination!

I took a day off from cycling and posted more links to mountain bike and road bike rides north of Boston on my blog, cyclingnewengland.blogspot.com, (http://cyclingnewengland.blogspot.com) which is over 350 posts now. I'll soon have to do another split in my Southern New England Google interactive RideMap (http://ridemap.info/), giving Massachusetts and Connecticut their own pages. But tomorrow-- I'll fight the blogging urge and ride from Ipswich to Newburyport (http://cyclingnewengland.blogspot.com/2010/12/cycling-great-salt-marsh.html).

Well I got out for about 7 miles around Newton and Watertown this afternoon. So there, nyah! :) My cold is going away but I'm tired.

I envy all of you your riding opportunities and I have a hard time believing that cmolway or godshammgod are ever hurtin'! SBP either. And ZIPP2001 too for that matter. Spin and climb to your hearts' content, gentlemen!

How do you find the time to ride centuries already? I feel lucky to have gotten out for even one or two weekend days and a bit of bike commuting this spring. Too much to do.

Saturday my band plays in Ashburnham. Details at http://www.SouthernRail.com if you're looking for a bike destination!

Well, I've got my first century on May 12th so we'll see how that goes. It's all in preparation for B2B in June. I definitely find it hard to get out for more than one long (50/60/70 mile) ride a week. I work overnights and do most of my riding after work. But I can usually only go about 90 minutes before my body revolts. I can't imagine my bizarre sleep cycle helps my fitness.

Bike New England-- That Ipswich-Newburyport ride sounds beautiful. I grew up on the North Shore and love riding up there. One of my favorite routes takes me from Marblehead to Rockport via 127, before returning through Ipswich and Essex.

48 miles today, absolutely beautiful out. So beautiful I had to stop for ice cream. :)

48 miles today, absolutely beautiful out. So beautiful I had to stop for ice cream. :)
I squeezed 33 in and whole-heartedly agree ~ you just can't beat this weather. Skipped the ice cream though. I'm still packing a little extra (ok, a lot extra) from the winter.

One day late reporting - I did ride yesterday, Friday. Repeated my commute thing, car/train/bike. The bike part is 13 1/2 miles one way. Awesome day for a ride. Too bad I had to squeeze work in the middle. I'm really liking the sense of freedom this biking part brings.

I rode yesterday, not today. Okay, so I'm late reporting.

I finally pulled the trigger on a commute plan I've been working on. Instead of driving 55 miles to work I drove to the rt128 station, took the train to Attleboro, then biked about 13 miles over to work on the western side of Lincoln, RI. Returned home that way, of course.

It was a nice way to get to work. Had one flat, picked up a staple in the rear tire. I suspect it came from the carpet at work.

The clincher is that I did it on my '72 UO8, a species of bike that does everything reasonably well and (knock on wood) just keeps on rolling!

Hi Jim,

Nice to read about your multimodal commute though you have some complicated connections to make, i.e. catching the train to Attleboro, and in particular riding from Lincoln, RI back to Attleboro to catch the reverse train. I have a very easy bimodal commute: ride in the morning from Kenmore Square to work in Norwood (~14 miles, or more when in century training), then take the train back to Boston in the evening. And the train station is virtually two minutes, downhill, from where I work.

BTW, I had my eye on a Peugot UO8 back in 1972, but we went with Merciers instead that lasted until about 1992 for me, and my wife's is still roadworthy.

Finally, it's been nice to read about all the early spring riding out MetroWest. Tomorrow afternoon I plan my first "long distance" training ride of my ten-week Century training schedule, about 40 miles out Rte 16 to Rte 27, Rte 115, to Washington St in Norfolk, to Norwood to do some work, and evening train home. This is my first occasional post to this thread since around February, swapping stories with mtalinm about riding Centre St in blizzard conditions. :lol: :thumb:

Nice to read about your multimodal commute though you have some complicated connections to make, i.e. catching the train to Attleboro, and in particular riding from Lincoln, RI back to Attleboro to catch the reverse train. I have a very easy bimodal commute: ride in the morning from Kenmore Square to work in Norwood (~14 miles, or more when in century training), then take the train back to Boston in the evening. And the train station is virtually two minutes, downhill, from where I work.
Ooh, I wish my trip were that easy! I actually have two "issues" to deal with. One is making connections. If I miss the train home the next one doesn't come for 2 1/4 hours. That's a lot of time to bang around little ol' Attleboro. I guess I could go for a ride tho'. I've been allowing myself about 1hr20min, but it's been taking me less than an hour. On the other hand, if I get a flat that might give me time to fix it.

The second problem is the location. If it was Lincoln proper the trip would be easy. However my employer is in the southern angle between rts 146 and 295, way over on the western side. That means climbing up from the river. So far I've found no easy way to do it except grunt it out. Tried 123 all the way around yesterday but that's not a good road all the way and it gains then loses more elevation than necessary. Plus it has a killer hill.


BTW, I had my eye on a Peugot UO8 back in 1972, but we went with Merciers instead that lasted until about 1992 for me, and my wife's is still roadworthy.
Nice. I didn't even know Mercier (or a dozen other companies) existed until many years later. The only "high-end', i.e. modern, bike shop in Richmond at the time was Agee's and they carried Peugeot, Raleigh, Gitane, and Schwinn. I had no idea what I was getting but it seemed like the right choice at the time. It worked out okay!

Ooh, I wish my trip were that easy! I actually have two "issues" to deal with. One is making connections. If I miss the train home the next one doesn't come for 2 1/4 hours. That's a lot of time to bang around little ol' Attleboro. I guess I could go for a ride tho'. I've been allowing myself about 1hr20min, but it's been taking me less than an hour. On the other hand, if I get a flat that might give me time to fix it.

The second problem is the location. If it was Lincoln proper the trip would be easy. However my employer is in the southern angle between rts 146 and 295, way over on the western side. That means climbing up from the river. So far I've found no easy way to do it except grunt it out. Tried 123 all the way around yesterday but that's not a good road all the way and it gains then loses more elevation than necessary. Plus it has a killer hill...
Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply. My commute does indeed seem “wimpy,” but my workday is such that I am particularly busy and productive in the early evening, and departing after 9 PM for the ride home, only to leave home about 6 AM the next morning, does not beckon to me to ride home at night. As I am sure you realize, riding the train in the reverse commuter direction is probably even better than a limousine ride (except for dealing with the schedule).

For your consideration, there is a commuter rail line to Franklin-Forge Park. Eyeballing MapQuest, if Attleboro is about 13 miles from Lincoln, Forge Park looks about 20 miles. However, there seems to be more frequent train service inbound in the late afternoon and early evening from Forge Park. From the schedule:

Forge Park: 02:05 04:00 05:36 07:40 08:50 10:15 11:50


Attleboro: 03:36 05:29 06:18 08:31 10:08

If you are out for miles, perhaps the extra distance would be worth it to go to Forge Park. On the Franklin Line-Forge Park Line, there are large parking lots at Dedham Corporate Center, Norwood Central, and a smaller one at Norwood Depot. The two Norwood lots are both about 4 miles from the Route 128 parking lot via a (secret :innocent:) mostly residential route if you wanted to utilize both lines. FWIW.

Jim

The two Norwood lots are both about 4 miles from the Route 128 parking lot via a (secret :innocent:) mostly residential route if you wanted to utilize both lines. FWIW.
Thanks for the suggestions. I checked the Franklin Line schedule The timing doesn't work out very well for a morning run from Franklin. The extra 7 miles would mean about another half hour when I'm already pushing to make a 10AM meeting. Which would be okay except that I'm already having to get up earlier than I'd like!

The 7:40 run home through Franklin is an option if I had to stay at work so late that I'd miss the 6:18 train. I've driven parts of those roads and would not relish the bits through Woonsocket. But the train leaves 1hr22min later and requires only half an hour more biking. Then I could doodle back to Rt128 to get my car. It's worth examining the route more closely. Thanks. (On the other hand, I've had offers of rides back to Attleboro. It all depends on the timing, dozzenit?)

+10 on the limo-ride. The train is so civilized. If my laptop was lighter I'd carry it just to use the free WiFi!

Little mother's day gift (http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/33778314) to myself: sweet ride past all those apple orchards in and around Harvard. Boxboro Road has been resurfaced since last year :thumb:

Got slaughtered in the Sterling Road Race on Saturday... but it was a fun ride, well organized, and great weather in the AM.

Little mother's day gift (http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/33778314) to myself: sweet ride past all those apple orchards in and around Harvard. Boxboro Road has been resurfaced since last year :thumb:
Happy Mother's day, a day late. Your link doesn't work except for people listed in MMR as friends. Still, it must have been nice! We had a bit of rain in our canoe yesterday. Hope you didn't get too wet.


Got slaughtered in the Sterling Road Race on Saturday... but it was a fun ride, well organized, and great weather in the AM.
Ooh, ouch. (I'd get slaughtered in any race, I'm afraid. that's why I'm not interested in racin'.)

Did the tri-modal commute thing in to work this morning. Saw an oriole on the Blackstone Bikeway. If I'd been driving I wouldn't have seen anything near as pretty.

Your link doesn't work except for people listed in MMR as friends.

oops. Fixed it. I think. How was your concert, Jim? I swear, I'm gonna make it to one of those.

I think. How was your concert, Jim? I swear, I'm gonna make it to one of those.
The concert was great, and thanks for asking!

Since I have to ride twice a day I get to post twice too. This afternoon's ride back to Attleboro was an adventure. First my boss wanted to ask the group about something and the discussion lasted until later than I would have liked. As I was leaving a co-worked said "Don't miss your train." (Thanks, Steve!) Then I found the wind had shifted during the day to become a stiff and slightly cold headwind out of the east. Okay... So I turned off of 116 onto Great Rd and realized I wasn't sure I'd recognize the left turn over to Old River Rd. Sure enough I rode past it but had to good fortune to see a resident getting out of a pickup so I asked. (See, guys can ask directions after all, especially if they are possibly late.)

So I flew down Cullen Hill Rd and onto the Blackstone Bikeway, then got passed by another rider on a Lemond doing a training run. When we stopped at a stoplight I complimented him. He said he was in a hurry, had to get it all in. I said I was in a hurry, had to catch a train.

All went well until I got a flat about halfway from the river to Attleboro. Dang. I always figured if I left enough time I could fix it and still catch the train, but today I was running late. Quick, pull the tube out, find the hole, search the inside of the tire for glass or a thorn. I could neither see nor feel anything at all, either inside or out. Quick stuff another tube and remount the tire. 75 hurried pump strokes, good enough for maybe 75lbs, pack up everything and hit the road. Check the watch, it's gonna' be close. I rode as hard as I could, cursed the headwind, and got to the station a few minutes before the train should have arrived. Nothing in sight. A few people waiting though. 5 minutes go by, another 5 minutes. Quick phone call to my sweetie to let her know that I might be 2 hrs late. Another 5 minutes...and a headlight appears down the track. The train finally arrives about 16 minutes late! I'm saved!

It was an interesting day.

It was such a pretty day, I decided to do a solo century. Too tired to type much now, but managed 102 miles without dying.

Got a flat at mile 15, but a nice guy got out of a car with a floor pump, which was awesome. 15 miles later I realized the new tube's valve wasn't fully tightened, and it had gotten a little soft... I pumped it back up. At that stop, i also realized my saddlebag had ripped open at the seam, and my double-back-up patch kit had fallen out.

Thankfully, the cycling gods let me finish the rest of the ride without further flats.

I think you can see the route here if you want... pretty nice route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/85373233

Harvard to Harvard, very nice!

It was such a pretty day, I decided to do a solo century.... At that stop, i also realized my saddlebag had ripped open at the seam, and my double-back-up patch kit had fallen out.

Thankfully, the cycling gods let me finish the rest of the ride without further flats.
Nice ride!

"I assure you, Mrs. Lyons, that for some months you've been walking the edge of a precipice. You had him in your power and he knew it, and yet you're alive." - Sherlock Holmes in a BBC radio production of The Hound of the Baskervilles. The cycling gods were indeed looking out for you.

My rides today were simply the commute. No muss, no fuss, for which I am grateful.

JandersUF,
Really impressive and ambitious route and congratulations for working through those obstacles!

We"ll use part of your route tomorrow, Sunday when we'll ride into the Boston Bikes Kickoff party.

Aside from food and drink, I particularly want to join in the 9 mile tour of Boston newest bike lanes at 2:45 PM.

Plan to leave from the Sherborn Sandwich Shop (next to Citgo) at 12:30PM. It is about 20 miles via Dover then in Beacon St, enjoy things, ride the 9 mile bike lane tour and depart at 4:00PM to get back here about 5:30PM...ish. The pace is conversational and I'll be the caboose with an orange vest. It is a fair amount of riding but spread out over the afternoon.

PM me if you want to join in on route (Starbucks in Wellesley Hills?); the more the merrier. If you like, you can register for free at Boston Bike Week. http://bostonbikeweek.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=462345

I plan to do something similar September 25th with a wee bit more of a ride, a tad earlier in the morning? Hub on Wheels. http://hubonwheels.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=436653 Your vote (and mine) might persuade a car pool then do the 50 mile tour.

My rides today were simply the commute. No muss, no fuss, for which I am grateful.[/QUOTE]

Holmes, you ole hound you!
I rode 3 times this week. One nice 37 mile tralala over hill and dale and the others were 8 milers to local meetings and errands. I've not yet screwed up courage, logistics and courage to "drive up, bike home, bike up drive home" for my Hudson, NH commute. I had to tie my shoe, my dog ate my bike, my helmet needs to be clean, I ran out of chain oil.....

Anyone doing the CRW Spring Century tomorrow?

I was supposed to do it with a couple of friends as part of our B2B prep, but they've bailed due to threatening weather. Looks like I'll be doing a semi-solo century. Though I'm sure I'll have plenty of company.

As for today, 40ish miles of cloudy chilliness through Lexington and Concord. Rode a little harder than I wanted before a century. Oh well.

...I've not yet screwed up courage, logistics and courage to "drive up, bike home, bike up drive home" for my Hudson, NH commute. I had to tie my shoe, my dog ate my bike, my helmet needs to be clean, I ran out of chain oil.....
Ah, that would possibly leave your car inaccessible for a night, wouldn't it? Unless you could train your dog to drive, or maybe if you got a spare shoelace. You have to go from Sherborn to Hudson? That's a haul.

I did ride today:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/720922-Seacoast-NH-Ride-this-May-14th?p=12642577#post12642577 (http://www.bikeforums.net/720922-Seacoast-NH-Ride-this-May-14th?p=12642577#post12642577)
It was a nice 25 miles run along the NH coast. (Betcha', if you're not from around here, you didn't even know NH had any coast! They do. Not much though.) It was ridden at a sedate pace but scenery-dense.

Now I must mow the lawn.

How'd everybody make out in the rain?
I went to the Boston Bikes Kick Off Party at the new Giant Store on Kilmarnock near Brookline St.
Jeff Lenosky, 2X National Trials Champion gave a huge stunt demonstration and made time to chat with each of his fans. He is a great spokesman for the bicycle community. Redbones had fantastic food and I joined the 9 mile tour of Boston Bike Lanes. It was a very nice ride with a great group of enthusiasts.

The answer to the question of the day; Commonwealth Avenue Boston Women's Memorial includes Abigail Adams, Lucy Stone and Phillis Wheatley.

I was stuck working all day Sunday... but I did see some groups of cyclists heading to the festivities.

With all the rain this week, I am considering pulling the trainer back out... heaven forbid!

looked at the weather and wussed out.

No ride today, no commute. It was raining or threatening to. Wouldn't you know, this being National Bike To Work Week it is supposed to rain all week.
:(

After a week without riding (i.e. out of town for family commitments) I was dressed out in my kit, thumbing my nose at the weather this morning at 6am, eager to get back on the bike. As I got ready to roll out I went to pull on my shoes only to realize that I left them at work last week (took rain bike into town and T 'd it out to the airport after work).

Grumbling I had to dress out into "work clothes" and fight traffic into Boston instead. Looks like I'll be rolling the trainer this afternoon instead. :(

No ride today, no commute. It was raining or threatening to. Wouldn't you know, this being National Bike To Work Week it is supposed to rain all week.
:(
Just a few minutes ago, I replied to this post on the C&A Forum, "motivational issues":

Speaking of motivation problems...

http://i.imgur.com/xipr7.jpg

:lol: :lol:

That's the five day forecast for Boston too, but I'll still ride (commute). :notamused:

This Saturday I got out for my first long training ride of the season, about 6:30 to 10AM: Kenmore Square > Beacon St > Rte 16 > Rte 27 (in Sherborn) > Rte 115 > (lost in Norfolk) > Winter St > Summer St (South Walpole) > Washington St to Norwood (45 miles). It was a little chilly but felt good.

I worked for a few hours in Norwood, then 14 miles straight home, and out dancing that night. What a great Saturday. :D

Anyone doing the CRW Spring Century tomorrow?

I was supposed to do it with a couple of friends as part of our B2B prep, but they've bailed due to threatening weather. Looks like I'll be doing a semi-solo century. Though I'm sure I'll have plenty of company.

As for today, 40ish miles of cloudy chilliness through Lexington and Concord. Rode a little harder than I wanted before a century. Oh well.

I did the CRW spring century Sunday, great ride. Started about 7:15 and it was pretty dry with only a few rain drops right up until the last rest stop at 75 miles. As soon as we left the last stop the torrential down pours started and didn't let up until the last 2 miles. Like I said, it was a great ride even with the rain.

I did the CRW spring century Sunday... it was a great ride even with the rain.

It seems that if any of us are going to enjoy riding this May, we better get used to the rain. Glad you had a good ride.

I got passed by a butterfly while suffering on a hill.:notamused: Seriously ... who gets passed by a butterfly?

I...... Seriously ... who gets passed by a butterfly?

Ha, that's pretty funny, don't feel bad, with the way the wind has been blowing this spring the butterfly was probably trying to go the other way!

Well, the upside of moonlighting some extra hours at my old job is that it forces me to bike commute (only about 3 miles)... it was actually nice @ 0630 this AM, with soem fog but no heavy rain.

not sure when'll I'll feel like getting the good biek out for a long ride... might be stir-crazy enough on Friday to do it as long as there isn't a real Monsoon.

Well, the upside of moonlighting some extra hours at my old job is that it forces me to bike commute (only about 3 miles)... it was actually nice @ 0630 this AM, with soem fog but no heavy rain.

not sure when'll I'll feel like getting the good biek out for a long ride... might be stir-crazy enough on Friday to do it as long as there isn't a real Monsoon.

One of my friends and I have committed to a century Saturday no matter what, so we better follow through on that. It's part of my plan to ride at least 3 (maybe 4) centuries before B2B.

Here's the aformentioned Century on tap for this weekend:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/15139378

Found this route on map my ride. Looks like a cool jaunt through MA, RI, CT.

If you're in the area and see two tired guys on red CAAD 9's say hello!

Yes! Got home late this afternoon in front of the large t-storm to the south of us, took the UO8 out for 45 minutes. It was therapeutic!

Got out again this morning! Out two days in a row, must be a new record for this spring!

Spent an hour doodling over to Lexington and back. Lot of water in the air but none coming down.

Snuck out this morning for an,almost half century. Oh how I love living in the suburbs...just point your bike away from the city and you've got hours of beautiful riding...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/87009131

After two days on the trainer inside, I got out for a quick 32mi this AM. Saw tons of people out in the general Lincoln/Weston area. Seeing how nice the day was, I wish i could have gotten out for more!

godshammgod, good luck with the century and let me know how it goes. I might steal that route... from my place it would be almost 120, but I think I can modify to be more like 110 and still get to connecticut.

After two days on the trainer inside, I got out for a quick 32mi this AM. Saw tons of people out in the general Lincoln/Weston area. Seeing how nice the day was, I wish i could have gotten out for more!

godshammgod, good luck with the century and let me know how it goes. I might steal that route... from my place it would be almost 120, but I think I can modify to be more like 110 and still get to connecticut.

It's a GREAT ride, quiet roads, good scenery. Tough too. Per my friend's Garmin we ended up with about 6,000 + feet of climbing over the 110 miles. Nothing longer than a mile, just a lot of steep rollers. We actually tagged along with a pretty large group of the Crack 'O Dawn riders for a bit before my friend cramped up and we dropped back for a while.

I'm going to aim to do this again hopefully before B2B. It's pretty comparable in terms of the climbing, just different types of climbs.

I'll post up the Garmin file when my friend passes it along.

great, thanks for the rec... i might try it out in the next couple of weeks.

Sadly, due to travel/work/etc I think I only have 1 or 2 chances to do truly epic/long rides before B2B. I should have plenty of chances for 30-45mi rides though, so I am hoping to keep the fitness/speed up.

What pace are you planning on doing for b2b?

Setting a record for this spring I got out again today, three days in a row. Just 50 minutes Waltham over to Cambridge, into Newton, back home. Have to play a show this afternoon so time was short.

Weather was nice, cloudy, about 50 degrees. Traffic was light. A nice morning jaunt.

great, thanks for the rec... i might try it out in the next couple of weeks.

Sadly, due to travel/work/etc I think I only have 1 or 2 chances to do truly epic/long rides before B2B. I should have plenty of chances for 30-45mi rides though, so I am hoping to keep the fitness/speed up.

What pace are you planning on doing for b2b?

Yeah, my main concern is the endurance aspect. Yesterday's ride was by far my longest, so I have some work to do. I'm aiming to work in some hill repeats quite regularly so I'll at least I'll add some intensity work in.

My two friends and I are rolling out with the 18mph group. I'm hoping we can at least latch on with a pretty big group through the first part of the ride.

On a semi-related note, today's ride was a nice little 14 mile recovery spin. I rode over to catch some of the Wells Ave ''A'' Race. Those guys are fast. Met a nice guy on the way over who said he was getting back into riding after a couple years of off. Something told me he used to be a pretty good racer back in the day...

Snuck out this morning for an,almost half century. Oh how I love living in the suburbs...just point your bike away from the city and you've got hours of beautiful riding...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/87009131
I live in Kenmore Square in downtown Boston and reverse commute out to Norwood over routes in the opposite direction from those of mtalinm, but don’t cry for me Argentina. I can go out the door and point my bike in any direction (but not too far eastward) and explore all the delightful sectors of metropolitan Boston. In fact, I wrote a little compendium of road cycling in Boston, describing all the sectors:


Welcome to Boston and environs; I love riding in and around this town… I think of the area in sectors radiating from downtown and surrounded by a circumferential belt about 10 to 15 miles from Downtown, known as Route 128 ("America's Technology Highway")…

I would describe the sectors as (mostly for road riding outside of Rte 128):...

Besides that, my reverse commute opposite the usual flow of traffic through residential and light commercial areas it is often as much fun as any weekend ride into the suburbs. Why do you think they call it sub-urban living? (just kidding)

This weekend was the third long ride of my 10 week Century training schedule. I rode down Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester through Quincy, where I often get lost, and found a great route down Route 37 to Brockton; then on Oak and Pearl streets in Brockton to North Easton. From mtalinm’s map our rides converged in North Easton on Lincoln to Allen, and onto Rockland and Maple, but then diverged at East Street. That was a great segment. Did you note the architecturally charming Veteran’s post (I can’t remember which organization) at Rockland and Allen, with the military tank outside? Though I have seen it coming down Rockland, I almost missed it coming on Allen.

I then went through Foxboro, Sharon (on Moose Hill Street) and then on to Walpole and Norwood, where I went to work for a few hours, and took the train back to Boston. My mileage quota was 48 and I did 48.07, but did have to add one extra mile to make my goal (“This far, and no further”), mostly limited by time constraints.

mtalinm, have you ever ridden Moose Hill Street? I’ve described it on this thread as “enchanted.” :D

great to hear you enjoy it, Jim, but I gotta say that urban riding makes me tired. (And I say this as someone who commutes into Boston every day.) Traffic, stoplights, broken glass, ambulance sirens (oooh they are loud if you're not inside a car), the list goes on. yesterday I basically rode for 3 hours without stopping. it was quite a nice change of pace.

didn't really notice the scenery as I was mostly optimizing for speed (not that I'm very fast), but cool to hear that we covered some of the same territory. I only did 45m as I was in a hurry to get back home before my wife realized I had even gone biking - still I don't think she knows - but I tacked on another 5 later in the day for an even half century. It was easier than I thought - didn't feel a thing this morning actually. which century are you planning for? I'm thinking of one this Saturday or the week after. Also signed up for the flat-as-a-board Seacoast Century in Maine.

Moose Hill, I have definitely ridden Moose Hill. won't do it again anytime soon - way too curvy with minimal visibility.

where's the rest of the compendium btw? would love to read it.

Wish I had rode today, instead went to a Carnival in Woburn.

But yesterday, went Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Lexington, Bedford, Concord, Lincoln, Weston, Waltham, Newton, Brookline and back to Boston. 50 miles total, and committing to ride Saturdays with the guys I rode with going forward.

I'm riding a 2000 Trek 5200 USPS Edition, 18spd full Ultegra. Fell once while waiting for the rest to catch-up in Arlington... adjusting to clip pedals, and somehow after riding 1 minute down Mass Ave and around the prudential center (where I live) I returned home with 15% or so of the tire pressure left in my front tire (18 psi).

Had the little one all weekend so I was relegated to rollers during naptime. Went for a ride this morning in the rain in a feeble attempt to make up for the lack of miles last week. PLanning on a century this Saturday so I need to get decent miles in this week which means more rain-riding planned for after work.

For any of the B2Bers (or anyone else who wants to join) reading this thread...I'm planning on riding part of the route with a small group this Saturday morning. I'm thinking we'll start in Arlington/Lexington area and then head up through Willard Brook State Forest (one of the two real ''climbs'' on the day) before cruising back. It looks like a round trip of about 80 miles. Pace will be in the 18mph range. It's not a hammer ride.

Still working out the specifics, but PM if you think you might want to join.

Pace will be in the 18mph range. It's not a hammer ride.
Is that 18mph average or 18mph typical? And you say it isn't a hammer ride, huh? You should change your login name to goshImgood. :)

I'd love to try it but I doubt I'll have the time and I'm fairly sure I'm not ready for that yet.

Is that 18mph average or 18mph typical? And you say it isn't a hammer ride, huh? You should change your login name to goshImgood. :)

I'd love to try it but I doubt I'll have the time and I'm fairly sure I'm not ready for that yet.

Haha, 18mph average. But you'd be mistaken thinking I'm speedy. I really just get a great draft off one of my friends who's got a diesel engine.