Northeast - Metro Boston: Good ride today?

SBP, I wish I had seen your note about 126 before yesterday's ride. Slowed us down quite a bit and opted to take 117 just to get off it. Nearly woke the sleeping baby in the trailer. Boy that sure will be sweet when they finish. Are these improvements part of stimulus $$?
Looks like they are going to work on Sudbury road in Concord between Route 2 and Verrill Farm too. Love love love it!

BG, Good catch. That section north of the river, S of Rt. 2 badly needs repair for safety sake. I grab the road to pass the larger potholes and worry the sun blinds the eyes of southbound afternoon drivers. I don't have precious cargo either.

Sweet ride in and out of Harvard today. Many of the leaves were down but beautiful day anyway.

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/SKADI_photos/bike2.jpg

Great! Nice photo. I rode similar neck of the woods out to Wachusett. My last century of the year?

The weather has been so spectacular, today I got in a November century. Not quite shirt sleeves and fewer leaves on the trees as in Bikinggrrrl's photo.

Nice to squeeze in one more this year, SBP! Good for you! Yes the weather has been delightful. Any day that isn't cold and raining in November is a gift.

Sudbury Road between Verrill Farm and Route 2 in Concord is paved. The 126 project seems to be lingering although I keep checking. Been getting pretty familiar with the Baker Bridge detour through Lincoln (past DeCordova) to get down to Sherman Bridge Road these days.

Coming from the south Sandy Pond to Baker is as smoooth as the Gropius House was cool. I head north over just a very little bit of ground grated escavated gyrated granulated pavement of Rt 126 before it becomes smoooth past Walden. Yeah, Sudbury Road is weird it is so smooth.

What a nice day today. I was able to roll out a nice 40 mile ride thru Westminster, Fitchburg, Ashburnham, Winchendon area. The roads were nice and wet so the bike is covered in mud, but it was fun.

Sounds great Zipp.
I'm leafing tomorrow for a Carlisle or other metric C ride to admire bare trees. I cleaned my gutters and tonight was raking with a light. I'm not done but the yard looks good in the dark. Last month I actually liked looking at foliage.

I made a deciduous decision to ride another C Thursday so instead I'll ride the B. Freeman trail with friends.

Rode Tuesday with some lunatics around Dover/Sherborn/Medfield/Holliston. Around 40 miles. Here's the movie:

QuickTime:

http://www.bufflehead.tv/scott_rich_tots.mov

mp4:

http://www.bufflehead.tv/scott.rich.tots.mp4

Rode Tuesday with some lunatics around Dover/Sherborn/Medfield/Holliston. Around 40 miles. Here's the movie:

QuickTime:

http://www.bufflehead.tv/scott_rich_tots.mov

mp4:

http://www.bufflehead.tv/scott.rich.tots.mp4

AtomB,
First a new forum format, now I've got to install a quicktime or mp4 decoder. I'm being herded to the future.
If it were anyone else I wouldn't be so interested.

BTW, I rode the new Bruce Freeman trail to Lowell then Carlisle (Ferns is closed a few days a week during rennovations) and back to the southern end at 27 and 225.

Pulled my winter bike out (Cannondale Multi-Sport) for a 25 mile ride today. I spent the begining of the week breaking down my 2 zipp's, and will be building them back up over winter. Weather looks good for some weekend riding, and hopefully next week will be nice because i'm off most of the week.

AtomB, First a new forum format, now I've got to install a quicktime or mp4 decoder. I'm being herded to the future.
If it were anyone else I wouldn't be so interested.It's worth it... trust me.


BTW, I rode the new Bruce Freeman trail to Lowell then Carlisle (Ferns is closed a few days a week during rennovations) and back to the southern end at 27 and 225.It's a nice trail, no? It'll be swell when it goes all the way to Framingham

AB,
I'm stressed. I haven't been able to open your movie! I downloaded quicktime but to no avail. Is it just me? Anyone else have problems?

OK, I right clicked, was a little more patient and the mp4 opened. I recognize those roads, that menu and at least one of those bents! I'll have to get my Goldrush on the road more often.

Awesome movie AtomBomb!:thumb:

I agree! Great flic! Wind, speed, cruising, gab, picking up a comrade and pizza are all spot on.

I specially liked the age-old balance between basic needs; a roof over our heads (the blue tarp) and our spiritual needs (riding a New England road on a crisp morning). Business, rake leaves, ride?

Eating is a basic need. The movie ends with pizza at Casey's so the clear message is we can have both. I'm going for a ride.

Nice flic!

Gorgeous day today. We pulled sleeping baby around the Carlisle/Concord/Lincoln/Sudbury loop. Plenty of other cyclists out enjoying this unusual November weather.
Notes: 126 from Walden Pond to Wayland still is not paved, but they are getting closer every day. I'm now used to the Baker Bridge detour and think I might stick with it even after 126 is clear.
SBP, Ferns reopened today after their renovation project. :beer:You can now buy a bottle of wine to go along with your yummy sandwich... 'couse I'm not sure how you'll bike home afterwards.

Great day for a ride, I rode thru Leominster, Lunenburg, Ayer, Sherley, and Fitchburg for a nice 40 mile ride.

50 miles - Newton to Dover and all around there and back. 30 of those miles w/ "sherbornpeddlar"! That faired/socked Gold Rush is one slippery banana! Let me tell you that during one blast of acceleration...stuff came flying off his bike! I was working v e r y h a r d to keep up. Oh but then I was wicked slowed down by a raisin/bran muffin. (And another thing people, if you are driving downhill on Wilsondale Road... and you see bikes in your rearview... please, please, move aside. Or speed up!)

After splitting off from shrbrnpddlr... I limped back to Newton. Whew!

Hah! A great time. I was more impressed seeing Atom Bomb's Javelin carving back roads than the new Tesla that passed earlier.

You know those special roads with just the right amount of swooping ups and narrow, tree lined down hills you just have to accelerate through; kind of like flying? Anticipation of Wilsondale was even greater because long wheel base recumbents are the ultimate hill carvers and we were riding a pretty good clip.

It was funny; I regularly grumble about impatient cars passing too close or overly cautious "tailgaters" who never seem to pass. How often does one complain about a conservative car up front? We braked well below carving speed.

It was a great ride with both roads and conversation weaving and friendly. I think it looked accidental when I tossed a tool and later dropped my chain to catch my breath.

Thanksgiving ride?

Me? Today same old, same old 67 mile, misty Carlisle ride back on the Serotta with rubber band clamped fenders.
Half day students jammed Ferns so I was forced to a taragon chicken sandwich at Starbucks in Concord.
188 miles to my second 1K month of the year.

40 or so on Turkey day before both football team and turkey are mauled.

Went out for a 46 mile ride today before stuffing myself with turkey. I was out riding rte. 119 Willard Brook area, was a pretty nice day out. I hope everyone had a geat Thanksgiving.

Who's still getting out? I rode Sunday and plan my first Dec. ride tomorrow. I am dusting off my trainer.

Headed out again tomorrow. I'm picking my days carefully and starting to do things other than bike more often. Moving the trainer into position downstairs but it just isn't the same.:cry:

BGrrrl, trainers aren't all that bad.
Nice out this afternoon. I rode today but gotta get a bigger, brighter tail light.

On the other hand
it wouldn't have helped the poor dude at 730 pm the other week that got dragged 800+ ft on Rt 16 in Natick. He was going west, the driver was heading north from Dover and turned east on Rt16.
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/natick/2009/12/natick_police_seek_charges_sou.html

I got out last Sunday for a 18 mile loop before dropping the youngest off at Logan for her trip back to Miami. I've set up the trainer w/beater bike in the basement, the prime ride is still in the garage waiting for its first December outing. Maybe today after I get the Xmas tree.....hummm.

Dmann,
Can't we have a little diversity here?
My daughter is at school, got the tree and rode to Concord today.

Biking Grrrl:
1. Way to yung to worry about offspring away from home.
2. Rt126 north past Walden is alll smoooth, reallly smmoooth.

Was able to get out and do 41 miles today, bit chilly but great to get out and roll. Rolled thru Templeton, Gardner, Westminster, Ashburnham, and Winchendon. I've got to get down to the bike shop to pick-up my new winter tights that I picked out last week.

Nice cold and windy 24 mile ride today, man the wind made me work hard. I did an old 12 mile TT route on rte. 140 twice for a fun winter workout.

Nice cold and windy 24 mile ride today, man the wind made me work hard. I did an old 12 mile TT route on rte. 140 twice for a fun winter workout.

Zipp, you are inspirational. I went for a ride on my enclosed recumbent and was much more comfortable than I anticipated. I think our warm weather dropping off to winter so quickly threw me. Thanks for leading by example.

+1, nice work Zipp. I've kept at my commutes from Forest Hills to Kenmore, but nothing of any distance over 5 or 6 miles at a time. Tonight's rain wasn't bad at all- it was warm enough. Studs are going on the commuter bike this weekend! This will be my 1st winter riding in Boston, are paths (emerald necklace, SW corridor, Charles River) ever plowed?

When I got out of work this morning it was 2 degrees, I ate some breakfast then got dressed to tackle the roads. I ended up doing my winter Sterling loop for 28 miles, then took a nice hot shower and had some nice hot soup. Now i'm nice and tired and headed out to visit some friends, I will sleep great tonight. Hope to get out before the snow fly's Saturday. Hey SBP we've got to try and get a ride in next spring. jbmadtown I always wanted to roll the streets around Boston if your interested in doing a tour of the city by bike after winter give me a yell.

Another nice warm ride. I just couldn't get the legs loose today, they felt heavy the whole ride. I did a 23 mile climbing route that I like to hit on a regular basis. I haven't checked out the weather for Thursday, but if it's not wet we'll try to hit the road again hopefully with lighter legs.

Zipp, you do us proud. Keep prodding us with your good example.

I wish all our Metro West riders happy, safe holidays!
Cheers!

Hey SBP i'm just trying not to gain weight this winter, like I did last year. I'm just not good at getting motivated when it comes to indoor riding. I gave my rollers away a few years ago because they collected more dust than anything. I did get out today for a nice 35 mile ride to my inlaws for XMAS dinner, the weather was pretty good and the legs were in a better mood to climb today.

Z,
Good for you for your Christmas ride.
I'm a wimp when it comes to fear of ice so I'm setting up my Tacx trainer. Today or tomorrow, I'll ride up to Carlisle on planet Google Earth.

Too late; I'm right back where I was last January 1 winter weight-wise so year here I go again.

Hey SBP how was your Carlisle ride on planet Google Earth ?

I was able to get out on a nice wet 20 mile ride today. Got home from work this morning and took the wife out for breakfast and some shopping, then got home and rolled out for a ride. It was nice to have some sunshine for a bit. Most likely will do the same ride Saturday if nothing comes up.

Zipp,
Good of you to ask.
I crashed. Carlisle karma.
It was horrible.
I was only 14 miles or so in, averaging about 220 watts, colors and pixels were fine and slam!
The earth went blank! I didn't slip on black ice or get wacked from behind. It wasn't a pothole or slipping of the edge of the pavement on a snow covered road.

I rebooted and all was well. Something to do with Google Earth. I got side tracked and loaded "Training with Lampre" instead.

Maybe I should switch to a studded winter 132327tire ?

I crashed. Carlisle karma.
:(

You wintery outdoors cyclists are my heros! I'll see you out on the roads come springtime.

You wintery outdoors cyclists are my heros! I'll see you out on the roads come springtime.


+1. I need a trainer.

haha. Speaking of winter weight gain... I'm up 5 lbs already. I Got back on the commute wagon today after a long and indulgent vacation. The legs felt surprisingly good and I remembered to wear my sunglasses with clear lenses- which really help me keep my eyes open in the cold mornings! Otherwise I was actually overdressed.

Another wet and dirty ride, but it was great to get out on the road. I did 32 miles on my Sterling loop now I've got to get down stairs and clean the bike. It was great to see another rider out there on rte. 12 in Sterling.

How could we not ride yesterday? It was cold at 7AM when I put my new rear on the bike and rinse the chain with my exoctic chain lube (pre-massaged by 4000 miles of Ford engine). I stopped in Franklin to take off my sweater on route to a Diamond Hill-Burnt Swamp 37 mile loop.

The roads are clean, only one spot of sandy ice after the Pawtucket Resevoir. We bumped into another rider and spoke of very active groups out of Foxboro and Franklin. FYI, sounds like a group is riding from Grace in Holliston at 9AM today.

What a great day; easy pace; a few pushes but chose the route around Big Apple Hill. I wouldn't say Spring is coming but the days are longer.

Zipp.....
I'm in Lancaster, your "loop" is part of my Redstone Hill/Maple st/Newell Hill. ...(a ball gag might be better) loop. Most of my rides are tasked in the Bolton - Berlin - Clinton venue, I just can't justify risking all for the polar ride inspite of pathetic the trainer in the cellar is! How and why do you thrive come December? Are you related or associated with Paul M. from Stand's ?

Hey dmann ! I ride out in your area all the time. I was able to do 32 miles on my Sterling loop Saturday and I just finished a short 20 mile ride today. I don't know Paul M. from Stand's. Your more than welcome to join me on my Sterling loop for as many loops as you want to ride. Once winter is over I ride a lot on rte. 12 toward Worcester airport to rte. 70 into Clinton and Lancaster, we should try to get together for a ride ?

East of you guys I loved the weather today and rode 37 miles ofd good ole Stawberry Hill, Dover, Westwood and Sherborn. Grundged up derailluers, rubber banded fenders and chain slip I still had a great time. Roads were washed of most sand, no ice in the melt off.

After cleaning up my bike I needed a new shift cable, cable sheath was crushed over by the side pull brake and both chain and cluster replacement overdue. I stopped by LBS just before closing time for parts and we talked carbon vs, aluminum, Tacx trainers, new directional chains, are Dura Ace deralluers cable screw heli-coiled and of the interesting characters in the bicycling community.

After a long winter's nap, ain't biking grand?

I got out for a frozen 20 miles today, my cannondale now looks white from all the salt. My legs never got loose, my upper thighs couldn't get going the whole ride. It was still great to get out and roll, let's see what next weekend brings.

Z,
late night before an early very cold ride. I think it will be below my limit. The forecast is for 15F. My LBS proposes a 2.5 hour ride and my inddor trainer is now linked to Google Earth and Alp'dHuez. Pretty tempting.

Hey SBP, Let me know how the Alp'dHuez climb is, that is my dream vacation. My daughter knows that when I pass away to put my ashes in my bike frame and ride up Alp'dHuez and throw me off the top. Oh by the way I got out for 20 miles today, fighting a chest cold right now so it wasn't an easy ride.

Zipp,
Good to hear from you. Speedy recovery from your cold. I chickened out and rode indoors avatar style with a friend who has the same indoor trainer rig.

If ____, _______ and _______all line up, I too would like to ride the real Alpe d Huez then Ventoux. Don't stuff me in a seat tube just yet but last year I failed an attempt to ride Greylock and Wachusett.

My virtual version including cramped room, small screen, fan, tire noise and my grunts and groans isn't quite as slick as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cgyHJxI7DA.

I do look forward to spinning outdoors: exercise, air, scenery and time to contemplate like....

what if my kids put my ashes in a seat tube? What if they rode Alpe D Huez, forgot and there I stayed until someone decided to convert the bike to a single speed urban machine. Wouldn't ashes get in the bottom bracket? Do I really want to be lodged in bearing grease?
I gotta get out.