Northeast - Metro Boston: Good ride today?

Presumably they wanted to move some slow-moving inventory. One of their sales guys told me they don't work on commission, so I guess they don't care about necessarily pushing the most expensive stuff.

The other day I was in another well-known area store in Belmont, looking for a new seatpost and as usual being ignored by the sales staff, and I happen to see Sen. John Kerry buying a bicycle. I couldn't see what it was, he had the frame in his hand and it was wrapped in foam. I had gone over there after work and it was apparent from the way he was dressed that he had just come from the office too.

They didn't have what I was looking for, anyway.

He has the time and money to burn on a bike frame, yet can't pay the taxes on his new $7 million yacht? Yep, gotta love that Kerry.

Had a gorgeous ride with interesting people and perfect weather on the Belmont route of this morning's Boston Bike Friday -- http://www.bikefridays.org . A good-sized group on the route, and plenty of food and swag at Government Center.

Funny, I spoke again on the ride with a very nice guy who works at that very shop that you mention above, but he's "kept in the basement". :) I too have gotten a bad vibe from that shop for the same exact reasons as you (though I haven't seen Kerry himself in there). Also after the ride today, I met an out-of-town cyclist who rode with me towards BU, looking to immediately go and buy clipless shoes at that newer shop on Comm Ave where I'd similarly gotten a bad vibe. I almost felt guilty for discouraging her from shopping there, though I did suggest she should visit that one first to check their large selection but then plan to continue down the street to the older one that I like much better.

A great thing about Metro Boston is the choice in bike shops. We have old, new, spin offs and specialists. Somerville has been home for bike makers in the past and we still have plenty of custom frame makers in our midst.

One should be tactful but I think most shops appreciate learning about your experience. My favorite LBS has referred me to others for items they decide to carry so I trust them.

Did my rte. 12 NH. to CT. state line and back ride today (cut state in half x 2), with the extra miles from my house to rte. 12 it came to 139.40 miles. Great weather and lots of fun, if interested I will be doing the same route the 3rd Saturday in August weather permitting.

Congratulations! Epic!
How was Rt 12? Fitzwilliam, Wachusett, Fitchburg, Worcester and Webster, Nice riding!
I made it over to Thompson CN earlier this year but it was only a century, my max.
Any idea what speed you averaged? When did you start and finish?
What did you refuel with; how many breaks; repercussions?
Sights along the way?
Again, Congrats.

Oh, I rode the CCRT from Brewster to Orleans and on out to P town. Nice, very nice but I'll take Metro Boston.

139.4 miles?? Yow! I managed only 57.56 today. Had a commitment for later so I couldn't eke out any more even though I felt good. It's still a personal best but not my age. I did my usual Waltham to Carlisle route but did an extra loop around East/Maple for the mileage. I should have done two loops.

In the crook of one intersection on Curve St, I think, there was a doghouse with a hand-lettered sign saying "Beware of the attack duck". Sitting inside was a near-life-size rubber ducky. Wished I had a camera.

Met the same tractor pulling the flatbed with the same aromatic load, but he was going the other way. Probably came from Great Brook Farm, the state park run as a working farm.

At the Concord Center water fountain one guy riding a Cervelo (edit, no, I think it was Winn-someongorother, Windiff?, ah, I've been on the computer too long) commented on my bike "That's a nice old classic bike." Cool! We spoke for a few minutes, he asked what model it was, I said Gran Sport, and he said he'd once had an International. Or was it a Competition? And maybe he wasn't riding a Cervelo. It's strange how some things slip your mind after only 5 minutes.

It was a good day.

In the crook of one intersection on Curve St, I think, there was a doghouse with a hand-lettered sign saying "Beware of the attack duck". Sitting inside was a near-life-size rubber ducky. Wished I had a camera.
I know that duck house! I ride past that quite a few times through the week. Sorry... I have no idea how to make this smaller.
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/SKADI_photos/duck.jpg


Met the same tractor pulling the flatbed with the same aromatic load, but he was going the other way. Probably came from Great Brook Farm, the state park run as a working farm.
Mark Duffy, the farmer at Great Brook, has quite a few hay and corn fields to attend to around here ... at least three I can think of on Curve Street alone. He also stores his loam and composting materials across from the Bog House, so he is often making trips up and down this road.

BTW, they generally harvest cranberries from the bog in mid-October. Usually a pretty sight if the weather is cooperative. They aren't the high-yielding cranberry bogs like down near the cape, but still a nice treat to witness.

Hi SBP !

Rte. 12 was in good shape throughout with a minor section near Dudley ripped up for repaving, and a few new sections paved. I started out at 7:30 and Finished at 4:09, so I had 8hr. and 39 min. of total time. Seeing that I only have room for one water bottle I made a total of 10 stops for water, and 1 stop at Bike Alley for some Cliff Shot Bloks. I estimate that I had to stop at 80% of the intersections with lights (couldn't catch a break). I saw a car get rear ended about 20 yards in front of me, no one was hurt. I also saw quite a few fellow cyclist which was cool, I very seldom see any on most of my rides. For food I had 3 bananas, 3 Fruit & Grain cereal bars, 3 Cliff Shot Bloks, and 6 GU's. As far as average speed not quite sure because of the stops but I was happy with my pace throughout, felt great the whole ride. For just plain STUPID AWARD I watched a fellow cyclist completely blow threw a red light, and to top it off wasn't wearing a helmet.
I keep seeing different post once and a while about the CCRT. What kind of shape is it in ? Is it very crowded ? How many miles is it ? I have only been on one real rail trail out in Ayer last year and it was way to crowded for my liking.

162704did this 65-mile loop from Weston to the NH border yesterday: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42548826

Is it worth going from NH to Somerville every time I want to get parts or new gear?

Is it worth going from NH to Somerville every time I want to get parts or new gear?
That's hard to say. It depends on what you mean by "worth it" and how supportive your LBS might be. Somerville isn't what I'd call "local" to NH, so you'll burn gas and time making any trip. I have nothing against Somerville but I that's not a trip I'd expect to make on a regular basis simply because there are other places easier for me to get to.

I feel an obligation to buy stuff and get parts form the same shop that I get my bike from. I'm wondering if the shop is too "big" to get any type of relationship going though, where I'd get any benefit out of it.

I feel an obligation to buy stuff and get parts form the same shop that I get my bike from.
A very good thought.


I'm wondering if the shop is too "big" to get any type of relationship going though, where I'd get any benefit out of it.
That's a harder problem. When you walk into any shop you'll be helped by whoever happens to be there. If he/she recognizes you, then great. Mybe they'll all recognize you eventually if you go in often enough. If you bring your bike in on a buying trip and it has an "XYZ Bike Shop" sticker they will probably see it. If you bring it in for a repair or adjustment they certainly will.

Whether you benefit much from it is a separate question. You will probably gain by having their attention to discuss technical issues or options. Financial benefit? Maybe. Consider it from their perspective. If they offered you a super price on the bike to win your loyalty they'll be hoping to gain something too. Most routine items, for example tires or gloves or whatver, will have a sticker price and you won't necessarily be offered a discount. If they do offer you a discount you'll be cutting into their profit margin so you won't be helping them much after all. If you bring the bike in they may help you by doing a quick minor repair or adjustment while you wait and perhaps even for free.

Now, since this thread is named "Good ride today?", have you picked up your bike yet? And if so what kind of rides have you done? That's the whole point anyway!

Any day now.... any day...

Withdrawing money from this account, waiting for my check Thursday, waiting for money I loaned to get back to me.....

Never bought something this expensive haha Gotta organize the cake my man

Do not worry, when I get it I will put a post in road cycling with pictures.
Right after I try to go more than 10 miles on it without dying haha

Travelled lite on the "good bike" into work yesterday. That meant I was able to tack on an extra 40 miles the way home.

Ordered 2011 Allez with SRAM Apex :D :D :D

$1300, and I got them to give me $50 off a nice helmet.

Now to wait a week haha

I took my friends cruiser bike that weighs like 50 pounds, and rode just 3 miles to my friends house because we wanted to hang out and I was huffing and puffing.... I can run for 90 minutes on a soccer field, but there aren't any climbs on a field haha I swear to god about 2 miles of it was just straight uphill. I averaged 14 mph for my first time on a bike in 4 years. Pretty embarrassing but I gotta work off the rust. Now when I get my bike Ill notice the difference :D I also should've eaten more than a few tostitos and hummus for breakfast/lunch......no fuel!

The bike I just used was an old trek cruiser with grip shifters and they barely worked. Clicking the whole time. He doesn't take care of it.

Now that I'm back home I want to go out again and just see how much I can kill myself haha

[QUOTE=bikinggrrrl;11210288]I know that duck house! I ride past that quite a few times through the week.

BTW, they generally harvest cranberries from the bog in mid-October. Usually a pretty sight if the weather is cooperative. QUOTE]

BG and Jim,
Excellent Metrowest sighting!
I suppose you've seen the mailbox that says'"taxes" on it? it is up too high for a postman's reach?

Ordered 2011 Allez with SRAM Apex :D :D :D

$1300, and I got them to give me $50 off a nice helmet.

Now to wait a week haha

I took my friends cruiser bike that weighs like 50 pounds, and rode just 3 miles to my friends house because we wanted to hang out and I was huffing and puffing.... I can run for 90 minutes on a soccer field, but there aren't any climbs on a field haha I swear to god about 2 miles of it was just straight uphill. I averaged 14 mph for my first time on a bike in 4 years. Pretty embarrassing but I gotta work off the rust. Now when I get my bike Ill notice the difference :D I also should've eaten more than a few tostitos and hummus for breakfast/lunch......no fuel!

The bike I just used was an old trek cruiser with grip shifters and they barely worked. Clicking the whole time. He doesn't take care of it.

Now that I'm back home I want to go out again and just see how much I can kill myself haha

You are going to love your new bike. It may take a bunch of miles for both you and your bike to get to know each other but you'll feel free as a bird right away compared to trying to pound miles on a cruiser. Keep a log and chart your progress and impressions.

A very good thought.


That's a harder problem. When you walk into any shop you'll be helped by whoever happens to be there. If he/she recognizes you, then great. Mybe they'll all recognize you eventually if you go in often enough. If you bring your bike in on a buying trip and it has an "XYZ Bike Shop" sticker they will probably see it. If you bring it in for a repair or adjustment they certainly will.

Whether you benefit much from it is a separate question. You will probably gain by having their attention to discuss technical issues or options. Financial benefit? Maybe. Consider it from their perspective. If they offered you a super price on the bike to win your loyalty they'll be hoping to gain something too. Most routine items, for example tires or gloves or whatver, will have a sticker price and you won't necessarily be offered a discount. If they do offer you a discount you'll be cutting into their profit margin so you won't be helping them much after all. If you bring the bike in they may help you by doing a quick minor repair or adjustment while you wait and perhaps even for free.

Now, since this thread is named "Good ride today?", have you picked up your bike yet? And if so what kind of rides have you done? That's the whole point anyway!

Jim, well said. Bike shop folks like doing a good job. They don't work there just for the money. The more we communicate, the better they can zero in on what we need. When I came in with 300 miles on a new bike in winter, slopped up with slush only a few weeks after buying it the shop person was delighted I was out using the bike. Seemed like extra motivation.

162704did this 65-mile loop from Weston to the NH border yesterday: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42548826

Mtalinm, Nice route and great map. How'd you like the roads? In you southern portion I prefer avoiding Rt 126 and going up through Lincoln and Tower Rd. It is hillier though. How was Lowell?
Congrats on a great ride.

Mtalinm, Nice route and great map. How'd you like the roads? In you southern portion I prefer avoiding Rt 126 and going up through Lincoln and Tower Rd. It is hillier though. How was Lowell?
Congrats on a great ride.
I'm kinda' wondering the same things. How was Chelmsford? How was Lowell? How was rt126? None of those seem like places I'd choose by choice.

Cool pic of the bike and the Welcome sign.

Lowell? Haha
Come to my second home. Lawrence. (I go to school there)
Streets are great and the views are even better!!!

Lowell? Haha
Come to my second home. Lawrence. (I go to school there)
Streets are great and the views are even better!!!

Lowell? Haha
Come to my second home. Lawrence. (I go to school there)
Streets are great and the views are even better!!!

Good point. A few times a year I ride Rt 125 through the eastern side of Lawrence then cross the river in Haverhill to Rt 108 on route to or from Durham, NH. Nice roads and generally bike and pedestrian aware traffic. I'd like to explore the Lawrence Riverfront.

Ok here is another Metro Boston sighting at the end of a shady albeit humid 43 mile ride. I went through 5 towns and found this hidden in Holliston in the village of Mudville. 163351 There may have been no joy in Mudville (that story and ride is for another day) but I was pretty happy to find this marker in the shade.

Now, if I'm able to hitch a ride today, I'll ride home from Marthas Vineyard/Woods Hole tomorrow. Short notice but any opinions on roads? Should I go through Taunton or Bridgewater enroute to Sherborn? Which side of Rt 495? Same distance.

haha yeah man 28 (N.Broadway) is one of my favorite roads. For a good place to eat check out the "Big N' Beefy".... mmmmm SO good haha

Disclaimer: If you haven't been to Lawrence, and you aren't into lineups and rims, don't go. I am joking, as well as SherbornPeddler.... as far as I can tell haha

Last night I went on a MUP with 4 of my friends. All of us had bikes except one kid on a long board. In total it was about a 15 mile trip with a stop at a gas station. I would've gone faster and father if we didn't have to wait for longboard kid. Since I was kind of frustrated, I told him to grab on my arm, and I towed his ass 4.1 miles non stop going a pretty good speed (around 13mph). My legs have never hurt so bad, I thought they were going to cramp haha. It didn't help that there were long drawn out hills. My legs ache right now but I'll probably go out later today. Without the 170lbs attached to my arm I bet ill feel faster :D

I called it training for the Allez

Ok here is another Metro Boston sighting at the end of a shady albeit humid 43 mile ride.
Oh yeah, John Clancy. Old man Clancy's boy.

Those markers are always fascinating.

(Yes I have seen the high mailbox but I don't recall where.)

High Taxes mailbox is on Lowell Road, headed out of Concord (headed towards Carlisle), just after the bridge. Love that sign.

Had a sweet 40 miles in and out of Harvard today. Man, I love that ride. Two high school boys were waiting for us at the end of their driveway, screaming that they want to race us. They hop on their bikes and start pedaling furiously, whooping it up, causing me to smile grandly. Perhaps they didn't realize how fast a trailer-laden tandem could go because we smoked them on the next roller. I'm still smiling about it though ... remembering those days when as kids we would race each other up and down our streets.

Had a sweet 40 miles in and out of Harvard today. Man, I love that ride... I'm still smiling about it though ... remembering those days when as kids we would race each other up and down our streets.
That sounds like a delightful day. Wish I could have been out too. My music group had to play a festival in New Hampshire Sat and Sun.

However I may not be riding much in the near future. I was loading the car up this morning and turned around to walk away and a knee went OUCH! :( It's had a meniscus (cartilage) tear since May which my orthopedist refused to operate on. She said I could live with it, that people play football with this kind of tear. It didn't bother me to ride and I had almost gotten to the point where I could ignore it. Don't know if this is just an LCL sprain or a complication or extension of the meniscus tear, won't know for a week or so probably. For now though I will ride with you all in spirit and enjoy your descriptions.

I'd like to mention the nice ride I took on Saturday morning in a sector of Metro Boston not often described in this thread, as far as I can recall.

I live in Kenmore Square and commute to Norwood. This Saturday I wanted to go to work and do some catch-up tasks, and I planned on a 75 mile ride too. So I took a roundabout, easily followed route of Rte 28 in Milton, south to Rte 139 in Randolph, to Rte 18 in North Abington, south to East Bridgewater to Rte 106, east to Bay Road, then north to East Street in Sharon and then on to Main Street in Sharon Center and to Moose Hill St, eventually on to Norwood. After a few hours at work I then took a straight 14 mile ride back to Kenmore, but had the option of taking my bike on the Commuter Rail back to Boston too.

I left Kenmore at about 6:00 AM, and got into exurban Abington and beyond by around 8:00 AM as traffic began to pick up, yet I found those numbered routes comfortable to ride, quite often with a good shoulder. In particular Rte 106 was enjoyable, and I consider Bay Road and Moose Hill Street so pleasant and charming as to be described as "enchanting" on a bicycle. I did see a few other well-appointed cyclists on those two roads too. IMO, it's a nice occasional alternative to the Lincoln-Concord and Dover-Sherborn areas.

Jim,
Excellent route review. I'll explore because of your enchainting rating.
Good timing too as I wasn't able to ride from the Cape the other day and am now conspiring a ride from Boston to P town and ferry back. Rt 106 sounds like a good route rather than closer to the shore.

You see, I work in Rhode Island, and today is a holiday in Rhode Island. So my better half suggested I test the knee on the bike. After three days of no exercise I gotta' get some aerobic workout anyway, so why not?

35.18 miles. Waltham to Lexington to Bedford. A bit boring but hey, it's a good way to cross rt128. Started down Railroad Ave through the Bedford school area and found it under construction. They'd ground up the pavement surface and were re-paving it. You know how bumpy and noisy that kind of ground-up surface can be in a car? Well it's the same on a bike! ("That was exciting!" I sez to myself.) Glad I was riding steel. I wonder what a CF frame would have been like. On the other hand, after 1/4 mile or so I came to a section of new pavement, smooth as a baby's backside, still being rolled down. The policeman directing the mostly non-existent traffic said I could ride anywhere I chose so I tried it out. Nice. But I figured I should take a different way home.

So from Concord: Monument/River Rd to rt225, right on rt225 into Bedford, right on South St. back to Depot Park and the Minuteman Bike Path. Got a nice view of the Concord River and some of Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. That part of rt225 is wide, smooth, clean. Somebody in a black pickup going the other way honked and waved but I have no idea who it was.

The knee worked okay. I can spin. If I don't push too hard it doesn't hurt, which isn't all that different from the last few months. It was good to get out.

[
Jim,
Excellent route review. I'll explore because of your enchainting rating...

Hi sbp,

Thanks for your nice reply. Another enchanting route from Bay Rd to Moose Hill is turn onto Rockland off of Bay and follow it to Maple, Franklin, East, and Wolomolopoag to Main St in Sharon and on to Moose Hill. A circuit around Lake Massapoag is also very nice.

There is an annual charity ride out of Foxboro, this year on Saturday, Sept 25, called the Rodman Ride for Kids, with routes of 25, 50 and 100 miles that nicely explores this whole region:

http://www.rodmanrideforkids.org/site/content/index.html

About a year ago I posted a personal compendium of areas for road cycling in Metro Boston, especially for visitors, describing the various sectors centered from downtown Boston. In my description of this area, which I called the South, I wrote: “Norwood, Canton, Randolph, etc: middle class suburbia; rideable but usually on the way to somewhere else (no offense).” :o My descriptions were for the first-time visitor, in particular to include well known and/or iconic New England locales like historic sites or ocean views, but again IMO, the South is great as an alternative, “enchanting” place to ride for local cyclists.

Jim,
Best wishes for a speedy knee recovery. I look forward to trying out your southernly routing.

Jim,
Best wishes for a speedy knee recovery. I look forward to trying out your southernly routing.


Hi sbp,

Jimmuller (knee injury) is not Jim from Boston (southernly routing). :lol:

Jimmuller (knee injury) is not Jim from Boston (southernly routing). :lol:
Jim_f_B is correct. I'm Jim_f_W. :lol:

I thank you for the well-wishes. Maybe this latest event is a blessing. It is a reason to re-visit the orthopedist and maybe convince her to re-consider. In the meantime I rode the UO-8 over to the gym and back. As a ride it's better than nothing, and the knee seems none the worse for the wear. Yesterday's 35 miles didn't result in any reaction today either.

One of these days I'm going to put the Gran Sport in the car and drive off to one of the nice routes SBP and Jim_f_B have described. Still, it's hard to beat the convenience of just stepping out the front door and heading northwest.

I like this icon: :thumb:

Dear Jims,
Okay, one of you rides NW on a Gran Sport or Puegeot and the other guides us through the enchanted south.

Maybe not enchanted and more west and south, today I rode with a neighbor who showed me back roads to a stand of Chestnut trees. They are numbered, watered and pruned carefully to help bring chestnuts back to New England. They used to make up 20% of our trees and grew to 9 ft diameter and 150 ft tall. "Roasting chestnuts on a fire..." they were a popular food source for bears and beasts until 100 years ago when a blight from imported asian trees nearly wiped them out. 164234

Maybe not enchanted and more west and south, today I rode with a neighbor who showed me back roads to a stand of Chestnut trees. They are numbered, watered and pruned carefully to help bring chestnuts back to New England.164234
A strain of American chestnuts resistant to chestnut blight? Yaaaay!!!

Ain't MetroWest riding grand?
Smooth pavement in Bedford, Great Meadows in Concord, Enchanted Bay and Moose Hill roads in Sharon, both our senators biking the PMC, a new bike in Lawrence, chestnuts in Wrentham, epic rides to NH and CT and teens in Harvard were smoked by a pea-bob in a trailer pulled by a fired up, smiling tandem. Pretty nice.

Speaking of nice, chestnut expert Emery tells me only a few of the best are selected and the rest are cut to enable the chosen to thrive. Most of this patient, dedicated work is by volunteers dedicated to making this a better place. We've a lot to be appreciative of here in Metro West.164371

Ain't MetroWest riding grand?
Smooth pavement in Bedford, Great Meadows in Concord, Enchanted Bay and Moose Hill roads in Sharon, both our senators biking the PMC, a new bike in Lawrence, chestnuts in Wrentham, epic rides to NH and CT and teens in Harvard were smoked by a pea-bob in a trailer pulled by a fired up, smiling tandem. Pretty nice.

And we can add to this list quite a few orchards where fresh fruit can be obtained. (Earlier this year I did a club ride which went over the hill west of Honey Pot Orchard.)

I can't ride this weekend, have to play music at a festival out in NY state. I fully expect to read good stuff about everyone else's ride though. And I got some good news about my knee today. My pain isn't caused by a cartilage tear. (There is minor weakening but it isn't serious and is in a different part of the knee.) It appears to be IT Band Syndrome, irritation of the iliotibial band where it runs over the end of the tibia. Got a cortisone shot today, should be good to go in a few weeks. Yaaay!

Ride on!

Jim of the knee,
Yeah you're right! Honey Pot Hill Orchards and nearby the Boon monument to the first European settler of the Stow area. If one were to push it out to Wachusett will the road be open? I'm adverse to large group rides down steep hills so have not done "Climb to the Clouds" but rather a group of 7 intrepid travellers last fall; it was cooler too.

Good knee knews. As a musician you kneed to know the "band" will get you into trouble....sorry, that was "pun"ishment.

You can tell I only got in a short loop with my brother in law today. We did ride by a farm in Holliston with a cow tunnel built in the 1800s http://hollistonnetnews.com/images/newsimages/080306cow-tunnel.jpgand then crossed Boggastow Brook that in early 1700s iced over in the winter to enable sliding quarried stone to the site of a stone house that later survived King Phillip's attacks.

Let's torture Jim during his convalescence with good stories of the velo.

Good knee knews. As a musician you kneed to know the "band" will get you into trouble....sorry, that was "pun"ishment.
Let's torture Jim during his convalescence with good stories of the velo.
For shame, sbp, you have just tortured us all. :saweeet:

..Let's torture Jim during his convalescence with good stories of the velo.

I'll start. :D It was a beautiful Saturday and I did an approximately 75 mile loop from Kenmore Square to Lexington via Waltham, and then out Rte 225 through the pretty Forge Village to Harvard and back Rte 111 to Rte 27 to Rte 117 through to Waltham and on to Kenmore Square.

On the way out I had it in my mind to post to this thread, with a complaint about two separate roadies who silently buzzed me on 225 seemingly within at least three feet as I hugged the right side of the road. One of them, in Bedford, actually passed me as a car was passing him. :eek: As you know that road is lightly traveled allowing a wide berth for passing. One other roadie did pass me widely and it was a joy to watch his style. About the first two though, I was thinking of the Howie Carr quote about "Beautiful People” when they encounter the plebians, “Do you know who I am?” No, but are the initials P.O. S.? (Sorry, but that's how I felt.) :notamused:

I did encounter a lot of nice people though. Mass Bike had a ride going out from Lexington in the opposite direction from mine and I saw a lot of cyclists on Sandy Pond Road between Rte 2A-110 and Rte 119 at about 10:00 AM.

I was trying to retrace the ride I had done last year, but I forgot my map. At Rte 225 and Rte 119, I met a nice dad and his adult daughter coming out of Lexington doing a loop to Hollis NH. Dad graciously pulled out his pristine Rubel map and let me orient myself. I did proselytize BF to them.

I was surprised at how bad the pavement was eastbound on Rtes 111 and 117 within the I-495 beltway, the latter up until Weston. I have ridden 117 several times westbound and enjoyed it, and indeed as I looked at that side of the road the pavement did look pretty good. Any suggestions for a return route from Harvard / Bolton to Boston?

Best to start early around 8-9am. It was a breeze and so much fun going from Brooklyn Bridge all the way up and into Central Park. My return trip around 12pm was just CROWDED and slow and it got realy exhausting having to brake all the time even though I'm not a fast rider. I did go into the Whole Foods picnic and got free Stonyfield yogurts, Ciao Bella shorbet, and a free Basil plant to grow myself. Can't wait to do it next week too, but I'm going to not loiter around Central Park so long so I can come back down earlier to hopefully avoid the crowds.

I have ridden 117 several times westbound and enjoyed it, and indeed as I looked at that side of the road the pavement did look pretty good. Any suggestions for a return route from Harvard / Bolton to Boston?

Jim d’Boston, an easy answer to your 117 question is stay clear of barbed wire, buckthorn and Rt 117. Go south through Sudbury, Lincoln, Wayland then climb Glezen past the Weston Observatory into Weston. I’ll have to think about a northern route but I angle Walden to Lincoln and Trapelo Rd.

Jim from Boston,
Sounds like a great ride. I bet you worked harder than me today riding in the same general area. I'm sorry you found Rt 117. I've held on for dear life east of Rt 126 forced by traffic over the worst of the "pavement."
Quite the opposite, I massbiked their century through lexingtonlincolnconcordactonboxboroughlittletonharvardayergrotonshirleytownsendbrooklinehollisnashua pepperelldunstablegrotonwestfordcarlislebedfordlexington on an incredibly smooth, nearly flat route. I was shocked.
As you said, perfect weather, but MassBike chose smooth, fresh pavement and managed to find a hill-less route. Ok there were obligatory rollers around ponds near Groton and long hills going towards Hollis, NH but good golly it seemed from Dunstable to Great Brook Farm State Park to Westford I barely shifted gears.
I did find a hill entering Carlisle where my derailleur finally jammed but riding a two speed to Lexington, I think I only climbed over Rt 128 (aka 95). 18 mph (solo, no drafting!) based on ride time and 16.7 based on elapsed time. Elapsed time includes consulting the cue sheet, refilling water bottles and scoffing fig newtons.
I'm renewing my MassBike membership. They are powerful. No one else could come up with such a route. Now if we could get them to tackle Rt 117.

Jim from Boston,
Sounds like a great ride. I bet you worked harder than me today riding in the same general area. I'm sorry you found Rt 117. I've held on for dear life east of Rt 126 forced by traffic over the worst of the "pavement."
Quite the opposite, I massbiked their century through lexingtonlincolnconcordactonboxboroughlittletonharvardayergrotonshirleytownsendbrooklinehollisnashua pepperelldunstablegrotonwestfordcarlislebedfordlexington on an incredibly smooth, nearly flat route. I was shocked. ...
Hi sbp,

Thanks for this delightful reply and the route suggestions; that century sounds simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. As I mentioned, my newfound BF converts were doing a loop through Hollis too. A nice thing about living in Kenmore Square is that I can easily explore all sectors of the Metro Boston area (except East), but any long ride usually means returning though afternoon city traffic; Allston was a real drag today after 70 miles. Leaving early in the morning outbound though is almost as serene as any rural road, plus with all the interesting sights.

Hey guys check out my new bike in the Road Cycling forum!

It was too nice not to ride today. Managed to actually get out around 6:40 and it was still pretty cool. Did a northerly loop: through Medford around the Fells, up 28 through Reading to 62, the 62 to 114 taking me back down through Peabody, Salem and Marblehead, to 129, then 107. I really wish they'd hurry up and finish the construction on 107. There's a stretch through the marshes where you're squeezed between Jersey barriers, and there's just barely enough space for cars to pass you, which was fine until a big truck comes up behind me, and I have to sprint to get to spot where I can pull aside. So when I manage to recover from that, I get back on the road, and then there's a bus. Fortunately, by that point, I'm near the end of the obstruction. Kind of annoyed that as I'm going through Revere my computer decides to stop registering my speed and miles. But I think that was the longest single ride I've managed so far--I'm trying to work up to being able to get to Gloucester and back in one day.

It was too nice not to ride today. Managed to actually get out around 6:40 and it was still pretty cool. Did a northerly loop: through Medford around the Fells, up 28 through Reading to 62, the 62 to 114 taking me back down through Peabody, Salem and Marblehead, to 129, then 107. I really wish they'd hurry up and finish the construction on 107. There's a stretch through the marshes where you're squeezed between Jersey barriers, and there's just barely enough space for cars to pass you, which was fine until a big truck comes up behind me, and I have to sprint to get to spot where I can pull aside. So when I manage to recover from that, I get back on the road, and then there's a bus. Fortunately, by that point, I'm near the end of the obstruction. Kind of annoyed that as I'm going through Revere my computer decides to stop registering my speed and miles. But I think that was the longest single ride I've managed so far--I'm trying to work up to being able to get to Gloucester and back in one day.

I enjoyed reading this post as it describes a lot of nice riding on the northern side of Boston that I don’t do often enough, because my riding destination is usually down southwest to Norwood. It just so happened that on this past Friday, I was able to do a nice ride from Kenmore Square through Medford to Woburn, Montvale Ave to Stoneham, and back down Rte 28, the Fellsway back to Rte 28, then Washington St in Somerville to Prospect St and Mass Ave. Previously I usually took Rte 28 all the way down to The Museum of Science. A particularly nice, first-time segment I did was Governor’s Ave off of Rte 38-60 (High Street) in Meffa to S. Border Rd through the Fells reservation to Winchester. That is a really pretty town.

When I go to the North Shore I never ride Rte 107 south of Franklin St in Lynn, and then only when I’ve been lost. My preferred route to the North Shore is the Alford St Bridge to Rte 99 up to Lynn Street which passes under Rte 1 to becomes Salem Street, to Cliftondale in Saugus; and I continue on to Lincoln and Boston Streets to Lynn. Then I can take Franklin St to the Lynnway to ride around Nahant (recommended), and/or Rte 1A up the shoreline. Also from Boston St in Lynn, a nice inland route is via Parkland to Broadway – Lynn Streets up to Washington Street in Peabody and on to Salem.

On an early morning departure, I might get on to the Revere Beach Parkway, to access Winthrop and/or Revere Beach. I also have taken Beacham St off of Rte 99 in Everett, which makes its way to East Boston and Winthrop. Its not well paved, but on an early morning departure, almost any road is easily ridden. The North Shore from Swampscott to Salem is pretty nice but the riding is even better IMO from Beverly up to Rockport on 127A.

Finally, Rte 62 is also a favorite road, and I have ridden it in segments from Sudbury to Danvers, the longest segment from North Reading to Danvers.