Metro Boston: Good ride today?
02-24-14, 06:44 PM
#3226
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Q (from the pic): Where are the outer plates, i.e. the missing link? It looks like a plate pulled out from its rivet, starting the rest of the process. Once one end of an outer plate was free it could have induced the other end to come free soon enough, and then both that plate and the opposite side with rivets attached came out. No telling how long you pedaled with just one side plate on that link. As long as you weren't mashing too hard and the periodic entry into the RD cage pushed it back in again you could have gone on for a while that way. But with no stabilization from the opposite rivet any serious tress could have pulled the remaining rivet out from its remaining plate.
So an episode like this could have been precipitated by mashing harder than normal, but its real cause may have been a poorly fitting rivet.
So an episode like this could have been precipitated by mashing harder than normal, but its real cause may have been a poorly fitting rivet.
The chain only had 170 miles on it, so the bad rivet hypothesis is certainly plausible.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 02-25-14 at 06:11 AM.
02-24-14, 06:46 PM
#3227
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
I got out briefly yesterday, just long enough to ride around the block on this newly-completed build. Note the sew-up tires, my first experience with the gluuuueeee. I applied it according to Grandma's pot roast recipe.
This is believed to be a repainted '74 Champion Team. (That's what they used to say on the TT - the catalogs called it a Team Champion. Go figure.)
This is believed to be a repainted '74 Champion Team. (That's what they used to say on the TT - the catalogs called it a Team Champion. Go figure.)
rod
02-27-14, 07:24 PM
#3228
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Short, chilly ride on the Minuteman tonight, 8 miles, temperatures in the low 20s with a headwind on the outbound leg. The Minuteman was clear from Arlington Center to the Lexington line, but as I approached Arlington's Great Meadow I encountered ice that was too seriously 3-dimensional to look like fun for a ride in the dark; it looked like something else, not like fun...
Turned around then, but enjoyed the ride anyway; the Minuteman was practically deserted: a few cyclists, a few walkers, a few runners. Very quiet.
Spring, when it comes, will be welcome. A new pair of tires for the LHT arrived today, light, supple 38mm 700c tires from Compass Bicycles; I choose to take that as a harbinger of warmer days.
rod
Turned around then, but enjoyed the ride anyway; the Minuteman was practically deserted: a few cyclists, a few walkers, a few runners. Very quiet.
Spring, when it comes, will be welcome. A new pair of tires for the LHT arrived today, light, supple 38mm 700c tires from Compass Bicycles; I choose to take that as a harbinger of warmer days.
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 02-28-14 at 08:20 AM.
03-02-14, 06:00 PM
#3229
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Got out on the GT in its icebike persona towards the end of the day, riding the Minuteman as far as Lexington Center; assessing conditions on the trail was most of the point of that route today. Arlington was clear, but the icy sections in Lexington that have cut into the usefulness of the Minuteman since the last snow storm (and, in some cases, before) seem to be stubbornly persistent. These will freeze up hard again overnight, along with some melt-water puddles that will make shiny new black ice in the morning. Here are a few samples, by no means the whole collection:
I rode most of them with the studded Nokians, but dismounted and walked once or twice, as much from Winter Cylcing Fatigue as anything else. Frankly, this season is starting to remind me of the faun's complaint about the weather in Narnia: "Always Winter and never Christmas." To be fair, I do dimly remember having Christmas sometime ago, but it has been Winter for quite awhile now, and I'm getting tired of it. Still, it does have moments of its own beauty, even if the novelty has worn off...
... but I'm definitely ready for Spring.
Picked up Mass. Ave. at Lexington Center, and rode that back East to Fottler Ave., admiring the great berms of frozen and blackened slush the plows have left us on the roadside, then picked up the ice-free segment of the Minuteman and took that home. There was a sunset, barely detectable, and somewhere along the route night fell.
rod
I rode most of them with the studded Nokians, but dismounted and walked once or twice, as much from Winter Cylcing Fatigue as anything else. Frankly, this season is starting to remind me of the faun's complaint about the weather in Narnia: "Always Winter and never Christmas." To be fair, I do dimly remember having Christmas sometime ago, but it has been Winter for quite awhile now, and I'm getting tired of it. Still, it does have moments of its own beauty, even if the novelty has worn off...
... but I'm definitely ready for Spring.
Picked up Mass. Ave. at Lexington Center, and rode that back East to Fottler Ave., admiring the great berms of frozen and blackened slush the plows have left us on the roadside, then picked up the ice-free segment of the Minuteman and took that home. There was a sunset, barely detectable, and somewhere along the route night fell.
rod
03-03-14, 04:03 AM
#3230
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm considering a LHT. I'll be riding in the US so availability of tubes and tire should be no problem. I'm just wondering about the ride. I'll be on paved roads primarily (as much as possible), but could also find myself on hard gravel and dirt. Nothing too "off-road". Since I'd be the engine for both, how does the ride compare, does one take more effort, is one more stable under load, does one climb better, is there a perceptible speed difference, etc...? Any other considerations?
If it matters, I'm a big guy (+/- 200 lbs). I have been riding road bikes with 700c 23's for years and haven't had a problem.
You're the guys and gals who would know.
Thank you.
PS rock these stickers and spread the good word
https://www.ebay.com/itm/131111598484...84.m1555.l2649
If it matters, I'm a big guy (+/- 200 lbs). I have been riding road bikes with 700c 23's for years and haven't had a problem.
You're the guys and gals who would know.
Thank you.
PS rock these stickers and spread the good word
https://www.ebay.com/itm/131111598484...84.m1555.l2649
03-03-14, 07:04 AM
#3231
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
I'm considering a LHT. I'll be riding in the US so availability of tubes and tire should be no problem. I'm just wondering about the ride. I'll be on paved roads primarily (as much as possible), but could also find myself on hard gravel and dirt. Nothing too "off-road". Since I'd be the engine for both, how does the ride compare, does one take more effort, is one more stable under load, does one climb better, is there a perceptible speed difference, etc...? Any other considerations?
rod
03-08-14, 06:45 PM
#3232
Senior Member
Got out for my first long solo ride of the spring (I did a group ride a couple few weekends ago which was mostly a blur of trying to hang on, albeit with some nice roads). The other half needed to be down near Sutton this morning for something non-bike related, so I had him drag me along and rode home. Started out cold, but quickly warmed up -- my new GPS claims it was in the mid-thirties when I started out, and broke 60 by the time I was home; somewhere in between I took off my jacket for the first short-sleeved ride of the year. It wasn't quite yet what I'd call nice out, but it was much nicer than most of the weather we've had.
Only one road, out somewhere near the start, was icy enough to need to walk; the rest was smooth (well, potholed, but free of ice) sailing. Came up back roads through lots of little towns I'd never done more than zoom past on the Pike in a car, till things started to look familiar in Framingham.
The ice was still thick enough on one reservoir I went past that someone was walking on the ice; elsewhere, many runners and walkers were out, but cyclists were still absent until about mile 45, somewhere Sudburyish or so, and then started springing up around every corner as I neared Lexington.
Bombed down Mass Ave homewards, only marred by somehow managing to drop my chain while turning left in Arlington Center and bruising myself and coasting wobbily through the intersection until I could pull it off the road and fix it. No harm done; the hazards of having a wide range of gears to select from and ending up in a poor choice.
Only one road, out somewhere near the start, was icy enough to need to walk; the rest was smooth (well, potholed, but free of ice) sailing. Came up back roads through lots of little towns I'd never done more than zoom past on the Pike in a car, till things started to look familiar in Framingham.
The ice was still thick enough on one reservoir I went past that someone was walking on the ice; elsewhere, many runners and walkers were out, but cyclists were still absent until about mile 45, somewhere Sudburyish or so, and then started springing up around every corner as I neared Lexington.
Bombed down Mass Ave homewards, only marred by somehow managing to drop my chain while turning left in Arlington Center and bruising myself and coasting wobbily through the intersection until I could pull it off the road and fix it. No harm done; the hazards of having a wide range of gears to select from and ending up in a poor choice.
03-08-14, 06:51 PM
#3233
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
Good to see you got out, AS. It was nice today!
We got out on the tandem, 33.8 miles, our second ride of the year (the first being Groundhog Day). Managed to get from Bedford to Heart Pond. Lots of water on the shoulders of the roads. We had to ride though some when cars came up behind us. The bike is not happy with me, all that fine vintage French steel getting so sandy. However the bike performed well nevertheless.
The Bruce Freeman is still a long way from being rideable!
We got out on the tandem, 33.8 miles, our second ride of the year (the first being Groundhog Day). Managed to get from Bedford to Heart Pond. Lots of water on the shoulders of the roads. We had to ride though some when cars came up behind us. The bike is not happy with me, all that fine vintage French steel getting so sandy. However the bike performed well nevertheless.
The Bruce Freeman is still a long way from being rideable!
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-08-14, 07:20 PM
#3234
Senior Member
Went out on the northern strand trail, nice day but the southern part of the trail in Everett had a lot of pooling water, kicked up a lot of water and dirt. But did 20 miles overall, longest ride ever (almost 90 mins) as I get ready for a 75 mile ride this fall
03-08-14, 10:05 PM
#3235
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Slogged out to the end of the Minuteman in thaw conditions on the icebike; I was curious about the state of the trail surface. While most sections in Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford were clear, some bad patches of ice in Lexington and (to a lesser degree) Bedford have proven surprisingly durable, considering how long it's been since the last snow fell. The trail was absolutely flooded with all classes of users; had my first elliptigo siting of the year, and called the Audobon Society. All this traffic did not interact well with the remaining ice, and I saw several roadies nearly wipe out on wet ice, especially near Woburn Street. Riders were passing warnings up the line. One enterprising individual was attacking the ice patch beyond Bedford Street with an ice chopper and a shovel, and making good headway.
rod
rod
Last edited by rholland1951; 03-08-14 at 10:19 PM.
03-10-14, 04:24 AM
#3236
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
FYA, rholland1951 recently posted this nice tribute to our urbane Minuteman Bike path to this thread “What is your favorite Bicycling Traii? , where is it? and why? on the General Cycling Discussion Forum.
Many of the trails mentioned and photographed have spectacular scenery, though often with crushed stone surfaces. Nonetheless IMO, they are “destinations,” while the Minuteman is a “way of life.”
Many of the trails mentioned and photographed have spectacular scenery, though often with crushed stone surfaces. Nonetheless IMO, they are “destinations,” while the Minuteman is a “way of life.”
03-10-14, 06:49 AM
#3237
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
FYA, rholland1951 recently posted this nice tribute to our urbane Minuteman Bike path to this thread “What is your favorite Bicycling Traii? , where is it? and why? on the General Cycling Discussion Forum.
Many of the trails mentioned and photographed have spectacular scenery, though often with crushed stone surfaces. Nonetheless IMO, they are “destinations,” while the Minuteman is a “way of life.”
Many of the trails mentioned and photographed have spectacular scenery, though often with crushed stone surfaces. Nonetheless IMO, they are “destinations,” while the Minuteman is a “way of life.”
Thanks for pointing out the opportunity to show the Metro Boston flag...
rod
03-11-14, 10:36 AM
#3238
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Today was my first time bike commuting Quincy to Cambridge on a weekday. Having the sun rising over the Neponset river as backdrop was encouraging. I am planning to do this 2-3 times per week weather permitting. Does anyone else here commute from or through Quincy to Boston?
03-11-14, 06:32 PM
#3239
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Had a pleasant ride on the Minuteman in the early evening, enjoying the thaw. Turned around at Lake Fottler, ~50 yards of full-width meltwater flooding to a depth of several inches, dammed by the plowed snowbanks. Seven miles.
rod
rod
03-11-14, 06:48 PM
#3240
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
I got out on the Motobecane after work today. The weather was too nice not to. Quick run across Watertown and back. Sunset made me turn around early. Drivers behind me had the sun in their faces so I worried.
The Motobecane turns out to be a 40y.o. speed demon. Not surprising, considering that Luis Ocana won the TDF on one much like it in '73. I had to be careful though. Didn't want to hit a pothole too hard with those Vittoria sew-up tires. 140psi make them hard enough, but they do track nicely. No pic today. It was too dark for decent pics when I got home.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-11-14, 07:52 PM
#3241
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 251
Bikes: 2002 Bianchi Eros, 2013 Peter Mooney Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Got out for an out and back to Concord today. Great day to be out. Bike sure needed a bath at the end of the ride. Lots of meltwater and muck.
03-12-14, 03:37 AM
#3242
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
...The Motobecane turns out to be a 40y.o. speed demon. Not surprising, considering that Luis Ocana won the TDF on one much like it in '73. I had to be careful though. Didn't want to hit a pothole too hard with those Vittoria sew-up tires. 140psi make them hard enough, but they do track nicely. No pic today. It was too dark for decent pics when I got home.
03-12-14, 04:53 AM
#3243
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
03-12-14, 05:58 AM
#3244
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
Indeed. Puddles everywhere. I spent two hours cleaning the tandem on Sunday after our Saturday ride. (Of course, a tandem is a lot of bike that needs cleaning.)
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-12-14, 06:37 AM
#3245
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
Actually was a warm and dry ride into Boston and Charlestown and back yesterday.
But the Mass Ave / Cambridge Street merge outbound from Harvard Square - love the new pavement. But one out of a million drivers. He drove over the center curb to force me out of the way....
-mr. bill
But the Mass Ave / Cambridge Street merge outbound from Harvard Square - love the new pavement. But one out of a million drivers. He drove over the center curb to force me out of the way....
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 11-29-17 at 10:44 AM. Reason: photbucket
03-13-14, 07:19 AM
#3247
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
Just an old gopro hero2 on a K-EDGE GO BIG handlebar mount. It's always running, so mostly I get to grab nice shots from time to time. But most of the time the video is direct to bitbucket.
-mr. bill
-mr. bill
03-13-14, 08:18 AM
#3248
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-13-14, 12:10 PM
#3249
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 251
Bikes: 2002 Bianchi Eros, 2013 Peter Mooney Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-13-14, 05:00 PM
#3250
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,171
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,730 Times
in
885 Posts
Today was my first time bike commuting Quincy to Cambridge on a weekday. Having the sun rising over the Neponset river as backdrop was encouraging. I am planning to do this 2-3 times per week weather permitting. Does anyone else here commute from or through Quincy to Boston?
rod