Metro Boston: Good ride today?
#3451
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks, Jim. I have no sense of how the iteratively-redeveloped West End treats bicycle traffic. It would be useful to know what routes there are practical, since it's something of a transportation hub (think North Station commuter rail to rides on the North Shore, among other things). Someone on this list (SBP?) probably has a clue about that...
rod
rod
I don't recall riding the Alford St. Bridge but do ride North Washington St across the Charlestown Bridge. The bridge is a little dicey with the metal surface, high curbs and slippery sidewalks. You can walk across the Charles River Dam just west of the bridge. Once across the bridge, jog east a block and take Main St. to go north to Alford St.
There is talk about adding bike paths to cross the river with the train tracks out of North Station but for now there is the beautiful crossing under the Zakim on the north side connecting to Paul Revere Park.
#3452
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
26 mile out and back to Concord. Legs were toast from the hills yesterday, but still managed a decent avg. speed.
Out and Back to Concord - Belmont, MA
No turkeys, no sculpture, just a ride.
The headwind on the return ride had me thinking "What if I took a frame and ran stings from the top tube to the down tube? Could I create a rolling aeolian harp?"
Out and Back to Concord - Belmont, MA
No turkeys, no sculpture, just a ride.
The headwind on the return ride had me thinking "What if I took a frame and ran stings from the top tube to the down tube? Could I create a rolling aeolian harp?"
#3453
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
As a regular reader of this thread, I found the above references obscure, in particular, “Jim nudging.” I would normally mind my own business, but this Jim recently posted to a thread on the Fifty-Plus Forum, “I ride near home”:
Say no more. Also,
Where is this crossing, on the Boston side?
Finally, another recent obscure post was:
But I’ll mind my own business here.
IMO, Metropolitan Boston offers interesting cycling in all parts of the area. I live in downtown, so my loops from home allow me to explore all sectors of the region. In about 30 to 60 minutes of cycling I can be out of the city and into pleasant suburban to exurban areas…
My main reason to cycle from home is that I must squeeze my riding time into my work and family life, and driving or taking the train takes too much time away from riding. I rarely do organized rides, but have driven about 350 and 700 miles to participate in the Second and Third Annual Fifty-Plus Forum rides (the latter in Michigan, also to visit family). So I was glad to have a Fifth Annual Ride in Metro Boston last year, about 30 miles away, to be reprised this year on July 26 (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
My main reason to cycle from home is that I must squeeze my riding time into my work and family life, and driving or taking the train takes too much time away from riding. I rarely do organized rides, but have driven about 350 and 700 miles to participate in the Second and Third Annual Fifty-Plus Forum rides (the latter in Michigan, also to visit family). So I was glad to have a Fifth Annual Ride in Metro Boston last year, about 30 miles away, to be reprised this year on July 26 (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
Finally, another recent obscure post was:
But I’ll mind my own business here.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-28-14 at 05:14 AM.
#3455
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
Just a bunch of musicians trading comedian lines, I'm afraid. Nothing untoward or even all that interesting. Unless you need a good one-liner, in which case you came to the right place!
Sharon and I are planning to do the 50+ ride. We'd do 50 miles but not if it involved climbing 5000ft on a 90degF day. It would be nice to see a route beforehand. I'll have to check the Mass Bike website again. I thought I checked it a week or so ago and didn't see what I was looking for.
Edit: Found it. We'll most probably ride the Metric. Acton isn't very far from us but 7AM sure is. (Options are Century, Metric, and 32 miles.)
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Last edited by jimmuller; 05-28-14 at 06:05 AM.
#3456
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
Yes, well, you see, a week or so ago I dropped SBP a PM asking how he was doing, seein' as how he'd been absent from BF lately. It's good to see him back...
Sharon and I are planning to do the 50+ ride. We'd do 50 miles but not if it involved climbing 5000ft on a 90degF day. It would be nice to see a route beforehand. I'll have to check the Mass Bike website again. I thought I checked it a week or so ago and didn't see what I was looking for.
Sharon and I are planning to do the 50+ ride. We'd do 50 miles but not if it involved climbing 5000ft on a 90degF day. It would be nice to see a route beforehand. I'll have to check the Mass Bike website again. I thought I checked it a week or so ago and didn't see what I was looking for.
This morning I looked up the Event on the MassBike website, and links to the routes of the three rides were provided. Last year there were four of us, and we all registered on site, all for the 30-mile route; socialization trumped distance. The current short route appears the same. That route did include about 5 miles in the Minuteman National Historic Park, which was very interesting, but not the best on skinny tires.
BTW, besides the Long Ride itself, we usually make the Fifty-Plus Annual Ride a two-three day affair, Friday to Sunday, with some additional activities.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-28-14 at 06:38 AM. Reason: Added BTW
#3457
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yes, well, you see, a week or so ago I dropped SBP a PM asking how he was doing, seein' as how he'd been absent from BF lately. It's good to see him back.
Just a bunch of musicians trading comedian lines, I'm afraid. Nothing untoward or even all that interesting. Unless you need a good one-liner, in which case you came to the right place!
Sharon and I are planning to do the 50+ ride. We'd do 50 miles but not if it involved climbing 5000ft on a 90degF day. It would be nice to see a route beforehand. I'll have to check the Mass Bike website again. I thought I checked it a week or so ago and didn't see what I was looking for.
Edit: Found it. We'll most probably ride the Metric. Acton isn't very far from us but 7AM sure is. (Options are Century, Metric, and 32 miles.)
Just a bunch of musicians trading comedian lines, I'm afraid. Nothing untoward or even all that interesting. Unless you need a good one-liner, in which case you came to the right place!
Sharon and I are planning to do the 50+ ride. We'd do 50 miles but not if it involved climbing 5000ft on a 90degF day. It would be nice to see a route beforehand. I'll have to check the Mass Bike website again. I thought I checked it a week or so ago and didn't see what I was looking for.
Edit: Found it. We'll most probably ride the Metric. Acton isn't very far from us but 7AM sure is. (Options are Century, Metric, and 32 miles.)
#3458
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
Also a great idea. I assume it means a ride on Sun and a gathering or picnic or Friday, possibly a gathering on Sunday also before everyone heads home. I'll likely be working on Friday but a Friday evening thing sounds good.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#3459
Senior Member
Thread Starter
J from B, sorry for the obscurities. The crossing I tried to describe is the North Washington St-Charlestown Bridge and once across on the north side of the Charles River cross under the Zakim Bridge on the bike and walking path west towards the Paul Revere Park or northeast towards Bunker Hill or Main St. This map is from the MAPC trail map. Just east of the Zakim and west of the Charlestown Bridge is the walk-only path across the Charles River Dam which is a lot less hectic.
#3460
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
Well then, if that's the plan that's what we'll do too. (Will have to check with my sweetie first to be sure she's happy with the distance.) Any idea which route others are registered for?...
Also a great idea [other weekend activities]. I assume it means a ride on Sun and a gathering or picnic or Friday, possibly a gathering on Sunday also before everyone heads home. I'll likely be working on Friday but a Friday evening thing sounds good.
Also a great idea [other weekend activities]. I assume it means a ride on Sun and a gathering or picnic or Friday, possibly a gathering on Sunday also before everyone heads home. I'll likely be working on Friday but a Friday evening thing sounds good.
Here's a proposed schedule as suggested and updated from last year, and based on previous Annual Rides I to V:
I did sign-up for a few days off work around that last weekend in July...here is a very tentative proposal for the Sixth Annual Ride Fifty-Plus Ride...Saturday, July 26 in 2014:
…Here’s my preliminary suggestion: I anticipate that visitors who trek up to Boston would also like to visit the city and environs, as well as socialize with our compatriots. I hope to make myself available for a few extra days, from Thursday, 7/24, til Tues, 7/29 to provide flexibility for travel arrangements. So a tentative plan is:
- [*]
- [*]
- [*]
- [*]
#3461
----
Not exactly Metro East but I work my way west in the summer. This is from my 45 mile Berkshire Loop I did yesterday. (3679' of elev. gain) these shots are from the stunning Tyringham Road.
Plenty of scenery to keep your mind off all the climbing.
Plenty of scenery to keep your mind off all the climbing.
#3462
Senior Member
Thread Starter
buzzman's beautiful scenery is a nice glimpse of other places and adds perspective and contrast to our own turf.
Spouse and I are recently back from back-road biking in England. No cities and nothing more touristy than the UK version of the Wayside Inn or Saugus Iron Works. We rented a car and bikes and hopped all over England to pre-selected routes and a few simple wanderings; all with pubs, inns and friendly folks. The hedgerow lined, narrow twists and turns kept speeds down and everyone on alert. Canal tow paths were quiet and flat. . Very friendly, comfortable riding.
Spouse and I are recently back from back-road biking in England. No cities and nothing more touristy than the UK version of the Wayside Inn or Saugus Iron Works. We rented a car and bikes and hopped all over England to pre-selected routes and a few simple wanderings; all with pubs, inns and friendly folks. The hedgerow lined, narrow twists and turns kept speeds down and everyone on alert. Canal tow paths were quiet and flat. . Very friendly, comfortable riding.
#3463
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
SBP, that sounds and looks delightful!
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#3464
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#3465
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
+100. That looks so idyllic. I would love to visit Europe, especially England, and tour by bicycle, but I don't fly. So on such a trip that would take a long time to arrive, I would be hard-pressed on where to go and what to see. Have you been before? Personally I would go to London first, but I live in Kenmore Square.
I don’t fly (at all) when I travel, and when asked about it, I have many reasons why I prefer to drive, or take the train to my destination. The most cogent answer, which usually ends the discussion is that I can take much more stuff “overland,” including my bicycle and/or riding gear (to rent a bike) so I can “immerse myself in observing and ‘being’ in my immediate environment" when I arrive.
I once read of a proposal to build a bridge across the Bering Straits, so one could drive from Boston to Europe by way of Canada, Alaska, and Siberia.
…I'm a big fan of the author Paul Theroux. In his travel books, he writes a lot about why he prefers "overland" travel over air travel (overland being most forms of travel where you actively see what you are traveling through). A plane is faster than a train, but you mostly see a layer of clouds below the plane. A car is usually faster than a bike, but you need to have a certain focus on other cars and road users, which detracts from your ability to mindfully observe your immediate environment.
Traveling by bike, however, strikes the perfect balance between being able to mindfully travel through the environment, while also being able to reasonably travel to places within a much larger radius compared to what you could walk to. Commuting as passenger in a bus, car, train, etc. is preferred over driving due to the ability to freely immerse yourself in observing and "being" in your immediate environment…
Traveling by bike, however, strikes the perfect balance between being able to mindfully travel through the environment, while also being able to reasonably travel to places within a much larger radius compared to what you could walk to. Commuting as passenger in a bus, car, train, etc. is preferred over driving due to the ability to freely immerse yourself in observing and "being" in your immediate environment…
#3466
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,177
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 534 Post(s)
Liked 1,750 Times
in
891 Posts
buzzman's beautiful scenery is a nice glimpse of other places and adds perspective and contrast to our own turf.
Spouse and I are recently back from back-road biking in England. No cities and nothing more touristy than the UK version of the Wayside Inn or Saugus Iron Works. We rented a car and bikes and hopped all over England to pre-selected routes and a few simple wanderings; all with pubs, inns and friendly folks. The hedgerow lined, narrow twists and turns kept speeds down and everyone on alert. Canal tow paths were quiet and flat. . Very friendly, comfortable riding.
Spouse and I are recently back from back-road biking in England. No cities and nothing more touristy than the UK version of the Wayside Inn or Saugus Iron Works. We rented a car and bikes and hopped all over England to pre-selected routes and a few simple wanderings; all with pubs, inns and friendly folks. The hedgerow lined, narrow twists and turns kept speeds down and everyone on alert. Canal tow paths were quiet and flat. . Very friendly, comfortable riding.
rod
#3467
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Jim de B, there are different ways to do most things.
Take the train to NY and Queen Mary 2 to Southampton, UK.
Next door to Southampton they also do things differently. The New Forest is 150 sq miles of open pasture formerly (935 years formerly) owned by William the Conqueror. There they fence in their gardens to keep the beasties out rather than fence in cows, horses, bicyclists, etc.
As for bridges, be careful because as you know they are not all bike friendly yet.
Today a friend (not William I) and I conquered a not-bike-friendly rotary in West Springfield to ride across the Memorial Bridge and invaded Springfield. It turns out the truck and car drivers in the rotary and the sidewalks on the bridge were very bike friendly. We had a great ride from the B Ball Hall of Fame, up the bike elevator*, biked the bridge over the RR tracks and zig zag, zig zag, zz, zz and zz again on the ramp down to the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway. Their map shows a fine path next to the impressive river. It flows a lot faster** and has steeper banks than our Charles. It also has a bike path on only one side so we rode up to Chicopee, bridged to West Springfield and noodled on streets back to the beautiful Memorial Bridge. The bikeway is nice and too short.
Back in Sherborn, I ran an errand on the magnificent Holliston portion of the Upper Charles Trail. There is no place like home.
* I suppose the elevator is for pedestrians as well but one can literally bike right on.
** wiki says Charles is 9m3/s and Conn is 483m3/s
Take the train to NY and Queen Mary 2 to Southampton, UK.
Next door to Southampton they also do things differently. The New Forest is 150 sq miles of open pasture formerly (935 years formerly) owned by William the Conqueror. There they fence in their gardens to keep the beasties out rather than fence in cows, horses, bicyclists, etc.
As for bridges, be careful because as you know they are not all bike friendly yet.
Today a friend (not William I) and I conquered a not-bike-friendly rotary in West Springfield to ride across the Memorial Bridge and invaded Springfield. It turns out the truck and car drivers in the rotary and the sidewalks on the bridge were very bike friendly. We had a great ride from the B Ball Hall of Fame, up the bike elevator*, biked the bridge over the RR tracks and zig zag, zig zag, zz, zz and zz again on the ramp down to the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway. Their map shows a fine path next to the impressive river. It flows a lot faster** and has steeper banks than our Charles. It also has a bike path on only one side so we rode up to Chicopee, bridged to West Springfield and noodled on streets back to the beautiful Memorial Bridge. The bikeway is nice and too short.
Back in Sherborn, I ran an errand on the magnificent Holliston portion of the Upper Charles Trail. There is no place like home.
* I suppose the elevator is for pedestrians as well but one can literally bike right on.
** wiki says Charles is 9m3/s and Conn is 483m3/s
#3468
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
SBP and Buzzman, those are some nice rides!
Out and back to Concord today before a gig.
Still comptemplating the whole "aeolian bike" thing as I had a headwind on my return.
Out and back to Concord today before a gig.
Still comptemplating the whole "aeolian bike" thing as I had a headwind on my return.
#3469
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
#3471
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
BTW, I plan to ride through Holliston via Rtes 16 and 126 to 140 tomorrow on a 59 mile training ride from Kenmore Square to Norwood for Week #4 of my 10 Week Century Training Program. I have been on that Upper Charles bike path, but I don’t feel moved to ride out to Hopkinton and Rte 85.
… I set weekly mileage goals for myself, at a minimum of 80 miles per week during November through mid April. I was actually glad to note that I had achieved even just about 25% of my goal this year. On Monday [4/21] I brought out the carbon fiber bike for the first ride this year, and it was exhilarating. I have decided to embark on my Annual 10-Week Century Training Program, increasing my weekly mileage from 100 to 190…
Maybe after my first long Saturday ride [on 5/3], having thus committed to the program, I'll start posting my progress...to keep motivated.
Maybe after my first long Saturday ride [on 5/3], having thus committed to the program, I'll start posting my progress...to keep motivated.
#3472
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
I am a year-round cyclist in Boston, and an enthusiastic subscriber to Bike Forums. We seem to have a lot of Forum members around here. Whenever I'm out on the road and encounter a serious-appearing cyclist, hoping to meet a fellow BF subscriber, I try to inquire if they are on the Forums, and if not, I try to introduce it to them. Often these encounters are brief, and the best I can do beyond a quick explanation, is to give them the URL (“BikeForums [one word, emphasis on plural] dot net” [emphasis on net].)
I was thinking about making a little business type card, 3.5 x 2 inches, to hand out for their further consideration [see photo below].
I chose the Forums listed to demonstrate and appeal to a wide range of interests, and as self-explanatory by title. Any comments or suggestions?
I was thinking about making a little business type card, 3.5 x 2 inches, to hand out for their further consideration [see photo below].
I chose the Forums listed to demonstrate and appeal to a wide range of interests, and as self-explanatory by title. Any comments or suggestions?
I'm not at all sure about handing out business cards like that ... they remind me a bit too much of the soliciting that goes on in airports, or around places like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
See? Have you ever been approached out of the blue, out in public, by someone like that? I have. It's weird. Especially if they hand you materials to read. Like a laminated card. Or they are having a normal conversation with you then they spring "Jesus loves you" on you out of nowhere.
If someone has interest in reading about cycling online, they will eventually find BF.
If someone has interest in reading about cycling online, they will eventually find BF.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-30-14 at 04:26 AM.
#3473
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
Did a what now seems weekly ride out to Harvard. 62 glorious sunny miles!
Rode with a local framebuilder today and discussed the possibilities of building an "Aeolian Harp Bike".
Who knows, stranger thins have happened.....
Rode with a local framebuilder today and discussed the possibilities of building an "Aeolian Harp Bike".
Who knows, stranger thins have happened.....
#3474
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
Bish, you are thick, you know? You should thee a doc.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
#3475
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
Also, was on the bike at 9:20, and home by 1:30, so it was dry and sunny.