rholland1951

Hugh,

Sounds like the kind of charitable restoration project that Bikes Not Bombs (in Jamaica Plain) likes to take on.

rod

guidoStow

Hilly 57 miles through Littleton, Harvard, Bolton, Berlin, Clinton, Sudbury, Maynard and back to Stow. 70 degrees and sunny. Hope it is an omen of weather to come...

mr_bill

He won today!

-mr. bill

rholland1951

Bravo!

rod

Hugh Morris

Thanks for the suggestion Rod; they were the first and only place that came to mind but they have a hard no-rust policy (probably to avoid liability?). This was clearly outside for a year or two, full on neglect. if no takers, i might try to fix it up as a beater SS for myself but don't have a ton of time.

The marathon ride was fun, a bit hectic at the start til it thinned out; definitely the largest self-supported ride I'd ever seen (though i have no real experience with clubs / group rides / bicycle events). I wonder if there was any kind of headcount but it seemed close to a thousand if not over.

EDIT: apparently a volunteer at Newton's firehouse counted ~3,225 riders between midnight and 3am. Guess my estimate was a bit short; what a turnout!

rholland1951

Took the Nordavinden out on a mental health ride after work, the low sun causing the buds, tender new leaves, catkins, blossoms, and other odd deciduous bits and pieces to glow like a vegetative sunset.




At times the sun just glared at me, making a thermonuclear nuisance of itself.

On the return, the moon floated through the tree branches about 15 degrees to port, then rode ahead over the Minuteman as the trail curved at Arlington's Great Meadow.




The froggy critters around Peepers Pond were tuning up for the evening, and for the season, a little night music in the cool Spring air.

rod

rumrunn6

forum really needs a like button

JohnHuth

Piece on the sounds in Boston neighborhoods heard from a bike:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/fea....21.2016%20(1)

For me - just regular commutes Newton to Harvard and return. Now that the weather is nice, it's become a pleasant ride. The people out on the Charles in particular on the ride home is great to watch - makes me very happy I'm not in a car!

rumrunn6

forget when I recorded this, spring or fall. just some peepers some distance away from my house but still recognizeable

https://soundcloud.com/blackjackvide...4-10-15hpsh015

rholland1951

Given the benign weather, I couldn't very well not take the Rawland out for a short ride before dinner. Shorts and short sleeves, Spring Spring Spring! The moon, when it appeared, appeared to be made of Gouda.


rod

Ghazmh

'Been too busy riding and riding to keep pace with the updates. Being off this past Thursday and Friday I added another 103 sun soaked and amazing miles to the yearly log. Feeling the need to fill the niche between a road bike and a touring bike for my "day tours" I pulled the trigger on my newest bike. A black Soma Smoothie frameset. Im going to use my currently unused HED wheels, full 5800 silver groupset and Velo Orange seat post, stem and bar, either use my Ortlieb handlebar bag or get a Brooks Isle of Skye handlebar bag and matching seat bag.

I can't wait.

guidoStow

The Smoothies are nice bikes. I have a white one that generally does duty on my trainer, as I have acquired a taste for fatter tires for the road. But if it fits your choice of tire, the Smoothie is a killer value. Enjoy it!

Ghazmh

Thanks. Unless I am seduced by another choice I'll go with Continental Gator Hardshell 28's. I have them in 25mm on my Cervelo and have been very pleased.

rholland1951

After the rain stopped, took the Nordavinden out for a 45 mile loop through Arlington, Lexington, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Acton, and Lincoln. The sky cleared rapidly, and it was a pleasant ride in the mild air.

Vernal pools, frog song, bird song, and skunk cabbage were recurring themes.


The Maple Street beavers are at home.


Stopped at Great Brook Farm State Park for ice cream.


There was a lovely Model T in the parking lot. They don't make 'em like that any more.


On the aptly-named Curve Street, with more vernal pools, skunk cabbage, and frog song.


A sunny day at the Cranberry Bog.


Rolled through back roads in Carlisle, Concord, and Acton.


The Cambridge Reservoir is no longer a mud flat.


rod

guidoStow

45 miles hill climbing in Littleton and Harvard. 6 times up the Old Littleton road. Now to recover for next weekend's NER 200k...

rholland1951

Took the LHT out on the Minuteman for 10 miles before dinner, cool evening air, low 50s to start, high 40s by the end, with a headwind on the return for emphasis. Spun along gently, getting the feel of the new cockpit, and liking it.






I've got lights on both the Pauls Gino mounts on the mid-fork braze-ons now, and this gives me good coverage of the trail without (I hope) blinding on-coming cyclists. I still have one light mounted on the handlebar, normally off, but available on short notice either for long-range scan or photon torpedo launching. I took an off-hand photo of the illuminated, spinning spokes.




rod

jimmuller 

We took the tandem out fro 42.3 miles today. Started in Bedford, rode north, some of it on the B-B Narrow Gauge RR Trail, cut west to Dudley (a road time forgot), north again, west into Carlisle, BFRT into Chelmesford, rt110 south to Tadmuck, east back to Heart Pond for lunch, a few more roundabout roads to Carlisle Center, then returned via Concord. A very nice day.

rholland1951

Rode out on the Rawland and took the air this evening, lots of company on the Minuteman tonight.


rod

jimmuller 

Well, I took the Masi for my commute today. Great fun.

rholland1951

Ten miles on the Minuteman tonight, a little later and a little darker than usual, the overcast sky diffusing what light there was, enjoying the ride in the cool night air, all the while thinking that it would be fun to enjoy the ride in the warm night air, if only we had some of that. No shortage of voices for the Night Chorus, even if they were not quite at the raucous level they would have been had the temperature been 20degF warmer. A pair of rodents (short tails, rounded faces, so not actual rats) came running in my direction, more preoccupied with a mating ritual than with the bike bearing down on them... ah, Spring!




rod

jimmuller 

I had the strangest experience on my commute home yesterday.

On one corner in a residential neighborhood of Lexington there is this house where I'd seen domestic white ducks in the yard, usually behind a fence when I see them at all but occasionally wandering free. So yesterday I turned that corner and saw a small duck, apparently young, about 18in tall and quite thin, on the other side of the road and further down the road than the edge of that house's yard. Usually the ducks are on the near side of the house. Hmm, I figured, another escapee and seemingly lost. As soon as the duck saw me he started angling across the road to intercept me. Not wanting to hit him I stopped. He walked right up to the bike, looked at me with a pleading expression (or about as much expression as ducks can mange), kissed the front tire of the bike, looked up at me again as if begging for food or asking for help. Well, I had no food so I tried to go around him and continue. He moved to stay in front, blocking my way. I managed to slip by and tried to continue but I heard his little feet pitter-pattering beside me, keeping up right by my side. I stopped again and he just looked up as if to say I like it here with you.

So I turned the bike around and started back toward the house, figuring I'd ring the doorbell. He stayed with me, blocking my way so I wouldn't go anywhere. That's when the car stopped. The driver commented "What a sight, a cute little white duck and an absolutely beautiful blue bike, and was the duck mine?" I said no, I thought he might belong to that house. Then he asked about the bike "Was it a Serotta?" (I can't remember the spelling, Serotta or Serrota, sorry.) I said no, it was a Grandis and he said it was gorgeous and the duck was really cute. I thanked him and tried again to continue.

That's when I noticed the man of the house opening up his car door. So I called out "Sir!" and he turned. I pointed out the duck and said I thought it might be his. Turns out it was. I said he was following me like I might be his mom, and the guy said "For some strange reason he really likes bicycles." Then he (the guy) tried to get the duck but the duck ran around the bike. Well, eventually he (the guy) managed to chase the duck back into the back yard. I stood there and watched, then waved and continued the ride home.

What a strange ride.

rholland1951

Jim, that's a wonderful story! Did you catch the duck's name?

rod

jimmuller 

Well, he didn't answer to either Hooey, Dooey, Looey, or Donald. Wrong color for Daffy. He looked too old to be Scrooge.

Ghazmh

Howard the Duck?

Ghazmh

Squeezed in 46 awesome miles Tuesday afternoon. With the minor exception of a full size pickup passing with about about 8" to my side on 225 heading toword Bedford, in Carlisle. I "waved"and yelled but he kept going. For the first time in riding these roads I almost called the police to report it-however I'm not sure if it would matter in the end. Besides that the ride was great, I keep pushing my average speed up and up. Wednesday was cooler and a tad bit windier. It was only 25 miles. I have my Montare rigged up for a fun filled Saturday afternoon on the Minuteman with my daughter on the tag-along trailer, that is of coarse after my Saturday morning 50.....