autonomy

Dunno. I did my big ride this morning because I didn't get a chance during the weekend... observed plenty of questionable driving skills, more so than the last couple of weeks and lots of traffic. Like to think that Sunday drivers aren't in as much of a rush, usually. There are some nice roads in the northwest suburbs (West, North, and especially Curve st. through Carlisle, Strawberry Hill in Concord) but they see some cut-through traffic. Not sure I want to do a ride like this on a weekday morning again.

rumrunn6

well, you gotta break-in the cagers. once you wrangle them, they settle down

Ghazmh

I did a double CCRT & Old Colony rail trail last year, together twice with a quick side jaunt put me at 100 miles. It was a Thursday and the trail wasn't overly crowded.

rumrunn6

[QUOTE=Ghazmh;19569653It was a Thursday and the trail wasn't overly crowded[/QUOTE] brilliant

Ghazmh

Got out this morning for an otherwise great early ride with February temperature. My soundtrack was cardinals, robins and black capped chickadee's. I turned the headlight off at 5:15 just as I rolled down Codman street and saw the sunrise over the green farm field. Around 5:30 the sun was shining enough that it was easy to forget what time of day it was. most of the ride was with little to no vehicle traffic, except 117 through Weston into Waltham. I had hoped to be done with the winter gear but really hope today was the last time!

Panza

Got a flat today .. again ... this time on the mountain bike, but I think it was because my tires were seriously under inflated for the kind of riding I was doing. I found that the rear tire doesnt matter too much on the way home as long as you put your weight on your handlebars. : )

Tomorrow is take your bike to work day, ride safe!

autonomy

Yeah, and a good day to take advantage of considering the upcoming forecast...

rumrunn6

you mean that typhoon coming for Mothers' Day?

autonomy

Is that what they're calling it now?

Panza

I shouldn't be getting anymore flats... >D!! I hope!!

Panza

I checked the weather report and it looks like rain for Saturday AND Sunday? Damnit. I wanted to shred some dirt : /

autonomy

Saturday looks ok until about 4pm, should be able to squeeze a morning ride in. It's all mud after that!

Panza

Morning shred it is!

Ghazmh

It's been a pretty light week for me. 2 early AM 25 mile loop rides this week in full winter gear. I had intentions to ride more days but my drive has been less than usual this week. I also got out for an afternoon ride on my R3 this afternoon for a 32 mile loop. I left at 2:30 and was mostly dancing with the Friday rush hour drivers. Not an overly enjoying ride. I am waiting for a clearer idea of what next weekends weather will be like to finalize my packing list for my 2 day ride on my Soma Smoothie.

Jim from Boston

Hi G,

I'd be interested to know where you are going for two days, presumably as a loop out of Metro Boston. FYA, I posted this a few weeks ago about weekend trips out of Boston, to cycle there on Saturday and return on Sunday, from a thread on the Touring Forum:

Ghazmh

Hi Jim,

Ill be heading East to Boston then following the Clair Saltonstall route to Sandwich. That usually takes me 8-ish hours on my fully loaded 520. I imagine since ill be on a lighter bike equipped with just a medium Ortlieb handlebar bag and seatpost pack i should be able to cover the same distance in less time. Day 2 ill ride to Provincetown, take the ferry to Boston and ride home from there.

jimmuller 

It's been a lighter than normal week for me too. I'm doing sound reinforcement for tonight's performance by Chorus ProMusica of the Gershwin musical Of Thee I Sing so this week has been taken up with rehearsals. (If anyone is interested it is in Arlington Town Hall, 8PM.) I did squeeze a few bike commutes in though.

rholland1951

I'm betting my week was lighter than anybody's, owing to a crazy seasonal pace at work. What bicycle time I had was spent on the Ebisu build; this afternoon's bout of tinkering included retensioning the rear derailleur, raising the handlebars (thank you, Nitto Technomic Deluxe stem), and installing a Nitto M-12 front rack, using Paul Rack Adapters to mate that to the Paul Touring Cantis already on the bike.


Of course, I had to take a shakedown ride after monkeying with all that. The fact that it was Porchfest in Somerville made for a slower, but more interesting, ride.




Meanwhile, back at Paramount Bicycle Repair, a vintage Westfield bicycle (made in Westfield, Massachusetts, who knew?) was looking positively Spring-like.


rod

autonomy

Fantastic week for biking. Sooo many people on the Minuteman this morning... and a coffee party for cyclists at Alewife!

Edit: Oh, right, it's Bay State Bike Week

https://www.baystatebikeweek.org/
https://masscommutebicyclechallenge.org/

rumrunn6

love this thread

I have a plan to get back on the bike. it's a bit obtuse, so I'll spare the details for now. I'm sure if it happens, I'll blab annoyingly about it

Ghazmh

So far I got out yesterday morning and this morning for 30 mile sunrise rides. In fact it was rather majestic seeing the burning red sky over Codman farm. What a great way to start the day. This afternoon I took my fully loaded 520 for a 22 mile shakedown ride for next weeks 4 day 3 night Memorial Day weekend ride. Its tough to describe it any way other than heavy. Real heavy. I have Ortliebs on all 4 corners with lightweight camping gear and small ensemble of clothing and non perishable food including a few freeze dried meals. Before the trip I'll add rain gear into a small pack that clips on the side of the rear pannier and hope it doesn't rain.

jimmuller 

Yowza, today was warm. I rode the Grandis to work yesterday and today and I was glad I wasn't on anything heavier. After music practice last night, the heat today, and the strong headwinds today's ride home was a bear.

I did help rescue a turtle trapped between traffic and a curb. A painted turtle, I believe it was. It's amazing how fast they can move when they are scared to death. I'd seen another woman hop out of a car and move him/her/it out of traffic but unfortunately had to abandon it below the curb due to oncoming traffic. So I waited for an opportunity and move it to bushes ond the other side of the sidewalk and Armco barrier.

rholland1951

I more or less accidentally spent most of the day on the Rawland Nordavinden. I took the day off to take my car to the shop (Lexington Toyota, abutting the Minuteman near Fottler Ave.), put the the bike rack on the car and the bike on the rack, dropped off the car and went for a ride, a familiar route through Lexington, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, and Lincoln, then home to Arlington for a late lunch. Got a call from the shop and rode back to Lexington to pick up the car. After dinner, rode into Arlington Center for an ABAC meeting, then home again. By then, night had fallen, and the temperature had fallen out of the 90s. After putting the bike away, I discovered a pair of racoons on the garage roof. Between one thing and another, 35 miles.

The lilacs are blooming at Blue Bird Hill Farm.


A vernal pool in Carlisle.


The Concord River is high, backwaters in the flood plain are fully charged.


Tulips along a picket fence on Lexington Street, Concord.


Passing clouds cast shadows on the grassy hill at the end of the Hanscom runway, on Virginia Road.


Virginia Road turns into a dirt path at the Battle Road park.


Mill Street, Lincoln.


Lots of water in the Cambridge Reservoir, and the carp were conspicuously rowdy; this brought W.C. Fields's dictum about water to mind.


Off to ABAC.


Visiting racoons encountered after the ABAC meeting.


rod

autonomy

But you'll post pictures, right? Then we'll forgive you


That's awful nice of you; good thing it wasn't a snapper! If you think yesterday was warm, stay in today. Since it's finally not raining day after day AND it's bike week, and I was feeling like I was neglecting exercise, I've set a goal to not only bike to work every day this week (except rainy Monday), but to also DOUBLE my commute by going out to Lexington first. Boy, is it already nasty out, and the temps are only 80! I almost bailed on my double-commute this morning, probably will not double in the afternoon.

rumrunn6

cha!