Lately I've been having dreams of long rides in the country in warm weather. Took the Rawland out to Depot Park today, in shorts and short sleeves, and that pretty much did the trick, at least for now.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/56...=w1133-h637-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vl...E=w359-h637-no Water where there's a current... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OS...L=w359-h637-no Ice in the shady backwaters... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/v7...=w1133-h637-no And a binary star on the Shawsheen River... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ww...N=w359-h637-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y8...n=w359-h637-no rod |
Spring like
Back when I used to ride, bikes were steel and February was cold and there was ice. Now that I am old and there is new tangled warm weather I went out for a 20 mile loop through Sherborn, Holliston and a bit of Hopkinton. First tried going south to Millis but the road was blocked by a tree that fell and took out a utility pole.
The only ice is on my aging hip, very nice to get out and it nice to post a ride with y’all. |
Originally Posted by sherbornpeddler
(Post 20183862)
Back when I used to ride, bikes were steel and February was cold and there was ice. Now that I am old and there is new tangled warm weather I went out for a 20 mile loop through Sherborn, Holliston and a bit of Hopkinton. First tried going south to Millis but the road was blocked by a tree that fell and took out a utility pole.
The only ice is on my aging hip, very nice to get out and it nice to post a ride with y’all. As usual, you've arrived before us. rod |
I delighted in yesterday's summery weather with my cross bike last night. Full summer kit and I covered my usual nice weather route instead of the cold weather 20 or 25 mile abbreviated versions. 117 through Lincoln is downright dreadful as is sections of Monument st in Concord/Carlisle. I equate them to bombed out runways. Especially in the dark where the 38's are managing them far better than the 25's or 28's on my road bikes. Despite zig zagging I've managed to hit a few.
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Had an absolute blast this afternoon on the Crimson bikes shopride from Cambridge to Bedford via the minuteman, what a great a bunch of people. Will definitely be doing more group rides in the future. I ended up doing just under 30 miles roundtrip including cycling to/from my homebase in Medford.
https://i.imgur.com/F7WO0zFl.jpg I think we may have passed at least one of you out there, there was one or two very familiar beards ;) |
Originally Posted by anx
(Post 20188894)
=I think we may have passed at least one of you out there, there was one or two very familiar beards ;)
We rode 40 miles from home in Waltham to Alewife, out the MM, over to Great Meadows for a picnic. It started warm, seemingly got colder when the sun went away. Then Accuweather said rain would start in 7 minutes while we were eating. Hmm, the rain didn't happen, except for a few drops on our way home. The picnic was great though. http://www.theworld.com/~muller/pics...018/Picnic.jpg |
UPDATE - unfortunatelty no pics, but the temporary pavement patches at Porter Square have FAILED. Not bad, dangerous.
Originally Posted by anx
(Post 20150256)
Mass Ave @ Porter Sq bike lane in bad shape
https://i.imgur.com/eqqNOa6l.png The slowly moving "Porter Square Intersection Improvements" probably means that they'll have to do a resurface (ala Beacon Street in Somerville) only to rip it all out in short order. After a decade, the blunder of the Porter Square Shopping Mall left-turn only exit is finally being undone. However, the taxi stand that is never used (it's been years since I've seen a cab there) will remain. But may diety help anyone walking the new everlasting crosswalk on the south side of Mass Ave. (ps. It was bad three years ago. Now it's beyond bad.) https://i.imgur.com/3qWCBXZ.png?1 -mr. bill |
If use is a token of love, then my old 700c Long Haul Trucker is my best loved bike, with ~12K miles to show for it. Back in August, I managed to round the seatpost constrictor binder bolt through an excess of zeal. I made a number of attempts to drill that out over the intervening months, until I finally took a Dremel to it on Thursday, cutting through the binder bolt (and the constrictor) with a shower of sparks (no picture of that, but it was dramatic), punctuated by a satisfying "POP!" when the bolt gave up the ghost (I really had torqued that sucker down...).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_l...A=w331-h588-no I replaced the defunct constrictor with a Paul QR Seat Post Collar: no more bolt rounding for me, at least not on that bike. I took the LHT out for a spin up to Depot Park this afternoon, temperatures falling from the mid-50s to the upper 40s. The LHT is still set up with Compass Snoqualmie Pass Extralights (normally, at this time of year, it would be wearing studded Schwalbes, but I seem to have spared myself that indignity through my procrastination), and floated along with pneumatic suspension to burn. Nice ride, and I rediscovered what I love about this bike, and these tires. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EE...g=w331-h588-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dK...=w1046-h588-no Something new in Lexington: some of the Minuteman intersections now have YIELD signs, instead of STOP signs. This feels like progress, if only because it more closely corresponds to actual rider behavior. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iX...w=w331-h588-no Got a good look at the beaver dam in Tophet Swamp. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Pg...g=w331-h588-no The old farm at Wiggins Ave. in Bedford can still be seen, but only if you squint... with your third eye... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GT...=w1046-h588-no Had a couple of encounters with black squirrels, this one near Revere Street, Lexington. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...w=w331-h588-no rod |
I headed out around noon time, shortly afterwards the sun was obscured by the grey clouds. It was still a gorgeous 58 mile ride on my newish cross bike. I managed to get my first flat of 2018 in Sudburry. I stopped and walked about 100 yards backwards to a park/ baseball field with benches. After a few minutes and about 100 pump strokes I was back rolling. Eventually I made it to Maynard where I stopped at Ray and Sons bike shop to get another patch kit for just-in-case of another mishap today. The guy in there is very friendly and nice. He blessed my R3 with holy water a few years ago when I stopped in for the same reason as I did today. Despite that the frame still broke last year. I must have crossed paths with a dozen or so riders but no familiar beards or faces. I did engage in a fun and impromptu "street race" in Stow with 2 other roadies who I can assume also enjoyed the spirit of the moment. As I rolled into Acton I had an oh-crap moment as I felt a few drops. Mid 40's with no rain gear and miles from home can be daunting. Thankfully steady rain never materialized. Eventually I rolled through Concord Center and on up Lowell st with thoughts of taking a break at Ferns on my mind. Instead I continued on towards home feeling strong enough to get home before bonking. A few more smiles and waves to be shared before the glorious moment of opening the garage door to revel in an afternoon well spent.
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
(Post 20189019)
UPDATE - unfortunatelty no pics, but the temporary pavement patches at Porter Square have FAILED. Not bad, dangerous.
-mr. bill |
Originally Posted by rholland1951
(Post 20189190)
Something new in Lexington: some of the Minuteman intersections now have YIELD signs, instead of STOP signs. This feels like progress, if only because it more closely corresponds to actual rider behavior.
|
Originally Posted by anx
(Post 20189353)
Did you notice the new directional sign in Bedford on the bike path that helpfully tell you the distance to Arlington and Alewife? The problem? The sign is pointing towards Concord, not very helpful for anyone not familiar with the area. The group I was out with today considered how we could 'turn it around' but without the right tools it was a lost cause. Around the area of westview st I think looking at google maps incase anyone is in nearly that area than I and wishes to correct it.
rod |
Originally Posted by anx
(Post 20189335)
The lines completely gone now because of the temporary work or have the potholes completely returned? I'll try to check it out the next time I'm that way, won't be tomorrow due to the weather tho.
Chasms. I’ve reported and it’s been assigned, so hope it’s patched again before anybody gets hurt. -mr. bill |
Linear Park crossing at Mass Ave, Dutch style bike signal, sorry about the sun:
https://i.imgur.com/IwxzrYd.jpg Usually can’t appreciate this view in realtime, The Shrafft’s City Center building: https://i.imgur.com/j2uxK40.jpg Crossing Bridges (North Bank Bridge): https://i.imgur.com/v7ReRso.jpg Dudley Cafe in Dudley Square (great coffee, food, and live jazz): https://i.imgur.com/0D3KepQ.jpg Taipei Left boxes recently installed at Mass Ave and Washington: https://i.imgur.com/FJRnffe.jpg Everywhere you look, Tufts Medical Center: https://i.imgur.com/WMQ399y.jpg Stata Center (aka CSAIL, WC3, etc....) https://i.imgur.com/h4wOs8U.jpg -mr. bill |
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Half joking.
Really Two-Stage Turn Queue Boxes. Lots of folks call them Copenhagen Left boxes, but since I just returned from Taipei and Taipei's left turns for scooters predates the Copenhagen Left.... Anyhow, that's a tough left to make on a bicycle, particularly since the left turn lane arrow on Mass Ave doesn't get triggered by a bicycle. (And they can't fix it until they redo the intersection because then trucks in the adjacent lane will trigger the left turn lane arrow too.) Depending on the phase of the traffic light, how heavy traffic is, if there's a car in the left turn lane, the phase of the tides, etc.... I'll either do a left turn from the left lane or a:
Anyhow, it's nice to have a green box there now. -mr. bill |
Originally Posted by mr_bill
(Post 20191810)
Left boxes
for bikes going straight, they can use that box too, correct? :foo: https://i.imgur.com/0CSlMO0l.jpg |
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
(Post 20191857)
OK, sorry for being dense. took another look at a photo of mine of Mass Ave at Mystic St in Arlington
for bikes going straight, they can use that box too, correct? :foo: https://i.imgur.com/0CSlMO0l.jpg |
Originally Posted by jimmuller
(Post 20192443)
Everybody wins and they don't get (too) impatient. Of course all that works only if you don't dawdle too badly.
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Took the LHT on the North Bridge loop, the muddy version that uses Reformatory Branch outbound. Beautiful day, temperatures climbing into the low 50's before slipping down again.
After a little muddy trepidation for the first hundred yards of the Reformatory Branch... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8A...w=w359-h637-no ... it made me welcome. That white stuff is ice... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hi...=w1133-h637-no First Sucking Mire. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rI...g=w359-h637-no Great Meadows NWR. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ng...Q=w359-h637-no A couple out for a stroll pointed out this bike to me. They say it has been abandoned for a couple of days. There is damage evident on and around the rear wheel (bent spoke, at least, probably more). It's sitting in Concord, on the Reformatory Branch, between the Great Meadows and the Water Treatment access roads. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tu...A=w359-h637-no I came out of the trees, and the sun came out from behind the clouds. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fF...=w1133-h637-no Second Sucking Mire. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zc...w=w359-h637-no Crossing the Concord River, Monument Street. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IW...=w1133-h637-no Monument Street: first climb of the season for this laggard. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8K...Q=w359-h637-no Enjoying the view from the top of the hill. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/i9...=w1366-h408-no rod |
Originally Posted by rholland1951
(Post 20193008)
Took the LHT on the North Bridge loop, the muddy version that uses Reformatory Branch outbound. Beautiful day, temperatures climbing into the low 50's before slipping down again.
I've been meaning to ask, did you ride a bike to the Joe Val Festival this weekend? It would have been nice to converse more than just a quick hello but we were rather distracted. |
Originally Posted by jimmuller
(Post 20193300)
Rod, nice ride report and pics.
I've been meaning to ask, did you ride a bike to the Joe Val Festival this weekend? It would have been nice to converse more than just a quick hello but we were rather distracted. rod |
Originally Posted by rholland1951
(Post 20193008)
mud
|
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
(Post 20193991)
amazing how much it slows down a bike, right? short winter, huh?
rod |
Originally Posted by Ghazmh
(Post 20184799)
... downright dreadful as is sections of Monument st in Concord/Carlisle. I equate them to bombed out runways. Especially in the dark where the 38's are managing them far better than the 25's or 28's on my road bikes. Despite zig zagging I've managed to hit a few.
rod |
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