pocky

Jim, get better fast, and when you do post another thread about the tar seams, please do mention it here. I'd be very curious to hear more about it.

I've ridden over those tar seams when they were new and fresh in Medford, right when the guys were still in the truck with the giant gun spraying them down on the cracks, but I guess the pavement wasn't hot enough outside for the stuff to grab me -- or maybe the stuff was so hot that it wasn't "sticky" yet. I seem to recall they left weird residue on my tires. Drove over them fresh with my car tires as well -- same thing, and very weird sounds as the residue flung around in the wheel wells.

buzzman

Once again an extension of the "Metro Boston" definition but a great ride.

Left Newton around 9:30 am for another cross state ramble. Got a little screwed up in Weston with Concord Rd. to Glezen Lane being closed to thru traffic from 8 am to 4 pm.. The sign said, "SEEK ALT ROUTE" and provided no detour signs that I could see, so, not knowing how much of a detour was needed, I ended up going an extra 5 miles or so and winding my way back onto my route. I also took a little different route after Wachusett Reservoir, Goodale Rd. off of 140 to Malden St. (discovered there are 2 "Malden Streets" off of Goodale and added another mile or two to my ride when I took the wrong one and ended up on a dead end.

Hit a couple of rain showers but, thankfully, no thunder and lightning as I made my way past the Quabbin. But hit a pothole in the rain and broke a spoke on a descent and my wheel went seriously out of true (rubbing on the brakes). I had to go more than 25 miles like that because the only spoke wrench I had with me was on the multi-tool and it was a poor fit and impossible to use.

Finally got to a bike shop in Northampton and bought a nice Park Tool spoke wrench that was the right fit (now I've got an extra for my tool bag) and a spoke- fortunately, it was the non-cassette side. Trued it up on the sidewalk outside the bike shop (where all great repairs are made).

Pounded out of Northampton hoping to beat more rain that was on it's way but it's a long climb out of there going west on Rt. 66 so it was slow. Got caught in another shower but it was refreshing climbing the big hill with a little liquid air conditioning. Fast descent to Huntington and then the long climb home. Climbed up the hill on Wade Inn Road rather than extending the mileage but reducing the incline by going up Rt. 8. and then did the final climb to my house. I was once again chased by my new neighbor's TWO pit bulls as I crawled by at about 6 mph. I have no idea how I got away from them. By some miracle I outdistanced them. Admittedly, disappointed I didn't get to spray them with my newly concocted pepper spray I mixed up especially for them and carried the entire 137 miles just in case they were out.

Cleaned up and went out to dinner with my wife, ate like a pig and am finally going to bed very late but happy for another great ride.

Jim from Boston

Yesterday (Wednesday) was my first day back to work, and on the bike commute. I had decided to revert to week number six of my 10 week century training program for maintenance until I need to prepare for my next century in September. So Wednesday's mileage quota was 23 miles. I partly took your advice and decided to just do my usual straight commute of 14 miles as a “shakedown” cruise to test the bike with its new front wheel, and make sure I was still in riding shape. In particular I was concerned about sweat dripping into my laceration. All went well, I cycled home that evening, and did 24 miles this morning.

Thanks for your reply. I was not going 5 mph for safety, but because I had just started up after a stop. I've had a few crashes by doing something out of the ordinary that I thought would enhance my safety. Even in this latest mishap I was wearing goggles because of a recent corneal abrasion, and perhaps the goggles pushed my eyeglasses into my face. Maybe it's like the sardonic adage, “No good deed goes unpunished” (“No enhanced safety measure goes unscathed.”)

Thank you too for your reply. See on the Commuter Forum:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...zard-tar-seams

and on the Road Cycling Forum:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...zard-tar-seams

cmolway

I rode a fast 25 with the NSCYC guys out of Wakefield last night. It was funny, when the ride organizer asked for the 20+ group to roll out, a lot of people looked around but no one went (usually the A-group). A very large B-group rolled out instead. After the first mile, 8-10 guys went off the front and set up a nice rolling pace of about 24mph, thus promptly dropping the B-group. After a few climbs, the group got whittled down to 5 of us and we finished the ride with a average speed of 22mph including a fast, fast 19mph smash up Sag hill (long hill named for the Sagamore golf club at the top with 3 soul-crushing false flats).

rholland1951

Yesterday afternoon took advantage of the beautiful day to ride 63 miles, Arlington to Groton & Dunstable and back. I had been gawking at Google Maps for some time on this one, thinking that the area around Cow Pond Brook Reservoir, Upper Massapoag Pond, and Lower Massapoag Pond looked likely for exploring on a bike. Took a straight shot out the Minuteman Biketrail and Rt 225 through Bedford, Carlisle, and Westford, leaving 225 on the fringe of Forge Pond Village to roll up to Graniteville, and from there to Rt 40 to pick up Cow Pond Brook Road in Groton, the way into the Massapoag area. About 2/3 of the way up Cow Pond Brook Road, it turned into a lovely dirt fire road, very rideable. A bit further on, it turned into a very sandy playground for ATVs, not rideable (at least with the 38s on my LHT), so walked it for a bit, mumbling "Google Maps: trust but verify". Got to pavement again, and rode through some lovely spots, including a waterfall at the outlet of Cow Pond Brook Resevoir. Pretty ride, and I learned the map well enough to avoid the sandy stuff next time.

himespau 

Tried to go out for a nice ride yesterday, but didn't go so well. The plan was for a 25 miler out from Boston on Beacon to Newton Center, a bit on Commonwealth, then up to Waltham and back on the Charles river trail. Learned a couple of things:

1. I suck at hills. Sure to most of you, those few hills on Beacon and Commonwealth on the way out of town are probably just bumps, but they sure hurt yesterday. Occasionally, I tack a hill on to the end of my commute (high street in brookline village seems like a hill to me) and because I suffer through it think I can do hills, but I really can't.

2. Just because my wife thinks it'd be a nice treat to make a 6 am trip to Dunkin' Donuts (and because she hopes the short walk will put our 5 month old back to sleep so she can go back too), I don't have to partake just before I go riding. What with the hills and the fact that my legs were tired because I'd squeezed in 15 miles in the time I usually go 10 miles on my commute the night before so my wife wouldn't get upset about me trying to squeeze in some extra miles, that sugar crash just about killed me.

Once I got through that though and got turned northward on Chestnut from Commonwealth and got my legs working it was a great ride for the most part. Great weather. Not too not, not too cold. Stopped to watch the birds when a lot of people were out taking pictures of some juvenile black crested night herons (at least that's what they told me).

All in all it was a great ride until I got back into Cambridge. Was on the MUP path on the north side of the river between the BU bridge and the bridge to the west of it and I came up behind a really big guy riding slowly down the middle of the path. He was taking up a lot of room, but I figured I had enough room to pass if he stayed where he was. I calmly and clearly said, "passing on your left" trying not to startle him as he seemed like a bit of a newb, waited a bit and saw him still going straight, so I figured he was still good and started to pass. Dude suddenly swerved right at me as I was beside him and I had to bail off the pavement. I knew my tires were a little low, but didn't think it was a problem. Apparently, they were low enough that the 8-10" drop resulted in a pinch flat as I heard a "psssssssssssssst" as I hit the bottom. By this time I'm usually on the road when I take this route (if I ever got off it after Watertown), but for some reason I though I'd take the MUP, much to my detriment.

To cap it off, after I got my spare tube on (which took a lot longer than it should), my chain started reminding me that it'd been over 3-400 miles since I'd last put Chain-L on and it needs it. (Squeak, squeak the rest of the way home.) Not the best ride, but I guess those happen.

jimmuller 

Sorry to hear of your trouble, himespau. Bummer.

I did get out, twice even. Sharon and I took the tandem out for a few miles this morning around Concord. Nothing aggressive though.

Later in the afternoon I took the Gran Sport out for a short spin. Again, nothing aggressive. On the way home I reached for the rear brake and somethign went pop. No brake, of course. When I got home I found this:



I spent part of the afternoon getting my Triumph GT6 finished and fired up after a year of transmission work. Then I replaced the brake cable! It was a productive day.

Jim from Boston

Since I completed weekend number ten of my 10-week century training schedule last Saturday, I decided to revert to week six for the next few weeks as summertime maintenance until my next Century in September. Weeks 7 to 10 are pretty time-consuming. As usual I do a big loop from Kenmore Square to Norwood to work for a few hours, and take the train home. Week 6 calls for 64 miles on Saturday.

Because of some scheduling conflicts with the train timetable, I planned on 50 miles in the morning and then to ride the 14 miles home from Norwood. I left at about 6 AM, and rode down Morrissey Boulevard to Hancock Street in Quincy, then Franklin Street to Route 37 to its end in Brockton. I have found Rte 37 to be a pretty pleasant, residential to light commercial and wide road, better than the alternatives of Rtes 18 and 28 when going that direction. Oak and Pearl Streets were nice routes through Brockton, and then Rte 138 to Rte 106 to Mansfield. (I took 106 for variety and distance, though back roads through Easton are more pleasant). Franklin and East Streets are very pleasant through Foxboro, then Wolomolopoag and Moose Hill through Sharon are nicely scenic. From Moose Hill it’s almost all downhill via Edgehill into East Walpole and on to Norwood. Total of 49.9 miles that morning for my planned 50.

A big benefit for me of a long (greater than about 40 mile) ride is that I wake up extra early and really refreshed the next morning. I was out of bed and on the go at about 4:15 AM today and that just adds more time to a pleasant Sunday off the bike.

bikinggrrrl

Still riding here but not checking in very often. Broken cables, tar patch falls, scary MUP riders... be careful out there!

Spent this year's husband birthday/engagement anniversary on a lovely ride through Harvard. Husband, combatting/denying the advancing years, refused to utilize the granny gear (we have a triple on the tandem) so we probably spent a little more energy than necessary hauling the parachute around. Next year we might just have to slip into that little ring after all. My motto: God gave me gears for a reason.

I have been continuing to enjoy my shorter rides around Concord, Bedford, Stow, etc with child in tow every few days. Coolest sight yet was the gorgeous coyote that ran across our path (less than 1/4 mile from our house) with a chicken in its mouth. I would prefer, of course, to have the coyotes munch on deer, which we have too many of here in Carlisle, but I suppose chicken is an easier meal.

JandersUF

Just been doing some good ol rides around town lately, nothing crazy or different to report (with all the problems lately, sounds like I have been lucky! knock on wood).

One thing i HAVE found that is AWESOME is Ride.Studio.Cafe, which is an espresso bar + bike shop in Lexington... great coffee. Plus they have the TDF on! I think I'm going to go ride early tomorrow, and sit there and watch the end of the stage. I highly recommend it for any locals who like coffee.

jimmuller 

Yeah, it's a pretty interesting place and a unique concept. I must say I once had a strange conversation in there!

bikinggrrrl

???? There is a story there, I'm quite sure.

Nice ride with tandem yesterday doing Sherman Bridge route when two things struck my eye.

1. Came up around a bend to witness a mid-teenage (15 maybe?) boy running through the sprinkler in his front lawn. There was no inhibition whatsoever. Gorgeous.

Counter the good with the bad...

2. Cycling up the hill past Verrill farm on Sudbury Road towards Concord when a woman on a bike, with a floppy hat, was coming down the hill. On the wrong side of the road. My captain, as we passed her, said calmly, "You should be riding on the other side of the road", to which a holy h*ll of fury erupted from her mouth. Oh . My . God. We were riddled with every obscenity under the sun and a whole lotta "mother" and F-bombs thrown in for good measure. This tirade went on and on and on. When we crested the hill I broke the silence of our team (we were both completely dumbfounded by the outburst) by saying quietly to my captain, "Wow. She must be having a really bad day." How she heard me, I have no idea (was she chasing us back up the hill the whole time???) but it only incensed her further and restarted the release of anger and unbecoming verbiage.
Not so gorgeous.

jimmuller 

Yes, well. I stop in every so often, usually when my ride has overstayed my food supply. On one occasion I sat down at a window seat and a woman then sat down beside me. I'd say she was older'n me except that my perspective isn't what it used to be. Then she struck up a conversation. She wasn't a cyclist at all, seemed oblivious to the cycling aspect of the place. She seemed a visitor, had a strong English accent, made a few comments about how friendly people were or weren't or something, I really don't remember which.

Then she questioned why I hadn't removed my gloves; okay, I was eating a scone or something with my bare fingers through my cycling gloves. (My health seems not to have been harmed.) Then she started on some theme about God wanting everything clean and how we should all pay attention to what God wants and how that's what she does all the time. Uh, I had nothing to say to that. Those conversations never end well. I tried to be polite but it became more difficult as she kept talking. When my scone was finished I bid her good day, left and rode the rest of the way home. That it was in Ride Studio had nothing to do with it, for it would have been a strange conversation anywhere!

There is good in the world! And it's great that you got the tandem out!

Sorry to hear that. Some people have no sense of how they affect the world around them. Or maybe just no sense, period. Some people don't take criticism very well.

As for riding on the wrong side of the road, I see that once week or so on my commute. Usually it's some teen-approximate kid not yet aware of real traffic patterns or an older gentleman whose bike is utilitarian transportation. I usually hug the shoulder to make them run out into the oncoming traffic lane. I don't want to risk my life for their error, and maybe it will show them the problem with riding that direction. Or maybe not. But a full-grown adult in a floppy hat should know better, and know how to behave better.

I haven't done much riding for a few days. Crises (plural) at work mean I need more time there so I can't be constrained by the train schedule. Plus this week's zillion-degrees weather predictions aren't very inviting. But take heart, beautiful autumn is coming eventually!

mtalinm

well I have joined the "crash club" with Jim. and this was a stupid one. I could tell my front tire had lost air, but instead of pulling over and dealing with it I thought I'd just get to work and deal with it there. rounding a corner onto Beacon St I went down hard on my right shoulder...luckily, the x-ray was negative.

the other lucky thing was that I had just shaved this morning, so replacing the road-rash bandages shouldn't hurt too much

jimmuller 

...meaning the other Jim. Glad you came out okay. The low tire contributed to the crash? How so? It slide out from under you?

As for the road rash bandages, the reminds me of a bad joke. A guy comes home and the next day his wife gives him a hard time about coming home drunk and falling down with a bottle in his hip pocket and breaking the bottle. When he denies it she asks okay, then how did all those bandages end up on the bathroom mirror?

Just tell people you cut yourself shaving.

pocky

There is still a widely-held, grossly incorrect myth out there that riding *against* traffic is safest -- probably because this is an arguably valid rule for pedestrians, and many cyclists think of themselves as such. I remember reading an article some time ago about a town trying to pass a "bicyclists must ride against traffic" law during my lifetime, and it fortunately got shot down. I can't seem to find any references to it on the Internet, though I found plenty of people who claimed to be from a state (they didn't say which) where that was the law.

I did, however, make my whole night by finding this, which is truly, truly fantastic: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...e-bike-lane!!!

cmolway

Sorry to hear about the crashes--be safe out there! I rode a very hot 75 miles yesterday. i am still paying for it this morning. Not looking forward to the bike commute home this afternoon.

mtalinm

yeah, it lost pressure and slid out from under me on the turn. might be worse for us big guys.

actually my friends are amazed to hear that I had touched up the calves that very morning & so replacing my bandages doesn't hurt :-) wish I had taken it all the way up the thigh though, and maybe the upper arm...

jimmuller 

It must be too hot to ride out there and everyone is at home posting to BF instead. The thermometer in my car hit 104F on the way home from work today.

jimmuller 

Today I did get out for a ride! Took the '73 Gran Sport out for a little jaunt, Waltham to Lexington to Bedford to Concord, then a figure 8 involving a loop down into Sudbury, back to Concord, then a loop up into Carlisle, back to Concord, then the reverse route back to Waltham.

Climbing the hill on Sudbury Rd up to Verrill Farm I did not see Ms. Floppy Hat. If I had seen her I might have wished her to have a better day. While I was eating a belated lunch (or just lated lunch - it was 1:30 by then) at V.F. the sun came out and the air dried up. What glorious day it turned into. Heading back north to Concord I did see Ms. Broad-Brimmed Hat on a bike but she was riding on the correct side of the road and looked rather prim and proper, almost 19th century.

Today's little jaunt was worth 57.7 miles, not a personal best but my best so far this year. Opportunities to ride for recreation have been scarce. Age of bike + age of rider + mileage = 157.7.

bikinggrrrl

Ha! I'm surprised we didn't see you out there. I was a little tentative headed out today as I had a hard 6 mile run yesterday pushing stroller and then my son decided, later that afternoon, to jump on my sore knee. But I felt strong and we flew through our Concord, Lincoln, Sherman Bridge, Concord, Monument Street, Maple/East/Rutland finish. Awesome day. Awesome ride.

bikinggrrrl

Cmolway, have you had the opportunity to get that Chariot out yet? How is it going? The weather has been beastly for all, including precious cargo, depending on what time of day you head out.

cmolway

shunned metro north for the crw south coastal loop ride. Rained a little but it kept the heat and humidity at bay for most of the ride. Beautiful 52 mile ride along the coasts south of Boston: Rockland, Hingham, Norwell, Scituate, Cohasset and all the way out to Pemberton Point in Hull.

Rode on the rivet for most of the ride due to the rain and unfamiliarity with the riders. Even so, the ride leader kept stopping at every opportunity for coffee, snacks and to wait for stragglers--felt like I was on a charity ride for a bit. I found this funny b/c he would promptly drop them 100' after they regrouped. I went on ahead with another rider and caught and group that left earlier. I think if I do it again (and I will) I'll try to get a group together at the start that wants to ride hard and fast with minimal stops.

jimmuller 

Glad you made it out. Your trip sounds great!

The reason you didn't notice me was because I wasn't noticeable. I probably rode by so fast that light couldn't keep up. Or maybe it's because my bicycle has so much chrome that it doesn't look like a real bicycle. More likely though you went by while I was stopped somewhere eating! I did a lot of that today.

jimmuller 

This being Monday I did the trains/boats/planes thing, oh I mean car/train/bike thing to work today. Haven't done it in a few weeks, what with my calf injury (now healing nicely) and the weather. My legs felt stiff and prone to lactic acid build-up at first but after 10 minutes or so it got easier. Traffic seemed light and at peace with itself too.

Of course the weather turned nasty this afternoon. A glance at the radar map suggested "Cue the theme from Jaws". My boss offered to take me to the trains station, bike and all. That allowed me to stay at work for about 45 minutes longer too, wouldn't you know, so I couldn't refuse! I arrived home safe and dry, ready for tomorrow's run.