jimmuller 

I was working from home so we took a break over lunch hour today and rode the tandem for about an hour. Rt 60 through Belmont, east on somethingorother, left on whatsit, discovered (finally) the eastern extension of the MM. Back home. It was time spell went.

welshTerrier2

Is the "eastern extension" the path diagonally across Mass Ave from where the main MM path ends in Arlington Center? If so, I've taken that down to Alewife and then on to Davis Square and even into Medford. Is that the path you mean, Jim?

telkanuru

I think he means the bit that goes from Bedford to Concord. I'm trying to work myself up to doing that this morning, it being raining and me being sick. The bit you describe is still actually the MM.

With respect to the Minuteman, does anyone else skip the bit between Alewife and Arlington, preferring Mass Ave?

jimmuller 

That is the section I was referring to. Most descriptions of the MM I've ever seen describe it as going from Arlington Center to Bedford. I've ridden that many times, especially Lexington to Bedford. It's my usual way to cross the rt128 defense perimeter.

So the section from Arlington to Alewife is what I meant by the eastern extension. My "problem" has always been that as you stand at the Mystic St end of the western leg, just north of Mass Ave, the entrance to the eastern extension is just not visible, or at least not obvious. What few maps I've seen suggest that it heads off eastsoutheast to the south of Mass Ave, so the natural place to look for it is to the southeast, i.e. to your right, diagonally across Mass Ave and Mystic/Pleasant. The real entrance, with sign and everything, is across Mystic further to the north by about 150ft, i.e. to your left. That's the secret entrance we discovered by emerging from that end onto Mystic. Now I just have to remember the Elf-ish word for "friend" so we can enter and ride eastward.

welshTerrier2

I never knew about this part of the MM. I've always crossed Mystic St and then crossed Mass Ave (or vice versa) to pick up the path again on Swan Place. Does the short extension you discovered give you a light to cross Mass Ave? I wouldn't think it does since it's so close to the light at the Mystic/Mass Ave intersection. Without a light there, I don't see any advantage to using it.

Btw, does anyone use McMahon Rd to Railroad Ave when going between Concord and Bedford? As you come up to the school on McMahon, go around the school to the left. It's a nice alternative to the Concord Rd to South Rd route.

Also, what's the deal with the bike path between Bedford to Concord? It's called the Reformatory Branch Trail. Is it paved? If not, is it passable with 23cc tires?

jimmuller 

I've been pondering that and looking at a map. You see, when we emerged into civilization yesterday I couldn't reconcile what I saw with what I thought. In retrospect I think we came out on Swan Place (or Dormar Way), which is not really north of the opposite entrance but just seems like it should be. We came out oppposite Wood & Strings which is on Mass Ave. Since we wanted Pleasant back to Belmont we never crossed Mass Ave at all but did cross Pleasant at the light. So it's probably the same place you already knew about. I don't redcall noticing any specific light there but there so many lights all over the place that crossing Mass Ave would have meant just waiting for an appropriate opportunity.

We/I use McMahon all the time if headed to/from Concord via rt62. If going west on rt225 we/I go up South St to Bedford Center then turn left.

Never done the RBT but I've seen plenty of other people doing it by bike and foot. There is a small parking lot on RR Ave just where it turns to go around the athletic field. The other end emerges along rt2A at Merriam's Corner, crosses Old Bedford Rd, and continues sharply uphill into the woods westward. The path is not paved (AFAIK) and most riders I've seen heading that way were on a mountain bike or hybrid. But I'd try it on skinny road tires (probably try 28's first) as far as Merriam's Corner if I thought the ground would be sufficiently dry. I've seen small soft/wet spots at Merriam's Corner.

rholland1951

Reformatory Branch is unpaved. The Bedford section is nice enough and useful as a short-cut, but watch out for a concrete bar left over from some railroad apparatus that lies across the trail at one point. The Concord section (after you cross Route 62) has a couple of heinous mudholes, and I either skip that altogether, or detour around the muddy bits on Route 62. As to whether 23mm are practical for this, NO for the mud, maybe not for the rest, unless you're comfortable riding dirt roads and single-track with them.

rod

telkanuru

Yeah, I took a look at it on my ride today. Would not do on a road bike.

Did 37 wonderful miles in the rain today, from Allston, up the MM to Bedford, then 62 to Concord and Rt 2A back to town. I love rain rides.

My GPS, however, does not, and malfunctioned in Bedford.

jimmuller 

Sharon wants to take the tandem out to the Nashua River Rail Trail tomorrow, Saturday. The weather looks to have a lower chance of active showers further north and west. If you (or anyone) would like to join us drop me some email at jimmuller at rcn dot com. We don't usually get out too early, so we probably won't start until 10 or 10:30, or maybe even 11! But we are hoping to do a longish distance by adding some roads in Dunstable and Pepperell and similar towns. Haven't quite worked out a route yet.

rholland1951

Another alterative is to take a left on South Road when you leave the Minuteman, then take the second right, Hartwell Road, to Route 62. This takes you past conservation land, a corner of Hanscom Field, some interesting Cold War architectural remnants, and a pretty good farm stand. It also has a couple of entertaining hills, a pleasant change after the railtrail gradualism.

rod

telkanuru

Unfortunately, Friday is my only day sans work and school, so it's my long ride day. I'll keep an eye out for you guys when biking around, though.

jimmuller 

It also sports some very rough pavement, not good for your stoker (or your skinny skinny road tires). Sharon didn't like it when we went that way.

rholland1951

Bumpy in spots, for sure. Some of the pavement may date from the Cold War, too...

Massachusetts roads make me happy to be running 38mm touring tires.

rod

sherbornpeddler

I bailed out on a long ride but I did get in a 20 miler with a friend I hadn't ridden with in a while.
Wet, colored leaves on the ground. Haven't seen those in a while either.

pocky

Was sweep for BikeForLife today. https://www.livablestreets.info/event/bike4life . Would have been a lovely ride if not for the constant rain. At least it gave me an excuse to finish building up the new-to-me Fort Ro.SLC and a give it a nice, wet, hilly shakedown ride.

By the way, Sherbornpeddler, during the Hub On Wheels marshall training ride two weekends ago, I discovered that Nate is your son.

sherbornpeddler

Pocky,
Good for you helping out on Bike4Life. I worked the Hub on Wheels volunteer sign in and a few chores for Nate and likely handed you spare tubes. Nice that you help out on so many bike events.

jimmuller 

I envy those of you who have the time to get out and contribute to community bike activities. I spend too much time working.

However I did get to do my bike commute today, 25 mile round trip. It's been a while since the weather and work schedule allowed it. It was cool but very pleasant, October 1. But there was wicked headwind this morning, which had dissipated into no tailwind by afternoon.

I rode the '72 Bertin C32, its first run longer than just around the neighborhood. Except for squealing brakes it was quite nice. It's funny how different bikes can feel so different. I really don't know how to describe this one. Quick turning, hard riding but soft? It feels big but rides small. Or is it the other way around? And the BB is lower than my other bikes. The crank I had installed is an old Sugino Maxy which has 171mm arms. Today I noticed the crank seemed long but provided lots of torque before I remembered what crank I'd used; I wouldn't have thought such a small difference was detectable. Maybe that's just because the Bianchi, my most frequent commuter this year, has 165mm cranks.

I rode up some hills in a higher gear than I've been using on the other bikes, except maybe the few times I've ridden the Masi. Then again, that may just be because I was fresh and the weather was cool.

In any case, it was a great day.

sherbornpeddler

Great day, yes.
Like last year, the leaves are falling on the roads!

jimmuller 

Yes, the leaves are falling! I believe they do that about this time every year. Wet leaves could be slippery, so be careful.

Last year I commuted 1000 miles on my Peugeot UO8, a bike I bought new in '72, the only new bike I've ever bought (for myself). But I haven't ridden it so much lately, and the reason, besides the fact that I now have too many bikes , is that the original saddle had gotten so uncomfortable. So last week I installed my favorite inexpensive saddle, a WTB Speed V. Today I rode the UO8 on my 25mile round-trip commute and re-discovered how much I like it. It's not the fastest, lightest bike in my stable, but it's still sweet.

Of course it's been upgraded. The only original parts are the frame and fork, the brakes and levers, the headset, the pedals, and the stem. Most of the other parts are still decades old. The Simplex shift levers aren't original but that's because I replaced the stem shifters with DT shifters around 1973, and those "new" levers are still in service. The derailleurs are Suntour Vx, perhaps the best inexpensive pieces ever made. It carries a Jim Blackburn rack from the 80's, I think, and a Union bottle generator I bought for it around '73, powering awesome new B&M LED lights. I had installed an alloy Simplex seatpost back in the 80's, and an alloy handlebar last year. The front wheel is one I built before last year's commute season, and the rear was built by a friend back in the 80's. The crank is a VeloOrange compact double. The tires, chain and freewheel are consumables so they don't count. So except for the lights and crank it really is a working C&V bike.

Today the weather was dark and overcast so I ran both directions of the commute with the generator running, lights aglow fore and aft. I got a bit wet from the mist this morning, but otherwise really enjoyed the trip. Lots of leaves down.

On the return I'd pedaled about 2 miles from work when I came upon another cyclist staring at the back end of his bike as if trying figure out what was wrong. I offered to help and he said he'd fixed a flat but must have re-installed the rear wheel incorrectly. I looked it over, discovered that he had just pulled the RD too far back and hadn't pushed it back into place. I got him straightened out and he was really grateful. We spoke for a few minutes and he asked where I was headed. I said the Attleboro train station, which prompted him to ask when it left out of concern that I'd be late. I said about 20 after 6, which meant I had 1 hr 15 min to go about 10 miles. We spoke briefly about the route, why I was heading south on the particular road instead of down rt116 (I was picking up the Blackstone bikeway). He said he was riding <mumble, some ride, perhaps Jamestown?> on Sunday. I wished him luck. We shook hands and he rode off.

I had no trouble catching the train, made it to the station by 6:10. It was a great day.

sherbornpeddler

It is nice to contemplate and appreciate a Peugeot and it's originality and character over time. It is also nice to take time to help a fellow traveller. Congratulations on all accounts and for sharing. I enjoy your contributions every time and this were a good one.

It was a good day. I rode only a short bit but it were a good one too.
My friend and I set out for a ride through Wellesley and veered of on to the Sudbury Aqueduct. Only a short way west and we came upon a stone 9 arched bridge caring the brick aqueduct across the Waban Brook. Spectacular, solid construction and fascinating to think of the work that carried water from Farm Pond and the Sudbury River watershed to Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

Bishbike

Good one Jim. Every time I help someone on the roadside I think of this Python sketch.

rholland1951

Foggy night ride on the Minuteman, 10 miles with one eye on the weather radar. The fog made any lights substantial, adding lustre to parking lots and football practice on the AHS athletic field. Great Meadows looked like a good place to meet Grendel's Mother, but all that came running across the trail was a fat cat, a determined-looking shrew, and a good-looking possum (insofar as such a thing is possible).

rod

jimmuller 

SBP, BB, thank you so much. SBP, that aqueduct bridge sounds and looks wonderful. One day I'll have to take the tandem down whatever country lane you discovered it on. You sure know your interesting roads!

rh1951, nice report once again from the MM.

Alas, I did no riding today but I intend to do the commute again tomorrow, probably with lights at least through the morning mist.

I am constantly amazed by the literary and historical nature of the Metro Boston postings. Maybe it shouldn't be so surprising, I dunno'. We do have a few universities around here. Who was it recently in Metro Boston had a signature quoting the Aeneid? You don't meet many people in everyday life who can "Arma virumque cano" glibly. Unfortunately whenever someone changes his/her signature the change is reflected in all past postings too.

telkanuru

That was me; it's good old Anselm now. I think a bike is just a pretty practical thing for a student, and Boston and Cambridge are surprisingly bikable cities.

Planning a run up and down the MM tomorrow, hopefully it will be nice. My brain's all fuzzy from being inside.

welshTerrier2

All this rain has left me in soggy spirits. I haven't been on the bike in 9 days but tomorrow is a must-ride day. It should be interesting after this long layoff. I spent the entire day today (they told me it would take about an hour) replacing the main gears in my automatic garage door opener. Just for an extra challenge, we had a power failure making it too dark to see inside the opener. All is well now though. The door goes up; the door goes down. I learned the hard way that the old saying "what goes up must come down" is not always true.

So, without pedal tales to peddle, I thought I'd add a couple of links for those who might be curious.

First, in response to Jim's roadside mumbler, I found this link about this Monday's Jamestown Classic.

Second, I was intrigued by SP's Sudbury Aqueduct adventure. I was not aware these trails even existed. Here's a link with history, maps, and other useful info. Are the trails passable on 23mm tires?