sherbornpeddler

Greetings Metro Bostonians!
Great opportunity to ride around Boston surrounded by enthusiastic fellow cyclists and support Boston schools.

This Friday is the second of 3 summer commutor convoys to encourage bicycle commuting.
https://www.bikefridays.org/ I'm hoping my customer agrees to meet so I can bike in and get a free Buloco and enjoy the morning razzamatazz at City Hall.

26-27 September is the big event with races and group rides.
https://hubonwheels.kintera.org/faf/h...?ievent=289514

From a couple of years ago there was a question about trail condition and type of bike. The web site mentions of a couple of rough spots experienced roadies can navigate but inexperienced riders may prefer a hybrid or wide tire bike. I'll ride my 28mm Paselas.

ScottRyder 

The weather for last years Hub on Wheels was incredible! We can only hope for the same this year. I rode my 1980 Fuji America touring bike with it's 28mm Pasela Tour Guards. I don't remember too many rough spots, my favorite section is looping thru the Forest Hills Cemetery. I did the thirty mile loop and wished I had done the fifty.

Scott

sherbornpeddler

ScottR,
Great to hear from a veteran. I guess I should put the 28s' on my similar vintage Raleigh Pro.
SP

ScottRyder 

SP, what year do you have, an '80? I've got a '73 Raleigh Pro and was thinking of riding it this year. With tubulars of course!

Scott

sherbornpeddler

Scott,
I thought my R Pro was an '77 but a serial number guide suggested '80. I bought it new in Fitchburg and should take it back for my 200 mile free tuneup. I may have gone past the 200 mile mark..... I'll have to get a fresh pair of sew ups if I don't use Pasela equipt clinchers.

ScottRyder 

SP,

So your R Pro is a blue mink/silver as well? Wow, they're pretty.

I'm pretty new to tubulars but I'm pretty happy with how they ride. I'm using the Vittoria Rally's. Fairly affordable and so far, no flats.

Are you hitting Larz Anderson on August 9th? I'm going to be showing my Fuji line up.

Scott

Myrr21

I can't think of any part of it that I crossed last year that would have been a problem for anything wider than the narrowest racing tires. Of course, I fell off partway through and shattered my collarbone, so maybe there was worse down the road, but it was smooth riding, really.

ScottRyder 

There were the usual potholes but nothing too bad. Yea, broken collarbone on a bike. Been there too!

S.

DX Rider

That's cool. I'm riding the 50 mile route and would much rather use my road bike.

sherbornpeddler

Now Myrr, you are dedicated.
Encouraging and positive and "oh, by the way, broke my collarbone". Lance's collarbone recovery to continue his campaign was epic; swimming in publicity, professional sports machine, loot and competitive juices. I doubt you have that kind of support and yet are able to encourage. Thank you!

I can't offer all those incentives and noise but I can say I am impressed you get back on your bike and see the positives.
Thanks again!

Myrr21

Awww, shucks. I'm just a guy too stupid to know when to quit. Seriously, though, Hub on Wheels is a great ride, supports a good cause, and the organizers recovered my bike and actually delivered it to my house (along with a free jersey) after I went down. I registered for this year pretty much the day it went up.

sherbornpeddler

I'm registered, bought the jersey and am coaxing my family to join me. Just being able to ride Boston sans cars is worth the price of admission and supporting Boston schools is a bonus.

We rode mountain bikes and hopped curbs, paths and potholes on the Charles River loop today, Watertown, burgers at Bartleys (they were filming a movie so it was well lit) back out to Memorial Dr., around the Galleria loop, past MoS, hung out at the Hatch Shell, hello to Arthur Fiedler and back to Watertown on the Storrow side. Not a spandex ride but until Hub on Wheels, it'll do just fine on a beautiful day. I miss my PMC comrades.

jbmadtown

Hi all- I'm a transplant from the Great Lakes forums. I just moved to Boston (JP) from Madison, WI. I'm starting Business School at BU this fall. I'm really interested in Hub on Wheels (would do the 50 mile route). Unfortunately it will be a few weeks before I know if I'll be available to ride on the 27th. Does HOW fill up fast, or can wait a few more weeks to register?

Looking forward to meeting some of you on the roads, trails, and the daily commute!

Jim from Boston

Hi jbmadtown,

Welcome to the Northeast Forum. I'm a native of Michigan and read the Great Lakes Forum to keep in touch with cyclists there since we visit a few times a year. Currently, I'm a year-round commuter from Kenmore Square here in downtown Boston to Norwood (via JP) and an occasional occasional centurian; and previously a bike tourist, including in Michigan, Ontario, and a cross-country trip.

Since I live centrally and do training rides all over the metro Boston area, I recently posted a little compendium of my cycling destinations over the entire area for a transplanted Hawaiian living in Saugus, FYA:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...02#post9085402

Jim

DX Rider

I'm not aware of a cap on participants since it's a charity ride. The cut off date for registration is September 13th.

jbmadtown

Thanks Jim and DX. I've come across a few charity rides that do have a cap. Good to know of the registration deadline, though!

Myrr21

The first email I got from them announcing the date for this year's ride stated "This year we're limiting the number of Hub On Wheels participants to 6,000," however, neither the website nor the later emails say anything about a limit. For reference, last year was about 4,000 riders, but it has been growing in popularity. So it might be best to contact them and ask.

sherbornpeddler

I got my jersey in the mail this week. Two friends just signed up yesterday so it is still open. See you there!

sherbornpeddler

Sorry I missed Lars Andersen, I was biking in the Midwest.

I’ll likely opt for my Raleigh Cadent1 (fenders) or my Raleigh Oneway (fenders) given the weather forecast (rain). Current plan is to bike to Central Square to meet fellow riders for a cup of coffee at the Clear Conscience Café at 7:15 then ride over to Boston City Hall so they can register, do the 50 and then bike back to Sherborn. PlanA should be a century. Plan B goes into effect if soggy feet get cold (rain) and friends (rain) and my own comfort (rain) persuade me to drive in and do a shorter ride (rain) then I’ll wimp out for a much shorter fun ride. Either way I'm very excited and looking forward to a bicycle friendly Boston.

pocky

So, last year my wife didn't feel well before Hub On Wheels and so I had nobody to ride the tandem (2001 Burley Rumba, very sweet ride) with me, so I rode a single bike instead. This was fun, but not as fun as the tandem would have been.

So, it's the 11th hour again this year, and I again find myself without a partner. Is it a bad idea for me to simply show up with the tandem, with nothing on the rear, and hope that somebody might be game for it? I'm riding with a team and hope that one of them might be interested in doing it this, at least for part of the route. Or, I suppose I'll attract enough attention riding the thing by myself that *somebody*'s bound to be up for locking up their single bike and hopping on, at least for a little while...

Dan


P.S.: I doubt anyone who's riding tomorrow is reading this right now, but if they are, anyone reading this forum want to ride with me? I'm 5'11", 165lbs (if you're similar size we could tag-team captain and stoker, which would be awesome), planning on doing the 50 mile route with my team but I would have no problem stopping after the 10 or 30 rather than ride the thing the whole way by myself...

ScottRyder 

I hope everyone riding today has a good time and stays fairly dry. I had knee surgery last week and I'm not even up to the 10 mike mark yet. Next year!

An event that's happening next weekend is the Grand Prix of Gloucester Cyclocross competition..

https://www.gpgloucester.com/

Whether you're competing or just watching it's a great venue. Spectacular views, right on the harbor.
A good excuse to take the commuter rail with your bike and do the Cape Ann loop.


Scott

beat.tk

Fun times!
Congratulations to everybody who finished the Hub on Wheels ride or volunteered!
The volunteers were amazing.
I did the 50 mile route, off road parts were a little sketchy with the rain.
Skidded a couple times on my narrow racelite hardcases.
There were a few crashes, :-( hope it wasn't anyone here.
At the top of this big hill, these little kiddies were cheering the riders on from their house, so-o-o cute.
Got a rad Livable Streets Alliance long sleeve at the plaza after....
The sleeves are printed... left arm says making a left, right says taking a right... so when you signal, there's no confusion. lol.

Myrr21

I saw those kids. It really made me feel better about the state of my legs. One guy was climbing that hill with a belt drive single speed, which was pretty impressive. There was also a guy who didn't seem to be a volunteer shouting "welcome to Mattapan."

Good times.

sherbornpeddler

Rode the 50 mile on my single speed and made it up the kids hill (they wore superman outfits) and the short climb at JFK Library. I helped a friend with a flat just downhill from the supermen. It took almost an hour to sort out a twisted chain after the XTR jockey wheel assembly cage spun around 720 degrees. We took the chain off and had no tension until we finally figured the cause and wound the cage back. Without reading glasses it was difficult relieving the chain after pressing the pin back in. I finally used a screwdriver and all was back to normal. Here I rode a single speed and still suffered derailleur problems.
The traffic control was superb. I did see one minor crash when cyclist put his front brake on right on top of a wet, slippery manhole cover. A car bumper thumper did not involve bikers but was exciting.
Why did I see a young female volunteer alone, standing in the rain, at a fairly tough neighborhood intersection and 10 or more young volunteers hanging out under the food tent?
This was a great way to see the city! The signs and traffic control made the tour fantastic. I had never been in some of the parks and loved the Harborwalk approach to Pleasant Bay; too bad we couldn't take the boardwalk over to Castle Island.
The boardwalk around the courthouse was very slippery. The traffic control and bike lanes disappeared on Atlantic to State.
I'm a fan of bananas and fig newtons. I was happy. Would have been nice if there was a food coupon at the finish.
The tees and jersey look great!
Highlights included Storrow ride, impressive start, VFW Parkway, Arboretum and very friendly volunteers.

cod.peace

Sounds like a great ride. I should do this next year.