autonomy

Ehh, tiny print, next to last bullet point, faded/scratched off wording... I still stand by my argument that whoever put that much effort into the yellow signs, should've included all trail users in them.

The darkest, most problematic parts of the Stroller Slalom are the Magnolia Field bend, the straight portion right after it up to Lake St., and between Spy Pond and Kickstand. The segment by the condos with the pine trees is lit up. I would say the Magnolia Field bend needs lighting for sure, as it's always crowded there as one is trying to pass people walking ON the path and also ACROSS the path (to/from the fields)

Personally I wouldn't want too much lighting on the path, I like it the way it is (dark & quiet as Ron mentioned), but I do make sure that myself and my family wear lights/reflectors as appropriate (you should see the reflective tape I applied to my kid's stroller!)

rholland1951

The cold and wind that preceded it were fearsome, but it wasn't much of a snowstorm, really. Nevertheless, it was enough to call my Winter Cycling bluff, and last night I set up the workstand that had been sitting in its shipping box for two months. Now I can work on bikes in the heated comfort of my basement, as opposed to the cold comfort of the garage. First thing I did was swap the tires on the venerable GT Karakoram, removing the Compass 26"x1.75" that it has been wearing during the warm months, and mounting the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 559x47 W240, packing 240 carbide studs on moderately aggressive knobbies, snow and ice tires. The old red bike is now in ice bike mode while the cold and slippery stuff lasts.




Saturday brought snow, and some chores and errands that needed doing, including a bit of my other Winter sport:


However, all that passed, and I was able to take the GT out on the Minuteman in the late afternoon, my first ride in the snow of the season. In Arlington Center, the Westbound bike lane approaching the Mass. Ave. and Mystic Street intersection had been plowed into oblivion. I sent the Arlington DPW a trouble ticket about that one (the Town's website lets you do that, and it sometimes works).


The Minuteman was in mixed condition. The section between Arlington Center and Brigham Square (just beyond Mill Street) was well plowed.


From Brigham Square to Trader Joe's it was half-plowed, 1-2" of packed snow, bare-booted and rutted. I'm guessing it was either plowed too early in a storm that lasted longer than expected, or else the snowplow operator set his blade too high. This made for more challenging riding, a bit like gravel. I sent the Town another trouble ticket, that stuff will freeze into icy ruts if it isn't plowed again...


The Lexington segment of the Minuteman was in better shape, and I made good time there.


Night fell, and temperatures did too, down to the mid-20s.




Quiet ride, fun to exercise the snow-biking chops again.


rod

rumrunn6

congratulations & well done & thanks for sharing was wondering about riding conditions. I think we got a bit more out my way but pretty much the same conditions. spent my day getting winter tires mounted on 2 cars & raking the roof. still fighting a cold & had a 2nd rough night this time woken up w with a bloody nose. was looking forward to a ride this weekend but thinking I shouldn't tempt fate & gonna stay wrapped up today to heal the body

rholland1951

Feel better soon.

rod

Ghazmh

I took my Smoothie for a lovely 35 mile ride last Sunday, cold but nice and sunny. I did my usual route through Weston, Lincoln, then in into Concord Center. From there I shot over the Bedford Depot Park and rode the Minuteman to Alewife, followed the short extension to Brighton st in Belmont, eventually to Trapello road back home to Waltham. Since then I've only been on my Montare for some around town errands and such. I've encountered a smattering of ice here and there with my Marathon Winter studded tires. Today's run to The East end of Watertown and back was slushy and muddy, I rode the path along the Charles to Watertown square. Remnants of the unpaved section is dripping onto my garage floor right now. The return leg I stuck to Main st.

rholland1951

Went on a Solstice ride on the Minuteman, after dark and before dinner. Dark night; the top-most little light is the planet Venus.


The Minuteman was completely clear: that thaw on Sunday seems to have done the trick.

After dinner, I rode up to Arlington Center for an ABAC meeting,where we discussed, among other things, snow removal. Enjoyed the Winter lights, coming and going.






rod

rumrunn6

anybody talk about crossing Mass Ave? why aren't there buttons for all the crossings?

rholland1951

Sounds like some of the new lights won't be in until mid-winter to early spring, due to supply chain hang ups. Or so I believe I heard. Take that as a rumor, not as something written on stone.

rod

rumrunn6

thanks, looked like more work was coming

mr_bill

While not written in stone, it is written in bytes.

So, not rumor, 'tis the season of "poling error" - pole fabrication is the long pole.

Delay as long as Spring of 2017 if Winter 2014/2015 repeats, maybe sooner if Winter 2015/2016 repeats.

BTW, the beg buttons at Mass Ave/Pleasant & Mystic have been placebos for a long time.
They are planning to install 8 beg buttons - also in placebo mode - when the new lights go in.

-mr. bill

rholland1951

The placebos appeal to me. Reminiscent of the busy boxes small children play with: ritual devices for the performance of magical gestures to bring about desired effects in the world.

rod

mr_bill

The beg buttons on Mass Ave & Mill/Jason (that aren't placebos) I push twice and then demand "....Don't Tell Me!"

-mr. bill

rumrunn6

whatever, the amount of time you get top cross the road is an absolute minimum. in fact at the pace of a normal adult leaving one corner at the beginning you don't get to the other side without the warning light coming on. why bother putting handicap ramps at these corners?

rholland1951

Well, the point about the warning light is to discourage pedestrians from BEGINNING a crossing, so that, in itself, is not too alarming.

rod

rumrunn6

OK then. still makes me nervous tho

rholland1951

;-)

jimmuller 

I've been remiss in posting but some of that is because I've remiss in riding. Much as gotten in the way of bike commuting these last few weeks though I've ridden a few times. Should have yesterday but made the mistake of reading Accuweather's always sensationalistic dire predictions of snow.

I took the Grandis out for 49 miles today however. Mostly the roads were okay but wet so the bike got filthy. In a few places I chose to walk for a bit. Places on the MM where melt runs onto the trail could be problematic in shadow. FWIW, the Fitchburg Cuttoff trail is okay but the shadow of one of those big condo/apartment buildings that went up a year or two ago makes one stretch less clear than it might be otherwise.

rholland1951

Took the LHT on a sunset ride on the Minuteman this afternoon. That bike is still wearing its 42mm Compass Snoqualmie Pass Extra Light tires, the "Sno" being a purely phonological coincidence having nothing to do with a frozen form of precipitated H2O.


I had thought, based on conditions on the Minuteman on Wednesday, that ice would be a non-issue. Once I neared the Lexington line, it became clear I needed to revise my model...


A little care in picking a line in places served well enough, this time. But baby gets a new pair of shoes before the next ride, Schwalbe Marathon Winters, lately sitting in a pile of tires muttering "play me or trade me".

This evening's ride was lovely.


Two kids were practicing soccer down on the AHS field, wearing shorts, while pedestrians on the Minuteman were plodding along in parkas.


Peeper's Pond had a skin of ice.


Sunset proceeded to dusk with all deliberate speed, as did I.


The temperature dropped into the 30s, and the layering that seemed more than adequate at the start of the ride was starting to feel a bit too air conditioned towards the end. Dog walkers with flashlights illuminated their pets, subconsciously spotlighting their excretory functions for the community of trail users; good dog! The UU's big bell rang five as I reached Arlington Center for the second time.



rod

rumrunn6

this thread is great for armchair cyclists with a cold. thanks guys

Ghazmh

Took my Rain-winter road bike for a painful 20 mile rainy winters ride this morning. I can recall the exact moment my waterproof winter shoes began to get soaking wet inside. I could sing the 12 days of Christmas with my true love buying me new cold and wet weather cycling gear. This is after an entire day of tingly fingers from yesterday's pre sunrise 20 mile ride that froze my fingers. I can't wait for April!!!!!!!!

rholland1951

Had a Christmas morning ride on the LHT, newly shod with 700x42 Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tires. Arlington Center deserted, the Minuteman icy in places, the tiresong crackling, silent, crunching, rasping, ripping, snapping, depending on what was being ridden over. Ra in the East, for a change.










Warm good wishes to us all at the turn of the year,

rod

jimmuller 

Not to be outdone by Rod we took a Christmas Day ride too. Home to Concord for a chilly picnic.

mr_bill

Christmas Day - getting passed by bicycles at Mass Ave and Mellen St/Langdon St. I have to say, I was a bit surprised:



-mr. bill

jimmuller 

From that pic I'd say you were beside yourself! I hope it was with glee.

rholland1951

From the shadows, I'd say the ones on the left were Google bikes...

rod