NH Seacoast Ride - August 26, 2015

Ride Report

Wednesday August 26, 2015 NH Seacoast Ride

Riders on the short ride: Andy Lewis, Alan Schnerv, Betty Hoffman, Bob Armstrong, Chris Schuch, leader-Edie Baxter, Elisa Braun, Fred Difinis, Ilkka Suvanto, Jacque Smith, Jimmy White, Joe Marcangelo,  Lei Wang, Linda Wilcox,  Maureen Helting, Maurice King, Nancy Smith, Richard Fortier, Selig Saltzman, and Tom Clark

Riders on the long ride: Barbara Martin, Bernie Flynn, Bob Apsler, Bob Wolf, Dale Ferguson, Dom Jorge, Fred Newton, Greg Stathis, Caz Zelny, leader-Ken Hablow, Curt Dudley-Marling, Lindy King, Rich Taylor, and Sandy Gray.

Short Ride Report. A hot, slightly humid, day tested our resolve but looking ahead to spectacular views of the NH seacoast, twenty riders set forth having been warned of the hazard on the right side of the first bridge.  20 riders proceeded on the route.    The ride went smoothly, no flats, no mechanical difficulties.  The group re-grouped at Odiorne State Park,  stopped briefly at Fort Constitution and then rode into Portsmouth for lunch. There being such a multitude of lunch possibilities, the group split up and met back an hour later, to ride back to the start following an interior ride.  The last ten miles, back once again along the coast, riders rode at their own pace, some fast some slow to take in the spectacular views of the coast. Future riders will find the start easier to find using their GPS, if we amend the naming of the start from Salisbury, MA to Seabrook, NH.  Thank you Dale for your clarification. Short ride report by Edie Baxter.

Long Ride Report. I would like to thank Edie and Jacque for putting their Salisbury to Portsmouth ride on the WW calendar and for Joanne Samuels for doing the same earlier this year. For the 65 mile ride I merely combined the 2 routes for a magnificent seaside ride all the way up the coast from Salisbury through Hampton, Rye, Portsmouth, Kittery and the Yorks – all three of them.

Our group of 13 riders started before the short ride and we were chugging along at a pace close to 18 mph when Bernie Flynn had a flat. He fixed it in record time but not quick enough to stay ahead of the folks on the short ride. They breezed past us thumbing their respective noses. Not to matter because once we got going we picked up the pace again.

After going through Portsmouth we rode along the coast road through Kittery Point to York Beach and turned onto Nubble Road. At Nubble Light we stopped for an ice cream break. This is where Bob Wolf caught up to us to make it 14 riders. (I hate riding with an unlucky 13.) We continued, turning onto Ocean View for an outstanding view of Cape Neddick Harbor where we stopped for a photo op. The route back took a slightly inland turn on traffic-less tree covered roads. We managed a lunch stop at a bagel shop in York Village then bogeyed back through Kittery and Portsmouth then onto route 1A along the water back to Salisbury.

We got to Nubble Light at mile 39 at a 17.2 pace. The return home was with a slight head wind so it was not as fast but quite respectable at 16.2 overall. Long Ride Report by Ken Hablow.

Thanks to all the riders staying together without the need for a sweep or human arrows. All of us enjoyed the pacelining and the camaraderie. Thankfully (oddly) there was no traffic all the way back down Rte 95 and onto Rte 128. Northbound, however, fergedaboudit

Climb to the Stars ride - August 19 2015

Ride Report August 19, 2015

Long Riders(19): Bob Apsler, Steve Bader, Dave Balaban, Everett Briggs, Elissa Brown, Jack Donohue, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dale Ferguson, Tom Fortmann, Ellen Gugel, Barry Kaditz, Herb Kavet, Lindy King, Bill Lane, Rick Lawrence, Robyn Maislin, Fred Newton, Richard Vignoni, Lei Wang

It was a fabulous ride despite dire predictions of extreme temperatures. WW chose appropriately between the two rides of the day, such that arrows on the long ride never waited more than a few moments for the sweep. After riding on mostly quiet, shady streets, we arrived at MIT’s Haystack Observatory for a bathroom break (with real fixtures - no porta posetties on this ride).  A brief talk quickly exhausted the ride leader’s meager knowledge of the massive telescopes.  There were no complaints about the heat, and everyone handled the hills and somewhat brisk pace with aplomb.  Several in the group remained for lunch at Trail’s End. Thanks to Jack Donohue for sweeping the ride.

Long Ride Report by Bob Apsler

Short Riders(17): John Allen, Bob Armstrong, Edie Baxter, Don Buchholtz, Richard Fortier, Mike Hanauer, Dick Harter, Andy Lewis, Janet Miller, Jack Mroczkowski, Ann Northup, Eli Post, Jacque Smith, Ilkka Suvanto, Arthur Teepe, Jim Whinfield, Jim White

Our ride may have been a mile or two over the advertised 24 miles but seems no one had trouble making it despite the heat. Nagog Hill was a challenge but we waited and rested in the shade for everyone at the farm where some riders took advantage by purchasing a delicious peach. What a thrill going downhill from there at full speed. We enjoyed a well-deserved lunch sitting outside at Trails End. Thanks to Mike for sweeping. 

Short Ride Report by Ilkka

Westford to Nashua - August 12, 2015

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Ride Report by Clyde Kessel for Wednesday August 12, 2015

We had a big group today, fantastic weather and the riders seemed to like the route.

Long (6 riders for 48 miles): Clyde Kessel, Curt Dudley-Marling, Frank Hubbard, Lei Wang, Steve Robbins, Susan Sabin

Short (31 riders for 32 miles): Alan Cantor, Andy Lewis, Ann Northup, Bob and Carol Anderson, Bob Wolf, Bruce Lederer, Dave Balaban, Dom Jorge, Doug Hobkirk, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Fred Newton, Herb Kavet, Jack Donohue, Jack Mrocskowski, James Hsia, Janet Miller, Jim Cant, Jim Whinfield, Jim White, Karen Saltus, Kathy Horvath, Kaz Zelny, Lindy King, Mike Hanauer, Paul Greco, Peggy Gelin, Rich Taylor, Richard Fortier, Richard Vignoni.

The long riders left at 9:15 (which was deemed to be within acceptable tolerance for 9:10 sharp) and stayed together for the 8 mile ride to join the rest of the group.  For such a short ride, neither sweep nor arrows were needed.  It was cool and pleasant but we all noticed the hills.  This part of the ride was identical to the first 8 miles of the Spring Butterfly ride.

When we got to the restaurant to join the rest of the group, the parking lot was already half full and as people kept streaming in, the lot filled nearly completely.  The owner was expecting us and opened the restaurant to make the facilities available.  We all got going in a timely fashion and, as we turned onto route 40, a friendly passing copper stopped, turned on his flashers and held up traffic until we had all safely made our turn.  Next, we attacked the main hill (Scribner hill) riding the opposite direction this leader normally rides, so the leader goofed up 3 turns in a row.  The minions were starting to get worried but were too busy climbing the hill to stage a mutiny.

The leader finally got focused and stopped making wrong turns but we came to the pig farm which was quite smelly and gave everyone a little extra push to hurry past and get the rest of the way up the hill.  At the first rest stop in Dunstable, Jack tried to get a picture of everyone and discovered that PPP (pixels per person) is an important camera spec but is seldom published.

We had one flat tire today and one minor spill resulting in a bit of lost blood.  The leader witnessed neither event so this is just hearsay and no more details are available.

About 20 of us stayed at the restaurant for lunch which made the owner quite happy.  Service was good even though it was a small place.  We had been hoping to use the screen porch area but it was already mostly full when we arrived so we ate in the A/C section.  The owner was so happy, that (after everyone had ordered) he came around with free pizza slices for everyone.  We have been invited back.

Thanks to Jack Donohue for sweeping and to all the arrows, especially those who had to wait a long time just before lunch due to the flat tire.

Ride photos by Jack Donohue https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.379192252269358.1073741845.162728697249049&type=3

Above photo by Rich Taylor

Cape Cod Ride - August 5, 2015

Ride Report: Cape Cod Ride

Wednesday August 5, 2015

Riders: David Wean, Patty Williams, Jonette Nagai, Tom Galib, Lory Broderick, Ann Northup, James Hsia, Fred Chase, Lou Outor, Kris Stansbury, Larry Kornetsky, Janet Brentzel, Patti Kent, Joe Tavilla

Sweep: Larry K

The 36 mile ride was augmented by sunny skies, low wind and LOTS of water views. The route explored the lesser travel roads of Cape Cod's west facing coastline.

The ride leader suffered a minor mishap when he dropped his water bottle under the rear tire which brought both rider and bike into a "soft landing" in the grass. No flats or other mechanical problems.Lunch at Seafood Sam’s provided a relaxing end to the ride.