Sunday, November 29, 2015

Day Before Turkey Day Ride - November 25, 2015

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, November 25, 2015, Day Before Turkey Day (DBTD) rides & party
Ride Leaders:  Bob Apsler, Rudge McKenney, & John Allen
36, 27 & 16 miles, staggered starts (10:00, 10:30, & 11:00 am) from Holi, Bedford, MA 

Riders - 36 mi (11):  Bob, Bill Lane, Curt Dudley-Marling, Francie Sparks, Gene Ho, Karen Saltus, Lindy King, Rich Taylor, Selig Saltzman, Tim Wilson, and first-timer Cecilia Scimia.
Riders - 27 mi (15):  Rudge, Barry Nelson, Don Mannes, Gardner Gray, Jack Donohue, James Hsia, Joanne Samuels, Kathy Horvath, Linda Nelson, Richard Bowen, Richard Vignoni, Robyn Maislin, Steve Maislin, Susan Sabin, and first-timer Pat Brennan.
Riders - 16 mi (6):  John, Barbara Jacobs, Butch Pemstein, Judi Burten, Marie Keutmann, and Mike Hanauer.
Present for lunch only (5):  Adena Schutzberg, Bob Sawyer, Bob Wolf, Helen Greitzer, and Mike Counihan.

With the morning temperature well below the predicted 39 degrees, the ride leader was determined to depart promptly at 10:00 am.  Alas, a recalcitrant floor pump foiled this plan, but taught a lesson.  One participant’s efforts to top off her tire resulted in the opposite – loss of all air.  The ride leader and others assumed it had to be a puncture.  Their mistake delayed discovery of the cause - a defective floor pump.  Lesson:  sometimes the least likely option is the correct one.  All went well thereafter.  We regrouped at the crest of every substantial hill and, as a result, needed few arrows due to the group remaining compact.  Perceived temperature was milder than expected, due to the presence of sun and absence of wind.  Quiet back roads, often newly repaved, dominated the occasional forays onto busy arteries.  Many thanks to the ever reliable Selig for sweeping.

The staggered start times worked marvelously.  Long riders mingled with short and medium riders at the restaurant.  On some past rides, where all ride options started at the same time, long riders arrived after most others had departed from the lunch stop. 

Report by Bob Apsler.

We started the ride, with fifteen riders on fourteen bicycles, from Holi restaurant in Bedford.  It was a brisk November morning, but the shining sun gave all hope and comfort.  A long stretch down Rte 62 took us to Concord center where we veered right to avoid the tourists, shoppers, and other pedestrian types.  With historical landmarks on our left and right, we plowed forward over bridge and dale to the comfort of winding roads, farms, and livestock.  Of special note was the sighting of a fox preparing to celebrate the holiday with a chicken neatly tucked away in its mouth!

Another long stretch down Lowell Road and into Carlisle which we circled most of the morning.  We regrouped at Kate’s Corner, the apex of our journey, and commenced our return home.  However, the temptation of Great Brook Farm lured the happy riders for one more stop in hopes of finding ice cream and other such holiday treats.  But, alas, we had to settle for restrooms and the lingering aroma of the neighbor’s cows' leftovers.  Up the hills and down the hills, we finally reached Rte 225 and the last stretch back to Bedford.

Special thanks to  Kathy Horvath for sweeping the ride.

Report by Rudge McKenney.

Having found no designated route for the short ride, I used the medium ride route with a shortcut.  The group of six rode at a relaxed pace.  We stopped at the Minuteman National Historic Park parking lot on Monument Street in Concord, only to find that restrooms were closed; however, those at the Visitor Center on Liberty Street were open.  Turning from Concord Street, Carlisle, onto quiet but hilly Russell Street, and again at the Carlisle library, we determined to take 
Rte 225 back to Holi restaurant, so as to arrive by 1:00 pm, which we did.  As there were no more turns at that point, a couple of ride participants went out ahead of the group.  Planned mileage was 20 and actual was 16.1.

A fine, sociable lunchtime followed - highlight:  94th birthday greetings and birthday cake for Bob Sawyer, who showed up for lunch on his new electrically-assisted tricycle.

Report by John Allen.

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From Jack Donohue - "Here's a link to the Facebook album with my pictures:"

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.406011136254136.1073741848.162728697249049&type=1&l=38a00ee499

Monday, November 23, 2015

Ups & Downs of Lexington - November 18, 2015

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Ups & Downs of Lexington
Ride Leader:  Tom Allen
35 miles, 10:00 am start from Ixtapa, Lexington, MA
 
Riders (15):  Tom, Bill Widnall, Bob Wadsworth, Bruce Lederer, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dick Harter, Fred Newton, Herb Kavet, Jack Donohue, Jack Mroczkowski, Karen Featherstone, Kathy Jonas, Rich Taylor, Selig Saltzman, and Steve Robins. 
Present at Lunch:  Mike Hanauer.

The day started frosty and brisk, but with bright sunshine and ideal road conditions - a perfect November riding day!  About a mile into the ride we tackled our first hill, climbing to the top of Whipple Hill.  From there the ride lived up to its name and took us over many hills and many unfamiliar roads with little traffic. 

We did Page Hill the hard way, more than doubling the climb involved, in a straight-on assault.  Then, on to a comfort stop at the Bedford Depot and Minute Man Bikeway terminus.  Although a straight (and level) return route, via the bike path to the restaurant, was fantasized by some, we pushed on in quest of more hills.

A particularly memorable short climb was made more so by poor pavement and a backing cement truck that the blocked the road just as riders were struggling to the top.  Then back through Lexington with a couple of unpaved stretches thrown in for interest.  We stopped at the "Big Dig House" on Bird Hill (more hill than bird).  Here's a tour of the interior of the house.  We then climbed the Six Moon Hill cul de sac to visit what was the mid century community conceived and implemented by The Architects' Collaborative and inspired by the Bauhaus and Walter Gropius.

Eight of the group repaired to Ixtapa, for a fine Mexican lunch, where we were joined by Mike Hanauer. 

Our sweep, Dick Harter, (thanks Dick) gave the group a no better than B grade for safe riding practices, with moving over for "Car Back" being the main deficiency.

Thanks also to Susan Sabin, Ilkka Suvanto, and Rich Mandel for joining me on the Monday scouting ride.

Report by Tom Allen.


Sunday, November 15, 2015

Smooth as Silk Ride - November 13, 2015

RIDE REPORT

Friday, November 13, 2015
Ride Leader:  Jack Donohue
35 miles, 10:00 am start from Bedford Public Library, Bedford, MA

Riders (27):  Jack, Ann Northup, Barbara Jacobs, Bernie Flynn, Bob Wadsworth, Bob (AKA the stalker) Wolf, Clyde Kessel, Curt Dudley-Marling, David Wean, Dmitry Gorenburg, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Frank Hubbard, Fred Newton, Gene Ho, Herb Kavet, Ilkka Suvvanto, Jim Cant, Judi Burten, Karen Featherstone, Larry Kernan, Marie Keutmann, Maurice King, Peggy Gelin, Steve Robins, Susan Sabin, and Wick Doggett..


Things went pretty smoothly (no pun intended) for the beginning of the ride.  I gave riders the option of skipping the "Significant Climb" and some took me up on it.  The ride looped back after the climb, so they had naught to do but wait for us to return.

There had been some concern at the start about the location of rest stops, which I admitted I hadn't thought through.  When we got near the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, I suggested we go off route a bit, to the pond near the trail that was equipped with a portajohn.  I figured we could take a break, enjoy the view, enjoy the portajohn.  I took off and very few followed.  It seems the group would rather just soldier on.  So we had another schism - the peckish people decided not to delay lunch any more and took off while we were enjoying our rest stop.  This made my leader job even easier, though I was concerned whether they could find their way sans leader and sweep.

We were down to eight at this point, then picked up a few more.  When we got to Carlisle center, I asked if people wanted to cut the ride short by just going straight down Rte 225, and got a resounding "yes."  So we made a beeline for Ken's Deli (no relation to our Ken), where we found some of the speedy group eating al fresco in the warm sun.  The whereabouts of the second breakaway group was undetermined.

Perhaps because of the smooth roads there were no mechanicals.  There were, however, two FDGBs - one related to wet leaves, the other to a spontaneous upset at rest.

Strangest part of the ride was when we had a pop-up shower while the sun was shining.

Thanks to Clyde for sweeping (and not leaving us by going home when the opportunity presented itself).

Picture album on Facebook:


(If you took pictures and would like to share, you should be able to add them to this album, If not, let me know -- Jack. )

Report by Jack Donohue.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Fall from Grace - November 4, 2015

Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Ride Leaders:  Alan Cantor & Tom Allen
40 & 21 miles, 10:00 am start from Grace Bicycles, Holliston, MA 

Riders - 40 mi (14):  Alan, Barry Nelson, Dave Balaban, Dmitry Gorenburg, Ellen Gugel, Francie Sparks, Fred Newton, Herb Kavet, Kim Wach, Mark Ecker, Richard Lawrence, Rick Carlson, Russ Keene, and Steve Robinson.
Riders - 21 mi (8):  Tom, Ann Northup, Arthur Teepe, Doug Hanna, Eli Post, John Springfield, Kathy Jonas, and Susan Sabin.

It was a beautiful day for riding, unseasonably warm and dry.  The group did well, watching out for each other and adhering to the WW safety rules.

I am very grateful to everyone, for putting up with my mechanical issues, missed turns, and fall (no big deal).  Glad that the leader endured all the mishaps and that all else went well.

A big thank you to all that arrowed, and a special shoutout to our sweep, Kim!!

Report by Alan Cantor.

We were a small, congenial group and, once the leader found the pace, we rode together with only an occasional regroup.  Everyone was exhilarated by the lovely weather and beautiful fall scenery.

Thanks to A.J. for the marvelous route.  We did miss a turn owing to a Google map inaccuracy that propagated through to RWGPS, but that was corrected with a short backtrack.

Despite the shorter than usual distance and early finish, we were all very ready for lunch at Bazel's.  Thanks to Susan Sabin for sweeping.  (Susan and Kathy Jonas remoted from Wellesley, for an additional 38 miles RT.)

Report by Tom Allen.

Monday, November 2, 2015

To the End of the World and Back - October 28, 2015

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, October 28, 2015, To the End of the World and Back
Ride Leaders:  David Wean & Bob Apsler
28 & 40 miles, 10:00 am start from Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, MA

Riders - 28 mi (2):  David and Jeff Smith.
Riders - 40 mi (5):  Bob, Everett Briggs, Gene Ho, Karen Featherstone, and Steve Miller.
 Together for the first twelve miles, we visited Great Esker Park (where we climbed the 90 foot esker, from which we looked down at Weymouth rooftops on one side, and the Back River estuary on the other) and Bear Cove Park (a former Naval camp and munitions facility, turned over to Hingham in the 1970s).  After passing through the South Shore Conservatory and rolling through Hingham Center, the two groups parted at the turnoff for World's End.

From there, the 28 mile riders spent the better part of an hour exploring the Olmsted-era carriage paths and the water views from the 200 never-built house lots, after which we returned to the road and traveled along the ocean in Cohasset (see "what Bob said" for a description of that).  After wonderful sandwiches at Fresh Feast, we returned via the shared route through the back side of Wompatuck Park (formerly the annex to the Bear Cove facility) to the ride start.  

Report by David Wean.
 
Four of us headed toward Hull and quickly abandoned the usual WW route of zipping out and back to the tip.  Instead, we sought every opportunity to hug the shore – first on the ocean side, and on the opposite side when returning.  Doing so provided lovely views, allowed us to better appreciate the unusually high tide and strong wind, and added five miles to the ride.  At the tip of Hull, we encountered Everett, who had started late and zoomed out to catch us.  We climbed several steep hills to inspect a submarine watch tower, visit a ceremonial tower in Fort Revere Park, and ride as close to the shore as possible.  Beautiful views in all compass directions kept us entertained even before the marvelous stretch of Jerusalem Road in Cohasset.  The clouds mattered little because of the perfect riding temperature, clear air, and beautiful leaves.  Lunch at a delightful sandwich shop in Cohasset delayed us just enough to catch a few sprinkles on the way back to the cars.  A congenial group encountered no mechanical or other delays.  Another great WW day.

Report by Bob Apsler.