Smooth as Silk Ride - June 22, 2016

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, June 22, 2016, Smooth as Silk
Ride Leaders:  Jack Donohue & Bernie Flynn
35 miles, 10:00 am start from Bedford Public Library, Bedford, MA

Riders (4​2​):  ​Jack, Bernie, Tom Allen, Adena Schutzberg, Andrea Clardy, Andy Lewis, Ann Northup, Barbara Martin, Bill Haynes, Bill Lane, Bob Wolf, Butch Pemstein, Chris Schuch, Chuck McWilliams, Cindy Holthouse, Dave Balaban, Dmitry Gorenburg, Dom Jorge, Don Buchholtz, Don Mannes, Emily McPhillips, Francie Sparks, Fred Newton, George Stromberg, Irv Kurki, James Hsia, Janet Miller, Jeff Smith, Jon Clardy, Larry Kernan, Lindy King, Mary Kernan, Mike Hanauer, Richard Lawrence, Richard Vignoni​​, Robert Wilson, Steve Bogue, Steve Page, Steve Robins, Susan Sabin, Tim Jacoby, and Wing Chow.

This ride was the inauguration of my Wednesday Wheeler Attendance App 2.0.  I'm happy to report it worked flawlessly, except for a minor glitch when your hamfisted leader poked John Allen instead of Tom Allen.

The beginning of summer brought a lot of Wheelers out of the woodwork whom I didn't know or hadn't seen in a long time.  I had advertised a classic Wheeler
ride, moderate pace, human arrows, regrouping as required, but was not sure how this was going to play out.  The problem of keeping a diverse group together was solved by Bernie who offered to take a group that wanted to go faster.  He advertised a no frills ride: no arrows, no sweep, and no prisoners, and I'm sure he did not disappoint.

In a classic bait and switch, I changed the route at the last minute to make it even smoother than silk, adding a newly paved portion of South Street in Carlisle.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the gratuitous climb up Vose Hill.  There was a bit of confusion when some of the group decided not to do the hill, but wait for those who did.  I first told this group to wait at the intersection of Routes 27 and 225, and someone suggested the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) instead, which seemed a better idea.  When we got to the bottom of the hill, I waited for the sweep and told the rest to go ahead and wait with the others at the BFRT which was just ahead.  Unfortunately, I forgot that the BFRT crosses Rte 27 twice, and the spot I pointed to was not where the others were waiting.  Several of the group started down the trail, so I had to go chasing after them.  Moral of the story:  leader should lead.

The weather had started out gloomy, but improved, and I was thinking we might achieve a moisture-free ride.  We did have some serious rain in Chelmsford, but just as I was thinking about stopping to put on rain gear, it let up.  Several of the group cheated and got weather updates via their phones.  Being superstitious, I view this as a harbinger of bad luck and may have to adopt Pamela Blaylock's approach of forbidding the "W" word to be spoken on rides.

No one wanted to stop at Heart Pond off the BFRT in Chelmsford (possibly because of the "W" word), but I made everyone stop for a photo op in front of the cranberry bogs.  All in all, the ride went very well, but Butch did report that, in his view from the rear, several Wheelers cut a rather wide swath on the road.  Admittedly, there was very little traffic, but, as you all recall from your WW Safety Agreement, this is a no-no.

A group of us went to Ken's Deli after the ride and feasted on their giant sandwiches.  A goodly percentage of the group ended up ordering large, cool glasses of beer, which hadn't occurred to me.  Next time.

Thanks to Butch for sweeping, and to Bernie for providing an outlet for the type A riders.

Ride report by Jack Donohue.



















More photos

Assabet River Bash Ride and Party - June 15, 2016

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RIDE REPORTS

Wednesday, June 15, 2016, Assabet River Beach Bash
Ride Leaders:  Bill Lane & Winslow Green/Jack Donohue
39 & 26 miles, 9:30 & 10:15 am starts from 71 Lowell Road, Concord, MA

Riders - 39 mi (16):  Bill - assisted by Bob Apsler, Chuck McWilliams, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dave Balaban, Elizabeth Seabury, Ellen Gugel, Everett Briggs, Francie Sparks, Larry Kernan, Mary Kernan, Scott Bernstein, Steve Carlson, Steve Page, Tim Jacoby, and one unidentified late arrival.

Riders - 26 mi (30):  Winslow, Jack, Andy Lewis, Ann Northup, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Bill Aldrich, Bill Hanson, Bob Wilson, Butch Pemstein, Cecilia Scimia, Edie Baxter, Elissa Brown, Fred Newton, Harriet Fell, Jacque Smith, Janet Miller, Jeff Smith, Jim Whinfield, Judi Burten, Kathy Horvath, Kaz Zelny, Patrick Ward, Richard Fortier, Robyn Maislin, Stan Kay, Steve Maislin, Susan Sabin, Wing Chow, and first-timer Robin Callahan.

On a near perfect day for cycling, sixteen riders answered the call of a sufferfest in the name of returning the host quickly enough to set out the lunch.  We made our way through Acton and up the subtler climb to Westford, thrilled at the subsequent -9% descent on new pavement, before winding our way to the final climb to MIT's Haystack Observatory - though a common cycling destination, it was a pleasant first for more than a few.  We had a brief respite at the top while waiting for three who insisted on staying behind for our one mechanical, wisely avoiding thirteen advisors on how to fix a flat.  From there we enjoyed a reprise of the impressive radars while making our way home east of Westford through Carlisle.

At around mile 30, a swap of ride leaders from Bill to Bob Apsler was performed, so that the former could sprint home and gain seven minutes extra to prepare lunch.  We had a lovely day for lunch on the patio which overlooks the Assabet River.  Many thanks to all who arrowed and to Everett for sweeping.  The greatest thanks goes to everyone for their generosity in supporting the Pan Mass Challenge at this lunch, allowing us to donate $250 to our riders in the PMC.  Thank you all.

Report by Bill Lane.

We departed at 10:15 for a moderately paced 26 mile ride through surrounding towns to the north and west of Concord.  Due to the large size of the group, we divided into two separate groups for greater safety.

Special thanks to Jack for leading the second group.  Thanks to Fred for being the communications deputy, and to Butch and Pat for sweeping.  There were no mishaps and we all returned to the Lane residence for the usual "Beach Fare" served in the screened porch and eaten on the lovely shaded patio overlooking the lawn which extends down to the Assabet River.  There were no takers for swimming in the river, as the Assabet Beach is not on a par with that at Plymouth, but, considering the greater ease in reaching this lovely destination, it seems like an excellent alternative.  Thanks to Bill and Connie Lane for hosting this traditional June ride, once again, and for the hospitality at their lovely new home. 

Report by Winslow Green.

Boondoggle Ride - June 8, 2016

RIDE REPORTS

Wednesday, June 8, 2016, Boondoggle rides
Ride Leaders:  Janet Miller, Patrick Ward, & Ken Hablow
30 & 38 miles, 10:00 am start from Cousins Park, Concord, MA

Riders (47):  Janet, Patrick, Ken, Alan Krupp, Amy Lawrence, Andrea Clardy, Ann Northup, Barbara Martin, Barbara Pike, Barry Nelson, Betty Hoffman, Bob Wadsworth, Bob Wilson, Chuck McWilliams, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dick Harter, Dom Jorge, Doug Hobkirk, Edie Baxter, Ellen Gugel, Emily McPhillips, Francie Sparks, Fred Newton, Ilkka Suvanto, Jack Donohue, Jacque Smith, James Hsia, Joanne Samuels, Jon Clardy, Julie Dodd, Kathy Horvath, Kaz Zelny, Larry Kernan, Mary Kernan, Mike Hanauer, Pat Brennan, Rich Taylor, Rick Lawrence, Robyn Maislin, Scott Bernstein, Selig Saltzman, Steve Bogue, Steve Maislin, Susan Sabin, Tod Cochran, Wing Chow, and Winslow Green.

A group of forty-seven riders gathered at the Cousins Park start.  With such a large group, Ken Hablow kindly offered to lead a group of faster riders (15 mph+), which meant that we had three groups with more manageable numbers than we would have had otherwise.  Pat Ward took attendance and Janet gave a safety talk before the ride start.  Ken’s group left a few minutes after 10:00 am, followed a few minutes later by Pat’s group, who also rode the 38 mile route.  My group followed soon after, as soon as I had finished ordering lunch, taking the 30 mile route.

38 mile ride, spirited pace:
A group of nineteen riders, led by Ken, left on a spirited version of the long ride.  This helped to keep the long ride group from becoming unwieldy.  Since we were all compatible, we stayed together as a group and only used arrows on two occasions. We stopped at Haskell Field in Sudbury for a bathroom break at mile 7, and again at the Dunkin Donuts at mile 19 (so Barry could get his much needed muffin).  We had a pleasant ride, though we hustled to get back home before the non-existent thunderstorms.

Thanks to Barry Nelson for sweeping.  

Report by Ken Hablow.

38 mile ride, standard WW pace:

A fairly large number of riders took up Ken’s offer - this made the long ride easier to lead as we had a smaller group that could keep quite close together at a (somewhat faster than) standard WW pace.  The arrows did a fine job, as did our sweep, Steve Bogue.  We kept our two pit stops quite short and, as Janet had planned, we arrived back at her home at almost the same time as the 30 mile riders - so we all enjoyed warm pizza!

It was a great day.  The route was often beautiful, the weather was cool and bright, and we had no mishaps of any kind.

Report by Pat Ward.

30 mile ride:
Our ride was somewhat eventful.  Two people fell, though neither were hurt and both continued on the ride.  The first occurred as we made a right hand turn on rough pavement; the second occurred when four riders, close together and going up hill, approached a stop sign.  We also lost one rider who mistakenly thought that our group had left the pit stop at Haskell Field.  He tried, unsuccessfully, to catch up with Pat’s group.  Although we never saw him on the road after that, he did report that he got back safely.  Chris Schuch and Doug Hobkirk joined us along the road.  One rider had a flat tire and fixed it at the rest stop at 20 miles.  Thanks to Dick Harter for his patient sweeping, and to all those who acted as arrows.  Even though my average pace was only 12.5 mph, the group tended to become spread out.

We arrived back moments before the pizza was delivered and those that chose to stay for lunch enjoyed chatting and relaxing in the peaceful surroundings of my condominium grounds.

Charles River Bicycle History ride - June 1, 2016

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Charles River Bicycle History ride
Ride Leaders:  John Allen & Larry Finison
14 miles, 10:00 am start from Duck Feeding Area, Weston, MA

Riders (21):  John, Larry, Alan Krupp, Andrea Clardy, Chris Schuch, David Wean, Dmitry Gorenburg, Edie Baxter, Eli Post, Fred Newton, Harriet Fell, Jacque Smith, Janet Miller, Jim Cant, Jim Whinfield, John Springfield, Jon Clardy, Marie Keutmann, Mike Hanauer, Ron Beland, and Selig Saltzman.

Twenty-one bikers showed up for the History Tour on Wednesday.  This was a somewhat different WW ride, in the tradition of Richard Arsenault's explorations of the Minute Man National Historical Park - shorter and slower-paced, with stops - but Larry Finison's talks about the historic sites this time were related to bicycling:  the site of a bicycle factory and several locations in the Lakes District of Waltham, Weston, and Newton which were important destinations for bicyclists getting out of the Boston urban center some 120 years ago. Comment from Mike Hanauer:  "I grew up in Newton and I never even knew that these places existed!"

Seventeen had lunch at Auburndale's Bocca Bella Cafe & Bistro - good food, good conversation, and good camaraderie.  Chef/Owner Mario Boccabello even sang an Italian song for us followed by his English interpretation.

Thanks to Eli Post for sweeping.

Bocca Bella Facebook page of photos from our lunch:  https://www.facebook.com/boccabellacafe/posts/1337430596283836

Photos from a previous Charles River History Ride are here in the CRW facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/100740914229/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10153253949524230

There are also photos embedded in cues and points of interest on the RidewithGPS page at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13980097

Report by John Allen, with a contribution from Alan Krupp.