Ride Leaders: Marc Baskin/Ken Hablow & Jack Donohue/Fred (Clyde) Newton
40 & 30 miles, 10:00 am start from Burchard Park, Weston, MA
Riders - 40 mi (29): Marc/Ken, Adena Schutzberg, Alan Cantor, Barbara Martin, Barry Nelson, Bernie Flynn, Butch Pemstein, Cecilia Scimia, Cindy Holthouse, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dom Jorge, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Frank Hubbard, Gene Ho, Herb Kavet, Julie Dodd, Kathy Horvath, Larry Kernan, Lindy King, Mary Kernan, Pat Schindeler, Rich Taylor, Richard Vignoni, Rick Lawrence, Steve Bader, and first-timers Lance Murty and Robin Frain.
Riders - 30 mi (28): Jack/Fred, Ann Northup, Bill Widnall, Bob McCarty, Clyde Kessel, Dick Harter, Don Buchholtz, Ilkka Suvanto, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, John Allen, John Roberts, Kathy Jonas, Pat Brennan, Peggy Gelin, Richard Fortier, Robyn Maislin, Roy Westerberg, Steve Carlson, Steve Robins, Susan Broome, Tom Allen, Wing Chow, and first-timers Arvella Hagan, Chip Ziering, Emily McPhillips, and Stan Kay.
Present at ride start & lunch: Helen Greitzer.
Long Ride(s) report:
We had a wonderful sunny day for the ride. The 40 mile ride split into two groups. I led the first group and Larry Kernan swept, while Ken Hablow led the second group with Barry Nelson as loyal sweep.
The roads were flat and in good shape and we averaged about 15 mph. Of course we had Honey Dew doughnuts at the Honey Dew Donut shop! Back in Weston center, many of us ate al fresco at Off Center Café, while others enjoyed a fine lunch at Dumpling Daughter.
Report by Marc Baskin.
Short Ride Report (28 riders):
Since my previous report, where I extolled the virtues of navigating with my phone app, I've had a couple of glitches. On one occasion, I had downloaded a route, but when I tried to follow it, it wasn't there. The prospect of having this happen when I was the nominal leader of a WW ride filled me with fear and trepidation. So, I arrived armed with not one, but two, faux-phones (smart phone with just the app, no service) AND an actual phone with a data plan.
We short riders hung around so that we could be clear of the long riders. This worked out well, since there was a late arrival who would otherwise have missed the boat. Not too long into the ride, we seemed to be missing a number of people and someone reported that there had been a flat. This was confirmed by a phone call from my sweep, Dick. I said we would wait, then set out to find a good spot for waiting. Someone suggested Great Meadows, so we pulled in there while John stood sentry as arrow. A few riders went down the road to the park in quest of a bathroom, most elected to stay with John and block traffic (of which there was very little). The potty people went back to help John block traffic and the chase group had still not arrived. We were getting a bit antsy, when Tom announced he could track Dick with an app on his iPhone, and indeed he gave us updates on Dick's whereabouts until actual Dick appeared.
While we were enjoying the riding break, someone suggested that it might be good to divide into two groups. I thought this was an excellent idea and quickly acquired Fred (Clyde) as leader #2 and Clyde as sweep #2. This was a milestone in Wheeler history, since we now had two rides with recumbent riders sweeping and a ride with two Clydes as leader and sweep.
Report by Jack Donohue.
Bifurcated Short Ride Reports -
Pas de Clyde Ride:
We found our PTO (Perfect Toilet Opportunity) at the Fairbank Center in Sudbury, where we had our obligatory photo op. A bit later some of the crew were getting peckish, and I realized we had advertised food, or at least doughnuts, and I had no idea where said donut place was. We stopped at a strip mall that seemed likely to have places to eat, but the consensus was to wait for the fabled Honey Dew which never materialized, so we toughed it out until the end. Thanks to Dick Harter for sweeping.
Both my faux-phones worked flawlessly, though many noticed slackening of the pace as I tried to poke at it while riding (this is probably the moral equivalent of texting while driving).
Report by Jack Donohue.
Clyde Ride:
The 30 mile group split into two groups at mile 6.5, Fred (Clyde) Newton volunteering to lead the second group, consisting of eight riders, with Clyde Kessel volunteering to be sweep. One rider in my group, having had a flat before the split, had a second flat (in his other tire) - talk about lightning striking the same place twice.
We enjoyed the great scenery along Nixon and Edmands Roads, and Grove Street. Since Pelham Island Road has been nicely repaved, we could also enjoy the scenery there without looking out for potholes. We used arrows initially, but after skipping the donut stop, by consensus, we stayed quite close together, rarely needing an arrow. Thanks to Roy Westerberg and others for arrowing, and thanks to Clyde for sweeping.
Report by Fred Newton.
Ride Home Report:
While my phone array worked fine on the ride itself, the route I had programmed for my return home didn't fare as well. To my dismay, when I tried to load it on both of my faux-phones, neither seemed to have the route. The backup was my real phone, which could suck down the info from the cloud, but, alas, it was completely dead. Kathy came to my aid with directions, but my feeble brain was only able to remember one or two turns - Merriam Street and Conant Road figured in there somehow. So I set off down the hill and, mirabile dictu, found Merriam Street. From that point on I switched over to the DNS (Donohue Navigation System), which is (in a nutshell), when you come to an intersection, take the bigger road. Eventually, you will come to a numbered road, possibly even with large signs pointing to towns you might want to go. The other endearing thing about New England roads is that roads named Foobar Road often lead to the town of Foobar. So, when I came upon Lincoln Road, it did in fact lead me to Lincoln center, from where I knew that, if I went up the big hill, I would find my way home.
Report by Jack Donohue.
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