Great Brook Farm State Park MTB/road ride - July 27, 2016

Mountain Biking Report
14 mountain bikers divided themselves into two groups according to experience levels and rode for several hours through Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle. The advanced intermediate group started with Julianne North, Katherine Bain, Tom Amiro and Herb Kavet and was led by Tony Lee and Lisa Cheney. The intermediate group began with Carol and Bob Anderson, Mike Hanauer, Bob Apsler and Pat Ward and was led by Margie Lee, Kim Wach and Larry Kornetsky. A few riders peeled off early due to water, energy, bike and time issues. Several also joined the roadies for a picnic lunch after the ride. Riders are to be commended for great attitudes and the consensus was that the group rides were fun. Ten years ago, on September 20, 2006 to be precise, Jerry Green led a Wednesday Wheeler mountain bike ride which introduced Lisa Cheney, Larry Kornetsky and Tony Lee to the sport, and their lives haven’t been the same since. Thanks again, Jerry, and maybe others were similarly inspired today.
Report submitted by Margie & Tony Lee

Road Biking Report
It was a good turnout considering there were actually 4 separate rides today.  It’s nice to know that not everyone has gone to the dark side.  With only a dozen riders, we were able to get started within a minute or two of 10 am but as we left the park, a latecomer drove up so we waited a few minutes for him to saddle up.  It was worth it as he was a valuable addition to the group.  Even with the delay, one member of our group was in the restroom and missed our departure.  He spent most of the morning trying to catch up to us, finally succeeding after 25 miles! Aside from that, things went well, with many shady roads until we reached Sudbury Rd which is undergoing major construction.  If I had known, I would have detoured around it.   Lunch at the park was pleasant in the cool shade. Thanks to all the arrows and to Jack for sweeping and taking attendance. – Clyde

Road Riders(15): Marc Baskin, Patrick Brennan, Jim Cant, Jack Donohue, Richard Fortier, Gene Ho, Clyde Kessel, Lindy King, Bill Lane, Bob Mccarty, Jack Mroczkowski, Pat Schindeler, Ilkka Suvanto, Rich Taylor, Roy Westerberg

Road riders in front of Clyde's house, three missing

Carol Anderson, one of the mountain bikers

Tour of Carlisle - July 20, 2016

Ride Report Wednesday July 20, 2016

The ride leaders thank Mike for hosting and I wish to join them. Mike opened up his home to us, made arrangements to provide food and drink and gave up riding for that day. We would be a better club if there were more who did likewise.

Short Riders (15): John Allen, Steve Bogue, Harriet Fell, Betty Hoffman, Marie Keutmann, Elsa Lawrence, Tom Lawrence, Janet Miller, Jack Mroczkowski, Ann Northup, Romaine Randall(sweep), Nancy Smith, Ilkka Suvanto(leader), David Wean, Eli Post

Long Riders (29): Dave Balaban, Andrew Brand, Patrick Brennan, Donald Buchholtz, Robin Callahan, Rick Carlson, Jack Donohue, Richard Fortier, Bill Haynes, Cynthia Holthouse, Chuck Huizenga, Stuart Kaufman, Clyde Kessel(leader), Bill Lane, Robyn Maislin, Steve Maislin, Neil Martin, Butch Pemstein (sweep), Susan Sabin, Pat Schindeler, Brett Serkez, George Stromberg, Veronica Vedensky, Richard Vignoni, Patrick Ward, Philip Weiss, Roy Westerberg, Robert Wilson

36-mile ride report for July 20

Just for a little variety, we took the back way out of Mike’s house riding on 150 yards of good dirt road.  This put us behind the unsuspecting short group who left after we had and pretty soon we caught up to them and started to ride through.  About the same time, a late arrival who was trying to join the short group caught up with us and then got a flat tire.  Since he hadn’t yet caught the short group’s sweep, he became the responsibility of the long group and stayed with us for the rest of the ride.  Thereafter, things went quite smoothly though we did hurry past the honey wagon we saw.  Around the halfway point, the leader deviated over Vose Hill to reduce the mileage on 225 and 27.  The leader thought it was an excellent tradeoff but some of the riders didn’t seem to agree.  There were several stretches of fine new pavement, notably Treble Cove Rd in Billerica which had absolutely brand new lines painted sometime since noon on the previous day. The leader received many compliments on the lovely shaded ride but they really belong to Mike Hanauer who designed the route. Thanks to all the arrows and Butch for sweeping and especially to Mike for putting on such a good party including cookies at the start. - Clyde

22-mile ride report for July 20.

With about a dozen riders we stayed together for most of the ride. The roads were well shaded and generally in good condition although at one point some sharp stone gravel cut a rider's tire resulting in an instant flat. He managed a quick 10-minute repair by inserting a dollar bill into the slashed tire. After a long rest stop at Great Brook Farm we finished the ride at about an 11.8 mph average overall. One rider did take a tumble on the last turn after getting a bit too close to the leader's rear wheel, but no harm done to either the rider or bicycle. Thanks Romaine for  sweeping. Great to be greeted by Mike with a delicious banana smoothie. - Ilkka

Party Report for July 20:

A perfect sunny day with many newly smoothed roads canopied with shade producing trees, and followed with a festive lunch -- or was it a feast. Is that cycling, or is that really an idyllic life? The question is for all of you to ponder. My thanks to Clyde and Ilkka for leading the rides and to the many others who lent a hand during the rides or with the after-ride party. The party seemed to be well enjoyed by all. Included were appetizers, lasagna, salad, watermelon, and the now traditional banana-lemon smoothies -- all disappeared with velocity. A special shout out and thank you to Roy Westerberg for his wonderful home brew too. Finding a brew that might be better than my cherished Arrogant Bastard, discovered at WW favorite The Chat, should make Roy proud (if not rich). It was good to see Brett Serkez too, back home where many of us believe he belongs.To a great ride, a great group, and some great teamwork!   All So Appreciated! - Mike

Bob and Carol Anderson came for lunch. Mike Hanauer hosted party.

Long riders at Great Brook Farm

More pictures HERE

Groton - Hollis rides - July 13, 2016

RIDE REPORTS

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, Groton - Hollis rides
Ride Leaders:  Lindy King & Brett Serkez
48 & 31 miles from  the Nashua River Rail Trail parking area, Groton, MA

Riders - 48 mi (8):  Lindy, Bob Apsler, Butch Pemstein, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dave Balaban, Rich Taylor, Robin Frain, and first-timer Philip Weiss.
Riders - 31 mi (12):  Brett, Bob Wilson, Chuck McWilliams, David Wean, Gardner Gray, Janet Miller, Jim Cant, Ron Beland, Roy Westerberg, Steve Bogue, and first-timers David Kobes and Ed Webby (?).
Present at lunch:  Helen Greitzer.

On a muggy, hot, summer’s morning, only a handful of WWs came to join the 48 mile Groton - Hollis ride.  They were all hardy riders and, with a small-sized group, we generally stopped to regroup at the tops of hills and at turns where there was a shady spot to be found.  Some of the riders voted for more hills, so we skipped the mile of dirt in Hollis for more climbing.  It was nice to grab a cool drink at the Monument Square Market and use the facilities in town.  We hogged the bench on the town square until the riders on the short ride rendezvoused with us.

We socialized for a while and then proceeded on the route where there were more hills in the second half than the first!  No one seemed to mind and there were many compliments on how nice the route was.  It was exceedingly hot when we returned to Groton and everyone quickly went for lunch or indulged in the A/C in their cars.

Many thanks to Brett Serkez for stepping up to lead the short ride option!

Ride report by Lindy King.

The 31 mile ride was beautiful, though hot and humid.  There were no incidents, mechanical or human, and the ride seemed to be enjoyed by all.  Four of us joined Helen for a delicious lunch at Filho's Cucina at ride's end.

Ride report by Brett Serkez.

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Photos courtesy of Rich Taylor.

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Southeast from Jack's Abby beer hall - July 6, 2016

RIDE REPORTS

Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Southeast from Jack’s Abby Beerhall
Ride Leaders:  Bob Wolf & Clyde Kessel
37 and 47 miles from Jack’s Abby Beerhall parking lot, Framingham MA

Riders - 37 mi (15):  Bob, Andy Brand, Ann Northup, Butch Pemstein, Chris Schuch, Chuck McWilliams, David Wean, Don Buchholtz, Don Mannes, Ellen Gugel, Herb Kavet, Janet Miller, Susan Sabin, Veronica Vedensky, and Wing Chow.
Riders - 47 mi (16):  Clyde, Barbara Martin, Bernie Flynn, Bill Lane, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dom Jorge, Everett Briggs, Frank Hubbard, Julie Dodd, Kim Wach, Marc Baskin, Rick Carlson, Rick Lawrence, Steve Bogue, Steve Carlson, and Tim Jacoby.
Present at lunch:  Helen Greitzer.

Those that hate the cold lucked out, as we had the hottest day of 2016 to date.  That said, it was hot, if breezy and dry, and a few folks that might have done the longer ride opted to go short.  Initially we stayed together fairly tightly, with the weather offset by the shade afforded by the route, despite best efforts of the gypsy moths (actually, their larvae) that dotted the roads.  But eventually, the temps took their toll on some.  Mid-ride we added a detour to Dover center to replenish liquids.  Butch helped one rider avoid some miles, and we regrouped frequently without complaint from most riders.

The beerhall was a welcomed finish, with the big winners being German IPL, Smoke and Dagger, Hibiscus Blood Orange Leisure Time, and the air conditioning.  Lunch was good as well.

Thanks to Butch and Don Buchholtz for sweeping, and to the many arrows we never ran out of.

Ride report by Bob Wolf.

It was a hot day so the folks who opted for the long ride were the ones who are able to do a long ride on a hot day.  That was both the theory and, in this case, practice.  Combine that with the fact that the humidity was not oppressive and the result was a moderately fast ride without folks suffering too much from the heat.  We did take a rest stop every ten miles, including a long one with a water spigot at the halfway point, so maybe that helped as well.  Several of the riders did report a very high water consumption.

On the way, we came across Marc Baskin who joined us by riding the route backwards until we met.  Similarly, we passed David Wean riding the other way but he was looking for the short group, not us.

Somewhere in the Norfolk area we were surrounded (engulfed? inundated? smothered?) by moths.  I wonder if they were gypsy moths, since I heard a report a few days ago that there was a terrible gypsy moth resurgence in some areas this year.  Apparently, the dry weather has killed the fungus which normally keeps the moths in check.

Thanks to Rick Carlson for sweeping, to Frank Hubbard for finding the rest stop with water, and to all the arrows.

Ride report by Clyde Kessel.