RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 17 July 2019, Too Cool for School
Ride Leader: Jack Donohue
31 miles, 10:00 am start from Bikeway Source, Bedford, MA
Riders (21): Jack, Adena Schutzberg, Bill Widnall, Charlie Gordy, Chuck McWilliams, Cindy Chin, Dave Balaban, Doug Chin, Emily McPhillips, Gerry Sheetoo, Herb Kavet, Kaz Zelny(sweep), Marc Baskin, Margaret Coughlin, Mike Barry, Rich Taylor, Richard Fortier, Rochelle Holman, Sally Chapman, Will Umphrey, and Wing Chow.
The weather forecast was, to use a technical term, "iffy," so I was glad to see a goodly group show up at the ride start. If I was going to get wet, I didn't want to be alone. I fully well expected what usually happens - i.e., it starts raining just as you're at the farthest point from the start.
As it turned out, we got no precipitation at all. I think I was responsible for this. I eschewed my best carbon fiber bikes, which I try to keep rain free, and took my twenty year old Cannondale instead. I encased my phone and wallet in plastic bags and packed rain gear - I was ready for a downpour. I had learned my lesson from Climb to the Clouds, where I took my best bike and blithely opined at the rest stop, "Just a passing sprinkle." Said sprinkle turned into a several hour, cold downpour.
I was wondering whom I could enlist to sweep, when Kaz showed up and volunteered for the position without being coerced. Kaz has become my main man for sweep detail, replacing Butch who was my sweep extraordinaire for many years.
I was pleased that Bill Widnall was able to join us. Bill had gone over to the dark side (running), but was back on the bike. I took the opportunity to thank him for introducing the human arrow concept to CRW. It's a brilliant concept that I've used successfully in the other bike groups that I lead. Bill is also the founder of Wednesday Wheelers.
Mark Baskin, who had been recovering from a bad bike accident, also rode with us. He doubled his mileage today by riding to and from the ride start, so I'd say he's back to his usual form.
The ride went very smoothly, it seemed like a well matched group, and most of the time all the riders were in sight of each other. From my rear view mirror it looked like it mostly broke up into two smaller groups which was perfect for letting cars pass.
We did have a bit of dyslexia, with riders on the left instead of the right. Straddling the centerline is not a good idea, period, but if you're going to do that you need to be doubly aware of overtaking traffic.
I hadn't planned a rest stop in advance, but the visitor's center off Keyes Road in Concord was perfect. Indoor plumbing and water fountains helped maintain the correct water balance. We had an opportunity to chat and have a photo op and then we were on the road again.
We passed the four advertised School Streets, though one was in fact a School Way. Close enough.
A group went to Ken's for lunch.
Report by Jack Donohue.
Wednesday, 17 July 2019, Too Cool for School
Ride Leader: Jack Donohue
31 miles, 10:00 am start from Bikeway Source, Bedford, MA
Riders (21): Jack, Adena Schutzberg, Bill Widnall, Charlie Gordy, Chuck McWilliams, Cindy Chin, Dave Balaban, Doug Chin, Emily McPhillips, Gerry Sheetoo, Herb Kavet, Kaz Zelny(sweep), Marc Baskin, Margaret Coughlin, Mike Barry, Rich Taylor, Richard Fortier, Rochelle Holman, Sally Chapman, Will Umphrey, and Wing Chow.
The weather forecast was, to use a technical term, "iffy," so I was glad to see a goodly group show up at the ride start. If I was going to get wet, I didn't want to be alone. I fully well expected what usually happens - i.e., it starts raining just as you're at the farthest point from the start.
As it turned out, we got no precipitation at all. I think I was responsible for this. I eschewed my best carbon fiber bikes, which I try to keep rain free, and took my twenty year old Cannondale instead. I encased my phone and wallet in plastic bags and packed rain gear - I was ready for a downpour. I had learned my lesson from Climb to the Clouds, where I took my best bike and blithely opined at the rest stop, "Just a passing sprinkle." Said sprinkle turned into a several hour, cold downpour.
I was wondering whom I could enlist to sweep, when Kaz showed up and volunteered for the position without being coerced. Kaz has become my main man for sweep detail, replacing Butch who was my sweep extraordinaire for many years.
I was pleased that Bill Widnall was able to join us. Bill had gone over to the dark side (running), but was back on the bike. I took the opportunity to thank him for introducing the human arrow concept to CRW. It's a brilliant concept that I've used successfully in the other bike groups that I lead. Bill is also the founder of Wednesday Wheelers.
Mark Baskin, who had been recovering from a bad bike accident, also rode with us. He doubled his mileage today by riding to and from the ride start, so I'd say he's back to his usual form.
The ride went very smoothly, it seemed like a well matched group, and most of the time all the riders were in sight of each other. From my rear view mirror it looked like it mostly broke up into two smaller groups which was perfect for letting cars pass.
We did have a bit of dyslexia, with riders on the left instead of the right. Straddling the centerline is not a good idea, period, but if you're going to do that you need to be doubly aware of overtaking traffic.
I hadn't planned a rest stop in advance, but the visitor's center off Keyes Road in Concord was perfect. Indoor plumbing and water fountains helped maintain the correct water balance. We had an opportunity to chat and have a photo op and then we were on the road again.
We passed the four advertised School Streets, though one was in fact a School Way. Close enough.
A group went to Ken's for lunch.
Report by Jack Donohue.
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