Dover-Hopkinton Charles River Loop - August 11, 2021

RIDE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 11 August 2021, Dover-Hopkinton Charles River Loop

Ride Leader:  Mike Barry

40 or 31 miles, 10:00 am start from Dover, MA

Riders (15):  Mike, Al Berardi, Alan Cantor, Bernie Mango, Catherine Widgery, Don Buchholtz, Ellen Dirgins, Gary Williams, Gerry Sheetoo, Joel Bauman, Jim Whinfield, Lindy King, Richard French, Wes DeNering, and first-timer Ann Whaley-Tobin.

I altered my long-standing 54 mile Needham West ride for a WW 40 mile ride.  This area is hillier than people realize and, due to the heat, we got pretty spread out, so we had three short regrouping stops in addition to a short fluid replenishment break at Out Post Farm in Holliston.  This ride also features a very-easy-to-do nine-mile shortcut (on the return at mile 30 in Dover center); this became key later!  

 

We had a flat tire early in the ride, at about mile 5, but the sweep, Jim, and the rider had tools for a repair, so the group continued on, with Wes stepping in as interim sweep.  They caught up to the group at Out Post Farm and the group continued together.  On the return, while crossing Rte 27 south of Sherborn center, at about mile 24.5, somehow one rider that was between the lead and sweep groups missed an “arrow” and headed off-route.  “Murphy” was ever-present in that the rider's phone (with RWGPS) wasn’t working.  His absence was noted at the regroup stop at mile 30, and we knew he wasn’t reachable since he had told us that his phone wasn’t working. 

Due to the heat and time of day, all riders except one (who self-navigated to the finish) opted for the nine mile shortcut to the parking lot.  I was very concerned about our missing, rider, so I took the shortcut and drove the course backwards to Out Post Farm to try to find our missing WW, with no joy.  Now really worried, I phoned the Hollliston, Sherborn, and Dover police to see if any cyclist accidents had been reported; thankfully none had!  When I returned to the parking lot, the missing rider’s car was gone so I figured he was all set.  We later spoke by phone and figured out which turn he had missed, but I am still mystified how that happened as he was between the lead and sweep groups.  He had, resourcefully, pulled into a business and asked them to print out a google map to the parking lot - he was there only 45 minutes after the rest of the group!  One lesson learned was that, even with human arrows, it may be a good idea for cyclists without any navigation or communication source (phone, device, map or cuesheet) to stick with a rider who does!

Thanks to Jim and Wes for sweeping. 

Report by Mike Barry.