RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 22 June 2022, Ride from Concord
Ride Leader: Bernie Mango
~31 miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA
The milky sky and mild temperature made for ideal riding conditions as we gathered across from the strawberry field at Verrill Farm. As riders arrived and kitted out their gear, those staying for the post ride luncheon went inside to place orders at the deli counter. Calling out our names as we huddled for the ride briefing gave us a chance to reintroduce and applaud our WW founder Bill Widnall. Thank you, Bill.
This 30 mile route knitted together many of the most scenic, and hilly sections from Jack Donohue‘s catalog of Monday Rides. Plenty of 8% grades and newly paved surfaces on winding, country roads, together with light midday/midweek traffic, made for arduous climbs and thrilling, long descents. The pace was WW brisk, having completed the course with a moving time of just a bit more than two hours. Although this group was larger than usual the pack stayed together through the many twists and turns thanks to generously offered arrowing by, among others, Catherine, Frank, Susan, Sandy, Butch and Wing as well as our safety sweep, Gary, who brought everyone home.
Our parade of brilliantly colored jerseys rolled through Concord Center past the outdoor diners at the Colonial Inn, delighting out of town vacationers.
Regrouping at the North Bridge rest area gave riders an opportunity to shed layers as muscles and temps warmed. Anxious to continue, the stop was short and off we rode with the real work ahead of us.
Over hill and dale we sped, through the deep shadows of forested lands, wide sunny fields and the promise of new corn shoots, the beaver lodge in Iron Ore Swamp, broad residential lawns with their owners checking RFD mailboxes as we passed, smiling and waving.
The midway stop at Great Brook Farm gave us all a chance to refresh and chat. To mark the spectacular turnout for this lovely ride we all lined up for a photo, Bill Widnall front and center, to be included in the CRW Yearbook. Butch took advantage of our stop to remind everyone of the iconic charity ride: the PanMass Challange, benefitting Dana Farber Cancer research. Several members of our group are participating in it and welcome donations supporting their ride. Thank you, Butch.
Happy and exhausted we passed the big red horse barn and pulled into the parking lot to load our machines on racks and into back hatches. The deli counter was a busy place with lunchtime orders, but pre-ordering made life easier for our group as we picked up sandwiches and made our way to the outdoor picnic tables and tents. Conversational topics were as varied as the colors of our jerseys, and just as brilliant. Barry Nelson passed on some great tips regarding chain, sprocket and cable maintenance.
Final fist bumps and hugs before heading to our cars while intrepid cyclists, Frank and Barry, rode home to log a 60-mile day!
Ride report by Bernie Mango.
No comments:
Post a Comment