Heard Pond - July 19, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 July 2023, Heard Pond

Ride leaders:  Linda & Barry Nelson

32 miles, 9:30 am start from Weston, MA

Riders (21):  Linda, Barry, Annemarie Altman, Aviram Cohen, Barry Kaditz, Dave Balaban, Don Buchholtz, Don Mannes, Gary Williams, Gerry Sheetoo, Jeff Wallen, Jim Whinfield, Joan Fenster, John Kitchen, Ken Hablow, Matt Osber, Molly Schaeffer, Renee Rees, Sandy Gotlib, Susan Sabin, and first-timer Charley Lax.

Several riders expressed their appreciation for the earlier and on-time start in the summer heat.  Of course, those who cannot tolerate a change from the usual 10:00 am start were not in attendance.  The ride itself was uneventful:  no missed arrows and no mechanical problems, other than one dropped chain.

Six riders had a post-ride lunch in Weston center.  Three chose Dumpling Daughter and three found sushi at Brothers Market.

Report by Barry Nelson.

For Sheldon 2023 - a ride from Wayland - July 12, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 12 July 2023, For Sheldon 2023 - a ride from Wayland 

Ride leader:  Harriet Fell, assisted by John Allen 

32 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA 

 

Riders (21):  Harriet, John, Allison Easton, Aviram Cohen, Barry Kaditz, Barry Nelson, Bill Perry, Craig Tulig, David Goldberg, Ed Hill, Frank Aronson, Frank Calabrese, Gary Anderson, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, Jamie King, Joel Bauman, John Ho, Linda Nelson, and Renee Rees, plus one rider who registered at the ride start and appears on the registration list as “Anonymus user.” 

 

This was a ride in memory of Sheldon Brown, who would have been 79 on July 14, 2023.  He died on February 4, 2008 and, for several years, we tried to run a ride in his memory close to February 4th, but the cancellation rate was high due to snowstorms or what they left behind on the roads.  This is the second time we have run this ride close to Sheldon’s birthday. 

 

Despite the 92F temperature, twenty-one WWs did the ride or some part of it.  Lindy King showed up with Jamie at the start, but didn't ride as she is recovering from a broken wrist.

Part of the route had to be changed as construction on Peakham Road started on July 11th.  Given the heat, I suggested that we just head west on Rte 20 for about two miles to Wayside Inn Road.  Some riders did not want to ride that far on Rte 20 and took a longer route to the south.  One rider ended up taking Peakham Road despite the construction.  Two riders headed home once we reached the rail trail in Weston. 

 

Jamie King did a shorter ride because he rode a Raleigh 3-speed in honor of Sheldon (who was very fond of Raleighs).  Raleigh built chrome-plated Raleigh Sports bicycles, like Jamie's, only in 1966 - not for sale, but to hang on display in dealers' front windows.  Extra-credit question:  where is there another chromed three-speed on display in the Boston area, what make and model is it, and who was its original owner? 

 

We made a short stop near the Grist Mill on Wayside Inn Road, but the groups didn’t coalesce until we arrived at the rail trail. 

 

Twelve of us had post-ride lunch together at The Local.  Several people at lunch talked about interactions with Sheldon or with his website.  A few people talked about cyclists out west who asked whether they knew Sheldon Brown as soon as they found out that the person they were speaking with came from Massachusetts. 

 

[Comments from John re. riding on Rte 20:  Preferred routes for CRW rides are on scenic, lightly-traveled rural roads, but almost every ride must include connecting segments on numbered highways.  As CRW's Safety Coordinator, I stress that riding these can be safe, if not necessarily pleasant.  Some safety tactics - like merging into line in congested traffic -- may seem counterintuitive. 

 

I am a CyclingSavvy instructor and recommend the free CyclingSavvy  Club Rider Essentials course, online.  It also covers in-group communication and protocol.  I have a workshop scheduled, with two or three options for a Zoom session, as well as on-bike sessions on September 23rd.  You may contact me, at johnsallen68@gmail.com or 781 856 4058, for further information.]

Report by Harriet Fell and John Allen.

 

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Answer to extra-credit question:  Dr. Paul Dudley White's chrome-plated Schwinn Paramount (equipped to suit him, with a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, North Road handlebars, and a kickstand) is on display at the Museum of Science. The bicycle was a gift to Dr. White from Schwinn in recognition of his support for bicycling. 

Ward's Berry Farm ride - July 5,, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 5 July 2023, Ward's Berry Farm ride

Ride Leader:  Ellen Dirgins

34.8 miles, 10:00 am start from Sharon, MA

Riders (19):  Ellen, Aviram Cohen, Barry Kaditz, Barry Nelson, Dave Balaban, David Goldberg, Frank Aronson, Frank Calabrese, Gary Braver, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, John Ho, John Kitchen, Linda Nelson, Sue Amsel, Wing Chow, and first-timers Janusz Wicher and Karina Illescas.

The WW ride was a success!  Even though we had a flat, thanks to Gene and others we were soon on our way again.  It was definitely a hot and humid ride - I personally was thankful for the shady parts along the roads.  We made a couple of stops along the way to make sure everyone was well-hydrated.

We cycled past Lake Massapoag in Sharon, traveled by farms in Easton, and rode on a short bike path in Mansfield.  Back in Sharon, we stopped for lunch at Ward’s Berry Farm, located about two miles from the finish line.

Thanks to all who participated, to the riders who arrowed, and especially to Gene for sweeping.

Report by Ellen Dirgins.

Circle the City and The Emerald Necklace - June 28, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 28 June 2023, Circle the City and The Emerald Necklace

Ride Leader:  Gary Williams

~35 miles, 10:00 am start from South Boston, MA

Riders (11):  Gary, Ann Whaley-Tobin, Craig Tulig, David Goldberg, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Zach Woods, and first-timers Jesse Metcalf, Lotika Paintal, and Ravjit Paintal (plus 1 unidentified, unregistered rider).

After pushing-back our start time to 11:00 am, owing to a steady rain earlier in the morning, we set off from Castle Island under overcast skies.  We rode through the Seaport and the North End before crossing over into Charlestown for two historic stops.

The first was atop Bunker Hill to view the monument.  We lucked out when a park ranger happened to walk by as we were stopped, and she was kind enough to give us a brief overview of the monument and statues honoring the American patriots that fought there.  We then descended to the Charlestown Navy Yard to view the USS Constitution, aka "Old Ironsides.”

We proceeded to Cambridge for a brief foray, passing the headquarters of EF Education First, the primary sponsor of one of the American professional cycling teams that will compete in the 2023 Tour de France.  After cycling along the Charles River on the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path, we passed through Back Bay, along Beacon Street, to a point just north of Kenmore Square where we crossed into the Fenway neighborhood and entered the Emerald Necklace.  We rode along paved trails all the way to Jamaica Pond and through local neighborhoods to the Arnold Arboretum, where we paused for a restroom break.

We then rode through the arboretum, to a point just east of the Forest Hills T Station, and onto the Southwest Corridor Bike Path.  We climbed up to Franklin Park, passed White Stadium, and descended to the Arborway.  We took local streets through Mattapan before entering the Neponset River Trail eastward to Dorchester, and eventually arrived at the campus of UMASS and the JFK Museum.

We made one last stop by the museum for some group photos before heading out onto William J. Day Boulevard to the finish line back on Castle Island.  A small group of riders enjoyed a repast at Sullivan's. There were one or two light mists along the way but otherwise, the weather was comfortable.

Report by Gary Williams.