Harold Parker Reversed - June 18. 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 18 June 2025, Harold Parker Reversed

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

31 miles, 10:30 am start from Ipswich River Park, North Reading, MA

 

Riders (3):  Tom, Frank Aronson, and first-timer Armen Kasparian.

The day started gray with some drizzle.  This reduced the attendance of an already thinly subscribed ride to a mere two riders plus the leader.  To mitigate the rain factor we started a half hour late, and that strategy worked.  Roads were clear and we remained dry - in fact, it was an ideal biking day.

With only three of us we agreed to simply stay together and did not designate a sweep.  Sounds simple and (almost) foolproof.  Anyway, we pedaled along some delightful roads with portions almost devoid of traffic.  A stop at Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford afforded us access to some tasty muffins and a restroom opportunity.

On the return leg of the trip the leader inserted a tiny wrinkle in the route that seemed to flummox one of the riders.  We saw him head off in the wrong direction, but we figured he would sort himself out and rejoin us.  That didn't happen and, after seeing him take the same wrong turn a second time, we set out to chase him down and bring him back into the fold.

We elected to skip lunch at Ryers Store, as time was getting a bit tight with the delayed start and the leisurely stop at the muffin shop.

Report by Tom Allen.

Sherborn to Norfolk - June 11, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 11 June 2025, Sherborn to Norfolk
Ride Leader:  Alan Cantor

38 miles, 10:00 am start from Sherborn, MA

Riders (11):  Alan, Betsy Harper, Ellen Gugel, Frank Calabrese, Joel Bauman, Keren Hamel, Renee Rees, Todd Palmer, Veronica Vedensky, Wing Chow, and first timer Richard Levine.

We had a glorious early summer day to enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful route. Thanks to all who arrowed and, especially, to Todd for sweeping and giving the safety talk at the ride start.

 

Report by Alan Cantor.

Concord to Littleton - June 4, 2025

RIDE REPORT

 Wednesday, 4 June 2025, Concord to Littleton

Ride Leader:  Gene Ho

33.3 miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Riders (11):  Gene, Barry Nelson, Bruce Gore, Dmitry Gorenburg, Frank Calabrese, Joel Bauman, Keren Hamel, Marc Baskin, Renee Rees, Scott Mandell, and Wing Chow.

 

Wednesday was a workday.  Therefore, the weather was perfect for biking.  Eleven of the fifteen registered riders showed up, at the right parking lot even.

 

Although all present found the streets on the route to be familiar, there were challenges.  Not the hills though.  All but the leader were in shape and found that they added texture to an otherwise bland undertaking.  We did encounter a section of dirt road which I thought would arouse the usual paranoia amongst road riders, but all biked over it without dismounting.  If the crappy winter had any benefit, it was inuring us to potholes and bad pavement.  The dirt road seemed smooth in comparison.  

 

You can actually get lost on the Bruce Freeman trail.  It gets a bit convoluted around Nara Pond where it comingles with other trails, all of which look the same.  There's signage, but its utility presumes that one can read and bike at the same time.  That's harder in practice than in theory, as some found out.

Report by Gene Ho.

Some scenes en-route:

Re-grouping on the BFR in West Concord:  

An unsuccessful attempt to extract a poem from the poetry booth.

Lunch at the Littleton Sub shop.  They have a liquor license and a Guinness woulda gone down nicely but navigating around Nara pond would have been even harder (or maybe not).

Ward's Berry Farm ride - May 28, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 28 May 2025, Ward's Berry Farm ride
Ride Leader:  Ellen Dirgins

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

Riders (20):  Ellen, Ann Whaley-Tobin, Annemarie Altman, Barry Kaditz, Barry Nelson, David Goldberg, David Wean, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Keren Hamel, Linda Moraski, Lisa O’Connor, Renee Rees, Ron Cater, Todd Palmer, Wing Chow, and first-timers Cheryl Schmidt, Cory Ward, and Joanne Candlen.

We had a fabulous ride on Wednesday.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  The turnout was awesome - all twenty registered riders were present, and one rider came all the way from Stow.  Two guest riders and a new member joined us and a warm welcome was bestowed upon them.

 

We used the human arrow system - a big thanks to all who arrowed, and a big thank you to Gene for sweeping.

 

With about a mile to go we stopped and enjoyed lunch at Ward’s Berry Farm.  All seemed to enjoy the food, as well as the bike ride!

 

Report by Ellen Dirgins.