South Natick Dam while it still exists - October 25, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 25 October 2023, South Natick Dam - while it still exists

Ride Leaders:  Eliott Morra & Bruce McClintock

24.6 miles, 11:00 am start at the South Natick, MA

Riders (20):  Eliott Morra, Bruce McClintock, Barry Nelson, Bruce Eisenhut, Christine Talbot, Ernie Glickman, Francie Sparks, Frank Aronson, Frank Calabrese, Gary Braver, Gary Wiliams, Gene Ho, John Ho, Linda Nelson, Marie Keutmann, Mark Friedman, Neil MacGaffey, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and first-timer Mike Ward.

After a few miscues at the start, because I had the first draft of the route downloaded to my gps, we had a nice rolling ride through Dover, Westwood, Medfield, and back to Natick.  One rider felt ill and returned to the start after about ten miles.  The sweep escorted her back to the start and he rejoined us at about four miles to go in the ride (riding the route in reverse).  The remainder of us had broken into a few small groups, but then regrouped at about mile 15 and rode as a group for most of the way back.  Several people stayed for lunch and some relaxation at the coffee house and the park overlooking the dam.

Thanks to Bruce McClintock for sweeping (and co-leading).

Report by Eliott Morra.

Pond Tour: Flint's and Walden - October 18, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 18 October 2023, Pond Tour:  Flint's and Walden

Ride Leaders:  Linda & Barry Nelson

33 miles, 10:00 am start from Weston, MA

Riders (17):  Barry & Linda, Barry Kaditz, Bill Furman, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dmitry Gorenburg, Francie Sparks, Frank Hubbard, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, Marie Keutmann, Mark Friedman, Renee Rees, Sue Amsel, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and Wing Chow.

This ride proceeded with no newsworthy events and a good time was had by all.  There were no reports of mechanical issues, no missing arrows, and no one was lost.

Half of the group chose to have lunch in Weston center, at Dumpling Daughter or takeout from Brothers Marketplace or Heirloom.

Thanks to Gene for sweeping the group.  Many thanks also to the faster riders who took more than their share of arrows.

Report by Barry Nelson.

Annual Circling Wachusett Foliage Ride(s) - October 11, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 11 October 2023, Annual Circling Wachusett Foliage Ride(s)

Ride Leaders:  Zach Woods & Frank Scibilia

37.6 miles, Core Ride, 10:00 am start from Sterling, MA

61.7 miles, Remote Start Ride, 9:00 am start from Bolton, MA

Bikers - 37.6 mi (8):  Zach, Aliza Edwards, Betsy Harper, David Goldberg, Frank Calabrese, Ken Weber, Mark Freedman, and Renee Rees.

Bikers - 61.7 mi (2):  Frank Scibilia and Craig Tulig.

On Ride with GPS the core route is called WW Annual Circling Wachusett Core 2023 and the remote is WW Annual Circling Wachusett remote start 2023.  Both were excellently plotted, by Richard Vignoni, to provide a good balance of climbs with some flats and downhills.

It was a beautiful day for a ride with the Wednesday Wheelers.  Frank S left with Craig on the longer, remote route at 9:00 am and, after a chilly start and a warming uphill after about two miles, they arrived at the start of the core route and met with the other eight WWs to continue on the core route at 10:00 am.

The core route began with an immediate, warming uphill!  We passed lovely farms, with goats and horses, on rural roads with minimal traffic and fall colors.  Halloween decorations highlighted several timeless properties that appear to have retained their charm over generations.  The Quinapoxet and Mare Meadow reservoirs offered expansive autumn foliage views.  And then, we reached the right turn onto Mountain Road for a serious climb up to the Mt. Wachusett Visitor Center!

Betsy, Ken, Craig, Frank C, and Renee got to the Visitor Center before David, Frank S, Aliza, Mark, and Zach.  Most were riding at their own pace.  Betsy, Ken, Craig, Renee, Aliza, and Mark, having energy to spare, chose to ride the extra loop to and from the Wachusett summit!

Zach acted as sweep, as he was having trouble with his front hub.  He arrived at the Visitor Center after everyone else, and we all had agreed that folks should head back to the start rather than wait for his arrival.

Continuing from the Visitor Center, the ride was a series of screaming downhills with a few flat stretches and small hills.  Everyone returned safely to their cars, having had plenty of exercise and a great experience for the day.

Thanks to Frank Scibilia for managing the faster riders, and for significant contributions to this write-up.

Report by Zach Woods.

Ride to Out Post Farm - October 4, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 4 October 2023, Ride to Out Post Farm

Ride leader:  Susan Sabin

33.7 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA

Riders (9):  Susan, Adam Walpert, Barry Nelson, Dave Balaban, David Goldberg, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, Marie Keutmann, and Susan Broome.

Nine of the eleven registered riders showed up and, in the hope that the two missing  riders might appear, we left slightly late.  The temps went from warm to hot and the leader’s speed went opposite, from hot to lukewarm.  Fortunately, most of the climbing occurred early in the day.   

 

We stayed together until about eight miles from ride’s end, when I encouraged the faster riders to go ahead.  Despite the mismatch in rider’s speeds, everyone was a good sport and it was a pleasure to be with all who came.  Several had praise for the route. 

 

Thanks to Gene for sweeping. 

Report by Susan Sabin.

Photos courtesy of Barry Nelson.

Mystic River ride - September 27, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 27 September 2023, Mystic River ride

Ride leader:  Joe Tavilla

33 miles, 10:00 am start from Woburn, MA

Riders (8):  Joe, Diane Manganaro, Ernie Glickman, Frank Aronson, Gary Williams, Susan Broome, Tod Cochran, and first-timer Alex Feldman.

After three gray & gloomy days, the sun finally returned and stayed with us all day.  This ride could be re-named the "Pond, Lakes & River ride" due to the fact that we started at Horn Pond in Woburn.  We then rode south beside the Mystic Lakes and, finally, we followed the Mystic River all the way to the Encore Casino in Everett.  Flat & varied terrain on secluded bike paths, through quiet neighborhoods and a few busy urban areas.  Outdoor lunch stop at Assembly Square in Somerville.  

 

After lunch we rode north on the other side of the Mystic River Reservation, to return to our start location. 

Report by Joe Tavilla.

Nightmare on Elm Street - September 20, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Nightmare on Elm Street

Ride leader:  Jack Donohue

33 miles, 10:00 am start from Bedford, MA

Riders (11):  Jack, Allison Easton, Aviram Cohen, Barry Kaditz, Dave Balaban, Frank Aronson, Gary Williams, Renee Rees, Richard French, first-timer Marcio Silva, and one anonymous rider.

Well, unlike my previous rides, this one is not a tale of woe.  First off there were only eleven registered riders, of which I was one.  I offered a longer ride, to bag yet another Elm Street, and got three takers.  I made sure they all had navigation and sent them on their way.

I then ensured that the sweep had navigation, as well as my phone number.  I did my best to lower expectations, and gave permission to faster riders to go off the front, instead of keeping to my glacial pace and chafing at the bit.  We lost another three that way.  Since it was pretty easy to keep track of the five remaining riders, we dispensed with human arrows.

RideWithGPS navigation worked well, except for a couple of hiccups.  As Yogi Berra said:  “When you come to a fork in the road, take it” and we did. RideWithGPS is good about signaling turns, but only when the road name changes or the turn is acute.  But the "off course" message came up and no one went astray for very long.

I was impressed with what a nice ride it was, if I say so myself, although the last bit going through West Concord and Concord was a bit busy.  There were alternatives, but we had to get in those Elm Streets so we stuck to the program.

When all was done, we managed an average of 12.8 mph.  I round up, so I'm still within the official 13 mph limit.

Report by Jack Donohue.

Martha's Vineyard Tour - September 6, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 6 September 2023, Martha's Vineyard Tour

Ride leader:  Tom Allen

45 miles, 10:30 am start from Oak Bluffs, MA

Riders (7):  Tom, Bob Cheney, Dale Ferguson, Frank Aronson, Lisa Cheney, Renee Rees, and Romaine Randall.

I met five WWs, coming on two different ferries, in Oak Bluffs.  One rider was not registered and the sixth was missing from the group.

We started out around East Chop and headed over the drawbridge toward Vineyard Haven, where we found our missing rider (Frank).  Since he had missed the 9:30 am ferry to Oak Bluffs, he took the 9:50 boat to Vineyard Haven.  It was a lucky meetup. [See note below.]

From Vineyard Haven we headed up-island toward Menemsha, but we veered off before reaching the fishing village because the little bike ferry had ceased weekday operation for the season.  Then heading back to the east we enjoyed the ups and downs of Middle Road and proceeded through West Tisbury village center.

We then picked up the state forest bike path, with multiple dips as we crossed the glacial "bottoms" which are channels carved by meltwater runoff from the glaciers of 20,000 years ago.  (Martha's Vineyard did not become an island until several thousand years later, as glaciers further north melted and the sea level rose more than 300 feet.)

We continued east towards Edgartown and were treated to the spectacle of a series of single engine airplanes flying over our heads and landing on the grass runway at the Katama Airfield.  We lunched, at the Seafood Shanty in Edgartown, on lobster rolls and fish sandwiches.  Checking the time, we decided that we could perhaps be back in Oak Bluffs in time for 3:45 pm ferry departures, so we hustled and succeeded in getting everyone on their respective boats back to the mainland.

Everyone thought that the ride was much fun, and the heat was manageable owing to shaded road and bike ways.

Note:  If you are going to do a ride, especially one with unfamiliar elements, please read (and keep handy) the announcement email.  Frank would have understood how the ferry ticketing worked and saved himself a bit of woe.  Also, the ride leader's phone number is part of the announcement.  (He fruitlessly emailed me with his ferry problem, but ride leaders can't check emails while leading.)

Finally, please register for rides you attend.  I contacted the registrants with the updated route.  The non-registered rider didn't get that notice (in this case, no harm done).

Report by Tom Allen.