Cape Ann Loop with Remote Start - May 20, 2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015, Cape Ann Loop with Remote Start
Ride Leaders:  Richard Vignoni and Selig Saltzman and Gene Konik
67 Mile Option, 9:30 AM start from Gordon College, Wenham

31 Mile Core Ride, 10 AM start from Stage Fort Park, Gloucester

Riders:  67 mile (12): Richard, Bill Widnall, Bob Apsler, Chuck McWilliams, Everett Briggs, Francine Sparks, Gardner Gray, Greg Sathis, Herb Kavet ,Paula Hobson, Russ Keene 

Riders 31 Miles(25) Selig, Andrea Brown, Andrea Claudy, Barbara Jacobs, Bob Amtive?, Curt Dudlay, Dick Harter, Gene Konik, Ilkka Suvanto, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Jim White, Jon Claudy, Judi Burton, Kathy Jones, Margie Lee, Marie Keutmann, Maurice King, Paul Greco, Richard Fortier, Steve Minkwitz, Susan Sabin, Tom Sorenson, Tony Lee, Wick Doggett

With cool temperatures and windy conditions, 9 riders departed Gordon College at a slower than normal pace.  This allowed 2 more riders who were delayed in traffic and someone who stayed behind as an escort to catch up with us on route about 7 miles into the ride.   With no pressure to link up with the core group, we made our way along the coast up to Gloucester making loops through Kettle Cove and Magnolia and making a quick rest stop at Stage Fort Park.  A flat tire in Gloucester caused the group to be delayed.  Several riders who had time constraints or were impatient went ahead leaving 7 of us by the time we re-grouped at the State fish pier.  In the interest of time, we omitted the Rocky Neck artist colony and proceed to Eastern Point Light, Good Harbor Beach followed by a stop on South St for the obligatory group photo.   After looping through Lobster Cove, we biked over the wooden bridge then it was a short ride to our lunch stop at Willow Rest which all seemed to enjoy.

After lunch, we headed out Rt 133 then through the marshes of Essex visiting Conomo point.  We rejoined 133 before heading inland on a route that Butch mapped out and we adopted some years ago.  This took us on some quiet pastoral back roads through Hamilton.  On the final turn onto Grapevine Ave, and what has now become a tradition, the group was told they are free to sprint ahead for the final 1.4 miles back to the car.  Everyone arrived back at the cars by 4:30 to complete a nice day of cycling.  Thanks to Everett and Russ Keene for sweeping and to all those who arrowed and participated

The core riders were faced with cool temps and a brisk wind but did have good visibility providing riders with many viewing opportunities which included harbors, rocky coasts, expensive homes, the Boston skyline, Wingaersheek and Crane beaches, and Maine and New Hampshire in the distance.  The group split for lunch, choosing either the sub shop or the bargain lobster roll place.  A few riders who went ahead from the long ride caught up with the core group and joined them for lunch.  Thanks to Gene Konik for taking on the ride co-leader role when there were cell phone issues with the designated person and thanks to Dick Harter, the always reliable sweep, who graciously agreed to lead the sub shop group back to the cars, so that the ride leader could dine on lobster.  There were no mishaps

Reports by Richard Vignoni

Ride photos https://picasaweb.google.com/106721601289177914592/LREMay202015WWCapeAnn?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvGhuqhmoru9QE&feat=email

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Honey Dew Ride - May 13, 2015

Ride Report Wednesday May 13, 2015 Honey Dew Ride

Long Ride (Marc Baskin)

Riders: Dom Jorge, Judith McMichaels, Adena Schutzberg, Alan Cantor, Bob Apsler, David Sachs (a new WW rider), Ken Hablow, Frank Hubbard, Everett Briggs, Russ Keene, Francie Sparks, Kathy Horvath.

It was cooler than expected and quite windy but I think we all had a grand time, at least I had a great time. Thanks to Ken for editing my rather weak Ride with GPS route into three well routed options. I was lucky to have three great sweeps, Everett, Adena, and Russ. There were only a few takers for a sunny outdoor lunch at Off Center in Weston Center.

30 Mile Ride (Fred newton)

It was a breezy cool day in the low 60’s for this 30 mile Wednesday Wheelers ride starting from Burchard Park in Weston, and passing through Sudbury, Framingham, Wayland, and touching in Lincoln and Marlborough just briefly. We stopped for a short time at Honey Dew in Framingham where a few riders fortified themselves for the remaining 10 miles. There was one minor mechanical early in the ride and one flat tire near the end. The rider with the flat was transported with his bike to the finish for expediency. Some of the group enjoyed lunch at various eateries in Weston Center.

The 24 riders included Fred Newton (leader), Greg Stathis (sweep, thanks Greg), Alan Schneyer, Barbara Martin, Betty Hoffman, Chuck McWilliam, Dave Slade, David Wean, Don Mannes, Elissa Brown, Ilkka Suvanto, Jack Mroczkows, Janet Miller, Joanne Samuels, Kathy Jonas, Maurice King, Mike Hanauer, Richard Fortier, Roy Westerberg, Susan Sabin, Don Buchholtz, Chris Schuch, Nancy Schlecht, and Wick Doggett.

Short Ride (Tom Allen)

Riders: 8 - Tom, Dick Ivers, John Allen, Dick Harter, Nancy Smith, Ann Northup, Rick Lawrence, and Jacque Smith

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This was actually the Honey-Didn't version of the ride as the route did not bend far enough south to stop there. The advertised length was 16 miles, but with an additional loop and a detour to the facilities at the Sudbury Great Meadows Wildlife station we eked out almost 20 miles. We started with 8 riders but ended with 7 as John spotted a discarded bicycle in a dumpster and decided that it needed rescuing. Not sure how he managed it, but he left the group to deal with it. Four of us continued on to Weston Center for lunch at the Off-Center Cafe. Thanks to legendary anchorman Dick Harter for sweeping our group.

Grace Bicycles Ride - May 6, 2015

Ride Report Wednesday May 6, 2015 40 From Grace Leaders: Alan Cantor and AJ Gemperline Long Riders: Fred Newton, Rick Carlson, Russ Keene, Dave Slade, Bob Wadsworth, Steve Page, Annemarie Allman, Brian O’Connor, Bob Apsler, Bruce Lederer, Herb Kavet, Ellen Gugel, Adena Schutzberg, Alan Cantor Short Riders: Wick Doggett, Robert Rybarczyk, Kathy Jonas, Don O’Rourke, AJ Gemperline

It was a great day for a ride starting out overcast and quickly becoming sunny and warm. The route meandered down to Uxbridge over some less than smooth roads. There were many nice descents which, of course, meant we conquered wonderful climbs. There was one mechanical when our sweep had a flat right after a regrouping stop - we all waited with good spirits. Speaking of spirit, there was a great sense of camaraderie and of having a great time together on this ride. This is what makes the WW rides so special. Many thanks to Steve Page for sweeping and for the many arrows. And thanks to AJ for leading the short ride.

Deer Island - April 29, 2015

Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Deer Island Ride Leader: Tom Allen 35 miles, 10:00 am start from Danehy Park, Cambridge, MA (Click here for route.) Riders (20): Adena Schutzberg, Betty Hoffman, Dave Slade, Dick Harter, Sandy Gray, Ilkka Suvanto, Jacque Smith, Marie Keutmann, Maurice King, Selig Saltzman, Susan Sabin, Tom Allen, Kathy Jonas, Winnie Parker, Gary Smiley, David Wean, Don Mannes, Judi Burton, Cindy Holthouse, Elissa Brown. Present at start: Alan Schneyer I had ordered brilliant, sunny weather but delivery was not forthcoming. It was rather gray with an easterly breeze that did not bode assistance in our ride toward the coast. The ride itself got off to a rocky start with the combination of a mechanical issue and a botched arrow isolating 3 riders in parts unknown in Cambridge. Unable to rouse any of them by phone, we decided to push on. That decision split Alan Schneyer from his wife (Elissa) and he decided to ride back to see if he could make contact, thus placing him in the present-at-start category. So now down to 17 riders we continued through Somerville and onto bike paths in Medford along the Mystic River, which we crossed and followed through the Mystic Reservation and around to the parking lot at the Wellington T station. From there we found the Northern Strand Bikeway through Malden and taking us to Revere. We reached the shore at Revere Beach and posed for a portrait of our slightly reduced number taken by a kindly passer by. Then, miracle of miracles, the three originally lost riders appeared! David Wean had resourcefully followed the route on his smart phone using the RideWithGPS app, making him an accidental co-leader. (Alan Schneyer never did locate the lost group and got his ride by biking back to Concord as his driver was among the missing at the time.) We (now 20 in number) rode along the beach walk to a welcome stop at the facilities. The view from Deer Island was quite impressive and we lingered a bit as we found ourselves in the lee of wind and it was quite comfortable. Then after circling the path around Deer Island and its impressive sewage digesters, we rode back through Winthrop and East Boston and crossed over to Chelsea where we engaged some challenging traffic before reaching the relative calm of Commandant's Way. The final stretch was rather gritty through Everett and Sullivan Square (which is not square). Upon making our way to Davis Square for lunch a number of riders wished to head directly back to the cars, and Dick Harter graciously led that contingent back to Danehy Park. There were no flats (remarkably) and two mechanical issues: the aforementioned problem that split off the lost 3, and a broken chain on the no-lunch ride back to the cars. Many riders commented favorably on the route and were happy to learn about the bike paths as well as experience new streets and areas.Thanks to Dick Harter for sweeping and to David Wean for repairing the early mechanical issue and for successfully reunited with us at mile 14.One more thing: check out this web site for a special kind of weather forecast: Windyty.com Safety notes by Tom Allen: The group did not seem daunted by traffic and we stayed as a tightly knotted group when the traffic was a factor. This made us predictable to drivers who could consider us a single entity. One rider noted a lapse of passing etiquette (please pass only on the left) and a general absence of the "On-Your-Left" call outs. Comment by Betty Hoffman: A safety reminder:  Before you move out to pass another cyclist, it's a good idea to inform the rider in front of you that you are about to do so.  This precaution helps to prevent collisions.  On rides like yesterday's urban ride, road surfaces tend to be in bad shape.  in such conditions, riders sometimes deviate from a straight course (move left) to avoid road hazards like deep potholes, cracks in the road surface, and obstructions on the road like the board in the road toward the end of yesterday's ride. ​ Click here to Reply or Forward 8.99 GB (59%) of 15 GB used Manage Terms - Privacy Last account activity: 0 minutes ago Details

In and Out of Cambridge - April 22, 2015

Wednesday, April 22, 2015, In and Out of Cambridge

Ride Leader: Dick Harter

30 miles,10:00 am start from Danehy Park, Cambridge, MA

Riders (12): Tom Allen, Elissa Brown, Don Buchholtz, Mike Hanauer, Dick Harter, Irv Kurki, Steve Miller, Dave Slade, Gary Smiley, Francie Sparks, Adena Schutzberg and a vigorous rider whose name the leader failed to get.

We gathered on a brilliant Spring morning, but noted that huge piles of dirty snow have not improved the appearance of this handsome park.  Mounting up, we skirted the Alewife T Station and took the Fitchburg Extension Trail into Belmont. We crossed through the Belmont historic district, around Waverly Oaks and up Mill Street.  We climbed up the back side of Belmont Hill and then went on up to the water tower in Arlington.  Zipping down Gray Street in Arlington, we then crossed over into Medford and Winchester, passing the Mystic Lakes and then following the Mystic River to Alewife Brook.  The brook trail brought us back to Alewife, and we spent the rest of the ride in Cambridge.  The stately houses on Brattle Street soon gave way to the bustle of the Cambridge Common and Harvard University.  We took Cambridge Street through Portugese and Italian neighborhoods, passed the massive new Cambridge Police Station and then returned to Old Cambridge via Broadway.  We rode through my neighborhood, with its wonderfully progressive politicians, and ended where we started.  My thanks to Adena for sweeping and to all the riders for safe riding practices.

Dick Harter

Harvard Hill Ride - April 15, 2015

Ride Leaders' Reports April 15

Riders Short: Elissa Brown, Adena Schutzberg, Annemarie Altman, Clyde Kessel, Dom Jorge (leader), Francine Sparks (long?), Gardner Gray, George Strangberg, Jim Hsia, Ken Hablow, Patrick Ward, Rpy Westerberg, Selig Saltzman, Susan Sabin, Tom Allen, Winslow Green

Riders Long: Alan Cantor, Bernie Flynn, Bob Wolf, Brian OConnor (leader), Fred Newton, Herb Kavet, Judith McMichael, Kaz Zelny, Karen Saltus (sweep), Kim Wach, Lindy King, Richard Vignoni, Russ Keene 

Long Ride Report:  Not a huge amount to say really except the route was as advertised - Hilly!  The group in the most part stayed together stopping to regroup after each of the seven major climbs.  Lindy King dropped out after Prospect Hill due to work commitments, followed by Richard Vignoni before the ascent of Littleton County Road to head home and Francine (i think) took the option to cut short back to Harvard having completed the hardest of the 7 big climbs.  Thank you Karen for sweeping.  Excellent day out 

Short Ride Report: On a beautiful Spring day 15 riders set out on a 27 mile, somewhat hilly, very nice ride. There were no incidents/accidents & everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Great to have Winslow with us, who broke off for home in Bolton. Ken also split for home toward the end of the ride. Both had ridden to the ride, as did a few others. Clyde did his normal great job of sweeping, thanks Clyde. Brian had put the ride together, adapted, I believe, from a Pat Ward ride. He put me in charge of the weather. How did I do, Brian?

Pot Luck Party for Brett and Andrea - April 8, 2015

Ride Leaders' Reports April 8th Pot Luck Party for Brett and Andrea Leaders: Ann Northup and Richard Vignoni Long time Wednesday Wheeler and ride leader Brett Serkez has moved to Indiana. Brett and Andrea Leopold, his new companion are visiting. This event was motivated by Brett's desire to see his friends and introduce Andrea to our riding group.   With still unseasonable yet comfortable temperatures, Mother Nature granted us a window of good weather to get our  ride in.  18 riders departed from Ann’s house warming up quickly as they biked up the substantial hill at the start of the  ride.  With the entrance blockaded due to snow melt and runoff, we biked in the exit to Hopkinton State Park then  walked our bikes around a metal gate to get into and another to get out of the park.  A short distance before the 24/16  mile split, we regrouped to give riders an opportunity to take a shorter return but all opted for the 24 mile ride.  While  only 24 miles, the distance proved appropriate since most riders had not yet logged many miles and, for some, it was  their first ride of the season.  The perhaps understated hilliness added to the workout.  We did several partial  regroupings along the way to tighten up the spread of the group.  At mile 19 we regrouped at what we thought was a fire  station with several people using the facilities only to find out it was an office building (but it did have a fire engine in the driveway).  The weather at this point had turned colder and it started to sleet.  We biked the remaining 5 miles back to Ann’s house. Seven folks did Ann's 2+ hour scenic, wooded walk to and around Hopkinton State Park. Mid-way we stopped to acknowledge the spot where Brett fell after a crazy stunt on a mountain bike ride a few years back in his invincible youth.  Remarkably, riders and walkers arrived back at Ann's house at the same time for the pot luck party. Prior to the event, Ann had sent out a Google Docs link that allowed participants to sign up for their food contribution ahead of time in a way that everyone could see in advance who would be attending and what they would bring. Even though most people make these decisions at the last minute, Ann still found it helpful and hope participants did too. As always, the food was DELICIOUS. Everyone was VERY generous and thoughtful with their choices of purchased or prepared tasty, healthy, creative treats brought ready to serve. It was an additional bonus to welcome back Winslow Green from his recovery from lymphoma to a gathering of friends and good cheer.