RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 24 July 2024, Seabrook to Portsmouth Seacoast Ride
Ride Leader: self led
31 miles, 9:00 am start from Seabrook, NH
Riders (2): Frank Aronson and Susan Broome.
Two riders enjoyed a very scenic, dry route along the seacoast from Seabrook to Portsmouth and back.
Verbal report by Susan Broome.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 17 July 2024, Harvard-Bolton
Ride Leader: Tom Allen
31 miles, 9:00 am start from Boxborough, MA
Riders (6): Tom, Wing Chow, Renee Rees, John Trotter, and first-timers Richard Schoenfeld and Harry Spatz.
The forecast heat may have kept our numbers down, but it turned out that the combination of an earlier than usual start, shaded roadways, and self-made breeze kept us comfortable. As we entered Harvard from our Boxborough start we encountered our first climb. We waited for one of the group who was slow on the up-hills. As we progressed that rider suggested that he continue on his own following the route on GPS. As everyone else was keeping pace, I accepted his offer.
The roads were indeed lovely and largely shaded. The Berlin portion of the route took us over roads that were less familiar and a particular pleasure to ride. Returning to Bolton and Harvard we did a bit more climbing and enjoyed some exhilarating downhills. We stopped briefly at the top of Prospect Hill for a photo and continued on to the planned stop at the Harvard General Store.
No one needed relief, so we proceeded on Old Littleton Road to the extended descent that provided both breeze and shade. However, the final three miles back to the start was stark contrast with bright sun and a very warm breeze from the south making us feel the heat.
Three of us stayed for lunch at the Craft Food Hall. Our solo rider joined us somewhat later having completed the full route on his recumbent.
With the small group we rode without arrows or a designated sweep. (I was often leading from the sweep position.)
I found this to be a particularly lovely route that deserves another go in, perhaps, the fall season.
Report by Tom Allen.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 10 July 2024, Cycle the City and the Emerald Necklace
Ride Leader: Gary Williams
32.2 miles, 10:00 am start from South Boston, MA
Riders (8): Gary, David Goldberg, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, John Trotter, Mike Togo, Simon Lingard, and first-timer Jim Partridge.
We left Castle Island Park, on a warm, muggy morning, to explore Boston’s urban landscape. We made our way through the Seaport, passing Fort Point Channel where the 1773 Boston Tea Party occurred, then shortly thereafter, the location of the infamous 1919 Great Molasses Flood in the North End. From that point, we headed over to Charlestown where we climbed to the Bunker Hill Monument, site of the first stage of the Revolutionary War in 1775. After, we descended to the Charlestown Navy Yard and stopped to visit the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Nearby was the USS Cassin Young, a WWII-era destroyer.
From there we crossed briefly into East Cambridge and then back into Boston onto the Paul Dudley White bike path along the Charles River. We cruised down Beacon Street in Back Bay towards the Fenway neighborhood where we entered the Back Bay Fens. We continued through the Emerald Necklace, the Riverway, Olmstead Park, past Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum (halfway-point rest stop), and Franklin Park. From there we made our way to Mattapan and the Neponset River Trail, through Pope John Paul II Park, and into Dorchester.
Our intrepid crew braved a short stretch along busy Morrissey Boulevard before entering UMASS/JFK. Our last stop was a quick breather and a gander at President Kennedy’s sailboat. We then set sail for home, back at Castle Island, where most of the group enjoyed a delicious lunch at Sullivan’s.
Report by Gary Williams.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 3 July 2024, Wellesley High School to Farm Pond
Ride Leader: Gene Ho
31.4 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA
Riders (25): Gene, Barry Nelson, Charley Lax, Christine Corr, Ellen Gugel, Francie Sparks, Frank Aronson, Frank Hubbard, Gary Williams, Gerry Sheetoo, Janusz Wicher, Kim Wach, Linda Nelson, Marc Baskin, Melissa Norton Renee Rees, Robin Frain, Ron Marland, Sandy Gotlib, Susan Sabin, and first-timers Andrew White, Ginny Walsh, Jeff Blue, Melissa Quirk, and Richard Levine.
It was a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, where the women are strong, the men good . . . . . Wait a minute, senior moment.
Let's start again. It was a quiet week in Wellesley, where the women are strong, the children good looking, and all the men are about average. With school over for the summer, the high school parking lot was available for the start of our ride. Despite the light use of the town's athletic fields, the town made the porta-jons available for our use, much to our relief. With the logistical details out of the way, we headed along the town’s mixed-use path. Warned to be wary of elderly retirees who can't hear, tending to young children who can't listen, we thankfully encountered neither.
Finally blessed with the warm dry weather we had been craving, we set our destinations to complement our early summer conditions - Tangerini's Farm and Farm Pond. With the conclusion of last summer's road construction, which bedeviled route planning the whole riding season, we received our well-deserved payback with smooth pavement and easy progress. Between the good weather and the holiday week, it really was a quiet week in Wellesley, as well as all the rest of the towns en route.
Our first stop at the halfway point, Tangerini's Farm is an actual farm, or at least looks it. But, with the corn only knee-high on the 3rd of July, the greens and grains still seeds in the ground, and any citrus only a coincidence with the owner's name, the cash crop of the day was ice cream which was available in abundance. Having completed the planting and with harvest too far away to think about, the Norwegian batchelor farmers are off on vacay with the rest of the town’s residents, leaving only the good-looking children to mind the farm. They dutifully and successfully separated us and our money in exchange for ice cream. The B-school types call that complementary market planning or some such, and they're teaching 'em young on the farm.
Next stop - Farm Pond. I expected some takers with several enthusiastic swimmers in the group, but not even a toe-dip. They say don't swim after a big lunch and we must have taken heed.
Final stop, actually just a pause - the Wellesley College Center for Women. Funny, I thought the whole college was for women. On the advice of my Norwegian batchelor lawyer friends, I will say no more. The Center's driveway does offer access to one of Wellesley's architectural wonders - the Waban Arches, a roman style aqueduct. Since it traverses a wetland, it's not often seen except by golfers chasing errant balls from the nearby golf course and, back in the day, by rock climbers looking for challenging climbs, and, currently, by local graffiti artists looking for an outlet. It's totally covered with it. When the DCR took over an abandoned railroad bridge, which had become a graffiti magnet, and turned it into a tastefully maintained walkway over the Charles River, the grafitti had to go elsewhere. Now I know where it went.
Report by Gene Ho
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 26 June 2024, Sharon Lake Cruise
Ride Leader: Ellen Dirgins
30 miles, 10:00 am start from Sharon, MA
Riders (15): Ellen, Alan Cantor, Ann Whaley-Tobin, David Goldberg, Everett Briggs, Frank Calbrese, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Julia Zhogina, Kim Wach, Mark Friedman, Wing Chow, first-timer Rena Sokolow, and Bill (not registered, no surname).
Although it was a hot day for a bike ride, we had a great turnout. We rode through the towns of Foxboro, Mansfield, and Sharon. The group made a few stops for regrouping, hydrating, and restroom breaks.
Once we reached our lunch destination, a few riders had to leave us. Those that stayed had a nice lunch at Angel's Cafe in Sharon center. All riders made it back safe and sound!
Thanks to Bill for sweeping. Until next time, happy riding!
Report by Ellen Dirgins.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 19 June 2024, Norfolk STBG 35
Ride Leader: Alan Cantor
35 miles, 10:00 am start from Sherborn, MA
Riders (7): Alan, Bill Umphrey, Charley Lax, David Goldberg, Frank Calbrese, Mike Barry, and Simon Lingard.
The day was hot and humid and a few people who signed up decided not to ride - big thanks to all of them for emailing well ahead of time.
All the riders seemed prepared to deal with the elements and complete the ride, ignoring my suggestion of cutting a few miles out if needed.
I learned a lesson in assuming that we would all ride at the same pace and not need arrows. One rider texted me to say the pace was too high and that he would continue on his own. This turned out to be OK and he did join some others for lunch. However, it was not in the WW spirit and I will not make that mistake again.
As the ride proceeded, two groups formed. The faster group included a single-speed bike and two e-bikes. The slower group included the leader. All found their way around the route successfully and indicated that they enjoyed the ride. As far as I know, there were no mechanical or health issues. Five riders had lunch together.
Since I rode to the start and knowing that five of the riders were well ahead of me, I took a quicker route home and missed the finish. I was really struck by three of the riders reaching out to me making sure I was OK. This is the true spirit of WW and the CRW and I am grateful for it.
Report by Alan Cantor.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 12 June 2024, Stone Arch Bridge and Lost Lake
Ride Leader: Tom Allen
41 miles, 10:00 am start from Boxborough, MA
Riders (11): Tom, Adam Walpert, Bill Perry, Bill Umphrey, Clyde Kessel, David Goldberg, Gene Ho, Janusz Wicher, Marie Keutmann, Shawn Corr, and Simon Lingard.
Another fine day for a ride with enough clouds to protect the sun-sensitive among us and to keep all from overheating. The group size was just about ideal; enough for company, but compact enough to keep arrowing to a minimum. The ride route had to be adjusted on the prior day, to avoid some construction on the original route, which added about four miles and an extra 250 feet of ascent. Everyone adapted admirably.
The Stone Arch bridge proved to be a very interesting stop with people marveling at the mortarless construction with all stones held in place by gravity and distributed forces. The path to the site provided a diversion from the road and all, with their various bike styles and configurations (road, gravel, electric assist and recumbent) managed well.
The run through Lost Lake was as fun as it always is and took us to the detour point. This part of the route had not been scouted by me, but following the able advice of Lindy King it provided a few lovely miles (and hills).
The accompanying photos are from our stop at the Stone Arch Bridge.
I think everyone (save perhaps one) stayed for lunch at the new Craft Food Hall, which proved to be an ideal ride launch (and lunch) point.
Thanks to Bill Perry for sweeping and restoring the group after a missed light split the ride just at the start. And thanks to Lindy for the re-routing assistance.
Report by Tom Allen.
