Sunday, November 22, 2020

November Accidental Century

 November Accidental Century




With pandemic hitting its long-feared autumn/winter surge, we decided to rent a house on Cape Cod.  While I love living in a condo in town, the shared ill ventilated common spaces have been a source of anxiety.  I’ve got a couple neighbors who don’t wear masks -- and even if they did, aerosols from their apartments would clearly enter the common areas and then my place.  Additionally, my kids have some vacation time coming up and spending some time in a large house seemed like a great break.  Of course in the back of my mind I was thinking about bicycling from my home to the Cape.  I’m aware of all the privilege this represents.  We’ve still got our jobs, we can do them remotely, and so far we’ve all been healthy.


Anyway, my wife asked if I was thinking about riding to Brewster.  Hey, she knows me!  I set some weather related ground rules: the temperature had to be above 50F (10C) with no rain in the forecast.  I’ve been getting out to ride regularly, and cold wet rides are miserable enough for an hour or two.  Looking at the map I vaguely estimated the ride to be about 80 miles.  I had extended my weekend long ride up to 66 miles, so I figured I was good on that count.


The forecast was very good for mid November. Cloudy and almost 60F.  Since it was only going to be about 80 miles I didn’t set an alarm. I would wake up when I woke up and eventually get out the door.  It was nice to get a full night’s sleep before a big ride and to take my time with the final prep for getting out the door.  I had fully packed my touring bike for the ride.  In addition to food (clif bars, nut butter, PB&J sandwich, four water bottles, gatorade) I made sure to include warm weather gear in case the forecast was wrong.  I had heavy weight gloves, booties, a thick fleece gaiter, and a winter cycling jacket.  This made for a pretty heavy rig.





I got out the door on the late side, almost 8:30 AM.  But what was the big deal?  It was only going to be about 80 miles.


By the time I got to Dorchester I was overheating, so I stopped to remove my fleece helmet liner and swap out my long finger autumn weight gloves for short finger cycling gloves.  As I rode along it just kept getting warmer.  I removed my arm warmers and then finally my Pearlizumi jacket.  I was in shorts, jersey, and knee warmers on a 67F sunny autumn day.  I felt very very lucky that conditions were so good.  Even the wind was generally either a tailwind or non-existent. 





I tried to eat and drink by clock not due to hunger or thirst.  On a long ride you want to stay ahead of both.  The calories you take on board early in the ride are critical later in the day.  I had been doing a very bad job of this lately on my longer weekend rides, coming home thirsty & famished.


Taking a break in Halifax, note those full panniers



It felt like really slow going on my touring bike.  You didn’t jam it up hills, you kind of urged it.  The roads were fairly quiet.  Blissfully so in many places.  I got to the bridge a little bit on the late side.  I got off the bike to enjoy my PB&J chased by my Gatorade.  It was about 2 PM and I was feeling the time pressure.  The sun would go down a little after 4PM.  As I was walking over the bridge I heard a car beeping.  It was my family!  What can I say, it was wonderful to see my youngest daughter smiling and waving to me.


On the bridge just before my family passed by



The narrow road through Sandwich center was dead quiet.  It was wonderful  And really almost everyone I interacted with all day (at a distance) was in a great mood.  It was a very different vibe than you get when you bike these same roads in the summer when they are packed with tourists, vacationers, and frustrated locals.


Somewhere along here I figured out there was no way my mileage estimate was accurate.  It could have been while riding on the service road and looking at a sign on the parallel highway, Route 6.  Well, there was nothing to do except forge ahead (OK, I could have called my wife to pick me up or even used the bike towing service I’ve got from the Better World Club, but nah).


As I passed the open market in Barnstable I made a quick inventory of my consumables. I still had a Clif bar, a packet of Skratch labs sports drink mix, an Rx Nut Butter packet, and one full bottle of water.  No need to stop.


This stretch of the route was terrible.  It was on 6A and there was a fair amount of traffic and too many of the drivers were not cutting me any slack.  It was past 3 PM and I just wanted to finish this segment before sunset.  Finally, I got to Setucket Road even as the sun was dipping into the horizon.  I felt immensely relieved to be off of Route 6A and on a very quiet tertiary road.  I pulled over to rotate that last full water bottle into my front bottle cage and text my family.


As I rode along I got to Slough Road and its intriguing sign -- pointing the way to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  Normally, I would take Setucket to its end, hop back on 6A for a couple hundred yards, and then take Tubman up to the rail trail in Brewster.  I had experienced enough 6A for one day and narrow/hilly Tubman wasn’t too appealing.  So, I took that right on Slough.


The road was absolutely quiet and almost as good it was recently paved.  It felt good to sit up, pedal no handed for a bit, and stretch.  My shoulders were getting a bit achy and I kneaded them as best I could while riding.  As I rode past kettle ponds I thought to myself, this was a longer stretch than I had anticipated.  Finally after some friendly police & construction workers let me walk through a closed section road (it was being repaved and the heat from the new asphalt was delightful!), I got to the rail trail.  IN HARWICH.  So, yeah, I had just tacked a bunch of miles onto my day.  The tradeoff of riding on such quiet roads was probably worth it.


Finally on the rail trail. It got a lot darker. 



It got DARK on the rail trail.  I turned my headlight on high and pointed it up to try see more of the upcoming path.  Eventually, I crossed into Brewster.  And then I heard my name shouted from the side of the path! It was my wife!  There was a path through the woods to the road our rental was on!  She offered to drive me up the lengthy steep hill, but I declined.  And thankfully so -- my bike computer came out to just 0.05 miles over 100!  So, I completed my accidental century ride.  I felt alright. A bit sore here and there.  I did go to sleep a bit early (I got an excellent 11 hours) and I felt fantastic the next day.  


They say Sir Isaac Newton developed calculus while decamping from London during the plague. It's unlikely I will make any similar breakthrough, but it's wonderful to be here.




A few observations from the day I don’t want to forget:

Some new bike lanes popped up, Not yet contiguous, but a step in the right direction.

The pandemic is not a thing on the south shore. Full parking lots.

Many Trump voters are not shy. There were interesting pro Trump displays

One Trump voting pickup driver was careful & courteous. Shout out to you!

Trees w/no leaves let me see A LOT more kettle ponds than I knew were on the route.

Too many newbies on the rail trail had no lights. Or reflectors.

Woolie boolie socks are the best!

Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" coming on for the beautiful S turns before the bridge.


Sunday, August 16, 2020

How to Stay Sane During a Pandemic: Ride the Bike

 How to Stay Sane During a Pandemic: Ride the Bike
Your Mileage May Vary

Global Pandemic: Plan An Alternate Rout(ine)!

Although it's been MONTHS since I updated this blog, I can report that I've been consistent in staying on my bike.  I've been working from home since March and I'm deeply grateful to still have a job and for my family's continued health during this very frightening time.

I've been careful to maintain whatever elements of routine & normality from the BeforeTimes that I can.  For instance, I don't wear t-shirts when I "go to work".  I've kept wearing collared polo shirts (hey, for an IT guy that's dressing up).  Most importantly, I have kept up with bicycling before work.  At first I would just ride for an hour or so, but I found the longer I went the better my mood through the day.  So, now I typically wake up early enough to ride for almost two hours before starting my work day.  This isn't too far off from the amount of time I would spend on my bike commute, so I guess it makes sense that it feels optimal to me.  On the weekends I go out for longer rides, typically on Sundays.  

I stretched out these longer rides to about 75 miles over the course of the summer.

Generally the weather was great this summer. There were some exceptions.

It was really nice getting out of town and away from people.  By all reports outdoor transmission of the virus is generally less common.  Nonetheless, I did the polite thing and put on a mask whenever I saw someone who was going to come within 20 feet of me.

Be considerate and careful! Doesn't cost nothing.


I also carry a real mask with me for use in stores.  Riding in general was a way to relieve stress and was a touchstone to normality. Also, it's just fun to get out on a nice sunny day.  Finally in August I did a real long ride -- from my home in Brookline out to Eastham on Cape Cod.  A ride of about 105 miles.



By habit and tradition I stopped where the Harbor to the Bay and Outriders have rest stops.  The green arrows on the ground had been almost entirely weathered away or paved over.  Fortunately, I know the route by heart.
Past Plymouth on my way to the Cape Cod Canal.




I packed a lot of food and fluids to reduce the number of times I'd have to stop en route. That's coffee in the bottle on the left.

Out of water I had to stop at a little market in Barnstable.  I shook the carbonation out of the coke to have the old classic cyclist's energy drink, flat coke.

A view of the marsh from the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Just gorgeous.


105 miles without putting on sunglasses makes for bloodshot eyes.

At the end of the ride I got to the place we're renting for three weeks.  I'll be working remotely from here.  Not from the hammock in the background of the photo though!  With the crisis the country is going through due to the mismanagement of the pandemic I am acutely aware of my good fortune and privilege.  I hope anyone reading this can find a way to get some respite from the stress and danger.  Take care of yourselves and the people around you as best you can. 



Monday, April 20, 2020

Everyone's Lost Season

Compared to so many I have so little to complain about.  So far my family is all healthy.  My wife and I still have our jobs and we're as busy as ever.  Having thrown out that important provisio I'd like to just whine a little bit about my lost cycling season.

The Midnight Marathon Ride was canceled.  So was the CRW's Spring Century.  And it's just made me sad.  I doubt that any large events will happen this summer and will it be wise to participate.

Who was that masked man?

I've been getting out and riding before work and on the weekends -- keeping as much distance between me & other people as possible.  I've also been covering my face.  At least that will reduce any droplets/aerosols coming off me in case I'm infected & asymptomatic.  I wash my face covering after every use.  And I've got a few to rotate through.  Still, they get kind of gross.


This weekend I rode a bit out to Sudbury where I saw a nice looking marsh along Water Row.  I also saw a couple snow people -- left over from what I hope is the last substantial snowfall for the year that we got on Friday.

Spring in eastern Massachusetts!


Do you want to build a snowman? It doesn't have to be a snowman.

I also got to help another cyclist who had a puncture but no repair kit.  I carry a mini pump and glueless patches so I can help other people even if they've got different type tubes.  We kept our distance and I haven't touched my tool kit since then!  We were both wearing face coverings, so the whole thing had its surreal/funny side.

Anyway, thanks for letting me complain about my petty little problems.  Hope we get through this soon and anyone reading this is well.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

40 Mile Pandemic Ride

Sunny 48F, some wind.  This started out as a short spin, but my wife texted me saying she was going out for a walk with the kids and that I should "enjoy the ride".  So, I did.




One mistake was hitting the MCRT rail trail in Weston.  Too many people for fun cycling and too many people to be around during a pandemic.  I'll stick the roads from here on out.  Elsewhere on the road I did run into a couple friends.  Nice to chat with them while maintaining a respectful distance.  

Workout wise, this was my longest ride for quite some time and I felt it!  It was on my touring bike with panniers.  I'm keeping the road bike with the stationary trainer tire on it for a while yet. Also, I think I'll carry more water with me so I don't have to stop in any stores next time around.

I did see an older flinty looking guy rebuilding the stone wall on his property.  It's a New England moment, ladies and gentlemen!  I didn't take a photo of it.  I thought I'd regret that choice, and I was correct!


The water fountains were turned off too.
I saw lots of people out and about -- running, walking, and bicycling.  Aside from the rail trail, most everyone was keeping their distance.

Be safe out there, people.


It was just windy & chilly enough to leave the helmet cover on.

Friday, February 14, 2020

My Top Cycling Tips

Spring seems just around the corner here in Boston.  Sunset is around 5 PM giving a little bit more light -- and safety -- to my rides home from work.  One of the nice things about bike commuting is you get to meet other cyclists.  There's a whole bunch who I've met and even exchanged emails with.  

The motorcyclist bike commutes most of the time!


One recent acquaintance is a bit new cycling and he's signed up to do the long route for the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC).  That's a really big charity ride with thousands of cyclists.  I sent him some tips about doing long bike rides and I thought it might be a good subject for a blog post.

This is all oriented towards doing long rides.


  • Increase your weekly mileage gradually.  You should get up to doing 60-75% of the event mileage a couple weeks before the event.
  • Long cycling events are eating & drinking contests with some cycling thrown in.  Eat and drink a lot on the event.  Everybody's different so spend a little time finding out what on the bike food works for you.
  • Be prepared for bad weather.  Bring arm warmers, knee warmers, and a vest.  You never know when the forecast is going to be very wrong.
  • Train with the bike and clothes you're going to use on the event.  No magic beans for your event!  Your saddle, shoes, gloves, and bike shorts should be old friends with you on the big day.  The bike should be dialed in for you.
  • Get quality rest for recovery.  This is true during training and in the period leading up to your event.  I'm very careful to get my eight hours of sleep nightly.  It's a priority.
  • Have fun on the bike. Please! The rest follows.
Pit stop on Outriders

Eat & drink! and bike a bit.


People have written tons of magazines and articles about training and nutrition.  The above just seems like good rules of thumb to me.  

It's worth spending time reading articles by Selene Yeager aka The Fit Chick.  Dr. Joel Friel has written a number of good books.  I particularly liked "Fast After 50".


Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains of the moon.