Reminder - Lexington Center Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

No fooling, April 1st is the first ride of our Spring 2013 Season!

I will send out GO / STOP status before 8:00 AM Monday morning.

BTW, everyone is invited to join us for Lunch at Via Lago after the morning ride, and/or before the afternoon ride. We wouldn't want to get too healthy now, would we?

This is what the rail trail in Groton looked like at Sand Hill Road yesterday. Good thing we are going to Lexington!

Here is a checklist for you:

1. Helmet - REQUIRED. Gloves are a good idea too.
2. Bicycle in Good Working Order.
3. PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES. If you are having trouble, come a few minutes early and I will help you. This is surprisingly important!
4. Water.
5. Optional - Snack.
6. Required - Your Smiling Face.
7. If you want to print out a copy of our Waiver and initial the yellow boxes and sign at the bottom, it will save us some time at the start. Otherwise I will have copies for you to sign.

The weather forecast is for mid 40s, Partly Cloudy, and breezy in the morning. In the afternoon it should be low 50s, Mostly Sunny, and getting windy. Dress in layers accordingly.

On Monday, April 1st - Lexington - Minuteman Bikeway

The morning Recreation ride will head south on the Minuteman Bikeway to Arlington with stops at Spy Pond and Magnolia Park.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Arlington.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lexington Center - Pay Parking Lot.
• Route Map - Lexington - Arlington.
• Distance - 13 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 250 feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 14 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH - Via Lago in Lexington Center.

 The afternoon Beginner ride will head north on the Minuteman Bikeway to Bedford with an optional side trip to the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail.

• 12:30 PM - We will leave for Bedford.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lexington Center - Pay Parking Lot.
• Route Map - Lexington - Bedford.
• Distance - 9 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 9 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Next Week - Lexington - Woonsocket - Groton

Dear AdventuRiders,

Welcome to our 19th season! This is Tri-state week, with a MA, RI, and NH ride.

The weather is not looking great at this point for Monday, but it's still a few days away. I will send out GO / STOP status before 8:00 on Monday morning.

It's been a great year for skiing, but the snow has put a crimp on our bicycling plans. We've never done a ride starting from Lexington before since it's outside our normal 1/2 hour drive from Groton "rule". The Minuteman Bikeway goes from the farms of Bedford to the urban environment of Cambridge but most importantly, it's plowed in the winter.

We will meet in the pay parking lot in Lexington Center ($0.25 / hour). This is the last bargain left in Lexington, so we better take advantage of it :-)

On Monday, April 1st - Lexington - Minuteman Bikeway

The morning Recreation ride will head south on the Minuteman Bikeway to Arlington with stops at Spy Pond and Magnolia Park.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Arlington.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lexington Center - Pay Parking Lot.
• Route Map - Lexington - Arlington.
• Distance - 13 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 250 feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 14 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH - Via Lago in Lexington Center.

 The afternoon Beginner ride will head north on the Minuteman Bikeway to Bedford with a side trip to the Narrow Gauge Rail Trail.

• 12:30 PM - We will leave for Bedford.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lexington Center - Pay Parking Lot.
• Route Map - Lexington - Bedford.
• Distance - 9 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 9 flat, smooth miles.

On Wednesday, April 3rd - Woonsocket, RI - Blackstone River Bikeway

Another new ride you ask? Yup, it's also well outside out 1/2 hour drive from Groton "rule", but it's worth it. Because some people will need to get back for kid duty, we will have (optional) LUNCH after the ride. Bring a snack.

The Exploration Ride will leave Woonsocket, RI bound for at least Central Falls and maybe Providence.

• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Providence.
• 2:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Woonsocket RI.
• Route Map - Blackstone River Bikeway.
• Distance - 21+ miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300+ feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 23+ flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, April 5th - Groton - Hollis, NH

The Fitness Ride will leave Groton bound for Hollis, NH.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Hollis.
• 1:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - NRRT
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 550 feet.
• Off Road - a couple miles of smooth gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 31 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH is at Filho's Cucina in Groton Center.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

FINAL Taking Care of Business

Dear AdventuRiders,

Sorry to bombard you with all these emails, but we all want a smooth, enjoyable season of bike rides. 

EVERYONE needs to sign a Waiver of Liability this season. You can find it here, or I will have copies with me. 

Please initial the yellow boxes and sign and date the bottom.

Your first ride is free. If you already know how much fun you will have, here are the participating Recreation Departments where you can sign up:

Littleton Recreation - Page 8

Acton Recreation - We are #432 in their Spring / Summer Catalog

Roudenbush Community Center

Pepperell Recreation

It's gonna be a GREAT season, stay tuned for more information.

Bill and Carole

More Business to Take Care of - FAQ

Dear AdventuRiders,

Here is out latest "Frequently Asked Questions". There's even some bicycle buying advice!

Hope to see you this season,

Bill and Carole

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to check my tire pressures at least once a week?

YES, YES, YES!!! You might wonder why this is #1 on the list. This is the difference between a pleasant ride and struggling to keep up with the group. Low tire pressure can cause flat tires too. If you need help, I will be more than happy to show you how to do it.

What Kind of Bicycle Do I Need?

Our rides are designed to be do-able on almost any well maintained bike.

The Fitness Rides will be mostly on road, although we ride on smooth dirt / gravel roads, and we strongly recommend a sturdy road bike. A speedy hybrid bike will work, but be prepared to work harder to keep up. We discourage mountain bikes because you would need to be super human to keep up.

The Recreation Rides combine on road and some civilized off road. A sturdy road bike will work, but you will generally be happier with a hybrid bike. You will get a better workout on a mountain bike, but we never go that far off road.

The Beginner Rides are mostly on road and on rail trails. Pretty much any bike will work, but you will be much happier with a quality lightweight bike. Most / all "department store" bikes are made in China from melted down tanks and are generally not very pleasant to ride.

Do I need to check my tire pressures at least once a week?

YES, YES, YES!!! I can't stress this enough!

Will this ride be hard and long enough for me?

AdventuRides Fitness rides typically cover twenty five to thirty miles of roads and civilized off road in about three hours, with some climbing and descending. They are moderately paced, not races, but the uneven terrain can be challenging and tiring.

Will this ride be too hard and long for me?

AdventuRides Recreation and Beginner rides are more leisurely paced and we try to accommodate the desires and capabilities of the group.

If I can't keep up, should I turn around and go back?

No. Rides are designed to be comfortable for just about everyone. If however, you find the speed too demanding, we don't recommend giving up and turning back. We never leave anyone behind: we feel responsible for returning you safely to the starting point and will make an on-the-trail accommodations to assure this happens. If you insist on leaving the group, we will either detach someone to return with you, provide a map, or issue verbal instructions.

May I bring a child?

No. Our routes are not conducive to child carriers or tag-a-longs.

Do you ride in the rain?

We try not to, but there are times when we get caught in the rain. On very rare occasions, we have started a ride in the rain. Watch your email for GO / STOP notifications.

What about special clothing?

Wear (or bring in a rucksack) several layers of clothing which can be added, removed, or adjusted as the ride proceeds. We swear by shirts with zippers. A waterproof, wind blocking jacket is a must. You must wear a helmet and may appreciate an ear covering if it is chilly. You will need gloves. A lightweight glove and maybe a glove liner will help in cold weather. Disposable hand warmers available in many sporting goods stores work well if you have a cold-hand problem We also recommend long underwear or fleece-lined tights with wind blocking features. Of course, all of this depends on the temperature and wind velocity. We strongly recommend bicycling shorts with a padded crotch liner. Your body will thank you. By May and certainly June shorts and light shirts will do.

Do I need special equipment?

No, but your bicycle must be in good working order and you need a spare tube which fits your wheel, tire irons, and a frame pump.

How will I know where the starting point will be?

We will e-mail you directions each week. Rides usually start from a location no more than a half hours drive from Groton, Massachusetts.

Do you cancel because of cold weather?

No and Yes. It is possible to dress properly for an enjoyable ride even in New England. However, we have been known to cancel in cold, cloudy, and windy conditions.

Bicycling Safety Reminders

Our first priority is your safety. Please review our Bicycling Safety Reminders below.

Helmets.

• A CPSC approved helmet in good condition is required on all of our rides.
• All bicycle helmets sold in this country since 1999 are CPSC approved.
• Helmets should be replaced at least every 10 years since the materials deteriorate over time.

Lane Usage. OK, I admit it. I am probably the worst offender here, but here are the guidelines we will follow.

• NEVER ride on the wrong side of the road. The are enough blind corners and silent Priuses to cause a serious accident. Even if there is no yellow line, we should always leave enough room for oncoming traffic to easily pass us.
• On busy roads we should ride single file as close to the right side as  safe.
• On quiet roads we should generally ride only two abreast. Traffic coming around blind corners behind us don't expect the whole lane to be filled with bikes.
• The exception to all this is when we are turning left or on a very narrow road when we want to "control the lane" to prevent cars from trying to squeeze past us.
• In general we want to share the road and not surprise other users.
• Remember, "Dress to be visible, ride like you're invisible".

Parked Cars. 

• DO NOT ride near a parked car. 
• When passing a parked car, move left at least 6 feet. This is an example of controlling the lane.
• Hitting a car door that swings out in front of you is bad.
• Instinctively swerving left into traffic is worse.

Hand Signals.

• When turning right, I use my right arm to point to where I am going rather than the traditional left arm signal. That 17 year old driver will know exactly what you mean.
• When stopping, I raise one or the other arm like I'm going to ask the teacher a question. This is "Bike New York" style and it is more visible than the tradition arm down signal.

Courtesy. We find that drivers are generally very courteous to us and we need to return the favor.

• When we stop along the road, we should stay in line rather than bunching up and blocking the lane.
• When a driver is courteous to us, its always nice to acknowledge it with a friendly wave.

Speed. Again, I am one of the worst offenders. I'm not going to play cop, but keep this in mind:

• Yes, it is fun to see how fast you can charge down a hill.
• The laws of physics tell us that falling off a bike at 30 MPH will hurt 4 times as much as falling off at 15 MPH.

Hope to see this season,

Bill and Carole

Where to Sign Up + First Rides

Dear AdventuRiders,

It still doesn't look like biking weather (but the skiing has been EPIC!).

Anyhow, it seems very unlikely that the Nashua River Rail Trail will be clear of snow and ice for our opening day (April Fool's Day). Here is the current snow cover map, so our best bet is the Minuteman Bikeway which is plowed. The plan is to meet in Lexington Center, ride south for the morning Recreation Ride, have lunch in Lexington, and ride north for the afternoon Beginner Ride.

The Wednesday (4/3/2013) Exploration Ride will meet in Woonsocket, RI and ride the beautiful Blackstone River Bikeway toward Providence. It's only finished to Central Falls (10.3 miles), so turn around point / lunch is TBD.

The Friday (4/5/2013) Fitness Ride is TBD.

Your first ride with us is FREE, so you don't need to sign up with one of the recreation departments (yet). We will ask you to sign our waiver though.

To sign up, visit one of the following Recreation Department web sites.

Littleton Recreation - Coming Soon

Acton Recreation - We are #432 in their Spring / Summer Catalog

Roudenbush Community Center

Pepperell Recreation

It's gonna be a GREAT season, stay tuned for more information.

Bill and Carole

 

Tomorrow is Spring!

Dear AdventuRiders,

Looking out the window right now, it's hard to believe that Spring starts tomorrow. It's equally hard to believe that AdventuRides Spring 2013 starts in less than 2 weeks on April 1st.

This year we have added a beginner's ride on Monday afternoons. This ride will be for people who haven't got their "bike legs" yet. We will ride 10 to 12 miles, often including Rail Trails, and avoiding hills. I plan to ride one of my little folding bikes to keep the pace slowed down.

The plan for the first Monday is to start in Groton Center with lunch at Filho's. I guess we'll see if the weather cooperates.

More details to follow, I have to go shovel now ...

Bill and Carole

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to check my tire pressures at least once a week?

YES, YES, YES!!! You might wonder why this is #1 on the list. This is the difference between a pleasant ride and struggling to keep up with the group. Low tire pressure can cause flat tires too. If you need help, I will be more than happy to show you how to do it.

What Kind of Bicycle Do I Need?

Our rides are designed to be do-able on almost any well maintained bike.

The Fitness Rides will be mostly on road, although we ride on smooth dirt / gravel roads, and we strongly recommend a sturdy road bike. A speedy hybrid bike will work, but be prepared to work harder to keep up. We discourage mountain bikes because you would need to be super human to keep up.

The Recreation Rides combine on road and some civilized off road. A sturdy road bike will work, but you will generally be happier with a hybrid bike. You will get a better workout on a mountain bike, but we never go that far off road.

The Beginner Rides are mostly on road and on rail trails. Pretty much any bike will work, but you will be much happier with a quality lightweight bike. Most / all “department store” bikes are made in China from melted down tanks and are generally not very pleasant to ride.

Do I need to check my tire pressures at least once a week?

YES, YES, YES!!! I can’t stress this enough!

How do I know if a ride is POSTPONED.

I will send out email before 8:00 AM on the day of the ride with GO or STOP status.

Will this ride be hard and long enough for me?

AdventuRides Fitness rides typically cover twenty five to thirty miles of roads and civilized off road in about three hours, with some climbing and descending. They are moderately paced, not races, but the uneven terrain can be challenging and tiring.

Will this ride be too hard and long for me?

AdventuRides Recreation and Beginner rides are more leisurely paced and we try to accommodate the desires and capabilities of the group.

If I can’t keep up, should I turn around and go back?

No. Rides are designed to be comfortable for just about everyone. If however, you find the speed too demanding, we don’t recommend giving up and turning back. We never leave anyone behind: we feel responsible for returning you safely to the starting point and will make an on-the-trail accommodations to assure this happens. If you insist on leaving the group, we will either detach someone to return with you, provide a map, or issue verbal instructions.

May I bring a child?

No. Our routes are not conducive to child carriers or tag-a-longs.

Do you ride in the rain?

We try not to, but there are times when we get caught in the rain. On very rare occasions, we have started a ride in the rain. Watch your email for GO / STOP notifications.

What about special clothing?

Wear (or bring in a rucksack) several layers of clothing which can be added, removed, or adjusted as the ride proceeds. We swear by shirts with zippers. A waterproof, wind blocking jacket is a must. You must wear a helmet and may appreciate an ear covering if it is chilly. You will need gloves. A lightweight glove and maybe a glove liner will help in cold weather. Disposable hand warmers available in many sporting goods stores work well if you have a cold-hand problem We also recommend long underwear or fleece-lined tights with wind blocking features. Of course, all of this depends on the temperature and wind velocity. We strongly recommend bicycling shorts with a padded crotch liner. Your body will thank you. By May and certainly June shorts and light shirts will do.

Do I need special equipment?

No, but your bicycle must be in good working order and you need a spare tube which fits your wheel, tire irons, and a frame pump.

How will I know where the starting point will be?

We will e-mail you directions each week. Rides usually start from a location no more than a half hours drive from Groton, Massachusetts.

Do you cancel because of cold weather?

No and Yes. It is possible to dress properly for an enjoyable ride even in New England. However, we have been known to cancel in cold, cloudy, and windy conditions.

Bicycling Safety

Helmets.

• A CPSC approved helmet in good condition is required on all of our rides.
• All bicycle helmets sold in this country since 1999 are CPSC approved.
• Helmets should be replaced at least every 10 years since the materials deteriorate over time.

Lane Usage. 
OK, I admit it. I am probably the worst offender here, but here are the guidelines we will follow.

• NEVER ride on the wrong side of the road. The are enough blind corners and silent Priuses to cause a serious accident. Even if there is no yellow line, we should always leave enough room for oncoming traffic to easily pass us.
• On busy roads we should ride single file as close to the right side as  safe.
• On quiet roads we should generally ride only two abreast. Traffic coming around blind corners behind us don't expect the whole lane to be filled with bikes.
• The exception to all this is when we are turning left or on a very narrow road when we want to "control the lane" to prevent cars from trying to squeeze past us.
• In general we want to share the road and not surprise other users.
• Remember, "Dress to be visible, ride like you're invisible".

Parked Cars.

• DO NOT ride near a parked car.
• When passing a parked car, move left at least 6 feet. This is an example of controlling the lane.
• Hitting a car door that swings out in front of you is bad.
• Instinctively swerving left into traffic is worse.

Rail Trails

• We have had more accidents on rail trails than anywhere else.
• DO NOT let your guard down just because there are no cars.

Hand Signals.

• When turning right, I use my right arm to point to where I am going rather than the traditional left arm signal. That 17 year old driver will know exactly what you mean.
• When stopping, I raise one or the other arm like I'm going to ask the teacher a question. This is "Bike New York" style and it is more visible than the tradition arm down signal.

Courtesy.

We find that drivers are generally very courteous to us and we need to return the favor.

• When we stop along the road, we should stay in line rather than bunching up and blocking the lane.
• When a driver is courteous to us, its always nice to acknowledge it with a friendly wave.

Speed.

Again, I am one of the worst offenders. I'm not going to play cop, but keep this in mind:

• Yes, it is fun to see how fast you can charge down a hill.
• The laws of physics tell us that falling off a bike at 30 MPH will hurt 4 times as much as falling off at 15 MPH.