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Post by wheelson on Dec 31, 2020 23:24:54 GMT
You guys are fantastic. I like what you’re doing and when I’m able I may call it “street BRAGGING”! Seriously, great job and I’m looking forward to next season. Best, John “wheelson” I feel your frustration John, how far away are you from riding again do you think? It would be great if you could do the next DFR even if it’s a virtual one. Happy new year. Thanks, Franco. I’m doing much better, now doing an hour a day on the indoor trainer. DFR 8 was my first, though virtual I certainly plan on DFR 9, someway somehow! My hope is that some day I’ll be able to do one for real in the UK. With regard to riding 700x28’s on rail trail gravel, I’ve done that successfully as long as I stay out of the fines in washout spots. Best, John wheelson
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Post by franco on Jan 1, 2021 1:11:13 GMT
I feel your frustration John, how far away are you from riding again do you think? It would be great if you could do the next DFR even if it’s a virtual one. Happy new year. Thanks, Franco. I’m doing much better, now doing an hour a day on the indoor trainer. DFR 8 was my first, though virtual I certainly plan on DFR 9, someway somehow! My hope is that some day I’ll be able to do one for real in the UK. With regard to riding 700x28’s on rail trail gravel, I’ve done that successfully as long as I stay out of the fines in washout spots. Best, John wheelson That’s good to hear John. You would be looked after here if you did come over to do a DFR make no mistake about that
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 1, 2021 2:17:19 GMT
Did you use the Raleigh again Brian? Wondering how it handled on that trail as it looks like it’s got something like 700 x 28c tyres on it? On the road shown in the picture. I was using a 1984 Fuji del Rey with 27x1-1/8 Panaracer Pasela Protite tires. Truth be told, this 200 meter unpaved cowpath connects two paved ends of Mellen Street. This section is now blocked by cables across the road. Years ago it looked the same but was a public road and I used to drive the kids to school over it with my 4WD pickup truck. It was a fun shortcut during winter. I think there was too much dumping of mattresses and old appliances so they closed it off.
On the actual rail trail, which is gravel and "hardpack", the 27x1-1/8 tires sunk into the surface a little too much. The top two inches are thawed and gooey and under that is ice so it was slow going.
The Raleigh tires are 700Cx32 Michelin Protek's. They did quite well on the road through the woods. I did not use that bike on the rail trail.
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 1, 2021 2:24:17 GMT
I feel your frustration John, how far away are you from riding again do you think? It would be great if you could do the next DFR even if it’s a virtual one. Happy new year. Thanks, Franco. I’m doing much better, now doing an hour a day on the indoor trainer. DFR 8 was my first, though virtual I certainly plan on DFR 9, someway somehow! My hope is that some day I’ll be able to do one for real in the UK. With regard to riding 700x28’s on rail trail gravel, I’ve done that successfully as long as I stay out of the fines in washout spots. Best, John wheelson John, maybe we can do a real DFR in the northeast US next year. We have at least 4 members in contiguous states (MA, CT, NY, PA). Or maybe we should all go out to Jim's! Not many members in between that I know of.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jan 1, 2021 16:40:07 GMT
Another 10 miles of town completed today, it blew away some NYE cobwebs as well!
I’m coming up to some sections that are more hilly on the next parts. Quite surprised after 20 miles I’ve probably only done a fifth of the town.
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Post by triitout on Jan 1, 2021 21:04:56 GMT
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 1, 2021 22:16:26 GMT
I'm going to start with Colorado and Wyoming, then work up to Utah. Brian
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 1, 2021 22:21:27 GMT
I should do the actual state boundaries and combine it with another quirky hobby I used to do, documented here:
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Jan 2, 2021 1:11:26 GMT
Thanks, Franco. I’m doing much better, now doing an hour a day on the indoor trainer. DFR 8 was my first, though virtual I certainly plan on DFR 9, someway somehow! My hope is that some day I’ll be able to do one for real in the UK. With regard to riding 700x28’s on rail trail gravel, I’ve done that successfully as long as I stay out of the fines in washout spots. Best, John wheelson That’s good to hear John. You would be looked after here if you did come over to do a DFR make no mistake about that Thanks for your kind comments, Franco. Both Mrs. W and I are keen on visiting the UK. We were supposed to do a trip to Scotland with son, daughter-in-law, and grandson in 2021 but that’s out for now. Maybe 2022 if we’re all still alive and well. In the meantime I guess it’s virtual DFR’s. Best, John “wheelson”
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Post by wheelson on Jan 2, 2021 1:31:02 GMT
Thanks, Franco. I’m doing much better, now doing an hour a day on the indoor trainer. DFR 8 was my first, though virtual I certainly plan on DFR 9, someway somehow! My hope is that some day I’ll be able to do one for real in the UK. With regard to riding 700x28’s on rail trail gravel, I’ve done that successfully as long as I stay out of the fines in washout spots. Best, John wheelson John, maybe we can do a real DFR in the northeast US next year. We have at least 4 members in contiguous states (MA, CT, NY, PA). Or maybe we should all go out to Jim's! Not many members in between that I know of.
Brian
East Coast USA DFR sounds interesting, could be an option. As far as Street Bagging, I’m thinkingTrail Bagging considering the number of trails here in Western Pennsylvania that I have yet to ride. Seems every week my son comes up with a trail I haven’t even heard of. If I can structure my bike shop work for sufficient days off I could score some significant mileage in 2021. Best, John “wheelson”
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Post by franco on Jan 3, 2021 14:18:29 GMT
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 3, 2021 14:28:14 GMT
What a beautiful ride! I like the bike too! I see in the photo that without your mud guards (fenders over here) you would be totally slimed.
Cheers Jim
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Post by franco on Jan 3, 2021 15:13:32 GMT
What a beautiful ride! I like the bike too! I see in the photo that without your mud guards (fenders over here) you would be totally slimed. Cheers Jim Thanks Jim. Yes, we need mudguards here this time of year, especially if you go a bit off road. I like a chainguard too even though they can look ugly, it’s nice to just hop on a bike wearing jeans without worrying about them getting covered in oil or trapped.
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 3, 2021 16:16:28 GMT
What a beautiful ride! I like the bike too! I see in the photo that without your mud guards (fenders over here) you would be totally slimed. Cheers Jim Jim, I had a good laugh at your comment in another thread about having a bike that is "the only one I allow to get wet." In New England, and in the UK to an even greater degree, we might have one bike we allow to stay dry.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 3, 2021 17:06:24 GMT
I thought you might! In 2020 we had 19 days that were wet enough to concern me (or justify fenders). On those days I usually don't ride. We had about an additional 30 days with measurable precipitation, mostly a little morning mist which I can avoid.
Such is the American West Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 3, 2021 21:15:44 GMT
A couple of pics from today’s 14 mile ride. The Dawes has been useful as it handles the light trails well with the 700 x 38 tyres, it’s a bit heavier that what I’m used to though. Roughly 35 miles of town covered now and I enjoyed today because I went around some places I never knew existed. Franco, I also find it amazing to discover previously unknown places in a town where I've lived since I was twelve years old. I really like your picture of that old mill. What was it, a gristmill? Here is a photo (not mine) of a weird artifact I happened upon in Franconia, New Hampshire. It is an 18th century iron furnace. This area is quite remote even today. I can't imagine what it must have been like 250 years ago.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jan 3, 2021 22:41:49 GMT
A couple of pics from today’s 14 mile ride. The Dawes has been useful as it handles the light trails well with the 700 x 38 tyres, it’s a bit heavier that what I’m used to though. Roughly 35 miles of town covered now and I enjoyed today because I went around some places I never knew existed. Franco, I also find it amazing to discover previously unknown places in a town where I've lived since I was twelve years old. I really like your picture of that old mill. What was it, a gristmill? Here is a photo (not mine) of a weird artifact I happened upon in Franconia, New Hampshire. It is an 18th century iron furnace. This area is quite remote even today. I can't imagine what it must have been like 250 years ago.
Brian
It was a flour mill built in 1820, one of two stone mills left in the whole county. Grade 2 listed building. More info here www.suttonheritage.org.uk/?page_id=321Struggling to get onto your link Brian, I’ll try copy and paste in another browser.
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 4, 2021 1:59:22 GMT
Sorry about that. I edited my post and put in a different link. I think it works now. Here is the picture:
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Post by franco on Jan 4, 2021 7:29:33 GMT
That is interesting and great that it is still standing. When you think these buildings were once so important to the local community and I bet life was tough back then.
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Post by franco on Jan 7, 2021 19:52:08 GMT
Had a bit of a setback, kind of...
I mentioned my knee problem which is why I decided to do my own street bagging project, it turns out I’ve damaged the cartilage. I have a X-ray at hospital next week and it looks like steroid injections and only doing light duties at work. On a positive, it doesn’t hurt when I ride and the doctor is keen on me carrying on cycling as long as it doesn’t cause me problems.
I just hope I get it right in advance for the next DFR.
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 7, 2021 22:24:30 GMT
Had a bit of a setback, kind of... I mentioned my knee problem which is why I decided to do my own street bagging project, it turns out I’ve damaged the cartilage. I have a X-ray at hospital next week and it looks like steroid injections and only doing light duties at work. On a positive, it doesn’t hurt when I ride and the doctor is keen on me carrying on cycling as long as it doesn’t cause me problems. I just hope I get it right in advance for the next DFR. Bummer about the knee but good that you can still ride.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jan 8, 2021 10:41:47 GMT
Thanks Brian.
I’ve looked at my cycling map and I’ve got around another 30 miles of town to go. Not a lot in theory and could be done on one ride but it’s very slow as you mentioned with all the junctions, pathways and dead ends. After that I’m thinking of doing the neighbouring towns.
One thing it has taught me is you don’t need go out to the back of beyond to get some reasonable mileage in, it can be casually achieved within your locality.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 8, 2021 15:41:03 GMT
This is a great thread, but I am not familiar with the term "street bagging". I assume a definition by the terms context, but help me out.
Ride Happy Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 8, 2021 16:56:38 GMT
This is a great thread, but I am not familiar with the term "street bagging". I assume a definition by the terms context, but help me out. Ride Happy Jim Jim, I just made up the term. It just means going out and "bagging" some streets, like bagging some ducks. As another example, peak baggers are those that try to climb as many mountains as possible.
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 8, 2021 17:04:09 GMT
Like all of these obsessive pursuits, you can make up your own rules. My personal rule for bagging a street is to ride the entire length of the street, although not necessarily end to end in one ride. For a while I was trying visit every point where three or more US states and/or Canadian provinces meet at a point - point bagging I guess. A few other people were also doing that and we all had different standards. I insisted on visiting river or ocean point by boat, whereas someone else who claimed to have visited all the tri-points in the US limited his quest to terrestrial points only.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Jan 8, 2021 20:47:24 GMT
Sort of like "pass hunters" in cycling, bagging those mountain passes or "gaps" as their called in the Appalachian and Great Smokey Mountains of the USA Southeast. Velo Orange even offers a bike model called Pass Hunter. I've been obsessed for years with "bagging" sections of epic rides such as the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina (including up to Sandbridge, Virginia on beach sand and pine woods). It's a great way to do rides you don't have a chance to do in one day or week, and it's always fun to look back and say "been there, done that", even when we're restricted or locked down. 2021 HAS to be better! Best, John "wheelson"
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 8, 2021 20:55:53 GMT
Thanks guys!
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Post by franco on Jan 8, 2021 21:21:37 GMT
This is a great thread, but I am not familiar with the term "street bagging". I assume a definition by the terms context, but help me out. Ride Happy Jim Jim, I just made up the term. It just means going out and "bagging" some streets, like bagging some ducks. As another example, peak baggers are those that try to climb as many mountains as possible.
Brian
Your term is being spread far and wide Brian, a few here have asked me what I’m doing and why it’s called that.
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Post by franco on Jan 8, 2021 21:38:00 GMT
According to the weather forecast we have a nice day here tomorrow, might take the Aerospace Sport out (with no mudguards) for the next section of the ride
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 9, 2021 17:28:47 GMT
I have moved on to the town adjacent to mine. This presents the challenge of getting to the "bagging" area. These rides resemble a trip to the moon - lots of travel to get there, then a bit of exploration, then a long trip home. Eventually, of course, I would have to take the bike to a distant starting point by car and that might spell the end of the project. There is one more adjacent town that I will probably do from home, so I have over a dozen rides and about 300 miles to complete Holliston, Ashland, and Sherborn. I live at the tip of the arrow below:
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