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Post by franco on Jan 9, 2021 20:15:19 GMT
If you want some new challenges afterwards Brian I’ve been looking at the Society of 3 Speeds website (although I can’t remember if you own a 3 Speed or not). They do an April challenge and one in October, neither look difficult but could be fun. Oh and of course I’ve ended up joining societyofthreespeeds.wordpress.com/
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Post by franco on Jan 11, 2021 20:30:24 GMT
Another 22 miles done over the last few days. Today’s was the least enjoyable up to yet, a lot of small steep hills, dead ends and pathways. I have around 20 miles left to do, should be able to do that later on this week.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 16, 2021 14:41:22 GMT
Here in the Tehachapi mountains we are experiencing near perfect riding weather. We are having a very dry, warm January. Yesterday the low was 28F (-2C) and the high 72F (22C). Our very low humidity combined with bright sunny days results in a tremendous temperature differential. One never knows what to expect around here. Our temperature and precipitation averages are just that, averages; they are erroneously called normal by some. Our winter months tend to be either very warm and dry, or very wet and cold; one winter below average and another above. The result, I am enjoying my rides and praying for rain. Last winter I watched rain and snow outside my window, and prayed for sun.
Ride Happy Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 16, 2021 15:02:15 GMT
Another 22 miles done over the last few days. Today’s was the least enjoyable up to yet, a lot of small steep hills, dead ends and pathways. I have around 20 miles left to do, should be able to do that later on this week. It is amazing how much of a workout street bagging can be. As you say, many short steep pitches and turns. If nothing else, it improves the bike handling skills. I have been alternating "regular" rides with street bagging in two adjacent towns that are quite different from each other. Both are now mainly residential commuter towns for Boston and suburban office jobs. Ashland was a 19th century manufacturing town specializing in clocks, hence the nickname "Clocktown" and the school sports teams are the "Clockers". Sherborn, on the other hand is a 17th century (yes we have a few) town of the landed gentry, still very wealthy and pastoral, zero traffic but much evidence of horses. I have seen the occasional fox hunt in progress.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jan 16, 2021 15:48:33 GMT
We’ve had some heavy snow so not been out for a few days. Decided to set the turbo trainer up earlier with the Aerospace Sport and downloaded a virtual app just to make it a bit more interesting than staring at a wardrobe, it doesn’t replace going outside but it was okay. I need to keep this knee exercised as well.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 21, 2021 21:23:35 GMT
Here in the Tehachapi mountains we are experiencing near perfect riding weather. We are having a very dry, warm January. Yesterday the low was 28F (-2C) and the high 72F (22C). Our very low humidity combined with bright sunny days results in a tremendous temperature differential. One never knows what to expect around here. Our temperature and precipitation averages are just that, averages; they are erroneously called normal by some. Our winter months tend to be either very warm and dry, or very wet and cold; one winter below average and another above. The result, I am enjoying my rides and praying for rain. Last winter I watched rain and snow outside my window, and prayed for sun. Ride Happy Jim I had a nice ride today but tomorrow. winter finally arrives. Supposed to snow for a few days.
Jim
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Post by franco on Jan 22, 2021 21:48:16 GMT
Just got 5 miles of tidying up to do, a few streets I somehow missed, then this town is completed. Looking at my routes it comes to around 80 miles but part of that is duplicated due to using the same few roads to get to specific areas of town. Onto a few surrounding towns
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 22, 2021 22:08:19 GMT
Just got 5 miles of tidying up to do, a few streets I somehow missed, then this town is completed. Looking at my routes it comes to around 80 miles but part of that is duplicated due to using the same few roads to get to specific areas of town. Onto a few surrounding towns Congratulations. It is funny how there are always a few streets missed. I had to do a clean up ride when I finished Holliston.
Another aspect to this project is using RideWithGPS to create routes covering all the streets in a given area. I can then download these into my Garmin Edge 200, which is a primitive GPS. It does not show streets or names, but does show a bread crumb trail of the route and shows the distance to the next turn and direction of the turn. It took a while to figure out how to code in all the U-turns and backtracking but now I have a pretty good system. I can step through the route on the computer to see if it has any problems. Occasionally I am unable to follow the route because streets on the map do not actually exist on the ground, or turn out to be private lanes, trails through the woods, fenced off parking lots, etc. In working around these, if I vary too far from the route, the GPS gets confused and it takes a while to get back on track. But overall, a good way to become expert with the tools.
I am still amazed how much of a workout these residential streets are. Yesterday I did an area of an adjoining town, about 20 miles riding, and was totally exhausted from the cold and the terrain. When I checked the ride on the computer, I noticed that one street was a 17.1% grade. I didn't even think that was legal!
Brian
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Post by franco on Jan 22, 2021 23:56:08 GMT
Just got 5 miles of tidying up to do, a few streets I somehow missed, then this town is completed. Looking at my routes it comes to around 80 miles but part of that is duplicated due to using the same few roads to get to specific areas of town. Onto a few surrounding towns Congratulations. It is funny how there are always a few streets missed. I had to do a clean up ride when I finished Holliston.
Another aspect to this project is using RideWithGPS to create routes covering all the streets in a given area. I can then download these into my Garmin Edge 200, which is a primitive GPS. It does not show streets or names, but does show a bread crumb trail of the route and shows the distance to the next turn and direction of the turn. It took a while to figure out how to code in all the U-turns and backtracking but now I have a pretty good system. I can step through the route on the computer to see if it has any problems. Occasionally I am unable to follow the route because streets on the map do not actually exist on the ground, or turn out to be private lanes, trails through the woods, fenced off parking lots, etc. In working around these, if I vary too far from the route, the GPS gets confused and it takes a while to get back on track. But overall, a good way to become expert with the tools.
I am still amazed how much of a workout these residential streets are. Yesterday I did an area of an adjoining town, about 20 miles riding, and was totally exhausted from the cold and the terrain. When I checked the ride on the computer, I noticed that one street was a 17.1% grade. I didn't even think that was legal!
Brian
Thanks Brian, I agree with the workout part, you never really get into a cadence so it’s quite tiring. The amount of dead ends (cul-de-sacs) I’ve been down and got some strange looks. Felt like ‘the lost cyclist’ at times. Its been brilliant though, I’ve discovered streets and paths I never knew existed and I will definitely be adding them to routes in the future. Might even do the whole thing again on a 3 speed later in the year. Great idea
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 23, 2021 13:50:59 GMT
Here are the routes I created on RideWithGPS for Ashland, the town next door. I put them in a "collection", which is what is displayed on the wild map. If you scroll down, you can open the individual routes, each about 20 miles. On a particular route move your cursor along the elevation profile at the bottom and it animates the ride. It really brings home how crazy these rides are. I live at the end of the little green hook at the bottom of the map.
I am making routes like this for the 6 towns bordering mine, probably 1200 miles of cycling in total. I can't do a steady diet of these rides but the occasional one is a lot of fun. Might do them over the course of the year.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jan 26, 2021 0:52:38 GMT
After a toasty first three weeks of January, winter has finally caught up with me. Some of you guys actually ride in this stuff, right?
Ride Warm Jim
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Post by franco on Jan 26, 2021 20:03:25 GMT
I’d ride a MTB in it Jim but don’t currently own one.
Been trying to catch it just right and get out as snow just starts to fall before it gets too deep but not been successful yet. Something uplifting about riding whilst it’s snowing.
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Post by brianbutler on Jan 26, 2021 22:12:18 GMT
I don't ride on snow covered roads. The highway department does a good job of getting them treated and cleared but that brings the salt and slush. I went out today, just below freezing but dry roads. The the temperature fell a few degrees and now there are a couple inches of snow. They must have known it was coming because I noticed some type of green salt had been applied to some of the roads while they were dry. It looks disturbingly like broken glass.
Brian
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Post by franco on Feb 1, 2021 13:54:27 GMT
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Post by brianbutler on Feb 1, 2021 14:08:49 GMT
Good work, Franco! It sounds like you find this as fascinating as I do.
Preparing routes for the GPS turns up things on the map I never knew existed. I have laid out routes for the six towns adjoining mine, plus two towns in New Hampshire near where one of my daughters and her husband have a lake house. Up there it is quite different than here. Most of the secondary roads are gravel and there are enormous steep hills. I should have enough routes to keep me busy all year. I can't do street bagging as a steady diet but it is a fun way to stay out of a rut.
Brian
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Post by franco on Feb 1, 2021 14:28:56 GMT
Thanks Brian and yes, I agree there. I’m looking forward to getting back out into the countryside when Spring arrives but this has been good fun during the winter months. Like you I’ve got plenty more to go at but a couple of the towns have a few brutal hills in them. The Dawes has been a good bike to do this on, I prefer being in an upright position especially when town riding and the 700 x 38 tyres have handled the gravel and muddy paths well.
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Post by franco on Feb 14, 2021 15:03:12 GMT
Did a neighbouring town on Friday, only small, around 10 miles in total. Was kind of pleased at that as it was freezing, even with sealskin type gloves my hands felt numb.
Now the weather has taken another downturn, not only is it really cold, we’ve now got a load of rain and strong winds.
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Post by brianbutler on Apr 7, 2021 19:18:34 GMT
I just finished street bagging the next town over, Sherborn, 131 miles total. Here's what that looks like:
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Post by franco on Apr 7, 2021 21:36:15 GMT
Great stuff, Brian! Was it as enjoyable as doing your hometown? Less familiar I imagine.
I’ve been out of action for a few weeks but have the April Three Speed Challenge to do which consists of:
Ride your three speed at least fifteen miles (25 km) in one ride. A climb of 5% or more grade, with a cumulative elevation gain of at least 100 feet (30 m). A bit of unpaved/dirt action, of at least a cumulative one half mile (1 km). Coffee outside via three speed. A bike overnight or bike camping trip by three speed.
Due to the current situation the overnight/camping isn’t possible but the rest is easy even if it means taking a flask of coffee.
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Post by brianbutler on Apr 7, 2021 22:39:57 GMT
Great stuff, Brian! Was it as enjoyable as doing your hometown? Less familiar I imagine. I’ve been out of action for a few weeks but have the April Three Speed Challenge to do which consists of: Ride your three speed at least fifteen miles (25 km) in one ride. A climb of 5% or more grade, with a cumulative elevation gain of at least 100 feet (30 m). A bit of unpaved/dirt action, of at least a cumulative one half mile (1 km). Coffee outside via three speed. A bike overnight or bike camping trip by three speed. Due to the current situation the overnight/camping isn’t possible but the rest is easy even if it means taking a flask of coffee. Excellent idea. I only have one three-speed, a 1954 Raleigh Sports, and I need to hammer out and paint the sheet metal (chain guard and mudguards) to complete the restoration. I would like to try some of these challenges myself. Did you compile that to-do list or is there are group that does this?
Regarding street-bagging other towns, it highlights the different character of each town. My town is middle-class and residential. Sherborn is a very well-heeled pastoral and residential town, lots of horses and 18th century homes, etc. It might be the wealthiest in the state. The roads are well kept and not much traffic but also not much of interest. They tend to be hilly and winding, I think originally cart paths. Many of the houses are set back and have curved driveways so they can't be seen. Today I did the north end of Sherborn and approched it from the City of Framingham, where the Massachusetts Women's Prison and an old General Motors Oldsmobile plant sit adjacent to the Sherborn town line. Nice juxtaposition.
Brian
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Post by franco on Apr 8, 2021 6:32:32 GMT
It’s a worldwide group that do the challenge here societyofthreespeeds.wordpress.com/3-spd-apr/I won’t be submitting a journal or going in for ‘prizes’ but I will definitely do it. I find these kind of events quite motivating, same with the street bagging and DFR, it gives some purpose to what I am doing rather than cycling the same repetitive routes. That’s quite interesting how the towns differ so much. Much of the towns within 20 miles of here are very similar, it was a big coal mining area up until the 1980’s and the architecture only starts to change when you get to the Mill towns.
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Post by brianbutler on May 3, 2021 16:46:36 GMT
Just completed street bagging Ashland, Massachusetts, adjacent to my home town and only a few hundred feet from my house. It was 190 miles of cycling in 9 rides, map below. Every time I do one of these rides I think it will be a silly exercise but it inevitably turns out to be an interesting ride, a tremendous workout, and great fun. I have four more adjacent towns, which should last me the year.
Brian
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Post by franco on May 3, 2021 20:14:24 GMT
Good work Brian! It’s all been a bit sporadic for me since January, I get out when my knee problem allows but don’t want to push it because my job is physical and I’m self employed. The last thing I need is a long term injury and not being able to work. Might fit granny gears on one of my Viscounts
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