Posted: 15-April-12 at 10:07am | IP Logged

Is that what you think as you pull up behind a cyclist on a narrow street? Remember, the bike has the right of way ~ please. That cyclist could be me.

I inherited a cool almost new Comfort Hybrid style bike. It's a blast to ride and I'm using it almost every day. Three miles killed me at first, now a dozen miles leaves me wanting more. Pretty good for an old guy who was nearly dead 2 years ago. Thursday's ride took me to the Herring Run in W. B'Water.

Keep your out for a long haired old guy with a yellow helmet, wave hello.  

Posted: 15-April-12 at 10:15am | IP Logged

I've started a sort of photo journal on Daily Pics http://dailypics.ning.com/profiles/blogs/bicycling See if you recognize any of my stops. It's kinda short right now but it will grow as I peddle my butt around the area.

Is there anyone else who rides here?

Posted: 15-April-12 at 11:36am | IP Logged

Good pic with the reflections there too

Posted: 16-April-12 at 2:36am | IP Logged

Be careful Andy - and make sure you have identification and emergency contact info on you always.

A cycling crash was what took my brother in law from us last week.  

My daughter just started peddaling tonight... less than a mile and she was on the phone whining

Nice pics! I think someone makes "trailers" that attach to the seat post so Sarah could actually tag along with you.

Posted: 16-April-12 at 8:49am | IP Logged

MOT sympathy from me also...

Andy love the pics with the bike! Kinda like that traveling gnome that gets its pic taken everywhere!  I have seen those trailers at DW also so they must be sold locally, maybe even a childs one would work.

Posted: 16-April-12 at 10:09am | IP Logged

Sorry to hear about your BIL, Mot. My sympathies. Was he the one in Taunton where the front fork collapsed unexpectedly? 

Tell your daughter she should have pushed just a little more to get passed the first bodily complaints. The first mile is often harder than the last.  

I have an under seat bag for small stuff wallet, camera etc.

To anyone who rides ~ The W. B'Water herring run / War Memorial Park is a super destination with smooth wide sidewalks all the way from Avon through Brockton Main St. to the park.

I need new destinations, places I can get to without climbing big hills or using busy narrow roads within 10 miles of Cary Hill.

Posted: 16-April-12 at 10:31am | IP Logged

Andy he was that one, it was Rehoboth.  The carbon fiber fork broke at the frame and he went down on his head.  There's a recall on some of the manufacturers forks, unknown if his was affected, still finding out.

Princess has no drive, she's a wuss, and rode "down" as in "down the hill" to her dad's house to visit, never thinking she'd have to ride "up" the hill home!  technically she didn't get 1/4 mile!

Where's the W.Bridgewater herring run?

Posted: 16-April-12 at 11:25am | IP Logged

Oh, yea. I read about it in the Taunton paper.

The Herring run / War Memorial park / Edson's Gristmill site is on River St just south of the intersection of 28 & 106. From Brockton go straight through the intersection, 28 veers to the left, go straight & swing right for a 100 yards.

Major restorations are planned for the summer.

Posted: 16-April-12 at 3:53pm | IP Logged

I agree Daisy --  used to ride quite a bit --Most summer weekends in the past I'd head down the Cape and bike the Rail Trail. It begins off of exit 9 in Dennis. Almost all  through the woods yet all paved. Some intersection with side roads. In Chatham you have to bike for a while on the main road. Then back off road in Eastham all the way to Salt Pond visitor center and on to the Coast Guard Beach through the scrub pines. All in all about 20 to 22 miles one way. I've heard since they have extended to P -Town. I haven't done that part. My favorite part is through Harwich where the trail goes right along a huge lake--I think maybe Pleasant Lake. You can hop off the bike and enjoy the water--there's a very small beach. The whole trail is very picturesque. In Brewster as you aproach Brewster State Park there's a billboard--or at least there used to be--for Cobie's in the woods on the trail as if it's a highway lol--it's a small food place with hot dog, clams ect--they have a great deck--Super place to take a break!! 

Posted: 17-April-12 at 7:13pm | IP Logged

Sounds good. Especially the snack bar, lol. McMenamies is one Destination. Seriously, thanks for the trails. Can we spark interest in Cycling? Don't you feel energized by the ride?

I'm having a ball getting stronger on every ride. Today I landed up at my Doctor's office breathing a little hard asking for a BP check. They said to stop by any time, lol. It took longer to stop, lock up, unlock & go than my wait for the BP check. The nurse said to come back next week. The Dr is well within cycling range now ~ next ~ the Cardiologist.

I had to DRIVE to Dicks in the mall because there was no place to lock up the bike. I mentioned this to the cashier who replied "Others have asked for a bike rack, I'll tell mgt." The kid seemed sincere.

Posted: 19-April-12 at 7:54pm | IP Logged

SZ, try different ones out before deciding. Stop in at Travis Cycle on N Main across from Gowels for help. There are many kinds ~ Road, Mountain, Hybrid, Commuter, Recumbant etc. Sister's bike is a Hybrid with upright seating & straight handlebars, front shocks and suspension seat for touring. Very smooth ride but not as fast as a Road bike. It's perfect for this old guy.

The bike was fun today. I toured NE Brockton/Abington with a fast downhill by Spellman on Court St (28.3 MPH) on the way home. But the fun was later when a huge Tom Turkey wandered down the street. He went into the yard across the street when I saw him. I grabbed the camera, ran out and got a single poor shot. He was moving so I grabbed the bike, stuffed the camera in the under seat bag & zipped away.

Wow, I feel the difference after riding for a month. Zipping was a snap knowing it was a short ride. Tom was flushed out on Ashfield Drive before I had the camera ready. He flew half way up the hill before veering left, I was off. I zoomed up looking left but couldn't find it. The fun was feeling the new strength in my legs.

Posted: 19-April-12 at 11:13pm | IP Logged

Sz - whatever you do - no matter the deal - stay away from carbon fiber frames, and particularly "Cervelo" bikes.  

Andy - be careful going that fast !!

Posted: 20-April-12 at 9:48am | IP Logged

Mot, Carbon Fiber bikes are big bucks, not for the novice. If you are thinking about your BILs catastrophic failure it was the component front fork that failed, not the Cervelo bike. Manufacturers make only the frames then flesh them out with third party components.

If my Devinci ever had a recall I would not hear of it. I'm at least the second owner with no forwarding from the previous owner.

Riders often change/upgrade components making it very hard to know who is on what. Many parts on my bike are not original. Must the bike shop notify me if the new seat has a recall? Sure but what if I paid cash & didn't leave any contact info. It's up to me to keep up with recall notices but who does that, really. We can point fingers all day but in the end it was simply an accident.

As for my riding fast ~ I'm having fun. More fun than I've had in years. I could live decades longer by being careful doing nothing or take my chances with pleasure. At 66+ I vote for a little fun.

Posted: 20-April-12 at 3:05pm | IP Logged

I know it was the fork Andy - it too was carbon fiber - Cervelo used several models of them.

And I vote for fun too - "back in the day" we used to ride down "Spellman Hill" and cut through Kathleen Rd to Sheridan and back to Center St to go home.

I can remember sledding down it in the winter !!