ABC Ride: Wednesday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m. from Haskell Field, Sudbury

[Joel Arbeitman]

The next Ashland Bike Club ride will be held this Wednesday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m.  The ride will start from Haskell Field in Sudbury. 

GPS Address:  38 Fairbank Rd, Sudbury, Ma

Route Name:  ABC – Verrill Farm without Boon

Ride Rating:
Distance:  Moderate (24.0)
Elevation: Easy-Moderate (35)
Total Gain: 842 feet
Steepest:  7.5%

Wednesday’s Weather

The forecast for Wednesday calls for a partly cloudy day, temps ranging from 63 to 71 degrees, and a steady, light breeze.  There’s a chance of rain overnight but things should be clear and dry by the time the ride begins.

 

This will be ride #51 for the club since February 1 when ABC’s year begins.  Once the weather changes, our ride frequency is likely to decline rapidly.  Ride while you can!!

Wednesday’s Ride

Wednesday’s route is one of the flattest we could find.

For some time now, we’ve been concerned about all the traffic on Hudson Rd which we use to get both to and from Lake Boon.  This Verrill Farm route eliminates the trip to Lake Boon and also avoids Hudson Rd.  As a trade-off, we’ve added some highly scenic roads in the Water Row area of Wayland and a few new roads after the Verrill Farm lunch stop as well.

With an average gain-per-mile of just 35 feet, it’s hard to find on-road routes anywhere in Metrowest much flatter than this one.  This route is “almost” bike path flat.  Are there hills?  Sure … but, overall, this one falls into the “easy-moderate” category and should be no problem for most ABC riders.

We’ve been doing lots of really challenging rides lately.  This is not one of them.  With great weather, great scenery, the last of the foliage, very few hills, and even a visit to the fields at Verrill Farm, this one should be a treat.

Here's a link to a map of Wednesday’s route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48046552

You can print our “official cue sheet” for the ride by clicking the link above, then click “More”, then click “Print Map and Cue PDF”, and finally click “Print Official”.

 

Off the Route

Our “Off the Route” feature includes interesting topics we’ve come across that we think are worth sharing.  Please let us know what you think.

 

Psychopaths!!
I recently read the following recap of someone's conversation during a
train ride.

A man sits down next to me on a train.

Man:  Loads of psychopaths around here.
Me:  Really?
Man:  Loads mate.
Me:  How do you know?
Man:  There are signs, aren't there?
Me:  I guess?
Man:  I love them.
(47 minutes of silence follows)
Man leaves the train with his bicycle.  Only then did I realize he was saying "cycle
paths".

 

Technology is for the birds!!
I have friends who seem traumatized by the technology in their lives.  “Email only shows me the emails I sent to other people.  Where are the emails they send to me?”  “I keep clicking “save” but then I can’t find where it saves it.”  “If I’m on the internet, can everyone else see me?”

 

I wouldn’t dare show them the article and video linked below.  Researchers have created a whole community of “bird brains” who regularly call and talk to each other over the internet.  It’s really kind of amazing.

 

What if all species could do this?  I wonder what they would say about us humans?  It’s just possible we wouldn’t fare very well.

 

Check it out:  https://getpocket.com/explore/item/scientists-taught-pet-parrots-to-video-call-each-other-and-the-birds-loved-it

 

One drink could last a lifetime
Massachusetts finished in the top three.  That’s not a good thing.  It turns out we have among the highest levels of PFAs in the country in our public water supplies.  Yup, it’s right there in that water bottle you bring with you on our rides.  Sheesh …

 

Look, this is a deadly serious business.  Is everyone’s water contaminated with “forever chemicals”?  In my town, maybe in all Massachusetts towns, we are able to obtain a detailed analysis of our public water supply.  Having read the article below, I’ll be paying a whole lot more attention to that report.  I think they issue it once a year or so.

 

I’ve also been looking into an undersink water filter.  Will that help get rid of the PFAs?  That needs to be researched.  Does anyone have one of these gizmos?  Do you like it?  Please share your experience.

 

Read the article:  https://gizmodo.com/millions-in-the-u-s-may-be-drinking-groundwater-tainted-with-forever-chemicals-2000516589

 

To recap this Wednesday’s ride, we’ll meet at Haskell Field in Sudbury at 10:30 a.m.

 

As always, check your email after 9:00 a.m. on ride days to make sure we didn’t postpone or cancel the ride and … don’t forget those helmets!

 

See you soon.

 

Joel