ABC Ride: Wednesday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. from Exchange St lot, Holliston

[Joel Arbeitman]

The Ashland Bike Club’s next ride is scheduled for this Wednesday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. from the Exchange St lot in downtown Holliston. 

GPS Address:  across from 49 Exchange St, Holliston, Ma

Route Name:  ABC – Two Causeways (shorter) (get the right version)

Ride Rating:
Distance:    Easy-Moderate (22.6)
Elevation:   Moderate (47)
Total Gain: 1053 feet
Steepest:    6.7%

The Weather
Wednesday’s forecast calls for a cloudy, cool day with temps between 51 and 55 and a light breeze.  Dress warm!! You can always leave extra gear in your car.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday looks like a rainout but Sunday looks like a possibility if the rain holds off until evening.  Stay tuned …

A Video of ABC on the Nashua River Rail Trail
ABC’s videographer, Bob Glover, has produced a fantastic video of the ride ABC did a few weeks ago on the Nashua River Rail Trail.

Link to Bob’s video:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qBERRhBbdCVS1UPh3ibBTKnTmm-jhncN/view

Wednesday’s Ride
This Wednesday’s ride is a multi-town tour that will travel through Holliston, Medway, Millis, Medfield, and Sherborn before returning to the start.

We'll begin by riding from Holliston to Medway to Millis.  After passing the very scenic Millis Swamp on Causeway Street, we're off to causeway number two that takes us over the Charles River (and up the toughest hill of the day) into some truly wild marshes along the river in Medfield.

 

Overall, this ride rates in the moderate category for hills but, be warned, there are a couple of toughies on each of the Causeway streets.

 

Rest stops are planned at 7.7 and 14.3.

There are no food stops on the ride but a post-ride lunch at nearby Coffee Haven is a possibility. Let me know if you’re interested.

Here’s a link to a map of Wednesday’s route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53207176

You can print our “official cue sheet” 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 tidbits we’ve come across that we think are worth sharing.  Please let us know what you think.

Ashland Bike Club Radio
Billy Bill – Just Like My Baby

Holier than thou?
There’s a new kid on the block … literally. Potholes are one of the most dangerous road elements cyclists encounter. The little ones can give you a flat; the big ones can totally flatten you. Especially when you’re riding in a group, potholes can be hard to avoid because your view of the road is often blocked by the rider in front of you. That’s why it’s so important for riders to call out “hole” and to point out the hole for the riders behind them.

And, of course, potholes aren’t the only road hazard.  There’s sand, ice and snow, tree branches, cars parked in the bike lanes, broken glass, and lots of other dangers.

But, wait, now there’s some good news on the pothole front. Scientists in the UK have come up with a way to reduce the frequency and severity of most potholes.

Read the details:  https://www.popsci.com/technology/potholes-asphalt-graphene/

Getting the fit right can make a big difference
Most of us do a lot of riding during the year and having a bike that fits you well can make a huge difference.  It can not only make you a more efficient rider by translating your pedaling effort into more power, but it can help prevent some of those nagging injuries that can be caused, in part, by a bike that doesn’t fit you as well as it should.

Lots of bike shops use state-of-the-art technology in pursuit of a perfect bike fit. Now, some have started using an AI app called AiRO. Will AI provide a more accurate fitting process? Only time will tell.

Here’s an article on the subject:  https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/bike-fit/aero-for-everyone-i-used-an-ai-based-bike-fit-and-saved-dozens-of-watts

To recap this Wednesday’s ABC ride, we’ll meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Exchange Street lot opposite 49 Exchange Street in downtown Holliston.

Remember to check your email after 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning to make sure we didn't cancel or postpone the ride due to weather or for other reasons and ... don't forget those helmets!

See you soon.

Joel