Earlier this week I found out that the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail phase one, from Chelmsford to Westford, was opened to the public.

Even earlier on in the week I was in planning with one of my coworkers to get him out more on his bike. Our initial plan included another person, a former coworker of ours, who unfortunately had to back out due to issues with her ankle. Plans shifted from riding out to Concord, to starting a ride from Concord that might include Walden or the Sculpture Park, or even the Nagog Pond Loop (as I’ve been meaning to revisit it all summer.) But, when word of the rail trail opening came in we thought it was be good fun to go and check it out. So today we did just that.
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Monday.

No matter how chipper I might be feeling on this day of the week, that line from “Office Space” will run through my head at least five times, in that same gratingly annoying voice:

“Looks like someone’s got a case of the Mondays!”

And then there’s that Swingline stapler by the copy machine that I wish was bright red and belonged to a co-worker that looked like Milton, who would mutter and stutter about the squirrels outside his window. The ones that were apparently married.

Oh, Milton. I loved his glasses, the timid muttering, that forlorn look when he didn’t get any birthday cake, and of course, just his sheer geekery. Which might explain why, in a way, I love the name [and bicycles] behind Geekhouse.

And while I can’t quite say that I love the people behind Geekhouse [yet], well, I’m at least in strong like of them. All [two] of which I officially met while infiltrating the NYC Velo ranks last Wednesday. After refueling on caffeine, we rolled up to a garage space packed to the brim with machines, tools, and [of course] bicycle frames, and we got to see Geekhouse at work.

I’ve actually been to this particular address in Allston once before [though over a year ago], but last week was the first time I got the full tour and a peek into the personalities behind the instantly-recognizable frames of Geekhouse. And though the space was vastly different from the IF warehouse we had just visited, the same intense love for building bicycle frames was crammed into every nook and cranny of the place.

From a one-man show started in 2002 by Marty, it’s expanded to sustaining a full-time employee. And with frames painted in saccharine-sweet colors, a Geekhouse frame is hard to miss. Clean, simple lines and sometimes aggressive pursuit geometry, I’ve ooh-ed and ahh-ed at Marty’s frames whenever I’ve gotten close to one [even though, yes, me + pursuit geometry = instant endo].

Too bad I’m broke. For the second time that day, my skin crawled with the desire for another bike. The most tempting part being Geekhouse’s new powdercoating operation, too appropriately named Sugar Coat. While watching Joe spray powder onto a frame from a gun, I learned that they’re now offering to powdercoat even non-Geekhouse frames. And with Marty putting together a ‘cross team, I’m almost tempted to hand over that San Jose and attempt to pull off the faux Geekhouse ‘cross bike look.

Okay, that would be beyond stupid. Still, you can’t blame a girl who could never fit on a Bareknuckle to want a bubble-gum pink bicycle at some point [and just between you and me, I desperately wanted a pink track bike before I realized no one makes such a bicycle in my size]. True, the tank of a San Jose might not be the bike for that, but you know, it might just work.

At least until I have the cash money to throw down on a real Geekhouse frame.

We all know it, we all hate it, the ass pounding that is North Harvard street is finally getting repaved…and not a moment too soon.

I got this from a semi-reliable source…the internet

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From an email from Dan Roan, in charge of that shit in allston-

The Boston Public Works Department (PWD) is preparing to begin the roadway resurfacing of the section of North Harvard Street, from Western Avenue to Soldiers Field Road. Work on this section by Aggregate Industries is anticipated to begin on July 15, 2009 and be substantially completed by July 25. As always, projected schedules are dependant on the weather.
The scope of work includes:

Grind the existing roadway down to a depth of 3 inches. Please note that this phase only of the project will be conducted during two consecutive nights between the hours of 7:00PM and 5:00AM, tentatively scheduled for July 15 and 16. This will enhance our ability to greatly accelerate the project completion. All other work will take place between the hours of 7:00AM and 5:00PM

Reset all manholes and castings.
Install base asphalt binder course.
Apply top surface layer of asphalt.
Install all lane markings including bike lanes.

Please note that traffic lanes will be open at all times and Boston Police details will be on site to coordinate pedestrian and traffic flow. Temporary parking restrictions will be posted in advance. Please contact the Project Manager, Kevin Linskey, at 617-438-8507 with any issues that arise during construction.

Meeting July 6th at 6pm at the Honan allston library on north harvard to discuss with community members. I plan on being there to ask they don’t place manholes and metal slabs in the bike lane, like happened on the Comm Ave project.

At last. At long last. The training, the preparation, the nervous anticipation; it was all for something.

On May 16th I set out at 9:30AM to ride 100 miles. Six weeks prior to that day I began my training in earnest, building on a physical foundation that the last two+ years of riding my bike around Boston had sculpted.

I followed a plan I found which recommended performing long rides on weekends, increasing the distance each week until two weeks out. Since I did plenty of riding around during the mild winter we had this year I was able to start part of the way into the program.

First was a (roughly) 30-miler. The following weekend I went on a ride of opportunity: in the middle of the night I did a modified 50-mile route the Marathon was set to take several hours later. The next weekend I punched in 57 miles going around the Nagog Pond in Acton. Next up was a Metric Century achieving 68 mile ride that I stitched together from two smaller routes. Having done more than 65% of the total distance I planned the next ride to be a shorter 50 miles to Walden Pond and the DeCordova Sculpture Park, which is a much recommended way to ready oneself for…

a Century Ride:
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This weekend’s ride started on Saturday morning. I began it a bit later in the morning while I waited for some rain to pass and, as designed, the ride was shorter than last week’s. After the rain moved on it became a very nice day, and perhaps a bit too nice as I opted not to put on any sunscreen and now have somewhat reddened shoulders and arms to remind me to apply it in the future.

I chose a Minuteman Bikeway extension ride that went from the Bedford end and hit Walden Pond and the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. I haven’t been to either location and have been wanting to visit each for the last few years. Added bonus: Hanscom Airforce Base – the first airport I’ve ridden to.
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When I began my training for my upcoming century ride I recognized in the back of my mind the need for a contingency plan.

I had no idea how feasible it would be for me to build up to and actually ride 100 miles before June. I now think I am in a very good position to do that in the next couple of weeks, but I still feel it necessary to have a “fallback” ready.

For example: what if my bike breaks down? What if I hurt myself training and can’t do the ride? Maybe the weather will turn for the worst and blizzards will strike every weekend until June. (Hey, it’s New England, it doesn’t hurt to consider every weather possibility.) If something happens and I can’t do the full 100, how will I cheat/accomplish my goal and not bruise my precious ego too much?

Here is where I rationalize things and conclude that a one-off solution can be, under the right circumstances, considered a successful completion of task. If it comes down to it a metric century, which is to say 100 kilometers or roughly 62 miles, would “count” as achieving my goal if I found 100 miles to be out of reach.

Well, today I feel very good (and a bit weary.) Yesterday (Sunday) I achieved a major milestone in my training which accomplished my contingency plan by completing a metric century. Actually I managed to do a bit more and clocked in 68.35 miles for the day. Woo hoo!
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It’s in the 40s today, which means that the cyclists are out in full force. I saw my morning older-bearded-dude-on-road-bike-with-bright-yellow-wind-jacket and the girl-on-hybrid-who-always-looks-really-really-happy-to-be-coasting-down-the-hill-I’m-trying-to-struggle-up. Those are the only cyclists I usually see. Older-bearded-dude usually does either the slight hand raise or nod of what I like to imagine is a seasoned cyclist salute of mutual respect for commuting through the winter. The girl just ignores me in her happiness.

Using the warmer weather as an excuse, I flew out of school after class to drop by therapy IBC [yes, I am quickly becoming the persistent, eternal customer that just stops by to "hang out," i.e. annoy the too-nice employees into listening to my banter when they have real customers to actually pay attention to who probably have more money than me]. I ended up pedaling from Brighton to Allston behind two kids on fixed gears, and was actually able to keep up! And by “keep up” I mean I wasn’t trying to act cool with one hand off the bars while my nostrils flared in my attempts to suck in enough air to keep me from passing out. Like, I was really able to keep up.

On my way home under a rose tinted sky, I saw at least four other cyclists – roadies, hybrids, and last but not least, a black cruiser with full fenders and a pretty wicker basket in the front, full of groceries. It was pretty enough to make me sort of want one – despite my slight aversion to step-through frames.

The image sort of slowly died this sad, cringe-inducing death as I watched [and eventually flew past] the woman on said cruiser attempt to crest a slight incline in heels with no helmet.

Maybe I’ll file that cruiser for when I move to a European city.

Got this in the mail today.

If you live in Allston or Brighton check it out.

Hey A-Bbikerz… just a reminder that our next meeting is TONIGHT at 7pm!!!

At an A-Bbiker’s suggestion, this month’s meeting will be in the Community Room at the Allston-Brighton Police Station. The agenda will include updates on the bike/helmet fleet recently placed at the West End House Boys & Girls Club, the details of the proposed helmet distribution program through the Joseph Smith Community Center, our plans for an Earn a Bike program early next year, the exciting stuff going on at BUbikes and more!

If you plan to attend, please send a quick e-mail to let us know so that we have a head count for tonight. If folks are interested, we’ll meander down to Smoken Joe’s for some refreshments afterwards…

We hope to see you there!

A-Bbikes
ABbikes@gmail.com
www.A-Bbikes.org

Got this in the email today. Get out there and tell them you want some bike infrastructure!

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The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation, in conjunction with the City of Boston, is pleased to announce a public meeting to discuss the impacts of two transportation planning projects on the Allston neighborhood. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 from 7 – 9 PM at the Allston Brighton Resource Center, 367 Western Avenue, Allston, MA.

The meeting will include presentations on the Urban Ring Phase 2, a proposed bus rapid transit line that would serve a circumferential “ring” passing through Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford and Somerville, as well as a presentation on the Allston Multi-Modal Station Study, intended to identify feasibility of improved transit service along the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line.

A detailed meeting agenda can be found here (pdf)

Regan Checchio
Public Affairs Manager
Regina Villa Associates
51 Franklin St., 4th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Ph: 617-357-5772 ext. 14
Fax: 617-357-8361
E-mail: rchecchio@reginavilla.com

Pretty awesome looking ride, be sure to check it out.

From the site

A very frightening tour of Boston, a 2 hour ride at a mild to moderate pace. Saturday October 25th starting at 4pm. Starting from 89 Brighton Ave Allston. This mellow ride will begin in Allston and roll through Cambridge and Boston. Following the ride until 8pm there will be a costume contest and refreshments at International Bicycle Center. Contest Prizes include a chrome bag and a niterider USB light.

Costumes encouraged. Riders of all abilities welcome, helmet and safety lights required.

There’s really no point in cheating.

Because in the end you figure out/come to your senses that you should have stuck with whatever/whomever you’re cheating on in the first place.

I would know.

Or at least my legs and ego would. (Who would have thought that I could get up hills faster with one gear as opposed to, say, twenty one?)

So I know I shouldn’t be cheating, but I am. I’m sending these hats out to one of my favorite bike shops in the area – International Bicycle Center in Allston. And technically that’s cheating because I’m supposed to drop them off by hand. I’ll feel the guilt later.

Oh and the return address? I borrowed that one from a friend. Because we all could use a good alibi when we’re, you know, cheating.