Minuteman Road Club

Tossing around options for Wednesday night. Anyone thinking of doing the Wednesday roadie thing? This is of course barring monsoons or clouds of locusts, although with the amount I've been indoors, maybe I'll just tolerate the locusts...

I dunno. This is the forecast for Wednesday:

I've been thinking about changing my avatar to this:

New member here: I'd be interested. Where and what time does this ride meet?

Stow Shopping Center parking lot near Dunkin Donuts, Rte. 117 at 6 pm.

Hi All-

I'd love to join and see if I can keep up. I hear this ride is normally pretty fast, so I might only last so long then need to drop back. As long as the weather isn't too crummy, I'll plan on being there. BTW, that locust picture/forecast is priceless!!!

The Wednesday ride is fast but we usually regroup about 3 times during the ride. I say "we" but really mean "they" as it's me they wait for up until now.

Sounds good. I just don't want to hold anyone back who's looking to get a normally fast ride in. While we're out, please don't feel like you need to wait around for me if I'm dragging behind. I have a pretty good idea on what the route is, and will make it back eventually. I live in Acton, so will ride down from my house, then drop out when you loop back up through South Acton at the end to head home.

Here is the Wed. PM route (corrections welcome).

rusto wrote:(corrections welcome).

None needed.

Got it - so it's a little longer than I thought. Maybe this go round I'll try the other stow loop (solo). You will all probably pass me a couple time along the way!

chadgould wrote:Got it - so it's a little longer than I thought. Maybe this go round I'll try the other stow loop (solo). You will all probably pass me a couple time along the way!

Go ahead and give it a shot, there are a couple of convenient places to cut it short if you want:

• 1) when we get to Rte. 111 after the Oak Hill climb - you can turn left and do the Saturday route from there on
  
  2) when we get to Rte. 110 after the Fruitlands climb. - you can turn left, go into Harvard center and then continue the Sat. Route.

In either case, the Sat. Route overlaps with where we'll be riding later on, so you are likely to bump into us again.

I'm up for the usual wed ride however there was a little chatter about doing the Charlie Baker TT. If anyone is thinking about that let me know I could be persuaded to find out how trashed my legs really are after B2B.

How hard is this ride nowadays? Are we talking smack down hard?

Rich M is back in shape and the story I heard is that he and Smudger put some hurt on last week. As usual, I think it varies by attendance, but the intent is full on smack down (with occassional regroups).

CBTT is one of my other options. If Stow would be lightly attended at best I'll hit the TT or go mountain biking instead...

I'm in for Wednesday. I'll be the guy in the NEBC kit (I'll explain when I meet you guys).

Jim, the ride is usually schizophrenic - hard on the hills, then eases up big time while regrouping. I can keep up (most of the time), so you'll have no problem with it. One of these days I'd actually like to do a smackdown version with no waiting to make it a better training session for RRs, but we'd have to make sure that would not leave anybody that doesn't want to participate hanging. Maybe a two-group version would work?

Just to be a little more clear. The "smackdown" usually doesn't really start till Oak Hill. We used to roll easy / warm up till we cross Rte 111. No one should get dropped. Rte 111 to Oak Hill can get more up tempo, but again people don't typically start gunning then. Oak Hill is a smack down #1, with regroup at the top (four way stop). Group ride to Prospect Hill where smack down #2 starts. Typically regroup / fast tempo on Rte 110 to the left turn. Smack down #3 typically begins after the left turn. Regroup and then tempo whatever to the downhill. Hard tempo / semi-smack down through Stow (esp. Taylor Road), and then total smack down #4 (individual attack or field sprint) after crossing West Acton Road and onto South Acton Road.

If people are going to get dropped, make sure they are accounted for on the regroup (unless they give a 'don't worry about me' pass).

If someone wants to cut short, another way is to turn left at the four-way stop on Oak Hill. Continue on Pinnacle Hill Rd., turn right, and then left on Slough Road. Cross Rte 111 and left on Stow Road (downhill section). Connects back on the loop to finish through Stow.

Della and I are starting earlier, need to ride 3 hours, Can meet up at Stow or the TT.

If I can swing getting out of work in time I'm up for a bit of smack so long as my quads aren't still in Winsor, VT.
-Len

In - I'll be reprising my normal role as "smackdown recipient".

However, there will be no sneaking away after the last hill this time.

Going to monitor the weather to make sure it doesn't get worse, but I'm likely to be there. Roll out at 6 right?

I'm in if rain stops.
Unless someone posts up with different time I am assuming we have "officially" made 6pm sharp the start time for this ride.

Jeff

I'll be there though I'm not sure how much "smack" I have in my legs/lungs.

Rich P's earlier comments were a bit optimistic of my condition.

I'm in. Planning to be a smackee, rather than a smacker.

On another note, my wife is out of town so I'm stopping for dinner & adult beverages at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson on the way home....if anyone wants to join me. (Driving there and changing out of spandex!)