No riding Here!

[massbikebabe]

Jody;

Have you tried Bicycle Alley here in Worcester??? They usually have a small frame or two around? What are you looking for? I might be able to point
you into the right shop.

karen

ps-I don't think I will be home the 14th...that's the BIG anniversary weekend

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm seriously considering custom now. If I'm going to spend that kind of money, I want it to fit right, not just almost.

The bikes I ride - 1 Peter Mooney, & 2 Bike Fridays - are all custom. I've had good experience w/ custom, and even with custom you can agree on a price range. I'd say go for it!
--- Denise

[Surlygirl]

Hey Karen, thought you'd gone missing. Sorry you can't join us the 14th.

I wasn't there to buy yesterday. Hubby was there to try out one of the Orbeas. Nice bike, but not my style. Anyway, he was pushing me to try bikes. I have poked around at Bike Alley and I'm sure Neil would help me find a bike once I get serious. I saw one with 650 wheels there a few months ago. I just need to figure out what I want and if they make one my size.

[Crankin]

Hi Jody,

I got both of my WSD road bikes at Landry's in Westborough. Both are 47 cm, w/ 650 wheels. I'm 5 foot one, so I can relate. The first was a Cannondale, which did not fit me as well, even with modifications. However, it was not their top of the line. I have a Trek 5200 now and I love it. I bought an 03 model in 04, so the price was right. Someone I know from the health club just got the top of the line Cannondale WSD and she loves it (she's even shorter than me). She got it at Cycle Loft. I think a lot of companies are having delivery trouble now; I bought my Trek in the middle of the summer, when most people already have their bikes for the season.
Don't worry about your speed on the 14th. I will stay with you, since I won't know where the heck I am!
It's raining again.... so I am about to put on my rain gear and go for a walk. I had targeted this week to hit 500 miles. Let's hope it clears up.

Robyn

[Surlygirl]

Hi Robyn,
Raining here too. I'm hoping you mean 500 miles this season so far not this week! You're still way ahead of me. Most of the roads on the ramble are narrow back roads which aren't to busy. Road surfaces varied from newly paved, to good, old, pay attention, New England rough stuff. Most roads are marked pretty well.

I must just have a really short inseam. I looked at a Cannondale, a Specialized and the Trek 5200. Sweet bike that Trek. Just not sure I want to go Carbon. I know, most people would kill for a carbon but I'm not sure yet. I check out all the bike shops around here since I'm sort of in the middle of all of them. I've been in Bike Alley, Milford Cycle, Landry's, Bicycle Barn and this was my first time to Belmont Wheelworks. What a zoo that was. I think Bike Alley is still my favorite. I've also been to Pedal Power in Acton. They wanted a $500 deposit to order a Terry bike for me to try. Hmmm, I don't think so. Like I said, I just have to figure out what I want. I have a perfectly nice bike, its just HEAVY.

[spazzdog]

Hi grrls... raining again today. I sure hope it gets it all out this week. I'm starting to grow moss on my north side.

I saw a new grrl from Lowell on the board, Anaphase (?). Perhaps she'll join us on the 14th?

spazz

[DeniseGoldberg]

and this was my first time to Belmont Wheelworks. What a zoo that was.

In my experience, Belmont Wheelworks is a great shop - but it's almost always packed on the weekends. I've head best luck with early morning visits on weekend days, or with going during the day during the week. That may not be an option for you given where you live... if I need a weekday visit I usually just take my lunch break at an odd time, or make up my "bike shop time instead of work time" at the beginning or end of the day.
--- Denise

[DeniseGoldberg]

I had targeted this week to hit 500 miles. Let's hope it clears up. Robyn

Robyn -
Your mileage target made me check my log for the year. And guess what - I will hit 500 miles this week too! I thought I was really lagging behind, but I just checked my logs for 2003 and 2004, and I'm right on target!

So thanks for helping me to feel better about my progress too!
And thanks for making me realize that I can ride with others successfully - I enjoyed our ride on Saturday even though the wet stuff coming out of the sky made us cut it a bit short.

--- Denise

[newfsmith]

I must just have a really short inseam. I looked at a Cannondale, a Specialized and the Trek 5200. Sweet bike that Trek. Just not sure I want to go Carbon. I know, most people would kill for a carbon but I'm not sure yet. I check out all the bike shops around here since I'm sort of in the middle of all of them. I've been in Bike Alley, Milford Cycle, Landry's, Bicycle Barn and this was my first time to Belmont Wheelworks. What a zoo that was. I think Bike Alley is still my favorite. I've also been to Pedal Power in Acton. They wanted a $500 deposit to order a Terry bike for me to try. Hmmm, I don't think so. Like I said, I just have to figure out what I want. I have a perfectly nice bike, its just HEAVY.

I'm slightly under 5 feet now that I'm shrinking. I have a Terry Col de Madaleine in the 16 inch frame and a new Felt F70 with a 47 frame and 650 wheels. Both fit me comfortably. If you are interested in trying them let me know, I will be around next week-end, but not the following. By the way, if you are interested in a Terry you should go to Harris Cyclery in West Newton. It is right off the pike so it is fairly easy to get to. They are one of the largest Terry dealers in New England, besides being the home base of Sheldon Brown.

[Surlygirl]

Thanks Newfsmith, what a great offer. I know you can't make our ride on the 14th but we should all get together again and I'd love to see your bikes. It will be interesting to see what everyone is riding.
I am familiar with Harris via the web, but have never actually been there, so I may have to put that on my list of shops to visit. I'd like to try the new Terry Isis which comes with two same size wheels in 650.

Hey Denise I've never ridden with a group either, so needless to say I'm nervous too. I usually ride with hubby. As for Belmont, it was a nice shop and I know how busy most shops are on the weekends but it's the only time hubby can go. I usually only venture to shops during the early weekday mornings when they are pretty slow.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Hey Denise I've never ridden with a group either, so needless to say I'm nervous too...

OK, we ought to make quite a group then! Seriously, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone, and Saturday made me realize that doing occasional non-solo rides will be a nice change of pace for me.
--- Denise

[CorsairMac]

OK, we ought to make quite a group then! Seriously, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone, and Saturday made me realize that doing occasional non-solo rides will be a nice change of pace for me.
--- Denise

I'm with you on this Denise - I spend so much time on the bike alone it was a blast riding with friends last weekend. We've already set up another ride time this weekend and I'm planning on a metric century (thanks for the motivation TE ladies) the same day all you MASS girls ride......I'm calling it my virtual "ride with the MASS girls" ride! Since ya'll are 2 hrs ahead of me I won't be starting at YOUR start time but let me know what time ya'll are meeting and riding, and I'll plan that for my time too!

[DeniseGoldberg]

We've already set up another ride time this weekend and I'm planning on a metric century (thanks for the motivation TE ladies) the same day all you MASS girls ride......I'm calling it my virtual "ride with the MASS girls" ride! :

The MASS girls ride is on the 14th - and we're meeting at 10am. I'll be riding on my own this coming weekend though, so we still could overlap in ride times...

[Crankin]

Hi Everyone,
Jody, yea the people at Pedal Power are sort of a-------. My younger son worked there one summer when he was in high school. They know their stuff, but the owner, Joyce is a little abrupt. They have a captive market, especially if you don't want to out of the area. I am really looking forward to the 14th.
Yes, I meant 500 miles for the season. I did get out today for a very short 13.5 mile steep hill ride with my husband. And guess what? Right in Acton, on a street i always ride on, someone threw an egg at me and hit me on the back of my jacket. We went back afterwards, in the car and found the shells and more shells hidden behind the wall of a house. We rang the bell and no one answered, although the TV was on. I would like to scare the crap out of the kids who did it. I should call the police, but it seems stupid. We found out the name of the house owner, but the phone is unlisted. I think i will pay the mom a visit when I have time. We were in a hurry, since we had to leave for an AMC bike committee meeting in Bedford. Well, there's always something. At least it didn't hit my bike! And I will hit 500 by the weekend. I will be leading a 25 mile ride on Sat. and plan to do 45 on Sunday.

[Surlygirl]

Wow, Robin, you're a better woman than me. I would have had the cell phone out and the cops on the phone. I even carry a pencil in my pack so I can take down License plate numbers. It comes from having to many close calls. I rode 25 yesterday and I'm in my granny pedaling up a hill and some jerk in a van sort of pulls up beside me and keeps nudging me over till I finally had to stop or get run into the dirt. Then he rolls down the window and says "hey where is there a gas station?" I couldn't believe it. If he didn't have a kid in the back I would have told him to take a flying leap. So I tell him where there is a gas station. I start pedaling again and then he pulls a u-turn right in front of me. No "Thank you" or anything. ERRRRRRRRRR.

On a good note I ran into Walter, who was spray painting 6's on the road. He leads the Charles River wheelmen on a 6 state tour on Memorial day weekend starting in Lincoln, MA and he was marking the route. We talked for awhile and then played tag over the next 10 miles. They ride 150 miles the first day and then 100 the second and third day. YIKES.