The weather cooperated nicely for our ride along the Atlantic Ocean in Westport, MA.  Quiet back roads, beaches, sand dunes and bikes.  What more could one ask for a perfect bicycle ride.

Westport_Horseneck Beach from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

The e-mail said 22 miles of flat easy riding.  Apparently rolling hills are flat easy riding to some people.  Twelve experienced road riders showed for this one.  Lots of ex’s. A couple of ex racers, ex touring riders,  but mostly ex young people.  Riding with a new member from Amsterdam, I learned a few new Dutch words as we climbed a couple of the longer hill together.

Everyone ended with a smile and some eased their pain at a local pub conveniently located at the end of the route.  I didn’t want to be tempted with a beer or two since I had a 20 mile drive home.  Not to worry, I did make up for it at home.

2018 June 14 Thursday Night Ramble from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

CAFE RIDE STARTING FROM FORT HILL SATURDAY 9 AM START

Starting at the Fort Hill parking lot a casual** 27 mile ride along the East Bay Bicycle Path to Bristol for coffee and bagels at Bristol Bagel on Hope Street.

For directions to Fort Hill bike path access search for directions to intersection of Mercer Street and Veterans Memorial Parkway in East Providence through Google Maps or GPS. (1 Mercer St.) Parking is overlooking the river on the West side of the highway.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Sunday, June 17, 2018 Westport ride to Horseneck Beach –

Meetup at 8:45 A.M. ride starts at 9:00 A.M. – Meetup location is at Westport Middle School – 380 Old County Rd. Westport, MA

Distance: approx. 21 miles – Rain cancels the ride. – We will ride From Westport Middle School to Horseneck Beach and back. – Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, cameras and anything else you might want or need. Helmets are highly recommended. This will be an all on road ride and is probably best suited for experienced riders.

50 miles through 6 towns of country riding.

It was an early morning start for this solo ride.  My first inkling was the Tour de Creme ice cream ride route.  But I also wanted to ride over the Padanaram (paid-nair-im) Bridge,  in Dartmouth, MA. that just opened after two years while under repair.   It didn’t take long to decide to do both.   Most of the ride was a pleasure but then some of it wasn’t.

When I turned into the UMass Dartmouth campus at around the 35 mile mark, my respect for the local weather man was bittersweet. Many complain that they seldom get thing right, this sonofabitch was spot on.  During his 7 A.M. report, he predicted a sunny, warm morning. He also said to beware of the wind sometime around noon.  When I made the turn onto “Ring Road”, it was like I rode into a net. The kind that used to catch the greyhounds at the end of the race. The one that gives when the dogs run into it. Yeah, like that.

One of the highlights of the ride was when I spotted a water pump in a cemetery.  While there I took a short stroll around the ground and found a grave stone marked  “Born 1600. died 1647”.  There were quite a few 1600’s birth dates on the stones.

I struggled here and there on this ride and my legs began to tighten when I had around eight miles left.  However, once I crossed the bridge from the city into my home town, I was like a cow smelling the barn.  All my woes melted away as I pedaled at a good clip the final three miles.

p.s.  I did stop at the marked for some flank steak to make a crock pot Mongolian beef dish.  It game out phenomenal.

50 Miles, 6 Towns of Country Riding from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

There were two rides offered this sunny, warm, Saturday morning. One was a full hammerfest replete with full spandex, helmets and all that other stuff , the other was a little slower, smell the roses kind of ride.  I chose to ride with the later group. My spandex days are long past.  I do wear the spandex shorts, but I cover them with hiking style riding shorts.  Tight clothing doesn’t do much for my image.

We took a couple of detours off the MUP to have a more pleasant experience scenery wise that the the MUP offers in small doses.  Naturally, near the end of the ride we stopped for coffee, as any bicyclist worthy of the bike life is apt to do on a ride.

Up next is the Monday Morning Wake Up  Ride with Margret, that meets at Bristol Community College tennis courts in Fall River, MA for an 8 A.M. wheels down.

Saturday Morning on the East Bay from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

Thursday:

Bike the Night in Providence. Don’t miss this one

RI Bike Coalition is partnering with PVDFest to host the most festive Bike the Night yet! We’ll be meeting at Burnside Park at 8 PM before departing on a 8 to 10 mile ride through Providence and ending for a party at the The Black Sheep Providence. Providence Art Culture Tourism will be providing some bike decorations, but support the fun by getting you and your bike PVDFest-ready!

CLICK HERE for the Facebook link with all the info

The forecast called for increasing winds throughout the morning with 25-30 MPH gusts. The next three days will be rainy.  The temp was a near perfect 58F and mostly sunny for my 8 AM wheels down. Same route as yesterday, but a whole different feeling.

Yesterday’s ride was a slog.  It usually takes me a mile or so to get into a comfortable rhythm. That never happened yesterday.  The hills really got to me so bad that I cut the ride short.  You see,  the route I took has two options, the “Rochester Long and Rochester Short”.  The bail out is around 7 miles into the ride.  The feeling good turn around spot is at the 12 mile mark.

Today I got into the zone.  Twice when I emerged from my “highway hypnosis”,  I was already beyond those hills.  My average speed was up quite a bit and the whole ride felt…well I didn’t really feel anything.  My mind took me to places other than where I was on the bike.  I was on the home stretch much sooner than I realized and as I though about the last climb, I realized that I had already done it.   That’s a good feeling.

I had heard about this ride for a couple of years and decided to give it a go.  Eleven of us began the ride in Somerset, MA all looking forward excitedly for the hills to come when we made the turn and rode through Fall River.  Everything about the city is hill related.  The high school nick name is “The Hill Toppers”.  The businesses are called “Hill Side”,  the “Hill Top Cafe”,  “Seven Hills”, and on and on.  It’s challenging to say the least.

A couple of rides broke away from the group and I tried to organize a paceline to chase them down.  There was only one taker but together we caught them pretty quickly.

I hung back with the slower riders  for a while to get some video footage.  When I decided to chase down the faster riders, the general consensus was “good luck, there are too far ahead”.   “I’m riding a Felt” was my response.  It didn’t matter.  The five of them were waiting in the parking lot at then end, showered, changed and sated.

Much of the group opted for Mexican after the ride.  I declined (I don’t eat after 5 PM), but was only 30 minuets away from my fridge and cold beer.  Bikers love coffee and beer.  Mexican food? Not so much. Not around here anyhow.

A good turnout on a spectacular, warm, clear spring evening for the Full Moon Ride.  A 22 mile round trip easy spin on the flat East Bay Bike Path, a rail to trail conversion.

The group meets in the public parking lot on RT 103 in Warren R.I. at Dell’s lemonade building and ride to India Point Park in Providence. And back.

Full Flower Moon Ride in Providence from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

Monday, May 28, 2018 –

Monday Mornings Highland Ride – weekly ride – meetup 7:45AM, Ride starts at 8:00AM – Start from Bristol Community College on Elsbree Street (please park by tennis courts). This will be an approximately 11 mile ride through the beautiful Highland section of Fall River. The ride will take an hour to complete. A perfect start to our week day. Rain cancels our rides…hope to see you there!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday, May 29, 2018:   This is a really good 100% bike path ride. It’s a favorite.

Bike Fall River Ride – Sunset/Moonlight Ride on the East Bay Bike Path! Meetup will be at the parking lot off of Rte 103 in Warren – take left right after Dels Lemonade – arrive at 6:45PM – ride will start at 7:00PM sharp – Sunset is at 8:10PM, Moonrise is at 8:14PM, Distance is flexible. Names for this Full Moon: Full Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, Hare Moon.    Rain cancels the ride.

We will ride toward Providence till we decide to turn around. Turn around point will probably be India Point Park unless we decide to turn around sooner (or later). That’s around 22 or 23 miles roundtrip. Bikes should have adequate lighting. If you have a second headlight as a backup that might come in handy if the first one goes out. Bring water, snacks, cameras and anything else you might want or need. Helmets are highly recommended. Take note that it is cooler after sunset and dress accordingly.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a Bike Newport ride – Meet at Bike Newport, 62 Broadway Newport RI – 8.00pm FREE Conquer the night, ride under the full moon and hear the sounds of the night with us on this Bike Month bike ride through Newport, guided by the full moon! So bring your cycling friends and sign up. Route tbd (probably around the ocean loop) – All riders are required to bring a bike, helmet, lights & weather-appropriate clothing. To register go to – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/full-moon-bike-ride-tickets-45450363260?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=listing

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday, May 30, 2018: I’m away for this one. I’ll try to get a leader in Fairhaven but if not, leave Staples at 5:40 and Hiram will lead the ride from the Y in New Bedford.

Wednesday Night Casual Ride – Two areas to choose from to start the ride. 1st Location: Fairhaven to New Bedford – 15 mile ride – Meetup at Staples in Fairhaven, 17 Plaza Way, Fairhaven Ma. The ride starts exactly at 5:40pm. Other location – Meetup at YMCA in New Bedford at 6:00pm for a shorter ride of 9 miles.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday – May 31, 2018

ICE CREAM Ride!!! Meetup at Somerset Creamery, 146 County Street Somerset – Meetup starts at 5:30pm, Ride starts at 6:00pm sharp – 20 mile ride, all on-road, casual pace has us back at 8:00pm for ice cream. Helmets highly recommended – Rain Cancels Ride