Right up our alley......

Blessing of the Bikes – April 11th  9:30 AM

The South Shore will see a cycling event unlike anything offered in the past.  St. Andrew's Church in Hanover will hold a brief, non-denominational service, the Blessing of the Bikes.  People of all ages are encouraged to attend. Pembroke resident, Bill Sprows, has gained the enthusiastic cooperation of the Rev. Beth Wheatley-Dyson, in presiding over and hosting this event.  St. Andrew's Rev. Beth encourages and practices outreach to the local communities and she views this as another exciting opportunity to practice that.

The idea for this, Sprows relates, is based on a similar event in that is now in New York City, now in it's 11th year.  While online investigating the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York, he clicked on a few links and found himself at the Blessing of the Bikes website in New York.  It interested him because, similar to 'The Blessing of the Fleet' ceremonies in New Bedford and Gloucester, it welcomes the beginning of spring by seeking to ensure a safe season.

In March, two cyclists were injured by a hit and run drunk driver in Cohasset.  One of the victims had to be hospitalized.  Bicycle injuries are common and not all related to auto accidents.  Sometimes it's just a pot hole or a split-second of distraction.  Sprows himself has sustained several injuries on his bike, usually during charity rides.  Had it not been for his helmet, the outcome of his injuries could have been much worse.  A blessing for the wisdom to be careful and alert is just as important as the bikes.

The Blessing of the Bikes will start promptly at 9:30 AM on Saturday, April 11th.  If you're late, you'll miss it.  Cyclists should arrive with their bikes and in their normal cycling attire including helmet. (Tricycles, Skates and non-motorized scooters are also welcome)  A remembrance of cyclists injured or killed, a quick announcement and the cyclists will be off on their respective rides.  Cycling clubs are encouraged to make this a stop on their normal Saturday morning routine.  A free-will offering, to St. Andrew's Outreach Program will be made by passing a helmet.

The Blessing of the Bikes promises to be an annual beginning-of-the-cycling-season event.  Regardless of your religious beliefs you are welcome. This type of event has been going on in NYC for quite a while, and they've never heard from anyone that the event made them uncomfortable. In other words, you will be blessed and welcomed; you will not be lectured.


For information, cyclists can email Bill Sprows at bsprows@yahoo.com or check St. Andrew's online at www.standrewshanover.org for directions.

Happy Spring!

Here we are once again, ready to roll, waiting for that DCR 'opening day', hoping it may be earlier......Up until a few weeks ago, I had not ridden outside since the Toys ride. Now I've ridden Wompy three times this year, Rode Cutler once, poached the BH once for a quickie, and done a coupla 'marsh loops'.. Aside from that, as was stated in the last post, 2-3x/week on the trainer, sometimes noteven that. 

The bike is ready to roll, with a replacement front end, a Fox 100RLC from 2004, that seems to feel just right, so far. BB is new, chain is new, and I have a pair of new UST Conti's just waiting to be mounted. 

That's it.

Happy Winter!

Notsomuch, with all this lovely white stuff surrounding us. I say lovely, only half-sarcastically, since the snow we've had so far this year has been of the very light, powdery variety. Easy to shovel, not hard on the back. And for those of you who dabble in winter sports which involve hurtling one's body weight down the steepest slope imagineable, it's as close to the upper afterlife as you'll get while you're here.

Me, after the Toys ride in december, I haven't ridden my bike outside. 3 hours per week on the trainer, thats about it.

Just thought I'd check in. 

Keep it warm! 

Mike H. Sighting

So, I've heard about this rig almost daily from my son, who goes to the same school as Mike's boys. Apparently he rolls up after school to pick them up in this Florida-style trike that was left out for trash pickup. 

Today he delivered the kids to school on it. "It's heavy. The weight of 6 bmx bikes", says Mike. The cast iron frame and tractor seat do make for a solid ride, and my guess is that it's fun as long as you're not pedalling uphill--it's only one speed, with only the front caliper brake, so any big downhilling could be scary....

It's basically 'mint' save for some oxidation on the shiny bits, which Mike intends to buff right, some quiet winter evening. Good luck with that Mike. 

It's pretty basic in terms of decor, and I'm waiting for some sort of Sheldon Brown mojo--this bike would be right up his 'alley'.....I think actually this trike was his last ride, before the MS took him.

Wompatuck Trail Care Day Sunday, October 12th, 8:30 am............

Wompatuck Trail Care Day October 12th, 8:30-12:00
Friends of Wompatuck, jointly with SEMass NEMBA, is hosting the last
2008 Trek Bicycles/NEMBA Trail Care Day in Wompatuck on Sunday, Oct
12th.
Slated for the day are bridge repairs/building, as well as general
trail clearing.We'll carpool/hike out to the work sites, but if you
prefer to ride and work, a roving crew will survey the trails and take
care of deadfalls, etc.
Dress appropriate for the weather and the work. Eye protection,
hydration, snack, and bug spray recommended. Bring your favorite
lopper, trail saw, and work gloves.
Lunch will be provided by Friends of Wompatuck, and an apres-work ride
is always an option.

Steve Cobble
FOW/SEMass NEMBA
cobblestv@gmail.com
781....254....8796
__________________
If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on.--Lance Armstrong

http://www.semassnemba.org
www.friendsofwompatuck.org
http://1wheeldrive.blogspot.com/index.html
http://www.mountainbikechurch.com/

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, Wompatuck State Park, Oct 4

Take-a-Kid
Mountain Biking!
Saturday, October 4th, 2008
9am-12noon
Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, MA Visitor Center

• Get out in the woods and ride with your favorite kid(s)!
• Come join Friends of Wompatuck , Trail Watch Wompatuck,
New England Mountain Bike Association,
and International Mountain Bike Association on
a led mountain bike ride on the trails in Wompatuck State Park.
• Experienced ride leaders from Trail Watch Wompatuck
will be on hand to guide you on an age-appropriate journey.
• Bring bikes, helmets, water, bug spray,
weather-appropriate clothing, and kids!
• Pembroke Ski Market will be on hand to help fix mechanical
difficulties, and we'll have some hot chocolate and snacks for après
ride treats.
• Come prepared to learn about bike safety, skills, and most
importantly, how to have FUN on a Mountain Bike!!
Contact Steve Cobble at: cobblestv@gmail.com
Or 781-254-8796 for more details
For directions to Wompatuck State Park, go to :
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast

Been crashing too much lately.....

Or is it that I have way too much time on my hands the past coupla weeks......?

Last week I broke my chain twice, same ride . OK I gotta handle on that, I straightenend the offending bent derailleur hanger, replaced the drivetrain, good to go. Then I'm JRA in Wompy the other day. Just starting out, come upon two women riders and  helped fix a chain. Off I go again. Later on I bump into them again, and, preparing to stop and chat. Always trying to be so cool and shit I find that I can't clipout in this rock garden, and WHAM! down I go, right in front of the ladies. SMOOOOTH! "I meant to do that! he-he"(Pee-Wee Herman-style...)

I thought the worst of it for the rest of the day as I prepared to go to work, as my left calf seemed to have a bulge in it. Come to realize, that's just my bulging calf   ;-)) 

Then, today, taking the bike cold outta the trunk and slapping the wheels on, went for the holeshot outta the driveway. Obviously, the drivetrain wasn't ready for that. WHAM!! ruined the quick link and went down sideways real quick on the dirt road. Getting up all dusty and bleeding again with the bars twisted backwards looking all dorky, I look up to see a nice neighborhood mom walking her dog and she say "you okay?" concernedly....I say " I'm okay, hope the bike is", all the while pretending again, that I meant to do that.......

So I put a new quick link in, give it a quick spin, and off I go for my two laps. Uneventful except that I couldn't do my average ride speed since I was so shaken up.  From now on, I will always spin the wheels a few times easy to make sure the bikes ready to go before I powerup like that. And  " don't put everything you got into one pedalstroke" is my new motto. But fortunately, the bike is OK, but I think I twisted the brake lever on the carbon bar very slightly......time to replace. NOW!

Here's some pics for viewing pleasure.