Tour Somerville by bicycle - this Saturday

[ron_newman]

The 14th annual Tour de Somerville bike ride will be this Saturday, October 14, meeting at 10 am at Seven Hills Park, behind the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

Our theme this year is "Streets, Rails, and Trails". We'll start by exploring the back streets of Somerville's mostly-flat Ward Two. Then we'll ride alongside future extensions of both the Somerville Community Path and the MBTA Green Line, looking at railroad rights-of-way from a variety of viewpoints. Finally, we'll return to Davis Square on the existing paved Community Path.

The ride is about 8 miles long, with only one significant hill. There is a short optional off-road section for adventurous riders with hybrid or mountain bikes. If you're curious about the route, a friend of mine is temporarily hosting the map and cue sheet at http://www.MiddlesexCanal.org/Ron .

If it rains, we'll postpone the ride to Sunday, October 15, same starting time and location.

For more information, call 617-628-8895. Email: sbc@ci.somerville.ma.us .

The ride is sponsored by the Somerville Bicycle Committee, Friends of the Community Path, and the Mass. Central Rail Trail Coalition.

Comments

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

do you think this would be a good event for a beginner? i know how to ride a bike, but am a beginner at riding my new (to me) road bike that is supposedly the right height, but feels tall. i am used to riding my comfy mountain bike, but it is too short for me to be practical. i'm also afraid of riding next to cars- but thought this might be a good chance to practice?

[ron_newman]

This is a very slow-paced group ride, with many stops. There will be a police escort. It would be ideal for a beginner. See you tomorrow!

[eeka13.livejournal.com]

Why does your bike ride go to Miki's?

[ron_newman]

Because that's where the "follow the future Community Path" half of the ride starts.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I rode it when I was a beginner :). (By which I mean, I learned how to ride a bike when I was 23 and did the Tour de Somerville when I had gained basic competency but had not yet learned to ride independently on roads.) It was good fun.

Group rides are the best way to learn to ride on roads. (Which, by the way, I can now do proficiently, even in ninja-difficulty places like Harvard Square. The fear lessens to a pragmatic sort of caution and awareness with practice. :)

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

hey good for you! i did go and it was a lot of fun. except i think i was too busy trying to not fall off and not get lost to actually "tour" somerville. and my chain came off and i almost got left behind. but i'm glad i went.

any advice on how to practice? this was my first time really riding on roads- i did ride to lunch afterwards, but i got off my bike and walked through the bad intersections (davis, and powderhouse circle).