Bike on the T: a Mini Adventure

A couple of days ago I happened to visit a bike shop in downtown Boston and the owner had an interesting bicycle in the back - very unusual to see in the US. I commented on it, and he uttered this fateful reply: "Oh this thing? Take it, please!Get it out of here!" And he made me an offer I could not refuse - dared not refuse. Before I knew it, I was standing by the Boston Harbor with the bike, grinning like a madwoman at my unexpected acquisition.



But once the euphoria subsided, the reality of it hit. Missing a saddle, seatpost and front brake, the bike was not ridable and I lived 4 miles away. There was no way I was rolling it all the way home. It was time to try the dreaded "bike on the T." I had heard horror stories about it from others, but now I would find out for myself.





In Boston, bikes areallowed on the subwayon weekdays before 7am, between 10am and 4pm, and after 7pm. It was now 3pm, so I was just in the nick of time before the evening rush hour ban.I walked the bike to South Station and looked for an entrance that indicated the presence of an elevator. I could not find one, and rather than try every single entrance decided to carry the bike down the stairs. It was on the heavy side, but easy to hold by the top tube - overall, not too bad.





Once underground, I headed for the extra-wide handicapped entrance, slid my "Charlie card" along the electronic reader, and like magic I was in. The bike got a lot of looks from passers-by, and a couple of people asked me sympathetically whether my saddle had been stolen. The station was not too crowded, and rolling the bike along did not present any difficulties.





Knowing that a series of staircases awaited in order to reach the platform, this time I made it a point to look for an elevator. I found one pretty quickly.





It was a roomy elevator, with plenty of space for bikes, wheelchairs and baby strollers. I pressed the button that indicated the platform I needed to get to, then disembarked when the elevator stopped at that floor.





Immediately there was a sign for the platform, but then... more stairs despite having taken the elevator! It is possible that I did something wrong, but the elevator did indicate that this was the correct place to disembark. Confusing, though I was fine carrying the bike down some more stairs.





Finally I was at the platform, waitingwith a decent-sized crowd of othersfor the train to arrive. I began to strategise: I would try to enter so as to get in the corner of the car, where I could stay close to the door and have some space. As the train pulled up, I could see that some of the cars were emptier than others, and quickly walked toward one of those.





As planned, I was able to get into the corner of the car and stay close to the door. There was even an empty seat, and I positioned the bike in front of me at an angle, so that the people in the seats next to me could come and go without the bike blocking their way. The ride was bumpy, and I wedged the front wheel between my knees in addition to holding the bike, to keep it stable. The other passengers steered clear of the bike and did not bump it or brush up against it, which was nice (whenI mentioned this to the Co-Habitant later, he suggested they were probably afraid to get their clothes dirty - the bike looked filthy!). Once the train reached my station, I got up and rolled the bike backwards out of the train - not difficult as we were right by the door.





At the station, I decided not to even bother looking for an elevator and took the bike on a series of escalators.Then I rolled it home, which was a 12 minute walk.



Overall, I would describe my experience of taking a bike on the T in Boston as unproblematic. It is of course crucial to pay attention to the rules regarding which trains allow bikes and when, and to plan accordingly. If your bike is so heavy that you cannot carry it up and down stairs, I would also suggest looking at station maps beforehand to familiarise yourself with the locations of elevators; they are not always obvious. As the train arrives, keeping an eye on the cars and aiming for one of the emptier ones is a good idea, and looking for a spot in the corner of the car will ensure proximity to the doors. If you find that the car is getting crowded as your station nears, you could warn people that you are getting off at the next stop and will need to wheel your bike out. Other than that, I cannot really think of any additional advice.



In close to three years of cycling in Boston, this was my first time taking a bike on the subway and I am glad it went well. Now, to find a seatpost for this bike...

Morning Glory

A picture of a morning glory I took last year.

Mt. Adams

Mt. Adams from the Southwest.












Carbo-loading at the Cold Springs base camp.

High camp at Lunch Counter.













Climbers on the South face.

A beautiful day on the summit.

The 2,000' glissade down to Lunch Counter.

Dani glissading.

Wipeout!

I vant to be left alone

Both the Muscovy (above) and the Runner duck had to be chased off their nests. They weren't happy being forced to abandon their eggs, rotten and stinking though they were.

That poor Muscovy. She keeps trying to nest and having no luck. I think the only thing she did wrong this time was to pick the period with the record number of consecutive 100°+ days. She's not much of a weather forecaster I guess.

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Friday Ark.

Forest Road

Clay Pot & Cactus

Clouds and Smokey Sun

Took this one 2 evenings ago. The clouds give it a nice look even with all the smoke.

A Spring Walk

Last week was really nice so we drove up to Jemez Creek and went for a walk.

Grassy Yard

Jim complained he hadn't had a chance to mow the several acreas of lawn they have, but I thought it looked so great with the tall grass and dandelions in bloom. After looking at nutural brown desert dirt for as long as I have any green looks good.

Helpston Circular

Led by Barry. With Eddie, Gordon and Maureen. A flat walk,not quite fenland, in fine, warm but windy weather. Around 7 and a half miles.













Helpston is the birthplace of John Clare, known as the Northamptonshire peasant poet. In his lifetime the village was in the Soke of Peterborough, part of the County of Northamptonshire. Now it is in Cambridgeshire. There is masses of info and photographs of the villageon this site.





Ready to go - outside the John Clare Cottage in Helpston, now a museum with a café.

Almost opposite the John Clare Museum, the path leads east out of the village, and alongside a field before turning right (south) along the hedge. We followed the field boundary, through a gap in the hedge and to the left before crossing a ploughed field ( dry, luckily) diagonally to the left, emerging at College Cottage. We walked almost due south again before turning quite sharply to the right (west). We followed the field boundary again, almost parallel to a line of pylons. When we met the Torpel Way we turned left and made for the edge of some woodland. We walked along by the wood until we reached a road (Stamford Road). Instead of walking along the road, we turned left towards more woodland, then slightly to the right towards the road again.











Unfortunately the sweetest juiciest blackberries come with the scratchiest sharpest thorns.



At the road we turned left and very soon took the path to the right. You don't go through the trees which are ahead, but turn right and follow the wide grassy track through the fields. It skirts another wooded area, then goes gently uphill to the Stamford Road again.

We had a snack break here, then walked along the road as far as the farm shop (not open on Mondays), before turning right.

The path goes past an area which has been landfill - lots of meters for measuring methane. There is also a Nature reserve at Swaddywell Pit. (Swordy Well in a John Clare poem).



The former quarry and landfill site has had the topsoil replaced, and is now rich in limestone wildflowers such as bee orchid and wild carrot. There are many butterflies, and moths, as well as skylarks and buzzards.

A blowy day




We walked along the left hand side of another wooded area and then came to part of Heath Road. There is a Roman villa underground



though we saw no evidence of it.





We reached a track turning right from the road, just before Rice Wood, and followed it, then turned left to walk with Rice Wood on our right.

The path comes out in Helpston, and we made our way past the Almshouses







to West Street with its memorial to John Clare and the Butter Cross. [Butter Crossat Helpston was where a weekly market took place. Customers had the added protection of knowing that traders were selling their wares by the Cross.This meant that everything was above board and the integrity of those traderswas guaranteed. Who would dare sell dodgy goods under the protection of the Almighty? Info from Peter Hill, via Barry - many thanks! ]





then had a look round St Botolph's church with its octagonal tower



before going into the café next to John Clare's cottage.

Onsight!

Simon Carter has been responsible for so many of us taking up the life of climbing.

Climbers, you remember the first time you saw a Simon Carter photo. We all had the same experience. The urgent, desperate need to buy some gear and get out there. It was a glimpse of what was possible.



So when he put on a show in Brisbane in July everyone and their belayerturned up. I think the opportunity to get closer to the source of our inspiration was irresistible.







That, and Monique Forestier, who is currently smashing every hard route in this corner of the State.






Monique supported the team on the night with a beautifulRed Phoenix Emporium bespoke necklacefeaturing Tibetan turquoise.






Over 150 people were entranced by the best climbing shots from around the world.






In the collageyou'll see Andrew Lightfoot, Rob Saunders, Duncan Steel, Brad Babel, Simon Carter, Bochere Rand, Tracey, Henk, Sam and Lee Cujes, Suzy G, and more




































But it's not all about the climbing. We blew the morning off fooling around at the beach with Cocoin the glorious winter sun.I lacked the basic timing skills to keep dry while getting water in the bucket.

I love the newBronsonpant. ThanksPrana and Expedition Equipment. If I had one tiny criticism it would be that the cuffs get a little heavy when they are full of sand and sea water. Not usually an issue at the crag.


















Photo sequence: Simon Carter


Monique sent the always awesome Lee Cujes route, Gasoline Rainbow 28, without too much mucking around. I didn't have the chops for it this time. That route is way too much fun. So many funky moves.







Photo: Phil Box
Sterling Rope climber Monique Forestier gets some Velocity 9.8 between her teeth.











Photo: Phil Box









photo: Phil Box




A quick celebration back at the belay.



Photo: Selfie



And there goes the Coolum Classic, Screaming Insanity.






Thanks Simon and Monique for bringing so much fun and talent to the local crags.




P.S. Monique, moments ago, (10/8/) sent Whistling Kite 32 at Frog Buttress, making the first female ascent.

Can Your Bike Withstand the Outdoors?

A couple of days ago I forgot my bike lock and dragged the big steel bicycle I was riding that day, complete with a pannier full of art supplies, up 3 flights of stairs to my studio. While doable, it was certainly an ordeal - not even the weight alone, but the awkwardness and inconvenience of carrying something so bulky up a long, winding staircase. I cannot imagine doing this on a daily basis, and normally mytransportation bikes spend the day locked up outside.



That is why it surprised me to learn that quite a few cyclists I know apparently do this several times every day and will not leave their bike outdoors for anything beyond a quick errand. Their concern is not safety, but durability. One acquaintance tells me that leaving her bicycle outside - not overnight, but during a normal workday - leads to rust and mechanical issues, particularly if it happens to rain. Another cyclist complained that after half a year of leaving her new Dutch-style bicycle outdoors 9-5 on a daily basis, the bike is now in such bad shape that the shop she took it to for a cleanup and tune-up told her not to bother and just buy a new one. It sounds absurd, but I have more anecdotes in the same vein, all involving bikes purchased in the past 2-3 years: It seems that many of the new wave "city bikes" -unlike the European originals that inspired them - were not actually designed to withstand the outdoors.



Of the current-production bikes I've owned or had on loan, I have kept a Pashley, a Bella Ciao, a Pilen, an Urbana, and a Paper Bicycle outdoors for extensive periods of time and have observed no damage as a result of this practice. Same with the vintage bikes I've owned - my Gazelle and the Steyr I rode in Austria both stayed outside overnight and were none the worse for wear. So what did these manufacturers do differently, and is it possible to do the same to other bikes aftermarket? I suppose a frame can be sprayed with some rust-proof solvent, but what about the components?



Finally, I am curious to know what you feel is realistic to expect from a new transportation bike, as far as its outdoor durability. Should it be rated for being left outside for a couple of hours at a time? A standard 9-5 workday? Overnight storage? Your own experiences with specific bikes are welcome.