Boston Bike Coordination Thread - version 2007

**Natedogg** · 03-27-2007, 06:00 PM

Whats the skinny? I have yet to ride with any mags. Im bored with Cutler and Nam. Well, not really bored with Nam, but Id like to get my ass out and riding new terrain this year.

**DEVO** · 03-27-2007, 06:14 PM

If you ridden there yet you really need to come up and ride "Bruce and Tom's excellent Adventure" in Gloucester. Just give it some time to dry out. Bruce is really trying to make people wait so the trails don't get ruined.

**Natedogg** · 03-29-2007, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by DEVO

If you ridden there yet you really need to come up and ride "Bruce and Tom's

Rode there a long time ago with some guys from Boston Freeride one day. I found a vid on BustedSpoke--there definitely wasnt all that built shit when I was there. Ill definitely have to check it out again.

Anyone ever ridden Franklin/Wrentham/Foxboro? The terrain looks sick from 495, but Ive never gotten in there to ride... Beta??

**Franz Klammer** · 03-31-2007, 11:14 AM

Went to Parker this morning. Sweet dry riding. Bring on the season!

**Natedogg** · 05-07-2007, 11:14 AM

Sure. When, where?

**rightcoast** · 05-07-2007, 02:09 PM

nate, hopkinton is close to me. I can meet up with you guys there pretty much any night after work.
shoot me a PM if you want. this week is looking great weatherwise.

**Natedogg** · 05-07-2007, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Hmm, I am kind of a biking JONG, and getting into it. I am in the Acton area, trails and stuff that are recommended would be sweet, if anyone has suggestions. Post when/where and I'll see if I can make it.

Why dont you, Rightcoast, Anby, and I meet up in Hopkinton... Are you guys available to ride during the week, say after 530 or so? Thats when Anby and I get out of work. Rightcoast, do you know the trails in Hopkinton? From route 85, the park looks huge--there must be tons of trails out there...

FYI, Im a bit of the fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy, so Ill say tenatively later this week, maybe next week???

Simple--any trails in Acton?

**rightcoast** · 05-08-2007, 01:46 PM

I dont know the trails in Hopkinton, no. I might actually head out that way right now to check it out a little. Ill go in off of the Rt 85 entrance and see what i can find. Im free any day after 4, so I can meet you guys out there.

**Natedogg** · 05-09-2007, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by rightcoast

I dont know the trails in Hopkinton, no. I might actually head out that way right now to check it out a little. Ill go in off of the Rt 85 entrance and see what i can find. Im free any day after 4, so I can meet you guys out there.

Find anything?

BTW, all you NE mags, check out http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=84989. I need some bike photoslutting...

**rightcoast** · 05-09-2007, 05:55 PM

I didnt make it to Hopkinton, big brushfire had 85 tied up it looked like so i went to Upton State Forest. Found some pretty fun stuff, and its only about 10 mins from me. By looking at a map though, Hopkinton looks like it could be really good.
Simplicity- Either of these are fairly close to you, exit 21 off of 495. Upton is 21b, Hopkinton is 21a.

**yodaottis** · 05-11-2007, 07:30 AM

Slightly off topic:
What are some good bike shops in the Worcester/Boston area? I want to get back into it but I don't think my old bike is up to the task.
Any recommendations appreciated, not familiar with the shops around here and I'd need a place with knowledgeable staff since the last time I bought a Mtn bike was 93.

**biggins** · 05-11-2007, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by yodaottis

What are some good bike shops in the Worcester/Boston area? .

In Malden, MA off 93 on Rt. 60:

JRA cycles. Mostly MTB and BMX, all really good guys who know what they're doing. A fun shop worth the trip.

**Natedogg** · 05-11-2007, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by yodaottis

What are some good bike shops in the Worcester/Boston area?

I was really impressed with Belmont Wheelworks. I went there for the first time a week or two ago. Its friggin huge, and they have a ton of sick bikes.

From what I've seen, these are all pretty decent shops:

Belmont Wheelworks: Belmont (Waverly), Somerville
International Bicycle: Newton, Boston (Allston?)
Landrys: Natick, Westboro, Boston, Norwood
Milford Bike: Milford
Cycle Loft: Burlington

Walked into Spoken Wheel in Waltham (I guess they also have shops in Westboro and Sudbury) once and was not impressed. Not friendly, not much in there.

Sheldon Brown (the man on the internet for tech info) works at Harris Cyclery in Newton. I havent been there, but it must be a decent shop...

That should tide you over for awhile.

As Rightcoast about shops in the Worcester area... I think he lives out that way.

**yodaottis** · 05-11-2007, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the info guys.
I'll spend some time this weekend driving around checking places/bikes out.
It's been a while but I think I'm looking for a hardtail, disc brakes, trigger shift (looks like they phased out those bullshit grip shifts anyways).
Not much of a budget though, need touring bindings for next year so that's a big hit on my "fun" budget I need to keep in mind this summer.
400-500$ or so.

**biggins** · 05-11-2007, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by yodaottis

400-500$ or so.

Go used. MTBR.com classifieds, Craigslist, bustedspoke.com, or hcor.com are good palces to start.

**Natedogg** · 05-11-2007, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by biggins

Go used. MTBR.com classifieds, Craigslist, bustedspoke.com, or hcor.com are good palces to start.

Agree 100%. I'll add in Ridemonkey.com and eBay (eBay more when you figure out what you want cuz there is wayyy too much on there).

**Franz Klammer** · 05-11-2007, 09:40 AM

Riding tomorrow at 9:30am at the Fells. Medial Epicondylitis means no tennis and more biking.

**yodaottis** · 05-11-2007, 09:55 AM

Aside from local classifieds/craigslist I'd like to avoid shopping online, I really need to see how a bike feels when you ride it.
Last bike I used a lot (my father's) was a late 90's Gary Fisher Marlin and I loved the way it rode, reading some modern reviews on those now but I think it'll be a lot of testing various bikes out at local shops. Then I can go online and if I find the same one cheaper...

mtbr.com has an excellent setup for bike reviews, looks like that'll be a big help.
Thanks guys.

**Natedogg** · 05-11-2007, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by yodaottis

Aside from local classifieds/craigslist I'd like to avoid shopping online, I really need to see how a bike feels when you ride it.

Bustedspoke is mostly local people--its a New England online community. Not as many listings as MTBR or Ridemonkey, but there are definitely some smokin deals to be found. Keep it in mind.

**biggins** · 05-11-2007, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by yodaottis

Aside from local classifieds/craigslist I'd like to avoid shopping online, I really need to see how a bike feels when you ride it.

Absolutely, but bustedspoke is mostly local, hcor is Northeast centric, and I found my big squish bike for a steal on MTBR from a seller in Somerville.

Cruize those sites and if you find a bike you're interested in there's a good chance the seller will be within a reasonable driving distance.

**Natedogg** · 05-11-2007, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Natedogg

Bustedspoke is mostly local

Originally Posted by biggins

bustedspoke is mostly local

1235643

**yodaottis** · 05-11-2007, 11:07 AM

quick question: is bustedspoke mostly local?

thanks everyone for the info, ill check that one out too.

**biggins** · 05-11-2007, 11:36 AM

And don't forget about the relative locallity of Busted Spoke, which is local by the way.

**rightcoast** · 05-11-2007, 01:40 PM

I like Bicycle Alley in Worcester. Theyre right in Webster Sq. Good shop, cool employees, willing to answer questions.

**yodaottis** · 05-11-2007, 02:23 PM

bicycle alley.
I've been in there to get a tube before and everyone seemed pretty laid back and nice.
It's < 10 min from me so that'll be a good start, not sure why I didn't think of them in the first place. Not sure if I can find anything w/ discs in my price range but can always upgrade later, don't want to compromise on frame/component quality just to get disc brakes under 500$.
The search beings tomorrow, I'll throw a pic in the other thread when I take a my baby home.