Hub on Wheels

Today, Peter & I participated in the Hub On Wheels community bike ride and cycling celebration in Boston.  This was our first time riding although I signed up in a previous year and then slept through my alarm.  The only ride of this sort that I’ve participated in before was the Bike New York Five Boro Bike Tour back in 2001. Although there are no awe-inspiring moments like crossing the Verazanno Bridge, I’ll have to say that Hub On Wheels felt much better organized than the New York ride as the volunteers spaced out the bikes to avoid back ups.  In the latter part of the rides cars & bikes shared the road without much fear of bicycle safety or delay for the cars.  And unlike New York, everyone was well-behaved with no punk teens doing stunt riding.

Highlights from the ride for me:

• riding on the Orange Line with more and more riders and their bicycles boarding at each stop.
• check-in at the pre-register desk was pretty easy, and presumably on the honor system since no one asked for my name.
• we didn’t get started from our point in the line until 8:20 but after that there were no “bike traffic jams” and all the riders could cruise along at their own speed and ability.
• speeding along Storrow Drive without those pesky cars or joggers in the way.
• while crossing the Charlesgate flyover, I noticed that the wall was battered and covered in broken car parts.  Do people really crash there that often?  Crazy!
• Riding along Riverway bicyclists were pelted with falling acorns.  One bounced off Peter’s helmet with a loud crack!
• lots of people said hi to Peter and told me how cute he is
• Gorgeous views of Jamaica Pond from Perkins St. and Parkman Drive.
• I have my own cheering section on the hills chanting “Go! Daddy! Go!”
• Big line at the Arnold Arboretum rest area but then the volunteers walked around handing out the snacks.
• Peter checked out the pond at the Arboretum and suddenly almost all of the bikers were gone!
• Peter chatted with a 1-year old who was riding in a trailer behind his Mom.
• Actually, almost all the people left at the back of the ride were people riding with kids.
• If I didn’t feel slow enough already, at the point where the 30-mile ride and the 50-mile ride merged back together, there were dozens of 50-milers speeding in!
• Forest Hills Cemetery is a gorgeous place to ride.  I live right next to the Cemetery, why don’t I know this already?
• At the Forest Hills rest area, Peter enjoyed running around and around and getting out all that pent-up energy.  I followed on my sore legs.
• Peter also picked up acorns off the ground and threw them over his head.
• Forest Hills was our “Finish Line” and we dropped out to go to Java Jo’s for a celebratory smoothie (and coffee for a tired Dad.

I’m looking forward to doing this again next year.  My goal will be more miles and encouraging more people to ride with us!

Check out my photos from the ride in this slideshow:

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