hammer
Active member
Got out this past weekend and did a 50-mile ride with my 17YO son for a Boy Scout merit badge requirement. Route was basically as follows:
- Bruce Freeman Rail Trail from Cross Point in Lowell to Rt. 27 and 225 in Carlisle
- Rt. 225 in Carlisle to Bedford to start of Minutemen Trail
- Minutemen Trail to Rt. 2A in Lexington
- Rt. 2A to Minutemen National Park
- Part of Battle Road Trail (stopped for lunch)
- Return Rt. 2A to Lexington
- Minuteman Trail to Arlington Center
- Return on Minutemen Trail to Bedford
- At the end I really didn't feel all that tired...I've felt more drained after a longer day of skiing. Could have been the slower pace (which I let my son set).
- The rail trails are easy rides...basically flat (slight incline from Arlington to Lexington on the Minutemen Trail). The Minuteman Trail was not as crowded as I was expecting.
- The segment through Carlisle was pretty easy, mainly because it was mostly downhill and because we did it on a weekend when the traffic was lighter.
- Uphill segments make a big difference; we only had a few but they were still tough.
- The rides on 2A were a pain...the road surface leaves a bit to be desired and there's a lot of traffic.
- The Battle Road Trail is hard-packed but unsuitable for road bikes IMO.
- One rant...riders are very poor about calling out when they pass you. I'm surprised that there aren't more accidents on the trail. :angry: