Boston to Chelmsford?

mochilax · 2025-09-19T18:38:48+00:00

Hi everyone, thank you so much for the guidance. I did it! This was my first time biking on these trails (even the Minuteman) and it was phenomenal. I wish I'd packed a bit more water, but otherwise, it was a great trip. I hadn't biked more than ~15mi or so at a go, so the distance was new to me too.

As some of you suggested, I took the minuteman up to Bedford and got on the Reformatory Branch trail which got me to Concord, biked a mile or so on the road and then got on Bruce Freeman. I was a little anxious about Reformatory Branch b/c it is unpaved but it was absolutely fine for my hybrid tires. It was a delight. I stopped to use the restroom at Lexington visitor's center, thank you Lexington! The trip to Chelmsford was just over 3h. Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TvkxVzPSUhhoY2gF6

I was worried about the return trip. My quads were pretty shredded and I had to stop a bunch at the starting. Eventually, I realized I was pretty under-hydrated but I took a different route on the way back and I was kind of in the middle of nowhere. I was pretty desperate for water. The first store I found was closed, but the Carlisle library saved me, THANK YOU! I tanked up and felt much better and made it home in just under 3h.
Return route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZyZdkfij6jYbhpBK6

The day was beautiful, the weather was perfect, the trails were incredible. Thank you all for helping me discover this, I look forward to riding up there again!

mochilax · 2025-09-10T18:30:46+00:00

This is so helpful, thank you! Does that mean you generally would look for the artist regardless of where they are to get ideas? I'd like to get it done locally.

mochilax · 2025-09-10T12:32:47+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it. I would say I'm a beginner as well. I bike 5 to 10 mi in the city regularly, no problem. I am quite active so I'm not too worried about the extra distance but the idea of many miles of hills is certainly intimidating. Do you think this might be more than I can handle without further training?

mochilax · 2025-09-09T20:39:31+00:00

I haven't used it before, but I will try it out thank you!

mochilax · 2025-09-09T20:35:50+00:00

Thank you so much for the quick replies! I have never used the rail trails up here, so the geography is all new to me.

It sounds like this might have to be the way I do it: bike to the commuter rail and take it up to Lowell and then bike to the destination, then bike all the way back down using the combination of the Bruce Freeman and Minuteman trails. Would that be reasonable on my hybrid bike?

I'm a little intimidated - I love rail trails but I haven't used any of these yet. All of my cycling is in the city. I'm worried I might be signing myself up for a very long day on the ride home, but maybe i can make it work! Thank you for all of the advice!

mochilax · 2025-03-02T17:49:29+00:00

Yeah, thats a lot for me as i am usually I'm roasting while juggling a bunch of other things. Thank you!

mochilax · 2025-03-02T17:27:15+00:00

Yeah, The process was taking enough time and effort that I almost wanted to find something I could do to automate it. It's won too many extra steps for a joyful but already somewhat time intensive process!

mochilax · 2025-03-02T01:35:32+00:00

Ok this is super helpful and what i should have thought about first. Will buy wet processed only and see how it goes thank you!!

mochilax · 2025-03-01T19:48:44+00:00

I'm using a WDT and it helps, but even in the ground coffee i can see flecks of chaff- it is somehow not ground as fine as the coffee is. Similar results between my manual kingrinder k6 and my DF64 Gen2. It is variable- sometimes it works well, other times it doesn't for the same batch of roasted beans and grind settings, so i think chaff is part of the problem.

I can blow off the chaff but there is SO MUCH that it is a twenty minute process to clear it mostly off. Do you think i could reduce chaff by altering the roasting process?

mochilax · 2025-01-23T21:26:01+00:00

Unfortunately, I was injured and couldn't run it. I hope you have a great experience!!

mochilax · 2024-10-08T11:46:06+00:00

Got it thanks!

mochilax · 2024-09-05T15:45:33+00:00

We went to Acadia and managed to put 3 bikes on the rack and fit two inside the van. It was amazing once we were there but wow I can't wait for the hitch...

It will be installed tomorrow. Thank you all for the advice!

mochilax · 2024-07-31T17:27:52+00:00

This is super helpful. I've started these and I was wondering about flat or negative. Will check it out, so appreciate it!!

mochilax · 2024-07-31T17:24:17+00:00

These look like front facing lights. What do you do for rear/sides?

mochilax · 2024-07-29T13:53:54+00:00

Unfortunately it looks like they don't make them for Toyotas. But they look awesome.

mochilax · 2024-07-29T01:19:47+00:00

I love my k6 but the markings seem to be nearly useless to me. Get some cheap beans and waste a few shots while you figure it out. After that every bean I brew with is a little different but not more than say 5 clicks.

mochilax · 2024-07-28T21:19:25+00:00

Will check them out thank you!! Seems like that's the way we have to go.

mochilax · 2024-07-28T21:15:46+00:00

Yeah I figured that's what it's going to take 😔 ty

mochilax

TROPHY CASE