Conference noted::bicycle

    Rt 110 pretty much connects the two towns... and isn't that bad to
    ride on.  It probably goes more north (Chelmsford) quicker than
    you'd like tho.
    K

    You may wish to look at 110 to 225 through carlisle to 4 to get to
    Bedford. Beyond that, I'm not sure.
    
    steve

    
    Jamie...
    
    Rt 62 from Concord to Bedford ctr is decent.  There's always quite a few
    bikers around there.  No hills.  I used to do this route on weeknights
    from Acton.  
    
    Rt 62 from Bedford ctr to Burlington/Wilmington is quite obnoxious.  
    The road weaves and winds all over the place...lot's of weird
    intersections and plenty of exhaust to be inhaled.  No major hills to 
    speak of.
    
    After Wilmington, I have no idea...good luck. 

    I took a look at the old Mass Bicycle Map; it's not pretty.
    There's kind of a route from Carlisle to Gloucestor that keeps
    you outside of 128, then there's another (more direct route)
    from Lexington to Gloucestor that keeps you just inside of 128.
    Forget Rt 110; I thought Gloucestor was more north towards Salisbury.
    
    Both routes are a zillion back roads; .0 mail me your fax number
    and I'll try and send you a legible photocopy.
    Kratz

    re .3
    
    I like hills, especially the down sides.  :-)
    
    >Rt 62 from Bedford ctr to Burlington/Wilmington is quite obnoxious.  
    >The road weaves and winds all over the place...lot's of weird
    >intersections and plenty of exhaust to be inhaled.  No major hills to 
    >speak of.
    
    Is the road wide with a decent shoulder?
    
    If I do it, it will be on a Sunday morning, leaving Sterling around
    7-8, so traffic should be pretty light.  It's all a ploy to spend less
    time with my in-laws by biking instead of riding up with my wife.  If
    the trade-off is inhaling a little exhaust, so be it.  It can;t be
    worse than my commute home last night in the pouring rain -- I was
    behind a landscaping truck which was leaking gas all over the road.
    
    Jamie

    62 as with most roads in these parts is not wide and the shoulders are
    to be used with caution.  I have found that regardless of which road
    you are on, even "major" routes, 6 inches on the far side of the white
    line = shoulder.  Parts of 62 will be wider but overall it will be
    typical MA back road.  
    
    Brian 

    
    Jamie....generally, there is very little, if any shoulder on 62 from
    Concord to Wilmington.
    
    inhaling exhaust vs. in-laws
    
    Oh, I see.  The more exhaust the merrier they say! ;-)
    
    
    			- Deane_happily_unmarried

    re .4
    
    Thanks for the map, it inspired me to look more closely at back roads.
    
    I came up with a route, which is attached below (it got slightly
    mangled in translating from DECwrite).  I like maps and navigating and
    had fun doing it.  I know that the view from ground level often doesn't
    resemble the map and that street signs will be missing or confusing. 
    Hopefully I won't get too lost.
    
    There are a few areas I'm concerned about:
    
    Are road crossings marked on the Minuteman Bikeway?  Will I be able to
    get off on Woburn St. in Lexington?
    
    Crossing Rtes. 1/129 while following Salem St. through the rotary looks
    daunting, to say the least.  Anyone know what I can expect?
    
    Will I be able to cross the Kernwood Bridge between Salem and Beverly?
    
    Jamie
    
    Here's the route:
    
    Sterling
    
    Lancaster
    *Main St. (70)
    *R to Bolton Rd.
    *L to 110 (Bolton Rd.) at Five Corners
    *Straight on Forbush Mill Rd. (110 bears L) to end
    
    Bolton
    *R to 117 (Main St.)
    -pass I-495 int.
    
    Stow
    -117 becomes Great Rd.
    -117/62 - 62 enters R
    
    Maynard
    -117/62 becomes Main St.
    *Bear L to 62 (117 bears R)
    *R to 62/27
    *L to 62 (Powder Mill Rd.)
    
    Acton
    
    Concord
    -62 becomes Main St.
    -cross 2
    -2A enters L
    *62 thru center, becomes Bedford Rd.
    
    Bedford
    -62 becomes Concord Rd.
    *R to McMahon Ave. to end
    *L to Winchester Dr. to end
    *L to Railroad Ave.
    *R to South St.
    *L to Minuteman Bikeway (enter near bakery)
    
    Lexington
    *L on Woburn St.
    
    Woburn
    -becomes Lexington St.
    - cross 3
    -becomes Pleasant St.
    *L to 38 (Main St.)
    *R to Salem St.
    -Bear R to Salem St., Cedar St. goes straight
    -Cross I-93
    *1st L to Mill St. (?)
    *1st L to Pento Rd. to end
    *R to North St.
    
    Stoneham
    -Cross 28
    
    Wakefield
    -Becomes Prospect St.
    *Cross North Ave. to Church St.
    -Cross 129
    -Becomes Salem St.
    -R on Salem St., Lowell St. enters L
    -Pass 128/95 interchange
    
    Lynnfield
    -Cross Walnut St. near 128/95 interchange
    -Pass 1/129 interchange
    -Salem St. becomes 129
    *L to stay on Salem St., 129 goes R
    -Follow Salem St. through rotary
    
    Peabody
    -Becomes Lynnfield St., follow to end
    *L to Washington St.
    *L to Foster St.
    *Cross Lowell St./Main St. to Central St.
    *R to Tremont St.
    
    Salem
    -Becomes School St. (?)
    *Cross 114 to Liberty Hill Ave.
    -Becomes Kernwood St.
    -Cross Danvers River on Kernwood Bridge
    
    Beverly
    -Becomes Kernwood Ave., follow to end
    *R to Bridge St., follow to end
    -Cross Bass River
    *L to River St. (?)
    *R to Federal St.
    *L to 22 (Essex St./Cabot St.)
    *R to Dane St. (62?)
    *L to Hale St. (cemetary)
    -Becomes 127
    -Becomes West St.
    -Becomes Hale St.
    
    Manchester B-T-S
    -Becomes Bridge St.
    -Becomes Central St.
    -Becomes Union St.
    -Becomes Summer St.
    
    Gloucester
    -Becomes Western Ave.
    *L to Magnolia Ave. to end
    *R to Essex Ave.
    *R to Malcolm Rd.
    
    

Jamie,

>    Crossing Rtes. 1/129 while following Salem St. through the rotary looks
>    daunting, to say the least.  Anyone know what I can expect?

I ride through this area on weekend mornings and the traffic is always fairly
light.  You'll probably encounter a little more since you'll be approaching
later in the morning, but it still won't be bad.  There is a set of lights
governing the traffic flow at the Rt. 1/129 interchange which keeps everybody
in check.  You should have no problem here if you stay to the right.

The Rt. 129 rotary is a little tricky since you'll want the second right after
you enter and cars will be attempting to take the first right.  Since the
inclination of most drivers is to speed past you, then cut to the right to
get to the exit before you do, I usually approach it on the agressive side.
I usually get up to a fast speed and look over my left shoulder as I signal
that I'm keeping left on the rotary.  If there are any cars behind me, I try
to make direct eye contact as I keep my line.  This has always worked for me,
but you may prefer a different approach.  It's just a suggestion.
    
>    Will I be able to cross the Kernwood Bridge between Salem and Beverly?
    
Yes, you will be able to cross.  Just beware that it has metal grates just
about the entire length.  Keep a sturdy balance and a straight line and you'll
be OK.  I'm sure you've handled bridges like this before.  If it is high tide,
you might have to wait as it opens to let the bigger boats pass under.

-Buddy

    re .9
    
    Thanks, that's exactly the info I needed.
    
>Yes, you will be able to cross.  Just beware that it has metal grates just
>about the entire length.  Keep a sturdy balance and a straight line and you'll
>be OK.  I'm sure you've handled bridges like this before.  If it is high tide,
>you might have to wait as it opens to let the bigger boats pass under.
    
    I'm pretty uncomfortable on grate bridges so I may walk it.  There's a
    story (in here?) about someone falling and catching their thumb in a
    bridge grate that spooked me ever since I read it.
    
    Jamie

    re .8
    
    Many of the streets crossing the Minuteman rollarskating errr bike
    trail are marked. But, I didn't see Woburn street marked. One can find
    Woburn street, however. Going west to east (Bedford to Arlington),
    after passing by Lexington center, you will encounter "Fletcher" street
    which is marked. Very shortly after there is another street and this is
    Woburn Street. There is a older red shingled VFW building on the left.
    
    Jim
    

    I did this ride yesterday.  The vital stats were:
    
    67.3 mi.
    19.5 mph ave.
    3hr. 25min.
    
    The ground fog was thick when I left Sterling and didn't clear much
    until Bedford.  Then it warmed up a bit and the sun peaked out, but the
    fog rolled back in as I got near the coast.
    
    The route I posted a few back was pretty good.  Thanks for all the help
    putting it together.  I missed a few turns, but never got lost.  I did
    take one fall while standing still: trying simultaneously read a map,
    eat a fig newton, and stand upright was too much for me.  :-)  The
    riding was quite nice all the way out through Woburn.  One lowlight of
    the trip was passing the gelatin plant in Lynnfield.
    
    Jamie