Topic: Gumball Rally

[Matt Hubbell]

I have a bad idea, not unlike most of my ideas. but this one could be fun. I have a loop I take near my house in Massachusetts. Sunday mornings  during the summer I take a quick ride on this loop, and last year started to time myself. I was wondering if anyone else dose this. If anyone is interested I will post my loop with the distance and starting and end points along with my times and bike used. I would also be interested to see your loops , times and bikes. Like I said this is a bad idea, so we have that one out of the way before we start

[Matt Hubbell]

My  Sunday morning bike.

[Matt Hubbell]

This Sunday morning I found out that my short loop around Wachusett Reservoir is getting road work done to it on the Clinton Ma, side. So I will give you last years best time. If anyone from central Ma is interested in doing a Gumball rally like this , let me know.

Loop - 17.5 miles
Time - 18.30 minutes
Avearge speed 56.75 MPH
Bike - 1977 CB750

[Old Scrambler]

Do you allow for the red, white & blue flashing light stops?

I used to have a favorite country road with a few mild curves that ran for about 10 miles.  I got it close to 7-minutes one time with my K3 when I had no cars to pass. 

[andy750]

Hey Matt I saw your bike listed on CL, whats up with that?

btw - if you post your route Ill beat your time

cheers
Andy

[Matt Hubbell]

Yea I posted it, but no sale and now I can tell the wife I have to keep it I posted one of my favorite routs above, around Wachusett Reservoir. However there is road work and it can't be done this year. I am mapping out a new one that goes through Princeton Ma, past the Ski area. Once I get the Milage I will run the route this weekend and post my time.

[knowsnothing]

Hey Matt I saw your bike listed on CL, whats up with that?

btw - if you post your route Ill beat your time

cheers
Andy

I was wondering who's that was.  I knew it had to be someone on here, quality was too high.

[seanbarney41]

I like this idea...wish I was in the area...anybody in south west Michigan into this?

[Matt Hubbell]

Thanks on the bike. On the Gumball Rally idea,  you can do this anywhere there are roads. Just find a route , get the milage and take you best shot at it. Of course keeping the speed limit legal  Then post your route here with you time and average speed and the bike you used. Once you have a set route others can try to beat your time.

[Matt Hubbell]

I realize this may seem like underground stuff  to some of you older folks that only like going in a straight line for a short distance.  Maybe that is why Sam has relocated this topic. However I do not do this to break any laws, if I really wanted to go fast I would ride my other bike.  It is something I wanted to share with everyone, and I am not asking anyone to join me. If you are interested, my  next ride is route 62 from Sterling Ma, center of town to Barre Ma center of town. I have the mileage set to 19.9 miles one way. This is a really nice ride and Barre center has a great little breakfast place.

[Matt Hubbell]

Just got back from my Sunday run on route 62 from Sterling Ma to Barre Ma, 19.9 miles. What a great bit of road, except for the last short hill into Barre center which is very bumpy. It was about 7am this morning  when I turned onto route 62 in Sterling center, I was pissed because a pickup truck and a mini van turn on just before I got there, so for the first half mile or so it was 35mph until I got a clear bit of road and passed them. I made good time through Sterling and into Princeton when I came up on another pickup truck, but this one did not hold me up at all as it was on an uphill straight, then through center of Princeton, and down the other side towards Hubbardston Ma. This section of Rt62 is in great shape and has lots of twisty turns to keep you busy. The last stretch into Barre is much of the same with rolling hills and twisty turns. This was mu first run on the course and I feel like it went very well.

Distance: 19.9 miles
Time:21.42 minutes
Average speed: 55.02mph
Bike: 1977 CB750

[BeSeeingYou]

I realize this may seem like underground stuff  to some of you older folks that only like going in a straight line for a short distance.  Maybe that is why Sam has relocated this topic. However I do not do this to break any laws

No, when I think of "underground stuff" I think hidden, secret, or clandestine activity. Or maybe avant-garde social or artistic expression.  This just sounds boring to this "old guy" who can ride in more than a straight line for short distances.

[Matt Hubbell]

I love it, I did not say it was underground, I said some of you may think it seems like it is. Also my comment was directed at Sam, because he moved my post If you like riding come on out and give  me your numbers. If your a track day guy, what is your track and lap record.  If you have a road course tell me your best time and average speed and show me the bike you did that on? I can assure you this mornings ride was much more fun knowing I was going to post my time, rather than just riding it.

[Magilla]

This Sunday morning I found out that my short loop around Wachusett Reservoir is getting road work done to it on the Clinton Ma, side. So I will give you last years best time. If anyone from central Ma is interested in doing a Gumball rally like this , let me know.

Loop - 17.5 miles
Time - 18.30 minutes
Avearge speed 56.75 MPH
Bike - 1977 CB750

The road work in Clinton is terrible.  They did a half a$$ patch job.  It use to be a nice road to ride.  Bad idea to speed there though. Lots of speed traps.

[Matt Hubbell]

Thanks Magilla-The road work in Clinton sure is terrible, it was also my favorite bicycle loop. Your right about the speed traps, however I never broke the speed limit is center areas Also there are not to many folks on the road between 6 and 7am on Sunday morning. If you live in the area, try rt62 from Sterling to Barre, great bit of road there.

[Magilla]

Thanks Magilla-The road work in Clinton sure is terrible, it was also my favorite bicycle loop. Your right about the speed traps, however I never broke the speed limit is center areas Also there are not to many folks on the road between 6 and 7am on Sunday morning. If you live in the area, try rt62 from Sterling to Barre, great bit of road there.

Route 62 is nice now but some years back it was so bad they had bumper stickers that read "this car survived Rt 62".  You can also connect 31 into 62 to make a nice loop.  Also it's nice to include Mt Wachussett into the loop.

I live in Fitchburg so I've spent many hours on the same roads you speak of.

[fmctm1sw]

Yea I posted it, but no sale and now I can tell the wife I have to keep it

Ah yes.  One of the old tricks passed down from generation to generation here.  "Yes honey, my bike really is worth $12000 but nobody bought it.  I'm stumped..."     

[fmctm1sw]

You know what would be cool?  A "Cannonball Run" for SOHC4s!

[Matt Hubbell]

Gum Ball or Cannon Ball, if you are local we can set up a longer distance rally from Worcester Ma to Amherst Ma, rt122 of course it would not be a legal. 

[Magilla]

Gum Ball or Cannon Ball, if you are local we can set up a longer distance rally from Worcester Ma to Amherst Ma, rt122 of course it would not be a legal.

That sounds interesting