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SPONSORED LISTINGS
A Cyclist's Guide to Boston
- by joeb
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- August 27, 2008
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The other day I saw a political cartoon where a bunch of numbers fell off of a gas station's price sign and turned into a bicycle, which a businessman promptly rode away. I get just about all of my information about American culture from political cartoons, so it's interesting to note that cycling is on the rise for some reason or another. It is very important to follow trends. With that in mind, I created this guide to help potential Boston bikers strike while the iron is hot.
Bike Shops
Here’s an incomplete and partially-annotated list of some of the places around Boston that sell, service, and talk about bicycles. These are good places to start even if you prefer to buy a used bicycle, as getting a used bike checked out before taking it on any serious rides is extremely important.
Bicycle Bill Inc
253 N Harvard Street, Allston, MA 02134
Walking by the store last week, a friend of mine asked me, “does anyone actually go into Bicycle Bill’s?”
“I went there to buy my lock, they were really nice to me and their prices were fair,” I replied.
“Oh,” she said.
Walking by the store last week, a friend of mine asked me, “does anyone actually go into Bicycle Bill’s?”
“I went there to buy my lock, they were really nice to me and their prices were fair,” I replied.
“Oh,” she said.
International Bicycle Center
International Bicycle Center
89 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134
I’ve never actually bought anything here, and International catches a lot of flak for being overpriced. The staff I’ve met, though, suggests they’re very nice and would maybe even cut you a deal? Who knows. It’s a big building with a very nice sign, though.
I’ve never actually bought anything here, and International catches a lot of flak for being overpriced. The staff I’ve met, though, suggests they’re very nice and would maybe even cut you a deal? Who knows. It’s a big building with a very nice sign, though.
Cambridge Bicycle
Cambridge Bicycle
259 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Another place I don’t know much about, but it comes with the ringing endorsement (and sometime employment) of some of the most bike-oriented people I know. Hoorah.
Another place I don’t know much about, but it comes with the ringing endorsement (and sometime employment) of some of the most bike-oriented people I know. Hoorah.
Back Bay Bicycles
362 Commonwealth Ave Ph Le, Boston, MA 02115
About a year and a half ago I was riding through the extremely busy intersection in which Back Bay Bikes is located and one of my pedals dethreaded itself from the crank and fell off. I was almost killed by a large truck, but I literally came to a stop in front of BBB’s steps. I was fine and, after buying Short Cuts on DVD, I was just about calmed down.
Back Bay were great about fixing my bike, though, and I’d recommend them over just about anyone.
About a year and a half ago I was riding through the extremely busy intersection in which Back Bay Bikes is located and one of my pedals dethreaded itself from the crank and fell off. I was almost killed by a large truck, but I literally came to a stop in front of BBB’s steps. I was fine and, after buying Short Cuts on DVD, I was just about calmed down.
Back Bay were great about fixing my bike, though, and I’d recommend them over just about anyone.
Bikes Not Bombs Bike Shop
18 Bartlett Sq, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading bicycle awareness, particularly in communities that might otherwise go bikeless. It’s divided into an office/education area and an actual bike shop. This is the bike shop.
Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading bicycle awareness, particularly in communities that might otherwise go bikeless. It’s divided into an office/education area and an actual bike shop. This is the bike shop.
Bikes Not Bombs
284 Amory St Ste 12, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
This is the office/education area.
This is the office/education area.
Bike Shop Map
It’s a bike shop map.
Bike Paths and So Forth
For a city that’s regularly listed among the least bike-friendly in America, Boston offers a surprisingly high number of great paths and things of that nature where one can ride fast and fancy-free, the way nature intended.
Arnold Arboretum
125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
The arboretum was invented by Harvard scientists in the early part of the 20th century, presumably for some kind of terrifying experiment. Now, though, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the city and probably a favored location of hallucinogen enthusiasts everywhere.
Go ahead, ride your bike through it! There’s a path and everything!
The arboretum was invented by Harvard scientists in the early part of the 20th century, presumably for some kind of terrifying experiment. Now, though, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the city and probably a favored location of hallucinogen enthusiasts everywhere.
Go ahead, ride your bike through it! There’s a path and everything!
Minutemen Bikeway
This path, which begins at the Alewife T station at the end of the red line, snakes through Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge. This handy map shows the area you’d be traveling through. This is supposedly one of the best bike paths ever, and perhaps one of the more underrated outdoor attractions in the city.
Jamaicaway Bikepath
From fenwayculture.org , who know a whole hell of a lot more about this kind of thing than I do:
“This path runs from Route 9 on the northwest bank of Leverett Pond along the Jamaicaway to the southeast bank of Jamaica Pond. Maintained by the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation, it follows the bridle path of Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1891 design. Extension of this path across Rt. 9 and along the Riverway to Netherlands St., where it can connect to Brookline’s Muddy River path, is part of the Emerald Necklace Greenway Project.”
The Jamaicaway
This map handily highlights the Jamaicaway, where you would be riding were you to select the Jamaicaway Bikepath for your outdoor adventure.
Links
More information about cycling can be found at these links and, probably, your local library.
Bikes on the T
I realize that, while biking is fun, it is sometimes a lot of work to bike all the way to and from your desired location. This massbike.org guide will clue you in as closely as possible to the Byzantine amount of do’s and dont’s associated with bringing bikes on the T.
Bicycle Movies
Massbike also features this list of bike-related movies for some reason. The Bicycle Thief is one of the best movies ever made, though, so this weird little feature might be as helpful as it is inexplicable.
Commuter Bike Shopping in Denver
Do you live in Denver? Are you shopping for a commuter bike? This guide from this website right here might just be for you.
Your Guide to Los Angeles Bicycle Culture
Do you like the idea of this guide but live in Los Angeles? Click on this link and have your mind blown. Go Celtics.
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Great guide! I’m a total novice when it comes to bikes, so these are some good resources.
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