Buenos Nachos from Chez Gear-Lu!
I would be remiss if I didn’t start with an apology- Being alone, trying to find time to finish what needed to be done on a daily basis as people were asking me things they needed to know about things that were going on… I got overwhelmed at times, and as a result, a bit cranky. This isn’t the first time that’s happened but this year it seemed that I was cranky more often than usual. The glaring, obvious truth is that I’m a lot older and fatter than I was when I first did the Gear Truck solo… Eleventy Gajillion years ago. There’s three things I need to change before next year: 1) I need to get younger. 2) I need to get rid of all this weight I gained when I quit smoking a couple years ago. and 3) I need a high school or college age student to help me out for the full seven days.
So, since it seems I can’t do anything about #1, and can only beg, plead and cajole to remedy #3, I guess my focus will have to be #2- Which, probably means something foolish and rash, like getting back on my bicycle… or *Gasp* Joining a gym.
WHICH…
Brings us back to option #3… PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP ME!! I’M BEGGIN’ YA!!! I’M TOO OLD FOR THIS CRAP!!! I’M DYING OVER HERE!!!

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Howdy friends!

Another 364 days have cycled through the hourglass, and we return here, exactly where we were last year- the final night. 

It was a cloudy and sultry day as we screamed down from the midway point of the Killington access road, down past Okemo, into the Connecticut River Valley and back into NH. One “Proper” climb, and we were to our final overnight location in Keene. The threatened and forecast rain stayed far east, hitting the South Shore of MA for several hours before an evening band swung through from NY after all were safely in and made it even more humid. 

Our annual Awards ceremony took place after dinner, recognizing those who rode in multiple Tour de Cure events, fastest youngest rider, the rider who drove the furthest, and lots of other fun stuff. I awarded my rock to the rider with the heaviest luggage, and the 2016 Rock will be headed “Across the Pond” with one of our friends from Team Blood Glucose. After the prizes and Thank You’s, we had our last raffle of the year- many jerseys, vests, socks and even a cooler. All going to new homes tomorrow.
One last night and we’ll be home, which is great but that means that this great event, this wonderful week will be over for another year. 

For now, we have one more day to look forward to, so that’s what I’ll do. 

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you.

GearMan

 

Hiya everyone!
Tuesday saw us leaving Attitash bright and early to get out ahead of the heat on our longest day, 109miles- through Crawford’s Notch, the White and Green Mountains and into the State Capitol of Vermont, Montpelier. Because Vermont ain’t flat, the route in from Rest Stop 3 had a lot of climbing, the last 15 miles being the most difficult in the heat of the day as temperatures hovered in the mid-eighties. The day complete, we all went to dinner at Applebee’s and replenished essential nutrients burned off during the day. After dinner, there was a subtle exodus as people retreated to their rooms to get some well earned rest.

Wednesday started with a visit from WCAX TV in Burlington who came by to find out a little about our event, talk to a few riders and do a short TV piece on the 6:00 news tonight. 8:00 and we hit the road for our shortest day at 70 miles- now some might think (Rightly) that that’s still a helluva long ride- but after the last couple days, it seems like a walk in the park. Before Rest Stop 1, there was a bridge that was closed for repair by the VTDOT and a detour was established over a covered bridge- a 9’6″ covered bridge that my 13’1″ truck was MUCH too tall to fit under without ample space for a running start. A separate, truck detour route had been established, and that was to be my route. I’m not sure if the wind blew a sign over, or if some teenager has a new decoration for his tree-fort, or what… But I never saw a sign telling me to turn off the road I was detoured onto. As I went up a narrow mountain road. Towards Mad River Glen. Reading signs saying “This road not recommended for winter use by trucks and buses”. 15 MPH hairpin turns, 15% grades, switchbacks, narrow, winding road… Downhill speeds that would have easily exceeded 65MPH without brakes… The smell of hot brake pads…
FINALLY, I made it back into civilization, well, farmland. A stop at a local gas station confirmed what I already knew, my GPS telling me to go back the way I had come would send me right back to the closed bridge- so now, on the wrong side of the mountains, I had to blaze my own trail- Southward to Rutland, and finally on to Killington. 40-50 miles out of the way, two hours behind schedule, and swearing like a sailor who had just dropped a battleship anchor on his pinky toe.

Dinner, Trivia night, Cornhole games, lounging poolside and more are in order and in progress- me, I’m wiped out and going to bed at 8:00. Remember when your parents made you go to bed early for being naughty? Well, I’ve been naughty and I’m punishing myself.

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan

Greetings all, sorry for the delay, but I didn’t have an ounce of energy in me last night and was asleep right after I left the truck. Hectic morning, bridge closed, truck detour that took me up and over the Mt that Mad River Glen is on, and onto the wrong side of the world. Lots to tell you, so check back later!

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you 

GearMan 

Good evening sports fans!

Fourteen rashers of bacon, a large coffee and two diet cokes are the kind of good, nutritious breakfast a fella needs to be in optomal physical shape for… A morticians next customer. Yeah, I know. I’ll have a yogurt and a fruit cup tomorrow. Honest. With four pounds of sausage.  

So, after losing our two-day compadres last night, we set off northwesterly across ME and back into NH, through Freedom, North Conway and into Bartlett- to arrive at the Attitash Grand Summit Resort. Located trailside, about 500 yards from the base lodge on the Bear Peak end of the mountain, it’s a nice place, with a great staff that’s always helpful, pleasant and courteous- Not to mention great food,  in-house massage, hot tub… Swimmin’ pools… Movie stars…

After dinner, it was some lounging around outside on the lawn for some, washing bikes for others, a couple carbonated and fermented adult beverages, and, naturally, a raffle. Crazy weather has delayed our evening activities, not to mention decreasing demand for slush at the finish line, and we plan to get right back on schedule with both over the next few days. 

It’s now 10:30, and almost everyone is resting up for tomorrow- 109 miles in the saddle through Crawford’s Notch and two Mountain ranges, the White and the Green as they power their way into Montpelier, the State Capitol of Vermont. 

End of the day for me, that fuse fizzled hours ago and it’s an early start tomorrow- riders out on the road starting at 7:00. More soon. 

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you. 

GearMan

Hiya everyone!

Wow, what a great group of riders! We awoke today (Respectively) between 5:00 and 6:30 to the sound of rain. Not the “Hey, maybe I should ask Noah for a ride home” kind of rain we had experienced the night before, but close. I quickly used my six minutes and ten seconds of experience from meteorology school (I watched a YouTube video one night when I couldn’t sleep) and determined that the storm blowing through. Weatherman Tim, from a competing station across town quickly confirmed my forecast. Together, we advised the riders to go fast, and carry a long metal pole… No, wait, it was take your time at breakfast, we’re going to leave a little later today to let everything dry up a bit.

There were a few light sprinkles here and there, but for the most part, we did well- although a high temp of 71 with a cool sea breeze was unusually cool. 

One rider did go down today, and unfortunately had to go home- we’re all glad that he’s not more seriously hurt and wish him a quick recovery and that he rejoins us ASAP. 

Bikes loaded in the UPS semi, riders on the buses, back to their loved ones they went- down 95S from Biddeford ME to Woburn MA, then on to wherever home is. 

A few laughs had here after their departure , a couple massages, some changes in assignments and vehicle lineups, and now, bed. 

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you 

GearMan

Good evening everyone!

So, the weather report I’d set up to automatically add our start and finish line conditions obviously didn’t post… I’ll have to see if I can sort that out tomorrow. 

Anyhow, we had a nice route today, with a few light showers that rolled through here and there. Some people saw just a light shower that lasted a few minutes, others saw only spotty mist or drizzle. Everyone made their way through the northeast corner of MA and into southern NH, and into UNH in Durham rather well. A couple flat tires here and there, but nothing major.  

We made our way over to dinner just across the corner of the quad and while there, the skies opened up- complete with thunder and lightning. Standing water several inches deep was common at its peak intensity. 

We had a nice presentation by one of our cycling teams, Team Blood Glucose from the UK and a musical performance who came up to entertain us for the evening. 

The rain continues as I type this at 8:35, which washed out our nightly raffle at the truck- soaked to the skin, it was all the excuse I needed to wrap up early, have a warm shower, and hit the bed early- that doesn’t happen too often for me. 

Tomorrow, we cross into ME to UNE in Biddeford, which will be the finish line for our two day, 150 mile riders, and just over 1/4 of the way for our seven day riders. More updates to come!

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you. 

GearMan. 

Howdy sports fans!

Well, this is it. It’s the night before. The last sleep before the wake-up. T-minus 9 hours and counting. All the training, fundraising, work, sweat, frustration and joy- tomorrow is what they were all about. The nerves, the excitement, the apprehension- become the reality, the camaraderie, and the fun. 

It’s going to be over sooner than you want it to- And then, you’ll want to do it again. It’s what happens. 

Travel safely. Ride well. Do good things. Enjoy the ride. Start a chain reaction. 

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,

GearMan 

So, where are ya?!?!