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?!?!
And, well… There was a study… by some underfunded college students… and a rat died… So you should change everything you’ve been doing since the last study came out!
Greetings and Salutations, O’ Great Sultans O’ Cycle!
For those who are new to our Merry Band of Travelers- And also staying overnight Friday in the general propinquity of our Start/Finish line at Parker Chomerics; Say for example at the Red Roof Inn…
We have a long honored (And somewhat storied) tradition of doing a bit of Pre-ride carbo-loading LITERALLY right next door to our overnight accommodations at the Red Roof.
What: Beer and Margaritas to carbo-load (Liquid form) and Mexican food to provide a little “Turbo-boost” up the hills… If you follow me, as I wouldn’t want to be following you…
When: Somewhere after the early registration ends at the Start/Finish line, probably roughly 7:00.
Why: Do you really need a reason?!?!?
Don’t worry, it won’t be anything silly, we all have to be someplace really early the next morning, AND it’s not a performance we can mail-in…
Just wear a cycling themed shirt, and look for other people doing the same… It’s a busy place, so we’ll have to drag chairs over here, tables over there, but we’ll make it work…
And we can make new friends the day before everyone else gets to make new friends… So we’ll be all cool, and in a secret group and stuff.
Don’t be shy, you know you want to!
See you there!
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Here’s a list of everything you need to pack for your New England Classic cycling adventure! This year, we’ll be staying in only Air Conditioned accommodations, so you won’t need to bring your mini-fan!
PACK LIGHT!
GearMan
HIYA SPORTS FANS,
Long time, no talk… How ya been? How’s the family? Can you believe those Cavaliers?
The NEC is coming up on us faster than an eagle swooping down on a trout- Ya ready? Do you know?
Well, you have one last chance to get some training in- both in terrain and distance and group ride format as Nancy and Merle lead a ride called “Ups and Downs” this Sunday, July 3, 2016 at the Tyngsboro commuter lot and Boston Logon Express at 99 Kendall Rd., Tyngsboro, MA. Lots of hills to get you ready for the New England Classic-Tourdecure. Be there and ready to roll at 8:30.
This is a group ride for NEC riders, The Charles River Wheelmen and the Nashoba Valley Pedalers… I believe I’ve got that right… So you can not only meet some of your fellow NEC riders, but also maybe a club member from your area that you can become riding buddies with on a long-term basis.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Hi!
So tell me… Have you ever left a dangling participle? For a week?
Yeah, I know, I’m WAY behind schedule, but I have a good excuse… The World’s CUTEST GrandSon! Some of you remember that he was born on Day 3 last year, and my darling Mrs. Lulu had to head home from the route in order to be there for the birth… Well, this year was his FIRST Birthday, naturally in the midst of the NEC, so his party was scheduled for Sunday… And making food, and Lulu baking cakes and cupcakes, and much merriment…
Then back to work.
I’m not complaining at ALL. I LOVE my job, I work for a great company, a family owned business that’s owned by a great family and I’m just so lucky to work for such incredibly awesome people- there’s just always that “Back from vacation” stretch of a few days where you’re getting back into it…
SO, now here I am, hat in hand, asking for your forgiveness for not updating you sooner.
Day seven has moments where it feels like a Jack London novel- Weathered stragglers emerging from the wilderness. Not that Keene is on the edge of the Tundra or anything, but we trade mountainous and woodland views for those of suburbia, then back to busy streets and traffic lights every 47 feet… You know, home.
Our finish line brings us back to Parker Chomerics where we started, where our cars have been marinating in a weeks worth of hot summer sun… So much for those little tree air fresheners.
Our big “To do” is Thursday night, mostly because people have lives to return to, commutes to get there, and anxious loved ones, eager to have those they lent to us return home once again… So often, it’s “Finish, get my stuff and get on the road for that (X) hour commute”… Which can seem like kind of a gyp… Until you think about it that way.
Our riders get cheered in by the volunteers and staff, and the cheering sections of other riders cheerfully joining in… We can’t all have our own personal cheering sections flown in from all corners of the… ummm… Mapquest? So it’s really great that people waiting for their rider welcome in others with congratulatory applause and whooping. DOG POUND!!!! WHOOP! WHOOP!!!
During all this great celebration of such a great achievement for the riders, the logistical reality of everything coming to an end comes into play for the volunteers… The Gear Truck mostly emptied. Vehicles that have been stocked, restocked, then stocked again over the last seven days now must be emptied… And sorted… You don’t want fresh fruit going to the storage unit, anymore than you want non-perishables going into the trash… And then everything put back into the Gear Truck for the short trip to Peabody Storage- Thankfully by someone other than me.
I get to go home before dark, and sleep. It was 13 hours straight this year, which is pretty good for an insomniac. I even took a two hour nap in the afternoon… Just in case 13 hours wasn’t enough.
Then, I made some salads for my GrandSon’s first birthday party!
Then I went to sleep again.
And we had an epic birthday party on Sunday!
Then I went to sleep again, and got up to go back to work on Monday morning.
Did I mention I work for a great company?
Thank you everyone for everything you’ve done- whether you were a sponsor, rider, loved one that lent us a rider, teammate, coworker, whatever.
We couldn’t (And wouldn’t) be able to do this without YOU. Thank You.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
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