Author: gearman0326

What a hot, hectic, long day!

Posted on by gearman0326

Good evening sports fans, it’s 9:30 and my butt is kicked. the heat just plain wiped everyone out today, riders and volunteers included. High 80’s by 11:00, mid nineties by two- and not a cloud in the sky or a speck of shade to be found. Despite the adverse weather conditions, They CRUSHED it! We did have a couple of bump and bang incidents, to my knowledge no-one was seriously injured, but some road rash and bruises were distributed amongst a few unlucky souls today… Again, all are OK, and that’s the most important part.
We rode a beautiful route today, all along the NH and ME seacoast- Inland here, back out to the coast there, back inland here… It’s such a beautiful area with so much to see, you just can’t go wrong.
The last rider was in around 3:30 or so, (All except that one rider who went swimming, then stopped along the route to meet some friends for dinner) and our two day riders enjoyed a very festive finish line- Topped off with medals, pictures, team pictures, and lots of people cheering them in.
After that, came dinner- and when they came back, we loaded their bikes into the UPS Semi for the trip back to Woburn. Bikes secured, we put the riders aboard some luxury coaches for the ride back to the starting line, and eventually home to the people who lent them to us for the weekend. Family, friends, sponsors, you should be proud of your riders and what they accomplished this weekend- 150 miles in the saddle to help others. Doing something they’ve never done before in many cases, not knowing what to expect, how to know they were ready, or even if they were properly equipped- They did it because of support- Yeah, we were out on the route helping with what they needed, but even we wouldn’t have been there without YOUR support. This event happens because of you. We literally couldn’t do it without you.
Thank you.
Thank you for lending us your loved ones, for your understanding when they had to go train those long hours, for your support of them and the ride, and for caring about 28 MILLION PEOPLE living with Diabetes on a daily basis.
This wouldn’t happen without you.

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

We came in with the breeze…

Posted on by gearman0326

Good morning sports fans!
With today’s high forecast in the low 90’s, and an 85 mile day on tap, the riders sure weren’t dilly dallying around this morning; Breakfast, cue sheet, gone. I stocked up on water, beer, soda, snacks and then beat feet up Interstate 95 to get a comfortable lead on them- well, that and there’s no way in a sane world that anyone should be down in Kennebunkport in a 28′ box truck… On a Sunday… In July…

So at any rate, we’re here to set up, they’re coming hard and fast at us and the first riders should start arriving around 12:30 or so… So, off I go to unload and get busy!

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

I haven’t been this tired since a grizzly bear chased me for miles trying to get the fish I had just caught

Posted on by gearman0326

OK, that never actually happened, but if it had, that would be what I feel like right now. At least that’s what I read on the internet… So you KNOW it’s true!

I don’t usually go that far into the wilderness, and I don’t usually fish at the same fish market that Kevin does.

We had a couple of minor issues today, cramps, flats, broken stuff- but nothing that our crack mechanical staff and experienced volunteers couldn’t handle.  Once everyone was done, we had a great dinner at the campus dining hall (What a difference from when I was in school!) and a nice awards ceremony in the courtyard.  Recognition for top fundraisers, new riders, talks from a diabetes researcher and ADA Youth Leader, a really nice program, and a great job done by all. After that, a quick raffle at the truck and then a quick cleaning, and then the best shower money can buy… Now, exhaustion sets in… One eye closed as I type, but just long enough to say goodnight.

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

It’s 4:45 and everyone is in safely

Posted on by gearman0326

Hiya!

What a day! It was hot, but it went well. We’re now heading to dinner, and a short awards ceremony afterward… There will be an update later, I promise.

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

T minus 12 and counting…

Posted on by gearman0326

Well, this is it. When we wake up Saturday, it’s time. A year of planning, a year of preparing, months of training, countless emails asking for donations, routes, supplies, lodging, sponsorship, volunteers, vehicles, catering…
All the effort, the dedication, the sweat, the work, the hours, the sore muscles, the broken parts, the frustration…
Becomes the joy, the new friends, the beautiful weather, the country side, the rider that you can “Ride with” well, the smiling volunteer, the laughter, the scenery, the growing list of accomplishments, doing something like this for the first time, the success, the fun.

Tomorrow we ride.

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

And then there were one.

Posted on by gearman0326

It’s here, and I can hardly contain myself… It’s the day I get my truck! In just a couple hours, I’ll get my 28′ empty cube (Complete with a side door!) and spend the better part of the day stuffing it to the gills with water, coolers, supplies, snacks, energy bars, chips, fruit, ice, soda, water, beer- All in some reasonable form of order, which will change when we hit the first bump. Everything one could need for a roving band of lunatics on a seven day jaunt across the New England countryside.
It’s here. It’s happening. It’s happening now.

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