Tag: Maine

Off on Your Way, Hit the Open Road

Posted on by gearman0326

Greetings one last time this year,

Hi everyone!
Another year has come and gone- A year of planning, organizing, recruiting, training fundraising, packing, anticipation; Completion, satisfaction, accomplishment, pride, courage, confidence, effort…
And it always ends us up back here, always back home with the ones we love- the ones who covered for us while we were gone, in some cases with the kids, in others with work, still others with care of a loved one- Maybe even a loved one with diabetes. And we went out there, nervous, wondrous,  maybe even a little frightened… And took those people with us in our hearts, for support. For those long climbs, those rough days,  the exhausting heat, the times where maybe, just for a second, quitting seemed like a good idea, they were there with us. We can’t quit, because they can’t either.
We had an absolutely wonderful year, and I can’t believe it’s already over… These fly by faster as the years add up. Our last day was an absolutely beautiful route from Keene over into Jaffrey, down into Townsend, through the State Park, Littleton, Over 495, and back to Woburn and our gracious Start and Finish line hosts, Parker Chomerics.
This years finish line had the usual cheering supporters of other riders, nice enough to extend applause and congratulations to an unknown rider on their accomplishment, and the cheering masses of volunteers who either cycle through and out at the end of their seven day stint, or rotate in, to relieve the weary workers of their posts as things are broken down, secured, stashed and stored for another year. I can honestly tell you that Jeff and the crew who showed up to help empty out and return the Gear Truck had their work CUT OUT for them after the “Truck Detour” I got lost- Erm, I mean “Sent down”. The back of the truck looked like a tossed salad afterwards, and I don’t think I ever got it back to anywhere close to right before the end of the week.
The finish line is always bitter-sweet, which is why we do our Final Ceremonies on Thursday night- So many people travel to this event and want to get back to their families, so they might not get to see a new friend or riding partner at the finish before they head on their way home. It’s a sense of accomplishment coupled with a sense of loss- knowing it’s over, and that you’ll have to wait another 51 weeks to start it again. It’s about knowing that it will be there again, next year. It’s about knowing that your new found family members will be there too- And about the realization that you’re one of the family now. Two or seven day rider, local or from abroad, weekend warrior or wannabe crit racer, you’re one of us now… A member of the Caravan… Bring friends, tell them we have cookies… But don’t mention the lemon-lime Gatorade.

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

STUDIES SHOW: Carbohydrates more easily absorbed by the body in liquid form

Posted on by gearman0326

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

Time to pack! You don’t need that… You don’t need that, either… Nope, not that… Nuh-uh, leave that home…

Posted on by gearman0326

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

Mork calling Orson… Come in, Orson… Mork calling Orson… Come in, Orson…

Posted on by gearman0326

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

Day three? Stick a fork in it.

Posted on by gearman0326

Good evening everyone!
Wow, what a beautiful day it was traveling from the Maine Seacoast to the mountains of New Hampshire. We had a scenic route through farms, woodlands, rivers, state parks, steep cliffs, historic sites- and then we arrived at Attitash Grand Summit Hotel. After arrival, many riders opted to make an appointment with the on site massage therapist, and they filled her schedule- So, our very own Tara, also a massage therapist, broke out her table and started to do short massages for those who couldn’t get an appointment with the in house provider.

During dinner, we had a rare vintage treat- One of our riders Tom brought along an old video from a Cablevision show from I believe 1993, one of the first years the New England Classic existed. It was great to see a few familiar faces, and to look at the old bike technology as well as cycling equipment. After that, another rider, Tyler had also brought along a video he’d made- a GoPro camera mounted to his bike and recording as he rode- it was almost like being on the bike with him.

Some announcements about tomorrow’s route were made, still mostly Route 302 (If you get lost you’re an idiot) but with some changes at the end because we’re staying in a new hotel this year… Well, not a new hotel, we’ve stayed there before… but we’ve never ridden there, because we were bussed over from another hotel… because we finished and had dinner at one hotel and slept…
Oh, never mind- Let’s just leave it at “It’s a new route that we haven’t ridden before”.
ANYHOW, there’s a couple good climbs added to the end of an already tough day- Don’t quote me, but I believe it’s 97 miles tomorrow, the first 15 are up and over Crawfords Notch, past the Mt Washington Resort Hotel, and into Vermont- and as the saying goes, “Vermont ain’t flat”.
OK, tomorrow is a long day, and I’m not doing myself any favors by not getting to sleep, so bye for now.

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

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