Murphy's Law A Story About The 2001 PMC August 11, 2001

Murphy's Law states that what can go wrong will go wrong. For the last two years, I've been very lucky at the PMC - no mechanical or other problems of any kind. This year, things were a little different. I enjoyed the event, but as you will see, my 11th PMC did not quite go according to plan. A lot of people make traveling to the PMC from California easier, so there are a lot of people to thank, starting with my wife Beth, who travels with me to the PMC. I would also like to thank: for their hospitality, Hans, Nancy, and Jorie, Rob and Carol et.al., Steve, and the Spears Chris, for parts and chain-lube, my sponsors, who amaze me with their generosity, Crossroads Bicycles, for being there, and the staff, and ALL of the volunteers at the PMC, who put on an incredible event year after year. The Year in Review I came to the PMC ready to ride, but not in quite as good shape as 2000. I had ridden 800 fewer miles than last year, and had not done nearly as much climbing. Last year, I took off from mid-June through mid-August, which was not the case this year. In addition, I became a volunteer firefighter in September, joining Santa Cruz County Fire/Rescue Company 29. This has been a very rewarding experience. I've done a lot of training, and I've been on about 35 calls this year. This commitment has been a huge learning experience, but the investment has eaten into the available cycling time. Next year, I'll do a better job scheduling time for cycling training. Of course, in July, I was glued to the tube watching the Tour de France. I recorded every second of Outdoor Life Network's coverage. By now, everyone knows that Lance Armstrong made it three in a row! I had no doubt. Every year, there are a few events that shape the PMC for me. Here are two: A Big Heart Rich has been a sponsor for as long as I've known him. This year, he had other commitments, and needed to take a year off. "No need for an explanation", I told him, "You do what you can. I'll catch you next year". His reply was that he had a change of heart, and he attached a copy of his EGift confirmation. I don't think he had a change of heart at all - same old big heart that he's always had. (Thanks, Rich!) A Loss Just before the ride, I responded to a fire department call for medical assistance at a neighbor's house. Sol had been diagnosed with cancer several months before. He didn't make it. He was 77. What's really striking about Sol was that as long as anyone can remember, he would ride his mountain bike almost daily from the top of our community to the bottom, some 850 feet in elevation drop, turn around, and ride back up grades up to about 18%, with an average grage of 10% for 2 miles. Right until about mid July, he was out there. All I can say is that I hope I'm still riding like that at 77. PMC Weekend Begins We arrived at our hotel in Sturbridge on Friday afternoon and settled in. The weather was warm and humid. The pre-ride forecast had been scattered showers, and somewhat cooler. We checked in at the Host (PMC-central). At dinner, I met up with what has become my extended PMC family - Barb, Harvey, Tim Tinory and the other Siegel's Jon and Steve (who had all ridden in from the New York border), and a host of others. I spent some time with Jon Denekamp and Alan Ringle, fellow front-group riders with whom I have ridden for many years. We were fed by 6, and spent a little time in the exhibitor's area before opening ceremonies at 7.

PMC Director Billy Starr listed the distribution of nearly 3200 riders who would be riding - 2200 from Sturbridge, 1000 from Wellesley. This year, 20 were from California. Two from Alaska. Two from France. There was a very good safety presentation, and some discussion about new road signs - a new color and larger arrows. Billy shared a number of short stories about some of the riders. One had ridden around the circumference of the United States raising about $100K. Another had planned to ride a tandem with his nephew who had been undergoing cancer treatment. Unfortunately, his nephew passed away before the PMC, yet the rider decided to do the PMC as planned -- on the tandem, but as a solo rider. This is the thing about the PMC weekend - it covers a wide spectrum of positive, sad, and inspirational stories. We're constantly reminded of why we ride.

While I was waiting for the shuttle bus from PMC central back to my hotel, there was thunder and lightning, and then it poured. It had been a few years since we'd had a Friday evening thunderstorm at the PMC. The hope was that this would break the weather; the front would pass on through. That was the hope, anyway. Saturday I awoke at 4am, and was riding to the Host by 4:30. It was damp, humid, but not raining - yet. "Weather you can wear", I coined it. The forecast was for scattered showers. After breakfast, I met up with Jon and Alan at the front of the "fast" lane. The plan was to ride hard to Bourne, the first-day finish, arriving about 5 hours later, plus or minus.

Jon G, Chris, John K, and Andy at the start

The first problem of the day was that the receiver for my cyclo-computer fell off. I would be without "telemetry" for the day - all I had was time of day. After a cheer from some cheerleaders, and the national anthem, we were off. A good sized group of about 100 formed quickly at the front and we were moving along at around 25. We moved quickly through the hills, passing the Charlton Police Dept where the Bagpiper at Dawn was playing. He stands there until every rider has passed. He's been doing this for many years.

Alan and Jon - Alan's wide awake!

Bagpiper at Dawn

Through these early hills, I was having difficulty recovering from the short climbs - the humidity is something I am no longer accustomed to. I moved around the pack, talking with Jon, Alan, and others on and off. Around 30 miles, someone at the front lifted the pace a bit, and at the same time, I got a "stitch" - also known as a side cramp. I can work these out, but it takes a little time and effort. The front group broke up in this section. I think there were still about 40 riders at the very front, lots of singles including me, and a larger pack behind. I found George Thompson who rode the last 50 miles of day 1 with me last year. With one other rider, we formed up and worked together to keep the pace. On a climb just before the 40 mile rest stop, a PMC roving mechanic told us we were only about a minute back. The roads were wet and it had been raining steadily. We passed the 40 mile water stop which appeared somewhat abruptly- there weren't any signs that we could see announcing it. More importantly, there was no sign indicating that all traffic had to go through it to stay on course. Yup, in a repeat performance from 1997, we were off-course, also known as - lost. We reached route 140. Looking at the map, it seemed like we could take this and rejoin the route some 20 miles distant. But my co-explorers were more in favor of backtracking to get back on course. We did a little of both, rejoining the route about 20 minutes later, having added around 8 bonus miles. There was still a chance to get to Bourne around 11:30.

A few minutes later, there was the thumping of a flat tire from my rear wheel. I used my only spare tube to change out the flat and was moving again in under 5 minutes. About 10 miles later, just before the 60 mile stop, the rear was flat again, so I pulled into the 60 mile stop and a very serious mechanic, shown here, examined the wheel, the tire, and the tube while the bike sat on the workstand. Another tube problem. We replaced the tube, and I was back on the road after a somewhat long break - 20 minutes. It was still possible to get to Bourne by noon . . . . . . if I could actually stay on course, that is. Yes, folks, it's been 3 years, but welcome back to the Twilight Zone.

Three cheers for PMC Mechanics!

I left the 60 mile stop alone, and missed another turn about 10 miles later. And, as an added bonus, there was thunder and lightning, and I was briefly in a small hail storm. Then it poured. I asked many people for directions, pointing out street names on my now soggy map. Lots of blank stares. I got some directions, but as is often the case in the Twilight Zone, I kept coming back to the same intersection! I was going around in circles. On one major road, in a vicious downpour, I could not tell the difference between a puddle and a pot hole, and I dropped into a huge hole. Front wheel, then back. This pushed me hard-left into traffic where I did not want to be. I quickly regained control and continued. Ahead was the same gas station I had seen 3 times. I used the phone to call the PMC. I gave them my intersection, and they needed some time to look at a bigger map to get me back on course. I was asked to call back in 10 minutes. At this point, I had nearly crashed, I was still lost, I was wet and cold (since I had not been moving). Clearly the low-point of the day. A customer at the gas station had seen cyclists with the same jersey turning nearby - she knew where the route was, and pointed me that way. Thanking her, I moved out. What else could go wrong? Well, a delayed effect of the near crash - the now familiar pssssh pssssh pssssh from the back wheel, indicating my third flat of the day. If I got a flat now, off course, it would mean walking - probably back to the gas station to call for a ride. I decided to ride on the flat as I could see riders making the right turn which I had initially missed - over an hour earlier. Atop the next rise was a roving mechanic working on another cyclist's derailleur. So I pulled in there and got in line. He was out of long-stem tubes, which I need for my wheels. As I had forgotten to bring my valve extender, he jury rigged something so we were able to get air into the tire (these guys are amazing). I was somewhere around the 80 mile mark. It was after noon. Could anything else go wrong today? Well, yes, actually, two more things. 8^) I got in about 5 more miles before I missed another turn. This was a short detour - only about 2 miles, but I was chased by a pretty large dog on one of the side-streets. Bad dog! The B-Czar B-Stees To the Rescue About 2 miles before the last rest stop, there was an impromptu rest stop set up by the B-Czar B-Stees. These folks are the archetypical PMC team having been in the event at least since around 1989. Their stop, shown below, did not have typical cycling food - they had Coke, 7UP, Devil-Dogs, Yodels and Twinkee's (not sure what the west-coast equivalent for a devil-dog is, but a Yodel is a Ho-ho). I smiled, and just had to stop. "Do you really have Devil-Dog's? I haven't had one of those in 20 years!" "Yup, we have plenty." I thought for a second. "Ok, I'll take a devil dog, and 2 yodels to go." After a morning like mine, I was soooo hungry, and I deserved it! Plus the sugar gave me a boost (short lived, but a boost nevertheless). This was the high point of the ride Saturday, and really turned the day around for me. Thanks, Bstees!

The B-Czar B-Stees Contra Water Stop!

After a few more miles, I finally warmed up again, and flew through the last few towns and last 10 miles of the course (downing the Yodels somewhere along the way). I finished around 1:30. 3 flats, 3 course deviations, rain, hail, thunderstorms, 1 near-miss, 1 dog, 1 devil-dog, and perhaps 20 extra miles (count me in for 132 miles on the first day). I was tired and hungry, and all I wanted was food, a massage, and a trip to the mechanics to completely inspect my wheels. Although I was in a bit of a snit when I arrived in Bourne (Chris and Barb will attest to that, I'm sure), I was really in good spirits. Believe it or not, the only time I was really ready to hang it up was just after the near-crash. Stuff happens, and you have to roll with the punches. I was just hungry, and needed some real food. After a shower, some food, and a massage, I was much more "presentable".

Bourne Step 1 is to get a massage appointment and 3:15 was first available. Step 2 is to get some food. Pizza was the first thing I saw, so that was it. I ran into Jon Denekamp, who was very sympathetic as he had had 4 flats (well, 3.5, as the last one was in the driveway of the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne, where we stay Saturday night, so I'm not sure it counts). Alan Ringle had no flats, and finished in the front group at 10:55, an excellent time.

Mass Maritime in Full Swing

After a shower, more food, and a massage, I went back to the bike stockade, retrieved my wheels, and got in line with the first few mechanics who had arrived from the road. I suspected they would not have long stem tubes. I had run into Chris, and he had a spare. Thanks! At around 4, another rider got in line behind me with his bike. "What's the problem?", I asked. "Broken spoke". He looked really tired. I suggested that he really should go get a massage appointment and some food, and that I'd keep his bike in line and get it fixed up. Besides, the top tube makes a nice seat, so it gave me a place to sit. He was very grateful. (The mechanics were out of spokes, but they were able to true the wheel 1-spoke short of a full deck.) To keep the line moving, self-service was encouraged. I worked at re-gluing my computer receiver on the front, while the mechanic looked over the rear. There was nothing wrong with the wheel, but the tire had a good sized cut in it, which we decided to patch from the inside. I installed the tube myself, and we chatted. He needed a refill for his drink, so I got it for him. Later, I ran into the Brightmans. Mark was riding again this year, which was good to see. We caught up. I ran into John K. who had broken his seatpost while riding, which sounded awful scary. There were many stories of flats, and a few other off-course experiences. I'm hoping that next year, I can tell stories of finishing with the front group. Some year, Jon Denekamp and I will both be healthy, and problem-free so that we can finish together, which hasn't happened since 1995! Returning to my room on the training ship, I noticed a twinge or two in my right knee. It appeared to have a good sized bruise. I probably hit the top tube during the near-crash, and this may have strained it as well. We'd have to see what, if any, impact this would have on Sunday's ride.

Sunday The knee was still a little "off" Sunday morning. The weather was a little gloomy. Big fog, still humid, but a little cooler than Saturday. I found Barb at the start, shown here, and we rode together for a few minutes. Other than the steep climb, it was hard to tell that we were crossing Bourne Bridge - thick fog covered it, as well as the Cape Cod canal bike trail. There were quite a few people out to cheer at 5:30 AM along the bridge. Admirable! More bagpipes echoed from the deck of the Bourne bridge - it's pretty neat as you pass the piper, then curve around under the bridge to catch the tune a second time.

Neon Barb at 5:30 AM

The first 20 miles was a little slow while I waited for the knee to loosen up. After the first stop, the pain was gone. I was passed by a tandem and a single rider, and accelerated (from about 22 to 28) to get on their tail. The tandem, it turns out, was ridden by the two riders from France. It wasn't great weather to draft (follow closely), as the rooster tail of water and road grime from the other two bikes was right in my face, but it was worth it. We flew through this segment, which includes passing the Cape Cod Sea Camps. Every year, the campers stand along the road cheering riders. Imagine 250 kids screaming and cheering as you pass by. It's a great feeling. Our French tandem, first year riders, were impressed. We pulled in at the 40 mile stop where I filled up water bottles.

In the 3rd segment I met a rider who is in the process of moving to the Bay Area, so we spent some time talking about that. A small pace line passed us, and we latched on. They were not going particularly fast, but I decided to hang with them, coming to the front for long pulls, lifting the pace for them. Sometimes they could hold it; sometimes not. Since I didn't have "telemetry", I had to get the 2nd guy to let me know if it was too fast or too slow, as I was just setting the speed by feel. In Wellfleet, we caught up to the single-rider tandem described earlier. He had a picture of his nephew taped to the rear saddle. I offered a few words, and thanked him for doing the ride. We pulled into the last water stop, and there were a few "Thanks!" for pulling the group along.

Nice to be welcome in Wellfleet

Done!

I rode the last segment alone, passing a number of riders, but not being passed. By this time, the roads started to dry out. This segment has some of the best riding of the weekend including the Truro hills and the Province Lands. I did a traditional big-gear sprint up Castle Hill, and really pushed hard up route 6 into Provincetown, averaging about 22 over the last 20 miles, which helped me achieve a 3:55 riding time for 80 miles. Beth was there to see my traditional sprint to the finish, and got this shot of me while slowing to check-in. All in all, a much better ride than Saturday.

P-Town I found Jon, who had passed me on 6A in the first segment when I wasn't able to latch on. They'd had a great ride, finishing in about 3:25. As usual, the National Guard set up shower tents. Their enthusiasm about their involvement with the PMC is really contagious! After a shower, the food tent was the next stop, for some Legal Seafood's chow-da, and other assorted goodies from the grill. Jon, Alan, and others from the front group were there, and there were more positive stories about Sunday's ride than Saturday's. I resolved that I'd be in even better shape next year, and figure out some way to bullet-proof my tires.

Jon and Andy in P-Town

Jon Gordon (too many Jon's in this ride!) showed up. He had had a great weekend, shaving lots of time off his 2000 ride. Chris and John K also popped up in the food tent, as well as Barb, and everyone else from my PMC circle. Barb had a pretty good weekend, doing a little over half of each day before tendonitis forced her to bail out. Here are some scenes from Provincetown.

John K, Andy, Jon G. and Chris after a long weekend

Nancy finishes her 2nd PMC

Andy and Barb

Beth meets Nancy at the finish

I was near the rider check-in when Nancy finished. In her second PMC, she did great, shaving a total of half an hour off her total 2-day time! After some quick good-byes, Beth and I walked to Provincetown center, deposited the bike in the car, and found a place for lunch. Wrapup The 2001 PMC was an interesting event. I didn't hit the time I expected, but it's not really about time - a good ride time is just one of the challenges available at an event like the PMC. I had the legs, but what can you do when the mechanical, directional, and weather spirits are against ya. Sigh, smile, and carry on. Sunday made up for it, with no mechanical problems, less rain, and all in all, a fine ride. Fundraising is going pretty well - at this writing, I've raised about $8000, on my way to my goal of $11,000. The PMC's goal is $13 Million. Stay tuned!

I met a lot of new people on the ride this year; some first year riders, some who've been riding as long as I have. I also gained an appreciation for the unique contribution of team B-Czar B-Stees. I saw some grieving up-close, but also heard some uplifting survivor stories. I ended the weekend by driving to New Jersey to visit two survivors who are very important to me - my folks. The weekend helped me to reflect on the progress that has been made in cancer research and treatment. Though we still have a long way to go to a cure, we get closer by the mile! I sincerely thank you all for your support of the PMC.