Smooth Sailing A Story About The 2002 PMC August 11, 2002

I came to my 12th PMC with some pretty simple goals. After the 2001 PMC where everything seemed to go wrong, all I wanted was to stay on course, and get from start to finish without a flat. The winter and spring were very busy; work, house, and fire department projects kept rides a little shorter, and a little further apart. I did only two organized rides: a hilly 105 mile ride with cyclists in my community in April, and the Grizzly Peak Century, as usual, in May. So, I came to the PMC with the fewest miles in 4 years. Still, I hoped to finish the first day in under 6 hours, and the second day in under 4.

Acclimate! We arrived on the east coast the Tuesday prior to the ride. The forecast was for hot, humid weather for the weekend. I took in a few short warmup rides to acclimate and break in my new tires (new tires have a little better chance of escaping punctures). It was humid. After the second 8 mile ride with friends Rob and Carol, I felt like a dog, so I spent some time relaxing with Taz, shown here. My left ankle had been bothering me for a week - some sort of tendonitis - and still was.

Who let the dogs out?

We drove out to Sturbridge on Friday in torrential downpours. Sometimes, when the thunderstorms hit on Friday like this, the Saturday ride weather is pretty reasonable, although last year, that was not the case. We'll see. Nancy arrived around the same time I did. We checked in, and I had the B-Czar B-Stees apply a temporary tattoo with their official logo. At the pre-ride dinner and opening ceremonies, I found nearly everyone in my "PMC family" - Barb, Harvey, Alan, John/Jon/Chris, Tim & Mark, ... Barb would not be riding but would be volunteering at the Mass Maritime. This year, New England Cable News (NECN) was covering the opening live. Their coverage was great. Speakers included Larry Lucchino, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, Mike Andrews (head of the Jimmy Fund), and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Statistics were impressive. 3500 riders, over 3000 of which were starting from Sturbridge. One-third women. 26 from California. 100 additional "virtual" riders - riders who did another ride, and dedicated it to the PMC. The route had changed pretty dramatically. About 45% of it was new. Well, I can't seem to remember it from year to year when it's the same, so this didn't seem to matter. Back at the hotel, last minute adjustments were made to the bike, and everything was set out for Saturday - water bottles, power food, clothes.

Saturday The skies looked clear at 3:55AM on Saturday morning. I rode down to breakfast by 4:30. I dropped the bike at the front of the fastlane and my luggage at the appropriate truck. The breakfast ballroom was a sea of PMC riding jerseys. Though I found Chris and John K at one point, I was unable to find them for a picture. This years' jersey had something of a camouflage effect, with its Hawaiian print. I can't wait to try it out in Hawaii! The roads were dry. The air? Not sure. Alan joined me at the front, as well as a host of other familiar faces and bikes. I figured I could stick with these guys at least through the hills.

Alan (to my left) and I at the start

Bagpiper at Dawn

We were off at 6. This year, the front group became small quickly. Only about 40 riders at the front. We weren't moving as fast as usual, but still moved quickly through the hills. Our favorite bagpiper (a cancer survivor) was there to meet us in Charlton, as has become tradition. As the sun warmed up, the humidity increased pretty dramatically. Later, the official numbers for the day were 83 degrees, 73 degree dew point - over 70% humidity. Bleah. I caught up to Harvey, who was riding very, very well! We would end up riding together quite a few times during the weekend. At around 22 miles, there is a series of climbs near the Purgatory Chasm state park. At that time, somone right at the front decided it was time to move, and the pack strung out. I made a pretty desperate effort to keep up with the front group, but my lack of training really showed here - I needed a longer recovery, and ended up in the third group. No matter. I was well hydrated, well fed (this years products: Gu and Enervitene), and riding pretty well, all things considered. I had planned a 1-stop strategy - stop at the 60 mile stop, but these things are dynamic with conditions. I decided to pull in at the 40 mile stop after working pretty hard. I filled up the water bottles, and got back on the road. Though I had lost my pace line, another one formed up and the next target was the 80 mile stop.

Never a Dull Moment At 52 miles, there seemed to be a cluster of PMC riders on the roadside with a few of the support vehicles. Word was that there had been a major car accident on I-95, and traffic was being diverted to surface streets. The PMC was effectively stopped. I pulled in about 10 minutes behind the front group. All riders at or before the 20 mile stop were held there; same for the 40 mile stop. Everyone else was held where I was. So everyone was bunched up again. Including Senator Kerry - I didn't even know he was riding.

Alan waits patiently

The wait was long and hot. Over an hour. After averaging just under 22mph for 2 1/2 hours, when we were finally able to go again, it was tough. It took quite a while to get warmed up again. Due to the unexpected break, another short water stop at 60 miles was required. A little later, a mid-sized group caught up to me being led by Sam Fisher (Sammy). I've been riding with Sammy on and off since we finished together 1995. I stuck with these guys for 25 miles or so. We passed the 80 mile stop, and then at one point, they pulled off to meet some friends. I rode on. Near the 95 mile stop, I had been working pretty hard with a new group, and was just about out of water, so I ducked in for a "splash and dash" - I handed one bottle to a volunteer, who filled it with ice water, and I was back on the road in about 8 seconds. I finished the last 15 miles mostly with one group, although they got about 10 seconds ahead over the last mile. I finished at around 12:30: 5:25 riding time, a hour for the "unofficial" stop, and the remainder for 3 quick official stops. Though not an accurate test of my new one-stop strategy, I'll probably try that strategy again in the future.

Mass Maritime The Mass Maritime was festive as usual. I got some solid food, and hit the showers. After a quick massage, I went back to the finish line to wait for JohnK and Nancy. JohnK came in a little after I got there. Also, California rider Jim Collier, whom I met at the Grizzly Peak Century this year, finished around this time. He rides the PMC on a fixed-gear bike - a bike with only one gear - which is pretty amazing (I have 18).

MMA in full swing

John K Finishing Day 1

Barb and me at MMA

It was hot, and there wasn't much shade, so the food tents were pretty packed - after all, 3500 riders were descending on MMA. At one point, I ran into Barb, who was planning to do the night shift at MMA - cooking breakfast for 3000. I razzed her - I didn't want some sort of 3 hour old egg sandwich; I wanted a fresh one....

I alternated between grazing at the food tent and looking for a bit of shade. The last riders came in at about 7PM and were met by hundreds of cheering PMC riders and volunteers. Not long after that, I headed off to get some sleep. Sunday Barb had spent the night cooking breakfast for all of us. Here we are at 4:15AM. She made sure I got the very last "biker bun" they had made. Breakfast was great (she made me say that). Actually, it really was. I was back at the bike lockup at 5:30 - it took me a while to find the bike, but was on the road by 5:45.

Breakfast - eyes not yet open

The Bourne Bridge climb was pretty crowded, and slow, so a lot of care was required. Once on the Cape Cod Canal trail, I tucked in behind a team, and zoomed along at 25mph. John K was up ahead, and we rode together for a few minutes. I topped off the water bottles at the 20 mile stop and carried on. Just after this stop, I met up with Sammy's group. We made a very quick pace over the next 15 miles. I did a lot of work at the front. Just before the 40 mile stop is the Cape Cod Sea Camps - summer camps where the morning activity for the last several years has been to cheer the PMC. These kids are great. I tried to get a picture, but the rising sun wiped it out. I grabbed a PB&J at the 40 mile stop and kept riding.

Sammy's group catches up

Sammy's group caught up a little later at a good time - I was pretty tired. They were led by a triathelete named Steve who was very strong. I recovered a little and raced Steve up Castle Hill Rd., the hardest hill on the cape. He won by half a bike length. I congratulated him on a good climb, though I could barely talk. The pace line regrouped and rode through the side streets of Truro, rejoining Route 6 for the last 12 miles to Provincetown. It was tough keeping Steve reined in. He had the legs to go a few miles per hour faster than the rest of us, so the pace line split and regrouped many times. We scooped up Harvey along the way, who was running out of steam (as was I). A Channel 56 TV news crew filmed us for the 10:00 news and that gave everyone a little adrenaline rush.

We turned into the Province lands for the last 5 miles of the ride. This is a set of paved sand dunes - big rollers. There are 3 climbs. Eventually, Harvey and I backed off, and the train went on. We caught them just before the finish, and all finished basically together. We had just enough energy left for a final sprint. I was pretty hot, and I had worked so hard through the last 20 miles that I went through 2 full water bottles, about twice normal. Riding time was about 3:54. A pretty consistent weekend average of just under 21mph. P-town Beth was waiting for me at the finish. After congratulations and thanks all around, and a shower, I went for some food. A bunch of us exchanged stories about the ride. Though not everyone was there: the P-town finish was split this year between the traditional finish and a new "quick exit" finish. A number of my PMC friends used this new finish, so I never saw them at the end; that was a little sad.

Whew - another finish

Harvey and I, sweatin' at the finish

Sammy and I at the finish

Mission Accomplished All in all, the weekend went very well. No flats, no trips off course. I had pretty strong rides both days, and considering the level of training and the hot/humid weather, I was very happy with the riding. Fundraising is going pretty well, all things considered - at this writing, I've raised about $8000, thanks to my great sponsors. Hopefully on my way to $12,000. The PMC's goal is $15 Million. Stay Tuned! It's been 12 years now. I'm not sure what's in store for year 13. Another PMC, or a virtual PMC? We'll see. But I will keep riding in support of the Jimmy Fund and DFCI. Until it's no longer necessary. I sincerely thank you all for your support of the PMC.