PMC 2011 is Over. Here are some quick notes.

Well, the 32nd Pan Mass Challenge is done and on the books.   I'll have a more complete trip report later, but here are a couple of thumbnail/highlights...

The ride was great, as always.  Saturday started humid.   Sunday started with a monsoon at Bourne, but gradually cleared up.  By the end of the day, however, the rain set back in at Provincetown.

We had a weekend total of 21 hospital visits:

Saturday: 9 riders and 2 volunteers - all released on Saturday

- 7 bike collision
- 1 heart evaluation
- 1 dehydration

Sunday: 10 riders:

- 1 transfer to Boston for hip fracture
- 7 bike falls - all released
- 2 concussions - both released

On the whole this isn't so bad, considering that the Sunday ride started in the rain and the roads were wet all day...

You can see my GPS track logs/stats from the ride here: 

 - Saturday (Sturbridge to Bourne)

 - Sunday (Bourne to Provincetown)

I'm happy with my pace on the stats.  I'll take an 18.5 mpg average speed over 110 miles any time.  And 16.3 mph average on Day 2 in the rain is not too bad.

Finally, we had a superstar rider this year for the Saturday ride: Lance Armstrong. 

He had some really nice words about the PMC, and here's the video: http://www.nesn.com/2011/08/lance-armstrong-among-cyclists-in-pan-mass-challenge-to-raise-money-for-cancer-research.html

More later.
/doug

Watch and Stalk the 2011 PMC!

The bike is all prepped...
My bag is packed...
3:30 AM tomorrow is gonna come early.

So just a couple of last minute items:

First, WCVB (Channel 5 ABC affiliate in Boston) will be covering the PMC  opening ceremonies tonight.  Those of you in the area can watch it on  TV, starting at 7PM EDT.  Actually, anyone anywhere with an internet connection can *also* watch the festivities ONLINE at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/ .  Again, it's at 7PM EDT so remember to adjust for your timezone.

Secondlly, you can be a "PMC Stalker" (again) this year!  Just like last year, you'll be able to watch my whereabouts for the entire PMC weekend online.  Just point your browser to http://ixen.com/where-is-doug and follow my 'Trogdor' avatar as I burninate my way across Massachusetts to Provincetown!

Talk to you later!
/doug

Last-minute details...

Back from NH and clearing away last-minute details for the ride.

My bike is a muddy mess from the wet roads in the White Mountains, so I need to show it some love before the ride on Saturday.

Here is the picture I'll be taking along on the back of my bike, with all my "passengers":

Mom, Sandy and Ben will be working at MMA in Bourne so I'll see them on Saturday afternoon, and Kevin will be getting me out to Sturbridge *early* Saturday.

All we can do at this point is hope for good weather.  (Speaking of which: I hope my friends and family and Texas get a break from this godawful heat soon.)  

Talk to you all soon.

/doug

My Big (Wet) Ride Day in the White Mountains - 77.5 miles.

Well, today was the day for the "big ride" -- it's just taper from now until Saturday.

According to my GPS, total mileage was 77.5 mi.   (Bike computer said 78. Meh.)

Anyway, you can see the route and detailed stats online here.

The day started off great, but clouds rolled in.   By the time I'd made it back to route 112, it was pretty clear I wasn't going to out-ride the rain. It came down hard, moving to the east.  I was able to ditch out to a picnic shelter in the Wildwood Camping area and waited out the rain for about 20 minutes.   After the rain passed, the sun came out and the roads were steaming.   I gutted it back up the long climb to Beaver Pond where I stopped again, just before that long 3-4 mile 10% grade leading down to N. Woodstock.  I cleaned all the wet road gunk off my brakes and rims before starting off on that last exhilarating downhill to lunch.

Last year, I was able to get the bike to 60+ mph on the descent from Beaver Pond to N. Woodstock --  but that was definitely NOT in the cards for today, with the wet brakes, wet roads and the scary cross-winds that blow in off Lost River Gorge from the left.  It was plenty scary keeping it around 50mph (I happened to glance down at my legs on the way down, and every hair was standing straight up.  Made me laugh at myself.)  At any rate, I did a respectable speed down to N. Woodstock, and re-fueled at the Woodstock Inn.

On the way back up, I got caught in yet another rain storm and had to duck in at the Indian Head Lodge off route 3.   The storm only lasted 10 minutes or so, and I was on my way again.   The ride back up from N. Woodstock to Mittersill was slow but shady, and I could just about do it in my sleep by now.    When I arrived, Sandy my mom and Sandy's mom were sitting out by the duck pond and greeted me.   A wonderful end to a successful (but wet) ride in the White Mountains!