Race Reports and Results
On August 7 and 8, 2010 I rode in the 31st annual Pan Massachusetts Challenge. This was my twelfth year of participation in the 192-mile bicycle tour from Sturbridge to Provincetown. Donations from sponsors benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2010 more than 5,000 cyclists participated, working toward the goal of raising [...]
The tire was flat before I even took the bike off the trunk rack. I wrestled the tire from the rim, replaced the tube and put it all back together. The new tube conveniently exploded as I pumped air into it, so I repeated the process, the second time being more careful not to pinch [...]
The cold iron bars were just a little too close together. Try as I might, I could not squeeze through. Eventually the guard brought a filthy bowl full of gruel. While he watched expressionlessly, I toyed with the gruel, even used the cracked plastic spoon to take a sip of the nasty stuff. Evidently bored, [...]
The Cap 2 Cap Century is a 100 mile round trip between Richmond and Williamsburg, a fundraiser for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. The engine of the Team Nature’s Path Blue Train sat rumbling, steam rising from the stack. At 7:20am the pistons slid inside the cylinders. Crankshafts, connecting rods and coupling rods strained to [...]
The physician’s assistant released my arm and gave me The Look. “This shoulder is still pretty stiff. You need a cortisone injection.” “Okay. I can come back Monday or Tuesday…whatever works.” “Take off your shirt.” Moments later her fingers held a hypodermic the size of a baseball bat (apparently the really big one was unavailable.) [...]
I held the four-pound weight straight out behind me and winced. Reagan frowned. “Not like that. Try to keep your palm down. The motion should be like bowling.” “I’m a horrible bowler. Most golfers would be thrilled have a score like my bowling score.” She smiled, but stayed and watched to be sure I exhibited [...]
At 7:45am I lifted the snarling beast from the trunk rack and placed it gently on the pavement in the parking lot at Conte’s. It huffed and snorted, stretched out a bit, then pawed at the ground impatiently while I loaded it with water bottles and donned gloves and helmet. The sky was overcast but [...]
In my first year of participation in the Pan Mass Challenge I crashed twice, had three flat tires and rode through a deluge for 80 miles. As I crossed that Provincetown finish line eleven years ago, half drowned, blood seeping from my bandaged right elbow, pedaling on a cracked left cleat and with several new [...]
The Cartersville ride is among my favorites. Saturday morning we rendezvoused at the Old Goochland High School waaaay out there on Route 6, then pedaled along a circuitous route, alternating between west and south with each turn. The sky was clear and the sun glowed. It was a beautiful day, warm but not so hot as to be uncomfortable. [...]
Multiple sclerosis is an insidious, chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system. The continuum of symptoms includes numbness of limbs, complete paralysis and everything in between. In particular cases the severity and specific symptoms are unpredictable. Most of those affected experience distinct attacks, remissions and relapses, with progressive deterioration over an extended period. For [...]