Truer Words - A Journal

PMC Day 1: Sturbridge to Bourne, by the Numbers

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:03:02 GMT

Saturday, August 2, 2008

This was my sixth year riding the PMC, and my fourth year to include the Huckleberries ride (which makes it a three-day event). Those previous three years, I was totally exhausted on Saturday morning from the hard ride on Friday.

This year was different...

Rides #37, #42 and #44: Friends, Hills, and the Slimming Effects of Lightning

seth@macrobyte.net — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:25:31 GMT

Corinne has been hearing about my lack of updates here on [tw] from her friends, who I think mostly just want more pictures of Lauren (I don't blame them!). I've been much too quiet lately.

I'm going to pay for that quietness, soon. The PMC is in less than two months, and I haven't raised a penny yet. What an idiot.

This particular update, however, is not about Lauren, Corinne, her friends, or the PMC. It's about my riding (and weight loss) over the last month. I'll start with:

Ride #37: Birthday Loop with Steve

Steve Davis came down on May 23rd to ride the storied Birthday Loop with me.

Steve is in fantastic shape, much better for mid-Spring than I've ever known him to be, since we started riding together years ago.

I, on the other hand, was still getting over my cold. I'd only ridden three times in the previous two weeks, and was still coughing quite a bit.

The result: Steve was very patient with me. We did the whole ride, of course, but averages only 17.5 mph. He easily could have handled a 19 mph average, which is quite impressive with all the climbing.

My stats are missing a couple of miles because my bike computer mysteriously shut off for a little while. However, Steve had exactly the same average speed as I did when we were done, so I'm just going to stick with what mine said.

Stats: 52.56 miles (84.62 km) in 3h 0' 0" for an average speed of 17.52 mph (28.20 kph).

Ride #42: Cracked 260

This ride is notable only because I finally cracked 260. That is, my weight finally dropped below it.

I thought that was quite an accomplishment, so I checked my stats for last year. EXACTLY THE SAME DATE!! Oy! Still, last year my weight was only below 260 for two days, then it went back up and stayed there for another month. This year, it's continued going down, and I'm hoping to drop below 250 before the end of the month.

How far can I drop before PMC? This will be my sixth PMC, and I've never been below 250.

Stats: 43.91 miles (70.69 km) in 2h 17' 12" for an average speed of 19.20 mph (30.91 kph).

Ride #44: Lightning Has Struck My Brain!

Sorry, the title for this ride was just a hook to get you to read the story. (Ok ok, I'll stop. I'm sure Sean, at least, is moaning by now...)

This ride was on Sunday, the beginning of our current heat wave. I left the house planning to do the birthday loop again, after spending 45 minutes carefully cleaning up my drivetrain. The first 20 miles were quite hot, but I can handle hot. After the first ten miles, I saw the storm coming in but hoped it was going to pass to the North.

No such luck.

I climbed Cossaduck hearing thunder. Second time this year I've managed to climb it "out of the saddle" from bottom to top. Once again, I forgot to set the lap timer on my bike computer, so I have no idea how much I've improved. (My first trip up the hill this year was a pitiful 4:40!!)

Heard a lot more thunder while I was on Gilliver, but they were still five or six seconds after the flash so I figured I was ok. At that point, I was riding away from the storm.

In the last mile of Route 49, just before the turn onto Wyassup, the sprinkling started and I knew the storm was going to catch me, but now I was in farm country. What was I supposed to do? I kept riding.

On Wyassup, with the thunder rolling almost constantly, I crested one of the hills telling myself "think negative thoughts! Think negative!" But, at the top of one of the two hills (I can't remember which, now, but I think it was the second), everything around me when bright purple! I'm not kidding, I thought for a split second that I'd been struck. There was enough time for me to yell "yi" before my "yikes!" was drowned out in the loudest thunder I've heard in 30 years.

I wasn't hit, obviously, but it must have been cloud-to-cloud right over head. That was exciting.

(When I was quite young, I remember standing at my grandparents back door in Berkley, MA, when lightning struck the back yard. That was some kind of loud, and I've had a love for lightning every since.)

After that, the rain started in earnest and I just rode home. That took about ten miles off the ride, but it was fun. (Now I need to clean my drive train again!)

Stats: 44.67 miles (71.91 km) in 2h 30' 21" for an average speed of 17.82 mph (28.70 kph).

Oh, and I'm now down to 254. :-D

PMC Day 0: The Huckleberries Ride Again

seth@macrobyte.net — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:59:26 GMT

This was the third year in a row that I participated in the Huckleberries ride. This is a 95 mile ride from the border between New York and Massachusetts (on Route 102 in West Stockbridge) to Sturbridge, MA.

A few things about this ride never seem to change: the core group who has been doing it for eleven years, the heat, and the pain of climbing the longest hills.

One thing that does change is how we all handle the weather and the climbing from year to year. Two years ago I rode quite well (for me) in spite of heat and humidity like I've never experienced (on a long ride) before or since. Last year was hot but rainy and I suffered with stomach cramps for the second half. This year...

Ride #34: 73 Miles with Steve and Mike

seth@macrobyte.net — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:25:18 GMT

As I mentioned, Steve and Mike came down for an 80 mile ride on Thursday. We actually rode only 73 because we started a little late and Steve had to head home for a school concert with one of his nineteen sons. (Nineteen, four, whatever.)

The route was basically a combination of my various training routes, but I really did try to avoid any significant hills this time. (Two years ago, Steve dubbed Cossaduck Hill Road, "I Hate You Dillingham Hill." Couldn't do that to him again!) We started at the house, went up 184 to 117 into Ledyard, Col Ledyard Highway most of the way back but then cut over to Pumpkin HIll Road (to avoid having to climb Pumpkin Hill itself), to Gallup Hill Road for a few hundred feet. Then I said, "Let's do something fun," and they followed me DOWN DOWN DOWN Town Farm Road's crazy-steep hill (and my bottle bounced out of my cage at 47 mph, so I couldn't coast out at the end, had to go back for it). Right on Wolf's Neck, left on 201, right on Al Harvey, right on 184, left onto North Stonington Road, across 27 onto River Road into Mystic. Left onto Route One and over the drawbridge.

Then we stopped at the Henny Penny in downtown to recharge our bottles, then stopped again just a mile later at the New & Improved Mystic Cycle Center. I said that they have a full scale model of the old store in the changing room. That was a joke, but it almost could be true... the new store (well, they've been there for over a year now, but it's new to Steve and MIke) is really big.

Continuing East on Route 1 North, then a right onto Green Haven Road all the way to the Pawcatuck River, where it makes a hard left and turns into River Road, and then into Mechanic Street just before it ends back at Route 1 in downtown Pawcatuck. Right on Route 1, through Westerly, then onto 1A into Watch Hill. We stopped for lunch at St. Claire's Annex, same as two years ago. Finally pulled out the camera and took the only shots of the day: one of Mike sitting at the table (looks like he wants to hurt me, but I don't think he even knew I had the camera out), and two outside after we ate.

After lunch we finished the loop around Watch Hill, saw the big hole in the ground where the Ocean House used to be, and continued to Misquamicut Beach.

I could tell that we were going to have a tail wind along Atlantic Avenue (Misquamicut)... yeah! I love flying down that road. It's as flat as they come around here, and with a tailwind you can really fly. I was at the back of the group, and started to pick up speed. As I passed Steve, he said something like, "Restrain yourself!" but I couldn't do it. I maintained 31 mph for about 1/4 mile (all the way around the big beach parking lot), then noodled along at 18 mph waiting for them to catch up with me. (They apparently hadn't picked up their speed at all.) Normally I would try to average 25 or better for the full length of Atlantic Ave.

Left at the end of Atlantic, up into Dunn's Corners, stopped to recharge our bottles again at the Mobil station. Crossed over Route 1 onto Bradford-Dunn's Corners Road to the other property Gary and Ellyn own (rental property). Stopped in to say hi (and use the bathroom). Ellyn and Katie were there, cleaning up after the previous renter before the next weekend rental. This is when I talked Ellyn into having a Memorial Day picnic on Sunday, by tempting her with Lauren. :-D

The rest of the ride could be summarized in one word: hot. (Not that I would ever leave it at just one word, right?) We continued on 91 to Collins Road, past my parents' old place, to Maxson Hill Road, to Frontier Road, to Route 3, to Wellstown Road, to Route 216, to Route 184.

When we reached the rotary for Routes 2 and 184, Steve was so hot he was in imminent danger of self-immolation, so we stopped at Mystic Pizza II so he could splash nasty, algae-infested water on his neck from their outdoor fountain. Yuck!

From Mystic Pizza II it was eight uneventful miles home.

Steve (and Mike) even met Lauren! She was sleeping when we arrived, so I took a quick shower and then woke her up. She even stayed happy the whole time.

Great ride guys, thanks for coming down!

Stats: 73.11 miles (117.7 km) in 3h 58' 45" for an average speed of 18.37 mph (29.58 kph).

Happy New Year, One and All

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:22:11 GMT

2006 was a good year for me and mine, in many ways.

To all of my family near and far, to my ecclesia here and worldwide, to all of my friends new and old, close or distant:

Happy
New Year!

Hoping 2007 will be even better, for all of us...

Ride #122: To Plymouth with Mike and Steve

seth@macrobyte.net — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:22:36 GMT

I took a day (Friday, October 27th) away from the code to ride with Steve Davis and Mike Lucas. This was to be our final almost-century of the year.

Earlier in the week, I had teased them about the amount of planning they were putting into this ride. "It's only 80 miles!" All three of us are experienced riders, and have done rides of this length dozens and dozens of times. Yet, if it were up to Mike, I think he actually would have planned the weather itself.

Well, all I can say now is, "Thank you, Mike." Thank you for all the planning, and thank you for not somehow separating yourself from us. Without all that planning, we surely would have been lost forever in the wilderness of South Eastern Massachusetts.

Mike even provided cue sheets! Two pages of cue sheets. I think we averaged one turn for every mile of the trip, both ways. That's why we would have been lost: he managed to find a back-roads route from Steve's house in Mansfield to downtown Plymouth that was as direct as taking the highway! Even better, most of the route had little or no traffic.

None of us had any mechanical difficulties, and there were no accidents. We joked about almost getting lost right at the start when Steve tried to lead us down the wrong road, but that only lasted about 30 seconds. The weather was bright sunshine, nearly windless, and chilly in the upper 40's when we started to the lower 50's at the warmest.

We kept the speeds low... I'm not really sure why, but at least I expected it this time so I wasn't worried about our pace (well, not much). There was a moment when another rider appeared about 1/4 mile ahead: Steve quietly said, "Seth, a rabbit!" The greyhounds in my legs took off at full speed... I caught the rabbit in nothing flat, but that was no great accomplishment as he was barely moving.

I don't remember ever being to Plymouth before, which is weird since I grew up in Massachusetts. We stopped at "the rock" where the Mayflower supposedly landed. It's just a big rock with a date carved in it. Not as big as it used to be, as 75% of it was chipped away for souvenirs over the centuries (a couple of museums, including the Smithsonian, have mailbox-sized chunks). Now they protect the rock with a gazebo-like structure that lets you see it but not touch it: to get a piece now, you'd have to jump down about eight feet to the sand, then climb out again.

Lunch was at a small restaurant whose name I can't remember. I'd forgotten my card, so I still owe Steve (thanks!). Excellent food, though: a bread bowl of New England clam chowder (of course), and some sort of chicken wrap.

After we ate, we stopped at the tourist info center to use the facilities and so Steve could warm up. ;-) The gentleman behind the counter tried to talk us into seeing all the sights, but we didn't have time so we settled for a quick ride up the hill to the National Monument to the Forefathers. It's BIG!!! It's also the prototype for the Statue of Liberty. All the characters around the base had creepy eyes. Did I mention that it was really big? 81 feet (24.5m) tall, and most of it is carved out of solid Granite. Good grief.

After the statue, I realized I had left one of my water bottles on the sidewalk where the bike had been parked during lunch, so we rode back down. While I zipped back to the restaurant, Steve and Mike checked out the recreation of the Mayflower. Awfully small for the number of people it carried: I think they would have fit better in the monument. ;-)

The only notable from the return trip was the two Brazilian guys who caught us. One spoke little to no English, but the other did and was a pro (?) racer living in the area. They weren't pushing hard, and we could have ridden with them for awhile longer, but at the point we were all together the traffic was pretty heavy and we got separated. Nobody was interested in pushing it, so we let them go.

Before I show them, let me warn you that the stats make us look like we were barely moving at all. It wasn't quite as bad as that... the ride time includes the putt-putt-putting around downtown Plymouth, and the very slow circles we made around the monument to see all the writing. Instinct tells me our actual speed was closer to the low 18's, not the mid-17's.

Stats: 81.78 miles (131.6 km) in 4h 40' 10" for an average speed of 17.51 mph (28.19 kph).

(No pictures this time, sorry. I don't have a camera small enough to carry on the bike, and Steve didn't think he'd use it. Must remind him to bring his camera next time, no matter what. :-)

Tuesday's Grab Bag of Highs and Lows

seth@macrobyte.net — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:57:47 GMT

Tuesday was an intense day, with some very high highs and very low lows. I'm just going to brain-dump it all.

Low and High:

Perry died. This is very sad for all of us, but he lived a long, full life and had plenty of time to know even his great grandchildren. I had to call this both a high and a low... it's hard to attach anything "all bad" to Perry Lanphear.

High:

Breakfast at Snoopy's Diner with a friend and client. The business side of the meeting went well, as plans were made and progress reviewed. The friendly side of the meeting was even better. Best of all were the pancakes! Mama mia. Must take Corinne there so she can replicate those Apple-slice-filled beauties. (Oh wait, I gave up food. Nuts!)

High:

After my gigantic breakfast, I drove up to see Steve Davis in MA so we could go for a ride. He had a basketball game the night before, so was worried that he'd be too tired for my pace. I promised that I would ride super hard the day before and then eat a huge breakfast to weigh me down. I did both, but neither were necessary: he kept me talking the whole time! It's hard to push the pace when you're talking so much that you can't breathe heavily. Sneaky, Steve.

This was ride #103. Stats: 36.4 miles (58.60 km) in 1h 59' 37" for an average speed of 18.25 mph (29.39 kph).

Low:

Our average speed for that ride. (Sorry Steve, couldn't resist.)

High & Low, Again:

After I left Steve's place, I went straight to Gary's & Ellyn's house in Westerly. Ellyn had invited the whole family for a "send off dinner" for Gramma and Grampa. They were up here in New England for much longer this year than previous years, because of Mandi's wedding, but now they're heading home and last night was our last chance to see them this year. I was about 90 minutes early because the alternative was driving all the way home, finding something to do for 30 minutes, then driving back again.

I had a chance to watch Grampa cut down a whole Pineapple into rings. He'd never done it before, and definitely did not like the fact that there's so much waste. Rather than just slice a little more deeply as he "skinned" it, he made shallow cuts and then worked with a paring knife to dig out the bits of rind that were left. After slicing it down, he carefully cut the inedible core out of every piece. This was all both highly amusing and rather painful to witness, but he didn't cut *himself* so all's well that ends well. :-)

Almost everybody made it to the dinner. Corinne had to work until 6:30 so she was late, but wanted to be there so she could say goodbye. Dad was there until 6:45, but had to leave to teach a class. Gary worked late but made a quiet appearance while we were still eating (spaghetti and meatballs). Katie's in Colorado so couldn't be there at all. Mandi, just back from her honeymoon for a day, showed up just before G&G were about to give up and go back to their rental for the night. (She had to work late, also.) Sarah was there but left a little early because Art, who couldn't make it due to work, needed some dinner. Everybody else in the family (Mom, Jed, Ellyn, Gramma and Grampa, Tom, and Rusty) was there, too.

Quite a day.

PMC 2006, Day 2: Bourne to Provincetown, 78 Miles

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 03:59:59 GMT

Sunday, August 6, 2006

Whoo! Three days in a row, and I'm up with the alarm clock at some ridiculous hour (read: "before 7 am").

I told Mike yesterday that I'd meet them all by the bikes today at 5 a.m., but later I was reminded that anyone who is staying off campus is NOT to ride back over the bridge to the MMA. (Since it's not a group start on Sunday, it's not big deal.) I called Steve a few minutes after 5 to let him know I'd just meet them at the first water stop.

When I got off the phone with Steve I was ready to go, and I even had my gloves and shades! The bike was disassembled in the back of the car (setting up the bike rack last night was going to be too much hassle), but it only took a few seconds to put it back together. I rode out, and found to my surprise that everyone coming off the Bourne Bridge rode — literally — right past the hotel entrance. Cool!

Knowing they had a five minute ride to the bridge, and then probably ten minutes to crawl over the bridge, I decided to...

PMC 2006, Day 1: Sturbridge to Bourne, 112 Miles

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 03:59:59 GMT

Saturday, August 5, 2006

Saturday morning I again awoke with the alarm clock, no problem at all. (Apparently, my body is trying to remind that sleeping enough at night means it's easy to get up in the morning. Not sure how I forgot that over the last couple of years...)

I took a quick shower to wake up, dressed for the ride, and carried the cooler full of gatorade and ice-water down to the car so Corinne wouldn't have to lug it down later on her own.

Oops. In a classic Seth move, I forgot my key and couldn't go back into my room! Mark and his wife were already waiting for me, but Corinne wouldn't wake up to answer the door, so I had to go back down to the front desk, get a new key, go back upstairs to grab my stuff (especially clothes for after my shower in Bourne), and then back down the elevator again to Mark's car for the 15 mile ride back to the Host.

In all the confused, early-morning frustration...

Really, Really Old News

seth@macrobyte.net — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:42:51 GMT

Steve Davis turned 43 today. Happy birthday, Steve!

To celebrate, he and his first-time-PMC-riding son, Paul, went out for a 43 mile ride. Pretty cool.

(Sorry about the title. Couldn't resist. ;-)

Auction: The Whole Pro Cyclist Kit & Kaboodle

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 08 May 2006 17:04:18 GMT

Steve Davis didn't have time to respond to my last email ;-) but he did have time to send a link to this hilarious eBay auction: everything you need to pretend you're a pro racer.

After two days at the GILA we have decided that everything must go. This is all the TOP of the line stuff. Everything is light as light gets. The sad thing it didn't help me from getting dropped. SRM power meters for both bikes and laptop so when all else fails you can over analyze what went wrong. Endurox an OPTYGEN (obviously didn't help or I wouldn't be selling my junk) TIMBUK 2 bag so you can look cool at the coffee shop when trying to act like a pro. Shoes, helmets, 3 kits, speed suit, I really mean everything you will ever need. We are talking about almost $15,000+ dollars of stuff and you get the CAR also. I will be flying home and don't want to see any of this stuff again. Chain lube, Shammy Cream, bike bottles(still half full), several pairs of sunglasses. Renn Disc wheel an Aero front wheel so when you get 25th in the TT you have no excuse...even though I have plenty...call me I would love to talk about them. I will include all the VeloNews magazines you will ever want to read. You get my Fluid trainer, roof rack for four bikes... so you can travel with all your biking buddies. Again this is everything you will ever need to pretend like you are a bike racer. You don't have to even take the bikes off the car. Just drive around town and talk about epic rides and SICK wattages. Flash out the INCLUDED USCF LICENSE CAT 2 and talk about how you are about to apply for your upgrade to a 1 for your shot to win Nationals in JULY. I will include the race numbers that are still pinned on the Jersey so you can act like you just came from a huge NRC event. TOOLS... all the stuff you take your bike apart an put it back together. Time Trial bike LOOKS super fast.

Unfortunately, the phone number included in the auction (555-555-5555) doesn't work. Oh, and he wanted $25,000.

(Steve just got back from the Brasstown Bald Buster. I'm jealous.)

On the Bike!

seth@macrobyte.net — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:42:15 GMT

Steve Davis is on his way over here right now, for the first time ever.

Why? He had to come down to the area anyway, and the weather is very nice (well, 56° feels very nice compared to the last nine days of cold). We're going to ride for an hour or so before he has to head back to MA.

This will be Steve's first visit here. Corinne is sick (flu) and the place is pretty messy right now so he's just going to see the downstairs (where I work and Jed lives), but at least it won't feel like we're trying to keep from seeing our house anymore. ;-)

This will be my first ride since Monday the 13th, when we were in Lancaster. Two things have kept me off the bike since then: I've been working like a dog, and the weather was so perfect that day (78 degrees F !!) that the low 40's we've had since then feel like a deep-freeze.

Zoom. I'm ready to roll.

Imaginative Bike Race Video

seth@macrobyte.net — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 18:25:24 GMT

Steve sent this link to me. Very funny.

A good reminder to not let your imagination run away with you! ;-)

Quietly Busy

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 23:23:11 GMT

Wednesday I won a little trivia contest on the radio. I know the DJ's, and they sent me the audio as an mp3. Haven't written about that yet.

Steve Davis and I rode 114 miles in the cold on Thursday. Haven't written about that yet.

In fact, I should be very close to my 5000th mile for the year, but I haven't yet recorded the stats for this month's rides ('cept the first three).

I'm "head down," sequestered, working hard on a semi-sorta-Web 2 project. Need to have it finished ASAP, as other work is piling up behind it. It's been fun. Even gave me a chance to pick Sam's brain for a couple minutes at the start as I knew he had some experience with the framework/stack I chose.

More soon, when I next come up for air.

2005 Tri-State Seacoast Century

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 20:36:32 GMT

Saturday I rode in the Tri-State Seacoast Century for the third time. It's a 100-mile bike ride along the coastlines of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.

I didn't get to sleep until almost 11:30 on Friday night. Not good, considering that I was supposed to meet everybody at Steve's house by 5:00, and he lives about 80 minutes away. I was out of bed when the alarm went off at 3:00, and straight into the shower... but I think I fell asleep just standing there as it was almost 3:30 by the time I got out.

I was on the road by 4:20, but didn't have enough gas. That added another ten minutes, as I bought some (bad) coffee and powerbars at the gas station.

Google's directions to Steve's house said to take exit 7A off I-95 in Massachusetts, make a right, "go 0.4 miles, continue for another 0.4 miles, then turn left onto Chauncy Street." Here we have a whole bunch of problems. ;-) First, there was no Chauncy. Second, I was stupid-tired and upset about already being late. Third, I can't stand the way online directions always say things like "go 0.4 miles, then continue on the same road for another 0.4 miles." This stuff is all script-based, so why don't they merge that into a single "go 0.4 miles?!"

Anyway, being stupid-tired meant that I was just looking for Chaunch Street and not paying any attention to the mileage, and went too far because I never saw the sign. After an extra mile or so, Rt. 140 grew a median (so I couldn't do a U-turn) and rudely dumped me onto I-495. More minutes flushed away as I drove up to the next exit to turn around and try again.

When I finally pulled into the driveway, I was frustrated and just hoping they'd all jump in Steve's van and we could go immediately. (So, I'd drive my car up, too.) Steve tried to talk me out of it, and after I'd relaxed for a minute I agreed. We put the bike on the van and all five of us were finally on the road.

Five? Yeah, all folks I've mentioned many times before: Mike Lucas, Jason Cicero, Jim Boyko, Steve Davis, and myself.

None of us had a camera this time, so there are no pictures. That's an unfortunate first for this group. :-(

Start of the Ride

Last year we waited nearly 30 minutes in the sign-in line at Hampton Beach State Park (NH). This year we waited at least... a minute. Very nice.

We hit the road at about 8:00. That's an hour later than we had intended, but it worked out nicely: it was a chilly day, and the extra hour gave the sun a little more time to do its thing.

Jim wasn't feeling up to riding the whole century with us, so he waited at the park for us to complete the first ~20 mile loop down to Mass and back. In fact, it turned out that he had other plans entirely: he was only going to do about thirty-five miles with us to the Nubble Lighthouse, have lunch, and then continue North to Kennebunkport to meet his wife, Katie.

Those first twenty miles were bumpy but uneventful. Well, mostly. My jersey had ridden up a little and was showing a crescent of skin on my lower back. Steve yelled, in his most drill-instructor-like voice, "Dillingham! Pull up those shorts!" Ahem. I guess I'm glad he didn't have his camera with him, after all!

To Nubble Lighthouse

Jim was waiting for us at the entrance to the park. After a quick pit-stop, we were on the road again.

The wind was in our face at about 12 mph. Normally the opposite is true for this part of the ride, but this also explains the chill: the wind was coming out of the North. It's ok, though, as we were really trying to restrain our pace for this part of the trip, and the wind definitely made it easier to stay slow.

Along the way we picked up a sixth rider, named Rob. Nice guy, alot like us in that he just loves to ride and does a lot of it.

Lunch at Fox's Lobster House ("One Nibble on the Nubble and You're Hooked!"), right next to Nubble Lighthouse, was a clamroll and onion rings. Mmm, gotta love fried food in the middle of a long bike ride. (I think everybody else had lobster rolls.)

The weather at the lighthouse was perfect. The wind had stopped (a bad sign, actually), temperatures were in the high 60's, and it was perfectly sunny and clear with very low humidity.

Back to the Park

After the lighthouse the route continues North for a little longer before looping around and heading back South towards the start. Rob stayed with us, he said he liked our pace. Jim stayed with us for awhile, too.

Near the point where we expected Jim to part ways for his trip to Kennebunkport, we stopped at an intersection. Two ladies were there ahead of us, and one of them didn't unclip fast enough... whomp! She fell over on her left side. It looked funny, but she was stuck so Mike and I helped her back up.

In the confusion, Jim just seemed to disappear. Not one of us saw him go! He may have turned off the route before the the lady fell, and just never said goodbye, or he passed us and made a right while we were trying to help her back up. Whatever, it was very strange.

Rob pulled at the front for a little while, and then apparently blew up and was shelled off the back. Again, he never said a word, just pulled for a little too long and then sort of vanished. I actually expected that (the vanishing, not the silence), unfortunately. He liked our pace on the trip up, but we were intentionally keep it low. We were somewhat less restrained on the return trip.

Oddly, we picked up *another* rider named Rob for the last twenty miles or so. He was as strong as any of us, and worked well with our paceline to keep the speed up.

Speaking of the paceline: I've taken to calling Mike's pulls, "chasing the dart." Mike is a fantastic rider, and we all know that age (he has 20 years on me) is the only reason we can keep up with him. Unfortunately for us, his size and complete lack of bulk mean he doesn't make a very nice draft. He guessed that this is why we kept emphasizing "short pulls," but he was only half right: we were all trying to take relatively short pulls (less than a mile) to keep our strength up. (It didn't always work out that way, but nobody from our group took really long, hard pulls.)

I mentioned that the lack of wind at the lighthouse was a bad sign: that's because it was turning around, and was in our faces again for most of the trip home. It wasn't as strong as last year, but it would have been nice to ride home with a tailwind!

Lesson for the Future: Don't Skip the Water Stop

As we approached the final water stop, Steve suggested we skip it. He had enough water (especially at the pace he drinks it!), and wanted to just push all the way back. Nobody objected, so we blew right past it.

This was a mistake. It wasn't long before Mike realized he didn't have enough to finish the trip. We only saw one open store after the water stop, but it was just a couple of miles later and Mike didn't think he needed to stop. (If he'd known that was the last one, we definitely would have stopped.)

Next year, don't skip the water stop.

It wasn't tragic, Steve shared some of his with Mike, but that's obviously not the best solution.

Final Push

For the last ten miles, we really turned on the juice. Mike says we gained 0.3 mph overall in the last ten miles alone. Cool. Steve, Rob and I did a lot of the pulling, but nobody was dropped and we all finished together.

Unfortunately, I didn't reset my cyclometer until after the first 20 miles, so I don't yet have the numbers. This certainly wasn't a 20 mph century (I'm guessing it was about 19), but this ride is definitely not about speed so I think we were all fine with that.

If It's Brown...

Another lesson to remember for next year. Don't go to Brown's! I wasn't hungry, but the other guys were. Steve ordered a burger, Jason some fried chicken ("fingers," I think), and Mike got some fries and something else that I can't remember. Steve said his burger was, "the worst I've had in a long time," Jason had to wait 35 minutes for his food, and Mike had to wait almost 45 minutes!

This was silly, as the Davis's were planning a big barbecue for us at their house anyway. Brown's is expensive and excruciatingly slow. Next year, let's just go to the Davis's. The waitress is prettier and much friendlier, the food is much better, and they serve free appetizers and beer while we wait for the meal!

Stats: I'll drop them in as soon as I have them. Steve? Jason? Mike?

PMC 2005, Sunday After the Ride, and the Trip Home

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 02:09:09 GMT

After being "scanned" at the finish line, I coasted up to the reception area. Mark and Andy had just come out of the shower tent and were finishing getting dressed.

I wasn't surprised they were in ahead of me. Remember, I saw them take off first thing in the morning to find Dave, and then never saw them again. (If perception were reality, as we're so often told, then that's exactly how it would have happened. I had their story all wrong, but...

PMC Day Two: Bourne to the Provincetown Inn

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 02:06:27 GMT

OK, now you can have the repeat of Friday morning that you've been waiting for. ;-)

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt....

Must not hit snooze. Must not hit snooze. Must not hit...

ahhhhhhh. Snooze!

No! Get Up!

Really, the voice in my head, telling me to get up, could barely be heard over the cacophany of other voices, all of my muscles just begging that little voice to JUST SHUT UP AND LET THEM SLEEP...

PMC 2005: Day One, Sturbridge to Bourne

seth@macrobyte.net — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 23:59:58 GMT

Today's entry could start the same way yesterday's did: with me not wanting to wake up. But, to my total surprise, that wasn't the case! The wake-up call came at 4:00, I got out of bed to answer it, and went right into the shower.

Last night I set everything out that I'd need in the morning, knowing that I'd be getting ready in the mostly-dark so that Corinne could keep dozing. I'd even packed my duffel bag with the clothes I'd need that afternoon in Bourne, so the bag could be thrown on the truck and delivered for me.

For the third year in a row, I forgot to bring my own towel! How would I dry off after my shower at the end of the ride? In desperation, I decided to take one of the hotel towels. I asked Corinne to please tell the front desk so that she could pay for it when checking out. (What a goodie-goodie.)

With a sleepy kiss goodbye and the bag slung over my shoulder, I rode the two miles...

Update 8/13/2005: now with a couple more photos, and some minor corrections.

Pan-Mass Challenge 2005: Day Zero, Huckleberries, West Stockbride to Sturbridge

seth@macrobyte.net — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 01:08:46 GMT

"Mumble mumble mumble ... something something something ... national public radio ... " Where's that darn snooze button!? I can't find it! Let me sleep!

Wait! I can't hit snooze. It's time to ride!

I dragged myself out of bed and took a shower to wake up. It wasn't terribly early, I just wasn't waking up...

Note: this story has been udpated with some new info. The previous version, though long, was incomplete.

Happy Birthday Steve

seth@macrobyte.net — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 12:46:23 GMT

Steve Davis turns 42 today. Happy Birthday!

Steve is nine years and about six weeks older than me, but (with just a couple of exceptions) I've never been as strong as he is on the hills.

Also, Steve gets a lot of credit for my continued love of cycling (because of lots of encouragement, and being one of those rare friends who I can talk to about both the sport and the Bible, without a lot of eye rolling). Plus, he introduced me to the PMC.

Hope it's a good day and a great year, Steve. I promise to keep the "old fart jokes" in check. :-)

Ride #38: First Century of the Year

seth@macrobyte.net — Mon, 23 May 2005 23:08:14 GMT

I've been planning my first century of the season for mid-May since sometime in March. I asked Steve if he'd like to go along, so today he and his friend, Mike Lucas, joined me. They're both from Massachusetts and had over an hour's drive to Mystic.

With the threat of rain, we almost cancelled it last night. I'm glad we didn't! There was no rain. It was a little chilly at times, occasionally windy, and overcast most of the day, but overall the weather was more of an anticipated problem than an actual one.

We started riding at about 9:00 AM, leaving from Mystic Seaport. I rode into town and met them at the parking lot. (it would have been silly for me to leave Corinne without a car all day, when we were starting just five miles from my house!)

As I mentioned on Saturday, I scrapped the whole "flat route" idea. Once they were here (and expecting a flat century), what could they really do about it? ;-)

Steve was up late last night after attending the theater, so he was a little off his game. The first 40% of the ride was quite hilly, as we went out 201 and up Cossaduck Hill Road. I know there are worse hills, perhaps even some around here, but something about that hill really wears me down. Anyway, as we turned the corner to start up the hill, Steve blurted out, "Oh! I hate you Seth!" We reached the top at approximately the same time: proof that he was really tired.

Unlike Steve and myself, Mike's one of those little guys that floats up hills on a breeze, but bounces along in our downhill wake like a leaf in a truck's turbulence.

That was certainly the worst hill of the day, but it was worth it. They both seemed to like the scenery as much as I do.

The first part of the route was basically River Road in Mystic to Route 201 to Route 2 in North Stonington, back onto 201 to climb Cossaduck, to 165 past Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream, to Route 49, to Route 148 and back to River Road and into Mystic again. That was about 40 miles, if I remember correctly.

We stopped at Mystic Cycle to use the bathroom, chat with the guys a little, and pick up some carbs. Then it was off to Watch Hill, fifteen miles away, where we stopped for lunch. We all had greasy hamburgers! And Steve's french fries! ;-) (And, just for the memory trigger: an older gentleman at the next table kept talking to us about Lance Armstrong.)

After lunch we did the length of Atlantic Ave in Misquamicut with a tailwind and almost no traffic (too early in the year, and the weather wasn't very beach-friendly). Eventually, we ended up on Route 1 North (but heading East!) again, but the traffic was heavy so we made a left onto 216 towards Bradford, then onto Route 91 through Dunn's Corners. Right onto Shore Road (Route 1A), left onto Ocean View Highway, back through Watch Hill again, back onto Route 1A, through downtown Westerly, and then Route 1 all the way back to Mystic.

Oh, I shouldn't leave out the side trip through Stonington Village. We didn't have quite enough miles, so I wanted to throw in a side trip... but I made some wrong turns. Steve made some comment about getting lost when we're all feeling the urgent need to get home, but we really did need the miles if they were going to hit 100! (Remember that I had the extra miles to meet them, and to get home).

When we came to the last right turn to head back to the Seaport parking lot, I went straight (twoards home), promising to meet them at Mystic Pizza after changing my clothes.

Well... they didn't have any problem finding the car, but they were still short a few miles so they ended up riding around the parking lot until they reached 100. Shouldn't have razzed me about the side trip through Stonington Village, guys! (Ok, that's not true. I got lost, just a few miles from home. How pitiful is that?)

After a very quick shower (and a kiss!), I hoppped in the truck and headed back to Mystic to meet them. I was sure that I would have kept them waiting (since I didn't yet know that they still needed to ride around for a few miles). Also after putting away the bikes, they took quick "Showers" in the museum's men's room. We actually arrived at the same time.

The pizza was good, the conversation better, and the Sam Adam's (draft) greatly appreciated and much needed! We yakked mostly about cycling, but I also learned that Mike grew up in Berkley, MA, where I lived until I was 13. He went to the same school, and had many of the same teachers as I did (and as my dad!), in spite of the fact that he's approximately twenty years my senior.

I don't blame you if you're skimming this long story, so here's the summary. The four sentence version of the entire day is as follows: I had a really great time. I feel good knowing that my condition has imrpoved so much already this year. I think (and hope) that Steve and Mike had just as much fun as I did, in spite of the hills. There are no pictures because my camera is too big, and Steve didn't bring his because he thought it was going to rain.

Thanks for joining me, guys. Let's do it again sometime soon!

Stats: 104.93 miles (168.9 km) in 5h 36' 17" for an average speed of 18.72 mph (30.14 kph).

Ride #17: Thrice Around the Scituate Reservoir

seth@macrobyte.net — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 15:51:56 GMT

As foretold, last Saturday I went up to Cranston for my first group ride of the season with Jim Boyko, Jason Cicero, Steve Davis, and Steve Harper. I was a little wary of this ride because it's so early in the season. Last time I rode with these guys (in the SCC) I was in pretty good shape, but can't honestly say that I'm there yet this year.

Aside...

Last year at this time, I had exactly zero miles in the saddle. In fact, I didn't even have a bike: the old Canondale had bitten the dust with a large crack in the frame around the seatpost, and the new Seven wouldn't be ready until April 22. I weighed 300 pounds, and it had been only one month since Shane died.

Anyway, the point is that although I'm not yet in the condition I was at the end of last year, I'm way, way, way better off than I was a year ago. 470 miles in the saddle for the year (though 130 were spaced out in January and February), and about 266 pounds.

I met Steve (Davis) at the Cranston hall at about 10:15. Fifteen minutes late, as usual. (Sorry Steve.) Another fifteen minutes to change into my jersey and shoes at the truck, and I was back at the hall again. Mike Pride was there, but didn't recognize me... that was very strange, I guess it was the helmet and shades. ::shrug::

We left, but it was colder than I thought so we went back again for my jacket. This happens every time I ride with Steve... there's always some reason to go back again. (Left my watch on one time, forgot my water bottles another time, the list goes on.)

We quickly managed to miss our first turn, but he had a map with him so a few minutes later we were zipping along towards the reservoir. (Oh, and "thank goodness for apostate churches and their free porta-potties!" ;-)

The loop around the reservoir is very pretty, and a little challenging at times. There's a long, shallow hill that curves off to the right, and my eyes were convinced that it was flat... but I couldn't keep my speed up over 12 mph, and eventually settled at just 9 for the climb. Steve said it must be a "high gravity day," but I didn't see anything about that in the weather reports.

I should mention that Davis is in excellent condition, especially for this early in the season. Kind of sickening, really: he rode his 1,000th mile for the year on this ride! He has good reason, as he's riding the Brasstown Bald Buster this weekend with his brother-in-law David Schalgeter. From what I've read and heard, he'll need everything he's got, as this ride is brutal.

After our first loop, we heaed back to the hall to pick up the other three. Jason and Steve were ready and waiting, and Jim showed up a few minutes later. After Jim changed his clothes we were off again. It was still a little cool, but I left the jacket behind this time (without regret).

Clockwise from the top left: Steve Harper, Steve Davis, Jason Cicero, Seth Dillingham, and that's Jim Boyko kneeling in the front.

Halfway into this loop, I suggested we go left to find Uncle Dave and Aunt Karen Pride's house for a quick visit. We've all known them our whole lives; he even performed the wedding ceremony for me and Corinne, and she was our wedding photographer. We found the house just a couple of miles up the road, and definitely surprised them. (To the right is the only picture from the ride, taken by Aunt Karen with Jim's camera phone.)

They topped-off our water bottles, shared their bathroom, and reviewed our map and gave us some possible "more interesting" routes.

"More interesting" is perhaps an understatement. Jason Cicero particularly appreciated the two miles of dirt roads, and getting temporary lost in the woods. While we were stopped at an intersection of two dirt roads (though the intersection was paved!), Steve Harper made a comment about hearing banjos just as I was about to say, "we need deliverance." Two points to Steve for slightly better timing.

We did eventually find our way out of the woods. Based on his reaction (which included much yelling and fit-pitching), Jason wasn't very happy about this, but what were we to do? Just keep riding on dirt roads all day? Sorry, dude. ;-)

The plan had been to do two loops with the whole group, but when we neard the end of the first loop I decided I'd had enough. We stopped at a little road-side restaurant so Steve could eat a hamburger, and I let everybody know I was done. Boyko was dragging too, and Harper was afraid he'd start getting leg cramps, so we all decided to head back... except Davis, who said he was going to do one more loop on his own.

For the next few minutes, I considered and reconsidered my plan. The main problem was not how I was feeling, though I was tired. Frankly, I missed my wife. It's been hard to be away from her for significant amounts of time over the last year. So, I could either go back with the guys and then head up to Jim's for the BBQ, or I could do another loop with Steve and then head home. The BBQ would add at least three or four hours to my day, and a lot of food that I really didn't need. A third loop would take about an hour, and I needed the exercise. At the last minute, just as the rest of the group made a left, I told Steve I'd go with him and we made a right. He hooted in response, something like, "All riiiiiight!" ;-)

This third loop hurt. That darn hill still looked flat to my obviously cockeyed brain, and there's nothing like a false flat to break the spirit. Still, Steve was very patient, pacing me up almost every hill. Gotta love having patient, generous friends.

By the end of the ride my arms and face were sunburned and I was totally covered in salt from my own dried sweat. Nice. My saddle felt like a misshaped iron bar, and the pedals just didn't want to go around like they're supposed to.

(That last part is true, actually. In the smallest sprockets, the chain was slipping every few seconds. Steve took a look and said my chain was probably worn out, and I should replace it ASAP so that it doesn't also wear out the cassette. He was right: I've since brought it to Mystic Cycle, and they're going to replace both items this Monday as part of my final, free-for-the-first-year tune up.)

We finished our loop and returned to the hall. The other three were long gone, of course, and after a quick handshake (and phone calls to our wives) we both headed home.

Definitely the slowest 80 miler I've done in a long time, but also the earliest I've ever done it. I think we all had a great time (especially Jason). Thanks, guys! I hope we can all meet up again at the Quabbin on June 4th.

Stats: 82.03 miles (132.0 km) in 4h 54' 29" for a pitiful average speed of 16.71 mph (26.90 kph).

Saturday is a Group Ride

seth@macrobyte.net — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 17:54:45 GMT

Tomorrow morning, I'm meeting Steve Davis at the Cranston, RI, ecclesial hall. We're doing a loop (on our bikes) around the Scituate Reservoir, then planning to return to the hall, pick up two or three more, and doing it again. Then, perhaps, we'll all go back to Jim Boyko's house for BBQ.

The "planning" and "perhaps" are because we're having a tough time getting answers out of two of the other three riders. It's like they don't sit in front of their computers all day just waiting for email!!!

What are we supposed to do? Call them on the tel-e-phone or something? No voice-over-IM, even? Sheesh. ;-)

NBW, Cycling Movies, and Free Pizza!

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 06 Mar 2005 03:15:04 GMT

On Tuesday, Bruce Masterson (old friend of Ellyn's) posted a note about an evening of free pizza and bike movies being hosted by the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen in Cranston, RI.

Didn't think I'd be going, but I mentioned it to Steve. Once he was sure that his boys didn't have basketball games that ight, we decided to go.

I had a good time, in spite of the mood I've been in for the last few weeks. (A mood which, I'm told, has not gone unnoticed by some of you readers...) I was a little late, but that just meant I missed some of the pizza. Finally met Bruce, too (speaking of readers who have noticed my mood...). Not sure why he told me, repeatedly, that he's over weight... looked ok to me. ::shrug::

We watched a documentary of the 1976 ('75?) Paris-Roubaix, one of the Spring Classics. Not one of Eddi Mercx's better rides, though... he lost be over a minute. (Well, losing by a little over a minute in a one day, 166 mile ride, in those terrifying conditions... maybe that's not such a large margin.)

The funniest thing all night was this song they kept playing. An all-male choir -- a really big, all-male choir -- singing "Paaaaareeeeeee ..... Roubaaaaaaaay". Over and over again... but they only played it when the camera was on the peleton. Steve asked something like, "Where'd they learn to sing like that?" and I cracked up immediately. He was right! It's like a singing peleton! (It's going to be a long time before I watch another peleton without expecting them to sing.) The guys at the next table got a chuckle out of it, too.

Good one, Steve.

I had a plate full of popcorn during the movie, and managed to dump the whole thing on the floor. Whee! Ever tried picking popcorn bits out of industrial carpeting? In the dark? At least we were all the way at the back of the room.

Good one, Seth.

Good Riddance: My Closing Thoughts for 2004

seth@macrobyte.net — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 17:53:58 GMT

Not everything about 2004 was bad, even on the personal front. Things I'm pleased about:

Corinne and I found a new level in our relationship, and discovered that our love can weather the foulest of all circumstances and events.
I worked out an important issue with my brother and feel a lot less tension with him now than I did a year ago. Then again, we're brothers, so who knows how long we'll go without him doing something wrong again? (Just kidding...)
My best cycling season ever. There's still a lot to improve, though. I'm hoping for a 4500 - 5000 mile year starting tomorrow, and I have a new goal: by September, my training rides should regularly be hitting 21 mph. I came close this year.
Well it's still not exactly "back on its feet" (certainly nothing like it was in '99), the bid'ness is showing signs of life. Business clients are showing an interest in our services again, the software is getting some major improvements, and a number of long-term customers have me looking (and working!) in directions I've never been before (deep science being one of them). You know who you are, and I thank you.
Some new, newly-improved, or renewed friendships. Especially Darren, Steve and Andrew. (Even though I have to let Andrew beat me at ping-pong on a regular basis.) Corinne has some of those, too, like Katie, Ellyn, and some of the girls at the bank where she works.

On the other hand, let's be realistic. How would you like to be described as "not all bad?" That's the best I can say about this year. "It wasn't nightmarish 100% of the time." Whee, what a party!

From Shane dying in March and us reliving it 150,000 times, to 150,000 people dying horrific deaths in one insane day in late Decmeber. From the country I live in being split almost exactly in half by a non-choice between two greater evils (or "the devil we know, and the devil we don't want to know"), to a "we can't lose" invasion which has eviscerated a nation and turned into a civil war.

I'm stronger for surviving this year, and perhaps more focused, but what a price to pay. Good riddance, 2004. Let's see what your child has in store for us. Perhaps this is finally the year? (Bah. Optimism is for the weak. ;-)

PMC 2004: Way, Way Over Budget ;^)

seth@macrobyte.net — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 14:23:43 GMT

Last night the PMC presented the check to the Jimmy Fund, at a big gala/dinner in Boston. The goal for this year was $17 Million, but the check was for $20 Million!

That's excellent! $3,000,000 over the goal!

Quoting from the email they sent out last night:

The record-setting sum is more than twice the amount ever contributed to charity by an athletic fundraising event anywhere in the United States and represents 97 cents of every dollar raised.

Here's a shot of Steve Davis and Jim Boyko, a.k.a. "the smiling bandits," trying to sneak out of the building with both the check *and* the Red Sox World Series trophy. (Remember, the Sox are the PMC Presenting Sponsors, so that's the real deal.) What were they thinking?!

Thanks again to all of my sponsors! My total for the year was $4,061. That's $1,536.50 better than last year!

Update: Steve tells me that Jim Boyko's tie is actually a bicycle innertube! (Dress code for the event was "creative black tie.")