Sometimes things that are pertinent to cycling overlap with the rest of life, in which case they might appear in my other, primary blog.

Such is the case with my notes on the passing of my cycling mentor, Bobby Mac.

Here’s a quick post to get you caught up on things since July’s Climb to the Clouds ride.

This year’s Pan-Mass Challenge was exceptional. I celebrated my tenth year by taking an extra day and riding 93 miles from the New York border to Sturbridge with my riding buddies, making it my first true “pan-Massachusetts” ride. For the full story, see the ( Read more... )

The Fourth of July weekend is usually a big milestone on the way to August’s Pan-Mass Challenge, and this year was no different. I led into the weekend with a 50-mile solo ride on Thursday and a 12-mile kayak trip up the Charles River on Friday; both perfect, gorgeous days just before a massive heat wave hit Boston.

Saturday saw me joining a group ( Read more... )

Gorgeous and busy weekend, which included a 40m ride on Friday, 65m on Saturday, and 75m on Sunday, giving me a total of 180 miles for the weekend. Links go to the Garmin Connect maps.

Friday was a bee-line out-and-back to Kimball’s ice cream in Carlisle. A strong west wind made the outbound leg a slog, but the return was fast and easy.

Saturday’ ( Read more... )

I started riding with Bobby Mac and the Quad Cycles crew in July of 2002. The rides go every Saturday and Sunday, and have been a mainstay in my PMC training regimen for the past eight summers.

In that time, I’ve grown as a cyclist, memorized every inch of road ( Read more... )

It’s May, so things have started happening.

A week ago Sunday I did the full/long Quad Cycles ride for the first time this year, rather than bailing at Northside (Gammy’s) in Bedford. It only added 10 miles to my day, but it was my first 75-mile day of the year. It being May, I returned home with eyes that were absolutely encrusted with pollen.

( Read more... )

There are heroes, and then there are superheroes.

I first started riding with the folks at Quad Cycles in 2002, seven years ago. Even back then, the ebullient guy who led the rides was already a living legend. The name Bobby Mac will evoke ( Read more... )

We’re now into that time of year when you get about one day per week where the temperature breaks 50 degrees, so I’ve done that 36-mile Blueberry Hill loop I mentioned in the last post two or three times. I like it; it’s a nice ride, not too long, but a good workout. The roads are a bit rough in places, though.

Saturday Jay dragged me out for a ( Read more... )

Although we’re still in February, there’s actually a heck of a lot to report.

For the past two months, I’ve been training exclusively indoors, thanks to the resistance trainer I mentioned borrowing from a friend. It’s given me the most regular winter workouts I’ve had since I started riding.

I’ve used a number of videos to drive my training. ( Read more... )

Big weekend for cycling, even if I didn’t do any long rides as such…

First, Saturday night was a party for all the Quad Cycles riders who participated in the Mass Red Ribbon Ride and the Pan-Mass Challenge. Graciously hosted by Jeff Ichikawa at his loft, it featured a barbecue and good conversation with Bobby Mac and a dozen or more riders. And we ( Read more... )