The Final Countdown

It's the Final Countdown (couldn't resist!) to the Pan-Mass Challenge, one of my favorite times of the year! Here are three countdowns that I am currently a little bit obsessed with. :)

3. There are three days until I arrive in Sturbridge to begin my ride. After checking into the hotel, I'll register for my 11th PMC ride, get my first (of several) free Harpoon Brewery beers, meet my Team Kinetic Karma friends, fill my tummy at the carbo load dinner, and watch the PMC Opening Ceremonies live before retiring to bed very early! The energy and excitement in Sturbridge will be palpable and one thing will be clear - we 5,800 riders, 3,500 volunteers, and hundreds of thousands of donors are making a statement that cancer will be beaten!

190. When we pull out of Sturbridge EARLY on Saturday morning, 190 miles will stand before us and the finish line in Provincetown. The first 40 miles are very hilly, transitioning into longer flats and more rolling hills for much of the rest of the first day. And do you think the Cape is flat? Think again! There is a surprising amount of vertical on Day 2. Some people may assume that I count down the miles to the finish so that I can be done sooner, but in reality, I'm counting down how many miles I have left to hang with my cycling friends and constantly exchange "thank yous" with fellow riders, volunteers, and the supporters that line the route.

785. I am $785 away from meeting my $7,000 fundraising goal. Thank you to the 77 donors this year who have joined the fight against cancer by making generous donations to support my ride.

If you haven't made your donation, now is the time! In 3 days I will ride 190 miles, and I need to raise $785 in order to do it! Help us make cancer HISTORY! Visit https://www2.pmc.org/egifts/jf0128 to make your donation today. Thank you!

My Bike, New and Improved!

My "new" bike!

So the last time I checked in on here, my bike was in the shop with a cracked frame (due to years of hitting Boston potholes!). I cracked my bike frame midway through a ride from my team captain's house just about two months ago. Getting it replaced took longer than I would have liked, but I got the call about a month ago that my bike, with its new frame, was ready. Specialized, the manufacturer of the bike, warranties the frame, but I had to pay for my local bike shop to disassemble and reassemble it (though I did negotiate a hefty discount because I had JUST had the same shop tune it up - and they probably should have caught the hairline crack that led to the frame being totaled!). 

When I saw the clerk bring my bike up from downstairs, I first noticed the color - matte red with glossy red lettering and glossy black stripes on the top tube (see the photo above). Huge difference from my black and white frame! Then I looked closer - it's a Specialized Roubaix SL4 Pro (2014 model year I think). That's quite an upgrade from my 2007 Roubaix Comp frame (which was my second frame, as I cracked my first in 2008!)! The shop accidentally left the price of the frame on the receipt - $2,950. I paid about half of that 8 years ago for my first frame!

So it's quite an upgrade. A damn sexy upgrade if you ask me! Only problem is, now I feel like I need to upgrade the cages (already purchased!), seat, etc.... I'm becoming one of THOSE cyclists that treats his bike like a brand new BMW - but I'm not complaining!

I rode the bike recently, and it was pretty amazing. It's so light an nimble - just what I need to get up the hills along the PMC route! My bike turned a few heads too - I didn't mind the attention! :)

The bike is only half the battle, though. In order to earn the privilege of riding this beautiful bike across the state, I must raise money to fund cancer research. Research that continues to advance the science that is putting an end to cancer. The science that is saving lives, including the life of my team captain, Dave. Please join the fight! The ride is in just over two weeks - make your donation today!