Reasons To Ride In 2012
The first ride of 2012
Jan 1, 2012
15 miles in 1 hour around Marblehead Neck, Peaches Point and Swampscott with my vetIt wasn't the fabled climb up the Alpe d'Huez ski area as part of the Tour de France, but the first ride of 2012 went down to, of all places, my daughter's friends house about a mile away. Her friend demanded Aveen bring her bike for the play date. As we set out, Aveen wanted to ride another way, but I insisted on riding down the potholed road that is Humphrey Street. "Can you ride faster?" she demanded. I never know how fast to ride when my kids are behind me. When we arrived at our destination, I didn't even get so much as a fist bump.
So begins the chronicle of riding in 2012. I don't think I'll be able to ride every day, in "Jules and Julia" style, so the idea that this will be an everyday thing may not last. But this year is going to be a challenging year on the bike. I'm turning 46, getting a year slower and I'm that much fatter. I've already battled two colds, and lost the connection to last season's fitness, which allowed me to ride 300 miles in six days in Banff and Jasper, Canada, as part of MS Global 2011, a charity ride that supports MS research.
Goals this year include, beside the insanely obvious "ride more" New Year's resolution:
In April, I plan to sign up with Tyler Hamilton Training so that Tyler can whip me into shape at last. MS Global's plans of cycling in Lucca, Italy have been derailed due to the freaky Italian economy, so the rolling moveable feast plans to head to Lake Tahoe out west. Given that this will be a hilly ride, I need a mountain goat as a trainer. This ride takes place in the last week of September and early October. I need to be in shape by then.
The Pan Mass. Challenge in the first week of August. This year, I again plan to volunteer parking bikes on Saturday, then ride back to Wellesley with Dr. Arthur Freedman, my pets' vet, on Sunday. The 68 miles we rode in the rain last year was a big character building, as we also encountered rain on the first day of MS Global as we rode from Banff to the tourquoise, colored Lake Louise.
Ride the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bike Race. OK. I won't be racing. Don't let the other racers know that. I just want to climb it. Why? Because it's there, it's a challenge, and I'm not getting any younger.
The Sea Coast Century. Why? Because I want the T-shirt. Also, for $35, you get a fully supported century, thanks to the Granite State Wheelmen. And you can ride either Saturday or Sunday, or both days. It will be a great way to get in shape for Lake Tahoe. My goal is to ride the century and not get lost. Then, come back to Hampton Beach the next day for the metric century, if I can still ride.
As well as ride with the North Shore Cyclopaths, join the local CCB bike club for midweek rides and some Saturday rides. My friend, Mark Lorenz, rides with them and I don't get to crank with him otherwise.
The Sea Glass Ride Once again the Sue de Vries Cancer Foundation plans to host a charity bike ride, and I again plan to direct it for the seventh year in a row. Our small bike-a-thon raises money for free wellness programs at the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers, Mass. Details of the ride will be posted on these pages in the coming months. With such an ambitious program, let's hope I make it to spin class on Tuesday. Happy New Year.
posted by Ethan Forman at 11:57 AM
6 Comments:
I'm commited to ride the Tour de Cure, PMC, and Harpoon P2P. I'll of course ride the Seaglass Ride too if my schedule lets me. If not, you know you can count on me for a donation.
Began a year long daily habits challenge with a group of friends. I am doing well Day 2 into the new year. I havent been on my bike in a while, but will start riding this week. Can you believe there is no snow on the ground? I need to get in shape before Cyclopath season starts or Will will kick my butt.
Blogging at croninpmc.blogspot.com
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good luck on getting fit this year!
i'm recovering from a herniated disc in my neck and have been off the bike since november. i hope to be out there through the winter and spring.
add these to your list, if you can. i ride these every year:
crw spring century: this one's in may, is cheap, and has decent support. the last time i rode this was my second fastest century, ever.
king's tour of the quabbin century: this one's a killer early in the season. check the elevation maps. it seems to rain almost every year.
climb to the clouds century: if the auto road up mt. wachusett is open, it's a good challenge. this ride's decently supported and cheap.
blazing saddles century: this one's in august; has one of the nicest, shadiest courses; and is also cheap. i finished this ride in 5 hours last year.
crw fall century: i haven't ridden this in a few years, but it's a decent ride.
major taylor century: seven hills wheelmen host this in the fall. it's a good, hilly, late season ride.
there are a few others i've ridden over the years. i'd like to add the d2r2 and mt. greylock century at some point. my riding buddy is going for brevet training this year, so i may join him for a 300 miler.
maybe i'll drop you a line to ride sometime.
Harpoon P2P! What is that? Sea Glass ride will be in mid-August, after the PMC. Hopefully, the 50 miles will not turn anyone off, as I think it did in June. We are also going to lower the amount you have to pay, and try to get our numbers up. I would still love it if you designed a logo for this year's t-shirt. We are in year 7 which is my lucky number. If you want to get in shape, try a spin class. The JCC needs members and we have 25 new spin bikes!
Hey E.
Harpoon P2P is the Point to Point ride for the Vermont Food Bank sponsored by Harpoon Brewery. It's usually a week or 2 after the PMC, and ends at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, VT, just a few miles from my family's summer cottage. I ride the 25 miler which is more than enough after the PMC -- though I missed it last year. It's a challenging ride with one looooong killer hill. One of these days I'm going to beat that hill.
So.... you're moving the Sea Glass Ride and with my luck it will be on the same day as P2P. (They haven't announced the date - I imagine it will be the 11th?) Either way, you can count me in for the Sea Glass Ride this year and I will either ride P2P if the date allows, or send in a donation for the food bank with my cousin (who plans to ride.)
Let me know what you're thinking of in terms of a new logo. Love your new blog.
Great Tammy. I love you are doing these rides. I will try to avoid that conflict. I have a big ride soon after that! I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so we can ride in earnest. Glad you are feeling well. Take care!
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