Pan Mass Challenge Reimagined: North to South

It was back on the bike Sunday morning. My legs were really tired after yesterday’s James Taylor ride.

Today, my inspiration was direction. We always ride the Pan Mass Challenge from West to East. What if I rode across Massachusetts in a different direction?

I started in Nashua, Hampshire. I would be riding from the northern border of Massachusetts to the southern border.

I put on my Sheldonville Bike Repair jersey as a tribute to Danno. I was tired. I thought Danno’s often-stated words of “HTFU” would help keep me motivated and keep me pedaling.

My first turn put me on the Nashua River Rail Trail. That gave me several miles of relatively flat, shaded trail all the way down to Ayer.

It was a hot, hot day and the heat got to me. Did I mention that my legs were really tired?

I found the perfect food to give me some energy. A great combination of sugar and fat. And they’re delicious. Donuts.

That donut stop got my power up and I jumped on a few miles of the Assabet River Rail Trail. It was short and dumped me into Southborough. A few miles later I came to a mile-long line of traffic. Fortunately riding a bike, I could sneak along the shoulder and pass the cars. Carefully, of course. It turned out to be a long line of traffic waiting to get into Hopkinton State Park. There was similarly long line on the other side.

Then it was back off the road and onto a trail again. This time it was the Upper Charles Trail, meandering along the Charles River in its early stages from its headwaters.

It was just a few miles on this trail and another dozen miles on the roads to get to the border. I was moving slowly, but I was moving. (Did I mention that my legs were tired?)

Finally, I found the sign indicating the border.

Then what? I had arranged a ride to Nashua, but did not have a ride home from Rhode Island. More riding was the solution. I had another forty miles to pedal home.

It gave my forty miles to think about why I was riding. Thinking of those who lost their battle with cancer, cheering on those who are currently battling, and celebrating those who have won their battle.

I admit that as I was getting close to home I glanced down at the total mileage on my computer. My mileage was looking a bit less than expected. There is a certain magic to recording a 100-mile ride that is just not there in a 95-mile ride. Rather than heading straight home, I turned west to add a few miles. That’s why there there is that weird looking hook at the end of the ride map below. Even with that extra, as a got close to my street, I was only at 98 miles. Unacceptable. I didn’t make the turn and continued up Commonwealth Avenue to tick over that extra digit on mileage.

Yes, my legs were tired. That was 162 miles over the last two days. Tomorrow was going to be an easier day: Pan Mass Challenge Reimagined: Family Ride.