PMC Unpaved (2022)

The PMC kicked off a new event this year: PMC Unpaved. Still raising money to fight cancer, but this time on dirt roads. The PMC wants to expand beyond just the classic event to use other rides to raise money to support Dan-Farber. There had been a lot of requests for a gravel ride.

We gathered a few members of Team Kinetic Karma: Me, Captain, Dan and Rob to ride the dirt. The main requirement was having a bike with wide enough tires to handle non-tarmac roads.

I also teamed up with a new PMC Team: Brainstorms. Created by Stephanie Vail.

Of course there were plenty of other cycling friends.

In early October, you don’t know what the New England weather is going to be like. The weekend before it was warm and sunny. This weekend it was not.

We gathered Friday night at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac in Lenox. The temperatures were dropping. The cabins were far from luxurious, but would hold up to the weather. I bought an extra PMC banded blanket just in case. It was a good choice.

Outside, the PMC had set up campfires to keep us warm. We gathered around the fires enjoyed the new event. There was plenty of food and beverage. The food wasn’t great, but the companionship was excellent.

We woke Saturday morning to a cold start with light rain. The Unpaved vests would be perfect for the day. Great to keep the light rain off and the body warmth in.

After some speeches by Billy Starr and Jarrett Collins at the start we were off. The rain got heavier on the few hundred riders.

The route was about 50% tarmac and 50% dirt. It lead us west into New York. There was a 30 mile option that turned back into Massachusetts or a 50 mile route that kept going through New York. We chose the 50.

I’m not sure the “Pan-Mass” label fits for the ride. On the classic Pan-Mass ride, I pedal from the New York border to the tip of Cap Cod. Unpaved was a loop. There was no “Pan” and it wasn’t just in “Mass.” I think that is just me being ornery. This sign made me feel a little better.

I admit that the ride took a toll on me. It got the better of me.

There was a point on a steep dirt road climb while I was grinding away in lowest gear and still struggling with low RPM that I thought about getting out of the saddle and walking up the hill. But I saw Celia up ahead and she was still in the saddle. No quit in her, so there was not going to be any quit in me.

By the time we got to the final miles back to Lenox, it was a group of five of us: Benne, JC, Dave, Celia, and me. There was no question that were sticking together. The only question was whether the finish line was wide enough for us to cross together, five across.