It was my eleventh Pan-Mass Challenge. It was full of sweat and tears. Thankfully, no blood. We celebrated those who have beaten their fight against cancer. We mourned those we’ve lost to cancer. We struggled along with those who are struggling against cancer. [You can donate here: https://egifts.pmc.org/DC0176.
My Pan-Mass Challenge kicked off with Natascha and Alyssa transporting me and six other members of Team Kinetic Karma out to New York. Not just the drive out, but their willingness to provide support for the Friday ride from the New York border to Sturbridge was incredibly generous. We couldn’t have done it without them.
Early Friday morning we woke at our AirBnB in Canaan, New York. Some coffee and some food to get ready for the ride to the New York/Massachusetts border.
I had done some route math based on last year’s ride. We would end up with only 298 miles if rode straight to the border start. Two miles short of my 300 mile goal. I convinced the crew to ride a mile in the wrong direction and then back again to get those two extra miles. Then on to the big “Welcome to New York” sign marking the border.
Benny, Cap’n, Miggy, Reno, LD, and Dan lined up with me for the 100+ mile Day Zero ride into Sturbridge to join the official ride.
While the morning started delightful, once the sun came up over the Berkshires it turned into a hot and humid summer day. The real heat started when we came to the Route 66 climb up to Westhampton, a 3 mile climb averaging 5%. No shade. No breeze. After the climb, it was welcome relief to pull into Outlook Farm for a rest stop. The heat was getting to me and I did a poor job of hydrating. I was suffering.
But it was no place to give up. Off to Atkins Farm for our next stop. Lance’s mom was there with cold towels, donuts and shade. Finally, into Palmer and the Bikes Fight Cancer supported stop at the Palmer Library.
Then off to the worst stretch of the day along Route 20 to Sturbridge. There is a wide shoulder, but cars still pass by at a high speed. And there is very little shade to hide from the scorching sun. Then trouble began. Benny flatted with some serious damage to his tire. We couldn’t fix it. Natascha was still available for support, but she had to drop off our bags in Sturbridge to make room for Benny and his bike. There wouldn’t be room for anyone else. So we had to leave him behind. Then Cap’n flatted. We were able to fix that and get into Sturbridge. (They both put new tires on their bikes with the Landry’s service at Sturbridge.)
Saturday, we were up before dawn. Most riders wearing their PMC “One in a Billion” jerseys. Waiting for a peek at the sun to roll out in mass from Sturbridge heading to Bourne. With almost everyone wearing the same jersey it’s easy for the group to get separated.
We re-joined at the end of Cherry Street. The folks on Cherry Street shut down the street to cars and host bands and provide a ruckus of a celebration for the PMC riders biking down their street. Our fallen teammate used to live at the end of Cherry Street. We have a team tradition to stop there and have a toast to Danno. Thanks to Leslie, Dave, Chris and Jo for putting this together for us.
The Lakeville water stop is a great one. Pedal Partners are there to lend moral support. Unfortunately, our Pedal Partner, Zinnia, was not able to make it. But we hade fun with Team Brainstorms’ Declan and his brother Teagan who were showing off their new bikes.
And there was Del’s Lemonade which was perfect on the hot day.
Then on to Bourne to finish up the day with some refreshments, food and a massage.
A big thanks to Sam Adams for being the new beer sponsor of the Pan-Mass Challenge.
Then time for a team photo along the Cape Cod Canal.
Sunday morning we were up early at Cap’s house. Hard to call it morning since the sky was still black at the start.
We looked great in our full Team Kinetic Karma kits. Off we went along the Shining Sea bike path and Falmouth roads to rendezvous with other teammates at the base of the Bourne Bridge.
Along the canal on the bike path, riders pedaled in a multicolor of different team kits.
We were able to meet with my Dad and Sharon at the Barnstable water stop. They put together some salted watermelon just for us. That’s my favorite on a hot day.
Lance’s family has a special stop for us just before the Beachcomber on Ocean View Drive. His kids hand out Twizzlers for the all the riders who want one and can manage to grab one. There are extra treats for us.
Up ahead are the ice couches at the Wellfleet stop, the windswept neck of Truro and the rolling hills of the Provincetown dunes.
We ended up behind the perfect vehicle, reminding us, for a short stretch of road, to “Be Happy.”
That gave us time to get ready for our champagne toast (it’s Gatorade) to the spectators cheering us on at the finish line and to celebrate the progress we’ve made in the fight against cancer.
That’s a group of tired cyclists at the Provincetown Inn.
Thankful to have made it across the finish line.
Thankful for all of the support we’ve received along the way.
Pedaling together to get us closer by the mile to a world without cancer.
by 
