The 2020 edition of the Pan Mass Challenge was “reimagined.” With my active imagination, I came up with a lot of ideas for meaningful rides for me. The 2021 edition was back but more limited in scope, leaving me with other ideas to scratch that PMC itch.
From that itch came the Tour de PMC 2021. Ten stages of cycling to support the fight against cancer.
Stage One
The cycling portion of my Pan Mass Challenge started with the Prologue Stage of the Tour de PMC. A short, mellow ride with some close friends. The magic of the ride was everyone wearing a memorable Pan Mass Challenge jersey.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/07/tour-de-pmc-2021-prologue/
Stage Two
It was beautiful Saturday for our annual visit to Maya, Team Kinetic Karma’s Pedal Partner. The route was so nice that I decided to ride it twice.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/07/tour-de-pmc-2021-pedal-partner-century/
Stage Three
This mountain stage would test my climbing legs. The crew wanted to summit Mount Wachusett. I would need to get me and my bike up to 2000 feet.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-mountain-stage/
Stage Four
Today was the individual time trial. Me against the clock. I was short on time. Would I be short on power?
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-individual-time-trial/
Stage Five
The cross-mass Pan Mass Challenge. From the New York border to Boston Harbor. In one day. A huge day of riding that would push me to the limit. Luckily, I didn’t have to ride it alone.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-sweet-baby-james/
Stage Six
Riding the dirt with my daughter.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-mountain-biking/
Stage Seven
Why cross just one state during the Tour de PMC? I added in another for the Pan Rhode Island Challenge. It was a short crossing, but a long day in the rain.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-pan-rhode-island/
Stage Eight
I’ve been riding a Day Zero to put in an additional day of riding before the start of the PMC. This year’s ride would go across the northern border of Massachusetts into New Hampshire.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-day-zero-to-new-hampshire/
Stage Nine
This was the start of the official Pan Mass Challenge riding on Saturday from Newton to West Falmouth in a mix of the Wellesley route and the Sturbridge route with Team Kinetic Karma.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-newton-to-falmouth/
State Ten
From West Falmouth to Provincetown on the PMC route. The traditional end of the Pan Mass Challenge across Cape Cod
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-falmouth-to-provincetown/
Post Ride
As an epilogue to the bike, I visited my local Red Cross and submitted to doping control. My hemocrit level was a bit low on the first test, but in the normal range on the second test. I dropped off a few units of platelets to help cancer patients fight their battles.
More details: https://dougcornelius.com/2021/08/tour-de-pmc-2021-doping-control/