Monday, October 5, 2009

October Ride - PHAT Revisited

Getting Them in While I Can

With the weather getting cooler and (more importantly) the days getting shorter, I am limited to the weekends for my bike rides. With two kids (7 & 4) that usually means 1 ride over the weekend.

It is 50°+ and it is overcast. The rain has mostly past, so I layer up and head out.

South to PHAT Route

I head south and connect with the PHAT Tuesday route that i have become very familiar with. It looks much different when taken at a leisurely pace. There is a lot of nice scenery that I normally miss because I am usually focusing on the riders in front of me.

Yet Another Flat Tire!

I've gotten my second flat tire since getting my new rear wheel this past August (3rd one this year). 3 flat tires in a year after going 2-3 years without getting a flat. I am going to have to do a thorough inspection of that rear wheel.

CRW Two State Tango

I saw a good number of riders as I was biking through Plainville coming from the other direction. Enough to make me think it was a club ride. I checked. sure enough, the Cambridge River Wheelmen were doing their "Two State Tango (Revised)" today. If I had known I would have done that ride. I have ridden the outer part of that route a lot, but never with that club.

I have a lot of bike blogging to catch up on. Stay Tuned...


Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Phast PHAT Ride Tonight

Phast Group

Tonight I decided to see how long I could hang on to the fast group. I made it almost all the way to mile 9. I got dropped by the "farms" in North Attleboro. I averaged 20.8 mph at the half way point.

I took a long break and rolled out with the third group. I had a good second half and averaged 19.2 mph for the whole ride. I haven't ridden this ride that fast since September 2007. I tied my second fasted average speed :-)

I am so behind on my bike blogging. I need to blog about my PMC Ride, and my subsequent trip to NJ.


Sunday, August 16, 2009

Bicycles Plus = New Wheel

Bicycles Plus = New Wheel
Bicycles Plus = New Wheel, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Scott setting up my new wheel at my favorite local bike shop.

Train

Train
Train, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Waiting for the 11:59 train to take me back to Franklin.

Yet Another Broken Spoke

Yet Another Broken Spoke
Yet Another Broken Spoke, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Broke another spoke. This time near the train station in Walpole. I think it may be the same spoke as last time.

Moose Tracks

Moose Tracks
Moose Tracks, originally uploaded by Martinator.

Today I will be tracking Moose Tracks. (CRW Markers)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The 2009 Pan Mass Challenge

This past August 1st & 2nd I participated in the 2009 Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) for the first time. I, along with 5,000 other riders, rode 187 miles over 2 days as part of an effort to raise money for cancer research. So far, I have risen just over $3,000.

100% of rider raised funds goes straight into the Jimmy Fund, where it goes to support research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

It has been quite a journey for me as I have learned from so many people how cancer has touched their lives. Then in June, it became real personal.

Right before this years ride, my Step-Father, Rod, was diagnosed with Renal Cancer. On August 6th he went in to have his kidney removed. Thankfully the cancer was contained and hopefully that will be that.

If you would like to sponsor my ride, you can do so directly on my PMC Profile page [http://www.pmc.org/MM0373], where I wrote about a classmate of mine from high school who battled with cancer. Or you can go directly to the following secure eGift link: http://www.pmc.org/egifts/MM0373

You can also write a check made out to “Pan Mass Challenge” and mail it to me:

Martin Middelmann
257 Daniels St.
Franklin, MA 02038