100 cycling miles today on the unofficial PMC day zero ride under the best cycling conditions we'll have all weekend. Tomorrow sounds like a slogfest, er sogfest. We started out in the cool morning air from our motel and biked 5 miles to the NY State border where we posed for the traditional starting photo. The riding crew for today from left to right is yours truly (3 year PMC rider), my three year PMC cycling partner Linda (7 year PMC rider) her awesome nephew Max, our PMC cycling buddy Paul (6 year PMC rider), and my friend Adam (5 year rider). I'd estimate that about 200 cyclists ride from the NY state border, out of the 6000 cyclists who ride the PMC. It seems to be a growing trend.
We rolled through the lovely western mass countryside, through towns like Lee, Lenox and Hunterdon. The weather got even better, sunny, temps in the 70's and low humidiity. And, I hate to admit it, we had a tailwind all day!
This year's Day Zero ride was made special because we had SAG support. Paul's Father-in-law, Lyle, a cyclist himself, volunteered to drive us to West Stockbridge and to stick with us all day, carrying our luggage and food and water for breaks doing the day. Hurray for Lyle!!
We felt great today, lucky to be cycling and fortunate to be doing it for such an important cause. The PMC is the biggest atheltic fundraising event in the US, raising more than $40million each year for the Jimmy Fund.
We stopped for lunch at mile 60 in Amherst at one of my favorite places, Atkins Farm. By the time we got out, dark clouds were in the sky and it started to thunder. That motivated us to get moving and we pedaled hard to keep ahead of the rain. We were largely successful and pedaled hard to get to Sturbridge by 4 pm.
Funny photo sent from a friend today in reaction to the packing list I sent him as a first year rider. The caption was "Ken hauling all the stuff he needs for the PMC"
Speaking of the long haul, our extra day zero ride was totally dwarfed by a cyclist we picked up along the way- Veronica from California (formerly of Medfield MA). Who left from her driveway in Palo Alto and over 46 days biked to Stubridge to ride in her third PMC. Now she has bragging rights!!
We gorged ourselves on food and enjoyed free Harpoon beer. Comfy in our hotel room, we're getting ready for our 5:30 AM start with five thousand other cyclists. Excited about Day 1!! Other photos of the day:
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