That was the toolbox we had growing up . I try to remind myself of that when I pack for a ride. I don’t need a complete mechanics tool set on the road, but some electronics would be helpful. Navigation. Speed and distance tracking. Music and heart rate monitoring might be too much to ask for.
The idea to ride in every state started over twenty years ago. The ADA rides with my brother Paul and a trip across the state line into Virginia from Washington DC with my brother Wayne. However my love of riding stated long before that, my father bought me bicycling magazines when I was a teenager. We rode everywhere back then, even down to Infant Jesus to Pick up Fred after work in the summertime. Riding everywhere, just makes sense.
I remember my godfather getting me a tricycle, maybe for my birthday or Christmas. I remember being happy. I remember my Uncle Sydney always working on a bicycle or two. That was his mode of transportation. I miss that guy. I wonder what he would think of my bicycle collection. He might tell me to give some away to people who don’t have any.
20 years of raising money and riding the American Diabetes Association rides
1998 Yankee Trader Biathlon with my co worker. My first Race the day after I bought my first road bike
2000 Boston to NY AIDS Ride. My first taste of people being nice to each other, followed by the rude awakening that it doesn’t last. Every jurisdiction had officers holding traffic for us and we greeted and thanked them all. Day one of three, depressed, Rain all day, Uphill all day, lost my pump, never been in the saddle for 8 hours before …day two I stood as much as possible.
2015 New London to Boston with Hunter, because he wanted to return after seeing it on his 8th grade trip . Kate dropped us off at the ferry so we didn’t have any roadside assistance, it was just us. Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Stayed at a not so nice dive in RI. Called Roxann for a ride home once we went shopping in Quincy market
2016
2017 Maryland to Jersey. well almost. Maryland Delaware and PA, found ourselves on a dirt trail, stayed in Philly at a fancy hotel (starting the tradition of making it a vacation) and went sight seeing, never made it to the light house by bike but we did go.
2018 Cross New Hampshire. Jack asked to join us. Vermont to Maine, stopping overnight at a fancy hotel. first 15 miles were rail trail with gravel, not good on us or the bikes. Jack made it farther than expected, four crashes and a little dehydration before his body said “enough”. Hunter saw a bear just before we got to the hotel which made it that much more fun (sarcasm) as the sun set.
Day two went much faster, reaching 42mph next to a logging truck. Then off to Mt Washington in bike shorts and flip flops.
2019 wider tires or roads only? destination? TBD …VA WV NC