Not only did you help us have an incredible ride and growing experience, you also helped us to save the world!

It is a true fact that a fair number of riders bagged the ride altogether because of massive downpouring rain that lasted most of the day.

Fear not tho, Mac + I love rainy weather! In fact, riding in the pouring rain was my absolute most favorite part.

I love Boston in the AM… no traffic. So quiet. So peaceful. We bikers owned the roads. The rain reminded us we are alive.

It felt so good.

And when times got tough… and my tires seemed permanently flat (3 flats total before 11am!)… we were reminded of the Michael A. Tye mission (he founded the ride)… it was at this time that we ran into his brother and sister while getting my last flat fixed. That was so cool to me. And thoughts of ending the ride because of my bike soon vanished…

Mac and I were remembering her brother by riding with butterflies on our bikes and helmets. The coolest stickers ever, really, complete with wings that flutter… and the Tye family was remembering their brother. They so inspired me. Truly.

When you ride for a good cause, you are golden. AND we had butterflies and angels watching over us the whole way, so we were in the clear from the start, to be sure.

I am so proud of MAC for hanging in there and for being the one to sign us up for the ride and for all the summer training… and for all the down hills after the uphills.

Biking is the bomb. Biking for a cause, even better. Biking with MAC, the absolute best. Biking for you and for H2B–an honor

Thank you!

Love,

Wuggs

Making time for a quick lunch break at the Sagamore Bridge.

Although our big ride was just over one week ago, Wuggs and I are still reeling with excitement and adrenaline.  We have so many friends and family members to thank for helping us reach our fundraising goal:

We managed to raise $1,340–surpassing our collective fundraising goal by $340.

With  the cheering, kind words, and encouragement of so many friends and family at our back, Wuggs and I cycled over 100 miles from Boston to Welfleet.*  We still have one more ride, El Tour de Tucson in November…

While our support of Harbor to the Bay 2009 went directly to Fenway Community Health Center; combined with the efforts of 350 riders, we collectively raised almost $260,000 that will go directly into the programming and research budgets for Fenway Community Health Center, AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Community Research Initiative of New England, and AIDS Action Committee.

The ride was truly a remarkable experience:  I experienced some great highs from the endorphins that our bodies produce when pushing the physical limits–I also experienced doubt and insecurity…would I have the self control to brave the rain and cold and persevere?  And I finally experienced great joy that the ride ended in Wellfleet (19 miles I didn’t have to ride) because the rain was flooding Route 6.  All-in-all it was a great day.

Wuggs models her new jersey and fuels up on a chocolate muffin. Thanks Trinity Church for providing us a warm place to prepare for a long and wet ride!

After rising at the ungodly and dark hour of 3:30am on a Saturday morning, we slowly and carefully pedalled in the cold rain to Trinity Church in Copley Square in time for a 5:00 am breakfast and registration.

Once we picked up our riding jerseys, we bulked up on oatmeal, bananas, chocolate muffins (Wuggs’ favorite), OJ and coffee.

Motivational speeches and “thank yous” were blasted in between flashy dance music from loud speakers in the center of Copley Square.  At 6am, we were off in three rounds of fastest, followed my medium paced, and then slow riders at the tail.

And they're off! The first round of H2B Riders departing from Copley Square.

There was one traumatic moment in between the start of the ride and the UMASS Boston Campus, where there was a deep pool of water (more like a lake!) that collected at a backed up gutter.  Several riders went down in the first 5 miles and 30 minutes.

Though Wuggs and I safely passed this section (we are the queens of safety!  Yeah!), I lost my dear wife for the next hour.  Unbeknownst to me, Wuggs experienced her first of three flat tires near here.  I plugged ahead thinking that my little speed racer had out paced me (it wouldn’t be the first time).  We caught up with each other at the first rest stop in Quincy where Wuggs caught me up in between cookies, trailmix, and…the discovery of her SECOND flat tire (ugh).

We were a little behind–but still making pretty good time, considering.  The bike tech fixed her tire and inspected the wheel closely for any more damage:  it would appear that we were safe to go.  So we mounted our aluminum ponies and were off.  It would be another 15 miles (and another flat tire) before our next rest stop.

7 miles later, Wuggs and I pulled over and hailed the nearest SAG car to help with another tire casualty.  I’ll be honest–we were 30 miles into the ride, I was wet and cold and my mood was spiralling downhill quickly.  At this point, I was beginning to use her faulty front tire/wheel as a good excuse to stop the ride and head directly to p-town.

We get by with a little help from our friends…

I have to take a moment to thank all of the incredible H2B volunteers.  They kept saying, “Thank you!” to the riders…  But these volunteers made what would have been a horrible, achy, nasty and otherwise crappy day into an upeat and really fun experience.  The SAG volunteers not only fixed Wuggs’ wheel and tire for good–but they fixed my bad attitude.  It just goes to show how a smile, a pat on the back, a cheer can really make a difference.  Thank you H2B volunteers!

One of many inspirations along the ride: Will, a Positive Pedaler from Chicago.

It was about this time that we met a lone-rider and Positive Pedaler, Will.  Will was an inspiration for many reasons–his winning attitude, the experiences he shared with me to keep me company between Yarmouth and Brewster, and his bold spirit.  This was Will’s first time to participate in H2B and it was his first time to bike this route and visit Provincetown.  He discovered H2B randomly when searching on the internet for positive, active community people living with  HIV.  Will participated in H2B because a group of riders representing “Positive Pedalers” planned to participate.

Positive Pedalers is a group of people living with HIV/AIDS whose goal is to eliminate the stigma through their “positive” public example.

Around 4:30pm, after 10 and a half hours of hard riding–Wuggs and I made it to the end of the Rail Trail path in Welfleet.  We learned at this rest stop that the remainder 19 miles had been cancelled because Rt. 6 was flooded and unsafe.  I’ll admit–I was fine with this news.  After 105+ miles, 3 flat tires, and one knee scraping fall near Sagamore bridge, and over an inch of rain–we were ready to call it a day!

Done! Wuggs is happy that they cancelled the last 19 miles because rt. 6 is unsafe due to inclement weather.

MA  is in complete denial that there is a 60% chance she will have to bike 125 miles in chilly showers tomorrow. She is requesting that all her FB friends do a series of Sun Salutations to increase her odds of blue skies…http://bit.ly/168wi0

…and, as of 29 minutes ago, I have friends in Miami and Meridian Mississipi facing north with their special sun dances and singing, “I’m walking on sunshine,”  while stomping feet.  But my office is cold, the clouds are getting darker, and I continue to lose focus on my work.

So I’m making a list to make sure that I will remember everything:

Already packed:

• Toiletries including tooth brush, floss, and contacts.  √
• Pajamas for Wuggs and Me √
• Undergarments for each of us √
• Blue Jeans: 2 pair √
• Change of shoes for MA √
• 2 long sleeve shirts (and an extra sweater and raincoat packed by Wuggs and a sleeveless fleece for MA) √
• Night guard for Wuggs √

To Do:

• Log onto H2B site and watch safety video.
• Pick up bike from Back Bay Bicycles after work (I get FREE tune ups for life since I bought my road bike there!!!).
• Don’t forget my clip shoes, helmet, bike lock and safety reflector vest.
• Program the H2B emergency phone number in my phone.
• Pick up rider jerseys and number tonight between 4-8pm at Club Cafe.
• Drop off any last donations received in the last week tonight at Club Cafe.
• Drop off the giant back pack loaned to us by Randi (thanks Randi!).  Remember to stuff the book I’m currently reading, The Time Traveler’s Wife in at the last minute so I have reading material on the Ferry ride on Sunday.  Try to remember to have one of us watch the bike while the other jams in the bike lock at the last minute…don’t want any extra weight tomorrow!
• Carb up for dinner but also try to include at least 5 fruits and veggies today.
• Lay out my riding gear: bike shorts, jersey, sports socks, bike shoes, helmet, camelbak, sun block (who am I kidding!), rain gear (more like it), ziplock bag for my cell phone.
• Try to find a way to go to sleep by 7:30pm tonight so I can get 8 hours of sleep (YEAH RIGHT!).
• Double check the riding gear I’ve laid out about 10 times to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.
• Set my alarm clock for the ungodly hour of 3:30am.
• Double check the alarm to make sure its on.
• Check the alarm again to make sure its set for AM and not PM.
• Check the clock again to make sure that the real time is set for PM setting (or opposite of alarm setting).
• Try to sleep without tossing and turning…doing everything I can including meditating and counting sheep to relax my mind and body so I feel rested for tomorrow’s ride.

Saturday Morning Checklist:

• Wake up (or just roll out of bed if I haven’t been sleeping) at 3:30 am.
• Pad to the bathroom and take a warm shower–try to embed that memory in my head to access when I’m tired, soar, or otherwise cold/soggy today.
• Dress in the first layer of gear.
• Check the weather forecast again.  If the sky has cleared and the sun miraculously is out–do the happy joy dance and thank the heavens for our incredible good fortune.  If the forecast still calls for rain–throw on the second layer of gear:  water proof pants and jacket.
• Fill camelbak that Randi gave me with water and fill water bottle with electrolite drink.
• Remind myself to thank Randi for being my guardian angel on this ride!!
• Make sure Wuggs is awake and dodge her the rest of the morning (my sunny morning disposition only fans the flames of her not-a-morning-person-fiery-disposotion).
• Try to eat some oatmeal.
• Remember to stretch.
• Leave the house by 4:30 am to reach Copley Square in time for a smooth check-in, protein-filled breakfast, and opening ceremonies at 5am.
• 6am–The ride begins!!!

Did I forget anything????

***

This is an entry from th adventurous, thoughtful and occasionally humorous journal of my training escapades in preparation for two great century bike rides: Harbor to the Bay and El Tour de Tucson.  To find out more information or to make a pledge, visit our home blog, The Amazing Adventures of Two Girls on a Bike.

I went for a ride out on Martha’s Vineyard this weekend–a 60 mile ride to and from Aquinnah, the old Gay Head Beach.

It was a nude beach, which I definitely found an interesting experience.

Had my brother not been there, who knows what clothes I would have removed

My bro and I met up quite serendipitously at the beach as I had been out biking with two friends Mac and I love to pieces.

Synchronicity would be the word of the day, indeed.

I had the best day on Martha’s Vineyard… just the best day ever.

It was incredibly and extraordinarily beautiful out there…

On the country roads, by the farms, on the water, at Aquinnah, on the ferry ride out and on the ferry ride home…

My day was filled with incredible beauty.

It was heaven on earth… the whole day long.

And one of the best parts was speed racing on my new bike with my brother on the way back from Aquinnah.

We pushed each other to go faster then I ever have before I think, and it felt incredible!

All in the spirit of being better, no winning necessary.

My body was flowing with endorphins, the sun was blasting upon us, and a nice dinner awaited us in Vineyard Haven at the end.

It was just like when we were teenagers sailing together out on the Lakes of NH in our Dad’s small sail boat.

I took the rudder, he took the sail, and then we would switch. No sibling rivalry to be seen for miles and miles.

Definitely a nice way to feel alive…. enjoying life with my bro… What a lucky day!

After training for three century rides, It’s challenging to tap into the same excitement that I felt while training for the first.  This was originally posted on June 25, 2006 when I was training for my first H2B ride.  When I first posted this, John would have been 34…Now in 2009, John would be 37 years old.

I’ve got Johnny on my mind because butterflies always make me think of him.  This weekend, when I traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to train and enjoy the last weekend of the summer, a monarch butterfly followed the boat all the way from Woods Hole to Oaks Bluff in MV!  I have no idea how that butterfly could keep up the distance or the time–but it was pretty spectacular.

It’s funny how your subconscious has a way of working things out.  This morning I did another 24 mile ride.  During the ride, I found myself thinking about my brother, John (a lot).

At the time I found it odd.  Bicycling was not a sport or activity I ever shared with John–but for some reason I kept thinking about how much I was loving this ride and how much HE would love this ride.  I was euphoric on the work out buzz.  My mind was clear, my body felt good and the little endorphins started creeping up to my pleasure zones in my mind.

I was sure that John would have loved this feeling.

It really is too bad that John did not discover the joys of working life’s frustrations and sorrows out with a good work out.  As an addict, he looked for the quick fix: a drink, a toke, a hit…and this finally just ate his body away.

But, for today, I felt like I had a riding companion and I just couldn’t figure out why my thoughts kept creeping to my lost brother….that is until logging my ride in my bike journal and seeing the date.

Today would have been John’s 34th birthday.

Happy birthday, big brother–I hope you have found the happiness you always craved–perhaps in a divine bike ride in the skies?

***

This is an entry from th adventurous, thoughtful and occasionally humorous journal of my training escapades in preparation for two great century bike rides: Harbor to the Bay and El Tour de Tucson.  To find out more information or to make a pledge, visit our home blog, The Amazing Adventures of Two Girls on a Bike.

Bob is one of the quiet unassuming ones.

Most queer people at Harvard know of him because he has touched so many people there.

You’d never know that he is the one behind the curtain, so to speak.

And if you told him he was an angel, he would be hesitant to take the credit.

Because Bob has a lot of fun while helping others.

To me, that is the best kind of angel, because, if you are gonna be one, you might as well enjoy it.

Bob runs an online network which has created a massive network of some of the world’s brightest LGBT people.

Through the online network, thousands and thousands of members of the
queer community at college’s like Harvard, MIT, Emerson, and beyond
are meeting up at community events to make a difference.

Never underestimate the power of community. When you bring like people
together, they often start organizing for change.

So while Bob has been having fun, he has been helping countless
numbers of queer people feel at home in their skin and empowering them
to work together.

You can be sure the impact that he has made has been tremendous.

Thanks Bob… a queer angel in my book

Thanks to those who have already made a gift:

Melissa Burton
Rebecca Carswell
Bill and Patricia Cicala
Sarah Dornin
Thomas Hanold
Maria Kogan
Robert Mack
Randi Mail
Robert Moran
Kyle and Jennie Nickell
Leslie Powell
Barbara Rutberg

Wuggs and I wish to thank all who have made a gift or cheered us on as we train for the Harbor to the Bay Ride and El Tour de Tucson. In preparation for riding 126 miles in one day on September 12th, we have collectively logged over one thousand training miles and almost 200 hours of riding time this summer! 

We need your help as we have only 11 days to raise an additional $610 to meet our goal.

It is your support that continues to inspire us to make a difference in the world we all share. we are moved to do something that makes a positive difference in the lives of others. We truly feel so very lucky to have such an incredible network of loving and caring friends and family who motivate us to be the best we can be and to continuously give back.

If you have not made a gift, there is still time. 100% of the money you pledge will go to The Fenway Community Health Center, a hospital recognized for improving community awareness and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.

You can make a pledge online.

Make a pledge online.

1.  Mary Ann’s page:

https://www.harbortothebay.org/personal.asp?RIDER=111

2.  Becca’s page

https://www.harbortothebay.org/personal.asp?RIDER=114

Your support will mean so much to Becca and me and lives of so many we live with.

With determination and love,

Two Girls on a Bike

P.S. Our goal is to collectively raise in excess of $1000. Please join us in making a difference in the world we all share and a difference in the lives of so many we live with.

***

This is an entry from th adventurous, thoughtful and occasionally humorous journal of my training escapades in preparation for two great century bike rides:  Harbor to the Bay and El Tour de Tucson.  To find out more information or to make a pledge, visit our home blog, The Amazing Adventures of Two Girls on a Bike.

Save the world through biking. It can happen. Peace starts on the inside right? Help us cure AIDS all thru biking… Donate here: https://www.harbortothebay.org/personal.asp?RIDER=114

• First time back in the saddle for a long ride after a two weeks hiatus
• Three is company:  Christina Z. joined us for one leg
• The views!
• The history–we passed what is left of the historic Shaker community–a historic cemetery located on Shaker Hill Rd.

Towns we passed through:

• Somerville
• Cambridge
• Arlington
• Lexington
• Bedford
• Acton
• Littleton
• Harvard

To say that the New England weather has been fickle this summer is to put it mildly.  And if you live in Massachussets or have visited, you know that you probably cannot use the descriptive “mild” and “New England weather” in the same sentence.  So we waited until late Saturday night to make the final decision:  the long ride is on.

Inclement weather (or the fear of it) has not been the only thing to keep me from my long training rides during the last few weeks, I was in DC for a conference earlier in the month.  While in DC, I was excited to see how much priority the District of Columbia and neighboring towns in Virginia and Maryland include bicycle transportation in their urban development.  This warrants its own post entirely, but here are a couple cool cycling discoveries I made during my travels:

Bike Sharing in DC. The organization that runs this is called Smart Bike DC.

Bike Route near the burial grounds in Oldtown Alexandria, VA

Bike Path located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I'll have to return to Alexandria with Becca for a cycling vacation! I hear there are routes that take you through D.C. and Mt. Vernon and in and around all the monuments.

Speaking of DC, Wuggs and I were excited to invite a new travel partner with us for this ride:  Christina Z.  Christina moved to the Boston area from DC about two years ago.  During our ride on Sunday, she shared with me all about the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, the network of cyclists behind much of the riding reform and community organizing in DC.

Having a friendly rider join me and Wuggs–means that the entire day is much more enjoyable.  Partially because my wife can pay attention to the road and tune me out when she hears the same story I’ve shared a million times…  and partially because we’re both generally more affable and are less likely to snip at eachother in the middle of a hot, humid day after climbing a “not so rolling” hill–when we are tired and cranky.  In short–we put on a pretty face in front of company!

View from the Harvard Fruitlands

Oh, and let me tell you, those hills in Harvard are calf killers!  In fact, one rider on mapmyride.com aptly entitled some of his Harvard rides as, “Beast of a Ride,” and “Son of a Beast.”  The point is that many of the roads that were mapped on this ride included the word “hill” in there somewhere.  There came a point about 25 miles in when I stopped enjoying going down hill because I realized that Newton’s law, in this regard, also follows the opposite, “What goes down must come up!”

One word describes these hills in Harvard:  Ugh!

But on the bright side, once you reach the top, the views are spectacular!  And the other thing to note is that the Harvard Fruitland hills make the rolling hills of Truro, MA seem like bunny slopes for an avid skier!  And anyone who has ridden their bikes along the hills of Truro, knows how painful they can be…especially AFTER one rides over 100 miles to get there!

I think that the Two Girls On a Bike can give this ride two thumbs up!  While we managed to do okay with this ride after a two-week hiaitus from long rides, I don’t recommend picking this particular route after a two-year hiaitus!

***

This is an entry from th adventurous, thoughtful and occasionally humorous journal of my training escapades in preparation for two great century bike rides: Harbor to the Bay and El Tour de Tucson.  To find out more information or to make a pledge, visit our home blog, The Amazing Adventures of Two Girls on a Bike.

After training for three century rides, It’s challenging to tap into the same excitement that I felt while training for the first.  This was originally posted on July 15, 2006 when I was training for my first H2B ride.

This morning I logged my 356th mile since I started training. I’m making good progress, increasing my time, and generally having a heckuva great time training. I’ve learning alot about myself along the way–and Wuggs has been AWESOME to push me and encourage me…and even join me on so many of my rides.

I would still like to increase my speed–though I’m up to about 15 mph right now. In an effort to make me feel good about that speed, I remind myself that this is 15 mph on a BUSY bike trail where I constantly have to stop to cross major intersections, dodge small children with training wheels, or slow down to a crawl so that I can find the most opportune moment to safely pass the family of 10 creeping along at a snail’s pace.

Despite the obstacles, I guess I’m making pretty okay time. And, honestly, I enjoy the entertainment Minute Man bike trail brings me.

Like today and last night..I passed through the set up of one of my favorite local festivals. Davis Square’s ART BEAT. The Somerville Arts Council does a bang up job bringing the community together and promoting our awesome local talent. In fact, once I compete this entry and clean up, I’m heading back into Davis Square to FINALLY see Antje Duvekot perform on the main stage.

Today I giggled to myself as I passed Deborah Henson-Conant, the one and only electric harp player who rocks out to blues, latin, scat and tells awesome stories along the way. “.. a combination of Leonard Bernstein, Steven Tyler, and Xena the Warrior Princess ..” Ed Siegel, The Boston Globe

Only in Somerville!

Just last week I passed one of my favorite Folk Icons, Vance Gilbert, huffing and puffing as he jogged near Arlington.

Passing him was so good for me, because I really was not into the ride up to that point. I was struggling to keep up my energy. I tell you, that man has such a ray of light coming out of him–I swear I was meant to zip by him because it was like downing a jolt. With renewed energy and excitement, I couldn’t wait to race home and share the news with friends!

I love my home. Somerville, USA: All American City!

***

This is an entry from th adventurous, thoughtful and occasionally humorous journal of my training escapades in preparation for two great century bike rides: Harbor to the Bay and El Tour de Tucson.  To find out more information or to make a pledge, visit our home blog, The Amazing Adventures of Two Girls on a Bike.