Friday, May 31, 2013

Epilogue - Mission Complete



It has been one week since arriving at the Atlantic Ocean and completing my "Epic Ride Across America" I have used this past week to ponder what I have just completed and to put into perspective what this 9 month journey has meant to me and what I learned from it.


“The most gratifying part of your goal isn't always necessarily the finish line, but rather the journey that gets you there. The training, the preparation, and the commitment you make to yourself to go beyond in order to achieve your goal.”


The journey that gets you there" what a journey it has been. After years of dreaming about riding my bike across America, I have finally accomplished it. In reflecting on it a week later, the 8 months leading up to the ride was quite the journey that required me to sacrifice certain things and events in order to stay focused on the mission. The long winter did not help make the time go by quickly but the ride was quick in part because of the awesome support team of Mike and Barbara Munk, Karen Bauer, and Jim Benson of America by Bicycle. They ran a first class flawless operation for 33 straight days.

I would not take on a mission like riding across the country with getting guidance from an expert. When I hired Coach John Hughes, I got an expert. The comprehensive 8 month training plan was well worth the money and included everything from nutrition to off the bike strength and stretching routines. Coach Hughes was always positive and readily assessable with any questions I had. I was without a doubt ready and prepared for the ride and did not have any issues at all. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to take on any type of endurance ride. Thank you Coach Hughes.

The biggest thing I look back on besides the riding every day is my fellow riders, a diverse group of men from all over the world with the same goal of getting across America on a bicycle. For those of you who have ever been on a sports team or work team know what it’s like to have everyone on the same page going for a common goal. That is what we all shared every single day. No complaining, no whining, just riding and enjoying the task before us. I learned from these men that age is just a number; that having an incurable condition or diabetes is not a road block; the human mind is much more powerful than the human body. I saw firsthand the relationship between a father and son and how awesome it was for them to do this trip together. I saw men who lost 60-80 lbs. and changed their lifestyle to do this ride; I saw men overcome injury and illness to complete the ride. I saw men raising awareness for causes such as the
USO, War Child, Save One Life, Caring for people with hemophilia around the world, Bone Marrow Failure Diseases. I was inspired everyday by these men and was proud to ride with them.

One of my goals when deciding to do this ride was to use it as a platform to give back to the community in some fashion. The generosity of family, friends, colleagues, fellow riders and complete strangers who donated over $20,000 was awesome. Thank you
generous donors you have made this trip even more special for me. Your donations to the Wounded Warrior Project are what this journey was all about and you all made it happen. You should all be proud of your contributions. I could never thank you enough.

I need to thank Mary lee for her understanding, support and encouragement during these past 9 months. She has been my biggest fan, supporter and promoter. Thanks for all you do every day, I Love You.

Another big supporter and contributor has been Joshua Love of
SuRab Athletics. In addition to being a corporate donor, Joshua collaborated with Zander Cowan and Jacob Sussman of Pelham Island Pictures to produce a mini documentary about my ride and goal of raising awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you gentleman, your work was first class.

Well what am I going to do now? In two weeks I am riding 148 miles for a beer in t
he Harpoon Brewery to Brewery Ride from Boston to Vermont. Then a 5K road race in my home town of Fitchburg, MA for the Wounded Warrior Project. I will do a few sprint triathlons this summer and then end the season with a solo attempt at New England's Premiere Adventure Race - The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge.
Thanks you all so much for following my adventures and supporting my Epic Ride Across America. I could not have done it without all your support and encouragement.

See you on the road.


Phil



Friday, May 24, 2013

Day 33 - 108 Mi to Atlantic Ocean








Well the final day has come and gone and with it and end to this epic ride.  What a day!  everyone was jacked up about getting started today, myself included.  The day started pretty normal for me but did not end up that way.  The ride today was scheduled for 108 miles and 6493 feet of climbing. We left the hotel in Keene to a very humid and overcast day with a 30% chance of thunderstorms all day.  The temps were in the mid 50s and we had about 25 miles of light rain/drizzle before lunch. 

They had changed the course a bit from the plan so my GPS was going to be useless for an 11 miles section of the ride.  I would have to refer to my cue sheet.  After the first SAG stop, a group of riders dropped me and I was alone and missed a turn on the cue sheet.  By the time I realized it I had gone 7 miles in the wrong direction and I doubled back to the road I should have been on for a total of 14 extra miles for the day. Then to make thing worse, I lost my cue sheet and had to call for directions.  By now I was way behind the group and the last one into the lunch SAG and they would have to wait for me at the rendezvous point two miles from the beach.  I bolted out of the SAG in hopes of catching the last riders and I did only because they stopped to fix a flat.  I was no longer the one holding up our arrival at that point.  

Now I am more relaxed enjoying the last few miles of the ride and with 1 mile to go before the rendezvous point I get my 8th flat tire of the ride.  I quickly removed the wheel and tube and got assistance from the ride leader and within 5 minutes I am up and running again and am joined by the last 4 riders and as we rode in together to the rendezvous point.  

Finally, all 24 of us are together and we pose for a group photo across from Brown's Lobster Pound. Then as a group we rode in together to the beach and were meet by our family and friends and the journey was complete. Later that evening we had a banquet and said are last good byes.

Its too early to really explain the reality of what we just did so I will reflect on it for a couple of days and do one final post with all the statistics and thoughts.


(Most Photos taken by Mike Munk- Bamacyclist.com)






























The last few yards of the Epic Ride


The Epic Ride Course Map


Coast to Coast! Done

I did it!

Pacific Ocean water being added to the Atlantic


The fabulous Mary lee and family awaiting my arrival

Mary lee and I



My Kids Parker and Kelsey meet me at the Beach
My Sister Anita, Katie, Jameson, and Riley

Jim and I 
Welcoming Party

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Day 32 - 125 Mi to Keene, NH



Wow, welcome to New England and the Green Mountains.  You knew the day was going to be tough when right out of the hotel we were met with our first climb of the day and it never seemed to end.  Today was another three state day; NY, VT and NH.  Vermont is such a beautiful state to ride through even with the mountain climbs.  We had a category 2 and 3 and three category 4 climbs today.  It was a long day,
125.3 mi, 7,987 ft of climbing, 8 hrs 5 min of riding time and 4,962 calories burned at an average speed of 15.5 mph.

While I was struggling up Hogback mountain today, the weirdest thing happened.  A tractor trailer pulled along side of me and caused me to get real close the guard rail.  I did not know what was going on so I stopped.  Then he stopped and it appeared he wanted me to grab onto the back of his truck so he could assist me to get to the top.  I waved him off and he continued on although at that point I sure could have used the assist.  

I had two visitors today in Keene, Millie Vigneault and Michael Sullivan.  The last time I saw Millie was when the US Hockey team won the Gold Medal in 1980, thats over 33 years ago.  My friend Sully stopped by as he could not make it to Salisbury tomorrow.  One of Sully's sons just graduated from Keene State and the another son currently attends school there.  

Today Pelham Island Pictures released the much anticipated mini documentary of my ride.  You can view it at this link;  http://vimeo.com/66757084  Please share with your network of friends and family.  Fundraising for the Wounded Warrior Project is at $12,115 with a goal of $15,000. 

While riding today I realized that tomorrow this epic journey will end and it will be back to reality.  As tough as the terrain was today, I savored the day and look forward to tomorrow.  Our anticipated arrival to Salisbury beach is 2:00.  Please come out and join me as I dip my wheel in the Atlantic Ocean and put an end to this mission.  


Pictures from today:

(Most Photos taken by Mike Munk- Bamacyclist.com)



13th State


14th state




Water rolling down from the mountain tops



Panoramic view approaching the top of Hogback Mountain

AT the top of Hogback Mountain






Millie and I together again after 33 years