Bagels and a Buffalo

Join the CRW and North Shore Cyclists for their Bagels and a Buffalo Ride, Saturday, November 14th. (With a civilized start time of 10 am from Masconomet HS in Boxford.) 52, 44 or 20 mile routes. All rides pass through familiar stomping grounds - Boxford, Topsfield, and Rowley. Long rides include Plum Island and a stop at Abraham's Bagels in Newburyport for lunch. An optional stop for buffalo viewing at Tendercrop Farm is included on 44 and 52 mile rides. (Note: The two buffalo on your right are from Bruce's Copper Mountain trip -- not from Tendercrop Farm!) Visit the CRW calendar for more info!

Profile of the Week: Bruce Kapsten

Nickname: BK
Claim to fame: Top 10 fundraiser for The Davis Phinney Foundation and 1 of 5 Moderators of the Serotta Forum
Year joined: 2000
Favorite ride on North Shore: to Smolak Farm
Favorite Breakfast spot: Henderson's
What bike do I ride: Serotta Meivici, Serotta Ottrott ST, K. Bedford Custom steel road bike
Has Drew named your bike? She named the Meivici "Bling" - so far as I know, she hasn't named any others.
Worst day on bike: Cohen Tri-State crash in York Beach - 2006
Favorite bike route: Johnson City Loop - Austin, TX
Favorite day on bike: Riding with my son in the PMC
Cycling background: 8 PMC's, 3 Sunflower Revolutions, 2 Copper Triangles, plus some other fun stuff. Club time trials and various cyclocross races for fun.
Favorite Bike Food: Hot waffles with Nutella (courtesy of Maietta Bicycles at Gloucester GP)
Most likely to say: 1 more lap? Are you kidding me?
Least likely to say: Oh good, another muddy cross race.
Hidden talent: Kite Maker
Why do you ride for the Davis Phinney Foundation? I ride events for The Davis Phinney Foundation because Davis is a charismatic, engaging guy who has created a foundation that is funding programs that improve the quality of life for those who suffer from Parkinson's Disease.

30th PMC Gala and Check Presentation

This year’s annual PMC check presentation party will be held at the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street, Boston, Dec. 5th. The dress code is denim, so wear your favorite jeans to party the night away. It promises to be a great time for all!

Once again, the PMC donation to Dana Farber will represent 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar. The amount of the donation is kept secret until the event. The gala includes dinner and cocktails, a speaking program, special guests and the check presentation by Billy Starr and Dr. Edward Benz. There will be plenty of time for dancing and celebrating. Get your tickets ($75 per person) at PMC.org. (PMC ID # required).

Halloween Ride Wrap-Up

Ride Report by Donna: Lynda, New Dave, Steve-Bob, Sheldon, Donna, Joan and Paul rode in the annual Cyclopath Halloween Ride. A Witch Doctor was spotted leaving Salem and returning with the group. : ) We rode to Henderson's and had a nice breakfast. After breakfast, Steve-Bob headed to Ipswich while the rest of the group headed to Bradley Palmer to admire the foliage. The gates were open at both ends of Bradley Palmer. We admired the foliage and Halloween decorations along the way. The famous rabbit fence was converted into a ghostly fence, with each rabbit covered by a white sheet with two eyes cut out. Very cute! Many carved jack-o-lanterns were seen along the way as well. At the end of the ride, Roger Conant was surrounded by many costumed tourists. All who started together finished together as Steve-Bob rejoined the group at Roger Conant. Happy Halloween to all! --Donna

Halloween Ride Tomorrow!

7 am Salem start. Costumes and embellished bikes fiendishly encouraged! (Keeping safety in mind, of course.) Helmets, lights and noisemakers too! Ghosts and goblins beware!

Mark your Calendars

Little Dave invites all to celebrate the Holiday Season, December 5th, 7-10 pm, at his 12th Annual Holiday Open House to benefit Toys for Tots.

As always, there will be lots of great food, fun, friendship and music. Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program, and help bring a smile to a needy child. Also, feel free to bring a special holiday appetizer, dessert or other concoction to share. The Egg Nog and the Fried Turkey will once again be making an appearance! Details to come.

Profile of the Week - Gail Berger

Nickname: None that I know of.
Year you joined the Cyclopaths: 1988
Claim to Fame: Guess...
Favorite ride on the North Shore: All of them.
Favorite Breakfast Spots: Stone Soup, Depot Diner, the place in Boxford
What bike do you ride? Douglas Fusion
Has Drew named your bike? Yes--it's Casper.
Brief cycling background: Have been riding since my tricycle days.
What was your worst day on the bike? My first day using hand brakes. I went right over the handle bars.
Favorite day on the bike? Too many to name! Among them, my first PMC and the famous Cyclopath trip to Block Island
What is your favorite bike food? Not a fan of bike food (like granola bars). I prefer the breakfasts...
Most likely to say: "I need coffee."
Least likely to say: "Whose crazy idea was this?
Hidden talent: Home improvement projects

Saturday Breakfast - Beverly Airport - 8 am

Tired of cold rainy Saturdays? If so, how about breakfast at Beverly Airport tomorrow morning, 8am? The Cantors are available, so I said I'd try to round up a few others. Spread the word around! Hope to see you tomorrow. -- Gail

Profile of the Week - Lynda Beaulieu

Nicknames: Quadzilla, Sprocket Girl
Year you joined the Cyclopaths: 2006
Claim to Fame: The Tour de Fruit Cup
Favorite Breakfast Spot: Mad Martha's
Favorite Ride on the North Shore: Plum Island
What bike(s) do you ride? Scott CR1 Team Carbon, Soma Smoothie ES touring
Do they have a name? Francisco Velo (Scott Carbon), Anita Moneytree (Soma Smoothie)
Brief Cycling background: Recreational rider who has participated in the Boston
to NY AIDS Ride (1996), and the Pan Mass Challenge from 2006-present. Striving to participate in the Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200k Randonnee in 2010, the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris 1200k Grande Randonnee, and continue to ride 200-600k brevets and annual century rides.
Most likely to say: "Another hill? YAY!" ;-p

Something we don't know about you but should: Hint: it's bigger than a breadbox...

Stuck in a Pattern

Looks like another rain-soaked weekend ahead! Extended Weather Forecast: Saturday...Cloudy. A chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent. Will there be a break in the rain Saturday morning before the next storm barrels through?

Cozy Winter Reading

Interested in receiving Bicycling Magazine this winter? The Swampscott Middle School is holding their annual magazine fundraiser, and you can get a great deal on new subscriptions or renewals.

Get two years of Bicycling Magazine (22 issues), plus Bicycling's 250 Best Cycling Tips, for just $20. 40% of your purchase will benefit the enrichment programs at the Swampscott Middle School. Visit www.QSP.com for more info!

Profile of the Week - Drew Nelson

Nickname: Drewster & Drewy
Year you joined the Cyclopaths: 2002
Favorite ride on the North Shore: Salem to Newburyport for breakfast at Mad Martha's
Favorite Breakfast Spot: Hard to pick one - Mad Martha’s, Steel Magnolias and Morning Glory
What bike do you ride?: Bianchi Eros
Have you named your bike?: Otis and Grace
Brief cycling background: Cycling started as something to fill the time until ski season came around again. Then it turned into a passion. Cycling is my spring to fall thing and skiing winter fun
Favorite day on the bike? Riding w/ the Cyclopaths and laughing the whole day
Most likely to say: "Where’s breakfast?"

Something we don't know about you but should: I’m a Parrot Head

Columbus Day Weekend

Did anyone ride on Saturday? The roads were wet at 7 am -- Who showed up to ride? Post your Ride Reports in the "Comments" section!

Profile of the Week - Sheldon Brown

Nickname: Rabbi Shelly, The Belarus Kid
Year you became a Cyclopath: 1976.
Claim to Fame: The husband of Fran Brown
Brief cycling background: I bike at my own pace, usually sweep position.
Favorite ride on the North Shore: The Donna Cohen Classic
Favorite Breakfast Spot: Perley's (Rowley), Union House (Gloucester) and the Fish Tale in Salisbury.
What bike do you ride?: Trek 1200
Has Drew named your bike?: Not yet, but I prefer "SHLOMO".
Favorite day on the bike? Any day that the Cyclopaths bike together as a group!
What is your favorite bike food? Trail mix
Most likely to say: It's tough to break up at the Roger Conant statue and say good-bye till next week; The Cyclopaths who start together should stay together.
Least likely to say: Let's bike another ten miles!
Hidden talent: Fixin' flats
Why do you ride the PMC? At first to keep up with my friends, but later to honor my dear wife Fran, who is a suvivor of cancers.
Something we don't know about you but should: I'm a Philatelist, Numismatist and trolley enthusiast!

Weekend Forecast

Brrrr..... It's chilly!! Autumn is definitely upon us -- time to break out the warmer gear if you haven't done so already! It looks like rain is headed our way for the weekend, likely canceling our ride. Stay warm and dry!

Profiles of the Week - The Kellehers

MICHAEL KELLEHER, III
Year you joined the Cyclopaths: 12 years ago - 1997 or so - who keeps track?
Claim to Fame: "Sir" Michael's dad and Liam and Lucas's grandfather
Favorite Breakfast Spot: Depot Diner
Favorite ride on the North Shore: Manchester-by-the-sea (where we can sing and disturb the tranquility of the neighborhood) with a jump up to Gloucester.
What bike do you ride? Eddie Merck
Has Drew named your bike? No, but I believe it is "Sunshine".
Brief cycling background: Started riding with the "Bike to the Sea" group along Revere Beach!! And then met Brenda White who challenged me to ride 2-day PMC and the rest is history!
Most likely to say: "Cars back! Get over, Sam!!"
Why do you ride the PMC and MS150? To rid the world of terrible diseases and have fun doing it.

MICHAEL KELLEHER, JR.
Nickname: "Sir" Michael
Year you joined the Cyclopaths: Hmmm, not sure. Um, 2002?
Favorite ride on the North Shore: Cape Ann ride
Favorite Breakfast Spot: Maddies
What bike do you ride? Lemond Arrivere
Has Drew named your bike? Coltrane
Brief cycling background: Got into biking with dad for PMC, started the one-day ride on a used 10-speed and have been biking ever since.
What is your favorite bike food? Peanut butter crackers
Why do you ride the PMC and MS150 Great rides with great people for great causes.