PMC Countdown Begins!

Just ten days left until the big event and our Cyclopath riders are ready to go!

Proper Nutrition for PMC Weekend

1. Drink adequate fluids to be able to pee every 2-3 hours.
2. The average 9" tall water bottle holds 22 oz.; Drink 16 oz. or more per hour.
3. Most people carry 2 water bottles: 1 with water, 1 with a sports drink/Gatorade.
4. Eating enough fuel/calories helps ensure you will have a fun ride.
5. Enough fuel means 200-300 carbohydrate (fruits/starches) calories per hour.
6. Consume protein in just 2 to 3 oz. servings. More oz.'s slow down digestion.
7. Fatty foods also slow digestion. Eat 1 or 2 handfuls of nuts or chips at a time.
8. Even at the later water stops - keep eating.
9. When Day 1 ride is done: continue drinking plenty of fluids, and be sure you are peeing pale to clear by evening.
10. If you are consuming beer or other adult beverages, remember: these are dehydrating. Compensate with even more fluids, especially while you are drinking. Have snacks too.

The Annual Cyclopath Pre-PMC Summer Gathering

This year's festivities will once again be at the Cronin house, 45 Manton Road in Swampscott, Thursday, August 5th, 5-9pm. We've had a small turnout of riders this year for our Saturday rides -- Where have you all been? Hopefully all can make it to our annual gathering -- It would be nice to see your smiling faces!

Same guidelines as previous years... we'll have traditional grill fare and goodies. If folks can bring an appetizer, salad-type thing, pasta dish or dessert that would be terrific. Ed will hopefully come with the pie.

Any questions, please call Tam at (781) 593-8619. or send an email tamcronin@gmail.com.

This is our yearly summer gathering, whether you ride the PMC or not -- All Cyclopaths, families and friends are welcome!!

18th Annual Cohen Classic

Waiting for a complete wrap-up of the Cohen Classic from Donna. (She gets her own page, you know.) Meanwhile, here is a recap:

There was a small showing of riders at this year's Cohen Classic; Lisa (the lone speedster), Sheldon, Jack, Donna, Tam and Kathy (on a 50 lb mountain bike). We started the day in a light fog, which kept the humidity high but the temperatures low. The new start at North Hampton Elementary School was perfect, as we picked up the Cohen Classic route at it's most scenic part. The ride north along the seacoast through Rye Beach, Odiorne Point, Newcastle and Portsmouth is one of the most scenic routes in New England. Absolutely gorgeous. The fog diffused the bright sun for most of the morning and didn't burn off until well after noon. Perfect.

Breakfast at Cafe Espresso was delicious as always. (Another great find by Donna). After breakfast, Tam and Kathy (on a 50 lb mountain bike) headed back to North Hampton while the others continued on towards Nubble Light (making the ride a bi-state). Speedy Lisa (who I'm sure missed some of the faster riders but was her awesome, sweet, smiling self and never said a word about the pace) rode ahead and discovered the route to Nubble was detoured and turned around to share the news. Heading back, Lisa scooted on to Hampton while the others were caught on the Maine side of the Portsmouth Bridge as it was being raised. Donna fixed a flat tire at this time and the three musketeers continued on to North Hampton to complete the 18th Annual Classic. A late lunch/early dinner followed at Not Your Average Joe's in Newburyport, turning the bi-state to a tri-state for D, T & S.) A fantastic Cohen Classic ride!

Weekend Rides

Just a reminder that there will be a regular Saturday morning Cyclopath ride at 6:30 in Salem this Saturday. Enjoy breakfast! (Folks riding the Cohen Classic will be heading out from North Hampton at the same time, 6:30. See directions below.)

Wishing Lynda lots of hills and no mechanical issues on Saturday's Lobster Ride & Roll. Looks like decent weather for the weekend!

Australia Without a Bike

Wishing Bruce and Nancy a great trip as they travel down under. Can anyone imagine Bruce without his bike for three weeks? Happy trails!

Directions to the 18th Annual TriState turned BiState to Avoid Hampton Beach Cohen Classic 2010

The starting point for the 18th Annual TriState-turned-BiState to Avoid Hampton Beach Cohen Classic 2010 will be at the North Hampton Elementary School, 210 Atlantic Ave, North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Please allow an extra 20-30 minutes to arrive at start. Meet between 6:00-6:15 am. Ride will start at 6:30 am.

Directions: Take Rt 95 North, (75 cent toll).
Exit 1, Hampshire 107 to Seabrook/Kingston
Keep right at fork, Take Rt 107 South Seabrook/US 1
Merge onto NH 107 South
6.5 m, Turn LEFT at US 1N/Lafayette Rd.
Turn RIGHT at NH 111 East/Atlantic Ave.

The North Hampton Elementary School (brick building, blue sign) will be on your left. The road is marked SCHOOL.

See you there!

TSCC goes Bi-State This Year - Nubble Light or Bust!

It's that time of year again... The 18th Annual "Tri" State Cohen Classic is next weekend! This year we are avoiding the insanity of Hampton Beach and are starting at the North Hampton Elementary School. More details posted soon!

Approximate Mileage:
From North Hampton Elementary School to Jenness Beach - 4.6 miles
N. Hampton Elementary to Cafe Espresso, Portsmouth - 18 miles (36 RT)
Cafe Espresso to Captain Simeon's Galley - 4.6
N. Hampton Elementary to Captain Simeon's Galley - 22.7 miles (45.5 RT)
Captain Simeon's Galley to Nubble Light, York ME - approx 10 miles
N. Hampton Elementary to Nubble Light - approx 33 (65 RT)

Google MAP available here.

Iowa Bound

Carl heads out to Iowa this week for RAGBRAI 2010! This year's route/party promises to "treat riders to one of the shortest, (442 miles), and flattest routes ever as it winds through northern Iowa from Sioux City to Dubuque", July 25-31. The state of Iowa goes all out for this event, with concerts and festivities along the way. Have some Mulligan Stew for us, Carl!

The "Locked Bikes"/Bass Rocks Ride

Official Ride Report by Donna, originally sent to Sam.

A dozen Cyclopaths headed out from Salem this morning, July 17th. Six enjoyed breakfast in Manchester, (Jack, Carl, Joan, Mike K., Gail and Paul G.), and six continued up to Gloucester, (Brenda, Lynda, Arlene, Ethan, Sheldon and Donna). We ate at Sugar Magnolias in downtown Gloucester, and all locked their bikes outside the restaurant. Brenda reminisced, "Remember that time Sam locked the bikes and forgot the key?!"

We all enjoyed breakfast and then headed outside to start biking again. Lynda announced, "Houston we have a problem!" Her bike was safely locked with Ethan's and Sheldon's to a trash can, but the key to the lock was back in her truck, 20 miles away! After much discussion, (and the coincidence that a taxi happened to drive by), Lynda, Sheldon and Ethan took a taxi back to Salem, got the key, and drove back to Gloucester, while Brenda, Donna and Arlene enjoyed a loop by Bass Rocks and along the coast thru Magnolia back to Salem. Another memorable Cyclopath ride!

Manchester/Gloucester, July 17th

Playing "Catch Up"

A lot to post on the blog this week -- A ride report from the "Locked Bikes Ride", ride photos, Cohen Classic details and more. Wow, a lot happens when I go on vacation! I will try and catch up this week. Meanwhile, make note of this weekend's Cohen Classic, beginning north of Hampton Beach this year. Details posted shortly. For those not riding The Classic, a regular Saturday morning breakfast ride will be departing Salem at the standard 6:30 am.

Blogger is on Vacation

I may have internet access mid-week when we get to our lodging in Lake Placid. If you have anything to post, send me an email and I'll try and get it online. Otherwise, I will be back July 17th -- and ready to ride on the 24th. Have a great week, everyone!

Steamy Morning to Manchester

This is an unofficial ride report -- I heard from Donna yesterday that a small group headed out of Salem in the morning, including Steve-Bob who rode to Gloucester, with Av, Gail, Arlene, Jack and Donna traveling to the Beach Street Cafe. (I apologize if I missed someone.) Av rode with the group to Beverly Farms and turned back to Salem while the rest continued on to breakfast. The temps were decent, the humidity high, and the gang returned to Salem before the rain.

Holiday Weekend - Boxford via the Lost Route

Donna sends along the following ride report from Saturday! Thanks, Donna!

Riding from Salem, Saturday, July 3rd, were: Av, Steve-Bob, BRENDA, Donna, Gail, Joan, Drew, Lisa and Mojito Dave. Nice to see Brenda again! We headed to Boxford on the "Lost Route". Av opted for a shorter ride and headed home. Breakfast was at Wayne's in Boxford. After breakfast Steve-Bob and Brenda headed to Georgetown, Mojito Dave headed home, and the rest of the group took the back roads including Bare Hill to Bradley Palmer Park. It was a beautiful route and a beautiful morning. Steve-Bob and Brenda met up with us at the end of the Bypass and we ended at Roger Conant together! Stay cool! --Donna

Waiting for a Ride Report....

Happy 4th of July!

Holiday Weekend Ahead

The hot and sticky weather is expected to return during the later half of the holiday weekend. Get out and ride Saturday morning before the heat returns! Parades in Boxford and Manchester are scheduled for Sunday the 4th, so there won't be any parade traffic to wrestle with, no matter which route we take! Happy 4th of July! (In photo, Steve-Bob celebrates the holiday in red, white & blue style.)

Happy Anniversary.com

This week marks the 5th Anniversary of the North Shore Cyclopaths blog. Back in 2005, the blogosphere was still very new, and not many people had even heard of blogs. We are so cutting edge!

Our first Cyclopaths Ride Report was posted July 4th, 2005. Since then, we have written over 715 entries and posted more than 600 photos! (We also acquired a .com address to make it easier to remember the web address.) Five years has been a nice run. --Tam

Thanks, Gracias, Merci

Sending a thank you to Mojito Dave for forwarding a few photos for the blog via his Blackberry recently! Dave took a photo of the group last weekend (left) and was able to help Arlene forward the photo she took on Saturday. (Posted with Sheldon's ride report. Yay!) Nice to be tech savvy! Many thanks, Dave!

Depot Diner & Stone Soup, Ipswich

Sheldon sends along the following ride report from today's ride. (Photo taken by Arlene!) Sounds like a fantastic morning!

"A happy group of Cyclopaths hit the early morn road to the cleaners in N. Beverly. We split into short riding to the Depot Diner by Donna, Av and Bob H. and a long riding group to Ipswich. Arriving at Stone Soup were (in no order of appearance): Ethan, (who turned back immediately to prepare for the Sea Glass Ride), Mojito Dave, Carl, Margie, Arlene, Paul Guertin, Steve-Bob, Joan and Grand Rabbi Shelly. (Forgive if I inadvertently omitted any Cyclopath.) At Roger Conant, we offered a thanksgiving prayer for the delightful breezy day and wonderful companionship. We said prayers for good health to Sam and Manny. Steve-Bob was thanked for leading our group on the shortest, quickest and most scenic route. See you at our next colorful ride." -- S.B.

5th Annual Sea Glass Ride, June 27th

Just a reminder that the 5th Annual Sea Glass Ride takes place tomorrow, Sunday, June 27th. Registration begins at 6:30 am at the Congregation Shirat Hayam parking lot, 55 Atlantic Ave, Swampscott. The weather should be terrific for a nice ride to Gloucester and back.

Any questions, drop Ethan an email at emossfan@aol.com.

Great Adventures

The always adventurous Elissa Brown is off traveling the world and doing wonderful things around the planet. Follow her journey online through her blog, HandsOnEarth.blogspot.com.

In this photo -- Team Brown at the MMA finish during PMC 2005. From left, Sheldon, grandson David, (who had just turned 15!) and Elissa! Wow. Time flies!

News from Sheldon

Sheldon visited Sam on Thursday and reports his spirits were high. He writes,

"Sam received a new title of Mediator and Negotiator Emeritus from Governor Patrick. (He just settled the fireman's union case). He sends his warmest regards to all Cyclopaths."

Quick and Social to Boxford

An excellent Ride Report follows from Gail, who continued on to Boxford with the men while Donna, Joan and Tam enjoyed a short ride and breakfast at the Deport Diner!

"As the only one to break ranks with the women, I am very happy to report that "the guys" and I had a great ride. Our band of eight (Sheldon, Carl, Jack , Brian, Ethan, Mojito Dave, Paul Guertin, and yours truly) rode pretty much together all the way to Boxford where we enjoyed the usual excellent breakfast, complete with crispy home fries. (Where were you, Av?) Paul entertained us with his latest jokes throughout the morning.

Following breakfast, we organized into three groups. Ethan, Brian, and Dave rode directly back to Salem at high speed to be home for various family activities. Jack decided to venture to Ipswich for a longer ride. Carl, Sheldon, Paul, and I rode back to Salem the same way we rode up, at a more social (but steady) pace. And... are you ready for this? Those of us in the social pace group arrived back at the Roger Conant statue by around 10:00 am. Is this progress or what?!

So that's the scoop. We had beautiful weather, lots of shade to ride in, wonderful camaraderie, good food, and no flats. All in record time. It doesn't get better than this." --Gail