Brian M. Richards
Sturbridge to Provincetown
August 2 & 3, 1997
For a while, I did not think I make in time to be in Sturbridge the night before the Ride.
Wednesday evening the ignition switch on my car went out, leaving me with no air,
directional, or rear window defogger. I brought my car to a local repair dealer in
Pennsville, New Jersey (IPS - Imported Parts and Service) for emergency repairs Thursday.
I got the bad news at 11 A.M. that they could not get the part for my car until Friday. I
said I would drive the car the way it was. Well, to make a long story short, IPS went out
of their way to get the part for me and my car was repaired by 4 P.M.. I left Friday
morning at 8 A.M. from Pennsville and arrived in Sturbridge at 2 P.M.. I was able to check
into my room at the Holiday Inn Express, and headed to the Sturbridge Host Hotel at 4 P.M.
to register, pick up some T-shirts, and eat some food before heading back to my hotel to
get a good night sleep. One thing I did notice was a shortage in the selection food and
beverages, except beer. All the food provided is donated to the PMC, so we eat what we
get.
For the first time in ten years I actually was able to get some sleep before the Ride. I got up at 3:30 A.M., showered, shaved, and got dressed for the Ride. I had a free meal at the hotel, where I met a fellow rider. He asked me if I was ready, etcetera, then asked me about my ankle. I said “Do I know you?” He then told me his name is David Palan. I was talking to David via E-Mail. We both maintain a space on the Internet dedicated to the PMC and the Jimmy Fund. He knew what I look like because I have pictures of MOI on my Internet site.
The Ride started at 6 A.M. from Sturbridge. There were three routes for riders to take. The traditional two-day Ride is from Sturbridge to Provincetown, 194 Miles. A second Ride is from Boston to Provincetown, 163 Miles. They meet up with the traditional Ride at the second water stop. They avoid the brutal hills on the first 49 miles of the Ride. The third route is what I call the Boston to Boston Riders. They do the same Ride as the Boston to Provincetown riders on day one, but instead of going to Provincetown on day two, they ride back to Boston.
1997 PMC Rider Statistics
Total riders: 1947
Total 2-day riders: 1797
Total 1-day riders: 150
Started from Sturbridge: 1607
Started from Boston: 340
Finished in Bourne: 150
Finished in Provincetown: 1742
Finished in Boston: 55
Male riders: 1396 (72%)
Female riders: 551 (28%)
Average age: 39
Average years in event: 4
I raised over $3,000 this year, keeping the Heavy Hitter record intact. The Ride started well with no construction taking place on Route 20. There was a different person playing the bag pipes this year at the eight-mile point in Charlton, and is a nice touch to the Ride. I was amazed at the public support on the Ride. People were cheering you on. People were providing free water and other goodies for the riders to grab. One family had a bubble machine, blowing soap bubbles across the road. I stopped and took a picture of them, telling the family it is going on my Internet site. It was amazing how people who are shy on getting them to allow you to take a picture of them ham it up when you tell them it is going on the Internet.
I made it no problem making it to Water Stop One. I had the volunteers hamming it up for a picture once I explained that it will be on the Internet. One rider overheard me and asked for a picture of the two of us together. He told me his name is Paul Fallon, after the ambulance parked behind us. I thought to my self I’ll remember his first name, but not his last, so I took a picture of the ambulance. Little did I know I be taking a ride in his ambulance on day two.
I had problems on the second stretch of the Ride. That hill at the 31-mile point that I hate forced me off the bike half way up the hill. At that point Tom Phillips, the oldest rider ever on the PMC at age 76 passed me asking if I was hurting. I said no, it’s just my pride that’s hurting. I got a sharp rebuke by Tom as he yelled at me saying “Brian, I never want to hear that from you again.” I never heard him being so angry at me. I almost wanted to say “Yes Dad,” but thought twice about that.
The weather both days came close to 1000F. I was starting to heat dehydrate two miles before the second water stop, and ran out of water. Thank God for this lady who had Kool Aide available. I polished off two quarts of the Kool Aide and went on my way. I complained at the second water stop about that and my inability to urinate since 4 A.M.. The proper way on doing a ride is to take enough liquids until you have to urinate, even if it means stopping at every water stop or stop somewhere on the Ride to urinate, especially in hot weather. Since my blood pressure was normal, I went on my way.
Big mistake, because at water stop three my blood pressure went to 160 over 100, and I was officially taken out of the Ride for day one. After a two-hour stop drinking all the liquids I could the doctor told me if I did not urinate in 15 minutes I was on my way to the hospital. I got up and could urinate, but I really had no urge to do so. I ate some food at 1 P.M. for the first time since the Ride and managed to get some pictures of Tom Phillips and me for the first time ever. I was transported by van to the MMA (Mass Maritime Academy), but had to ask the driver of the van to stop at water stop four so I could urinate.
The MMA was setup great. The downside was I had three roommates (four to a room) at the barracks before I did, so I got the honor of sleeping in a green cot. I showered, shaved, changed clothes and ate more food and drank more liquids. I stayed up and listen to a wonderful band called the Judy Wallace Group. I saw her band on the P-Town ferry in 1991. Totally enjoyable music.
I saw the last rider get in at 7 P.M., and went to bed. The green cot was uncomfortable, and two of my roommates snored. To add more discomfort I had to urinate five times because I took in so much liquids.
I got up at 4 A.M. Sunday, changed clothes and went to eat. Tom Phillips was at my table and made what is called a local joke. We were taking about the Boston to Boston riders. He said “I hope the winds are not with their backs.” To those of you who are not familiar with the Ride, the Boston to Boston riders go in the opposite direction than those going to Provincetown. It brought smiles to our faces for those of us going Provincetown.
I left on day two at 5:30 A.M.. I made sure at every water stop to have my blood pressure checked. I complained at the second water stop to medical that I was not urinating. The nurses checked my blood pressure (120 over 76) and asked if I was taking in fluids. I said yes, having drunk over 80 ounces of fluids and plenty of food. I was cleared for the third stretch of the Ride.
I never made it in for that third stretch of the Ride on day two. I think I came close, but I collapsed and had no idea where I was. I was taken by the van to the third water stop on day two, and was immediately taken to the ambulance, where my blood pressure went to 160 over 112, and was officially out of the Ride. I was not concerned about my bicycle, as what I wanted were my wallet and camera. The ambulance company put my bike in the ambulance to calm me down. I was kidding the ambulance drivers that I met their boss as they were taking me to Provincetown. I kidded the ambulance drivers again and told them they should have left my bicycle behind. They asked why. I smiled and said “Hope someone steals it, so I do not have to do the Ride again.” I’m only kidding, I am not dropping this Ride until God tells me to put down my bicycle or I cannot get the sponsors. Besides, I have two racing bicycles, and fully plan on ridding with one of them for next year’s ride.
I made it in class to P-Town. After being checked by a doctor and finally cleared to go my own way, I was told to take in enough fluids to urinate. I went along with his orders, and drank fluids, but not quite the ones he wanted me to drink.
You know why I do the Ride. In the last year I lost my step-mom Gloria and my Uncle Ray in the last year from Cancer. I was lucky when I went to the check presentation to the Jimmy Fund to see Gloria for one last time. I showed her my 1996 Heavy Hitter T-shirt, but told her I promised it to someone else. Gloria looked at my 1996 Riders’ shirt that I was wearing and asked if I have another one. I told her I have a used one at my brother’s house, or a brand new one in Pennsville. Gloria wanted the one at my brother’s house. I looked after she died to see which shirt she got. The PMC asks that the riders wear a pin on badge on their shirts. I saw no rust stains or pin holes on the T-shirt I own, so Gloria got the T-shirt I rode with in my 1996 Ride.
I am lucky. I lost my own mom in 1964 to cancer. Gloria became my step-mom in 1966. I hated her then, but as you become an adult ones mellows with age. Gloria took care of my dad when he was dying of colon cancer, and I am eternally grateful for that one.
My 1997 Ride is hereby dedicated in my step-mom’s name, Gloria Lantagne. My 1997 Heavy Hitter T-shirt is being donated to her husband Lucien, in memory of Gloria Lantagne.
Brian M. Richards