Early Saturday morning, Will Williams, Dan Holin, Peter Jantzen, Todd Smith (FOM –Friend of Monsters), and I checked in down at the Harpoon Brewery near the fish docks in Boston. We got our numbers, bananas, filled the water bottles and hit the porta potties before we embarked on our 136 mile journey to the North. At 7:30am we launched in a slightly larger group than was simultaneously launching from the White Hen in Concord. It was nice and cool and as we rode into downtown, we had to hold Dan Holin back from wanting to attempt an early brake.

These first few miles were a wonderful treat as we got to ride by the Old State House, Fannuel Hall, MGH, over Longfellow Bridge and out through the campus of Harvard and eventually out Mass Ave. into Arlington. The early going was nice and easy with the main danger being large city potholes and cracks, cars, and construction guys wondering what all the spandex was all about (although Dan pointed out that the only difference between us and them was that we wear our spandex in public). We twisted out through Lexington and over 128 and this was were the pace started to quicken for the first time as we got onto 225 through Carlisle. At this point we were cruising as a group of 30 or so at about 24mph. Wisely, us Monsters sat at the back of the pack chatting and taking care of each other. However, at this point, an early theme of the ride emerged as we asked “Where’s Peter?” to which I responded I don’t know but the pace is picking up. Sure enough, PJ was out front for the first of what would be many a long pull. Eventually, Todd went up and got him and told him to get back in line (when he wasn’t to busy yelling car up, car back or hole!). Well, the next 25 miles or so were pretty uneventful as it was fairly flat until the first stop at 48 miles somewhere around Pepperill. The first stop found us all feeling good, cheery and doing something around an 19mph average pace.

Todd then warned that as soon as we left the rest stop, the climbing would begin heading up to the New Hampshire border for the next 10 or so miles followed by steadily rolling hills. Well, he didn’t lie and as we entered the state park, up we went. It was at about this point that Monster pride also started to gel in our small group. We climbed well as a group, Will grinding up in the big gears as the rest of us watched in awe and spun our merry way up the hill. We were never too tired to say hello to the state troopers blocking traffic and we moved well as a group passing many a rider. After topping the ten miles or so of relatively steady climbing, the Monsters started to hit their stride. As a group with one or two good riders who joined us, we started to role as a steam train regardless of terrain. I think my favorite part of the whole ride was the five of us (plus 1 other rider at this point) literally rocketing past groups of riders on the slight uphill grades doing 21 to 23 mph! We were all in our Monster shirts so it was great to feel like part of a club. This is also the time where we started calling PJ the nickname “Horse”. That’s because when his turn came to pull, he would rocket the pace up to 25mph and we needed to put a bit in his mouth to slow him down! And we are not talking 20 second pulls here. PJ was doing 2 to 3 minute pulls at this pace – which of course means that the rest of our manly prides had to try to match (the price would be paid later for most of us). We arrived at the 98 mile mark for the second rest stop with an average speed of roughly 20.1mph!

After a 15 minute rest or so, we launched again just after a large group with very fancy bikes and aero equipment. Will warned that there were still some tough hills to go in the last 40 or so miles and the finish was uphill as well. Here is where these rides get tough. We all headed out of stop 2 feeling good with most of the ride behind us and the promise of a finish only 2 or so hours away. For the next 15 miles, the Monster train kept rolling, passing most of those lovely bikes and aero bars up to the 120 mile mark. Then, the Monster Survivor Special Show began! Todd was first to cramp, followed closely by me. At the base of the second to last of the challenging hills, my hamstring started to cramp. I shouted to PJ, Dan and Will that I would try to catch up. I stopped to stretch but as I bent down to stretch my left hamstring, my left quad seized up!!! Ouch, the old double, front and back simultaneously. A support van came by and volunteered to drive me up the hill to which I publicly said a polite “no thanks” followed by a private (and in my best Scottish accent) “get that f****ing van out of here, I’ll bite my g***m leg off before I get in your w***y van.” After a minute of self massage, I got back on and let the peddle stroke loosen the cramp on my way up the hill. Crisis past. Eventually, I came up on Will who was kind enough to wait for me at an intersection. I only mention Will’s kindness because I would later miss my chance to reciprocate (Will being a much nicer person than me). We cycled on and got the pace back up to near 20mph. At this point, your mind starts to really struggle and all you want to do is finish. I got into a smooth pace and it was probably 5 minutes before I realized I was no longer with Will (my VERY BAD FORM – apologies to Will). But despite feeling bad, your mind says, “MUST SURVIVE, MUST FINISH,” so I just tried to keep going.

Meanwhile, somewhere way up the rode, Dan and PJ where keeping up a 20mph+ pace. As Dan reports, PJ did a heroic last pull which lasted for 10 miles! Jantzen was truly a Monster!! Well, I finally crossed the wooden bridge over the Connecticut River and into Vermont, through Windsor, VT and up the hill. At this point it started raining which was comical as I was ready to fall off of the bike. I cannot tell you how happy I was after a 3/4 mile climb or so to see the entrance sign for the Harpoon Brewery! I rolled in, gave them my bike (at this point if they lost it, gave it away, trashed it, I would not have cared), and stumbled toward the shower. Will came in a minute behind me and Todd a few minutes later.

My odometer said 135.13 miles at 19.6 mph average with total seat time of 6 hours and 53 minutes. When I caught up to PJ and Dan, they shared their average time of roughly 20.3mph average. WOW! After a nice shower, Peter was starting to bark that he needed food. I told him, “Hey, if you are going to win the stage, you have to keep it together, be good to the press and stay calm and let the pretty girls kiss your checks!” At which point I think he said (in his best Scottish), “If I don’t get any food, I will start nibbling on your arm so get out of my way you @#%!”

The food was good, but I must say that the beer was one of the best beers I have ever had in my life! All in all, a great day of bonding for the Monsters. The little club from Concord that could!