We’re getting closer every day to the PMC, so I thought I’d check in and share some stories from past PMCs.
Ryan and I moved up to Bellingham last fall. Lately, we’ve been spoiled by beautiful sunny days that last until after 9pm, a garden that keeps making more vegetables than we can possibly eat, and such easy access to the outdoors that we can’t help but mountain bike almost every day! I’ve grown to love our little house with our cute back yard. It’s been a great balance for us being in a cute neighborhood that is still denser living, and close to a bustling downtown. It’s a small city but has been a welcome change from where we were before. Aspen and Mango have been enjoying having a yard too, and Mango has found a new love of climbing trees.
We’ve been having a PNW heat wave this last week, which means we’re getting into the low 80s, and I’m worried we’re going to be hit hard by the humid New England heat during the PMC again this year. Last year’s ride was brutally hot, but also my favorite ride of my 3 years doing the PMC. We rode the full course in scorching heat, and I looked forward to the ice and cooling vans at each rest stop. We had some early mechanical issues, some horrible leg cramps, and a bee attack. But we made it over 100 miles in one day on one of the hottest summer days. Looking back at last year, I remember the cheers along Cherry Street, the kind firefighters who stocked frozen towels in their cooling truck, and the man we got a laugh from because his GPS wouldn’t stop making siren noises. The people are what makes the PMC special, and it really showed during a harder ride last year. So while I might be hit a bit harder by the heat this year after growing a bit soft in the PNW, I’m looking forward to the challenge and the people that will support us along the way.
The second day of last year’s ride was just Drew, Ryan, and me, and my Dad joined us for a while too. I got to experience all the PMC legends I’d heard about from past rides- the Wellfleet ice bench, the windy mile, and the beautiful Sagamore canal trail, to name a few. We took turns leading on the windy mile, the front rider working as hard as possible while those behind could almost coast. It’s the hardest I think I’ve worked on my bike, and it was a pretty easy decision to skip the dunes.
This year we’re going back to the Wellesley start, but riding to Bourne. For my first two years, we rode the Wellesley 50, and I’m excited to return to the beautiful views around the area. I remember coasting along the water, rolling hills, and farms. I’m excited to try a new route, and while I do hope it isn’t scorching hot, I’m down to take on the challenge. The PMC is truly about the people that make it all possible, and when I look back at past rides, the people are always what I remember most.
As always, we are so thankful for all the support we receive every year. If you are able, please consider donating or sharing our story.
Team Scerbo
