Re: 200K Boston Brevet to New Boston, NH

I did the 200k Boston Brevet today.  Left Hanscom at 7 AM and rode to New Boston, NH and got back to Hanscom at 2:50 PM.  That's 127 miles in 7:50 including 30 minutes spent at the check points.  I rode the first ten miles with a group of ~20 people who planned to finish in under 8 hours, but at 10 miles I hit a pot hole and got a pinch flat.  I spent the next 40 miles chasing that group to the first checkpoint.

I was told that large group disintegrated into groups of 2 to 4 people, so for most of the rest of the ride I was with two guys that are Paris-Brest-Paris veterans.  One does a different 1200k ride every year.  Turns out it was Brian Johnson from Teradyne.  He knows Jay and says hi.  The other guy was Justin who began riding a year-and-a-half ago and rode PBP last summer.

The second leg, had some big climbs.  My back got sore, but I did okay.  I guess riding with the Rippers is helping me with hills.  We had some ripping descents after all the climbing.  Topped 45 three times and could have gone faster on one hill except for traffic turning caused me to slow down on the steepest section.

After hanging out at Hanscom chatting for awhile, I rode my bike home for a total of 136 miles.  Now I have three weeks to rest up for the 300k.  We leave at 4 AM.  I'd like to be able to finish in 12 hours, but I don't know...

51 people did the ride today.  After we sat around a bit at the finish I asked how many were still on the road.  Answer: 39, so I finished in the top 10 or 12.  The first finisher, Matt, did it in 7:15, so he must have been taking it easy.  He left with the group (2 people) who planned to finish under 6 hours.

I rode with Matt during the 100k on 4/12.  He is studying at the Harvard Medical School and still has time to be a sponsored ultra rider.  Last summer he set the record for riding across Maine.  I think he said 380 miles in 20 hours, but that seems near impossible.  Anyhow, he finished first for the 100k also.  I finished 3rd.  These brevets aren't races, but it is nice to finish before the masses.

200K on May 10, 2008
map to Checkpoint 1 -    48.9 miles -   from Hanscom Field, MA   to New Boston, NH
map to Checkpoint 2 -    86.0 miles -   from New Boston, NH        to Brookline, NH
map to Checkpoint 3 -  124.7 miles -   from Brookline, NH            to Hanscom Field, MA