The 2023 Pan Mass Challenge took place on August 5th and 6th. It was truly a weekend to remember. While the 2022 PMC was the hottest ride I’d ever done, the 2023 ride was hands down the best weather in my 35 years riding in this event. Here’s the highlights for me:
- Driving to Sturbridge with Eric and Meaghan.
- Having an incredible lunch at BT’s BBQ (best I’ve had in New England)
- Reconnecting with old friends in Sturbridge
- The pandemic being a distant memory
- Riding with Eric and Tony both days the entire way
- Nancy, Nicole, Meaghan, and Joyce (Meaghan’s mom) volunteering in Franklin
- Connecting with our pedal partner, Teagan, Day 1 in the PHAT lands en route
- Eric and Tony both riding incredibly strong both days
- Eric saving me 95 miles into Day 1 with a hotshot to get rid of a leg cramp
- Crossing the finish line Day 1 with Eric and Tony
- Pulling the team paceline along the Cape Cod Canal
- Flying over the rollers from Sandwich to Barnstable
- Nickerson State Park water stop with popsicles
- Da Hedge being kinda back…
- Wellfleet water stop fluffernutters, a tradition
- The dunes in Race Point in Provincetown
- Team PHAT Tuesday staying together Day 2 with almost no wait at Race Point or the final guard rail regroup to finish
- Crossing the finish line Day 2 with Eric, Tony, and most of Team PHAT Tuesday
- Dinner in Provincetown with Eric and Meaghan
- Staying the night in Provincetown in lieu of the ferry back
Lowlights:
- Pre-recorded opening ceremonies
- 1 mile of scarified road at mile 24 to the first stop
- Crazy bike traffic where the Wellesley and Sturbridge routes merge
- Our teammate Jeff crashing due to rider carelessness
- Food at MMA (theme musta been burnt – pizza, burgers, chicken)
- Poor rider etiquette on the service road Day 2. Riders all over the road not holding their line or staying to the right
Till next year…
Tags: Bill Snapper, Eric Snapper, PHAT Tuesday, PMC 2023, Tony Espy