Racing The Red Line

I have this thing with the Longfellow Bridge I will putter through my whole commute but when I get to this bridge I drop the hammer, and just go for it. Its a stretch of road where I know no one is going to pull out of a drive way, its very unlikely any peds will try to cross the street, and no one is going to be making any turns. Plus its a long hill perfect for really making your legs sing.

On some rare occasions I will enter the base of the bridge just as the red line is departing the MGH station, or just as its coming up from the Cambridge side…I look to my left, see the red train lumbering up to speed, and the battle has begun. I have been told that the red line can go about 30 mph over the bridge, I have no idea if this is true, but I would like it to be true because its how I judge my performance.

The battle starts as a mad uphill dash, the red line accelerates slowly but inevitably like the specter of death (or taxes.) I have the initial advantage my much lower weight allows for much faster acceleration, but the train has a higher top speed, and it will catch me if I stop accelerating.

The WHHHRRRRRR of electric engines bearing down on me, speed is my only escape. Faster and faster I redouble my efforts as my legs start to protest. “Why for the love all all things holy do you do this to us!” they scream as I froth and struggle, “shut up legs I am the boss of you!”

Meanwhile someone has cleverly allowed the expansion joints to get so bad that each one is like a mini speed bump. I am turning myself inside out in a futile attempt to show my speed supremacy against an big dump inanimate object, and the road surface as the audacity to supply me with moguls? The nerve.

As I reach the crest of the bridge I am usually a car or two behind. Like Jure Robič the red line never sleeps, and has slow and steadied past me. I don’t give up, the downhill portion of the bridge has arrived and my legs are rejoicing. My lungs however usually take this moment to remind me that they fucking hate me and are about to exit the building if I don’t slow down.

Digging deep for the last of my breakfast energy I force my lungs to shut up and my legs to spin even faster (fixed gear + speed + downhill weeeeee). I look over, the red line is approaching the station/tunnel entrance, its her and me, me and her…and its over. The red line comes to a stop, or disappears into the ground, and now I am left alone panting and sweaty at the red light.

In the end it doesn’t matter who wins, but that we battled. We shall meet again red line, this isn’t over.

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Race To Candy Land Alley Cat

Got this info on an upcoming race, looks like a hell of a good time. More info here.

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The entry fee is $10, which is all going to the American Diabetes Association. In addition, I have been dropping flyers off in shops in Philly this week for the RACE TO CANDY LAND ALLEY CAT on Sunday, August 15th. Hopefully a bunch of out-of-towners will show up to the race.
Here’s more info on the event if you guys need it:

FACEBOOK
CYCLE HAWK
ELITE BICYCLES

Already have prizes from Landry’s, Back Bay Bikes, Chrome, Urban Adventours, Outlier, and beer donation from Boston Beer Co. After party location found! More prizes to come!! Way more prizes!!!!!

Prizes for racers, raffle items, sweets and beer at after party. You guys better mark your calendars. This is gonna be sweet!

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Easy as Pi – A Pi Day Alleycat

I will be making another headbadge for this…this is going to be pie-riffic!

That’s right folks, save the date, March 14th, for the “Easy as Pi” Alleycat! Race details will be coming your way over the next week or so and I’ll be updating this post and the twitter feed as needed. A flyer is in the works and will be getting posted and distributed asap. Some awesome prizes have already started rolling in, so get pumped!

::DETAILS::
DATE – Sunday, 3.14 (March, 14th)
TIME – Registration will begin at 1:59PM, RACE WILL BEGIN AT 3:14 SHARP!
LOCATION – Cambridge Common, off of Harvard Square.
COST – $5 with a helmet, $7 without.
BRING – A bag, lock, and your biggest Pi eating grin!
AFTER PARTY – Otherside Cafe 5-7PM!

::SPONSORS::
Big thanks to our generous sponsors!
Open Bicycle
Superb Bicycle
International Bicycle
Hub Bicycle
Geekhouse
BostonBiker (thats me!)
Recluse
Swrve
Fabric Horse
Bullet Keychain
Yancopads
Laek House
Spoke Punchers
UrbanVelo
Psyclopath

And More to Come!

More info here.

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Flat Track Racing, Freewheels, No Brakes

Pure win. Seriously this looks like a blast.

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Cogs For Cans Charity Race And Head Badge

Sunday December 13th, 3pm Stony Brooks T Stop JP

I also am sponsoring this race with a head badge.

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