rejected!

Saturday's epic started perfect. Sunny, temps in the high 50's/low 60's, bit of a headwind, but around here 10mph isn't anything to get worked-up about. Cruised right-through Lawrence and Methuen, 2 towns hit hard by the widespread flooding, and up into New Hampshire. low-hanging clouds and gusty winds kept building, but the rain mostly held-off. Learned a few important lessons about picking a route - the straightest route isn't always the best! Route 28 through MA up to Machester (about 50m) had absolutely zero shoulder and traffic whizzing-by at 60+mph. Never riding that road again!

Got across the surging Merrimack River in Manchester, NH and continued along its banks on 3A and 3 into Concord, where the route really starts to get more mellow, less traffic and nice steady rolling hills. sun would poke-out, then it'd cloud-up and rain for 2 mins. repeat. At mile 85 when i hit Franklin, the route becomes even more rustic and from there to Plymouth is one of my favorite rides. Legs felt great and I was stoked to be knocking-off the epic. i'd wanted to do this door-to-door ride for while, an itch that had to be scratched. The fueling plan was working (thanks for the hammer goo in the perpetum idea JM), but couldn't help but daydream of a turkey sandwich in Bristol, the only planned water stop of the ride.

At mile 92 a horrible noise exploded from my rear wheel while coasting down a roller. It was immediately apparent what was wrong - the freebody was shot. Knew it was a ticking time bomb, but figured if i could keep pedaling, could finish the ride. As I picked-up speed down a steep descent into Bristol, the chain dropped off the big ring and I couldn't pedal!, got on the brakes, but it wasn't in time! Two spokes blasted apart, the wheel flew out of true and at 30+mph was all over the road! I looked over at a car next to me wide-eyed, he's wide-eyed, wondering what this crack-head is doing, "AHHHGGGG". I come to a stop right in front of the sandwich place i'd been daydreaming about for 30miles, the ride ovah. rear wheel trashed.

disappointment aside, it was a great ride, really enjoyed it... and my bro-in-law hooked me with a ride from Bristol - and even had a cold bass ale waitin'. sweet-as.