Synthesis Studios

We here at Synthesis are, on the whole, an active bunch of people. This past Saturday, two of us (Raffi and myself/Jeremy) participated in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s “Ride the Vineyard 2008” event, a 100k bike ride around Martha’s Vineyard. Raffi and I got up at 4AM (before the crack of dawn, let’s just call it “at the crack of crazy”), made the drive from north of Boston down to the ferry terminal at Woods Hole, and caught the 7AM ferry out to Martha’s Vineyard.

Based upon the forecast from the previous day, we were expecting a cool but tolerable temperature with partly cloudy skies and only a slight breeze. What we got was much worse. First, it was cold. The temperature was around 40 degrees when the ride started at 9AM. Expecting warmer weather, I decided to wear my biking shorts instead of biking pants, which was a big mistake (most people did not make that mistake, including Raffi). Fortunately, I did have a long sleeve jersey. Beyond being just cold, it rained for most of the ride. Additionally the wind really picked up in spots, particularly when near the beach with total exposure to ocean winds.

To paint the picture, imagine sitting on a bike, in 40 degree weather, soaking wet, with a cold ocean breeze stinging your skin, muscles aching from the cold, mud from the bike in front of you spraying up into your eyes (biking glasses are often a liability in the rain), for 3 and half hours. In the end, the ride will go down in my book as “epic”. It was one of those experiences where you endure hours of pain and misery because you know you are helping a good cause, and it will feel like it was worth it, once the pain and numbness wear off. I hope that is soon.