CRW Completes 250th Consecutive Saturday Ride

BY JOSE MARTINEZ

NEWTON, Mass. - A group of 20 or so riders rolled out of Nahanton Park for a 28-mile ride through suburban Boston's more picturesque back roads not so long ago. The temperature was in the 20s with little wind and no sun to speak of. It was Jan. 19, 2002.

They picked up some stragglers along the way. A front group of hammerheads attacked at the first hint of hill. Everyone regrouped at Starbucks later.

Nothing remarkable there, right? It was a Saturday and what else should members of the Charles River Wheelmen do on Saturday morning?

But this was the 250th consecutive Saturday morning fitness ride. Every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. since the April Fool's snow storm of 1997, ride leaders Mark Dionne and Dave McElwaine have kept their ritual going. Black ice, white outs, downpours, deer-induced crashes, police stops. They've pedaled through it all.

"The coldest day was the six-degree ride," recalled Peter Cole, the ironman of the crew who has more than once been the only rider out there in the snow - with his Nokians, of course.

Dionne recalls at least one worse day on the circuit from Newton through Needham, Dover and Medfield. "Late last winter, it had snowed maybe a half-inch the night before. Then they salted the road. It was 22-degrees when we started and the roads were soaked. We ended soaked to the bone with brine. It was like pickle juice," Dionne said. "No question in my mind, that was the worst."

Even Starbucks, which has tolerated the table moving and chair hogging through the years, got in on celebrating the milestone by donating a vat of coffee and shorbread cookies. Not that the Saturday crew needed the extra calories, thanks to Kayo De Oliveria's tray of gourmet sweets, Jenny Craddock's brownies and Dionne's chocolate chip cookies.

[Sidebar] "I turned down a job paying $10,000 more because they wanted me to work evey fourth weekend. Saturday and Sunday rides are important to me, especially at my age," the 56 year-old Richards said. "I see a lot of guys my age in the obituares. So, as I look at it, every ride could be my last."

Even local cycling celeb Pam Fernandes with more gold medals and world records to her credit than any of her sighted friends showed up for the post-ride fete. She didn't ride, but had her usual no-foam, extra hot skim milk latte just the same. "It's too cold out for me, man," Fernandes said. "I'm a tempermental stinkin' sprinter, what do you expect?"

While everyone nibbled, McElwawine handed out awards for the Cleanest Bike (Kayo de Oliviera), Funniest Moment (Rich Fields for his ghostly imitation of Fausto Coppi), Best Looking (Elizabeth Wicks), Most Bikes (Marty Estner, 15 but only eight work), Best Dressed Tandem (Linda and Barry Nelson), Best Attendance But Least Likely, to Wait for Slowpokes (Peter Cole), Best Actor (Mel Stoler) and Best Writer/Director/Producer but Worst Computer Operator (Fred Kresse). Most Colorful went to the rider in red, white and blue on a blue and white bike with red tires - me.

McElwaine told all about a recent email from a friend in Oregon who had marveled at the CRW's dedication since his team could not string together five Saturday morning rides in a row, let alone 250. Tony Richards wouldn't have it any other way. Here's to 250 more, Tony.

The Ride Magazine Issue 102, August 15, 2002

More Photos

HOME