In the beginning, God created bicycles and riders. Now the riders were unorganized and uncommunicative, and there was no crack o’dawn back in those days. And God said, “Let Sumner create an e-mail list, a web site and light”. And God saw that the list, the site and the light were good. And God called the light “crack ‘o dawn” and declared that riding would begin at 5:45 AM on weekdays, and that the Sunday 7 AM ride would move to 8 AM on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
So contrary to what any of you might have learned in religious school and contrary to what Larry told you about how this group started, and contrary to what the Grand Derailleur may have said to Marty (who’s been known to hear voices), now you know . . . the rest of the story.
Which brings me back to Sumner. Sumner is the only rider I know who changes jobs more often than he changes flat tires, and Sumner gets lots of flat tires. But that’s beside the point.
In the late 90’s, if you went to the website and saw the COD logo and some other info about our rides, it was because Sumner put it there. And if you were on the list, it was because Sumner added your name. And if you wanted to get taken off the list, only Sumner could do it. So when Sumner was busy changing jobs, changing flat tires, losing his job, playing hockey, losing his job again, and so on, he wasn’t watching the list! Nobody could get on, and more importantly for those who were on and wanted to get off, there was one posting we were accustomed to seeing.
We present to Sumner, the “HOW DO I GET TAKEN OFF THIS LIST?” award and thank him for all his hard work and efforts on behalf of the club.
Today’s web site welcomes new riders and has no fewer than eleven links. Notable clicks on the home page include maps and cue sheets of our routes, an extensive photo gallery that is frequently updated and easy e-mail subscription. With yahoogroups.com, one can actually unsubscribe him or herself from the list! How progressive! If you haven’t done so already The COD website also has a beautiful tribute to Barry Siegel that everyone should check out. And remember folks, it’s crackodawn, not crackofdawn, Dorfman!
About a year ago, someone spent many, many hours in front of his computer creating the maps and cue sheets for the COD rides and posting them to the site for the benefit of our club. He created a photo gallery dating back to 1999 and continues to post all the photos as they are sent to him. It didn’t hurt that this someone convinced his employer to allow him to work from home . . . Reputable sources inform me that his base layer in the winter is his pajamas which stay on once he’s back in the house. This someone can go long for coffee, just about everyday, because . . . well, he works from home. This someone goes days without shaving and months without servicing his bicycle. In his house, the squeaky wheel gets no grease! This someone is a past president of CRW and is now on its Board of Directors, he’s captain of the family tandems, and is the unofficial official self-appointed timekeeper. When it’s time to leave, it’s time to leave. He waits for no one, including himself. He has an excellent attendance record amongst COD riders, getting out even in the harshest weather. He helped me immensely with routes and cue sheets from NYC to Boston.
We present to Barry Nelson, the Spiderman award, for his ongoing superhero contributions to the COD website and e-mail list and we thank him for all his hard work and efforts on behalf of the club.
The next award goes to Peter Blumenthal who receives the "Who's Your Son?" award, not to be confused with the paternity suit of the same name that is being pursued on behalf of others in this room who shall remain nameless.
The next award goes to a rider who loves tinkering with his bikes. He has devised some unusual lighting systems, one of which is referred to as the “Christmas Tree”. Hailing from the salt free town of Lincoln where he lives at the bottom of the infamous Baker Bridge Road, he is no stranger to long distance riding having successfully completed Boston-Montreal-Boston in 2002 and he is planning to do it again in ‘05. He has led the Tour of New England the past three years and being the stickler for detail that he is, produced the finest cue sheet I have ever had the privilege of following.
He rode across the country covering 3,400 miles in 26 days averaging 130 miles each day this past summer despite breaking two ribs one month before the Tour began. Though we were tempted to give him the “The Most Unconscious” award for passing out on the road and in front of the toilet, instead we present to Walter Page, the “PAC MAN” award for his successful completion of the 2004 Northern Continental PAC Tour.
On any given ride, you’re apt to see many fine bikes including, but not limited to Colnagos, Merlins, Sevens, Calfees, Peter Mooney’s, Bianchis, Treks and so on. You’ll also see a few clunkers out there, bikes that you need two hands to lift and bikes that you don’t want to drag up a hill. There’s nothing like shopping for a new bike, especially when you know it’s time to upgrade. But it isn’t easy choosing amongst the many frames and components on the market. You test ride, you consult with your friends, you think about how much you want to spend, how much you don’t want to spend and after all that, you don’t know what to do.
Our next award goes to someone who is looking for both “Light” and “Speed” in a bike. Whether or not she ends up with the Litespeed she is looking at is not important, because in her case, her company and fine riding skills are far more important than the bike she is on. To Beth Karp, we present the “It’s Not About the Bike” award.
The next award goes to one amongst us who leads a double life. The room fills with silence. Those of you who paid me off this month need not worry, just remember that the December 1st payment is due ON December 1st! No, I’m talking about the seemingly mild mannered PTC manager and mother of two from Newton Centre whom on Tuesdays and Thursdays, can be seen emerging from a phone booth outside the JCC. Faster than speeding Trek, more powerful than a LeMond, able to lead pace lines with a single pull, it’s SUPER-ROBIN!
For her improved riding and uncanny ability never to be seen with Sumner on the same COD ride, we present Robin Saitz with the “Clark Kent”award.
What can you say about one of our long time COD members, who rode 3,400 miles across the country in 1999, became the oldest woman to complete Boston-Montreal-Boston in 2002, completed Paris-Brest-Paris in 2003, and more recently rode 183 miles in 12 hours to establish a course record at the Saratoga 12-hour race? She is hoping to set the record for her age group in the Sebring 12-hour race next year as well as complete B-M-B again.
It takes a lot of support to accomplish what she’s done and her primary support is with her tonight. Paul has traveled all over the country and crossed the ocean to do whatever it takes to help this rider reach many, many finish lines. You should know Paul that if things don’t work out, several of us have dibs on you.
Back to the award. It’s been my pleasure to share many a long ride with this energizer who just keeps on going. Known to her lifelong friends as “Bunny” it only fitting that we present to Elizabeth Wicks, the “Bunny Wicks Energizer Bunny” award.
We all know that Crack O’ Dawn is about rides--weekday 5:45am rides from NCH and the JCC, Saturday rendezvous before the Fitness Ride, Sunday morning rides to Concord. There are long rides and other variations for each of the aforementioned as well as annual day/overnight treks to the Berkshires and the White Mountains.
For many of us, COD is about the PMC—riding in honor or in memory of someone while raising money for the Jimmy Fund. Many of us do other fundraisers to raise money for other good causes.
Being a member of COD is like being part of a family. We care for each other. On the road, we call out hazards. We help each other with flats or other bike problems. It’s not uncommon for one of us to ride home to get a car when another rider can’t get back on his or her own. No rider, who shows up on time, gets left behind.
We care for each other off the road as well. For the relatively minor spills we all take from time to time, there are phone calls and e-mails wishing speedy recovery. When the hips or knees need an overhaul, there are hospital visits. And when we lose a loved one, there are shiva calls, sometimes even meals.
When the unthinkable happened to one of us on August 10th, the COD community responded with prayers, love and concern for our friend, Barry Siegel. Even riders who don’t know Barry attended a gathering to pray for him. An e-mail list of concerned riders was started, meetings were organized to help plan for his care and anticipate other needs. Now that Barry and Jane are home again, schedules for delivering meals and providing physical therapy are up and running. Life has changed dramatically for Barry and Jane and they have been extraordinarily appreciative of the support they’ve received from us.
One rider amongst us deserves special recognition for his commitment to make a difference in Barry’s life. Though he never had all the answers or knew how results would be achieved, from the beginning, he vowed to have Barry’s recovery be a significant part of his life’s work. He has been an organizer, a communicator, a facilitator . . . a dear friend to Barry and Jane. His mantra has been “keep the faith” and he has done that and more. As the catalyst, or Johnny Damon, of our club, he has made it easier for the rest of us to step up to the plate, or in our case, to follow the route, having put the time and effort into the arrowing. His wish for Barry, for Barry’s family and Barry’s friends is that they continue to learn to face adversity with dignity, grace and courage. He is doing his part to ensure that Barry lives a life of quality.
For his thoughtfulness and selfless giving, we present to Michael Katin, the “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” award.