Three Generations Behind the Lens
What a combat photographer, a Polaroid camera, and a pine bough on a Nova Scotia road taught me about visualizing an image.
Read →Stories
Dispatches from the road, trail, and open water. Most of these are cycling stories — the HPG Velo years, the Ray Ride, the characters who rode with us — and one is about a Polaroid, a pine bough, and three generations behind the lens.
Looking for the leadership writing — executive presence, team performance, leading under pressure? That lives on the headshot site: damonbatesphotography.com/blog →
Whisky and Navigation
A 19th-century whisky war, a magnet, a compass, and a shipwreck. Plus this morning's ride.
Read →HPG Velo Early Morning Ride @6:20 and Some Important Early Season Reminders
The loop schedule hasn't changed since April 1962. Eleven reminders for those getting back into group riding.
Read →Roaming Rally — Explorers Edition 2019
800 miles off pavement over 3 days in remote southern Quebec. On a 570-lb R1200 GSA. With Erik and Bob. What could go wrong.
Read →HPG Velo Friday Social
A math problem. Five questions. Inquiring minds demand answers.
Read →6 Gap Recap — Just Like Tom S.
I did not make it to the last page. Cramping in every muscle, including my hands.
Read →Tree Spouting Serottas
Where men will be boys.
Read →2018 Ray Ride!
Another edition in the books. Ray would be proud. Well done you all.
Read →HPG Velo Paceline Lawsuit
An official reminder regarding acceptable HPG-VELO list topics. Category 10 is not acceptable.
Read →HPG Velo Assos
Six degrees of separation, one chicken farmer in Wellesley, and the case for free gear.
Read →Willie Appears in Mechanical Doping Scanner
Dr. William Monkey's image turns up in a UCI mechanical doping scanner. His explanation is thorough.
Read →HPG Velo Willie Sets Off Nuclear Alarm
Willie hacks NORAD to send a nuclear alarm to Hawaii. A service to the HPG.
Read →HPG Velo Fwd: Can the Length of Sweden Become the Longest HPG Email Thread in HPG Email History?
Due to Tim's ability to spark controversy and Damon's and John's inability to let things go, the thread re: The Length of Sweden is now 10 exchanges long.
Read →HPG Velo Cycling Safety Survey Results
Cycling is safer than living, per this survey. Willie's WTMB clients complicate the mortality statistics.
Read →HPG Velo Saturday Ride Reinforces HPG Rules of Disorder
The ride this morning exemplified the four fundamental HPG Rules of Disorder. ROD as in "Spare the ROD and spoil the cyclist."
Read →Audrey the Rock Star
Audrey and I rode 6 Gap yesterday with a group of 42 other riders. 136 miles. 13,000ft of climbing. Audrey's first time. My 7th or so.
Read →HPG Velo Quabin Ride Recap
Jon M.'s B2B option: clockwise out to the Quabbin, north to Wachusett at mile 130, climb and head home. 175.6 miles. 11,100 feet. Complements of Eric.
Read →HPG Sox Arrive at Peet’s…I Feel Faster Already…
Well, they made it. Finally. They will make us all faster I'm sure.
Read →2014 ‘Pulled Pork’ Dover Team Time Trial
HPG fielded 2 teams. Both were disqualified for only sending 5 riders each off the line. A grand time was had by all.
Read →Walter H. Returns!
It's always a pleasure when Walter returns. Since moving to Florida almost a decade ago we only see him on special occasions.
Read →Assos…They Just Do Some Things Better
An inspired exchange on Assos customer service, chamois wear, and John W.'s list of potential causes thereof.
Read →The Sun Always Shines in Wellesley…
Debut ride for the spanking new HPG kits. Planned for Hollis. Turned into an aborted Carlisle mission when the rubber side went up.
Read →2008 B2B – Damon Bates
145 miles. 6,480ft. 82,075 heartbeats. The view from the back. A course profile that is rather revealing.
Read →2008 B2B – Eric Cohen
Waiting for those ride reports. From what I could see, we had a strong showing with riders looking strong up to the point I left at mile 63 atop the hill in Ridge, NH.
Read →2008 B2B – John W.
Ten things to do in preparation for the 2009 B2B.
Read →The “Ray Ride” Defined
One of Ray's most memorable sayings while sitting on the bench at Peet's after a ride was "that was almost as good as the Mother's Day ride."
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – His Indomitable Spirit
Never heard Ray ever complain - about anything...that will be for me forever. -- Oscar L.
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – His Handyman Business
After retiring from Raytheon, Ray reinvented himself as a carpenter and all-purpose handyman. We miss you Ray.
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – Friendship
After a ride Ray would like to sit at Peet's eating a lemon poppy seed muffin and enjoying his friends.
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – His Bike Routes
Ray pulled out the AAA trip guide highlighted along the interstate from San Francisco to LA. "Ray, we can't bike on the interstate."
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – The Bike Gear
A 5-patch inner tube for the Senior Games. Jockey shorts under cycling shorts. A water bottle that was merely a decoration.
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – The Ladies Man
Ray's kindness and charm was apparently obvious to members of the fairer sex.
Read →Ray Acheson Remembrances – Obituary
Raymond J. Acheson. A lifelong resident of Newton, age 77, passed away March 5, 2013. A gentle man made of iron.
Read →Ray Acheson Memorial Ride 2014
The Ray Acheson memorial ride. 50 mile Carlisle loop in the rain. Classic Ray conditions...only 20 degrees colder would have made it pure vintage Ray.
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