John W. – Ray carried a 5-patch inner tube for the MA Senior Games qualifying event.
Walter H. – During PMC rides, the group discovered Ray wore jockey shorts beneath his cycling shorts, causing discomfort.
Tom D. – The water bottle was merely a decoration. He would never drink from it, even while they rode across America. Ray required reminders to hydrate during desert crossings.
Dave K. – Ray used a fanny pack loaded with carpenter’s tools, while everyone else fussed over lightweight cycling tools.
Tom S. – Ray maintained a constantly dirty bike in disrepair (though his wife Jean later noted he cleaned it regularly in his later years). He took pride in carbon race wheels used daily and routinely rode a fixed gear solo for 3-4 hours in his seventies, exceeding typical coaching recommendations.
John W. – Ray crashed during the 2003 Norfolk Senior Games road race, suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung. Jean repaired his favorite racing jersey afterward, which he wore proudly thereafter.
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.