When I realized there was no prior record for a N-S Massachusetts crossing, I thought it would be fun to start one. So I pulled out the state map and scanned the state for a reasonable crossing. I avoided picking a crossing to close to Boston, since riding through Boston would not only be dangerous, but very difficult to navigate. So I looked to the center of the state and focused around the large Quabbin Reservoir. I noticed that Route 32 in New Hampshire went along side of the Quabbin in Massachusetts down to Route 32 in Connecticut for an approximate 55 mile crossing. This looked ideal with no major towns and probably very little automobile traffic. So the route was planned with very little knowledge of actual road conditions.

Eric Jensen ready to bike south across Massachusetts.

The day was October 1st 2005 and I lucked out with a near perfect day. The temperature was around 70 with almost no wind. However, the car ride to the New Hampshire border from Athol showed some interesting challenges for the first five miles of the ride (and last five). This section was saturated with potholes as the road climbed up and down with the highest point at the New Hampshire border.

After taking a few ceremonial pictures at the start, I started the trek to the Connecticut border. The first few miles were insane - with my weight practically behind the saddle, I navigated down the road. It was closer to slalom skiing with moguls then bike riding. After just three miles the bumps in the road launched one of my water bottles from its holder. Fortunately my crew located the bottle and brought it back to me 10 miles down the road (after things smoothed out). Oddly enough this section was the only area I spotted any wildlife, one deer and about a dozen wild turkeys with one almost making the dinner plate.

After making it through Athol, which consisted of a dozen businesses and two gas stations, I got to roads that were recently paved. This was quite a relief! After the first 10 miles I was convinced that the roads were going to be in poor shape for the entire route. Finally I was able to get comfortable on the aero bars and into a smooth rhythm. There were some nice descents along the Quabbin (although the road was never actually close enough to see it). The majority of roads were recently paved. (If I had done this ride a few weeks earlier, there would have been quite a few water bottles on the side of the road).

Jensen ready to cycle back north across Massachusetts.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Going through parts of Ware and Palmer, the largest towns on the route, was not too much trouble. I was averaging around 22-1/2 mph. With about seven miles to go I wanted to see if I could push the average up. As fate would have it the road started to climb and the wind picked up, so my final average went in the opposite direction as I finished up at the Connecticut border in 2 hours 26 minutes.

After an eight minute break and one bagel, a few gels, and two new water bottles I was off to the New Hampshire border. The roads were starting to get busier south of the Quabbin and I hit a few traffic lights going through Ware. Now the ride back up along the Quabbin was a challenge. Even with a bit of a tailwind the descents I'd enjoyed on the way down were grueling climbs on the way back as I attempted to match my time on the return. On the top of one of the climbs as I grabbed a new bottle my crew cheered me on.

Jensen after his record double crossing of Massachusetts.

The next few miles had some descents, which allow me to get a little rest before heading back up to the New Hampshire border after Athol. This was a tough way to end a ride. I was in my 39 - 25 for most of the last five miles. The potholes really threw me off my rhythm sitting and standing and weaving up the final sections. It was good to see the Richmond town line at the border at 2 hours 40 minutes.

In the end, it was a great ride. Lucking out with such a nice day, the smooth roads (minus the first and last five) and some challenging climbing. My Polar monitor had a total ascent of 3200 feet for the return 55 miles. It looked so flat on the map.

Looking forward to my next challenge!

Official records:
North to south to north: 108.1 miles, 5 hours 14 minutes, 20.60 mph
North to south: 53.9 miles, 2 hours 26 minutes, 22.12 mph
South to north 54.2 miles, 2 hours 40 minutes, 20.31 mph
North endpoint: SH 32 at the MA/NH state line
South endpoint: SH 32 at the MA/CT state line