RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, 26 July 2023,Patriots' Training Camp ride
Ride Leader: Gene Ho
35 miles, 8:30 am start from Dover, MA
Riders (16): Gene, Barry Kaditz, Bob Apsler, Charley Lax, Craig Tulig, Cynthia Zabin, David Wean, Don Buchholtz, Ellen Dirgins, Francie Sparks, Frank Calabrese, Gerry Sheetoo, Kim Wach, Wing Chow, Zach Woods, and first-timer Laurie Voke.
Fifteen riders registered for the ride and sixteen showed up.
A casual conversation at lunch after a recent Wednesday Wheeler ride.
Me: "You doing the season's ticket again this year?"
Gary and Frank simultaneously: "Yes!"
Frank: "20 seasons with the Pats".
Gary: "Had my Giants' pass since I was a kid."
Rochelle: "I've been going to the Pats pre season practices for years."
Me: "I went to Pats games way back in the 60's and early 70's."
Since some of our routes in the area south of Boston go by Gillette stadium, it should have been easy to configure a route to attend one of the pre-season practices there. Especially since the first one was scheduled for a Wednesday. There were lots of possible routes. Finding one without the ubiquitous road construction and with enough shade from the sun took a few tries.
Only one of the diehard football fans showed up for the actual ride, but, more riders showed up than expected. Some of the reasons given: "It looked interesting". "We've never been to a football game." "I used to take my kids when they were small". But the most compelling and frequently given excuse was: "The route went by my house and I had nothing better to do."
A casual conversation at lunch after a recent Wednesday Wheeler ride.
Me: "You doing the season's ticket again this year?"
Gary and Frank simultaneously: "Yes!"
Frank: "20 seasons with the Pats".
Gary: "Had my Giants' pass since I was a kid."
Rochelle: "I've been going to the Pats pre season practices for years."
Me: "I went to Pats games way back in the 60's and early 70's."
Since some of our routes in the area south of Boston go by Gillette stadium, it should have been easy to configure a route to attend one of the pre-season practices there. Especially since the first one was scheduled for a Wednesday. There were lots of possible routes. Finding one without the ubiquitous road construction and with enough shade from the sun took a few tries.
Only one of the diehard football fans showed up for the actual ride, but, more riders showed up than expected. Some of the reasons given: "It looked interesting". "We've never been to a football game." "I used to take my kids when they were small". But the most compelling and frequently given excuse was: "The route went by my house and I had nothing better to do."
Here are some of the folks who had nothing better to do. Splitting into fast and slow groups made rider cohesion easier with few outliers.
With the nice weather, we encountered a crowd of enthusiastic fans on our arrival at the stadium.
And even more in the bleachers and lawn at the end zone.
Gary went to the NY Giants practice. Not quite the same turnout in there.
With the bleachers full, we sat/stood in the end zone. Since the Pats were focusing on end zone drills, this gave us a good window on the action. Shorts and t shirts only, no pads. So, it's touch football. They're bigger on safety now than in the past. Note the red jerseys - No contact at all. For players recovering from injuries and all the quarterbacks. And the oversized padded helmets to reduce head injuries. Oddly, the lack of contact clarifies the intricacy of the plays and the contribution each team member makes.
Quarterback Mac Jones connects with newly acquired team member Ju-ju Smith-Shuster in a well executed play.
Here's video of Ju-Ju's premier with the Pats.
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