How was climbing up Mt. Washington on my bicycle?
It was brutal, but also awesome and inspirational.
It took me 2:25 to get to the summit. I was actually on a 2:10 pace until about a mile to go when both my legs decided to cramp badly, which forced me to stop, refuel, and walk a bit. But I recovered enough to get back on the bike and do the final 22% grade climb (aka “The Wall”) to the finish line.
If you’re wondering what it’s like to do this ride, you can do so from the comfort of your home or office by watching this 16-min video I put together. If you just want to watch me climb “The Wall” at the end, you can skip ahead to the 11:05 mark. I will share some photos at the end of this post too.
I want to thank everyone again who sent me words of encouragement before the ride, and a big thank you to everyone who donated to the cause. The pain and discomfort I felt climbing up the mountain was temporary and by choice, unlike the challenges my daughter Hannah and everyone living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face everyday. I had the luxury of stopping anytime if I wanted; my daughter does not if she wants to live and remain healthy.
Which is why I will continue to ride, and continue to fundraise, to help find a cure for T1D.
On September 13 I will cycle 100 miles at the Breakthrough T1D Ride in Cape Cod with several Logistics Leaders for T1D Cure teammates. Then I will do a 100K ride with teammate David Shaw from Transporeon in Amsterdam on September 26, followed by another 100 miles on October 18 with teammate Ralph Cisneros at the Santa Barbara 100 Ride in California (which includes another brutal climb up Gibraltar Road — a 6.1-mile climb with an 8% grade gaining 2,551 ft of elevation).
I still haven’t reached the summit of my fundraising goal; I’m only at 71%. If you’ve been affected by type 1 diabetes, directly or indirectly, or simply want to support the cause, you can help me reach my fundraising goal by donating here: http://www2.breakthrought1d.org/goto/ll4t1dcure
Finally, a big thanks again to our team sponsors for your support: TranzAct Technologies, Descartes Systems Group, JBF Consulting, Pando, and our newest sponsor, C.H. Robinson. A shout out also to our Apparel Supporter, Jakroo, who helped me design the awesome “No Thyroid, No Limits” jersey I wore during the ride.
As always, thank you for listening. Now, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:
- U.S. and E.U. trade deal caps tariffs on exports at 15% (NBC News)
- European Trade Takes Fresh Tariff Hit as U.S. Exports Slump (WSJ – sub. req’d)
- US expands scope of Section 232 steel, aluminum tariffs (Supply Chain Dive)
- Overhaul Secures $105 Million Series C to Drive Platform Innovation and Expansion
- Overhaul Acquires FreightVerify
- project44 unveils Intelligent TMS: A new era of agile, AI-driven freight management for modern supply chains
- Blue Yonder Acquires Optoro To Further Transform Returns Management and Extend Capabilities
- truckstop.com Acquires DENIM, Bring Enhanced Financial Solutions and Back-Office Automation to Freight Carriers and Brokers
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index Rose 0.6% in July
- July Class 8 Truck Sales Return to Year-Over-Year Losses (Transport Topics)
- New ATRI Research Addresses Shortage of Qualified Diesel Techs in Trucking
- Before They Can Rule the World, Chinese Robots Need to Master Basic Chores (WSJ – sub. req’d)
There were some interesting technology-related news items this week, but I’m short on time this morning, so I’ll share my takeaways next week.
Have a meaningful weekend!
Song of the Week: “Here’s Where The Story Ends” by The Sundays
Photos from Mt. Washington Climb
