7 Things I Learned Biking in New England

1. It's thrilling to cross state borders with those little welcome signs, especially when you do it 4x in one day.

2. It may be obvious that a chainring with 39 teeth is different than one with 34 teeth, but it's especially evident when pedaling up a 13% grade.

3. Getting pulled along in a wind tunnel with a descent of a few hundred feet can make you reach speeds almost equivalent to the downhill ride from Pinkham's Notch with a descent of 1,500 feet and a headwind.

4. Calf-tats are inevitable.

5. Those things on the road that pop bicycle tires, well they're invisible until the POP!

6. Meeting a SAG wagon along the route for a snack and water provides mini goals during a long ride.

7. Riding bike allows you to drink in the views, bask in the sun, and be enveloped in the smells of nature.