June 4 - Houghton to Buffalo

Saturday's ride from Houghton to Buffalo was our first during which it rained continuously from start to finish. There were few hills, but a wrong turn that almost all riders made at Seneca and Transit just outside of Buffalo made it along day. We don't know whether it was because of the rain or because of budget cuts that have rendered Buffalo a city without street sweepers, but flat tires devastated riders during the last ten miles of the trip. One large group of 15riders had 20 flats during that last stretch. Thankfully, Matt Young was around to change each of those in under five minutes and the group still arrived atWestminster Church before the 5 p.m. shower deadline at the Jewish Community Center across the street.The quote of the day comes from Matt Lawlor. Matt arrived as part of the group of 15 riders. He was covered in dirt, his face in particular, which he explained had been kicked up by the tire of Jeff's bike, behind which he had ridden all afternoon. Matt was eating an apple while riding out in the van withMatt Bender to pick up Emily Roller and Danni, whose tubes and tires had just exploded across the street from West Seneca West Middle School. He said, "My lips are making my apple dirty." His dirt-covered lips literally left stains on the white flesh of his apple as he took each bite.

--matt bender