Ray Acheson Remembrances – His Indomitable Spirit

Oscar Lazaro – Never heard Ray ever complain – about anything….that will be for me forever.

Walter Haywood – One of his favorite sayings was it builds character if the effort is hard. Riding in rain that was so hard you could not see and him refusing to stop until the rain let up.

John Whisnant, Tom Day – The infusion pump. On one cold ride when Ray first had his infusion pump pic line in, Walter called us all: “Ray’s going out, everybody shows up, no wimping out” and we all rode in 40 degree rain not saying anything about how long or when we’d get back until hours later, we ended back in Wellesley with Ray saying “Wasn’t that great.” Of course he hadn’t felt that well for years given the osteomylitis he had for years in his face which the surgery removed and the antibiotics were controlling. I’m sure he didn’t notice. And I’m sure the infusion pump was not designed for bike riding.

Tom Day, Damon Bates – The Ray roll, Watchusett Climb etc… One of my favorites was when Ray collapsed in the fetal position at the top of Wachusett foaming at the mouth. I was actually quite worried…but of course he recovered for the ride home

John Whisnant – Ray’s advice to those who hesitated to ride through the coldest winter days: “Start late. Turn back early.”

John Whisnant – Ray stopped half way up Leviathan climb on a B2B. Down but not out. He proceeded to get back on his bike, ride down the hill to get up some speed, do a U turn and started up again. And makes it.

John Whisnant, Damon Bates, Walter Haywood – The Tandem with Walter at the PMC. We also can’t forget the sound of his blaring mini harmonica as he captained the tandem with Walter. When we heard that sound gaining from the rear it was time to get out of the saddle and sprint for the train… Riding the tandem with him was an adventure. He being a masher and me a spinner it was amazing how we managed to ride so well. I would get so upset with him at times that I would not pedal.

Tom Day – Refused to get SAGGED. In 2004, Ray, John Whisnant and I were cycling with the America by Bike group from Newport CA to MA. John had to abandon the ride in Dalton, Texas after a crash. Ray and I kept going. In Missouri or some cold, rainy, windswept place—Ray was caught without the right clothes (surprise) as it poured and lightning about 10 miles into our 100+ mile day…We holed up in a house under construction for about an hour, then as we rode on it was clear that Ray was in hypothermia trouble….we all formed a pack around him and rode together with him shaking til until we found Mike and the SAG wagon—who said “get in the car Ray.” Ray said “No” etc. back and forth until Mike finally said…”OK OK I promise I’m not going to SAG you, I’m just going to get you warm.” and gave him a change of clothes and warmed him up until he could ride on.

Oscar Lazaro – Ray falling off the bike on a 98F day – waking up in an ambulance with only Walters’ Peet’s card on him as ID “I promise I am Ray not Walter” – and the EMS guy looking at the cracked helmet and saying – this guy hit his head hard!!

Oscar Lazaro – Ray rolling over the bumpy railroad tracks and having his false teeth fall out – and I forget who ran over them but they got a flat!

Oscar Lazaro – Ray going in for a physical and having the nurse pull a “code red” on him because his HRT was at 35…due to his fitness level

Chip Norton – My BEST OF RAY was watching the epic training battles he used to have with our good friend, Warren Hellman. The two came from totally different backgrounds but became very close friends in the 1970’s through their mutual love for training/competing. Warren was a former national collegiate swim champion with a disfigured arm from childhood polio. When we would go on training runs or rides, the two of them would constantly battle for front position to the point of body and/or bike contact. There were times they would come close to punches. Ray always had to stay ahead; whenever you ran with him, he’d always stay a shoulder ahead no matter what the pace. Always the competitor who would always laugh about it after the fact.

Tom Snow – 50 at 50. Jean asked Ray what he wanted for his 50th birthday. Ray replied “Can you drive me to Rhode Island and then meet me every 3 miles on the way home? I’d like to run 50 miles on my 50th birthday.” Not only did Ray run, but he ran it in 7:26, and refused to stop until Jean finally said to Ray “Get in the car Ray”, well beyond the 50 mile point.

Tom Snow – Spinning. Ray would often go to the YMCA to spin. He mentioned on one of our rides in the winter that the spin bikes were missing the saddles, perhaps to make sure no one would use them unsupervised. This didn’t deter Ray. He merely rode the spin bike, without saddle to complete his hour long sufferfest. He actually liked it. The YMCA later named the room after him.