Ray Acheson Remembrances – The Bike Gear…

John Whisnant – Ray with a 5 patch inner tube for the MA Senior Games qualifying event

Walter Haywood – During one of our rides to the PMC Rays was having trouble with his shorts and we found out the trouble was because he was wearing jockey shorts under his cycling shorts.

Tom Day – The water bottle was merely a decoration. He would never drink from it, even while they rode across America. Ray needed to be reminded to drink while crossing the Mojave Desert by Tom.

Dave Keefe – The Fanny Pack loaded with carpenter’s tools, while everyone else fussed over lightweight cycling tools and streamlined bags.

Tom Snow – The constantly dirty bike, in disrepair…though Jean has been quick to comment that late in his life Ray made a point to clean his bike.

Tom Snow – The fast wheels. He was very proud of the carbon race wheels and rode them everyday.

Tom Snow – The fixed gear was a constant companion when he rode solo. Most coaches will tell you to ride a fixed gear bike no more than two hours. He would routinely ride solo for 3 or 4 hours or more in his 70’s.

John Whisnant – The Jersey Ray wore to compete in the Senior Games road race was his favorite. Ray, Walter and John qualified for the 2003 Senior Games in Norfolk, VA. Riding the course prior to the races, it was clear the course was crazy unsafe – the roads were elevated through a marshland with steep banks on both sides and no shoulders. Walter decided not to race. John finished without mishap in his age group. They waited for Ray to finish. Time went by and Ray didn’t show. John rode his bike counter to the course direction only to find Ray had crashed down an embankment and was surrounded by emergency medics working on him. The medics cut his shirt open to look for injuries, which looked extensive. Ray was adamant that “Jean will pick me up”, but John finally convinced Ray to get in the ambulance, and they rode to the hospital together with sirens full blast. At the hospital, they found Ray had broken ribs and a punctured lung. After several days in the hospital and finally getting home, Jean repaired the jersey. Ray wore it proudly.