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Bicycling Soars Past Melancholy, Extending Unbeaten Streak 21 November, 2009 WAYLAND - Temperatures approaching 60 accompanied yet another attempt by Melancholy to hand Bicycling its first loss, but as has been true in every competition in the 100+ year history of the pairing, Bicycling prevailed. Today's contest began in Wayland, Massachusetts under sunny skies with almost no breeze. The route wended east through the gently rolling terrain of west suburban Boston into neighboring Weston. A hitch north took the ride past Regis College and through the scenic Weston Country Club, and even at that early point, Melancholy had been long dropped. Bicycling built on its lead with the turn south into Newton Lower Falls. A short stint along the banks of the Charles preceded the day's only real climb into Wellesley. A detour through the campuses of Babson (photo) and Olin Colleges reminded the ride of youth, but even the student teen-somethings and twenty-somethings could only watch in amazement at Bicycling's commanding performance. The first stretch heading west found the mildest of headwinds, but like Melancholy, they proved no real test for Bicycling. The bustle of Wellesley center provided a bit of stop-and-start before the road opened up again for the approach to the ride's fourth and final institution of higher learning, Wellesley College (photo). As Bicycling headed back north for Weston, Melancholy, thoroughly defeated and struggling with the mild wind and the traffic of Wellesley center, packed it in and called for the sag wagon. Bicycling powered through Weston center, then hit the Wayland line to line up for "Highway One," the flat, freshly paved cyclist's dream surface of Rice Road. With one mile to go, Bicycling popped into top gear and sprinted for the finish. Spent but exhilarated, Bicycling crossed the line, 30.5 miles registering on the computer. Asked to comment, Bicycling cited James E. Starr's classic line, "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling."