Doug Cornelius on his tour of Massachusetts.
1. Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Brockton, went to law school in Boston and now live in Newton.
2. When did you start cycling, and what got you into it?
I biked around my neighborhood as a kid. I remember my cool Huffy and skidding to stops. Before kids I was mountain biking and adventure racing. Then I switched to road biking when my friend’s mom got cancer and I biked my first Pan-Mass Challenge in 2005.
3. When did you join CRW, and what brought you to the club?
I first joined the CRW in 2005 when I was training for the PMC. There was a regular ride out of Nahanton Park in Newton on Saturday mornings. That got me ready for my first PMC.
4. Do you volunteer for CRW, and if so, in what way(s)?
I’ve been a ride leader for several years. I ran for the board a few years ago, but that was a contentious election year, so let’s not talk about it.
5. What type of cycling do you enjoy the most?
Looking at my Strava stats (it doesn’t count if it’s not on Strava), my riding miles are mostly split between bike commuting and road biking. Some gravel riding. Some fat biking. I’m a year-round bike commuter. Riding in the cold of winter makes you appreciate those warm summer days. Even in the cold, there is no better way to start your day than by riding your bike. Even if it’s just to your office.
6. What’s your favorite ride or route?
I love the midnight marathon bike ride that covers the marathon route in the middle of the night on Sunday before the race. I lead that CRW ride from Newton City Hall out to Hopkinton and back to the finish line. (Sign up and join me.)
7. What has been your favorite moment or experience with CRW?
We had a great X-Mass in July adventure ride in 2022. We rode from Mt. Wachusett to Mt. Greylock. Stayed overnight at Bascom Lodge. Then down Greylock and back to Boston Harbor. We bonded over the craziness of that ride weekend: Riccardo, Ryan, Guillermo, Bryan, Alex, Eric, Martin and Ramon.
8. What advice would you give a new CRW member?
Make sure you say hi to people at the start of a ride. Everyone is willing to talk. That might be the person pulling you across the finish.
9. What’s a fun fact about you (cycling or non-cycling)?
In 2025 I biked to all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. I’m the chair of the board of MassBike, the state-wide cycling advocacy and education group. I realized that despite living most of my life in Massachusetts, there were many parts of Massachusetts I had never been to, nevermind on a bike. I started in Abington on January 1. I spent my weekends throughout the year mapping out rides to towns in the Commonwealth that I knew very little about. I ended up finishing that quest on Nantucket in early November.
10. What do you enjoy most about being part of CRW?
CRW has a great variety of rides. There is opportunity for almost any type of ride and type of rider.
11. Anything else you'd like the club to know?
I’m a fierce cycling advocate. You can be one too. Reach out to your municipal officials. Show up for meetings and ask for safer roads for biking. Feel free to drop me a note and I can get you in touch with our council of advocates at MassBike.
