Great Lakes - MS150 ride report

My dad has MS so this is my fourth year doing the ride and what got me into cycling in the first place. This year I roped both of my brothers, neighbor (with two of his friends), and my dad's best friend and his wife into the ride as well (they drove all the way from California for the ride).

Day 1 conditions were brutal...low 60s, moderate wind, and poured rain all day long. I've never ridden for that long in conditions like that and it wasn't something I want to do again anytime soon. People were being pulled off the course for hypothermia and they had a warming bus at one of the rest stops (this is almost July mind you). Two years ago it was so hot that people were getting heat stroke and hyponatremia...I blame global warming. It was actually much more comfortable on the road than at the rest stops. One of the guys in my group would get blue lips every time we stopped because of the cold. They closed the 100 mile option, so we had to stick with 75. Despite the weather we made decent time.

Day 2 was overcast but no rain and I felt great, but one of the guys in our group was really struggling. The ride wasn't about speed, so we pulled him along and had a great time. Our team raised $16k this year, and the whole ride raised $1.3 million, so I'm pretty happy about that. Pictures to follow.

Day 1 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122369)

Day 2 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122370)

My dad has MS so this is my fourth year doing the ride and what got me into cycling in the first place. This year I roped both of my brothers, neighbor (with two of his friends), and my dad's best friend and his wife into the ride as well (they drove all the way from California for the ride).

Day 1 conditions were brutal...low 60s, moderate wind, and poured rain all day long. I've never ridden for that long in conditions like that and it wasn't something I want to do again anytime soon. People were being pulled off the course for hypothermia and they had a warming bus at one of the rest stops (this is almost July mind you). Two years ago it was so hot that people were getting heat stroke and hyponatremia...I blame global warming. It was actually much more comfortable on the road than at the rest stops. One of the guys in my group would get blue lips every time we stopped because of the cold. They closed the 100 mile option, so we had to stick with 75. Despite the weather we made decent time.

Day 2 was overcast but no rain and I felt great, but one of the guys in our group was really struggling. The ride wasn't about speed, so we pulled him along and had a great time. Our team raised $16k this year, and the whole ride raised $1.3 million, so I'm pretty happy about that. Pictures to follow.

Day 1 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122369)

Day 2 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122370)

very cool. great work for a great cause. later.

My dad has MS so this is my fourth year doing the ride and what got me into cycling in the first place. This year I roped both of my brothers, neighbor (with two of his friends), and my dad's best friend and his wife into the ride as well (they drove all the way from California for the ride).

Day 1 conditions were brutal...low 60s, moderate wind, and poured rain all day long. I've never ridden for that long in conditions like that and it wasn't something I want to do again anytime soon. People were being pulled off the course for hypothermia and they had a warming bus at one of the rest stops (this is almost July mind you). Two years ago it was so hot that people were getting heat stroke and hyponatremia...I blame global warming. It was actually much more comfortable on the road than at the rest stops. One of the guys in my group would get blue lips every time we stopped because of the cold. They closed the 100 mile option, so we had to stick with 75. Despite the weather we made decent time.

Day 2 was overcast but no rain and I felt great, but one of the guys in our group was really struggling. The ride wasn't about speed, so we pulled him along and had a great time. Our team raised $16k this year, and the whole ride raised $1.3 million, so I'm pretty happy about that. Pictures to follow.

Day 1 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122369)

Day 2 stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3122370)

A good cause for a little motivation to stay out there never hurt.
Can't wait to see the pics of the guy with the blue lips.
Nice job.
Kenal0

Day one was definitely brutal. Worst MS ride I've ever done.
We must've gotten 2-3 inches of rain and it didn't stop till we finished. I hadn't heard about the 100 loop closing, but I had no intention of extending the ride at that point anyway.

Scott,

Way to stick it out for a good cause.

well done!

:beer:

Good job! I love the MS 150 ride. Did it twice in high school back in New York. Great cause, and good job fund raising!

....as the saying goes....it doesn't get easier, you only go faster.

pics as promised:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2908/finishersyj6.jpg
Some of the riders with my dad and our bikes.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1949/kernmenir8.jpg
My brothers, dad, and I.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8379/ridersforjeffgs6.jpg
The whole gang riding for a great cause.

Thats awesome. I can see in your dads eyes how proud he is of his boys and their friends.

great pics. the kits are cool. later.