I'm a newcomer to the wonderful world of biking. I've been commuting on a superstore ATB for the last three years, but thought it was time I actually did something worthwhile. I joined the Saint Arnold Brewery bike team as soon as it opened up, and was registered for the 2008 Houston to Austin MS 150 as soon as the site went live. I'm beginning to get a bit nervous about the whole thing. I know I've got six months to train, but 182 miles is a long way, and South East Texas isn't great for training for the rolling terrain of the Hill Country.
I would appreciate any advice from people who have done this ride before, as to what to expect and how many miles I need to be averaging a week in the run up to the ride. I'm really glad to be doing an event like this, but I want to challenge myself too. What sort of time is a respectable goal to aim for? One that pushes me, but isn't too unrealistic for a rookie.
Also, I'd appreciate if you could take a moment to click through to my site. A good tally on the visitor counter will help when I start trying to round up commercial sponsors!
Thanks all!
Gav
biffstephens
10-05-07, 11:57 AM
My first orginized ride was an MS 150....I will be on the St Arnolds team this year as well...wooohoooo
To train....ride ride ride....and apparently drink beer afterwards...
GavCB
10-05-07, 12:24 PM
From what I've heard, it's a good team to be on. I'm glad I'm part of it for my first one! The mail that came 'round the other day said that they might be organising a team ride for the fall. Should be a good excuse to have a ride, get to know a few people and have a few beers!
GreenRiver
10-05-07, 12:44 PM
Gavin -
I did my first MS150 at age 53 in 2006 - did it this year too. I'll start training in Jan - usually 8 + hours per week. I picked up a heart rate monitor last year, and haven't looked back since. Miles aren't as important to me as quality hours on the bike. I do a mix of rides - endurance / intervals / hills during the week, and go for a long (for me, that's 3 or so hours) session on Sat or Sun. I also participate in 3 or so MS150 warmup rides as well. One that I will definately do again is the Tri-County Hill Hopper, which takes you through Round Top and Fayetteville - a lot of pretty country and pretty challeging. Good luck with it.
SpiderMike
10-05-07, 04:27 PM
Take advantage of the "suggested training rides". These not only get some miles under your belt, but get you familiar with ...
a. riding in groups of people.
b. negotiating through slower AND faster traffic.
c. the dynamics of entering/exiting rest stops.
Oh and Chamois Butt'r is your friend.
edit: Done it two years in a row. Finished this year at about 12:35.
JoeB14
10-06-07, 08:02 AM
yo newcomer
JoeB14
10-06-07, 08:03 AM
how are u??
Da Tinker
10-06-07, 08:57 AM
If you get up to riding 35 - 50 miles on Saturday & Sunday by April 1, you will rock this ride. Got some maps, advice & training guides up at my team website:
www2.lgc.com/ms150
GavCB
10-06-07, 07:31 PM
Thanks for the advice, I definitely want to get on a couple of the training rides. I thought I might try do do the Tour de Donut next month to get started, but maybe just the 28 mile route to start with. I want to get up to back to back 50 mile rides by around January or so, then try and get one century in maybe in February or March so I know a bit more about what it feels like to wake up having ridden 100 miles the dat before! I'll stock up on the Chamois Butt'r!
Da Tinker
10-07-07, 11:34 AM
Yep, that should do it. Your max endurance should be about 2 - 3 times your average long ride, so back to back 50 milers should do the trick. There will be lots of good rides in the spring, just check the MS Society's website later on for their list of official training rides.
GavCB
10-08-07, 01:45 PM
Well, things are progressing. The fund-raising link is up, and I'm starting to plan some activities to raise awareness, raise some money and try and get my profile up a bit to attract some local sponsors. I was thinking about putting on a concert in a local bar: a good excuse to get the ol' band back together...
On the biking front, I have the new bike, a Bianchi Via Nirone which I love, and took it out for it's first 'proper' ride on Sunday. All was going well (on course for getting 20 miles done in under an hour), when I got a flat at about 4 miles left to go. That stuffed the statistics for that ride! Bring on the puncture-resistant tubes! All registered for the Tour de Donut on the 4th November and looking forward to it, although a bit apprehensive about what to expect. Free donuts though!
phazer08
10-08-07, 02:29 PM
I want to do this ride as well - it would be my first MS150. I'm not worried about the fundraising. I'm not particularly worried about the distance (of course, I may be singing a different tune in April). I guess I'm more worried about logistics. I don't really have that many riding buddies - how do I find a team? Does one ride with one's team (I'm not a speed demon - more of a slow and steady)? Will I wish I had friend/family support along the way?
I have more questions, but this will be a start. Thanks for your help.
GavCB
10-08-07, 06:54 PM
Hey Phazer, glad to meet another MS150 first-timer! Logistics was something that had been concerning me a bit as well. I think that you can arrange to have two bags (up to 75lbs) carried from the start to the campsite, then on again to Austin, and I think the cost of that is included in the registration, so that should cover plenty stuff even if you're camping yourself.
I don't know anyone else who's riding, but the team has a couple of meetings before the day, so I'm hoping to meet a couple of people. The Saint Arnold team has over 250 riders, so I'm hoping that someone might be around my pace!
As far as finding a team goes, I just spent a few hours searching the web for info on the Houston-Austin MS150 and found a forum where someone had told another newbie (two or three years ago I think) that the Saint Arnold team was a good one to ride with. You might be able to find some more information about what other teams are available and how to get in touch with them.
Da Tinker
10-09-07, 07:04 AM
Sun & Ski Sports has a good team, as well as Urban Bike Gallery. If you can't find a team you like, let me know later in the season (say, January, February), and I may have room on my team. Right now, I got to hold the spaces for employees & customers.
Mash Master
10-12-07, 01:44 PM
So what exactly the benefit is for being on a team? I was on a team for the MS 150 in Washinton State and our benefit was to have a team tent.
Are there any teams in the Austin area? looks like most of the teams are based in Houston.
Da Tinker
10-14-07, 08:54 AM
Well, my team has safety classes, may have organized training rides (we did this year, not sure about next year yet), team jerseys, a team tent at the overnight point with food, drink, beer :beer:, massage, a dry place to sleep, and hearty comraderie. Plus a team tent at the finish line with food, drink & more beer :beer:.
The BP MS 150 is team dominated, with about 95% of the riders on teams. I think it's more fun that way.