Texas - What to expect on the MS150....

Everyone,

The other night, Sun and Ski Sports had their Bike University night, where they had tons of vendors and reps for different cycling related products. Additionally, they held a series of really informative clinics, one of which was titled 'What to Expect on the MS150'. Well, I missed it!!! This is my first year to do the MS150, so I thought I would just solicit the veterans here on the forums that have done the ride to ask the same basic question.

What kinds of things can us new kids expect, soup to nuts? Anything you guys can contribute that would help make our inaugural ride from Houston to Austin would be great!!

Thanks ya'll....
-TB

First of all... stay as far right as possible if a slow rider. People should not be able to pass on your right... if they are, you need to move over.

Expect crowds.... large massive crowds... on bike.... putting along at a slow pace. Expect fast groups with long pace lines flying by your left.... in the other lane if the right lane is moving really slow or really crowded. People have all different paces. It gets better later in the day, but at the start, the group has every "speed" of rider in it. Later the fast guys are ahead, and the slow pokes are behind you (for the most part).

Expect massive crowds at rest stops... skip the first 1 or 2 if possible ;) You will end up looking through massive piles of bikes looking for where you left yours. ESPECIALLY if you have a run of the mill factory bike. If you've got something different... a color that stands out, or colored bar-tape or something... it won't be as big a problem. I've never had a problem... just seen people who look completely lost stumbling around saying "where did I leave it". You may lay yours down... then 30 people show up after you. All the sudden you're bike isn't lonely anymore.

Treat rest stops as busy intersections. People will be going everywhere... and signal what you are doing. Stay to the side of the rest stop as you slow so you don't have to cut across someone who may NOT be stopping. Even if they are going slow.... they are just being cautious... not necessarily stopping. This gets twice as skitchy when the rest is on the left side of the road ;)

Expect EVERY speed of rider on the hills. Some people will be spinning their pants off up hill and barely moving. Others don't want to slow, and will be sprinting the uphills (me included.. it's easier than putting along for some, especially depending on their gearing). Same with downhills.... some people will bomb them flying at 40mph, 50mph, possibly more. Other people are scared of 20mph and will be riding the brakes the entire way down.

Watch the weather... be prepared. My first MS was freezing and raining. Definatly the opposite of my prep for searing heat. Which came later... requiring sun screen. Be prepared ;)

oh yeah, and just read all the stuff already posted.... the ride has a long history, and plenty of stories about it to give you an idea of what to expect.

Chevy's on target.

As for the keep to right, PLEASE DO SO. And don't expect everyone else to follow your example. If your going slower than traffic, and in the middle of the road... your setting yourself up for some unpleasant verbal exchanges from the faster riders.

Don't expect the faster people to be experienced either.

Getting in touch with your "Fred" side would be nice for this ride. A mirror and bell would help.

^^ Good points.

Last year was my first MS150, so what caught me off guard is still fresh in my mind. It was the hoards and hoards of people!

The massive crowds can't be emphasized enough. Compare it to driving a car on the freeway. You need to drive a lot more defensively during rush hour than when the roads are empty. Have you ever driven during rush hour where half of the riders were inexperienced 16-year-olds? Fortunately I haven't either, but I have ridden in the MS150! 40% of the riders in the MS150 are riding it for the first time, and many are inexperienced riders and/or inexperienced at riding in groups. This means that they will ride like they do when riding solo, like swerving uphill to keep from falling, switching lanes without looking, etc. You need to ride as defensively as you know how. Expect the unexpected.

Pretty much all of the ride is very enjoyable and the MS150 is definitely a unique cycling experience. But I can think of 4 times last year (all on day 2) that I could have wrecked had I not been riding defensively and expecting the unexpected. Hilly terrain, narrower lanes in parts of Austin, perhaps people more weary on day 2 all contributed to the close calls. But I finished the ride unscathed and felt great after both days. The feeling great part had mostly to do with finding a century training schedule and sticking to it.

If you haven't seen it already, check out the safety pages on the MS150 website:

http://www.ms150.org/ms150/safety/safety_tips.cfm

And this PDF is helpful on what to expect:

http://www.ms150.org/ms150/safety/safety_ppt_04-06.pdf

Also, google "Houston MS150 ride stories" or phrases like that as a lot of people post their stories to the web, which makes for an interesting read.

This will be my first Texas MS 150 ride as well.

I've ridden in STP (Seattle to Portland) and the Washington MS 150 rides. STP has about 9000 riders in it how do the crowds compare? For STP they do starts in waves so that there is some room to breath. After the first mile in STP I remember the crowd thinning out into pacelines and you just pretty much grabbed onto the back on a line that was going your desired speed and most everything went well. (Of course I asked in I could jump on as they passed me.)

From my experience the scary parts were the hoards at the start, going over bumps and avoiding water bottles that eject, and people in pacelines that shouldn't be. If you haven't ridden in a paceline, please practice prior to the ride.

Oh yeah, if passing, please call out "on your left" so they know your are coming. And if part of a line attempt to tell them how many more are coming.

(I hope to meet bikeforums folks on the ride)

-Dave

Pacelines... wut ya tawwkin about? :D The Houston to ATX ride has some pacelines, but that is even more of a minority than experienced riders.

I'd say about 20% yell out "on your left". Now that I think about it... you only really hear that when your near a ride marshal.

As for meeting fellow members, good luck. It would be like going to the franklin mint to find that quarter you spent last week. Last year some of us wrote "BF" on the corner of our ride numbers. I didn't see a single one. What you have in your favor for the 08 ride...The Texas Bikeforums jersey will be easy to spot.

At a break point, remember not to drop your bike right at the roadside; that quickly causes riders to back up badly on the roadway. There will be a designated place to stash bikes, well off the roadway.

As for meeting fellow members, good luck. It would be like going to the franklin mint to find that quarter you spent last week. Last year some of us wrote "BF" on the corner of our ride numbers. I didn't see a single one. What you have in your favor for the 08 ride...The Texas Bikeforums jersey will be easy to spot.

I saw something that I thought was novel last year on the MS150. If you want other cyclists to se something.. write it on the back of your calf. :D The guy in your draft will definately see it.

Teeleton

Wow, it sounds like it will be a zoo.

I saw something that I thought was novel last year on the MS150. If you want other cyclists to se something.. write it on the back of your calf. :D The guy in your draft will definately see it.

Teeleton

For the longest time I was going have "Don't follow me. I don't know where I am going" divided up/ tattooed on my calves. I made a mistake and started drawing at my buddies tattoo shop. Now there is a bike related tattoo in the way.