I rode the trek of to help put an end to MS and to fund programs that directly help everyday people with MS. I did this along with one other co-worker and his wife among 13,000 other cyclists. The sheer numbers were truly amazing. Pictures here http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2742746500055264080brjqUE http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2742746500055264080brjqUE

You can still contribute to our team and this noble cause at http://www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=206075 until May 13th

Friday we boarded a bus to Houston for a 3 hour bus ride from Austin.(3 hours on a bus, 13 hours on a bike…) On the bus, I met a nice woman who was riding the ride for the first time the same as me. Only difference was that she hadn’t ridden over 30 miles in a day before. That was the last I saw of her, I hope that she was able to complete her quest. Pictures of the bus ride here http://www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=206075

For the people that donated money in my name and my family that gave up a lot for me to do this ride, I honored them by have their names written on my legs so they could join me on this trek together. Pictures here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2049980660055264080UANmCS http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2049980660055264080UANmCS http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2049980660055264080UANmCS

On Saturday morning, we get up at 5:00am in the dark and collected our bikes at the starting stadium. Pictures here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2532309050055264080dwvzSt http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2710309570055264080BiAgIC http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2897319840055264080DdjPip http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2469993480055264080btsCqS http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2532309050055264080dwvzSt
The start had a lot of people but fewer than I expected but there we several start locations and many started along the route. This explained the fact that you pass people all day long. We took the official distance, 99 miles the first day.

Crossed over some beautiful country side, pictures here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2492682570055264080qdbKzi http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2618670350055264080BuwTgJ http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2217049430055264080EIzBDD http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2408049350055264080KXJCyI http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2537637900055264080INtfwk
The first day we battled head winds of 15+ mph. I overheard veterans saying that the weather was the hardest since 1996 because of the winds. I finished in a time of 7 hours.

3 people had to be life flighted out on the first day. I got stuck waiting for one at mile 60. There were many that didn’t complete the first day and had to be SAG waggonned in. Picture of just a portion of us waiting for someone to be flown out http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2581201310055264080ccGsnz

We slept on cots in a team tent of the team we joined, Team St. Davids. It was cold… very cold at night. Not the most comfortable rest but it was better than sleeping on the ground. I don’t think many got a good nights sleep. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2573360560055264080icZZKC

We got up the next morning at 4:30am in the frigid cold. I waited in the crowd to start at 7:00am, finally got on the road around 7:30. All 13,000 of us eager to get moving……pictures here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2034820380055264080bylDOH http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2642787560055264080LaAWRA http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2977461700055264080oXljAc http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2740532930055264080xtPXRO

Flatted out half way through the next day. Thanks fully that was my only mechanical issue….  Made good time after that.

Today’s route took us through the hills in Bastrop park. We had the choice to go around, but this was the prettiest section of the ride. The rodes were shrouded by a tree canopy of pine trees. The hills reminded me of Seattle. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2816957680055264080RfCKuQ

Crossed the finish line to see my family. It was an amazing site and sound. There were 1000’s of people waiting and cheering at the finish line. It was truly amazing, the sound and sight of the people really resonated throughout your body. Pictures http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2839155810055264080raGEOF http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2966399990055264080JszqPi http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2915462880055264080pUTuie

Another day, another 75 miles. 6 more hours.

The entire picture album of the ride is here: http://rides.webshots.com/album/563092453NnbCdd
The route info is located at: http://www.cyclogz.com/activity/356 http://www.cyclogz.com/activity/355

Thanks again for all the support, together we can make a difference to put a stop to MS.

EDIT: Now photos coming through for me. I always like to see pictures. :)

Nice write up. Glad you enjoyed it. Keep coming back for more!

We got up the next morning at 4:30am in the frigid cold. I waited in the crowd to start at 7:00am, finally got on the road around 7:30.

Last year I stayed in the team tent at the fairgrounds and got in line at 5:20 and left at 7:13. This year I stayed at a hotel, and since it was 43º in the morning, decided to take a later van leaving at 6:30 and arrive at 6:50 at the fairgrounds. My bike was stored at the fairgrounds, so I had to start there. (Next year I am thinking of getting my own accommodations and starting on my own.) I ended up getting in line this year around 7:05 and leaving the fairgrounds at 7:55. I can't imagine waiting around in 40-degree weather for a couple of hours. Brrrrr! Last year was about 63º and I thought it was cold. What can I say ... I am a wuss. :o

Thanks for all the info. I'm doing the longest ride in my short 6 months fo cycyling next weekend, www.hillcountryride.org (http://www.hillcountryride.org) . I'm thinking once I get into shape(notice how I didn't say BACK into shape) about doing the MS150 and switch back and forth each year. It looks and sounds fun.

-GadgetAdam

I slept under the stars on Saturday night... I didn't get cold until about 4 AM, when I'm guessing the temp dropped below 40 (my sleeping bag is rated to 40 degrees). It was almost time to wake up anyhow, so I didn't mind that much. It was beautiful!

What a beautiful ride for many reasons. :) I enjoyed your report.

I have a question. I've never ridden on the remote FM roads singly or in a large event, so I'm ignorant.
Have mercy on me.

How do cyclists and motorists share the space when you have so many cyclists occupying a 1/4 mile (or more) stretch of the road? Specifically, if the cycle group is i.e., westbound occupying the westbound lane, and a motorist overtakes them from their rear, how does the motorist get around them?

Are the cyclists going so fast that the motorist doesn't mind following them? Does the motorist have to honk and flash his lights to get everybody to move over to the yellow stripe? Does the motorist just move into the eastbound lane and accelerate madly to get past the cycle group before some eastbound cattle truck crests the rise 1/8 mile ahead of the lead rider?

I have a question. I've never ridden on the remote FM roads singly or in a large event, so I'm ignorant.
Have mercy on me.

How do cyclists and motorists share the space when you have so many cyclists occupying a 1/4 mile (or more) stretch of the road? Specifically, if the cycle group is i.e., westbound occupying the westbound lane, and a motorist overtakes them from their rear, how does the motorist get around them?

Are the cyclists going so fast that the motorist doesn't mind following them? Does the motorist have to honk and flash his lights to get everybody to move over to the yellow stripe? Does the motorist just move into the eastbound lane and accelerate madly to get past the cycle group before some eastbound cattle truck crests the rise 1/8 mile ahead of the lead rider?

There are those big orange construction signs everywhere saying "MS150 April 12th on FM such-and-such, expect delays/use alternate route" They also had the flashing signs as well... So the people there pretty much know which roads to avoid. You will eventually get a car stuck in the middle of a large pack of people, and they just have to wait until there's a dotted yellow so they can pass.

Everyone was pretty good with lane discipline/staying on the right side of the road.

I saw a few drivers passing us on hills, then again that would explain why their truck had so many damaged body panels.

-Nate

Oh, thanks. Like I said, I was ignorant of that.

I take away from the two responses that: 1. Drivers are warned of the presence of a large numbers of bicyclists when an event is coordinated with the the appropriate government agency, 2. Some drivers are polite and safe, 3. Some aren't.

(2) and (3) I suspected to be the case, (1) I wasn't aware of.

Oh, thanks. Like I said, I was ignorant of that.

I take away from the two responses that: 1. Drivers are warned of the presence of a large numbers of bicyclists when an event is coordinated with the the appropriate government agency, 2. Some drivers are polite and safe, 3. Some aren't.

(2) and (3) I suspected to be the case, (1) I wasn't aware of.

(1) is only in the case of the MS150.... 13,000 riders and thousands of volunteers sure can clog up an FM road.

There are those big orange construction signs everywhere saying "MS150 April 12th on FM such-and-such, expect delays/use alternate route" They also had the flashing signs as well... So the people there pretty much know which roads to avoid. You will eventually get a car stuck in the middle of a large pack of people, and they just have to wait until there's a dotted yellow so they can pass.

Everyone was pretty good with lane discipline/staying on the right side of the road.

I don't know what flavor of MS Kool Aid you are drinking, but from what I saw lane discipline was lax to non-existent. The Ride Marshals breath was wasted as stupid yahoo (I'm guessing they were noobs) kept riding 2 and 3 abreast.

I don't know what flavor of MS Kool Aid you are drinking, but from what I saw lane discipline was lax to non-existent. The Ride Marshals breath was wasted as stupid yahoo (I'm guessing they were noobs) kept riding 2 and 3 abreast.

Wow. Ok. I said lane discipline. As in a lane on the road; as in if there was a dotted yellow line, a car could have passed on the left side of the road. And I rode three abreast plenty of times: it was always when I was passing someone who was passing someone else - this is the nature of the beast of the MS, I suppose: you'll never be done passing people.