Texas - NOW I'm ready for the MS150

Rode the Braes MUP this evening -- pretty busy with the nice weather today. Plus a lot more cyclists, presumably with the MS150 this weekend.

For those that know the Stella Link underpass you know how it gets a little sketchy when meeting other cyclists or pedestrians with the bridge supports that partially block your vision and make less room to ride. Sure enough, just as I reach the bottom of the underpass headed east I see two cyclists coming down in the opposite direction. We were each probably going 25MPH.

I went to the right around the bridge supports taking the narrow path like I was suppose to. Those two cyclists ignored the sign saying stay to the right and they also took the narrow path around the bridge supports to their left. One went high on the embankment and the other came right at me. I had no where to go and could only brake hard. Fortunately he did too. It all happened so fast. We collided and locked left handlebars and stopped, managing to stay upright. I sort of stood there finding it hard to believe what just happened and he said something about both of us trying our best to stop in time as if there was no fault in the collision. :rolleyes:

His bike is rideable so he takes off without even getting off to look things over. I get off my bike to inspect everything and the front wheel is slanted and rubbing against the brake. For a few seconds I thought my front fork was bent and thought there goes the MS150 ride this weekend. Fortunately the wheel had just come unseated in the fork. Releasing the quick release I was able to center the wheel. Find out the front wheel is now slightly out of true (just had it trued). The only other damage is he snapped the strap of my bell, so that is unusable (how weird is that). My saddle/seatpost also got turned about 10 degrees clockwise, and I just switched saddle bags and failed to move over my multi-tool. A little strong arming got the saddle back about 8 degrees. So I get back on the bike and continue my ride.

40 minutes later a cyclist on a mountain bike is approaching me with his head down, cycling into the wind. Sure enough, he starts drifting to my side of the path just as I am about to pass. I quickly yell out "heads up" and he looks up and corrects and apologizes.

I've done hills, wind, centuries, group rides, and pacelines, but nothing prepares you for the MS150 like UNPREDICTABLE CYCLISTS on the MUP!!!

Sorry about your accident.
Good that you were not injured.

That's what made me stop riding over at George Bush.It's a wreck waiting to happen. Besides the people with dogs off there lease. I came up to other people riding abreast from the rear and asked if I could get by. Rather than put up with all that I'll stay out on the road. Anyway sorry to hear about your accident.

The MUP on Braes Bayou where it goes right underneath the bridges always scares the crap out of me. There is a long section where the path is only about 5 feet wide for both directions of traffic, plus there is absolutely no guardrail to prevent you from falling over the cliff. Add in some blind turns and you have a recipe for disaster.

I've never riden that MUP but they are horrible. In Seatle, my young daughter almost got steam rolled by a paceline and they started yelling at a 5 year old.

Since I recognized the team, I sent mail to the team sponsor about the incident and suddenly we got written apologies from the team as they were hoping not to lose their sponsor money.

I was out on that MUP in the afternoon, but it was between Gessner and Fondren. I was planning to go as far as Chimney Rock and take the long way home.

Only thing was there seemed to suddenly be a LOT of free flying protein going down the MUP (and my throat) When I got to Fondren I gave up and headed for home from there. Never got bugged again.

Haha I know the exact feeling! One time I was riding on the Braes MUP at pre-dawn around 5 am and got a mouthful of gnats (or whatever was in the air) the entire way.

For some reason I've never encountered swarms of weird bugs flying around the White Oak MUP, which also runs right along a bayou.

Good thing the MS-150 isn't on a MUP.

I commute on Braes Bayou. I wear a mosquito net over my head. Really. It's horrible before the sun comes up.

OP, did you get your wheel trued? I have a 700 I can loan you if you need it for the MS.

Good thing the MS-150 isn't on a MUP.

It might as well be. It's like herding cats before the first rest stop.

Riding in the Terry Hershey park is like competing in american gladiator for all the obstacles and crap behavior. That'll get you ready too.

OP, did you get your wheel trued? I have a 700 I can loan you if you need it for the MS.

Thanks for the offer. The wheel wasn't all that bad, mechanic even said I could ride it like it was, but I still had them true it anyway since they could do it same day.