Kotts

Anybody else here do the MS150 Pedal to the Point this past weekend? How was your ride?

I don't think they've ever strung together tow days in a row for that ride with weather that was as perfect. Certainly way better than last year (who ever imagines getting hypothermia in August)!

Anyway, how was the trip?

dewaday

Yup, must have been our reward for suffering through last year. Couldn't have asked for better back to back riding days.

One thing seemed odd. Did you notice the large amount of mechanicals in the first 15 miles of day 2?

Kotts

I have to confess, I didn't ride last year (I was in Alaska celebrating 25 years of marriage to a very tolerant woman).

I did notice a number of mechanicals both days, and helped fix two "odd" (couldn't find a cause) flats on day 1. I also noticed more bikes than usual that were in need of basic maintainance, or were older bikes that had been obviously pulled out of some dark corner and put back into action.

You're right, though, it seemed like you saw a flat getting fixed every couple of miles at the start of things Sunday. I'm guessing old tires / tubes that weren't up to it.

I'm wondering if the environmental issues and gas prices has more "newbies" out there giving it a go?

dewaday

Between the start and rest stop 2, I saw a rear derailleur cable pinched off on a bent, a grip shifter stripped off a hybrid, and a bottom bracket almost dropped out of the frame of a real nice Specialized roadie. Along with the flats it seemed kinda crazy. I guess with the sheer number of bikes this stuffs gonna happen , just seemed bizarre.

Did you happen to see the guy with the pillow taped to the top of his seat? Looked like something off his grandmothers couch. He was pulled over trying to re-tape it as I went buy, hadda hurt.

jwh

I was there, this was my first time. I'm going to be spoiled if I do it again next year and the weather isn't as nice.
I didn't notice an exceptional amount of repairs going on though.
I think I noticed about 4 flats, total.

Kotts

Whoa, you did see a lot of troubles! I left right at 7:00 on Day 2. Did you leave later on, or was I so bleary-eyed that I just wasn't looking?

(Note to self: Starting Saturday with a 3:00 AM drive from Columbus to Berea and ending the day with rides at Cedar Point until you fall into bed at 11:30PM is NOT a good way to prep for Sunday's 75 miles!)


I did see a lot of "creative" solutions to posterior pain. My favorite was taping an ice bag to the seat!

Kotts

Then be prepared to be disspointed. It might be as nice, but I don't think they've ever strung 2 days in a row like that. They've seen everything from sunny skies to torrential rain accompanied by nickel-sized hail, a temperature range from 35F to 105F, and there's always wind.

August weather along Lake Erie is really fickle.

dewaday

I left right around 7:45, was a lot of outbound traffic then so things must of just piled up.

Wow, that's a sick Saturday. I skipped Cedar Point, went over to Catawba and had a couple quiet brews at a favorite hang-out. A little dinner and probably crashed by 9:00.

Cyclist01012

I left at 7 am both days.
Saturday i fixed someones's bike that was using their quick release as a wing nut to hold the front wheel on. He couldnt figure out why his brakes were rubbing so bad. Hybrid with a great big cloud 9 seat and aero bars. I though about letting him go like this and letting him drag that brake all day, but it would not have been safe.

Sunday was the day of flats everyone I asked either had some one helping them or had everything they needed.

I am thinking about carrying a water bottle full of chain lube and just oiling peoples chains for them.

jwh

I felt like I hit the wall about 3/4th the way back on Sunday.
When I got home I noticed my rear tire pressure was down to 40psi from 120!

Kotts

Just don't get the bottles mixed up! Ewwwwwwwwww...

I was really surprised at how many poorly/not at all maintained bikes I saw out there. It seemed that a lot of folks had pulled a 20 year old 10 speed out of the back of the shed, pumped up the tires and figured they were good to go.

I'm putting a team together for next year, and a big part of our preparation is going to be learning maintainance and repair. Friends don't let friends ride bad bikes.

Huzzah

I did both days this year. Last year I only rode out to Sandusky, next year I plan on riding the century route the first day.

I was feeling real good about my accomplishment until I talk to the guy riding the unicycle. He was able to ride 60 miles on Saturday and had to get SAG'd after lunch on Sunday. He said he has to fix the saddle so I'm assuming he had some chaffing issues. The unicycle is a fixed gear and he said he had to peddle backwards often to keep his balance. Super nice kid with one hell of an accomplishment.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, my wife snapped it as she rode past him Sunday morning.

passage4.0

I work in Law enforcement in the town you had the first rest stop in (north ridgeville). I was running the traffic signal at Lorain and Root Roads JUST as you crossed into the first stop out of Berea on Day One.

I did my best to keep that light GREEN for you all into the rest area. the cars we not too happy with my right of way for a charity event style of traffic control on that sunny morning?

Anyhow, I saw a horrible wreck at the entrance to that first rest area at 8:25 AM when a guy hit some gravel on a nice road bike, and yelled "brakes" and another guy smacked into him at a good 12 to 15 MPH- they Both went airborn and wrecked bad. Bikes were messed up but they walked away.

here are some (see next post) pictures of that morning that I had snapped- know anyone???. I WILL be riding this next year as well as GOBA.

passage4.0

are you in this picture???

passage4.0

passage4.0

leinad

Hey passage4.0,
I work for the grand city of NR as well. how long have you been a patrolmen?

I work at the water pollution control plant, been there 27 years.

do you ride with any clubs? what kind of riding do you like, road, tour, moutain bike? I do a lot of riding with the lorain wheelmen and the lorain co. silver wheels alomost all road riding. also love the moutain biking side of it too!!

dewaday

Sweet passage, thanks for your help all the way around. Cars get the roads around us 363 days, so for 2 days they'll live. Nice pics, but it's definitely better to ride then watch .

passage4.0

I am a auxilliary officer who works TOO many hours! Been here 7 years and I am new to "serious/recreational" bike riding. I bought a great Raleigh Passage a few years ago and now seeing my Mom (59) riding centuries a ouple times a year, running around with the Lake Erie Wheelers and doing some great trail rides- I am stepping up my riding adn going to do Goba next year (09) and also Pedal to the Point as well. I ride the great streets of my development (Ridgefield, off bagley rd) adn I spend tons of time with my kids now in the Cuyahoga Valley and also the Rocky River Reservation.

Nice to meet you.


D-

Passage4.0