I rode in the MS150 for the first time this year. I'm fairly new to cycling having only started last summer ('12), but I signed up for the MS150 after a few friends talked me into it. One of them signed up with me, and we rode together on the Saint Arnold team (400+ person team, second largest behind BP).

As you can see from the MS150 website, the ride takes place over 2 days. The first day has 3 different starting points and all end up in La Grange at teh overnight stop. The second day has two routes to choose ("Challenge" and "Express" routes) that both converge at the lunch stop and take the same path into Austin. Your total distance can range from 135-175 miles. I chose the Katy starting point (Day 1 = 85 miles) and the Express Day (Day 2 = 65 miles). That sounds like a lot if you've never done it, but it's not that hard if you prepare properly. There are rest stops every 8-10 miles. I think the longest distance between rest stops is about 14 or 15 miles.

Most people riding are with a team. Most are corporate teams for employees and family/friends, but several allow any to join. Joining a team usually requires an addition fee (about $150 for most) and includes a team jersey, overnight tent (big corporate hospitality tents), luggage service, dinner and breakfast in La Grange, team meetings, and a few other perks. Saint Arnold had meetings every few weeks at the brewery; 2 hour meeting with 2 minutes of announcements and 118 minutes of open taps. I know I drank more than my entry fee in beer at those meetings. There are quite a few people that ride without a team, but if this is your first time I highly recommend joining one. Saint Arnold is open right now (password is Santo), but I know Karbach Brewery also has a team as well that's open if interested.

A few pointers/tips that might help you before and during the ride:

- Make sure you train for the ride, but focus more on pacing yourself and learning your limits instead of pushing yourself as hard as you can.
- Find a comfortable speed/cadence/effort level that whenever you ride you always feel like you can do another 8-10 miles (ie. make it to the next rest stop).
- Be content with the fact that a ton of people will be passing you. Don't try to keep up; maintain your planned pace regardless of what others are doing around you.
- Get some practice riding the hills, and learn how to use your gears to get up and down the hills. The first 1/3 of Day 1 is dead flat, but the rest of the ride is pretty hilly. Nothing you can't do, but if don't tackle them properly you'll be miserable.
- Make sure you can do about 60-70% of the max daily mileage you plan to do on the ride. If you can do that, you are more than ready.
- Get your bike inspected. Any of the approved MS150 bike shops will inspect your bike for free up until a week or so before the ride.
- Get fit for your bike. Tiny adjustments make a huge difference on long rides.
- Drink and eat the entire time. And test the food prior. I learned the hard way that the free chewy energy blocks I got at one of the rest stops don't mix well with my stomach.

Hopefully that helps out.