H-Bear

I did the 63-mile route in Chappell Hill; that headwind on the way back sucked but it was still a good time.

Doing Bluebonnet as well and riding the 78-mile route. Make sure you get there early or else you WILL be stuck in traffic. If you thought today's traffic in CH was bad, just wait for tomorrow.

Y'all are welcome in advance.

aggarcia

I did the long route today at CH. The weather was cool, but warmed up nicely. The wind was a factor it seemed all ride. Managed to finish with an average at 16.7. Not bad for a 18-19 mph rider on the flats. This was the toughest CP ride this season.

The SAG wagon had a busy day hauling people back to the finish. I saw many people walking their bikes up hills the last 5 miles. Pretty sad with 2 more weekends that some MS150 riders are still struggling with the hills.

H-Bear

Keep in mind that a lot of people had their training set back due to the unusually cold weather. This especially holds true for first timers and those who don't have a lot of spare time.

aggarcia

I am also a first time rider, but I have ridden in the cold, wind, and rain and combination of these weather conditions this training season. At this point in my training I am averaging 120 miles a week with a average speed of 18-19. Pretty good for a former Clydesdale back in June 2009 @ 240 lbs. If on April 17th it is cold, windy, and/or rainy I am prepared. The whole point of these training rides is to train for the different conditions you might encounter on the ride.

PurpleFender

+1000

I've done lots of these rides and you can never train too much for the first day. Most people don't grasp just how long 100 miles takes on a bike. They figure they'll doodle along on their bike on training rides and it'll be fun. Maybe it's just my mindset, but if they just doodle along and don't take training seriously, they'll end up like I did the first time I tried:

Overweight, at about 220, which made having a saddle in my bum very painful.
Bad equipment, which made that saddle not have very much padding on the top of it.
Poor bike fit is almost ever-present out there, and it takes saddle time to realize 'ow, something's hurting meee'. Which leads to why I didn't finish the first time
Injury, I screwed my left knee up pretty bad and couldn't move it for a few days and had to withdraw from the second day. I rode 90 miles and sagged the other 10.

Now I just train harder than the ride would be and I end up having a great time. It just takes a lot of 'serious time' before hand.

Today's ride was all about serious time. What a miserable headwind for what felt like most of the ride. I didn't even bother looking at my computer to see my avg speed, because I was only making 13-16 and dipping into single digits in the gusts into that stupid headwind. Sure made the downwind runs amazing!

And not a bluebonnet to be seen. Weather sucks this year. Glad I have my arm&leg warmers plus an extra base layer with me at all times, I needed them today.

Teeleton

Saturday's CP ride was definitely needed. I had some good sections where I was climbing like my old self, and then some less than good sections where I was geared all the way down and spinning for all I had. Around mile 35 my legs really woke up and I was able to run about 22-24 in the drops for a solid 2-3 miles, and that felt awesome. Only ran into a handful of people that I knew, though, which is kinda strange. Must have been all the extra non-CP riders in the mix.

As for bluebonnets, I saw several fields full of bluebonnets on the CH ride.

Teeleton

Underground

I have increased my training intensity lately. I had a tough week last week. I was on the bike Wed through Sat. I logged between 15-40 miles each day (and no mile was an easy mile unless it was a warm up). Saturday I really pushed myself at George Bush/Terry Hershey park. I was on my fixed geared bike for a good amount, and my legs are still feeling it today. We ran several sprints and some cruising speeds as well.

So my question to you is, how soon before the MS150 do you dial it back and take it easy on rides?

johnybutts

~1 week maybe 2 if youve had some REALLY hard training block

aggarcia

I was planning to take the last week easy. I would do my normal Wednesday night ride and then not ride again till Sat.

H-Bear

I totally understand what you're saying but unfortunately, think you (me and pretty much a majority that read BF) are an exception rather than the norm. Most don't have the time due to work, family, and other obligations while others are perhaps lazy and unmotivated due to the unusally cold weather. I'm not making excuses for them... It's just that not every participant takes it as seriously as we do (ie willing to brave freezing temps and 25+ mph winds for a 70-mile ride).

It's great that you're well prepared, AG, and hope you keep it up!

Underground

My reason for not training in the winter as much as I should have was simply that I didn't have all the gear to do it. Unless I wanted to take a 40+ mile ride with my hiking boots, thick jacket, etc. I just got my Trek 1.5 (first really serious road bicycle) in October. To purchase everything I needed for the road was expensive enough. Add the purchase cold weather gear, and well it just was too much money. So I stuck with the essentials to begin with. I'll be ready next year. I just needed time to gather funds and the correct gear.

aggarcia

I had some warm gear, but half was not cycling specific. I bought Nike warm underarmour on close out at Academy. The only other warm clothes was a Performance jacket on sale, leg warmers, and full figure gloves. I did not send as much as possible. You only a few times was I really cold or had numbness in fingers and/or fingers. My friends with all the gear had the same problems. This winter was very cold. Finally we are getting decent cycling weather.

10 Wheels

88 miles Sat. Met two groups training for the ride.
Pics:

https://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...view=slideshow

Underground

Anyone doing the Katy Ram Challenge ride on Saturday (4/10)?

I'll be out there if anyone else is going to join me. I'll be on my Trek, running the 35 mile route. I'm trying not to work too hard so I'll be fresh for the 150.

CranesInTexas

So i was the guy letting you know when to turn left on the CoP training ride this past saturday (New Waverly). I then drove sag for the long route and ended up being the anchor. I drove for 50 miles at 9 mph following the back of the pack riders. Dont know how those people will finish the 150 in two weeks.

aggarcia

I missed this past CP being out of town, but I have wondered how much torture the 9-10 mph riders are in for while riding the MS150? More power to them, but they will have long days of sun and much warmer temps. The ride is long, but at those speeds the 80-100 miles will seem to last forever. I wish them luck.

PurpleFender

That's easy to answer. Ride to the first rest stop and then catch sag vans the rest of the way. I've seen it first hand.

froggmann

Yep, there is a surprising number of people that ride to Bellville, eat lunch, SAG to LaGrange, stay the night and go home on Sunday morning. You don't have to train much when you do it that way.

CranesInTexas

Hey, if they are raising funds then that's what counts.

Underground

Wow. Are the number of people noticeably different between the people starting on Saturday versus the start on Sunday?

bigworm

I hope I'm not hijacking the thread with this question and if I am please let me know. I thought it would fit though...
This will be my first year riding this ride. I have been training a lot for it and feel as prepaired as possible with out knowing what I am in for. With that, how are you preparing in the days in advance of the ride? Say the week before down to the day before. What do I drink, eat, train, etc. I don't' want to over due any training but I also don't want to not ride all week. I also want to make sure my body is prepaired as far as energy and hydration. Any tips would be appreciated.

Good luck to everyone riding, I can't wait!

chevy42083

Many people view this ride as a "we suffer because those with MS suffer" type deal. They ride because it is torture. I've heard a lot of people refer to it in that light.

IMO, Sagging should be for injuries and mechanicals. Otherwise, they're just costing the MS society more. But that's neither here nor there.

I rode along as sweeper for the tail end of the Gator ride this year, and was quite astonished at some of the stuff those riders were doing. We blocked a hwy for them, but they stopped anyways, then fumbed with toe straps, and got off to walk across. Then walked the 20ft median, then walked the other side of the hwy (we had them both blocked with a paramedic vehicle and plenty of strobes). They walked at least 70ft instead of just riding it. I don't get it. Although, that ride was not dedicated MS150 training.... so who knows. That 9mph sure does seem slow though.


I always rode a few easy 15mile rides the week of. No hard pushing, just keeping legs loose, and neck accustomed to the steep angle. For food... I just chose carbohydrates the two nights before (pizza, Mac n cheese, spaghetti...etc), but I also was never much of a health food or diet nut.

aggarcia

I am also a first time MS150 rider and have trained pretty hard since Jan. I am in the best shape I have been in 10-15 years. This ride will be hard, but not torture. Riding 100 miles is work. The hardest part is now we are in the warm season and we have not had much riding in the heat.

I agree with chevy42083 - SAG is for mechanical and injuries, not because you are a little tired or mad at your riding partner. This is an MS fund raising event, but it also is a two day bike ride. My riders I see out on the CP rides are going to torture themselves because of lack of training. Not everyone is a 20 mph rider, but almost everyone can do better than 9-10 mph. If you can ride why walk any distance?

With less than 2 weeks left, your fitness is where it is. I will ride my normal Wednesday night group ride the next two weeks, the last CP ride on Sat, my normal Sun group ride, and commute a few times the next two weeks. After next Wednesdays group ride I will park the bike for cleaning and general maintenance. I will eat hearty that last Thursday and Friday. Saturday will start early.

Stay safe in these last few weeks.

bigworm

What about hydration prior to the ride? Is there anything I can do in the days leading up to the ride to help? I know there are all kinds of sports drinks and crap out there but what should one do?

Underground

Whatever you do, don't change up your pre-ride routine or what you take while riding.

Keep with what you have been doing. Some people will switch from water to gatorade and that can mess with the digestive system. Changing to energy gels all of a sudden can have the same effect.

Just keep with what you have been doing, and stick with some water/sports drink. I always drink more water two days before a hard ride to make sure I'm hydrated. I haven't had any issues with cramping because I was dehydrated.