chinotex

I'm riding in my third MS150 this weekend, and I've never been so woefully unprepared for it. I've ridden 95 miles in 2010. That's down from 3000 miles for the whole year of 2008, when I first did the MS150.

Graduate school has really done me in when it comes to riding... I'm looking forward to graduating and May and trying to get back into the habit that schoolwork has pushed me out of.

Until then, I'll be in pain this weekend. Grrr.

yeamac 

The SE tailwind is definitely going to be your friend this weekend.

Underground

I hope you find a good pace line.

aggarcia

I would not say I am not unprepared for the MS150. I have ridden 1317 miles since Jan 1. I have lost an additional 25 lbs. Since I am new to cycling, I am in the best shape and conditioning I have been 9 or the last 10 years every other way ). My big question is am I really ready - the unknown from never having ridden the MS150 before? I am already making list on what to pack or to be carried on the bike. I will wash and clean the bike on Thursday night.

If you have done it before and this is your third time you should know if you are ready or not. Because of your conditioning you may not be able to ride as fast as you have in previous years, but you have finished it before. Good Luck.

alohaboy

I'll say that my butt is unprepared. I rode 100 miles yesterday and that's really the only thing that hurts.
Even my hip and knee that were hurting after the ride feel better.

hrt4me

My girlfriend and I rode 63 miles this past weekend during the Greater Dallas Bicyclist's scenic annual Lancaster Ride, and we've been riding pretty regularly these past few months (several times during the week, and both Saturday and Sunday mornings), so we should be ready. We're starting in Katy.

rainycamp

I'm with alohaboy. I've ridden 850+ miles this year, but no ride longer than 55 miles. Butt hurts during most rides. But I think I'm ready for it. If nothing else, I can ride from rest stop to rest stop.

alohaboy

That's my plan.
Incidentally, we ride the exact same bike too, '08 Spec Allez Elite Compact.

yeamac 

Physical preparation vs. mental preparation. Both are important, but I would say physical is more so, for sore body parts and muscles mentioned above. And if you are not physically prepared, mentally you probably won't be either, unless you are naive (which Chino is not).

Mentally all you have to realize is that:

(1) it is not a race, just a cushy bike ride, so enjoy it! Unless you made some sort of wager with someone, it doesn't matter that you get to LaGrange/Austin 30 minutes sooner or later. Not only that, it is an EXTREMELY PAMPERED bike ride with tons of food, sag support, medical personnel, a route well-marked out so you can't help but know where to go.

(2) you'll be around (passing/being passed by) other cyclists the entire ride, which I liken to being on the interstate during rush hour, but generally traffic moves along at the speed you want it to go. Cycle defensively, and you'll be fine. Even though there are scads of people on the MS, the three years I rode I never felt like I was prevented from riding the pace I wanted to ride.

Hope you all have a good MS ride! I'm not able to ride this year because I have a conference to attend, and now all of the sudden I am feeling like I am missing out this year. I'll be looking for the ride reports so I can live vicariously through all of you.

PurpleFender

I'm feeling pretty unprepared and have a minor hamstring injury from going too low too soon on my road bike (handlebars). I'll be riding the more cushy Giant on the ride not only because it's more upright, but also because it's already been beaten up from being shipped back to Houston once. I don't wanna hurt my Soul.

I'll be seriously taking it easy this time around because I have to nurse my left knee. No rat racing for me

chevy42083

I'm way more prepared than past years I rode it... then again, I'm not riding it this year.

Greg - Nate and I had wondered if you were still fitting riding in with the graduate program.
You've got enough of a base that you'll be fine. The last year I rode the MS150 I had barely touched the bike since the previous MS150. It hurt... but I finished. Less goofing around, sprinting, playing, bunny-hopping, sharing jokes with passing riders..... more head down grinding along.

aggarcia

Yeamac is right. A big part of the equation is the mental toughness. Physical training is the other key. It is not a race and you have a long time to ride the miles.

Purplefender - no Soul bike? It really is a cool looking and very different bike. Since I have seen you ride it at some many training rides you did put it to good use this season. Comfort is a key to this ride.

I am feeling good and I did lots of training, but never the MS150. My longest ride this season was low 70 miles. My plan is to ride and only stop at every other rest stop or 1-1:15 between breaks. My hope is to average 17-18 mph ( computer avg ) over the 1st day. If we get a nice tail wind or rain then that will change things.

I hope to see you all out there. This is a supposed to be a fun ride, so I will enjoy it one way or another. I will be wearing a Shell Jersey day 1 and a Yellow Houston Cycle Centers Jersey Day 2 on my Trek 2.1 (with Soul wheels - never seen anything else by Soul in Houston except for PF bike ). Good luck and rest up.

bigworm

I feel like I'm as ready as I could expect to be. Many training rides since January with the longest last weekend of 62. I was tired the next day but not sore at all and my butt very rarely bothers me.

I'll be on my Trek 2.1 like aggarcia (minus the soul wheels) and in a Fluor jersey day one and red and black jersey day 2.

I'm excited already, trying to do things that keep my mind off of it. Like a kid before Christmas. It's gonna be a blast no matter what.

Good luck to everyone. Say Hi if you see me.

Underground

Does anyone wear the same jersey for both days?

I was thinking about doing that and bringing some febreeze to keep it fresh. Or is that bad form?

aggarcia

I have heard this from senior MS150 riders - some people wash their jersey and shorts from day 1 in the shower and wear it day 2. Since the MS society is bringing our luggage, why not include a fresh jersey and pair of biking shorts? After a long hopefully hot ride why wear sweaty jersey again?

bigworm - what year is your 2.1? This really is a good value bike on Trek's line. I have seen several of them on the CP training rides. The 2.1 will really help those miles melt away, or so I will tell myself.

bigworm

aggarcia, same as yours...09 Blue and white. I love it. Been looking at the soul wheels you put on yours. I'll decide later on those. Just thinking about the ride this weekend currently.

aggarcia

The 09 2.1 really has a nice color scheme. I was been a good bike over the almost 3K miles I have put on it since June 09.

I really like the S4.0 wheels in types of riding except in strong cross winds. Those strong 20-30 mph cross winds really push the bike around and you have to steer the bike straight. My only wish was they were lighter, but you can not have your cake and eat it too for the price.

I guess like all MS150 riders were are watching the weather.

PurpleFender

You bring a hanger and wear your jersey in the shower, then hang it up overnight. You should wear different bibs the second day, lest you wind up with a hiney full of pimples the second day. Have to do the shower/hang since the team I'm riding with didn't have an option for two jerseys.

chinotex

I'm wearing my Memorial Herman jersey on Day 1, then my Aggie kit to cross the finish line - nothing beats all those whoops in front of the Capitol in Austin!

Underground

lol I'm sure all those UT fans will love you.

PurpleFender

Oh gosh, not this ut/am stuff again. Everyone knows UHCL is better than all that

paste_me

I would like to ask your guys suggestion for what to do if someone is riding without a group.
Should I just cycle along and try to find a nice place line?

paste_me

Anyone trying to do this in one day? Perhaps start out on the 70 mile route the first day and take the easier route from la grange to austin?

froggmann

Yep, chances are you will find a group of similar speed, style, ect.

froggmann

I've always heard that there is a group that has been riding it in one day since the early 1990's. But I've never actually seen them.(probably because I'm in La Grange when they arrive in Austin) That's cool and all, but part of the fun is crossing the finish line to all the cheering crowd, music, ect. If you do it in one day no one is there but a bunch of dudes setting up tents and stuff.