rpecot

My days of 2-day long distance bike rides then sleeping in a tent are over. I booked my hotel room 3 months ago

txags92

Sci guy, encourage them to get some plywood sheets if they have some team funds. You can lay them down between tents to provide a walkway and keep from tracking mud everywhere. Just be careful walking on them in cycling cleats.

msd3075

I understand what you're saying completely, but this isn't an issue about being uncomfortable or inconvenienced. It's a safety issue.

You have thousands of inexperienced riders with little to no experience riding in the rain all in one mob travelling up and down some pretty steep hills. It's just a recipe for some very bad accidents on the road. You also have the threat of thunderstorms and lightning, putting all the riders AND volunteers are risk of severe injury and/or death.

I doubt anyone with MS would want to subject others to that threat just for monetary donations. I know I wouldn't if I was in their shoes.

Mindcrime

On the flipside, if they cancel when it seems unnecessary, the poor publicity, anger from riders/support teams, and hit they might take financially make cancelling a risk too. A lot of the decision is probably based around their insurance coverage and the wording therein, plus their contract with the fairgrounds, which probably has a clause dealing with conditions preventing camping. The ride itself, in the best of conditions, has most of those risks already. The weather just slightly increases them.

txags92

Doesn't matter now. They just cancelled day one. Working on more details now.

dstrong 

Ugh. The weather has been a problem all year...now this.

SAGit

I think it's the right decision. Otherwise, I would have been on the look out for possible shelters in the event of lightning during the ride.

I am glad I waited til the last minute to drop off the luggage.

txags92

Day two starts at Fayetteville County Courthouse in Lagrange at 8am. I think it is the right decision if you realize they had to make it before busses started picking riders up in Austin and bringing them to Houston. Also take a look at the radar west of San Antonio. That is forecast to get stronger and more severe as it comes west towards us today and tonight.

SAGit

For the riders who valued the MS150 solely as a ride, I believe you are right. MS Society should give them an option to ride and transfer their donations to another event.

On the contrary, most of us look at it as a fundraiser and the end goal of the event.

the sci guy 

So my question now is:

We paid for the bus transport back from austin to the stadium. If we drive to La Grange Sunday morning, and park, will the buses and trailers now bring us back to La Grange?
Will they bus us from Houston to La Grange, and then Austin to Houston?

This just turned into a logistical nightmare for anyone that doesn't have someone picking them up personally in Austin.

...and the worst part - we just nailed down an alternate campsite about 10 miles away from the fairgrounds at an employees country ranch. we were all set. Now this. balls.

SAGit

I did not ride in 2009, but I think in Austin at the finish, you can choose which bus to take back, Bus going back to Lagrange or the bus going back to Houston.

May be someone else can let us know whether or not the returning bus to Lagrange will continue on to Houston.

Mindcrime

Fuuuuuuuuuuuu.....

Im riding somewhere, at least 75 miles tomorrow. My wife has agreed to drive SAG. Now I have to plan a damn route and try and get some of my club involved with almost no lead time.

memebag

I am very sad that day one is cancelled. I've been looking forward to this all year.

I doubt I can get to LaGrange to do day 2. This is horrible.

Mindcrime

Im not sad for the fundraising.

I am pissed, uselessly, at the ****ty weather, and bummed personally that the challenge I started riding to topple has been pulled out from under me. Directionless rage, I guess. I'll get over it. Trying to channel it into planning an imprompteu ride tomorrow.

Still... F*(KF*&KF&(K

Scott P

My post was not directed at you and I apologize if it came off that way. I understand the threats from the severe weather. It was more of a post about self realization that I can put up with getting wet. I would not want to ride in thunder and lightning. The heavy rain that rolled through Thursday night was not something I would be willing to ride in, no matter the cause. This is my first year, so I am one of the thousands of inexperienced people making the ride. I like to think that I know what I am doing, but I imagine, so does every one else.

msd3075

Sorry if what I wrote came off as harsh because I didn't mean it to sound that way at all. I feel the same way you do in that we have nothing to complain about if the ride was wet.

memebag

I don't really understand the logistics of riding from La Grange to Austin. Is there someplace to park my car in La Grange? Will there be busses from Austin back to La Grange?

I can't find any explanation on the MS 150 site, and my team (Saint Arnold) doesn't seem to be offering any ride to La Grange.

SAGit

In 2009, the last time MS cancelled day 1, there were 3 designated parking areas near the courthouse. Let me try to find the info and will post it up for you.

Scott P

I think they are still working though and finalizing the logistics. I would have thought that they would have started these plans earlier and finalized or activated them once the call to cancel day one was made. My concerns are with the challenge route. I imagine many more people will be taking it since they won't be tired from day one. Fast hills , lots of riders and possible wet or puddled roads would not be fun. I'm sure they are combing that route to make sure it is safe. Based on the storms set to hit tonight and tomorrow night, I would not be surprised to see that route cancelled as well for safety reasons. Then again, this is my first time so I have no idea what I am talking about, just speculating.

the sci guy 

Same questions I had - I posted them a few posts up lol. Its my main concern.
There arne't any updates on the facebook page, or the main site, so I imagine they are still being finalized.

Had the same thought yesterday when they were predicting more rain overnight Saturday. Was thinking about how in nice conditions last year there were wrecks and air-lifts and ambulances. Can't imagine it ona debris-laden wet road.

tronnyjenkins 

So now I'm concerned about Sunday. I'm not afraid of rain, but lightning I am.
If they cancel Sunday, think they would transfer our eligibility to the Dallas MS-150?

the sci guy 

Well the info is out.

Highlights:

NO transport from Houston to La Grange - gotta get yourself there.
Buses/bike trailers will transport people from Austin to La Grange, and from Austin to Tully Stadium only.
Shuttles will transport people in La Grange from designated hotels/breakfast areas to the starting area in La Grange (otherwise find your own way there).
Parking info for people choosing to drive to La Grange will become available later today.

All the info can be found here: 2015 BP MS 150: 2015 FAQ - National MS Society

I think we're going to drive out to La Grange tomorrow morning. Anyone else?

Scott P

I did 30 miles this morning around my neighborhood. Plenty of standing water, so my bike and myself are a mess. Those thirty miles combined with either route tomorrow will give me over 150 kilometers. I'm making the best of things are riding the Metric MS 150. My wife is dropping me off in La Grange tomorrow before driving up to Austin with the kids. The rest of the team is carpooling in a couple vehicles.

I'm curious to see how many riders make the trip to La Grange to ride the second day.

msd3075

We (me and 2 team members) are planning to meet up at my house and leave around 5:00ish (I live NW part of town near 249/Louetta). That should get us in the area of La Grange but 6:30 and to have enough time to find parking, set up and get ready for the ride, and then head over to the starting area.

tronnyjenkins 

Since there apparently won't be enough parking for everyone, and it'll likely only be the BP MS-67, we might start at 7 at Weimar. Riding either way!