If you look at the satellite view of COTA, you will see the parking used by the MS150 was by far the closest lot to the finish line area. Lot C, a paved lot you probably saw on the right on your way in, may or may have been empty when you rode by. This lot was used by many teams to gather together so they could ride across the finish together. There was a virtual little tent city in there for a while, though it was gone by about 3:30.

There are a couple of paved driving pads that you may have mistaken for parking lots along the Circuit of the America's Drive. COTA would probably not allow parking in these areas.

The MS Society put a LOT of planning into the finish line in an effort to provide a good experience for the riders. Obviously, there are lessons to be learned. In fairness, this is a brand new venue, and things rarely go perfectly the first time out. I am sure the MS Society will look at the parking / shuttle issues and do there best to improve things for next year.

I signed up pretty much on the first day. I'm a captain, so I pretty much had to lead by example I guess. I'm hoping this training season is warmer and drier than last year's.

Thanks for the reminder. I just joined you guys and signed up today.

I had to drop - some family stuff has come up and I won't be around that weekend. Had to contact the MS Society to have them close my registration. Sucks to lose the reg fee but oh well.

I'm signed up. Let's see, this will be ... Green Icon, Endeavour, Art Car, Summer Pils, Lawnmower, six, this will be my sixth MS150.

Gonna missed your enthusiasm. Your regular training updates motivate the rest of us to ride.

The Bluebonnet Express is Sunday. It's looking like 15 mph winds from the North or NNE, putting it at a headwind for the middle 30 miles of the ride. It wouldn't be a BBX without headwinds. The starting temps in the 40s is kinda depressing too.

Is it just me, or has the cool weather hung around later than usual this year?

If anyone is signed up for Gran Fondo, I just got word from their organizing committee the ride is cancelled for this year. The weather forecast for Sunday really looks awful.

Bbx
 

I wanted to back out of the BBX but my poor physical condition body said "No." Temperature was in the low 50s but with the North prevailing winter wind, it felt like riding in the 40s. With my body covered from head to toe, I rode the 52 miles route. The first 15 miles to the rest stop was relatively easy. On the contrary, the next 20 miles was brutally hard with the headwind, cold temp and no sun. Nobody wanted to pull. The whole time I was thinking "why didn't I take the 35 miles route?"
The finish was really sweet and the ride paid off in the last 12 miles. The sun came out and the 15mph wind was pushing the bike to the finish line like riding an E-bike.

All the intersections were protected by LEOs and I didn't see or hear any problems with Walller County this year.

I was at the BBX. Not on a bike though. I was the rest stop coordinator. I was out there before 5 am and not done till around 6pm. It was chilly, and a bit windy, but honestly not a bad day to ride. I've been through much worse.

Now racing last weekend in Fayetteville... was a complete ****show.

I am so unprepared this year... I have been riding plenty on the trainer on rainy weekends and doing spin classes, but I desperately need some road miles. And guess what...rain again on Saturday and we have to teach spinning class Sunday morning when it will finally be sunny on a weekend for once.

I who how you feel.
I am wayyyyyy undertrained this year so I will swap out of 11-28 into 11-32 cassette. With the cassette swap, I can ride instead of walking on the hills.

Cancelled rides in the last 3 weeks:
R2R-Bellville ride
Grand Fondo
R2R-Columbus

Every year I say "This year, I am going to train more" and approaching my fifth straight MS150, I too am feeling totally undertrained. No hill training (was counting on the Gran Fondo) and the few rides I did do this year were no fun. Bulldog ride was cold and wet, Magnolia Miles was windy and BBX was cold and windy. The only thing that may be going for me is the wife got a Peloton several weeks ago and I've been on that. Our overnight lodging is 10 miles down the Lunch Express route, so a 54 miles day two will help.

See you there again this year! BEMA will be back at the same place too. I'm thinking I'm going to ride from Lagrange to the camp this year for a few extra miles (and because it took 2+ hours to get a ride back there anyways!)

I am bummed that the new day 1 route does not have an actual century option this year, only 95 miles, so I think I need those last few :)

Hi,

I am a fixed gear rider from Pennsylvania and this will be my first BP 150. It is my 7th year riding for MS. Last year I did 5 rides, all on the fixed gear. I am looking forward to visiting the great state of Texas again and riding in the biggest Bike MS event.

Memorial to Matthew R. Dille

I appreciate any tips on the logistics.

I have never had chicken and waffles. It is not a "thing" in Pennsylvania. I am wondering if it is common in Texas. If so, is there a good place near Katy?

Ride Safe,

Joe

Just get your packet this week before go time, and get all your labels on your jersey and bike the night before. But you probably know all that already.
Have you ever done an overnight event? I don't know what the other MS events entail. Are you riding solo or with a team? If your solo you need to either bring a tent and set up in the self camping area, or you need to rent a tent from the Academy Sports tent encampment. I think they still sponsor it - check the event website. Or if you got a hotel in the area then nevermind. But staying at the fairgrounds overnight is part of the great time of this event. Lots going on during the evening.
Make sure your luggage is dropped off in time wherever you're starting from. Check the website for those logistics or contact the MS. I ride with a team so we drop off luggage the morning of at our own starting point and they truck it to la Grange and it's waiting at the team tent. You will have to get yours from a luggage pickup when you roll in. Then the next morning get up really early to pack and get your luggage on the correct return truck so it's at the right sorting spot in Austin.
And I really mean get up early because the line starts to form early and if you're late you will be waiting for an hour or more in a sea of thousands all queue for the start. The ZZ Top alarm sounds at 6am. It's best to get up right away if you have a lot to pack.
Bring shower shoes or sandals for the shower trucks. Bring soap and a travel quick dry towel. Bring some comfy evening clothes. Be prepared for a chilly morning start. Bring arm warmers or a pack away jacket you'll most likely need them to start.
Decide which day 2 route your going to do. The challenge route through Bastrop State Park is beautiful and a ton of fun with some incredible descents but conversely there are a lot of steep climbs and they come right after the next. I'm not sure how it would be on Fixed gear - mighty hard if think. If your aren't prepared physically I'd stick with the Express route. It's less exciting but safer and faster.
If you're taking a bus back to Houston just make sure you and your luggage end up on the right one that takes you back to your starting point.
The finish line is definitely designed more around teams because all their tents are there and there isn't a lot for individuals to do. If you've got special MS credentials definitely get into the VIP only areas. Also stand and watch people finish for a while - it's a great sight.
There's probably more so let me know if you have any specific questions.

Hi Joe!

Great to have you along on the ride. Sci guy gave you some good advice. I think the Academy tents on the baseball field are sold out, so your biggest challenge will be where to sleep on Saturday night. I have never stayed at La Grange, so I am not sure what will be available for solo riders.

Jeff

Thanks for the tips. I am set for the rookie tent at LaGrange. What kind of structure is that? On some of my other rides I have slept in a barn and high school.

I am starting from the Rhodes stadium. How crazy is that in the morning with traffic? Can I just park there and walk to the luggage? I was thinking of riding from the hotel with my luggage on my back. Is that warranted?

I looked at the routes and nothing looks too scary. I did the NYC ride last year which was 100mi with 5800' last year fixed.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28217228
It had a few 10% climbs. It looks like the worst section is 5-6% on the challenge route with long climbs.

You sold me on the challenge route. I am looking forward to seeing the real Texas. I have been to Texas 20+ times over the years. Always for business. Mostly I see the airport, hotel and a factory. The only exception is Austin, where I have spent some time. It is a great place. I hope to see the country between the cities.

I do have VIP status, so I can go to all the nice areas at the finish.

I am looking to try chicken and waffles. Is that a thing in Texas? Can you recommend a place?

Ride Safe,

Joe

Chicken and waffles is not really a Texas thing. I'm sure you can find it down here, but it's not the region's signature food. This time of year, a crawfish boil would be great. Brisket is an excellent option of course. Plus, if you are a beer drinker, there are a ton of great Texas craft brews. The big guys, St. Arnold and Karbach both have huge MS150 teams and can't be missed at La Grange. Smaller ones like Back Pew, Bearded Fox, and Town in City each have teams, but you'd have to hunt around to find them. I'm sure everyone is willing to let folks sample their beverages. I know us at Back Pew in the RV lot will have plenty of frosty beverages. Come find us and ask for me (Scott Preston) and introduce yourself if you want. It would be nice to meet you.

It's my fifth BP MS150 and it's a good ride. Lots of riders and the spectator support is fantastic. Being in the VIP tent, you already have a good group that is friendly and familiar to guide you around and show you a good time. The weather looks great (not gonna jinx it, not gonna jinx it...) so enjoy the ride!

Katy is a popular starting location. I've never started there, but from what I have been told it's very well managed and traffic flows great.

If you are riding the shuttle bus from Austin back to Houston, it will drop. you off at Rhodes. Do you want to have to ride back to your hotel from there? There is weekend parking available at Rhodes. If it were me, I would park there.

Stop off in Fayetteville for a bit on day 1. Most of the small towns on the route tolerate our ride as we pass through. Fayetteville has a party. After you pass the town square, you will make a 90 degree turn to the right. A few blocks past the turn, on the right is a lady who literally backed thousands of cookies for the riders. Stop and have a cookie.

Chicken and waffles. I haven't tried them, either, just haven't figured out the big deal. Sounds pretty good for carb loading. Let me know what you learn.

If you take the park route on day 2, you're gonna wanna do the superman on your bike coming down the smithville hill - like that guy on the fixie in that now famous video :lol: Pretty sure that's where I hit my max speed of 38 mph (according to Strava).

But in all seriousness, be VERY mindful of the riders around you in the park. With so many ups and downs, many people don't know how to properly descend and lose control and run into people - or can't make the climbs well enough. I've done this ride 4 times, and almost each time there's been a major injury in the park. Our first year they stopped the regular route people because an ambulance and a medivac chopper had to get through into the park to airlift someone out who crashed.
I've been fortunate enough to leave early with my VIP friends at the front, but if you leave later at the back of the pack you'll be surrounded by a bunch of inexperienced people who think they can do whatever. So, just be careful.

I see the Smithville hill and it is on my route. We have hills here in PA and I am up for it. I have managed over 200 rpm on my fixie, however, I have brakes and I am not afraid to use them. My advice I give others is don't write a check at the top of the hill that your legs can't cash at the bottom.

I will be careful. My home ride is the City to Shore. It is the 2nd biggest ride with 5-7k riders. There are several crashes every year as there are riders with all levels of experience and testosterone. The state of NJ also helps by making sure there is sand at the apex of most corners. I do my best to look ahead, keep some space around me and ride my own ride. Riding in a crowd can be fun, but you need to be careful.

I have had a lot of brisket in Texas, and it is good. I like the Iron Works in Austin. Thanks for the heads up on Crawfish. I forgot about them. Yum! I am going to try chicken and waffles. I will let Yelp guide me. Seems like there are some good places.

I am in rookie camping in La Grange. What is the "tent" like. Will I be sleeping on concrete, grass or asphalt?

My bike arrived in Katy yesterday :) I just loaded ZZ Top Tres Hombres onto my I-pod. Gotta get in the mood.

They call PA the Pothole State. What are the roads like on the route? I was thinking they would be nice smooth asphalt as you don't get the freezing we get here. However, I just read about the expanding clay soil that you have in Austin, that makes road building very difficult. What can I expect?

Ride Safe,

Joe

The roads are a mix. Lots of decent pavement, and LOTS of chipseal that rattles your brain for frickin' ever and ever. The BEST news is they paved the majority of the route through the state parks. The last 1/4 is still holey potholed chipseal - unless they paved it between last year and this year. The main roads are a mix. Roads in TX are pretty bad - especially here in Houston because the coastal plain has a million microfaults and is constantly shifting on the sands beneath. There's no bedrock like in good ol' northeastern Appalachia. (I'm actually from and grew up in Syracuse, NY, so I'm familiar with the best part of the country :) )

Looking back at what you said, and looking a little on the MS site, it looks like the Rookie Team tent is a brand new thing for this year for small teams. Looks cool. You'll need an air mattress or a cot (according to the MS site). Otherwise you're sleeping on the grassy/muddy ground. I would suggest running to Academy Spots or REI and picking up a single person inflatable air mattress.
I did the travel/backpack sleeping bag type pad & laying on a few tables to be off the ground before and IT SUCKS. Last year I got an air mattress with inflator is it's a world of difference.

I didn't realize there was a thread for the MS150 or I would have posted earlier. I'm riding for the first time this year but I did to the Bike Around The Bay in October which is a similar distance two day ride. I feel pretty well prepared except for some logistical coordination with transportation and family members. I'm riding with Team Shell. I'm so excited for this!

I planned on bringing my air mattress. Now I will also bring a ground cloth.

I ride a retired track bike with 23c tires. I was looking forward ribbons of smooth asphalt. Oh well. Sounds like I will feel right at home on the Texas roads.

Ride Safe,

Joe