Its not a super hard ride. There are two nasty hills on the way back in. Mostly just rollers. Some nice stretches of newish pavement too. I'm skipping it this year, doing loops in Anderson instead. Much worse hills

1. Harvey
2. New tax law eliminating charitable deductions
3. Energy companies are still trimming fat
4. New finish line
5. Companies may not be able to deduct entertainment expenses (bbq and beer at Lagrange and Austin)
6. E-bikes. I have a feeling we may see riders on E-bikes even if they aren't allowed. I personally have no objection if the rider is handicapped or has MS.

1. How so?
2. No such law. They doubled the standard deduction, but didn't eliminate deductions for charity.
3. I doubt it will be worse than last year.
4. I'm curious about the new finish line. I have friends who have ridden there and they loved it.
5. Why wouldn't they?
6. I don't understand why anyone would want to do the MS150 on an ebike.

1. Harvey? We don't really know until the final number of registrants/riders tally in May2018. Sciguy was affected but he is still riding this year. Thank you Sciguy.

BP's Corporate building was flooded and the main building is still in remediation/restoration until March/April of 2018.

2. You're right on the new tax law. I was wrong. Thank you for the correction.

6. I am starting to see more E-bikes on the weekend rides. Even Bikebarn has them displayed in the show room.

5. Entertainment/meals/corporate boxes deductions. Corporate managements are talking about it while waiting for IRS regulations.

I did the ride in Coldspring with our MS150 team It was damp, foggy, cool and even a bit rainy at spots. Hills are not fun in the wetness, especially being the first ride of the year. Hills are tougher and people are on the brakes more going down the wet hills. At the first stop, we were wet, a bit tired already and the road was covered in gravel and it was bumpy. We decided on the 25 mile route. The weather had cleared up a bit by the second rest stop, but were were all still feeling it. It was only about 15 miles at that point, but it felt like 25. I think a couple of us could have done the 32 mile route, but that last will would have been tough. In hindsight, I should have done the longer route. As soon as I hit the dirt parking lot, I heard air escaping from my front tire. It was flat by the time I had my bike leaning against my truck. I picked up a small piece of glass in the middle of the tire. I patched the tire at home and installed a new tube. I'm ordering a new pair of Continentals today as these Michelins are worn out after just one season. I had to give my bike a good washing too as it was covered in dirt. I even tossed on a coat of wax (actually a sealant) while I was at it.

It was my first time doing this ride. It was organized fairly well. Parking was a bit tough and more signage would have been nice. It was a nice bonus to have the girls of the dance team offer to hold our bikes while we snacked or used the too few port a potties.

The Humble Lions Club ride is in three weeks. A nice, long flat ride with one pass over the Bridge of Death. I just home it is better organized this year than it was last year.

1. I can see some riders having been affected by Harvey, but I think riding in the MS150 will offer a nice return to normalcy for them.

2. Already discussed.

3. Energy companies are doing better and the MS150 does rise and fall with them. I think it will be better than last year.

4. I am excited for COTA. It's a much bigger area and will offer a ton of tent space and parking. It's a slightly shorter drive home too I imagine. It's also a much shorter ride on Day Two. After last year's Headwinds From Hell Ride, I'd take that. Austin is still close if people want to stay the night there.

5. Companies got a huge gift from the tax package, I'm sure this won't change those options.

6. I could care less about e-bikes. This is a big charity ride that raises money for a fantastic cause. They can ride on whatever they want. If that means less walkers to avoid on hills or less people to swing around as you make that climb into the Bastrop lunch spot, I am all for it. People on e-bikes are still pedaling and propelling the bike. They are just getting some power help.


With the news came down last year about the finish line change, I was honestly hoping for an out and back. A finish line in the Houston area would have been really nice as more friends and family of the riders could have made it. That three hour drive Sunday evening isn't a whole lot of fun when you could be home getting ready for a return to a normal life on Monday.

The only indication I have about the level of interest in MS150 this year is based on the Saint Arnold team. It filled up fast this year, like a week or two after announcing, I think. Two weeks ago 60+ riders showed up for a brewery ride that started at 32F. Based on that, it looks like it will be a great year.

This was my fourth year to do this ride and was my first organized ride ever. I did the 46 mile route. Purposely waited till most of the waves were released and was at the front of the last wave. I wanted less congestion on the first section with the hills since it was wet and the one portion of road was horrible.
I didn't think it would rain, but had some brief sections with light rain. My wife was there with a group of friends and said there was a point where they got soaked. After I made the turn around and got back to the second rest stop, I took off my socks and squeezed a bunch of water out. That made the last half feel so much better.
I will agree that they could do a better job with the parking. But Coldspring is such a small town, and I guess they think that we can figure it out.

I was at the very end of the third wave and paused at the start. I was lone for the first mile or so and the first hill. I just didn't feel comfortable on the descent with the wet roads. I saw one woman walking up the first little climb and wondered how she was going to handle the rest of the ride. I do regret not doing the 32 and tackling that hill at the end.

I ordered a new packable jacket and toe warmers from Pactimo yesterday (big winter sale), so that means we'll only see sun and warm temps for future rides.

Thank you for that

Theory of Relativity. Relative to most of Texas - on average, a pretty flat place - the course does have tough hills. Relative to, oh, say, Raid Pyrenees or touring Wales, the course is charitably 'well, not monotonous'.


devil's staircase wales.jpg

Looks like the route maps are up. Day 2 looks to have choices between about 63 and 67 miles. Still hoping they are going to let us do a lap around COTA at the finish, but the start/finish area maps are not up yet.


2018 BP MS 150 : Routes & Maps - National MS Society

Where is that hill at?!
The hill country has some short steep climbs. Nothing like grinding up the east side of Mt Rose from Reno to Tahoe for an hour though.

Devil's Staircase, Wales.

Some of Texas' best climbs are up the face of the Caprock, where the High Plains meet the Rolling Plains. There are a few challenging hills scattered through the state. Big Bend & FM170 has some climbs, as does the Davis Mountains of course. And there is actually some nice climbing in and around the city of El Paso. If you're into Pass Hunting, I've found 75 public roads in Texas that qualify - bag them all!

There was a post on Instagram by the MS150 account, and someone asked about doing a lap, and they said no.
So, there ya go.

The COTA track itself is rented just about every weekend. Anything from rich guys out for a day with their Ferraris to racing teams.

I don't know who is renting the track on Day 2, but maybe if they blow their engine on Sunday morning.....

Speed Ventures - Track Events

This is who is renting the track.

COTA has a large paddock/parking area inside the track with tunnels that allow for the cars on track to be completely separate from us. I'm willing to bet our finish line is set up either in the big parking lot by the Main Grandstand (Lot A) or on the back areas between Turn 11 and 12 (Lot H and J).

The finish line is in Lot A. Bicycles will enter on Circuit of the Americas Blvd from the North and turn in to Lot A.

Does anyone know any info about what the setup is for starting in Houston? They've changed from the stadium to Park Row/Energy Corridor. I live right there but I'm not sure what the heck they're going to do and there's little to no info on the website.

There is a large parking lot just North of the OMNI hotel on Eldridge & I-10. Right now it is full of cars for one of the local Lexus dealers. Those cars will be cleared out for MS150 weekend, and that lot will be the start line. I believe part of the lot will be available for parking. The MS Society has also arranged to use some nearby parking garages as well.

Bikes will travel west on Park Row. I am pretty sure they will turn North on Barker Cypress to Clay. Then West on Clay as everyone is accustomed to riding.

I was wondering about that lot. That’s going to throw a wrench into the plans of our team I think. Last year we started at the old ConocoPhillips Canpus across the street and popped out onto Eldridge and went north to Clay - all ahead of the main stadium starts.
Wonder what we’ll do this year.

I think the Conoco Phillips garage is one of the places riders can park.

There were a lot of teams that started on Clay road to the East of Eldridge. Lots wrenches thrown around up there....

I am way out of shape and with only 3 weeks before the MS150, I got to do both to get ready. Anyone else?

We have a couple of riders doing both. I am only doing BBX. I am doing the Gran Fondo next week and that will be enough hills for me. The one into Anderson sucked my soul out last year.

I am relying totally on overall fitness and nutrition to get through the MS150 this year.