The Grand Fondo is my favorite ride. I understand ya about the hill into Anderson. I think is only about 8-10% grade but it feels much steeper.

I’m not doing any rides this year besides going out from the house. No time because of rebuilding. Plus ,y wife is already upset I’m doing the MS so I can’t add to it lol. I haven’t done a ride more than 30 yet and that was back in January. I’m relying on sheer determination and stubbornness to get me through this year. Should be brutal.

My problem last year was that it came up as a Strava segment on my Garmin, so I just tried to pedal too hard. I mashed while shifting to the small ring up front and the chain just missed the ring and fell onto the bottom bracket. I had to get off the bike, get to the shoulder and reinstall the chain. I then got to start in the middle of the hill without getting in the way of the other riders. I hate that hill.

The headwinds were getting a bit tough too last year, but we puled in behind a couple of big guys and that helped a lot. We offered to take some pulls, but they insisted they wanted the challenge. We also had two fixies in our little random group. Damn those guys are nuts.

We had a very wet winter and it seemed like every Saturday and Sunday had rain. I kept procrastinating with my indoor training, so that hasn't helped either. Humble getting rained out was no fun. Then I was assigned/nominated/sentenced to team captain in late January, so I had to figure out what to do in that regard. Luckily, we are a small team with low standards.

This is my fourth MS150, so I know what to expect. There are plenty of rest stops to rest and recover. We are staying Saturday night at a youth camp ten miles down the express route of day two, so that day will only be 50 miles or so. The ride will be slower and harder than I would have liked, but I am not walking any hills and I am still raising money for a great cause.

I'll just hit the Katy Flatland and destroy the full century this year. That is my next training goal. Well, other than cramming for the next three weeks for the MS150.

My 4th as well. I know what to expect but I also know I’m a small guy with not large leg muscles who will start to tire after 50 miles.

But. You’re right it’s a great cause and it’s a great time!

This ?&@?! Weather again? I am gonna pull out of BBX, especially after yesterday's ride.

I think only about 250 riders showed up in Chappell Hill yesterday. It was cold, windy and misty. A reminder of day 2 in the MS150 last year but without the Sun showing up. Luckily I did not have the deep rims on my bike because it was really hard to control my front wheel with the gusty winds. I started on the 64 miles route but the wind picked up even more during th ride so I went back to the medium route at the 28 mile mark and ended with 48 miles.

Like you, I am out of shape and cannot lose the weight in 3 weeks, so I am thinking about changing my small chain ring back to 34 or increase my cassette to 32 from 28. Yesterday's ride reminded me of the hills on MS150.

The wind lately has been brutal. I’ve done the BBX in bad wind and like day 2 of the MS last year it really just sucks all the enjoyment out of it.

I was one of the folks who did Chappell Hill yesterday. It was my first hilly training ride as I felt obligated to do at least one before the MS 150. It was brutal - cold, windy, misty, and solitary with the lack of people. I misread the map, rode past one one of the signed turnoffs (don't ask how), and ended up tacking on 10 more miles than expected for 55 miles total - all while cramping badly the last 20 miles or so. Good times! I'm going to do the Gran Fondo next week for one more long hilly ride and then maybe the Tour de Braz. As an aside for those who've thought about doing the same, I've been taking spinning classes two times a week for the past few months, thinking that would get me into riding shape since I've mostly been running the past two years. I'm not sure it's helped very much, but it's certainly a better workout than watching Paris-Roubaix on my computer.

I rode Saint Arnold to Kemah and back today. 63 miles, twice over the bridge. The winds were pretty calm, but it was cold. 43 degrees on my bike thermometer most of the ride. I pulled a lot and felt pretty good. Pretty sure I'm prepared for the 100 mile day 1. I hope to get in 120 miles or so each week for the next two weeks, then rest up.

I love this time of year.

I skipped Chappell Hill this year since Back Pew Brewing (our MS150 team) was having its grand opening of the taproom on Friday and Saturday. I almost went out for a ride around the neighborhood Saturday morning, but it was wet. I had my bike inspected on Friday and it got a new chain, plus I just washed it and didn't want to get it dirty. And this is why I am so far behind in my training.

I did the 52 mile route on BBX yesterday. It was a bit chilly. My Yankee blood has officially thinned out. I had insulated tights on my legs, a base layer, jersey, arm warmers and Pactimo wind jacket on the entire ride. I was much slower than I felt I should have been, but the heart rate stayed pretty low. In hindsight, I had the 72 miles in me. Latching onto a good group would have helped as I did a lot of solo riding.

Next week's Gran Fondo is looking a bit rough. Cold to start in the 40s again. A 14 mph NNW wind, making it a head or cross wind for the first 42 miles. I am planning on the 65 mile route (did 75 last year I think), but told my donors I would do the 87 or 101 mile routes if I hit certain MS150 fundraising targets.I am already regretting that promise.

I did Bessies Creek ultra - 12 hour on Saturday. Rained 3 hours. 49 degrees. Winds sustained at 22 mph with 30+ gusts. Still got 157.6 solo miles in. Its in your head as long as you keep eating and keep pedaling! Woke up at 5:30 the next morning to go volunteer at the BBX. I actually thought sunday was the perfect weather to work hard. You cold? Ride faster If I could have ridden instead of volunteering, it would have been much more pleasurable than Saturday for sure. I probably saw you guys on the BBX. I worked the corner right after rest stop one at the 72/52 split.

I think the reason there were so few riders for the Chappell Hill ride, besides the weather, was the fact that it was not a ride for Ready2Roll this year. I am doing Ready2Roll and they said we had about 500 show up for our ride in Cat Spring.

I did the long(59 miles) route and the last 5 miles of that ride was brutal. Add to the fact that the only cold weather gear that I brought with me were my gloves. I put the cotton t-shirt I was going to change into after the ride on under my jersey and it certainly helped. But, I've learned my lesson and will have my cold weather gear in my gear bag at all times.

I learned that lesson last year during the MS150. Day two started cold and wet. When I packed, I only looked at Saturday's temps and not Sunday's. I had an Under Armor sleeveless for a base layer and some arm warmers I happened to bring Saturday in case it started cool. It was a miserable for 20 miles (ok, so it was a miserable 70 miles with that headwind) until the sun started warming things up.

This year, I bought a lined long sleeve jersey and a Pactimo wind jacket. The jacket worked well to block any breeze while riding, but I was still a bit chilly. I need toe warmers now, especially considering what Sunday looks like in Montgomery.

Yeah Sunday morning last year was absolutely the worst. I was not prepared for it. Thankfully Bike Barn had a tent near our tent and was selling jackets and stuff so I was able to buy a windbreaker that kept me sane until about noon.Definitely going to pack the arm warmers and the jacket this time.
I just hate doing that because once it warms up I hate having to cram it into the jersey pockets.

I think you should go for the full shoe cover instead of the toe warmers. Yes, the toe warmers help a bit, but IMHO not enough.

I don't own 2 sets of winter gear, and I have to take my La Grange luggage to the brewery on Wednesday or Thursday. So if I pack my winter gear in my luggage, it better not be cold on Saturday. If I don't then it better not be cold on Saturday if it is going to be cold on Sunday.

Maybe if Saturday is warm I could bring a little bag to the start point and ship it to La Grange on the MS 150 truck. I've never used those trucks before.

We are collecting luggage on Thursday, so I should have an idea what I will need to pack. I have no real winter gear. I have one pair of lined tights/spats, a lined jersey, a pair of arm warmers and a wind jacket. If it is as cold as it has been at the start, then warms up, I will be rolling into La Grange with my back pockets stuffed of shredded clothing. Luckily we have two and a half weeks for this weather to get its act together.

Long range forecast shows mid 60s Saturday morning in Houston, high around 80. SE wind at 12 mph with 26 mph gusts.
Sunday in La Grange looks similar, with the wind coming from SSE and a few showers in the afternoon.
Looks pretty good right now.

Don't get me all excited about the possibility of a tailwind BOTH days.
I suppose more of a crosswind Sunday, but, still better than a headwind.

OF COURSE IT LOOKS GOOD THE YEAR I AM NOT DOING IT

Rode through the park last weekend. Lots of nice, new, smoooooth pavement...

The posted the Park Row start info yesterday.
https://main.nationalmssociety.org/si...df?docID=85001

You can still sign up. LOL

Btw, why are you doing R2R when you're not riding in MS150?

1. $150 for 12 well supported rides is cheap

2. Breaks up the monotony of the route to Fulshear that I normally take all year.

3. The guys I normally ride with throughout the year are doing it too.

4. Carpooling with my riding buddies have made us closer friends.