This weekend was the 23rd annual BP MS150. Vanessa and I rode for our 3rd year. This year we rode with Team BTX. Since most of the team lives in The Woodlands, they made arrangements to start from the YMCA at Branch Crossing.
Saturday morning we woke up at 3:30am. Vanessa had to get ready to leave by 4:30, because she did not want to ride 100 miles. She started from Rhodes Stadium, which made the logistics easier. This way we knew how we were getting back to The Woodlands.
I got to the YMCA at about 5:30am. Angelo was already there. I still had to put my bike together, air up the tires, and put on my numbers. I did that while visiting with everyone. We were ready about 6:30. Being the only ride marshal, I gave the safety talk to about 60 riders. Right after that we started the ride at 6:33.
As we left the YMCA, we headed the long way around Branch Crossing to Woodlands Parkway. From there we headed up FM2978 to FM1488 and headed west. Our first rest stop was setup at Magnolia High School. I slowed down for the riders in front of me, but kept going. In Magnolia I caught up to some of the first riders to leave and stayed with them until the second stop. Our second stop was outside Magnolia at an electric company. I stopped briefly, and then got back on the road again. We stayed along 1488 and even caught up to some of the Northwest Cycling Club riders on the normal Saturday route. Our third stop was at the Exxon station in Hempstead. I rested there for about 15 minutes and talked to some of the NWCC riders who were there resting.
In Hempstead I got a little turned around, and turned to soon. We were on 1488 which heads downtown. As I approached downtown I saw a sign for 159 get into the left lane. I turned at the next road and realized that I turned on 1887, one block to soon. So I found the next through road and turned right so I could get onto 159. Once I saw the sign 16 miles to Bellville, I knew I was on the right road.
Riding on 159 from Hempstead was very quite and lonely. I only saw a few other riders on the 16 miles to Bellville. I caught up to some of the group at the last rest stop before lunch. I stopped for a moment to eat a gel, and then off I went again. The road between Hempstead and Bellville was a little rough, so I slowed down a little in that stretch. There was one group from team Devon that caught up to me. I jumped on their tail as the last rider passed. We went a few hundred yards and a rider got a flat. They stopped and since there were plenty of them, I kept going.
Just as I stopped outside of the lunch break in Bellville, Vanessa called and said they were waiting on Gary at the bakery. So I headed there for lunch. JC and Vanessa were sitting on the couch enjoying watching everyone go by. I got an orange juice and a kolache. After eating I chatted with JC and Vanessa for a bit. Then I decided that I had better keep going. I figured I would have to stop several times to help people. Just outside Bellville, I stopped to help a guy who said he had never changed a tire before. I got him back on the road and headed off.
My next stop was in Nelsonville. This is rest stop 4, where Bike Lane is always setup. I stopped by to say hi to Ken and get some lube for my chain. They were busy with no end in sight. I headed out and got to Industry and filled up my water bottles and ate another gel. Between Industry and Fayetteville, I started to notice my thighs getting a little tight. While climbing the hill about 2 miles from Fayetteville I got a bad cramp in both legs. I got to the top of the hill and got off the bike. I watch MJ from my team ride past, and could not do any thing about it. My crap finally passed and I headed on into the next rest stop. I drank more liquids and rested. I saw Pam and Todd from HP. As I was leaving Fayetteville, I got passed by Chad. He and I rode together until the next rest stop. I got more water in my camel back and Gatorade in my bottles. The last few miles into La Grange were not bad. We did have a bit of a head wind, but I was able to keep a good pace. There was one corner I came across and there was a rider down, I noticed the police on the corner were already helping him, so I started slowing riders down.
The finish in La Grange was a welcomed site after 104 miles. I found the team tent and got in line for my massage, got my shower and started looking for my friends on other teams.
I slept pretty well Saturday night considering I was eager to get up in the morning. I woke up once at 2 am to use the restroom, side effect of hydrating all day. Then I woke up at 3:59, before my alarm. I got up started packing up my stuff. Vanessa was just about ready to head over for pancakes. I got dressed and headed over to get in line also. When I got to line, there were only about 15 people in front of me. Vanessa, Gary, JC, and Sheldon were already through the breakfast line.
When we got back to the tent, I finished putting my shoes and stuff in my luggage and getting the bikes ready. About 6:00 I headed to the start to get in line. Vanessa, Gary, and JC headed over about 5:30. We left this year out of the north gate of the fair grounds, which meant that we were heading towards the park. We got started about 7:00am and were in the first group out of the north exit.
It was a little cool and this is when I noticed that my heels were a little tender from the 100 miles the day before. When I got to the first rest stop it was time beat the port-o-let line. Just as I got into the bathroom, I heard a train pass through the area, and was glad I was on this side of the tracks.
After leaving the rest stop I got passed by Mike Robinson from FMC. His birthday was this weekend so he was riding with bunny ears and a tail. We chatted for a little bit and then I headed on to break up a pack that was forming behind us. As I went down a small hill and rounded the corner I saw a rider had dropped his bottle of Gatorade. Since I was already traveling in the upper 20 mph, I took my changes and hoped I would miss the bottle. No such luck I hit it square with my front wheel, and sprayed my leg with Gatorade. The good thing was I hit the bottle in such a way that it did not knock me down, but did through the bottle off the far side of the road.
As I go to the top of the Smithville hill, I say MJ again. We headed down the hill. Shortly after we got down the hill we caught up to Richard. We all turned into the park and stopped at the second rest stop. In the park I saw Roland, Phil, David, Sam, and other BTX riders. I got a few pictures of team members while in the park. I stopped to help one rider with a flat tire just after we climbed a hill. I headed on down the road and saw another rider loose their water bottle as they crossed one of the cattle grates. I missed hitting the bottle, but looked back just in time to see it get hit by Sheldon.
I tried to keep up with Sheldon, but my legs just did not have it. My heart rate stayed low, but I just could not keep up. I guess I pushed it a little too hard on Saturday. The park has some nice steep hills, including the 14% grade right as we finished the park.
I saw Mike again after the exit to the park. So I stopped to help him change a flat tire. While we were stopped I got a call from Vanessa saying that they were at What-a-burger. Mike and I headed off to lunch. He went to the official lunch and I headed over to What-a-burger. Gary and Vanessa were done. JC was finishing up. I told them to go on, and I would catch up to them. I caught JC and Vanessa just before the next rest stop, and Gary right after he put his bike down. I saw they had free massages, so I got my legs worked on. Much better. I told Gary, Vanessa, and JC not to wait on me. I was about 3 minutes behind them, but I easily caught them before rest stop 5. Vanessa got here right calf worked on there and we all waited for her. Once we left Gary and I took off and I pulled for about 5 miles. We were doing 20-22mph and at one point after we pulled through the head wind, we turned and passed a group. After I said on your left, I heard him say “It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.” I thought that was funny.
Gary and I waited at the last rest stop for Vanessa and JC. As we left out, we started dealing with the first big hills into Austin. At this time the wind started picking up and on one large down hill I even had to pedal to get down it. The cross winds were a little scary a couple times. Going down the hill at 30+ mph and feeling your bike move a couple feet to the side is a little scary.
I waited for everyone in the start of the UT campus. Gary JC, Vanessa, and I all rode in the finish together in a line across the road. I hope they got a picture of the group of us.
So goes the 3rd MS150 in my books. I had a lot of fun and can’t wait for next year. The only thing left is to continue our fundraising for this year. If you feel like supporting, please consider clicking the support my ride to Austin link to the right.
