2009 GHORBA Big Ring Challenge

Today was the Big Ring Challenge at Double lake. Vanessa and I decided to make a weekend of it. Yesterday we went up and pre-rode the course. Vanessa also sat in on the beginners clinic held on Saturday. While she was in the clinic, I headed out for a easy warm up lap. I got back and they were still talking. Once they were finished, Vanessa and I headed out for a easy ride. She ended up falling while getting out of the way for another rider, and bruised her arm. Needless to say she sucked it up and suited up and rode today. I am proud of her considering that she was finished with about 3 miles to go to a bail out point in the trail. The trail was a little damp in a few places but not bad over all.

Today the weather was a little crazy. When we pulled up, it had just finished raining pretty hard, but the race went on. The course was a wet, muddy mess and it was slowing everyone down. In fact they decided to make the Cat 3 races only do 1 lap instead of 2. After we finished, I was glad. My one lap this year was within 10 seconds longer than last years lap average. So considering the places in the course that slowed me down, I am pretty pleased with my results. I finished 23 out of 34. Luckily by the time I raced, the track was not as muddy as the previous races. I came in pretty clean over all compared to the Cat 1 races. Next mountain bike race is at Hotter'n Hell. Friday night is the mtb bike time trial.

Mountain Bike race

Double Lake is next weekend. This will be my first mountain bike race since I raced at Double Lake last year. This week I hit the Cypress wood trail on Wednesday night. The trail was a little damp in a few places, but in pretty good shape otherwise.

Saturday, NWCC had their club camp out at Huntsville State Park. Vanessa and I headed up for the day. I only took the Mountain bike, and got in a good easy ride with Vanessa, then headed out for a lap on the race course solo. I finished the lap in about 1 hour. I hung around the camp site for a while, then a group of us went out for a lap. I finished the day with 27 miles in on the bike. Pretty good training for next weekends race. Huntsville is in bad need of rain. The entire course was littered with loose sand. Several palces were almost impossible to ride. All in all I was glad to only ride 2 laps.

MS150

Well, the second day turned out pretty good considering that the first day was canceled. We rode from La Grange to Austin. I got in at 5:09 pm. Partly due to stopping to help 10 different people along the way. I finished with a little over 5 hours ride time and just over 3 hours stopped time. The tubeless tires worked great. I did not have any issues with flats or my tires. In fact they were working so well, I did not even feel bad about giving out my last tube.

I am debating if I will do this ride again next year or not. Time will tell. I guess I will have until October to decide.

BP MS150 Finish

Scott Beard : FINISH

Cycling Greetings to You!

I'm peddaling to Austin for people living with MS and just crossed a significant milestone FINISH on the BP MS 150 route.

This is the most rewarding journey I've ever made. I'm pedaling along some of the most beautiful scenery in Texas. The wildflowers are spectacular.

Together we're making a difference in the lives of people with MS.
Join me. Join the movement. Move others.

I finished. Thank you for your support.

THANK YOU!

Sponsor Me

This email brought to you by RiderConnect and HP, Official Technology Partner for the BP MS 150.

Official Technology Partner

RiderConnect is a Service of RaceDayAlert.

BP MS150 Lunch

Scott Beard : BASTROP

Cycling Greetings to You!

I'm peddaling to Austin for people living with MS and just crossed a significant milestone BASTROP on the BP MS 150 route.

This is the most rewarding journey I've ever made. I'm pedaling along some of the most beautiful scenery in Texas. The wildflowers are spectacular.

Together we're making a difference in the lives of people with MS.
Join me. Join the movement. Move others.

THANK YOU!

Sponsor Me

This email brought to you by RiderConnect and HP, Official Technology Partner for the BP MS 150.

Official Technology Partner

RiderConnect is a Service of RaceDayAlert.

MS150 Update

Well, Day 1 was a rain out. La Grange got over 11 inches of rain on Friday. Saturday rained until 5:00 in Houston. Day to is a go, so we are getting ready to leave. Our team is meeting at Technip, Loading bikes and small luggage onto trucks, then taking motor coaches to La Grange. Once we are all in Austin, then we will come back to Technip. Much shorter MS150 but we are still going.

2009 MS150 is this weekend

The ride is just 2 days away. Bikes are ready. Time to pack. They will be using a tool called rider connect as a timing chip to log when riders cross the line at lunch and the finish line both days. I have it set up to automatically post to my blog. Check back over the weekend and see what kind of progress I am making during the ride.

My only hope is that the rain forcast does not hold true. Current forecast is T-storms for Saturday. With any luck it will blow through on Friday and be done. Sunday is looking good so far.