[red-beard]

MS 150 is done. And I'm already looking to train for next year, and a few other charity rides.


Re-cap:

Day one was 25 miles of flat with 55 miles of rolling hills (nothing too bad). But the 55 miles had wind. A 10-15 mph crosswind for all but the last 20. The last 5 we had a nice tail wind. BUT the 15 before, straight into a 10-15 mph headwind. Brutal. The soup provided by CC riders was great! And the St. Arnold beer afterwards was wonderful. I was also surprised at how many people turned out on the route to wish us well. Some towns turned out into the square with blaring music and crowds. And then there was the guy playing the fiddle, at the end of his driveway, standing on a tractor. I was about number 15 out of 110 arriving. 6 hours total time, 5 on the bike.



Overnight, the main tent was serenaded with the sweet sounds of snoring and farting. That will teach someone to cater (excellent) fajitas with pinto beans for dinner, finshed with beer.


Day 2 had the "serious" hills. It also had 20 miles of a "pebble finish" road, jarring! The remaining 50 had the wind, straight in the face. The hills on the main road were quite long and caused a few accidents. The seconds to last 10, just wind. The last 10, as if we weren't tired enough, a bunch of up and down hills through Austin. Finally, slipping the campus of the University of Texas, we hit the finish line. BUT not until we did one more friggen hill, the last block before the finish. Had to pump on that one, the cheering crowds were around us. Safety Dance was playing as I crossed, and I boogied on the bike. I did miss the guy playing bag pipe. I took the "easier" route. I say easier, but the 20 miles of pebble road makes me think otherwise.

150 miles later, I'm tired, sore and happy. I finished it. NEXT YEAR, I'll do even better.

I just wanted to thank those who have donated here, and to let everyone know, you still can! Click the link below and help the MS Society. I'm only going to be sore a couple of days. These people suffer their entire lives. We ride so that one day, they might ride.


http://www.ms150.org/ms150/donate/donate.cfm?id=211867


Thanks

James (aka red-beard)