Houston to Austin by Bicycle

Although only a weekend event to ride 180 miles to Austin from Houston, the MS150 event starts many months before for most.  This year I captained our Maersk Oil Team and  managed to round up 28 riders of varying experience from never being on a bicycle to those that had done more than 180 miles.

The MS150 is an event that is run in many different cities in America and raises money for research and support for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers and their families.  Last year I rode for the smaller Maersk Oil team but have to admit I did not train as much as I did this year so I was in much better shape. 

Basically from January to the event in April there are organised bike rides every weekend.  They cost a small amount but with that you get drinks & snacks en route and sag support (vehicles that will come and get you and your bike if you don’t want to continue on!).

Although we never did any training as a full team we would often find a group heading out to a ride at least on the Saturday or Sunday.  And one of the weekends we did our own and had Amy being a sag support and food truck! 

As I said the team was made up of different experienced riders, some employees, some family members and friends.  We all had a common goal to get through it and with luck enjoy the experience!  Another big part of the event is fundraising and as a minimum each rider must raise $400 each and more the merrier.  We had a number of organised fundraising events at work including cake sales, jean passes for Friday’s (this was probably the most lucrative since it is such a no no to wear jeans in our office!), raffles and most importantly a competition to choose the jersey design!!

The weekend of the event 21-22 April and we had all been closely watching the weather 10 days prior.  The first year I arrived in the States the event had been a wash out on day one, the next year when I rode the first day with Amy it was perfect and in 2011 it was also very nice weather but cold in the morning and warming up significantly in the afternoon.  By mid week the weather (and newspapers) were making comments about the stiff breeze that was going to be coming towards the riders and although the intensity varied between the different weather sites it was not going to move of our heads!  Although slightly concerned we all seemed committed. 

After a carb loading Friday night with sleep over for some of the team at our house, we were all up at 5am to start at first light.  With 100 miles from our street to the camp ground in La Grange you wanted to get away in good time, not to mention the wind was only going to get worse as the ground warmed up!  About half the team congregated in the cul de sac and readied for take off.  Charles, our resident photographer from work, came out to capture the start!

Smiling and Ready to go at 0645

We set off north then quickly turn north west heading into the wind.  There were already many bikes starting, well there were 13,000 riders by the end of the day.  Approximately every 10-15 miles there are rest breaks and we all burnt through the first one.  By mid morning I had lost Stuart and I didn’t know whether he was ahead or behind.  But we still had a number of the team together making it more manageable through the wind.  It wasn’t until later when I thought Stuart was behind us he was actually already at lunch and about to leave as I got in!

Lunch is provided in Bellville and although I say it is lunch you actually get there way before real lunch time, but you are always hungry.  The sandwiches are ok but the best bit is the Blue Bells ice cream.  By lunch we had already noticed that the sag buses (they use the yellow school buses) were already filling with riders who had had enough but yet we soldiered on (too be fair it wasn’t that bad!).

After lunch I decided to put the pedal to the metal and try and catch Stuart so left Gena and Dorte.  Apparently Dorte got a puncture at one of the stops, lucky for her as there are people that fix it for free!  About 20 miles from the end I suddenly saw Stu at a stop and from there we rode in together.  He had lost John by this point as well.  For the final 7 miles into La Grange, our night stop, the wind suddenly went to our backs!  We were doing 25 mph without any effort – typical!!

At La Grange we crossed the finish line and were met by our tent hosts who gave us water, cold towels and pushed our bikes to the tent.  It was wonderful!  There were already some of the team there but also many that were still missing.  The first course of action was water, beer and some food for us all.  Then we could think about showers and massages!  As you can see they all look a bit tired!

By the time 10,000 ish cyclist had had showers it was pretty much bed time and I think we all slept like logs even though we were in a tent of 130 people with a mixture of snorers and grunters. 

The next morning is always the worse.  The muscles are normally still sore or at least weary, and it is cold, but then you have to stand in a line to get going out of the camp ground.  We must have stood with our bikes for over an hour just to start.  While we were standing there another tent had left over breakfast tacos and offered them around around.  Anyone would think our team hadn’t eaten, although many of us had already had pancakes!

By the time we did get on the bikes and turn towards the Challenge Route, the sun was up.  None of us could bare the seat for 5 minutes but then as always it goes numb!  As did my shoulder that had bothered me after stops the day before, and as I rode on got numb.  The Challenge Route was not quite like most years, since the previous summer forest fires in Bastrop had melted the road so we all had to join the main highway 71.  However, the bit we did do was very pretty and had one steep hill in that I topped at about 30 mph!!!

The second day had no wind, but with that came the heat.  We got held up in one bike accident (none of our team involved) and one car accident so it actually took longer than expected.

As usual the ride into Austin was great with supports all under the Capitol building and plenty of beer to be drunk! or rather bubbles for some!

Mark and his family gave Dorte, Stu and I a lift back to Houston.  After taking a while to work out how to fit all four bikes on the back of the car we set off stopping en route for a well deserved ice cream!