2014 MS 150 Houston to Austin Bike Ride. Crossing finish line in Austin

I'll have more on the MS 150 ride, but for now a video of what it is like to cross the finish line in Austin and a few highlights of the ride.




The battery on my phone died so I couldn't track it on Strava but here are my stats: day 1 83 miles, left Rhodes Stadium in Katy TX at 7:10 AM and arrived at La Grange 2:25 Pm. Day 2, 66 miles, left La Grange at 8:15 and arrived at State Capitol in Austin at 2:20.


Favorite moment was a group of workers from one of my company's competitors riding 2x2 in middle of lane, slow and sloppy as their regular work, cars passing on left, and after I called out cars back and they didn't move, I passed on the right.  One of them yelled at me, in most stereotypical southern accent imaginable, that I needed to pass on left. Then I told him to get right and got "I damn will when you get out of the way!".


Favorite rider was easily young pretty girl in full makeup, with false eyelashes, at the second rest stop first day. I wish I saw her day two and after about 120 miles. Or maybe I did?


Most sobering moment was having to walk on the shoulder halfway down one of the steepest hills of day two because police had closed off all street traffic and were tending to a crashed rider. Looked liked they were keeping her immobilized until the ambulance arrived. Riding this far, fast, and in traffic can be dangerous.



Most annoying thing for my teammates was easily my snoring. The next tent over put on an ambient noise app on their phone to drown it out. I remember thinking, "hmm crickets at this hour? Interesting but kind of nice. Soothing".

Energy Riders MS 150 Training Week 8

Energy Riders MS 150 Bike Ride Training Week 8

This last Sunday we were back out in Waller.  We started further North than previous rides at the Waller Auxiliary Stadium.  This is just on the South side of the I-10 and one of the official MS 150 starting points the New Waller Stadium.  We did the full 51 miles route heading North around Prairie View and back into Waller.  The ride was mostly flat with well paved roads and good shoulders and a chill population used to seeing bicyclist.  That said, along  FM 1488 we had a duly pass us too close, he seemed determined to pass us without crossing double yellow in the middle and damn tough if the pinkos in tight pants on bikes don't like it, and a few minutes later another big pickup honked at us as we were preparing to pass a slower rider.  I say two incidents on one short stretch of road is more than coincidence and would reroute myself when I come back.

Starting point of our ride at Waller Auxiliary Stadium

One of the three break points

Third break point looking out at roads

Energy Riders Week #7- Houston Bike Training Route

Energy Riders Week #7- Houston Bike Training Route

This was a great route and highly recommended.  It was nice to get North and ride some hills and see some pine trees.  Here is a map of the route.  A nice break from the usual flat rides and bayou views in Houston.

Map Of Route

We started at Montgomery Intermediate School just off FM 149.  We headed Southwest on Highway 105, then North on FM 1486 for about 18 miles where we went East at Richards along FM 149.  The FM 149 part  of the ride carried us through the Sam Houston State Park for a good 8-9 miles.  This was a 36 mile loop with an option to do another 20 miles loop cutting down Johnson Rd and FM 1097.

I was told that there were three aggressive dogs on Johnson Rd and another rider had his shoe bitten.  The only dog I saw was a wild one in Sam Houston State Park.  He crossed the road 50 yards in front of me and by the time I got to where he crossed, he was in the trees paying me no mind.

Little country store that was site of our first rest stop

First rest stop

Looking south on FM 1486 from first rest stop

Second rest stop in Richards

Closed gas station in Richards that was our second stop

Last rest stop in Huntsville State Park

Last rest stop

Energy Riders MS 150 Training- Week 5

Energy Riders MS 150 Bicycle Ride Training- Week 5

This weeks Energy Riders MS 150 training route was similar to last weeks.  We met up at Royal Jr High and made our way to Farm-To-Market Road 359 and headed North for 12 miles where we met out first rest stop at Frey Rd.  This was the same rest stop as last week.

This week the rest stop was the start of a 10.7 Mile loop that started East on the Richard Frey Monaville Rd, North on Schmidt Rd, then East again on Frey, then South on Cochran, then West on Bell Rd, then back to Schmidt to head South, to end up on FM 529 heading West to FM 359.  We then had the option to head North on FM 359 for two miles and do another loop, or two or three, or head back to the starting point.

The Route:
The back roads of the loop were bumpy and not the best paved but I only saw two pickups and one car on my two times around the 10 mile loop.  FM 529 is newly paved and really nice, but had no shoulder.  I recommend FM 359 because it is heavily used by cyclists and has a good shoulder.

Our Ride: 
February 1, 2014. Brutal!  Was windy as all hell- 20 mph winds coming from South East. I did 51 miles and got my work in!

Favorite Bike On Ride:
I'm in no way, shape, or form a Trek fan after what they did to my boy Greg LeMond, but beautiful is beautiful.  This is a damn nice bike.

 

Photos From Energy Riders MS 150 Bike Ride Training- Day 4

 Some photos from January 26th 2014 MS 150 bike ride training session.  This was a 40 mile bike route along FM 359.  We started at Royal JR. High in Brookshire and biked up to the Waller County Fairgrounds, then headed back.


 

 Safety meeting at the starting point Royal Hr. High

First Rest Stop 12 Miles Into Ride:

Just a really neat looking old general store.  Sadly it's closed for good

Took a mental note to come back here for some good clubbing

Love this old sign

 Turn Around Point 20 Miles Into Ride:

Waller Fairground was the spot

Perfect spot to corral our bikes

MS 150 Bike Ride- Training Session 4 with Energy RIders

Today we biked 40 miles from Brookshire to Waller. The route was an out and back 20 miles each way. The ride back had a 20 MPH headwind and I bonked. At one point I was going 8 mph and thought if a hill came up I would need to walk! Here is a map of the route. Definitely a recommended bicycling route.


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