2010 BP MS150: Cougar Cycling Style

[nando]

So, as a lot of you know, I'm officially as of this year boycotting the actual ride. 

BUT, I'd like to get a group together and do this in one day.  My idea is the following:

Option 1:
               Ride out Saturday at 5am, arrive in Austin about 12-13 hours later.  Ride back (in a car) to La Grange and party with the crowds, have a good time and rest.  Wake up at any time the next day, eat a good breakfast in Austin and watch the riders come in all day.  Drive back to Houston.

Option 2:
             Ride out Sunday at 5-6am.  Arrive in Austin about 12-13 hours later (around the time that they start the SAG wagon and bike parade) and come back to Houston.

Option 3:
             You're already registered and doing the MS150 as a two day ride. 

Option 4:
            Ride on a bike to Austin?!  What are you, nuts?!?!

I believe Krufty (correct me if I'm wrong man) is wanting to do this as a one day event.  If we get enough people, it would be good to rent a van (or maybe I can get one for us) and would need a driver to run our SAG and mechanical support just in case. 

[ALF]

i would say doing it on sunday.

[Jillian]

I am also officially boycotting the actual ride as of this year.  I might be in for Sat or Sun.  It depends on if I still live in Houston. 

[ALF]

so, why the boycotts?

[Aiar(Izzy)]

I am up for riding to Austin in one day. This is a lot of fun!
However, from past experience I suggest a 100 mile bike ride as a test before the MS-150 for who ever wants to do this ride. The ride it self is 180 miles and not 150 miles.

[andrew.]

Is that the same weekend as MSU?

[ALF]

BP MS 150 Rolls April 17-18, 2010
Midwestern State April 17th-18th

[Aiar(Izzy)]

well in this case I will be racing. I still suggest 100 mile ride few weeks before the MS.

[nando]

so, why the boycotts?

My reason is that the MS150 is a fun RIDE for people to enjoy the atmosphere, the fun, and people involved.  Being able to see people tugging a trailer with their bike and have their kid passed out, playing a video game, saying hi to people or even have a pet in there barking like crazy to folks. 

But that is no longer the case.  Now, they have more rules than a father to a kid who wants to take his teenage daughter out.  While I do agree that safety is first, they don't have to take the fun away.  I'm sure there are other ways of being safe than by excluding all kids, pets, baskets, aero bars, etc etc...

And the other part is that they are just getting too greedy.  Every year they ask for more money which is fine as they are an organization trying to raise money for a great cause (I have friends who have MS and do believe in the MS Society and what they're trying to do), but they're also doubling registration fees and other things as they say because it costs them money.  But if I'm not mistaken, we are no longer paying $5 a gallon for diesel and even then, the bus services and food, and other things are donated to the society...so I'm scratching my head over the whole thing.

Primarily though is the fun factor being taken out.  So for that, I will support the MS in other ways in the future.  But for now...it's time to be one of those crazy people and finally attempt a one day trip.

Off my horse now....I think it's Jillian's turn.

[Aiar(Izzy)]

I agree with you. It's stated to be too be a running like a big cooperation and not like a fund raiser.

[Jillian]

Those are the big reasons for me too Nando.  It used to be fun, you would see roller bladers out there and all kinds of crazy things.  Now, it is like they fee you to death and there are way too many rules and regulations. 

The other reasons, most of the other riders get on my nerves.  They are not safe, and I don't really want to be taken down cause someone gets caught in a wind gust and enters my line.  Nothing makes me more nervous than riding through the state parks with a bunch of people that can not control their bikes. 

Also, I get annoyed that when anyone I meet notices my bike rack, they say, oh you must do the MS150.  And there are a lot of people who ride in it just to be trendy, yet don't ride the rest of the year. 

[nando]

hehe..my first few years or cycling ...I was one of those Jillian.  I'd start riding at the end of January and my "season" would end with the Shiner BASH....aaah the good 'ole days...

[Aiar(Izzy)]

IS ANY ONE RACING THE MS 150?!

[andrew.]

that shiner ride was hard last year! a really hilly century with TONS of wind! But hey, I might do it again this year for the beer and t-shirt

[ssalazar]

hey i am already planning on riding the ms in one day with about five friends of mine.  if anyone else is interested we can get a pretty good group together and make the ride a lot easier and faster.