MS150 this weekend
For thoes who don’t know or missed my last story on the Multiple Sclerosis 150 mile ride this weekend, now’s your chance to catch up. The MS150 is a fund raising event where almost 2.3K riders will be conveining in Logan, UT for a 150 mile ride split over two days. I have done it since the early 90’s as often as I have been able to. I’ve missed a few years but attended most.
This year will be outstanding as usual. There are over 2300 riders signed up for the event and about 500 volunteers to manage the entire ride. The ride is fully supported with rest stops every 10 to 15 miles and meals provided as well. The evening between the two days will have a concert and pool party for attendees and their guests.
I am a bit bummed as my family will again miss the event. Mother forgot about the MS150 and planned a family & friends dinner for Saturday evening, sent out the invitations then realised what she had done. It being too late to cancel, the dinner is on and I’m riding alone. Bummer.
Aside from the lack of family attendance, I am really looking forward to the ride. I do think this year will be harder than previous years that I have done it however. The reason for this is that they have reversed the loops of the tour this year. In the past, the long ride up Blacksmith Fork Canyon was on the first day when you had plenty (ha ha ha) of energy. This year, the climb up the canyon is on the second day after we’ve already traveled 100+ miles. Joy! 8^)
I really hope I can do well but I am worried as I have not been riding as much this year in preparation as I have in the past. I have spent more time flying tracktion/power kites in my time off than riding 8^) That’s another blog entry all toether…
Last year I met some really cool people on the tour - Col, Lindsey and their brother…forgot his name. They also have done it for several years. I hope I can run into them again this year. The MS150 is also well known for creating a local shortage of ibuprofan - ha! At least I end up taking quite a bit through the weekend. This year is going to be no exception I’m sure. I’ll be riding my Haluzak Horizon recumbent bicycle again this year. It’s the most relaxing way to ride a long tour like this. Last year there were at least 10 other recumbent riders on the tour - it seems that the number grows with each ride. There were also several tandem cyclists in the crowd and some well-trained draft lines that wizzed past everyone and finished each day in about 2.5 averaging close to 30mph. Amazing.
I’ll try to take lots of picutes this year like I did last.
What do you need in order to go?
Comment by Stacey — 6/23/2005 @ 10:52 am
Well, donation-wise, I’ve reached the minimum ammount nesasery to go. So, I’m ready - all other donations are just icing on the cake at this point as it were… But donations are always good as they go towards a great cause. A few still keep rolling in once in a while.
I’ll be packing tonight and tomorrow and hopefully leave before 9:00am so I can get a good camping spot at the fair grounds. I’m taking Friday and Monday off - Friday to travel and Monday to recover 8^)
Say ‘hi’ to the fam for me. It was good to see you all at Jared’s get-together.
Comment by marc — 6/23/2005 @ 11:03 am
I will, tell you fam the same. It was really nice getting to talk with you. Have a safe trip!
Comment by Stacey — 6/24/2005 @ 10:51 am
Hey Mecworks Blog writer,
If you were the guy on the only recumbant bike I saw, I’m one of the hundreds or more that said “good morning” or “good afternoon”, on the MS150 this weekend. It was our (my wife and my) first MS150 ride and we are so thankful to have been there. All of the participant’s raised around 1 million. They expect more funds in for the next three weeks before getting a grand total.
On the notoriety side, we were caught in the dust storm , or was it a tornado? The last two miles in on the first day ,the dust was so thick from the wind blowing across the fields that we couldn’t see , my wife was blown over as she was trying to stop ,and we ended up standing wtih our back to the wind for a few minutes waiting for it to end. A very very adventurous part of the ride.
Well, sorry for you about the dinner deal but glad you could ride.
Steve
Comment by Steve Horton — 6/27/2005 @ 8:48 am
Yup - that was me (well, one of the recumbent riders was me). It was a great ride indeed. Probably the best temperature-wise that I’ve been on. The wind could have been much less and I would have been much happier.
I reached the fair grounds about 20 minutes before the micro-burst winds hit and was there when large branches were being torn from the trees. One large limb (5″ dia. x 10′) missed my Jeep by only 8 inches. Another even larger (8″ dia. x 15′) missed by about 15 feet. Wild!
All in all a great ride though. I’ll be posting a ride report on this blog soon - with pics…
–
Marc C.
Comment by marc — 6/28/2005 @ 8:31 am