I'm riding a bike from Houston to Austin for Multiple Sclerosis

[jestmaty]

Hi all!!!

As you can see from my number of posts, I'm not a scammer or spammer, so....

I'm announcing that I am riding in a charitable bicycle ride sponsored by British Petroleum (BP) in April 2008. It is called the MS150 and is a huge event that occurs every April. It is an annual event that has thousands of cyclists that ride almost 180 miles over 2 days from Houston, Tx. to Austin, Tx.

I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but I'm going to post a link to the MS150 website that will explain further what I'm embarking on and also will give anyone the opportunity to donate if they wish.

www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=211371


All donations are IRS tax deductible and Bp matches dollar for dollar whatever I raise. Last year's total topped 13million dollars for Multiple Sclerosis research.

This is my first time to participate and I have been training since January 2nd. I've gone from 211 lbs to 196 in 27 days. My ultimate goal is 180lbs by the time of the ride.

I'm 42 years old and am just shy of 6' 2", so this WILL be a challenge for me. For the last 3 1/2 years, I have been doing cardio building rides on my recumbent bicycle in my house. My Polar heartrate monitor/wristwatch only goes back to April 17, 2006 and shows that I have 248 hours of high intensity cardio and have burned 155,000 calories. Sounds impressive, huh? Well... it sort of isn't...

That is 22 months of data... 11.27 hours per month average and 7045 calories per month burned just during exercise. I'd be happier if those #s were about double that.

I will admit that I sometimes excersized without my watch during these last couple of years so those workouts aren't in the totals.

And.....my watch has quit working on me at least 2 times requiring me to disassmble it. I'm pretty sure I corrupted the stored data because both times I took it apart, it restarted and I got the full-on, everything lit up screen. So who knows how accurate the cumaltive total is?

Anyway..... hope I didn't break any rules by soliciting donations to the MS Society, my intentions are strictly honorable. Please support me and think of me over that weekend. 180 miles..... oh snap!!!

[Tim]

Originally posted by jestmaty
Hi all!!!

As you can see from my number of posts, I'm not a scammer or spammer, so....

I'm announcing that I am riding in a charitable bicycle ride sponsored by British Petroleum (BP) in April 2008. It is called the MS150 and is a huge event that occurs every April. It is an annual event that has thousands of cyclists that ride almost 180 miles over 2 days from Houston, Tx. to Austin, Tx.

I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but I'm going to post a link to the MS150 website that will explain further what I'm embarking on and also will give anyone the opportunity to donate if they wish.

www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=211371


All donations are IRS tax deductible and Bp matches dollar for dollar whatever I raise. Last year's total topped 13million dollars for Multiple Sclerosis research.

This is my first time to participate and I have been training since January 2nd. I've gone from 211 lbs to 196 in 27 days. My ultimate goal is 180lbs by the time of the ride.

I'm 42 years old and am just shy of 6' 2", so this WILL be a challenge for me. For the last 3 1/2 years, I have been doing cardio building rides on my recumbent bicycle in my house. My Polar heartrate monitor/wristwatch only goes back to April 17, 2006 and shows that I have 248 hours of high intensity cardio and have burned 155,000 calories. Sounds impressive, huh? Well... it sort of isn't...

That is 22 months of data... 11.27 hours per month average and 7045 calories per month burned just during exercise. I'd be happier if those #s were about double that.

I will admit that I sometimes excersized without my watch during these last couple of years so those workouts aren't in the totals.

And.....my watch has quit working on me at least 2 times requiring me to disassmble it. I'm pretty sure I corrupted the stored data because both times I took it apart, it restarted and I got the full-on, everything lit up screen. So who knows how accurate the cumaltive total is?

Anyway..... hope I didn't break any rules by soliciting donations to the MS Society, my intentions are strictly honorable. Please support me and think of me over that weekend. 180 miles..... oh snap!!!

I have a cousin who has been participating/riding in that event since 2002.............

A CURE WOULD BE GREAT IN DOUBLE-OH EIGHT!

[iglesias]

Originally posted by jestmaty

I'm 42 years old and am just shy of 6' 2", so this WILL be a challenge for me.

Don't sell yourself short because of your age. I'm 54, and the bike club I'm a member of has an annual ride in June from Irvine, CA to Carlsbad, spend the night (and have a big pizza party!), and ride back the next day. That's 120 miles round trip, and it's not flat. I can do that ride without too much trouble. Think positively!

Be sure to do lots of on-road training too. You need to get your body used to riding the bike, and find out if you need to adjust anything before you go on the ride. Your butt will get really sore if it's not used to long rides, and you might not make it all the way.

On the ride itself, you should be drinking lots of water and/or energy drinks, and eating regularly. On a century (100 mile) ride, I go thru one water bottle of Gatorade Endurance (2 1/2 scoops of powder to 24 oz of water) every 25 miles or so, and I have a Camelback filled with water as well. Be sure to eat at the rest stops too, but stay away from any really sugary stuff.

Some friends did the So Cal MS ride (150 miles over 2 days) a few years ago, and did not do much riding before the ride in spite of me telling them to. They had some trouble finishing the ride because they hurt pretty much everywhere.

Good luck!

[jestmaty]

Been riding a LOT, the weather in South Texas has been FRIGGING FANTASTIC for the last month. It is 80 degrees outside right now with no humidity!!!

Rode 56 miles today training for my charity ride.... through rolling hills..up and down and up and down

Weighed 211 lbs on January 2nd, weighed today.... !!!!!.....!!!!!!!!

Ready???

2 months of eating pretty well and tons of exercise....

185 lbs!!!!

Only 5 more to lose to get to my goal of 180!!!

I'm am a happy camper indeed!

[Preludetundra]

Originally posted by jestmaty
Been riding a LOT, the weather in South Texas has been FRIGGING FANTASTIC for the last month. It is 80 degrees outside right now with no humidity!!!

Rode 56 miles today training for my charity ride.... through rolling hills..up and down and up and down

Weighed 211 lbs on January 2nd, weighed today.... !!!!!.....!!!!!!!!

Ready???

2 months of eating pretty well and tons of exercise....

185 lbs!!!!

Only 5 more to lose to get to my goal of 180!!!

I'm am a happy camper indeed!

As someone who currently rides 15 to 30 miles two to three times a week and who has a goal of eventually doing a century ride, I'd like to hear how you did in your two day 180 mile ride.

[jdeanski]

Originally posted by Preludetundra


.........................and who has a goal of eventually doing a century ride,

Congratulations PT on you dedication to riding. I'd suggest you look into one of the regional MS 150's held around the country. They're usually held over a 2 day period and you could use it as a training ride to not only raise money for a good cause and to build confidence and endurance toward your century.

[jestmaty]

Holy thread revival!

Thanks for the interest! The MS150 ride was about 4 weeks ago and it was fantastic.

The first day had a SERIOUS headwind the entire way.... 83 miles

The last time the Houston to Austin MS ride had wind like that was back in 1996 I'm told. I sure picked a hell of a year to do my first ride

The ride was well organized, stocked with food and drink at all the rest stops, and fun! fun! fun!

Of course it helps that I was riding for team BP, which is the biggest sponsor of that event in the Houston to Austin MS. Their tent at the mid-way point and at the finish line was awesome! Free food, beer, and 20 minute massage ( not the kind with the happy ending ) awaited me at the halfway point.

The riding itself was easy both days... IIRC, there were about 8 rest stops along the 83 miles route, every 10 miles or so. There was another start point that was farther away from my home so I didn't go to that one, but that route was 100 for the first day.

Riding through the small towns, with all the locals cheering and waving and displaying motivational banners was cool. Coming into the La Grange fairgrounds ( at the end of day 1) was unreal. People cheering, yelling good job, thanks, woo-hoo BP (my jersey), and I actually got teary-eyed. For the first time ever, this year's MS used a little device that I attached to my shoe that announced to friends and family, via email or text messages, when I got to the lunch break and finish line on both days. On the first day, I heard my name announced on a loud speaker saying the time was my 'personal best'. Kinda neat hearing my name in front of a thousand or so people.

I was hoping to make my ride on day 1 in 6.5 hours. But, with the headwind and my unusually long lunch and breaks at the rest stops, I wound up right at 8 hours. Started at 8am and got to La Grange, 83 miles later, at 4pm

Day 2 started off around 42 degrees (b*lls a** cold) when you are wearing the skimpy cycling stuff that will be perfect about 2 hours after you start riding and the sun comes up. Also, the 2nd day seemed easier.. probably because the wind had let up some, it was only 75 miles on day 2, and you knew it would be over soon!

Only took 7 hours on day2. And... my wife and 2 sons along with my sis-in-law (with her 2 kids) all cheered my over the finish line! You'd think I had just won the Tour De France


The ride finished in front of the State Capitol, right on the edge of the University of Texas campus. There was so much activity and flag flying, colorful tents, cheering people that it was again,,,, overwhelming.

Overall, I felt good. I saw some pretty serious crashed, but nothing was permanent I'm told. They also did have to briefly stop all riders due to a helicopter evac of a rider. Heard he had a heart attack or something. Who really knows?

Lastly, I have been keeping track of my heart rate with a wireless, Polar hr monitor that also counts calories. Pretty accurate I think 'cause you have to input your age, height, weight, sex, etc... and guess how many calories I burned over the 2 days?


11,100 CALORIES !!!

Now, I do believe that I ATE 10,000 calories, so it was pretty much a wash

Oh, almost forgot... I was about $100 short of the minimum $400 donation a day or so b4 the ride. Actually, all donations are due on May 13 and I have taken care of getting them the $.

But, I decided to put on my helmet, jersey, and cycling shorts and took my bike out to a corner of a large intersection to hustle some money. I stood on the corner, dressed, with my bike in view from 12:15pm to 1:45 pm, that is only 90 minutes and raised............... $104 bucks!! The day before the ride.. April 11th.

Get this, one dude gave me a $20, 3 people gave me a $10 bill each, and about 6 more people threw in $5's !!!



The rest were $1's and change.... it's all good. I could not believe the generosity of all those who got me over the $400 hump by giving at the street corner.

[Preludetundra]

Originally posted by jestmaty
Holy thread revival!

Thanks for the interest! The MS150 ride was about 4 weeks ago and it was fantastic.

The first day had a SERIOUS headwind the entire way.... 83 miles

The last time the Houston to Austin MS ride had wind like that was back in 1996 I'm told. I sure picked a hell of a year to do my first ride

The ride was well organized, stocked with food and drink at all the rest stops, and fun! fun! fun!

Of course it helps that I was riding for team BP, which is the biggest sponsor of that event in the Houston to Austin MS. Their tent at the mid-way point and at the finish line was awesome! Free food, beer, and 20 minute massage ( not the kind with the happy ending ) awaited me at the halfway point.

The riding itself was easy both days... IIRC, there were about 8 rest stops along the 83 miles route, every 10 miles or so. There was another start point that was farther away from my home so I didn't go to that one, but that route was 100 for the first day.

Riding through the small towns, with all the locals cheering and waving and displaying motivational banners was cool. Coming into the La Grange fairgrounds ( at the end of day 1) was unreal. People cheering, yelling good job, thanks, woo-hoo BP (my jersey), and I actually got teary-eyed. For the first time ever, this year's MS used a little device that I attached to my shoe that announced to friends and family, via email or text messages, when I got to the lunch break and finish line on both days. On the first day, I heard my name announced on a loud speaker saying the time was my 'personal best'. Kinda neat hearing my name in front of a thousand or so people.

I was hoping to make my ride on day 1 in 6.5 hours. But, with the headwind and my unusually long lunch and breaks at the rest stops, I wound up right at 8 hours. Started at 8am and got to La Grange, 83 miles later, at 4pm

Day 2 started off around 42 degrees (b*lls a** cold) when you are wearing the skimpy cycling stuff that will be perfect about 2 hours after you start riding and the sun comes up. Also, the 2nd day seemed easier.. probably because the wind had let up some, it was only 75 miles on day 2, and you knew it would be over soon!

Only took 7 hours on day2. And... my wife and 2 sons along with my sis-in-law (with her 2 kids) all cheered my over the finish line! You'd think I had just won the Tour De France


The ride finished in front of the State Capitol, right on the edge of the University of Texas campus. There was so much activity and flag flying, colorful tents, cheering people that it was again,,,, overwhelming.

Overall, I felt good. I saw some pretty serious crashed, but nothing was permanent I'm told. They also did have to briefly stop all riders due to a helicopter evac of a rider. Heard he had a heart attack or something. Who really knows?

Lastly, I have been keeping track of my heart rate with a wireless, Polar hr monitor that also counts calories. Pretty accurate I think 'cause you have to input your age, height, weight, sex, etc... and guess how many calories I burned over the 2 days?


11,100 CALORIES !!!

Now, I do believe that I ATE 10,000 calories, so it was pretty much a wash

Oh, almost forgot... I was about $100 short of the minimum $400 donation a day or so b4 the ride. Actually, all donations are due on May 13 and I have taken care of getting them the $.

But, I decided to put on my helmet, jersey, and cycling shorts and took my bike out to a corner of a large intersection to hustle some money. I stood on the corner, dressed, with my bike in view from 12:15pm to 1:45 pm, that is only 90 minutes and raised............... $104 bucks!! The day before the ride.. April 11th.

Get this, one dude gave me a $20, 3 people gave me a $10 bill each, and about 6 more people threw in $5's !!!



The rest were $1's and change.... it's all good. I could not believe the generosity of all those who got me over the $400 hump by giving at the street corner.

Congratulations!!! Just got in from a 32 mile ride. Two to two and one half hours is about the extent my butt can take that bike seat without a good rest. Your accomplishment has inspired me.

[Preludetundra]

Originally posted by Preludetundra


Congratulations!!! Just got in from a 32 mile ride. Two to two and one half hours is about the extent my butt can take that bike seat without a good rest. Your accomplishment has inspired me.

Have improved. Rode 456 miles in June. Averaged 30.4 miles per ride. Longest ride 47 miles. Hopefully by September/October I will reach the century mark.

[garate55]

Cycling will undoubtedly make you skinnier. It is THE best exercise I have found so far. We have a commute to work challenge up here in the Seattle area in May and I rode 842miles last year in that month alone.
I will try to top that this year.

I have yet to ride in any big rides but hope to do so soon. With 3 kids and a wife that doesn't ride it is hard to get away for a day to ride, plus the weather is crap now anyways.