Wednesday, June 12, 2013


For the 6th time, I completed the MS 150 bike ride, which is really closer to 146 miles, but at that point I'm not really complaining about being shorted...

Last year's ride was horrific.  I'm pretty sure I've told the gory tales to everybody by now, so let's just never mind that...

This year was a piece of cake in comparison.  Saturday was beautiful biking weather.  I arrived in Hinckley (the overnight stop) the earliest I think I ever have, allowing ample time to set up my tent and relax with some boxed wine courtesy of my team before the speeches/awards/team photo.  

Sunday was a bit rougher.  It rained all day and was rather cold with about a 12-15 mph headwind (nothing compared to last years 20-25 mph headwind), but conditions were ripe for hypothermia.  A lot of people were not able to complete the ride due to the cold. I used a hand dryer to warm my feet at the lunch stop in North Branch.   I made it to the last rest stop still intact and was excited because the last segment is basically a victory lap.  It's only 7 miles long, whereas most segments are 12-15 miles long.  Should be easy!  I was so close! Foreshadowing! 

So, my rear tire went flat about 2 miles from the finish line.  It was my first flat of the entire ride.  I was going to walk it, but a SAG Wagon pulled up after a few blocks of walking, so I got in and took the van to the finish line.  A bit anticlimactic, but I finished (mostly)!