At the end in Austin. Again, I have no idea why these photos are so little or why they are in that weird pattern below. I guess you can click on them for a bigger view.
The MS150 is a fund raising bike ride from Houston to Austin that raises money for Multiple sclerosis. It's the biggest sport fundraising event in the country. This year, I think there were almost 12,000 riders, plus 2000+ volunteers and staff. I've heard about this and thought it was a bit of insanity. I can't believe I did it this year!
I first started riding my bike again last May, mainly only to save gas and the the environment. I pulled out my old mountain bike that I bought in 1996 and started riding to work, which is only 2 miles from my house, but initially that seemed very far. Soon, it became easier and then I started riding on the weekends along Braes bayou, going a little further each time. Before I knew it, I had done about 20 miles without problem.
There is a dear lady at work, a fellow psychiatrist, who is massively obsessed about cycling, became my mentor, Svengali, task-master (enabler some might say), encouraged me to join her cycling club, CCRiders and convinced me to do the MS150. I committed myself and signed up in November. I bought a road bike around that time, but really did not start riding it until January.
My first ride with CCRiders was early January, it was about 25 miles and it was DIFFICULT! I didn't know how I'd do 180 miles by April. I got a trainer (a contraption that turns any bike into a stationary bike), started doing more training rides and started doing sponsored rides on the weekends. These are really fun and I did alot of them. I didn't really keep a training log, but this season I did: Gator Ride, Pedal Mania, Tour De Houston, The Great Escape, Education Expedition, Bluebonnet Express, Camp for All Hilltop ride, Space Race and Tour De Cypress. Suffice it to say, that I was ready!
Okay the race report. 
With Don Barnes at 5:30 in the morning. I have a weird look on my face because I got lost several times driving here and thought after all my training I would miss the ride because I am idiot with directions.
With Marcia Adelson at start of ride. I made antennae with googly eyeballs on my helmet. Notice how nice they are standing up right now. Also notice how dark it still is!
They never show this on ESPN. This is something you have to experience. Standing in line for the port-o-potties at the break point.
Marcia and I at the 2nd break stop. Not looking too bad.
At lunch in Belleville, 50 mile mark.
CC Riders tent. 
Some shots to show the magntitude to this event. Doesn't quite capture the thousands of people involved.
Hooray! 100 miles down! Notice how nice and sweaty we look.
The midpoint is Lagrange. First order of business is showers. This involves either getting in line for "shower trucks" which are eighteen wheelers compartmentalized into shower rooms... uhm, hard to describe. Anyway, we took the bus to the local middle school and took showers in the school gym, which was much nicer. THIS WAS THE BEST SHOWER OF MY LIFE! Then at LaGrange, most teams have big tents where everyone bunks down. I had a camping mattress and sleeping bag, although some companies swank it up with cots and air mattressess. I slept very well this night.
To be continued....
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