Friday, April 11, 2008

MS Blows--Really




OK, now a step back from the melodrama. Sorry 'bout that.

We roll out tomorrow for the BP MS150, which is good because if we rolled out today, we'd likely have a 15+ mph headwind in our face. The front that rolled through last night has interrupted the prevailing winds that usually blow us across the Katy Prairie into Belville and beyond.

Rolling out tomorrow, we're likely to have crosswinds of 15+ mph. But weather.com has been known to lie.

Like a rug.

About wind.

Based upon weather.com's past record of performance, I think we can count on being blown off our bikes with a special wind we have down here in Texas. It blows about 15 mph while not gusting to 30 mph. It comes from every direction at once and singles out cyclists. Native Americans named it, "the Wind of Many Names" but after contact with European civilization it very quickly became known by its English iterations, most of which are words of four letters, the best of which rhymes with "Duck."

Of course, I won't be alone. The BP MS 150 is the largest charity bike ride in the country--involving 12,000 cyclists riding from Houston to Austin over 2 days and raising $14 million dollars to fight MS. So, I'll have 12,000 of my closest friends with me, many of them riding for the first year and straggling all over the road in the cross winds.

But truly, I won't be alone. Combining my online total with offline pledges, I have raised ALMOST NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS so far. And of course there's still time to DONATE!! Each of you that have donated are definitely riding along in spirit. I am so touched by the comments and the donations.

But there is a special, celebrity blogger who is here with me in person. The official bestest friend of the Greyhound clan and Superounce's adopted big sister, the International Triathlete of Mystery, Curly Su, is riding with me, and we're doing it the Ironman way. Instead of stopping at La Grange for the traditional overnight, we thought we'd get in a decent training ride. Hardly worth getting on the bike if you're not going at least 120 miles

in the wind.

I wonder if C-Su will let me draft?

So we're riding to Bastrop on the first day and meeting the Greyhound clan at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, 'cause that's how I roll. You get at least four stars if you ride with me. There will be much Lazy River-ing by the Superpounce, and probably some spa treatments for the ladies. On Sunday, we jump on the bikes for a couple hours, ride on to Town Lake in Austin where we will run off the bike with a certain Little Miss who has Runner Pants.

It's going to be a fantastic weekend!!!

7 comments:

Fe-lady said...

Around these parts we call it "catching an oblique"- which translates into- "as soon as you turn out of the headwind, thinking you will catch the tailwind, the wind decides to change direction!"

Hope this doesn't happen to you guys!
Have fun!

Bigun said...

I honestly don't want to take away from what is going to be a real Beyotch of a ride but....the diagram looks an awful lot like a breast exam chart!!

shelek said...

Maybe the wind will go on strike. Or maybe you won't notice it on account of the incredible company. Or maybe you'll all suck it up and have a great ride anyway.

Good luck and I'll see you next weekend!

Bigun said...

That was Di's funny comment above, not the.bigun's...but i wish it was mine...

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

Headwind? What headwind?
Have fun and give a big hug to Su!!!!
Jenny

Anonymous said...

headwinds?!? i think they need a new name for 'em...like...i don't know...'winds that make you want to make a pact with the devil and sign away your soul just for a little bit of calm'

CoachLiz said...

Dang! It was evil windy this weekend and not as warm as it should have been. I hope you had a great time at Lost Pines. Congratulations on your super fundraising!