I have ridden the MS-150 Houston 3 times in the past. But I haven’t used it for 6 years. Now I’m going to mount it again. For some reason I really miss the leg cramps, the sore shoulders, the numb hands, the numbness…well never mind…the saddle pain that lasts 2 weeks later, the burns sunburns, training, thirst, bugs flying into your mouth, punctures, headwinds, road rashes from crashes and falls, sleeping bag on the ground at La Grange fairgrounds first night.

Not to mention the cheering crowds waving and cheering along the 180 miles, the endless banter and laugh-filled camaraderie along the way, the bands, music and smiling faces at rest stops, the women showing you to help keep you going, the stunning beauty of Bastrop State Park (even more so before the Great Fire there), riding toward the finish line in Austin to thousands upon thousands of fanatically cheering people, including those with MS standing right at the front, the camaraderie and encouragement of fellow riders on your team when you get to the point where you’re pretty sure you can’t go another mile, and of course the millions of dollars raised to help those poor people with MS.

The BP MS 150 is a two-day fundraising bike ride organized by the National MS Society: Lone Star. This ride is the largest event of its kind in North America. In 2013, the event raised more than $18.1 million for MS.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system is incorrectly attacking the person’s healthy tissue.

MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, lack of coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, memory and concentration problems, paralysis, blindness, and more. These problems may be permanent or they may come and go.

The Houston MS-150 trip is a 180-mile trip for MS from Houston to Austin. The trip begins in Houston on a Saturday morning in the spring and ends on Sunday afternoon at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. There are typically 13,000 passengers on the trip from Houston to Austin, and it grosses about $18 million dollars, just in Houston. In addition, there are another 100 attractions that take place throughout the country each year.

Sounds like a do again to me!

Hi Bike, long time no see. Let’s have a little chat and get to know each other again. I have an adventure that I want to undertake with you.