I did alright, but my feet gave me problems again this year (they go numb after around 30-40 miles). So on the first day, I sagged in after lunch at around 60 miles. I went ahead and started out on day two expecting to finish the trip, but all the way up to rest stop one, I had some significant rear derailerr and shifting problems (probably from getting banged aroujnd from the previous day's sag transport IMHO). I probably could have had the derailleur fixed, but that along with my feet was enough for me. I didn't feel he need to push it so I played it safe and sagged in to the finish having covered arond 75 miles total. Quite a few other Rackers who had various physical and mechanical problems did likewise. Hehe.. I heard that after we got back into town, that one first time MS150 Racker actually flat out sold his bike! hehe It is indeed a hard ride... but none the less a lot of fun.
The night before the ride, here we are at the tail end of our "carb-up" dinner. Good eats!
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Teri's garlic bread was a big hit. :)
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But Joe was really into his single strand of spaghetti
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Six AM, Saturday morning, our good friend Terri Zell saw us off. She was house sitting for us while we all went to the coast.
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Here we are at the AT&T coliseum before sunrise (~6:30am)
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What's with Tim? I guess he's REALLY a morning person.
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Just a fraction of our awesome support crew!
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The guys all getting ready.
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Michael really helped us a lot with the gear and truck!
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Take'n a few minutes to relax and take a few pics..
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and take care of last minute adjustments...
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Did you know that Mike G. and Jorge are cousins? And that Mike was one of our first networking guys back in 2000?
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You guys ready?
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Niiiiice pants Troy... ;)
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I think this is the only sighting of Jengates during the whole trip. :)
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Wow! This is the biggest turnout ever!
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Here we are waiting in line...
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Check out all the RS jerseys! :)
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self explanatory...
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Ed with his "you're weird" look...
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"Geez! Whoa! Who let the genie out?!?"
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"wheew!"
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Check out all the Racker jerseys.. very cool!
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Uhhhgg.... Here we go...
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Cyclists... As far as the eye can see...
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Wow... cool..
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This is between rest stop one and two.
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Here we are at rest stop two. I think most of us skipped # one.
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Right to left is Ed (of course), Troy and his father! :)
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The view from my first "personal rest stop"...
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All the folks smiling and asking if I'm alright (passed out on the pavement ;)
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The lunch tent on day one. Ed seems miffed about something.
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Some more "Rackspace Old Timers", Wayde, Tim and Shaggy...
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We love you Sydney!
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"Hey Tweeks! You're doin' alright!" Ed's so encouraging.. :)
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BTW.. This is the Rackspace stop after the lunch stop. Thus all the Rackers.
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Everyone really did an awesome job!
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"Time to get back in the saddle man!"
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Tim.. still smiling and keeping it cool...
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My second "personal stop", this time waiting for the sag wagon into Beeville ~60 mile marker.
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Here we are settling in at the Beeville Rackspace tent...
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"The BBQ is freak'n amazing!"
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Pre shower or post shower... it's all smiles here... :)
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Dah Lister! Contemplating the keggs...
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A Racker taking full advantage of the massages!
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The man behind the meaty, tender goodness.. our own Jay Bridges. :)
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If Kevin could talk.. he would concur, "Good Stuff!"
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"So how do you guys feel?!".. hehe
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"You guys hurry and get those tents up before dark... I'm gonna go crash in the hotel room my wife scored us..." hehe
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I slept "like a baby".. (my foster son Joe ;)
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Here we are back in the RS tent at around 6:30am. A bit slow going..
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Rackers getting a bite to eat and starting to prep...
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Stretching, lotioning up, applying the "BUTT-R".. ;)
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Oooch.. the bitter sweet "kiss of pain" climbing back into the saddle...
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Lister is ready for business...
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We're all ready, but a little apprehensive too...
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I think that Mike did the whole thing..
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Some times you can't skip all the rest stops... ;)
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No.. believe it or not, I did not finish with these front runners. I sagged in after ~75miles total...
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while Joe and these guys were the fast ones. Well, after Jengates (who no one ever saw after the starting line ;)
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