Team Rackspace in the
2007 MS-150 "Bike To The Beach"


This is the third year that team Rackspace has done the MS-150. 2005 was really really hot (104-120deg), 2006 was still hot, but better. This year was really nice, and we had the largest Racker turnout ever! (I count 29 in the group photo above) Plus Rackspace really got behind us this year and fully sponsored our minimum fund raising req's, food, and even Jerseys! Wow.. it was really great. They even provided us exceptional, fanatical service at the stops and in Beeville (the 1/2 way point). All of us riders really felt pampered. Thanks Rackspace!

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.



Friday Night Preparations


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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



Saturday, Day One


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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 ;)



Day Two


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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 ;)