(5/21/2007 - Steve Johnston) 

Hmmmm….

Let’s see….

TheMS150 Frisco to Ft. Worth was a great experience from start to finish.

We began our adventure from the parking lot the mall in Frisco at 6:30 am (which is a little early for yours truly).  After we dropped off our luggage at the designated area we located our place among the other bright yellow-polka jersey TXU riders. At first I thought the jersey design was a bit much but I will say this – people knew we were on team TXU! 

The first day’s course was approximately 78 miles of relatively flat course that wound itself through north Texas farmland.  The start of the ride, as with all such rides, saw a few crashes and mechanical problems; however, the LBC'ers would be undaunted in their journey to the Texas Motor Speedway.  The pace was as steady as the terrain and seemed to be going as smoothly as one would hope.  Following our lunch stop (this was the best supported ride I have ever participated in – even better than Hotter than H – E- Double-Toothpick) a light-misting came upon us.  I use the word light-misting as it wasn’t exactly rain and it wasn’t exactly not rain (please see Ric for the definition of light-misting). All I know what that we were soaked from head to toe with light-mist but again this would not weaken our spirits! 

As we paddled into the Texas Motor Speedway we were greeted with cheers and applause.  The body was thankful to be getting off of the bike for the night.  Finding our luggage was no problem. However, due to the light-misting our bags were a little damper than we wanted.  I actually had water spilling off of my bag when I picked it off the ground – yuk!  As luck would have it and due to the fine folks and Lands End – all was still dry on the inside.  After this came my most favorite part of the MS150 – the TXU tent!! Just so you know, each sponsor had its own tent set up in the camp ground area and each with its own theme.  TXU decided on a beach theme and by beach I mean kitty-pools full of ice and beer, grilled cheese burgers and a privatemasseuse!  I have heard people rave about a massage following a ride and now I can too!  The folks at TXU were great!  Following lunch we took time to relax and chat with the other riders about their day.  After all the exhausting chit-chat and12-oz. curls we found ourselves hungry for yet another meal so at 4:30 we made our way over to the “big-top” for dinner.  I have to interject a personal note here– while not really hungry for more food – the Hooter girls were serving and I felt it my gentlemanly obligation to make my way through the serving line – I didn’t want to be rude…right Nancy?!??

With our bellies full, and another long day in the saddle ahead of us Nancy and decided to call it a night.  The MS150organizers had once again thought of everything and arranged to shuttle us to and back from our hotel for our Saturday night stay.  Needless today, following our ride and all of the food, sleep came easy at 7:30 – which was good because we were up at 4:30am Sunday morning.

When we arrived back at the Texas Motor Speedway at 5:45 the place was already alive with activity.   While the ride didn’t start until 7:30 we were going to get the opportunity to ride a lap around a real NASCAR track.  We diligently lined up outside the gates of a stadium that holds almost a quarter of a million people and were looking forward to seeing it from the perspective of the drivers….and there we sat, and sat and sat….and sat.  They finally opened the gates and we slowly made our way to the pit area.  Again we waited and waited and waited.   Yes, it was amazing to see the size of the track, the banks of the course but after this wait most people were ready to get the day started….and started it finally did.

The three of us decided that we were going to take a bit of a short cut and ride about 55 of the 72 remaining miles.  This short cut took us onto a busy interstate road and through some very sleepy towns before we found our way back onto the course.  One thing that was not “in the brochure” about the second day were the hills and the wind.  Both of which we found an excessive supply of on day number two. After a couple of rest stops and some assistance from the mechanics we made our way back into Ft. Worth.  Again we were greeted by cheers and ovations- although I felt unworthy for this praise as I should have been given only the people who took the short-cut version of the support – it was still nice.

A good lunch from Razzos and a little bit of relaxing we were on our way back home.  I am a little sorry we left so quickly as I read on a blog that Floyd Landis showed up at the finish line. I would have liked to see him but alas – it was not to be.

I would encourage each of you to participate in one of the many MS150 rides throughout Texas.  The donation requirement for participation is well worth the good times – and you can get a really cool jersey out of it!!

Thanks to Ric and to TXU – see you next year!