So I'm riding the MS150 again (passing the hat around)

UPDATE--scroll down

Hey folks--

I'm riding in the MS150 again this June 25-26 and I'm coming to GRM once again with my hat out for donations. My wife was diagnosed in 2009, so I'm very close to the cause. Your donations will go toward research that is seeking more treatments and maybe even a cure. Her current treatment is a bitch, but it's the most effective/aggressive one out there, so she's toughing it out. My hope is that in a few years, something new will be around that is just as effective but allows a bit more quality of life.

Thus, I ride my bike. It's the only thing I can really do (aside from attempting to a decent husband--she's lucky I'm a good cook ). I'm not a hardcore roadie (as some of you may know from the bike discussions here), but I'm deep into training for this 150-mile ride.

Last year's was epic and the GRM board certainly stepped up. I know times are tough, so that makes your donation that much more significant. I can't stress enough--no amount is too small. BTW--it's not "per-mile"--it's a one-time donation. FWIW, I have AngryCorvair's blessing to put this up here, as he too, does this ride.

Also--if you donate, please out your username in the message section on my site so I know who did what.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/RIRBikeEvents?px=7773859&pg=personal&fr_id=16875

thanks in advance

Link goes to the main page.

Dammit. I think I fixed it...

I'm AngryCorvair, and I approve this thread. I'm not committed to the ride yet this year*, so if you're one of the GRM'ers who normally donate to my effort, please throw it Gamby's way instead. Go Gamby!

and yeah, the fixed link is fixed.

*yesterday i did my first road ride of the year. maybe 42 miles (according to http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/35148888/) was too much, maybe i should've carried more water, maybe i should've used sunblock. i was so wiped out post-ride that i really question whether or not i can be ready for the 200-mile weekend that's just eight weeks away.

w00t!!!

hey gamby, you should check out www.mapmyrun.com for mapping out and linking to your training rides. i'd like to see the elevation map of one of your typical routes, as i'm sure you're climbing a lot more than me.

I'm in for the finger lakes ride at the end of july again. We're riding for my future MIL.

AC, you can do it! Try to ride 3 times a week. If you can get in two shorter rides during the week and one longer in the weekends, you'll build your form back enough. Do two long rides on consecutive weekend days 2-3 weekes before the actual ride. Remember that getting enough food in during the long Qrides is one of the most important factors! Hammernutrition.com has lots of good info (good products and very helpfull customer servuce if you want to call and consult).

Gamby, if you have a gps capable iphone/droid, you can get the mapmywhatever app free and upload your ride data easily.

Way to go guys. Please support all of our efforts and donate to gamby.

Done!

Best of luck to you in the ride and thank you for doing this for a good cause.

Sweet. I didn't know there was an app for that ( ). Just got one of them new-fangled Droids last month. Maybe I'll try it out if I can get out on Thurs.

AC--actually, my rides have been pretty flat so far. We won't hit the hills for another week or two because my riding partner is way more of a slacker than me.

bluej--AC is much more hardcore than me on these rides--no doubt. I've become way more conscious of nutrition while on the bike. During the actual MS Ride, it's an avalanche of bananas, Clif bars and 50/50 gatorade/water. Kept me running great. I weigh 200lbs, so I burn a stupid amount of calories while going at a good clip.

Bumping this for the evening...

Bump!

G and AC, since we've got over a dozen riders on our team, we decided to get jerseys made. We've been working with these guys and they've been pretty good so far. At 40 a pop for full custom jerseys, they're really reasonable too.

http://v-gear.com/

In reply to bluej: Our team got custom jerseys last year- I don't think they're bothering this year. I bought this sweet retro Radio Shack/Trek jersey for day 2- I'll post a pic when I'm not on my phone.

Meanwhile, I'll check that site out- thanks. Still need to get that app, too...

I'm doing the MS ride at Callaway Gardens in September. I haven't been on a bike for probably 25 years so my training has been a little rough. 200 lbs of cubicle butt need time to adjust to the skinny seat!

Good luck with your ride.

In reply to mapper:

Sweet! When I did my first last year, I hadn't done a real road bike ride since the 80's. Mountainbiked through the 90's and a revival in the mid-2000's, but I went into it being more of a skateboarder than anything else.

Get good shorts. Get proper chamois lube if you have chafing problems. Get a good saddle and figure out height/angle.

A big thing that helped me a TON this season is this little set of Cinelli gel inserts that can be stuck onto your bars. I put them in between 2 wraps of bar tape right where my hands contact the bars when I'm holding onto the brake lever hoods. Miraculous. No hand numbness and very little discomfort. These are similar (and really cheap!!!) http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Lot-11-Cinelli-Bike-Handlebar-Shock-Absorbers-Wrap-/160580720232?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D400206156003%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D188422430548466906

In reply to gamby:

Thanks for the gel insert info. A seat change helped with the butt numbness and my hand numbness was next on the list. This weekend will be my last with flat pedals so the clipless comedy/drama starts next week.

specialized and I think others have a package that is made up of gel inserts like the one's Gamby linked and it comes with new bar tape. If you're ok with black it's only a little more than a package of just tape.

So a friend of ours and part time bartender at our favorite watering hole works full time for the national MS Society org. Apparently she mentioned last night that the VA - Beyond the Beltway ride still needs volunteers in a few weeks. So now we'll be out working one of the aid tents on the second day. If anyone in the area wants to help out and meet some really incredible people, let me know! You can also just go here and register: http://bikedcw.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_DCW_Volunteer

In reply to gamby:

Gamby, I have MS and just wanted to say thanks for your efforts! Jim

Friday bump!

bravenrace wrote: In reply to gamby: Gamby, I have MS and just wanted to say thanks for your efforts! Jim

Jim, it is my honor to ride for you as well. Thanks for the positivity.

bluej- thanks for the bumps.

I put in 25 miles yesterday and 35 today- all relatively flat. I have some serious hill-pounding in my near future.

As flr the clipless thing- I just commented to my riding partner that it's been a painless transition. Meanwhile, he's gone down twice in his- at super slow speed- in our past two rides. Go figure...

Well, much has gone down since this thread was last active. Take a peek at what I've rustled up:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?type=fr_personal&fr_id=16875&px=7773859&post_id=47144&bpg=rlist&pg=personal

Thanks to a HUGE donation from my brother and him having it matched by Microsoft, I'm now in the big leagues of fundraising for this ride.

I'm pretty damn happy about it.

woah! that's awesome!

we had a small victory tonight as well. here in DC there is a bar in the Adams Morgan area called Grand Central. It's partially owned and managed by a guy from Buffalo where my girlfriend is from. Anyway, it's our "bar home" here and have become part of the extended family of regulars and bartenders. It occurred to me to ask if he'd like to donate, especially if we added some Grand Central art to our jerseys and he sounds happy to. So if you're in DC, stop by Grand Central in the Adams Morgan district. If it's a Saturday night, Katie might be your bartender as well. Her day job is at the main office of the NMSS and she's super sweet.

My girlfriends mom has it. I thank you very much for your efforts!

holy E36 M3 gamby, that's outstanding!

bluej, is Madam's Organ still there? it's been a while since i was in that part of town.

Thanks, folks.

bluej--sounds like a good place. Love those places where you can sit down and they know you and what you want. We have a Mexican restaurant where we're regulars and get treated like that.

AngryCorvair wrote: holy E36 M3 gamby, that's outstanding! bluej, is Madam's Organ still there? it's been a while since i was in that part of town.

Yep, just a couple doors up from GC. Some of the bartenders there will go to GC on their nights off. They're a cool crowd.