Please support my 2015 BP MS150 ride!

Please support my 2015 BP MS150 ride!
click on the pic to donate to Andy

Credit

Although this blog was originally created by Andy Brickell and continues to be updated by him, the design and layout of the page is credited to his daughter, Mary-Claire Brickell. She's pretty awesome.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Sunset over Lagrange

A fitting image for the last post on this blog. This was the view from the Fayette County fairgrounds in Lagrange, Tx, where the MS150 riders spend Saturday night.

By all accounts this was the toughest MS150 for many years. Cool temperatures and clear skies should have made for a great two days in the saddle, but the 20+mph headwinds all the way wore us all out. Saturday evening in Lagrange was fun as always, with good camaraderie and humour. Unfortunately any group of 100+ people is going to have a few snorers, and we had some champions. This made the sleeping tent sound like a farmyard and unfortunately I'd forgotten my ear plugs.

Morning came too soon and brought 40's temperatures with it. I wasn't prepared for the cold but borrowed a fleece from Kevin (fellow rider, friend and former boss) and kept warm until the start. I opted for the more challenging route through the Parks - exhilarating on the steep descents, painful on the vertiginous climbs. The rest of the ride was pretty much a straight grind into the wind, with everything hurting (feet, back, perineum..), but once we got into Austin, the adrenaline kicked in and I finished in good order. A beer, a shower and a massage left me feeling pretty good. Kevin and I rode the bus back together and he dropped me off at home, just in time for MC's birthday steak dinner and chocolate cake.

Many thanks to all my wonderfully generous sponsors - you know who you are, give yourself a pat on the back!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Austin or bust!

My next ride will start from my back door, and end in Austin. Final totals - $3,426 raised, 2,092 miles ridden in training, and er, a massive 5 lbs of weight loss. Oh well, it probably all turned into muscle.

Thanks to everyone who supported me!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

the final countdown

less than a week to go and I'm tapering off my training - just one ride this weekend (Terry Hershey this morning), and hopefully a few commutes this week.

Today's ride took me over 2,000 miles on the bike since October 2007. Hopefully that's enough! I feel pretty good about the big ride, let's just keep our fingers crossed for good weather.

Bear Creek - Terry Hershey loop

Bear Creek - Terry Hershey loop

Daily commute to work

Daily commute to work
This isn't quite right but it's close. 9.5 miles, about 40 minutes.

Terry Hershey Park

Terry Hershey Park
10 miles of safe, paved cycling bliss - except for all the foot traffic

The Sealy ride

The Sealy ride
45 miles through very pretty Texas countryside. Looks benign but there's a very hilly section at mile 35.

The Katy ride

The Katy ride
It's on the Katy prairie - flat, flat, flat