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MS 150 Weekend

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For additional details see the Team Shell Information Package on the 2008 MS Weekend

The MS Society has a hotline number for this event: 281-657-7156 where last minute updates may be posted, e.g., if  there are weather issues that might impact the ride.

Preparation

Packet Pick-Up & Jersey Distribution

  • •A Team Shell packet pickup is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 at OSP, 11am - 1pm. It is planned to distribute team jerseys at this time to those who have completed the safety requirements.

  • If you can't make the Team Shell package pickup, the MS Society will have several locations/dates around the Houston area - the schedule is posted on their website.  Last chance for packet pickup is at the BP MS 150 Expo, Omni Houston Westside Hotel - Fri., April 11, 2 - 10 pm.

  • •Team Shell Jerseys will also be distributed:
       -     April 2nd, 11:00am-1:00pm, at the new Fitness Center at Woodcreek.
       - April 11th, 7:00-9:00am and 11:00am-1:00pm, at Woodcreek (same location as luggage drop-off - TBD).
       - April 12th, 5:30am-6:15am, at the ride start at Woodcreek.

What to pack – better to overpack than forget the essentials!

  • •Change of clothes, tennis shoes, shower sandals
            - Fair Weather: Shorts, T-shirts
            - Cold/Wet Weather: Long pants/sweats, sleeves, jacket, socks

  • Bike clothes for Day 2 – Extra set of shorts/jersey, or wash clothes from Day 1 in shower

  • •Hat & Sunblock

  • •Toiletries for shower

  • •Bedding: folding cot, air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, etc.

  • •Cycling gear: Rainwear, cold weather clothes, spare tubes, CO2, preferred energy bars/gu, etc
    •    Ear plugs for sleeping

  • •Plastic bat to put over your seat to avoid a wet saddle Sunday morning

Friday April 11th

Team Shell baggage collection – 2 bags per person

  • • Label your bags with MS150 numbers from Rider Packet

  • • Drop off at Shell Woodcreek location and pick-up jersey between 12-6pm. Truck leaves for LaGrange at 6:00pm

  • • Team Shell guests: give your bags to your Shell sponsor for Friday

  • • Riders are allowed 2 bags each for gear - max 40 lb each

  • • Massage equipment to be loaded last Friday night

  • • Truck will be unpacked early Saturday by volunteers in LaGrange

  • • Bags will be transported to Austin Team Shell finish tent

  • • MS150 transportation for riders & bikes provided for fee from Austin to Houston

Saturday April 12st

Team Shell start at Woodcreek office: I-10 & Dairy Ashford

  • •Arrive at WCK by 5:30 AM. If you didn't drop off your baggage on Friday, take it to Tully Stadium for NMSS pickup.

  • •Check in with Team Shell & ensure emergency contact #s are correct

  • •Prepare bike/gear, have a drink, snack, restroom break, etc.

  • •Announcements - 6:05 AM

  • Team Photo - 6:20 AM

  • •Team Start at 6:40 AM heading west onto North Dairy Ashford

  • Vehicles are secure in Shell lot over the weekend

The Ride – 1st Day

  • •Rest stops every 12 – 15 miles on route with food/snacks

  • •Lunch in Bellville – approximately 50 miles from WCK

  • •Food & beverages provided by NMSS

  • •Total mileage for Day 1 is approximately 100 miles from WCK to LaGrange

  • First Day Route Map

Team Shell tent in LaGrange – Arrival, Massage & Showers

  • •Team Shell tent (#503) - same location as last year - see tent map for location

  • •Please check in so we know you’ve arrived, even if you don’t plan to stay for dinner or overnight  – this lets us know how many Team Shell riders are still the course & helps us w/massage timing

  • •Snacks & Beverages are provided, meet family & friends

  • ••Shower trucks provided by NMSS, also showers at school (via bus)

  • •Team Shell provides 15 min massage to all team riders. Plan your massage either before shower OR do not sign up until you return from shower – avoids problems with timing

Sat evening & Sunday morning

Dinner, Overnight & Morning

  • •Catered dinner is provided by Shell

  • •Private team bathroom facilities provided by Shell

  • •Entertainment in LaGrange provided by NMSS

  • •Bikes can be locked up at NMSS Bike Compound, or left outside Team Shell tent on ropes

  • •Lights out at Team Shell tent at 9 PM!

  • •NMSS provides excellent pancake breakfast for all riders

  • Team Shell provides breakfast tacos and kolaches on Sunday morning

  • Catholic mass is available onsite before ride

  • See map of LaGrange Fairgrounds for location of facilities and events

Sunday April 13th

Day 2 of the MS150

  • •Route opens at 7am with staggered starts for groups of ~200 cyclists at a time

  • •2 separate starts – one for Express route, the other for the longer Challenge route

  • NOTE: Procedures for lining up and starting this year have been changed. Pay attention to announcements, volunteers and ride marshals giving directions prior to start. There will not be a  second exit from the Fairgrounds as was the case in previous years.

  • •Longer route includes optional Bastrop Park choice

  • •Lunch in Bastrop, approximately 41 miles from LaGrange on long route & 33 miles on Express route; after lunch all riders have approximately 33 miles to go to the finish

  • Second Day Route Map

Day 2 Finish

  • •Finish line in downtown Austin at TX State Capitol

  • •Be careful cycling into Austin – most accidents occur here!!!

  • •Music, entertainment, and showers at end

  • •Team Shell tent (#16) is located on the "Red Lot" - one block past finish line where ride turns left on 17th street

  • •Final check-in at Team Shell tent – please let us know you’ve finished. Volunteers will be working until ALL Team Shell riders are in – but they want to go home too!

  • •Snacks & beverages at tent. Messages available for a fee ($1/min).

  • •NMSS provides meal, ride completion certificates & pins at the finish

  • •Many good restaurants & hotels nearby

  • See map of Austin Finish for locations of bus, parking, events, facilities, etc.

Getting back to Houston after the ride

  • •Bus transport by NMSS back to Tully Stadium, bikes are brought back in tractor-trailers and laid out by rider #

  • If you parked and left for the ride from Woodcreek, Team Shell will have a shuttle going back and forth from Tully on Sunday afternoon. The Team Shell Shuttle will have magnetic Shell signs on it. Get off the bus in Tully, ride the Team Shell Shuttle to Woodcreek to get your car and then go back to Tully for your bike and luggage. If you left from another location, you will need to make arrangements to have someone pick you up at Tully.

  • •Bus tickets can be purchased online for $25 until the cutoff date  on Wednesday, 4/9/08 at noon, and available for purchase in Austin near bus pickup point - 18th and Trinity three blocks east of finish line.

  • •Bikes are collected just past the finish line in Austin – get your bike on the truck ASAP so it is waiting for you in Houston

  • Many Team Shell cyclists also have family that meet them in Austin and drive back with them.
     

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