8TH ANNUAL BIKE MS IN

NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA

I made it but it was really tough with the temperature at 92 degrees on Saturday and 96 on Sunday,  not to mention the relentless wind on both days.

Although my stats are not as good as last year I'm still hanging in and finishing at a respectable time ahead of most cyclists, most of whom are thirty-something in age.

Saturday September 13 - 100 miles:

It was a great start Saturday morning as we headed across the Neuse River bridge on the way to Beaufort County. Going downhill on the bridge and with a tailwind I reached 30.6 mph and ended up at the first rest stop (13.8 miles) with a saddle average of 18.5 mph. But by the time I reached the lunch stop (52.8 miles) I was down to 17 mph. At 60 miles leg cramps began to occur and I had to drop out of pacelines and slow down. When I reached the rest stop at 64.7 miles I was in such pain that I needed help getting off my bike as my left leg had a muscle spasm that completely paralyzed it. But this had happened in the past and I knew I had to force myself to do a painful deep knee bend to  pull my leg muscles back in place. The volunteer aids at the rest stop were very helpful. They filled my gatorade bottle, brought me a chair and suggested an odd remedy of a mixture of mustard and lemon juice which they squirted in my mouth. Not bad! I finally got on the road and after 3 miles my leg cramps disappeared. At the 76.5-mile rest stop I asked for more mustard but all they had was pickles and pickle juice which they said worked as well. So mustard and pickles got me back to New Bern with a 15.5 mph overall trip saddle average.

By the way, I'm convinced that 92-degrees is too hot to be cycling, which I think contributed to my leg cramps. There were more cyclists on the side of the road with leg cramps than I've ever seen after about 60 miles. It was a tough trip.

I returned home exhausted, showered and took a long nap and missed going back the Convention Center for the hi-carb buffet.

Sunday September 14 - 75 miles:

After the hot weather Saturday many cyclists changed their plans to ride a second 100-mile trip and go for 75 instead since the temperature was to reach 96-degrees. Everybody appeared to cycle slower Sunday, especially on the way back to New Bern fighting relentless wind from the south. I saw my cumulative saddle average drop from 17.5 mph and end up at 15.5, exactly as the Saturday trip but amazingly no leg cramps occurred. I was so exhausted at the 41-mile lunch stop that all I felt like eating was two big bowls of home-made ice cream at Yoders Farm Supply. It was a tough ride both days this year but I'm happy I made the promised 175 miles. Right now, I can't say it was a fun trip but maybe it will seem so later.

Click Here to see photos I took with a cheap throwaway camera

Below is my original web page soliciting sponsors for the 2008 MS Bike Tour

Dave at Saturday start of the 2007 MS Bike Tour

Dave (red) at rainy Sunday start of the 2007 MS Bike Tour

What is Multiple Sclerosis and what is the Multiple Sclerosis Society doing about it?

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. We have two family members with MS. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can be life-long. 

To achieve the vision of a world free of MS, the National MS Society is a driving force of MS research, relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and cure. They devote nearly $50 million each year to a spectrum of key initiatives and other projects based on the guiding principles of speed, collaboration and possibilities. Right now, Society researchers are developing and testing novel experimental treatments and tissue repair strategies that may soon be in use for MS.

What is Bike MS?

It used to be called MS-150 because it consisted of two 75-mile loops out of New Bern on September 13-14 with the option of adding 25 miles to each trip to make what cyclists call a Century trip. This still exists but since a shorter 30-mile route was added each day the name MS-150 was dropped and they now call it Bike MS.  I always cycle 100 miles the first day and either 75 or 100 the second day depending on how I feel and the weather. Each day's tour starts and ends at Union Point park in New Bern. The Tour is not a race but despite all ages and types of bicycles it's still a race for many. I start with the lead group and try to hang in as long as I can, usually to the first rest stop around 12 miles - which fast cyclists bypass. 

I need your support

The purpose of the tour is to raise money for research to find a cure (yes , a cure) for the devastating disease of Multiple Sclerosis. What I need are sponsors that will pledge a donation to the MS Society provided I complete the tour, which will be 175 or 200 miles of cycling in two days. Go to http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/dave.htm and you'll see my previous MS web pages, how the tours went, and see who my sponsors were that contributed $635, $1449, $1562, $1555, $1640, $2747 and $2856 respectively over the past 7 years.

I know times are tough with rising gas and food prices. My hopes are that I'll get lots more folks pledging smaller amounts this year to the MS Society and make up the difference. Any amount is appreciated. How about a couple bucks and I'll add you to my sponsor list.

How to pledge via e-mail

To pledge a fixed amount or an amount per mile please send a message to me at davewallace@XXXsuddenlink.net (remove XXX before sending) with your name, address and the pledge amount. Don't send money to me. I will then post your name (less the amount pledged) on the list of sponsors below and show the cumulative total pledged. 

When and where do I send the money?

When the tour is over in September and I complete 175 or 200 miles I will notify everyone by e-mail and update this web page with a narrative on how the tour went. At that time you may send your pledge check to the following address with a note "Sponsor Dave Wallace" on it. If I don't complete the tour you owe nothing. But don't count on it. 

Hey, you can cycle the MS-150 too!

Check out the MS Society's Bike tour web site and register at www.msbike.org  You'll see all ages and about every kind of bike in the tour but I must warn you that you'll have a tough time keeping up on a heavy fat-tire bike because most bikes are light weight road bikes with skinny tires. If you have questions about cycling and the tour send them by e-mail to me and I'll try to answer them. Also take a look at my article in the RIVER BENDER titled "Cycling the MS-150 at 77" at http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/2006%20ms150%20at%2077.htm

Can't cycle long haul? Then how about volunteering to help run the tour by helping at rest stops, sorting, loading supplies or helping at the convention center, etc. Give Phoebe Coggins a call at 1-800-344-4867. 

  MY SPONSOR LIST

All addresses are in North Carolina unless shown otherwise

PLEDGE AMOUNT TOTAL    = $3389.50.00

Total Donations = $3344.5 (98.7%)

Thanks folks for a very successful ride!    

Webmaster: Dave Wallace davewallace@XXXsuddenlink.net (remove XXX)

Web page originated: 7/7/08 

Updated: 10/22/08 

Join New Bern Century Cyclists (NBCC) at http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/nbcc.htm