SW Missouri MS150 & Ike

The MS150 started and ended yesterday after Hurricane Ike came through the area last night and dumped 4 to 6 inches of rain. It was not raining when we left Clever High School on Saturday, but it started about an hour into the ride. It stopped by the time we rode into the lunch rest stop just before 10:00 AM. The rain started again after we finished the century loop that broke off from the main route about 35 miles into the ride. Like most riders, we got lost on the century route, but we did not add any extra miles. About 5 miles from the finish in Joplin, one of the volunteers noticed my tire was a little low. I stopped and added some air. I made it in about 3:30 PM without a problem, but after inspecting the tire closer, I found about a half inch slit. Josh at the Sunshine Bike SAG did not think it would make it another 75 miles the next day, even with a boot, so I had Josh install a new tire. Unfortunately, I did not need it because they canceled the second day due to flooding concerns at low water crossings. We did cross a number of low areas on the way to Joplin, so it was probably a good idea. The ride back on the old school bus was not the most comfortable, and we had to stop about 20 miles from Clever when one of the other bus drivers noticed the bus I was on had some type of leak. It was not the radiator, so we continued on after about 15 minutes and made it back without a problem. Overall it was a typical MS 150 because it rained as it has the last 5 out of 6 years, but we also had a great route and great support from the volunteers who were out in the rain with us.

At the start















Doug & Tom racing a buggy in the rain















Pirates took over this rest stop















One of the few sunny moments on Saturday















Doug, Rae & Tom racing past the sunflowers